“What the hell? What happened?”

“Why is the forward base...?”

Something had clearly gone wrong at the forward base while the expedition team was away.

The expedition members hurriedly rushed back to the base.

“It’s the expedition team! The ones who left are coming back!”

A mage guarding the outer barrier of the base recognized them and shouted in welcome.

But up close, the condition of the barrier was far worse.

Near the perimeter, there were the corpses of beasts—some scorched, others frozen solid.

Marks of destruction were carved into various parts of the barrier.

‘Did the beasts attack?’

It seemed the beasts had gone wild in reaction to the eruption of the ley line.

But even so, the state of the interior didn’t look good either.

In fact, it was even worse than the outside.

Tents were scorched in several places, and signs of destruction were everywhere throughout the base.

There were even corpses lying around that hadn’t been recovered yet.

“What the hell happened here...”

Just when they thought they could finally catch their breath, the returning expedition members, their faces full of exhaustion, made their way to the central square.

It was chaotic.

The wounded were all laid out in the square, with people moving around them in a frenzy.

“Injured over here! Move slowly! You, the mage over there! Bring every last potion we’ve got!”

In the middle of that chaos, one person was barking commands with a commanding voice.

It wasn’t just her charismatic presence—her beauty, like a snow fairy descending from the heavens, captured everyone’s attention.

Queen Yekaterina.

She was actively taking the lead, organizing the panicked base personnel and restoring order.

She didn’t just issue orders—she personally applied pressure to wounds and wrapped them in bandages.

Her twin aides moved diligently beside her, transporting the wounded.

“She’s royalty, and yet she doesn’t hesitate to do such exhausting work.”

“But more importantly... what the hell happened to the forward base?”

The expedition members were in awe of Yekaterina’s presence, but their shock at the current situation quickly returned.

Wasn’t the forward base supposed to be the safest place in the entire Kassar Basin?

At that moment, a mage who had noticed the returning team approached Yekaterina and spoke to her.

Yekaterina turned to look, then approached with her twin aides in tow.

Since this was a public setting, her expression was as calm and composed as it had been in the hotel lobby.

“I’m glad you all made it back. Is there a representative among you?”

When she asked, three people stepped forward.

One was Gregoryum Solute, head of the Old Magic Tower.

Another was Riumea, head of the New Magic Tower.

And finally, Derrick Olson, a free mage and representative of various independent factions.

They were all high-ranking, powerful, and experienced mages.

Each of them bowed respectfully to Queen Yekaterina.

“It’s an honor to meet you, Your Majesty. I’m Derrick Olson. Please forgive our lack of formality.”

“There’s no need for it in this situation. I understand.”

“Then, if I may—what exactly happened here?”

Yekaterina’s face turned grim as she explained what had happened.

“It was an hour ago. Suddenly, beasts native to the area began charging us from all directions.”

The beasts in the Kassar Basin were nothing like the animals outside.

They had evolved and adapted to survive in an environment flooded with mana—an entire ecosystem of magical creatures.

Naturally, the mages had to fight them off.

“They battered the barrier, and in some places, even breached it. We fought back with everything we had.”

Judging by the sheer number of corpses scattered around the barrier, it was clear that the assault had been massive.

The marks of destruction around the area were proof of how fierce the battle had been.

“But the barrier shouldn’t have fallen so easily,” Derrick said, clearly baffled.

The rest of the expedition team felt the same.

Even if the base was only a temporary structure, it housed over a thousand mages.

Not to mention, the base was often visited by wealthy or noble individuals on magical tourism—so safety was always the highest priority.

The barrier was under constant maintenance and inspection. It was built to prevent precisely this kind of catastrophe.

Even if beasts had attacked in force, it didn’t make sense for the interior of the base to be in such chaos.

“You’re right. We managed to fend off the external assault without suffering serious losses. The real problem... came from within.”

“...No way.”

Derrick’s eyes widened as if he realized something.

Yekaterina gave a solemn nod.

“There were traitors inside. They timed their attack to coincide with the beast invasion, launching simultaneous acts of sabotage all over the base.”

A large number of mages had been drawn to the barrier to repel the attack, leaving the inside vulnerable.

The result was a massacre. Many mages were killed or gravely wounded.

