Upon returning to the mansion, Edward encountered an unexpected visitor.

“Brother, you’re back?”

“Edward.”

Entering the reception room after being told guests were waiting, Edward found his sister Viola and Tervan. He responded to Viola’s greeting with a smile before turning his attention to Tervan.

“What brings you here? I heard you were looking for me.”

While Tervan occasionally visited the Hestein estate, it was usually to see Viola. He rarely sought Edward out specifically. This wasn’t surprising, considering they hadn’t attended the academy during the same period, nor did they share the same field of expertise.

From a young age, Tervan had displayed exceptional talent with the sword. After graduating from the academy with training in swordsmanship, he joined the Imperial Guard. Edward, on the other hand, had shown remarkable aptitude for magic, quickly coming under the Magic Tower’s intensive supervision and becoming a Magic Tower Master candidate.

Consequently, even when together, they struggled to find common ground for conversation. The only times they interacted were when Viola and Rachel were present, and even then, their relationship remained awkward due to Edward’s unfavorable view of Tervan.

Yet today, Tervan had come to see Edward without prior notice. Though Edward asked what brought him here, he could already guess the answer based on recent events.

“I have something to ask you.”

After his brief response to Edward, Tervan turned to Viola.

“Viola, would you mind giving us some privacy? I’d like to speak with Edward alone.”

“What? Is it something I shouldn’t hear?”

Aware of the awkwardness between the two men, Viola’s eyes widened when she realized Tervan wanted to speak with Edward privately.

“I told you from the beginning that I came to see Edward.”

Tervan nodded in confirmation. “That’s right.”

Viola glanced back and forth between Edward and Tervan. She had assumed that since Tervan and Edward never spoke alone, her presence would be appropriate. Apparently, that wasn’t the case.

Setting down her teacup, Viola rose from her seat. “Fine, talk then. And Tervan, say goodbye before you leave, okay?”

“I will.”

Though somewhat hurt at being excluded from their conversation, Viola left the room to give them privacy. An awkward silence descended upon the reception room after her departure.

Edward studied Tervan intently before taking a seat across from him. “What’s this about? It’s unusual for you to seek me out.”

Honestly, Edward wasn’t particularly pleased with the situation. Though Tervan hadn’t wronged him directly, Edward harbored resentment toward him—all because of Rachel.

“Remember when we met Rachel together at Count Pluret’s mansion recently?”

Edward recalled the incident from a few days ago. “I do.”

“Rachel mentioned she was looking for the ‘Tears of Licorice’ then. Do you remember that too?”

Edward nodded in response. Despite Edward’s affirmation, Tervan hesitated to get to the point.

Observing Tervan’s reluctance, Edward spoke first. “Are you curious about the Tears of Licorice?”

It wasn’t strange for Tervan to approach Edward, a mage, with questions about the Tears of Licorice, since information about it wasn’t readily available. Tervan nodded, confirming Edward’s guess.

“That’s right.”

“Just as I thought.”

Edward sighed discreetly. Since he suspected Rachel might have reversed time because of Tervan, Edward couldn’t view him favorably. He knew better than anyone what Rachel would have had to endure to reverse time.

A surge of hot emotion welled up inside him, but Edward clenched his fist tightly, suppressing his feelings as much as possible.

“Tell me exactly what you want to know. That way, I can avoid unnecessary explanations.”

“I already know what the Tears of Licorice is. I heard it’s related to demons—is that correct?”

Edward had assumed Tervan had come without doing any research, but surprisingly, he seemed to have investigated before seeking Edward out.

“That’s correct.”

“I found that Rachel’s necklace resembles the sealing stone of the Time Demon Creon.”

“Is that so?”

In response to Edward’s ambiguous answer, Tervan fell silent again. He was uncertain whether his suspicions were correct. He had come hoping his conversation with Edward might clarify things, but even Edward wasn’t providing definitive answers.

While Tervan hesitated, Edward turned to look out the window. Through it, he could faintly see the spires of the Imperial Palace.

Frowning, Edward recalled his earlier conversation with Ryan at the palace. The subject had been the same as now. Looking back, he realized he’d spent the entire day discussing demons.

As a mage, topics concerning magic, demons, and magical artifacts typically fascinated him, but information about the Time Demon Creon and the Tears of Licorice failed to inspire his usual enthusiasm. This was especially true considering Rachel might be a victim of these forces.

“Could Rachel really have contracted with the Time Demon?”

Though he wanted to rush to Rachel and demand the truth, he doubted she would answer him honestly.

“Tervan.”

After a moment’s hesitation, Edward called Tervan’s name softly. Tervan’s gaze met Edward’s eyes.

“Can you explain in detail what happened during the subjugation mission?”

Edward suspected that Rachel’s regression point was about a month before the subjugation team was formed. The expedition to the Witch’s Forest had been the most significant event during that period, so it made sense to assume something had happened there.

Rachel had suddenly declared her intention to join the monster subjugation team and had returned after killing Witch Sara with remarkable magical prowess. It all seemed to fit. However, since Edward hadn’t participated in the mission, he had no way of knowing what had transpired there.

Therefore, he needed information from Tervan, who had likely participated alongside Rachel, about what he had seen and experienced.

Tervan flinched at Edward’s unexpected question. He stared into Edward’s eyes, trying to discern his intentions. Yet even after a long look, Tervan struggled to understand Edward’s motives.

With a deep sigh, Tervan recalled the memories of that day, “We engaged in several battles with monsters after setting out. Until then, nothing unusual happened.”

“Even with Rachel?”

“…No. Though Rachel didn’t do anything remarkable early in the mission, she was already acting strangely.”

Tervan began articulating the questions he had felt at the time.

“Honestly, it was difficult to understand. Why would Rachel, who had primarily learned supportive magic, insist on joining the subjugation team? I still don’t understand.”

“…”

“The strange incident occurred when we reached the center of the Witch’s Forest. Rachel suddenly warned me.”

“Warned you?”

“Yes, a warning. She told me not to move when the sky darkened. Since the sky wouldn’t darken during midday, I thought something might happen at night. It didn’t take long to understand why she had said that.”

“Because of the lightning magic.”

Even though Edward hadn’t joined the subjugation team, he knew roughly what had happened.

“Yes. Twice, in fact. When I realized this was what Rachel had meant and turned to look at her, she had vanished. Later, I found her at the witch’s location—with the witch’s corpse.”

Tervan’s explanation ended there.

While Edward processed the information, Tervan glanced at him repeatedly. Finding his stare uncomfortable, Edward frowned at him.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

At Edward’s question, Tervan opened his mouth, then closed it again. He seemed to be struggling with something difficult to express.

“What is it?”

“Rachel is hiding something.”

Edward was growing irritated with Tervan’s cryptic manner when Tervan finally spoke with difficulty.

“Rachel’s magic—three spells aren’t her limit.”

“What?”

“At least five. She can memorize at least five different types of magic with different properties.”

“…”

“So I’ve been thinking—could Rachel have contracted with the Time Demon?”