A heavy and profound silence lingered inside the office.
Ludger quietly opened his mouth after mulling over Duke Heibach’s words several times.
“If I didn’t mishear you...”
“You didn’t mishear me. I said exactly that.”
“...Are you asking a Seorn instructor to commit an assassination?”
Of course, Ludger had been involved in many things in the underworld.
But he had never—he could say ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ (Don’t copy, read here) with certainty—not even once, carried out a contract killing.
Moreover, the only other identity Heibach knew about was Oliver.
If he was asking because Ludger had eliminated gangs and mafia before, Ludger was more than willing to correct that misunderstanding.
“Oh dear, I must have been too desperate and didn’t explain myself well enough.”
“Not just a little, you explained very poorly.”
“What I meant wasn’t simply that you’re good at killing people. It’s because there’s no one else I can trust to handle this.”
“You were suspicious of me just moments ago, and now you suddenly trust me?”
“A clever man must be quick to judge as the situation demands. One’s thoughts and opinions should be as easy to flip as the back of one’s hand.”
That was not something a noble—especially one who valued honor and pride—should say.
All the more so for someone as esteemed across the Empire as Duke Heibach.
But that was exactly what made him remarkable.
Duke Heibach didn’t bind himself to those trivialities nobles obsessed over.
His relentless pursuit of practicality made him almost alien among his peers.
And yet, other nobles didn’t mock him. That alone spoke volumes about the level of influence and respect he had earned.
“Explain it to me in detail.”
“Right. Where was I? Ah, yes— I’ve heard you’ll be attending [GeheimnisNacht].”
“Yes. I received an invitation.”
“You know what kind of place it is better than I do, seeing as you’re a mage.”
“GeheimnisNacht is an annual festival where mages from all over the world gather. Most magical schools participate, seeking to explore unknown mysteries and advance magical research.”
“And? Aren’t you missing something?”
Heibach looked at him expectantly, as if waiting for the real answer.
Ludger sighed and replied.
“It’s also a den of the most cunning and utilitarian power struggles among mages. They’re obsessed with uncovering the secrets of the land where GeheimnisNacht is held, sabotaging one another, sometimes forming alliances, clawing at each other for scraps of knowledge.”
“Correct!”
Heibach laughed heartily, as though Ludger had scratched an itch perfectly.
“Yes, GeheimnisNacht isn’t as pure as the world believes. Look deeper and you’ll find it crawling with mages’ insatiable desire for knowledge and their twisted morality coiling like a snake.”
“And what problem does that pose?”
“None, really. Whether they tear each other apart or not, it’s none of my concern.”
“Then why...”
“But if something else gets mixed into it, the story changes.”
As the conversation finally reached the main point, Ludger’s expression grew serious.
“Something else?”
“Yes. An extremely dangerous contaminant. Normally, GeheimnisNacht doesn’t cause any significant disturbance outside of the mage community. Do you know why?”
“Because of the unique characteristics of the location.”
Exactly.
Heibach nodded.
“The land where GeheimnisNacht is held every year—called Kasarr—is a mountainous basin.”
Kasarr was special.
The massive ley lines flowing from all directions converged in that basin.
Like rainwater pooling in a hollowed bowl, the underground ley lines gathered at the heart of Kasarr.
And the mana density, far surpassing normal levels, caused unique phenomena in the area.
The very space twisted, forming a separate <Otherworld>.
A place full of mysteries unexplained by either modern science or magic.
That was the Kasarr Basin, where [GeheimnisNacht] was held.
In terms of its cause, it was similar to Seorn’s “Forest of Silence” or “Forest of Phantasms.”
But its scale was incomparably larger.
Because of that, no one could freely enter Kasarr Basin.
The dense mana created a constant fog, and anyone who entered recklessly never returned.
That included even highly skilled mages.
Many who tried to research the mysteries of Kasarr simply vanished without a trace.
“Access to the Kasarr Basin is limited to a specific time each year. Only three days.”
Heibach was correct.
Only for three days out of the entire year could anyone enter the basin.
Once that window closed, entry was impossible.
Fail to leave in time, and you might as well consider yourself dead.
Three days was an unforgivingly short period.
But for mages, those three days were worth more than gold.
An unknown land full of unsolved secrets.
Discovering those mysteries was the main purpose of GeheimnisNacht.
“So something is going to happen there?”
“Not just something. It could throw the entire continent into chaos. Like carrying a spark into a powder keg.”
Kasarr Basin lay beyond Imperial territory.
If Duke Heibach had come personally to ask for help...
‘That means whatever is about to happen could affect the Empire as well.’
With so many mages gathering there, it couldn’t be anything ordinary.
“So you want me to extinguish that dangerous spark? If that’s the case, why me? Surely there are others.”
“And who would those others be? I can’t go myself—I’m no mage.”
“You can attend even without being a mage.”
“Even so, I’m busy.”
“There are plenty of mages you could ask.”
