An old man with a long, snow-white beard, holding a staff adorned with golden ornaments.

Modern mages typically wore neat suits with a light robe draped over them, like a casual coat.

In that sense, the old man standing before him felt strikingly out of place.

A large, tattered robe thrown over shabby clothes.

The stereotypical appearance of an old-fashioned mage from ancient times.

Yet, he didn’t seem outdated.

In fact, his unique appearance and aura suited him so perfectly that it felt almost natural.

Ludger knew exactly who this mage was.

Sage Rimle.

One of the mages he had marked as noteworthy.

Ludger spoke to Rimle with polite formality.

“Pleasure to meet you, Sage Rimle. My name is Ludger Cherish.”

“Oh-ho, I’ve heard the name. I even saw you fighting that tiger just now. You fought well, didn’t you?”

...That tone was much more frivolous than expected.

Ludger was inwardly startled but didn’t let it show as he replied.

“You flatter me. But about what you just mentioned...”

“Oh, about saving people? That’s right. I see only three people there, but you need five to get inside that place, right? So I’ll go with you.”

Not even a “would you mind if I joined,” but a “I’ll go with you.”

That patronizing tone left Ludger momentarily unsure how to respond.

“...That’s not something I can decide on my own. I’ll need to discuss it with my companions.”

“Huh? What’s there to discuss? I said I’ll go with you, didn’t I?”

“Even so, we’re still one person short. It won’t take long, so please wait a moment.”

When Ludger spoke firmly, Rimle clicked his tongue with an exaggerated “tsk.”

Still, he stayed in place, which meant he was willing to wait.

Ludger immediately took Loina aside, moving to a spot a °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° bit farther away.

Then he asked directly.

“That man is Sage Rimle, correct?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“Why is he called a sage?”

Asking a sage why he was a sage sounded rather strange.

But anyone who had just witnessed Rimle’s behavior would immediately understand what Ludger meant.

“Ah. Well, he is a bit... unusual.”

“He wasn’t just unusual. His way of speaking was almost...”

“Like a senile old grandpa?”

“I wouldn’t put it that way.”

“Don’t worry. Everyone thinks that.”

...Then why is he called a sage?

Sensing Ludger’s unspoken question, Loina smiled awkwardly as she explained.

“Rimle wasn’t always like this. He used to be as intelligent as you’d expect from someone called a sage.”

“So you’re saying he isn’t anymore.”

“That’s just what I heard. He studied too much magic, and the side effects... well, it affected his brain.”

Ludger understood what she meant.

So Rimle had once been a brilliant mage, worthy of the title Sage.

But his obsessive pursuit of magical knowledge damaged his brain, leaving only a stubborn old man where an insightful scholar had once been.

‘Dementia, perhaps?’

Of course, it wouldn’t be the same as ordinary dementia.

Regardless, a 6th-Circle mage with a scrambled brain was asking to join their team.

That was the key point.

Could Rimle be trusted?

‘Judging by his behavior, he’s just an eccentric old man.’

But his magical skills were still at the 6th Circle.

And his affiliation? A one-man school named after himself.

‘Could he be Leslie?’

What bothered Ludger most was the fact that Rimle had approached them so conveniently, as if he’d been waiting.

Was Rimle actually First Order Leslie?

‘But maybe not. The man I saw at the Order Synod was methodical and rational. It’s hard to believe someone like that would approach us in such a frivolous way.’

He hadn’t ruled out the possibility of an act, but if even Loina knew of Rimle’s eccentric reputation, then it was unlikely to be an elaborate façade.

Either way, they needed more people to enter the mansion, and every person counted.

“What do you think, Miss Loina?”

“M-me? You’re asking for my opinion? My... my opinion doesn’t really matter...”

“We’re companions. Asking for advice isn’t a big deal, is it?”

“C-companions?”

Loina latched onto that word, her expression turning into a foolish, fluttering smile.

Hm. She was even simpler than he had expected.

Well, there was no harm in humoring her.