“Traitors? Who...?”

“They were mixed in with the rest. Their robes, their symbols—everything looked legitimate. I believe they’d infiltrated long ago.”

“And what happened to them?”

“They ran. Just before the expedition team returned—less than thirty minutes ago.”

The base hadn’t taken it lying down.

They regrouped and attempted to counterattack immediately—but the traitors were cunning. The moment they noticed a response forming, they scattered and fled.

They retreated in perfect coordination, slipping outside the base and vanishing.

“How could something like this happen...”

“More importantly, is your expedition team alright? You’re... fewer than when you left.”

Yekaterina looked at the worn-down team with concern.

The base was in shambles—but the expedition members didn’t look much better.

“...We went through quite a lot as well.”

Derrick Olson couldn’t hide his unease.

He explained to Yekaterina that monsters had appeared inside the mansion, killing and injuring many, and that the mansion itself had collapsed.

“That can’t be! What are the casualties?”

“Less than half of those who went inside made it out alive.”

Nearly 200 had entered, and fewer than 100 had survived.

“There were mages of Lexer-level and higher... How could this have happened?”

“That...”

Even Derrick didn’t fully know, and naturally his gaze drifted to Ludger’s group.

They were the only team here with two 6th-Circle mages.

“Uh, uh...”

As the crowd turned to look, Loina looked flustered.

She quickly stepped back and pushed Ludger forward.

“What are you doing?”

“I-I’m just not comfortable with attention like this...”

It wasn’t an act—she looked pale enough to vomit.

Well, it can’t be helped.

Ludger turned to the gathering mages and began recounting what had happened in the mansion.

“Archmage Rimle... is dead.”

“You’re Ludger Cherish, yes? May we ask how the Sage passed away?”

“Do you recall the events inside the mansion? The shadow monsters that ran rampant?”

“Yes, but why bring that up now...?”

“Archmage Rimle... was behind it all.”

“...What?”

The murmurs turned into an uproar as the truth spilled from Ludger’s mouth.

“Is that true? Or is this some kind of misunderstanding...?”

“My companions can testify to it.”

As Ludger said this, Sempas and Loina nodded, backing up his account.

With another 6th-Circle mage confirming the story, the crowd responded with a mixture of reactions.

It’s true. It’s a lie. Why would they say something like this now?

“You’re all in on it, aren’t you?!”

Someone shouted with suspicion in their eyes.

A few mages began glaring at Ludger’s group.

If Rimle, one of their companions, had done something like this, then Ludger’s team was not above suspicion.

“You’re accusing us now?”

“Can you really say we shouldn’t?”

“So, by that logic, you’re accusing me—and Miss Loina as well—of conspiring with him.”

The moment Ludger brought up Loina’s name, the mage who had raised suspicion in the first place fell silent.

Whether it was because of Loina or not, the mages affiliated with the Allied Schools began defending Ludger.

“If they were accomplices, they wouldn’t be speaking the truth like this.”

“Are you seriously accusing the renowned mage Loina Pavlini?”

No matter what else, the reputation of a 6th-Circle mage carried undeniable weight.

Even those who had been nurturing suspicion were forced to set it aside in the face of Loina’s fame.

“So, to sum it all up... the situation is as bad as it gets.”

Archmage Rimle’s betrayal.

The devastation of the Truth School.

The deaths of numerous battle mages, including Belkath Benmark.

Many skilled mages who had entered the mansion were now dead.

On top of that, the ley line beneath the mansion was surging wildly, mana energy erupting in waves.

Like ripples spreading out from a single drop on a still lake.

Disturbance and despair fanned out in waves across the base.

“A-Are we all going to die like this?”

“Don’t be ridiculous! Why the hell do I—?!”

Negative emotions spiraled, linking one to another, spreading fear greater than their original source.

It was a disease—an epidemic.

“Everyone! Please calm down!”

At that moment, a clear and resonant voice cut through the turmoil.

Like a bell dispelling the mists of dawn, the noise clouding their minds washed away.

All eyes turned to the voice’s owner—Queen Yekaterina.

“There’s no denying the situation is dire. But dwelling on what’s already happened doesn’t help anyone right now. This isn’t over yet.”

The way she spoke, firm and unwavering, radiated the authority and charisma of a true ruler.

