Chapter 3 : The Sorceress Who Stood Alone
“Had it not been for her, this part of the continent would have long since been reduced to ruins by the Demon King!”
“What?!”
“She alone stood against them, ensuring they could never rise to the surface. This statue was erected in honor of Lady Raylee’s noble sacrifice.”
‘So… the female lead of this statue… is me?’
‘Oh… um… well… fine then!
It could indeed be possible! Unlike in the original tale, my relationship with Eryon had been a good one.
Perhaps she had this statue made out of gratitude for saving her. Our female lead is far too kind.
And yet, I feel a pang of guilt, for I never truly sacrificed anything…’
” A-ah, what about Eryon?”
“She too is a great figure! The first woman in history to ever become Queen of the Mercenaries!”
‘What am I hearing now?’
“Queen of the Mercenaries?”
“Indeed! Many were inspired by Lady Eryon’s example and aspired to become mercenaries themselves. Thus, ridding the land of monsters became easier, and the lives of people improved greatly! Is that not splendid?”
Ha-ha-ha! Brandon burst into loud laughter. Ha-ha-ha… and I laughed along with him, awkwardly.
“Then, what about the male lead, Phileon…”
“Let us be off now! It seems the rain shall fall soon!”
I lifted my gaze—sure enough, black clouds already swelled across the heavens.
Brandon and I arrived before the inn just as the first drops began to fall.
“Thank you for accompanying me. I’ve included a small gratuity for you as well.”
“My thanks, Lady Raylee. I enjoyed the brief time we spent together!”
“Before we part ways, I wish to ask one last thing… Is Phil—”
“I must go now! I wish you a pleasant journey!”
‘I stared, dumbfounded, as Brandon waved his hand and dashed into the downpour. Surely no one could ignore a question posed so directly…
Did he truly not hear me?
Or did he deliberately avoid the answer?
But… did not the original story end in peace?’
At that very moment, thunder rumbled through the grey heavens with a far more ominous note than usual.
Ku-gu-gu-gu!
‘The state of affairs on the Western Continent was nothing but a chain of bewildering surprises.
Ah! Truly, the capital’s statue is the finest in care and grandeur!’
First, there stood a statue of Raylee Volks. It was said that seven statues were scattered across the land, including one in the port city where I had first arrived.
There was even a sightseeing tour that passed through all cities containing Raylee Volks’ statues—famous among the fanatics.
…And I dared not approach those fanatics; their fervor was more than a little frightening.
“Sir Sirius, the former Master of the Magic Tower, was the one who funded the entirety of the costs, was he not?”
At that moment, I felt a faint joy. For I had long admired Sir Sirius, ever since I entered the Magic Tower.
So yes, I was a little moved…
“And it is said that Sir Theod, the current Master of the Tower, constantly expresses his respect for Lady Raylee Volks.”
My eyes widened in astonishment as I asked:
“Excuse me?”
“Yes?”
“No, it’s just… what did you say the name of the current Tower Master was…?”
“Sir Theod… And who might you be?”
The tourists gathered before the statue looked at me warily. It was only natural, for a stranger had suddenly appeared and begun questioning them.
But I could not help myself.
“I beg your pardon… Could you repeat that once more? Who is the Tower Master now?”
“Sir Theod. Only nineteen years of age—youngest to ever hold the position in history.”
‘What is this? Who on earth is he supposed to be?
And why not the male lead, Phileon?
In the original tale, after my death, Phileon inherited the Tower at once! Then Count Volks, enraged, began his attempt to summon the Demon King! Such were the very events of the novel itself—the novel whose title was Master of the Magic Tower!
Had Phileon retired in the meantime?
Something… something has shifted in a strange way…
The statue engraved with my name, Eryon the female lead, this Tower Master…
Everything was veering away from the original tale I once knew.
…And yet, I felt no true urge to dig deeper.
I could scarcely manage my own livelihood now.
Surely they could resolve their matters without me.
Nor could I meet again those I once knew. Having been memorialized thus, it would only be mortifying to appear once more.’
