Chapter 81
“F-fresh…?”
Fay’s mouth fell open at his utterly inhuman way of thinking.
The witches who had been standing farther back craned their necks, trying to understand what was going on.
“Can someone explain what’s happening? What did that man just say?”
“He really doesn’t speak the common tongue.”
“Whose head is that, anyway?”
Even the witches closest to them hadn’t understood a word Alnazir said. What they had clearly heard was Fay blurting out, “the Emperor’s head.”
“Is that really the Emperor’s head?”
“No way!”
It was hard to believe. They could only whisper among themselves, none daring to step between Fay and Alnazir.
Don’t go near him. The warning had come from the invokeds—crows, foxes, frogs. Creatures with survival instincts far sharper than humans had all cautioned their witches at once.
Virelda had received the same warning from Scarlis. But preoccupied with other thoughts, she failed to truly listen to the silver serpent.
“Fay, is that really the Emperor’s head?”
“I-I think so… for now.”
Her answer lacked certainty.
It wasn’t enough for Virelda, who wanted certainty. She stared at the mysterious middle-aged head. It had been spewing curses a moment ago, but now, as if sensing the mood, it suddenly shut its mouth.
“Who are you?”
“……”
“Are you truly the Emperor?”
The head refused to respond, adopting the same disdainful attitude the Golden Army soldiers showed toward witches. If arrogance were proof, it might well be him. After all, the soldiers despised witches and hated even speaking to them.
“Maybe if we smack him a few times, he’ll confess?”
“Don’t be barbaric. Let’s test the soldiers outside instead.”
Several witches offered suggestions.
“What if Fay is lying and scheming with her lover? We’ll look like fools!”
The silver-haired witch waved her hands dismissively. Those who hadn’t believed Alnazir was an invoked in the first place readily agreed.
“Let’s not be manipulated by a liar.”
Fay was so indignant she was nearly speechless.
“But if that is the Emperor’s head, it explains why the enemy hasn’t attacked.”
Others were beginning to wonder if it might be true. The Golden Army wasn’t the type to halt an offensive without reason.
They had taken a few executioners prisoner before—important figures, no doubt—but the entire army had never stalled over them.
If it were the Emperor, though, that would be different.
“Don’t talk nonsense. That’s impossible.”
“It’s because you keep clinging to ‘what’s realistic’ that your magic never improves.”
“Hey, watch your mouth!”
The argument was about to split the room again when Bilter, who had been silently observing, raised his voice.
“Virelda. You’re the city’s guardian now. You need to decide on this meeting.”
It was a sharp reminder not to let things spiral endlessly.
A flicker of anxiety passed through Virelda’s eyes, but she quickly calmed down and spoke to everyone.
“Let’s show it to the prisoners first. Executioners are appointed directly by the Emperor—they’ll recognize his face.”
She had a captive brought in and displayed the severed head.
The man in golden armor with a torn white cloak immediately widened his eyes and spat venom.
“You filthy witches! Do you think you can rattle me by defiling His Majesty’s sacred face like this?!”
He raged, declaring his unwavering loyalty and faith. The more he shouted about devotion to the Emperor, the darker the expression on the severed head became.
That was proof enough.
“It’s the Emperor’s head.”
A few still doubted—but most were convinced.
“Hey, you—Alnazir, was it? Or whatever ruler you call yourself.”
Convinced, Virelda turned to him, barely containing her excitement. Alnazir noticed she was speaking to him and raised an eyebrow.
“Fay isn’t angry anymore. She’ll take you as her familiar.”
“Wait—why are you deciding that on your own?!”
Fay’s eyes went wide, and she hurriedly clamped a hand over Virelda’s mouth.
She knew perfectly well that Alnazir couldn’t understand their words—but her hand moved before her mind did.
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