Under the bioluminescent glow of the fungi, the witch gulped. She looked at the bag Theo offered and peered inside. Her pupils shrank instantly.

​"What?! These are—"

​"That’s right, Lady Dorita," Theo interrupted with a confident chuckle. "Rainbow Lizards, Slumber-mats, and Mud-wraiths. All sourced from places someone in your position can’t easily enter... like the Academy."

​Dorita stared at the rare ingredients. With these, she could perfect potions she had only dreamed of. But her suspicion outweighed her excitement. She leveled her staff—the Home of Fungi—directly at Theo’s chest.

​"I don’t let anyone know this much about me," she hissed. "How do you know exactly what I need? Who are you?"

​Theo didn’t flinch. Instead, his eyes sparkled as he looked at the staff. "Oh? Is that truly it? The legendary branch of the World Tree, cultivated into a perfect conductor for fungal magic! To see it in person... it’s even more magnificent than I imagined."

​Dorita blinked, stunned by his sheer enthusiasm.

​"But it hasn’t reached its peak yet, has it?" Theo continued, rubbing his chin. "It still needs a few more incubation seasons before the true seal manifests. I can buy it for you if you need some fertilizer or even Holy water, you know? What do you think, interested now?"

​The witch recoiled, her vigilance turning into genuine fear. "How... how do you know about the seal? Speak! Who are you!?"

​Theo looked at her with a gaze so warm it was almost unsettling. "Me? You can call me your number one fan. Or perhaps... an adorer?"

​Dorita’s face reddened, but she kept her staff steady. Theo sighed, his expression turning solemn. He explained everything—the ritual at the Layver mansion, Jahreon’s true identity, and the looming threat of the Apostle.

​"I see," Dorita murmured, lowering her staff slightly. "So you need a ward against Dark Magic and a Draught of Demon Taming?"

​Theo nodded. "Exactly."

​"I can provide them," she said, before thrusting her staff forward again. "But first—the truth. How do you know me so well?"

​Theo looked at the staff, then at the lonely witch who had fought in the shadows for years, labeled as a monster by the very people she protected. He stepped forward, ignoring the threat. He reached out and gently grasped her wrist.

​"Wh-what are you—!"

​"It’s because I’ve watched you a thousand times, Lady Dorita," Theo whispered, his voice low and sincere. "You fought alone where no one else dared to tread. How could I forget someone so much more heroic than any ’Hero’ in the stories?"

​Dorita froze. Her face flushed a deep crimson. No one had ever spoken to her like this. No one had ever seen her effort.

​"You... you still haven’t explained anything!" she stammered, her magic surging in response to her embarrassment. The mushrooms in the room grew violently, forming a barrier between them. "Stop talking nonsense! I know you’re lying!"

Theo scratched his head, wondering what he did wrong. Right then, from behind the wall of fungi, a cloth bag was tossed at Theo’s feet. Inside were the mushroom-woven bangle and the dark, swirling potion he needed.

His eyes widened. "Lady Dorita..."

"Well, you had given me so much, so I at least will give you what you need. It’s only fair," Gyllena explained from the other side, her voice hesitant but genuine.

​"Thank you, Lady Dorita!" Theo called out, smiling as he turned to leave.

​Once the door closed, Dorita let the barriers recede. She sank into her mushroom chair, clutching the elemental gems Theo had left as payment. Her heart was racing for a reason that had nothing to do with danger.

​"Who is that boy?" she whispered to the silent room. For the first time in years, the uncertainty in her mind wasn’t about survival—it was about him.

...

Theo resurfaced from the same drainage cover. Without wasting a second, he sprinted through the narrow alleys, his heart hammering against his ribs—not just from exhaustion, but from a dark foreboding that had begun to gnaw at his mind.

​Upon reaching the restaurant, he knocked on the door with a specific pattern. Tizmilly opened it immediately, but her face was so pale that Theo barely recognized her.

​"Master Roost, you’re finally back!" Tizmilly exclaimed. Without further explanation, she grabbed Theo’s hand and pulled him inside.