I lowered my hat further over my face and slipped into the crowd. I spoke only when necessary, striving to pass my days alone as much as possible.
‘The problem was… the appointed place to meet my companion was—
In front of the Mercenary Guild.’
On the morning of the third day since arriving in the capital.
I narrowed my eyes, watching the people coming and going before the guild.
‘When will Breiden arrive?’
The man I was to meet today was Breiden Sevier, my comrade from mercenary days on the Eastern Continent. A loyal friend, he had offered to work alongside me when he heard of my financial plight.
Yet, most unfortunately, we had agreed to meet before the Mercenary Guild. Thus now, anxiety gnawed at me, fearing what might transpire.
Still… the road here had been uneventful.
‘Surely nothing will happen…’
“It’s Lady Eryon!”
‘Damn it. Curse my luck.’
“The Queen of the Mercenaries, Eryon!”
“Lady Eryon has arrived!”
The crowd gathered before the guild all turned as one. From afar, a great carriage approached.
And from it descended someone I knew all too well.
“Eryon.”
She raised her hand, and thunderous cheers erupted.
She looked stronger, more majestic than ever in my memories. The pink hair she once wore long now cut short, giving her an air of striking elegance.
‘She looks like a star.’
I had heard whispers—she had only just returned from slaying a high-grade monster, demons among them.
‘This part, at least, matches the original tale…’
Count Volks had failed to summon the Demon King, and the incarnation had been stopped. Yet…
The rift, forced open between this world and the other, had never been fully sealed. Through the years it continued to spill demons into this realm from time to time.
The male lead and female lead worked together to halt them… and from there blossomed love, a proposal, and in the end, marriage. Such were the events of the long epilogue in the original tale.
‘Ah… could Phileon be with her as well?’
I rose on tiptoe, straining to see within the carriage.
“You’ve done well once again on this mission. We heard three demons were among them.”
“It was nothing. Compared to the sacrifice Lady Raylee once made, such things are but trifles.”
‘Indeed… the demons I had conjured then, as mere illusions—how many were there? Around thirty?’
“I will follow her will until the very end. I shall drive every demon from this land!”
“The great Queen of the Mercenaries!”
“Woooooh! Eryon Reviel!”
“For Raylee Volks!”
I could no longer endure the fervent, fiery air and quietly stepped back. I had never been accustomed to such attention.
Still, my eyes remained fixed upon Eryon. At the very least, I wished to see Phileon before leaving.
‘He was no longer the Tower Master, was he not?
With his temperament, he would never have resigned of his own accord. Surely this Theod—or Iewood, whatever his name—must have stolen the position from him. How disgraceful it must have been! Worse yet, his rival was no more than eighteen!
Could it be he was so shocked that he collapsed entirely, even in spirit? Oh, how I long to see him! My heart races wildly at the mere thought of it!
…And yet, no matter how I strained my gaze, I could not find him.’
was nodding along, listening intently—when suddenly, my entire body froze in place.
” It is difficult to believe, is it not? And yet, it is the truth! The Magic Tower itself has proclaimed it officially!”
” …….”
” What is even more astounding is that the one who attempted to summon the Demon King… was none other than Count Volks—the very man who halted the Second Great Monster Wave!”
‘Never had I imagined that I would hear such a tale upon first setting foot in the Empire.’
“And what became of that Count?”
“He was apprehended by the Magic Tower before he could complete the summoning. Is that not remarkable?”
‘My heavens… so it all came to an end well enough.’
I inclined my head, relief washing over me. It seemed events had unfolded in harmony with the original tale… had they not?
“And afterward, that statue was erected.”
‘…A statue? Was there ever such a thing in the original story?’
“All of this, none of it would have been possible, were it not for that sorceress. Her name is…”
‘Fortune, it seemed, favored me, for Brandon appeared ready to unveil the detail I so craved. I, too, ventured to hazard a guess, my lips parting as though to seize the answer before it was spoken.
The sorceress who had wrought all of this. And her name was…’
“Eryon…”
“Lady Raylee Volks!!”