“Plenty? Who? The Old Mage Tower? The New Mage Tower? The School Alliance? They all have affiliations. But you’re different.”
“I’m affiliated with Seorn.”
“Let’s not play dumb. Don’t take me for a fool.”
To Heibach, Ludger was the perfect candidate.
No major faction affiliation, not an enemy of the Empire, highly skilled in magic, and already invited to GeheimnisNacht.
“You’re the only one I can entrust to stop whoever is plotting something there.”
Heibach had come specifically to request this as a personal favor.
Less suspicion, clear justification, and exceptional skill.
“I understand the general outline. But I still find your proposal unappealing.”
He understood something big was about to happen, something that could spiral out of control.
“But that doesn’t mean I have to deal with it.”
Though Heibach had enough reasons to ask, accepting was entirely Ludger’s choice.
And it was strange to beg for help for something happening in a distant land.
If anything, now that he knew this, Ludger had even less reason to attend GeheimnisNacht.
He didn’t like moving under someone else’s orders.
Heibach nodded, as if understanding that.
“I understand. Do you think I’d shamelessly beg for free? Of course, there’s compensation.”
“Go on.”
“I’ll give you a reward worthy of the name Heibach Kadatushan.”
“I don’t move for just any sum of money.”
“Would I brag about money to someone who secured massive funding for Seorn? No, what I can offer is something far more valuable.”
Heibach tapped his temple with his finger.
“Knowledge. Experience. A lifetime of accumulated expertise.”
“And how would that help me?”
“If you’re curious about anything, ask. I’ll answer as long as it’s within what I can tell you. In fact, ask me one thing right now—I’ll answer.”
Offering knowledge as payment sounded ridiculous.
But coming from Heibach, it oddly carried weight.
Still, Ludger didn’t trust him completely.
Even if Heibach shared information, Ludger could find it himself given time.
Unless it was something truly difficult to uncover otherwise.
‘This is a trap as well.’
Heibach promised to answer, but people usually asked something crucial in situations like this.
For example—
“Do you know where pieces of the Relic are?”
But asking that would immediately reveal Ludger’s interest in the Relic.
‘This sly old man wouldn’t miss a detail like that.’
It looked tempting, but it was clearly bait.
“Still hesitating? Ask me anything. I won’t blab about it to anyone. I’m very discreet.”
“I was just considering what to ask that you might not know or might get wrong.”
“Ha! So you were planning to squeeze me dry, were you?”
Heibach chuckled, and Ludger finally asked a question.
Something even Heibach might struggle to answer.
“Duke Heibach, what do you know about Non-Attributed Mana?”
“Hmm. Non-Attributed Mana. You’re not asking about the basic textbook knowledge, are you?”
Heibach smiled, almost gleeful, like a child handed candy.
“Non-Attributed Mana has no clear origin. But its users have always existed. The student you’re teaching now, for instance. And before them as well.”
“...Who was it?”
“There was a woman who tried everything to overcome her limits. But one day, she gave up her research and vanished. Word is she fell in love, had a child.”
Heibach stroked his chin as he spoke.
“That was... not even twenty years ago. Around eighteen, I’d say.”
“...”
“After that, there were rare sightings, but about ten years ago, she disappeared completely. Likely dead. Whether she couldn’t overcome her limits or ended her life in despair, who knows.”
At the mention of suicide, Ludger clenched his fist under the desk.
Regardless, Heibach continued speaking.
“You’re researching Non-Attributed Mana for that student, aren’t you? In that case, you’re in luck.”
“And why is that?”
“Because what you’re looking for is at [GeheimnisNacht].”
Ludger raised an eyebrow.
He didn’t bother asking how Heibach knew—that was pointless.
Instead, he questioned why such information would be there.
“Heh. Don’t tell me this is your first time attending GeheimnisNacht?”
Ludger nodded.
He had only heard about it, never attended.
He wanted to, but never had the time.
Until now, he hadn’t even acted openly as a mage.
“Then you don’t know its origins either, do you?”
“Do you?”
“Of course. This is my livelihood; how could I not?”
Heibach grinned, pleased to finally explain.
“GeheimnisNacht is held every year. Do you know how many times it’s been held?”
“Over a hundred, surely?”
“Not quite. Not even a hundred years yet. But close. Seventy-three years, to be exact. Older than me.”
Seventy-three years.
Long, but considering the mysterious nature of Kasarr, surprisingly short.
“Well, short by historical standards. After the Colonial War, humanity turned its eyes to unknown lands. That was eighty years ago. Long for a man, short for history.”
“And what does that have to do with Non-Attributed Mana?”
“Have you heard of the mansion inside Kasarr Basin?”
A mansion?
In a place open only three days a year?
Did someone haul materials in to build it?
“Of course not. That mansion wasn’t built by explorers. It’s the opposite.”
“The opposite...?”
“It’s been there from the start. Built long ago by someone unknown.”