“Friends can give each other advice, right?”

“F-friends...”

That single word completely won her over.

She gathered her courage and gave her opinion.

“Sage Rimle should be fine. His personality may be like that, but his knowledge and skills are unquestionable. He’ll definitely be helpful.”

“The only issue is that he’s quite stubborn and prideful. I only spoke with him briefly, but I could tell.”

“W-well... considering his skills, that’s something we can endure, isn’t it?”

Even Loina couldn’t think of a better solution, essentially suggesting they just tolerate him.

“I suppose we should lean toward accepting his offer, then.”

“Yes. The benefits outweigh the risks.”

The two of them agreed and went back to where Rimle was waiting.

They had decided to accept him, though Ludger still wondered how they would manage his difficult personality.

Surprisingly, that concern was resolved far easier than expected.

All thanks to Arfa.

“Ku-ku-ku. So you find this old man’s story that entertaining?”

“Yes! It’s really fun!”

Arfa was smiling innocently, listening intently to Rimle’s stories.

While Ludger had been away, the two had somehow grown close, chatting amicably.

The surprising part was Rimle’s expression.

The sharp, disgruntled look he’d worn earlier had vanished, replaced by a broad smile.

He looked like a doting grandfather entertaining his beloved grandchild.

“You seem to be getting along well.”

When Ludger spoke, Rimle’s bright smile instantly disappeared as he turned to glare at him.

“What took you so long? Making an old man wait like this!”

“...We had an important discussion, and it took longer than expected.”

“Seriously, I offer to help, and you still act all stiff, huh?”

Rimle looked genuinely irritated, his brows furrowing.

“Grandpa, don’t be angry.”

At that moment, Arfa spoke up, smiling brightly.

As soon as he did, Rimle’s face lit up again.

“Ho-ho-ho. Well, if our Arfa says so, this old man has to listen, yes indeed.”

“...”

Watching his expression change as if he were putting on a mask, Ludger felt uneasy.

Was this man really not senile?

Still, it was fortunate.

Judging by the current scene, Rimle wasn’t going to cause trouble.

‘If Arfa keeps him occupied, Sage Rimle won’t be a problem. Now we just need one more person.’

As Ludger was considering where to find someone suitable, a familiar face approached.

“Looks like there’s one spot left.”

“...Sempas.”

“Mind if I join?”

Sempas, looking as ragged as a homeless man.

The infamous mage nicknamed the “Mad Dog” had come to them personally.

“What brings you to us all of a sudden?”

“The other mages wouldn’t take me.”

“I see.”

Bringing in someone known as the Mad Dog was certainly a risk.

“I didn’t expect you to be interested in the mansion, too.”

“I may only be good at fighting, but I’m still a mage. Lately, I’ve felt like I’ve hit a wall, and I think maybe this mansion might hold a way to surpass it.”

Sempas’s reasoning was sound, so Ludger hesitated for a moment.

There was no guarantee that rejecting Sempas would bring in anyone better.

‘The “Mad Dog” reputation is concerning, but at least his attitude toward me has been fairly tame. Not bad.’

His magical prowess was undeniable, and his combat style being similar to Ludger’s was a definite advantage.

“Fine. I’ll be counting on you for the next three days.”

“Those are my words exactly.”

The two exchanged a brief handshake.

Now the team was complete. Five people—the minimum required to enter the mansion.

As they prepared to move, Ludger noticed many eyes watching them.

Even though people pretended not to stare, their wariness was obvious.

‘Well, that’s understandable.’

A five-person team with two Lexuror-class 6th-Circle mages.

Add to that a seasoned battle mage like Sempas, a boy with monstrous physical strength, and Ludger Cherish, the apparent leader.

‘Though, in reality, it’s not exactly an ideal lineup.’

Yes, there were two Lexurors, but one was an eccentric, cantankerous old man, and the other was a shy, self-conscious introvert with zero social skills.