She possessed a strange kind of magnetism that pulled people in.

Everyone nodded, as if under a spell.

“Wow... she’s amazing.”

Arfa whispered in quiet admiration, moved by Yekaterina’s unwavering hope and courage.

But Ludger knew the truth.

He knew that more than anyone else here, Yekaterina was the most afraid.

He had seen the faint tremble in her fingertips.

To others, it might’ve looked like trembling from passion or fury—but it was the opposite.

It was the telltale sign of someone forcing themselves to appear fine, suppressing their fear.

Yet she didn’t let it show.

Because she knew—if she crumbled, everything would fall apart.

“Right now, outside that barrier, those who seek to destroy the Night of Mysteries are watching, waiting. If we give up here, then that truly will be the end of everything.”

“Then... what should we do?”

In response to Derrick’s question, Yekaterina answered resolutely.

“We fight!”

Her gaze unwavering, Yekaterina looked every person in the eye as she declared:

“We must prepare countermeasures, find solutions, and get ready. We can’t act the way they want us to.”

Hearing her words, Ludger suddenly recalled something from the past.

—Form countermeasures. Find a way. Be prepared. Unless you want to dance in the hands of your enemies.

It was a piece of advice he’d once given Yekaterina himself, back during the days of Machiavelli.

‘She still remembers what I taught her. Not bad.’

She feared battle—but never ran from it.

She was more fainthearted than anyone—but when it mattered most, she never turned away.

That was courage.

And courage was Yekaterina’s greatest weapon.

It was because of that authenticity—those genuine actions—that people followed her willingly.

“Everyone, don’t forget your roles!”

The chaos, which had resembled an unregulated marketplace, began to settle.

The injured focused on recovery, and the uninjured helped them.

Burned tents were torn down, and damaged barriers were repaired and reinforced.

The leaders of each faction or school gathered together to prepare for a strategy meeting.

The location: the largest tent on-site.

Ludger was present there as well.

They had intended to call Loina too, but she had refused, saying she hated that kind of setting and would rather help the wounded.

In truth, that was just her way of shifting the responsibility onto Ludger.

“You’re Ludger Cherish, yes? It’s nice to meet you.”

Before the meeting began, Yekaterina approached Ludger.

“This isn’t our first meeting, is it? We crossed paths briefly at the hotel.”

...Did she still remember him closing the door on her?

Ludger replied without missing a beat.

“This is our first proper conversation.”

“Oh-hoho. I’ve heard a lot about you. They say you’re quite remarkable—both as a mage and a teacher.”

“I’m sure the rumors are exaggerated.”

“Well, I’ll see for myself soon enough. I look forward to it.”

Yekaterina gave him a gentle smile.

“‘I look forward to it’, huh?”

Ludger felt a small suspicion stir within him at her attitude.

Why was she suddenly trying to be so friendly?

‘Could she have guessed my true identity?’

She shouldn’t have had the chance. This was their first proper conversation.

It was also unreasonable to assume she’d figured something out from some tiny behavior or slip-up.

‘There’s no way this airheaded girl could manage that.’

Ludger always called Yekaterina a fool.

Of course, it wasn’t that she was truly stupid.

If anything, it was more that she embodied the “simple” part of “simple-minded,” not the “stupid.”

Her intelligence was at least average, if not better.

The issue was her tendency to act emotionally when rational judgment was needed.

During the civil war, she had made rash decisions more than once—enough to frustrate Ludger and earn repeated scoldings.

Yekaterina, for her part, had her pride. She always insisted she meant well and argued back furiously.

The two of them had clashed countless times during the war.

After all that, it was no surprise that Ludger had developed the mental image of her as a “lacking princess.”

‘Still... she always had oddly sharp instincts. Did she really notice something?’

Ludger watched her retreating figure, feeling uncomfortably tense.

If she had figured out who he was, then he would have no choice but to explain how he had ended up as a teacher at Theorn.

And that was not a conversation he wanted to have.

Before long, the leaders of all factions gathered in one place.

It was time to discuss how they would overcome this situation.

Just as the meeting began, °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° the representative of the Old Magic Tower stood up and spoke.

“We are withdrawing from this.”

It was a bombshell declaration dropped at the very start of the meeting.