“Hmm, everyone looks like they’ve swallowed their tongues, huh?”
From the crystal ball placed on Whitney’s desk, a loud and lively voice echoed.
“Such familiar faces I haven’t seen in a while—aren’t you being a little cold?”
But anyone who knew the true identity of the cheerful voice’s owner would likely shudder without realizing it.
“The Shadow Witch. A figure we regard with as much caution as the leader of the black mages has arrived.”
“Indeed, her power is said to rival even the elders of the dark sect—truly formidable.”
“…Ufufu. I wonder how you managed to breach our security?”
Long before becoming a black mage, she committed countless war crimes and large-scale massacres.
After becoming a black mage, she conducted horrifying and gruesome experiments.
Thanks to that, even after multiple clashes with the Holy Kingdom and Lumen Ordo, she remains alive and well—an indication of her terrifying abilities.
She is the de facto second-in-command of the Shadow Conclave.
That is the wicked side hidden behind the cheerful voice now emanating from the crystal ball.
“I don’t know what possessed you to appear before us like this, but don’t even think about trying anything foolish.”
Even so, the reaction of the Elder Council, including Chairman Salem, was remarkably calm.
“Is it because of the ancient magic held within Lumen Ordo? It is quite a nuisance.”
“The rules formed by ancient pacts supposedly disregard even the power of royalty and the Holy Kingdom. Quite the convenient defense system, isn’t it?”
Even the Shadow Witch, the second-in-command of the black mages, acknowledged the formidable security of Lumen Ordo.
“Whitney, if you—an official of Lumen Ordo—hadn’t granted permission, even this voice transmission would’ve been impossible.”
“…Don’t tell me activating the crystal ball was the trigger.”
“Still, don’t worry too much. You only allowed a ‘call,’ so that’s all I can do, you see?”
As she said, even her voice leaking through Whitney’s crystal ball was only possible because she had found a small loophole.
“Oh, and I noticed you have something similar in your mansion too. I tried to break in while you were away, but it wasn’t easy.”
“…?”
“Maybe it wasn’t even the Great Shadow herself. What trick did you use?”
But just when Whitney began feeling uneasy about the bizarre things she was saying—
“You think you can handle the consequences of trespassing into the sanctuary of light?”
A sudden chilling voice rang from the head seat—Tiffany Astelaid.
“Haha. The new leader of Lumen Ordo is just a child. Are you seriously following this nonsense?”
But upon hearing Tiffany’s voice, now filled with killing intent, the Shadow Witch’s mocking laughter mixed with disrespectful speech rang across the room.
“Looks like I’ll have to remind you how your previous Guardian of Radiance died.”
“Shut your damn mouth!!!”
“Oh my. That fiery temper—I rather like it?”
At that moment, even as the enraged Tiffany’s eyes turned white, the Shadow Witch’s voice remained gentle as ever.
“I just love toying with people like you the most.”
“…- – ·!”
And then, in the next instant.
Black smoke suddenly began pouring out of the crystal ball.
“Now, how is it? I made a little barrier for our secret rendezvous. Even the elders of Lumen Ordo will need at least thirty minutes to break it.”
“This is all possible because you allowed the call. Once again, thank you. Fufu…”
As the smoke quickly wrapped around Whitney, just as she said, an isolated space severed from the outside world enveloped him.
“Enough chit-chat. State your business.”
“Kukuku. Are you giving me orders?”
“…I said state your business.”
Calmly scanning the area and assessing the situation, Whitney dropped his formal speech and responded coldly to the Shadow Witch’s giggling voice.
“I think I understand now why the Great Shadow has her eyes on you.”
“……”
“Definitely promising talent.”
Seemingly delighted, the Shadow Witch’s voice trembled slightly with excitement as she eagerly continued.
“Alright then, let’s get to the point. The next Shadow Conclave has been scheduled.”
“…What?”
“I’ll come to you that day, and you’ll accompany me to the meeting.”
Upon hearing that, Whitney’s face turned visibly colder as he stared into the crystal ball.
“By the way, you do remember your role is to serve as the stand-in for the Great Shadow, right?”
“……”
“Ahaha. Don’t be so nervous. I’m practically her only loyal subordinate.”
Even though only her voice was coming through, it felt as though her tone softened slightly.
“This secret is known only to me among the black mages, so I’ll accompany you personally.”
“……”
“Having the Great Shadow Witch herself as your assistant—what a luxury, right?”
But still looking unimpressed, Whitney asked a quiet question.
“As far as I know, none of the officers are truly loyal.”
“…Oh my.”
“What are you really after?”
At those words, the Shadow Witch’s voice suddenly turned sultry.
“Have you already started acting like the stand-in? I like you more and more.”
“……”
“Kukuku. You don’t need to glare at me so passionately.”
By that point, Whitney couldn’t help but feel unsettled, wondering if the crystal ball could see him too.
“In fact, you’re right. I do have my own agenda.”
Then, the Shadow Witch began delivering a very ominous message.
“There are only a few in the Shadow Conclave who know that our great leader doesn’t possess the power of domination.”
“…The power of domination.”
“Yes. The power that only you in this entire world possess.”
