"......?"

My eyes widened and looked around the room.

The first thing that caught my eye was dozens of portraits.

Portraits on the wall and the writing next to them.

In the center, there was a picture of Perrian Astria hanging.

"What is this?"

I narrowed my eyes and read the letters written next to it.

[Where do you intend to use necromancy?]

Reading that made me feel like I had been hit on the back of the head.

I quickly looked at the portraits next to it as well.

There were portraits of Daemon, the leader of the rebels, portraits of a teacher defeated by Robert in the past, and portraits of family heads related to the Astria family like the Fred family.

This was a relationship diagram between the Astria family and necromancers.

"They were investigating necromancy?"

I hadn't imagined it.

It wasn't only Robert who was digging into the Astria family's background.

A head wizard was also digging into the Astria family's background like us.

I looked at Ian, putting my surprise behind me.

Ian was surprised like me, but it was clear this wasn't the first time he had seen something like this.

"Did you know?"

"I didn't know the head wizard was investigating this."

That meant Ian was aware that necromancy was being studied.

"How did you know?"

"I found out by chance. More importantly, see if there is anything about time magic."

Ian, touching the wall.

He was commanding me, unable to take his hand off the wall.

"Understood."

I immediately entered the room.

After that, I quickly looked around the desk and drawers.

But I didn't find any evidence.

Knowing that they were investigating the Astria family, one could say the suspicion of being a time magic user was cleared.

The time magic user was someone who was hiding the fact that they were a time magic user and had raised Aryandor.

I wasn't sure of the exact intention, but I thought that person wouldn't do anything beneficial for the empire.

"There is nothing worth mentioning. It's all about the Astria family......"

"......Then come out quickly."

Ian yelled at me, clearly struggling to control his magic.

I tried to quickly leave the room.

At that moment, Ian raised his eyebrows.

Ian quickly took his hand off the wall and turned around.

Then he stretched his hand forward.

"Where do you think you're going?"

"Rudy......"

Behind Ian, there was the head wizard pointing his staff at Luna.

I looked at the clock next to me, surprised by the sudden appearance of the head wizard.

It wasn't time for my appointment with Luna yet.

The appointment with Luna was in an hour.

Yet, even though it hadn't been 30 minutes, the head wizard had arrived.

"How did you know?"

"You wouldn't investigate the Astria family without being prepared for Astria's spatial magic, would you?"

Ian wouldn't have used magic carelessly.

That means the head wizard knew we had entered from the start.

"Are you not going to lower that hand?"

The head wizard tapped Ian's head with his staff.

Ian carefully lowered his hand that had been stretched out.

"Then answer my question. If you don't tell the truth or even move your mana slightly, your head will fly off immediately."

"Understood."

"When did you know that Perrian was harboring necromancers?"

"Not long ago."

"How did you find out?"

"My father told me directly."

"So, are you saying you're also part of it?"

"No."

"Hmm..."

The head wizard smacked his lips after hearing Ian's answer.

"Even if Rudy is one thing, you're the problem."

"You don't have to worry about that. I didn't come here for that reason."

"Then why did you come?"

"I suspected you were a time magic user."

"Time magic user?"

When Ian said that, the head wizard's eyes turned towards me.

"I thought the same."

"Ha... How could you both have such a misunderstanding? Didn't Robert tell you anything about me?"

"Professor Robert?"

I tilted my head at the sudden mention of Robert's name.

"Robert and I were disciples of Lord Levian together."

"What?"

"How long I've been with that guy. If I tell him about this, he would laugh his head off."

The head wizard and Professor Robert?

I widened my eyes at this new information.

The head wizard looked much older than Professor Robert.

His beard was bushy, and his face was lined with deep wrinkles.

"Don't worry, there are many who can vouch for me."

"Understood But we"

The head wizard lowered his staff and gestured to us.

"Both of you, follow me. Luna, you come too."

"Yes!"

Luna, who had been fidgeting in the back, nodded at the head wizard's words.

"I won't disclose that you came here. But that doesn't mean I won't do anything."

The head wizard tapped the desk with his staff.

"Whether or not someone becomes the master of Astria doesn't concern me much. However, I am opposed to anyone inheriting the Astria family in its current state. I don't know what thoughts and ideologies you have, but I don't think adults would reject such a great power in front of them."

"What do you want us to do?"

At Ian's words, the head wizard smiled.

"Collaborate. To take down your father."

My eyes widened and I looked at Ian.

Ian's eyes narrowed and glared at the head wizard.

"What do you mean by collaborate?"

"Exactly as it sounds. Combine your strengths to uncover the secrets of Astria. And when everything is over, then you may compete."

"Please, be more specific."

"Ian, teach Rudy Astria spatial magic. Rudy Astria, tell those around you to fully support Ian."

"Collaborate amicably as brothers."

Thump

"That's ridiculous."

Ian said, slamming the desk.

"What do you suggest we do if it's ridiculous? Do you want to go to jail?"

"Do you think teaching spatial magic and collaborating are equivalent?"

"There are more capable people around Rudy Astria than you think. Enough to help you win the succession battle perfectly."

"As you know, even if things continue as they are now, I am winning the succession battle. Are you saying to risk it all for this?"

"Are you worried?"

The head wizard glared at Ian while stroking his beard.

"Are you worried that Rudy Astria will learn spatial magic perfectly, and you'll fail to utilize the people around you? Are you doubting your abilities?"

"No. It's because the value of the help from those around me and spatial magic are as different as heaven and earth."

"I think they are of similar value. Think about the people around Rudy. Astina, Rie, and even the professors at the academy helping you."

"Those people won't necessarily become mine, will they?"

"That depends on how well you do. How would they know whether to help you without seeing your abilities and character?"

Ian frowned.

"Do you think the people around Rudy will help me properly?"

"I think if Rudy just speaks up they will. Rudy Astria, what do you think?"

"I'm not sure, but I'll talk to them."

This was a no-loss deal for me.

I could learn spatial magic and stop Perrian Astria.

Ian, dissatisfied, said,

"Do you really need to teach me spatial magic? Aren't there many other ways we can collaborate?"

"That's something you'll come to know as you investigate Perrian."

The head wizard pulled out a bundle of papers from under the desk.

He pushed the bundle towards us.

"Investigating Perrian becomes much easier with spatial magic."

Turning the pages, a lot of documents related to Perrian unfolded.

Documents on how he tried to hide necromancy and related activities, and about those places.

"Perrian uses spatial magic to dig out spaces behind walls or near the mansion. He creates secret spaces without leaving any trace."

The mansion in the capital had a vault, similar to what the head wizard described.

"You can't normally discover such places. That's why spatial magic is needed."

"Then, what does it mean for Rudy's acquaintances to help me?"

"You have a different task."

"A task?"

"Things involving political pressure and military power. I'll leave that to you."

The head wizard said this and laughed.

"I'll provide the exact details separately. Explaining here will only waste time. I'll send the documents secretly, so wait for them when you return. And Luna?"

"Yes?"

"Help me out a bit."