The so-called battle-hardened mage was nicknamed the “Mad Dog,” known for picking fights at the slightest provocation.

And then there was an automaton with limited knowledge.

A proper suicide squad, if there ever was one.

‘Am I the most normal one here?’

If his companions could hear his thoughts, they’d accuse him of having no shame.

Especially Hans—if Hans heard Ludger think this, he’d probably conclude Ludger had finally lost his mind.

Fortunately, no one knew Ludger’s inner thoughts.

“Let’s go inside.”

Ludger led the team toward the mansion.

The wide-open entrance radiated an eerie atmosphere.

Thick mist swirled, completing the ominous mood.

“The garden is well maintained,” Arfa remarked.

Then he reached toward one of the flowers.

“Be careful!”

Loina’s alarmed voice made Arfa look at her with innocent curiosity.

“Why?”

“Why? You can’t just touch plants in this mansion! Every single one of them is imbued with magic, and we don’t know what kind of danger they might hold!”

“Danger?”

“Poison, biting, hallucinations, or even skin melting off—those are common cases.”

Arfa nodded as if finally understanding.

“So even the garden is full of danger.”

“The garden is the least of our worries. As long as you stick strictly to the path, nothing should happen.”

Indeed, all the other mages were walking neatly along the designated paths.

The group crossed the garden and finally stood before the mansion’s entrance.

The doors were wide open, but no sign of those who had gone in earlier could be seen.

“We’re going in.”

Ludger stepped forward first, the others following closely behind.

Once inside, Ludger turned to check on his group.

Everyone had followed.

But the view beyond was completely different.

“Mist?”

From the outside, everything had been clear. Now, looking back, nothing could be seen—as if the world outside had been swallowed by dense smog.

“What are you so surprised about?”

Rimle clicked his tongue at Ludger.

“This isn’t your first time here.”

“It is my first time.”

“What? Then what have you been doing all this time?!”

“I’ve been busy.”

Very busy. Changing identities every year took effort.

“Too busy to come here?”

“If you’re busy, you can’t come, can you?”

“Bah. You just have to win every argument, don’t you?”

“Then may I ask why it’s like this?”

“No need!”

Well, if that’s how you want to be.

Ludger gave Arfa a subtle signal.

Arfa immediately acted.

“Grandpa, why can’t we see outside? I’m curious too!”

“What? Ho-ho-ho. Well, if our Arfa wants to know, this old man must answer.”

They hadn’t known each other long, and yet he was already calling him “our Arfa.”

Ludger felt oddly annoyed but let it slide.

“This mansion is wrapped in mysterious power. I’m sure you’ve heard that already. And you know about the minimum number of people required to enter.”

“Yes, of course.”

“I wasn’t talking to you!”

“...”

Better to stay silent.

“As you can see, after we entered, no one followed us.”

“Oh? You’re right!”

“That’s the power of this mansion. It cuts off all contact with the outside and scatters those who enter. The requirement for a minimum of five people is to minimize that scattering effect.”

Ludger now understood why.

Those who entered with fewer than five never made it back out.

At this point, “Mansion of Secrets” might as well be called “Mansion of Horror.”

“So, are we safe?”

“Of course. There are rules here. As long as you follow them, there won’t be any problems.”

Rules.

That piqued Ludger’s curiosity.

“And the layout changes periodically. Sometimes you can reach your desired destination, sometimes you can’t. Don’t get complacent just because you made it this far. Set your objective.”

“Our objective is clear. We’re going to the library.”

“Hmph. Everyone thinks the same.”

“Weren’t you planning to head to the library as well?”

At Ludger’s pointed remark, Rimle pretended not to hear.

“Let’s move.”

The group began walking slowly through the mansion’s corridors.

No maps. No nameplates. The only way was to check each room one by one.

That meant they had to start searching immediately.

Five minutes later, they hit their first obstacle.

“Is that...”

Ludger spotted a figure slumped against the wall.

A pool of bright red surrounded him.

A corpse.

A mage who had entered the mansion just before them.