For some reason, the Shadow Witch seemed to know the same conclusion that Lumen Ordo had reached after long research into Whitney’s mana signature.
“Do you know what I’ve learned living in this world?”
“……”
“In order to survive, to rise to greatness—you need to be smart about who you side with.”
Whitney’s expression grew even more uncomfortable, but the Shadow Witch continued without care.
“That low-ranking member who shared my nature—he chose Pedro’s side instead of mine, tortured you, and ended up dead.”
“……”
“That’s life. Everything depends on awareness.”
Though her tone sounded polite, the Shadow Witch’s words were becoming more intense.
— Goooo…
Meanwhile, the black smoke that had been seeping from the crystal ball began to gather gently around Whitney’s shoulders.
“And now, even my instincts are telling me to follow your lead.”
Feeling as though long fingers were brushing over his shoulders, Whitney waved his hand to scatter the smoke, only for it to reform immediately.
“There are countless stories in history where a stand-in replaces their ruler and becomes the real one.”
“…Aren’t you afraid of the consequences?”
As the figure settled onto the desk and transformed into the form of a little witch, Whitney spoke with an uncharacteristically aggressive tone.
“Like that old bastard just said a moment ago, Lumen Ordo is protected by ancient magic that can’t be deciphered.”
“……”
“No being, without the permission of a white mage, can so much as set foot inside—let alone exert any influence.”
The little witch, who was sitting on the edge of the table and swinging her legs, stretched a jagged mouth across her smoky face and replied.
“The Great Shadow, who doesn’t even have the power of domination—how pitiful, kukuk…”
As she said that, the little incarnation of the Shadow Witch slowly reached out her hand toward Whitney, who was looking down at her.
“Well, let’s get along, shall we? I’m just as interested in you as the Great Shadow is.”
“When you one day take over the black mages, I hope you won’t forget that I was the first to bow my head to you.”
“…Do the other executives share your thoughts?”
Ignoring the gesture entirely, Whitney asked in a cold voice, and the Shadow Witch’s doppelgänger tilted her head while still holding out her hand.
“Hmm… who knows?”
“……”
“Even if I say all this, I don’t fully trust you just yet.”
Giggling with a hand over her mouth, she whispered again as her mouth stretched unnaturally wide.
“But if I were to give you a little hint… maybe at least two others are thinking like me?”
“……”
“For the Great Shadow Witch to be giving you hints like this—it’s an achievement, isn’t it? You could brag about it.”
But Whitney never took the hand that she extended.
“Well then, I’ll be going now.”
—Crack-crack…
“Some crazy woman is tearing apart my barrier by the seams, so I think I’d better get going.”
With a hint of regret, the witch’s doppelgänger glanced up at him before spotting a fissure forming beside her, and began dissolving into smoke.
“Are you running away?”
“Of course I am. Now that I’ve noticed there are two crazy women tearing apart my grand magic by force—there’s no way I can deal with that in this body.”
Just as she said, from the crack that had grown to the size of a brick, Meredia’s eyes were glowing brighter red than ever.
—Creeeeeeak…
On the opposite side, a thin hand—presumably Tiffany Astelaid’s—was breaking through the Shadow Witch’s barrier and forcibly widening the gap.
“Well, if you’d given permission for my real body to show up here, things might’ve turned out differently…”
“In your dreams.”
“…Yeah, to be honest, I was scared too. Just thought you’d try saying it.”
The antics of the two who were violating the very fundamentals of magical theory left even the Shadow Witch visibly stunned, though she tried not to show it.
“Why… why did you show up at this timing?”
“Well, like I said earlier, I was trying to avoid the Great Shadow’s attention.”
As Whitney asked in an exasperated tone, the doppelgänger—now half-faded—answered with a voice full of laughter.
“Still, I’m the one trying to align myself with you. Shouldn’t you handle this much of a crisis on your own to earn my trust?”
“……”
“Well then, see you next time. Kukukuku…”
Leaving those words behind, the Shadow Witch’s doppelgänger fully dissolved into the air.
—Crash…!
The next moment, the barrier created by the Shadow Witch unexpectedly shattered into pieces in just under three minutes.
“Everyone, I’m fin—ah.”
And in the next moment, even before Whitney could react, soft arms wrapped around his body.
“…You bastard.”
Lady Meredia, drenched in cold sweat, was breathing heavily as she held Whitney in her arms.
“If you’re okay, say you’re okay.”
“L-Lady…”
“I was worried….”
Even Meredia seemed to have pushed herself too far in tearing apart the space itself.
Now limp, she looked Whitney in the eyes and muttered quietly before resting her head on his shoulder.
“T-That was my line…”
Meanwhile, on the other side, Tiffany Astelaid—who had run over in a rush—muttered to herself with a slightly disappointed expression.
“…Wait a second.”
Her eyes widened in surprise.
“Is that… no way…”
Her pale expression turned to shock as her gaze landed on the back of Meredia’s right hand, which was embracing Whitney.
A black brand had surfaced.
“D-Don’t say it!”
Lifting her head in a panic, Meredia shouted with a flustered expression, but it was already too late.
“…A terminal curse?”
The words identifying the curse had already spilled from Tiffany’s lips.
And soon after, a heavy silence fell over the meeting room.
Cliche Novel 