​She led him to the staff room, where Theo finally saw the reason behind the panic. Gyllena lay helpless on the sofa, unconscious. The small spark of joy Theo had felt after meeting Dorita evaporated instantly.

​As Theo approached, he felt a piercing, cold aura. Gyllena’s skin was as white as a corpse, and the air around her felt heavy. It wasn’t because the room temperature had dropped, but because of the Black Mana enveloping her body, swirling like a predatory mist.

​The coachman, looking equally disheveled, gripped Theo’s shoulder. "You know what’s happening, don’t you?! Tell me! The Lady suddenly collapsed shortly after you left!"

​Theo took a deep breath to steady himself. He released the coachman’s grip gently but firmly. "I will do my best," he said curtly before reaching for Gyllena’s hand.

​Under the anxious gazes of Calary and Tizmilly, Theo closed his eyes. He began to channel his own mana, attempting to interact with the dark energy shrouding Gyllena. It was an ancient diagnostic method often used by high-level combat healers. Since every human is born with mana, physical imbalances are often reflected in how their mana reacts to external stimuli.

​Minutes passed in a suffocating silence. Theo’s brow furrowed deeper. He could feel an "anchor" beginning to take root within Gyllena’s mana core—a forced tether trying to pull her soul to a place far, far away.

​"We have to get her back to the mansion right now," Theo said, his voice heavy. He turned to his mother. "Mother, stay here. This situation is about to become very dangerous."

​Calary placed her hands on her hips and let out a long sigh. Though her eyes betrayed her worry, she forced a calm smile. "Alright. But promise me, Theo. If things get too dire, take Tizmilly’s hand and run. Understood?"

​Theo gave a faint smirk and offered a thumb-up. "Hehe, of course, Boss!"

​"Wait! If it gets dangerous, take the Lady with you too!" the coachman protested in a panic.

​However, Theo had already shifted into combat mode. He began to arm himself; strapping on his equipment belt, checking the mechanism of his pistol-type Gemgun, and ensuring the Boulder Thrust was perfectly secured on his back. He tied the bag from Dorita to his waist with extreme care, as if it were the most precious object in the world.

​Tizmilly was not idle either. She had donned her standard combat uniform, with her Waveblade hanging gracefully yet lethally at her waist. The elegant "Villainess" aura had now been replaced by that of a warrior ready to brave the storm.

​Theo lifted Gyllena’s cold body into his arms and nodded to Tizmilly. They were ready to move.

​With determined, quick steps, they exited the restaurant and entered the carriage. The coachman followed after them with his panicked and pale face, hastily ordered the horses to start walking.

​The sound of the carriage wheels hitting the cobblestone road echoed like a clock ticking down. Tizmilly sat across from Theo, her eyes fixed on Gyllena’s frail face.

​"Can you explain what is actually happening, Master Roost?" Tizmilly asked, her voice trembling but resolute.

​Theo nodded. "The cultists from the Abyssal New Gate have pushed their ritual into the next phase. They are trying to mark the Layver Mansion as their territory—a domain that will be directly linked to the Abyss. To do that, they need a living ’anchor’; someone with a legitimate claim to the land. And that person is Gyllena."

​Tizmilly’s eyes widened. "Demonification?"

​"Exactly. The process is much faster than I anticipated. Later, if we encounter Jahreon, make sure not to look into his eyes directly, Tizmilly. With the Abyssal connection strengthening by the second, his dark magic can control the mind of anyone who is weak-willed."

​Tizmilly fell silent, staring at Gyllena’s stiff fingers. Her mind drifted back to their childhood—when Gyllena was the only friend who genuinely played with her before everything fell apart. Gyllena had lost her parents, and now she was the target of a mad cult. Tizmilly felt a tightening in her chest, imagining the heavy burden her childhood friend had been carrying alone.

​Tizmilly’s gaze sharpened, turning as hard as steel. "We must save her, Master Roost. Whatever the cost!"

​Theo smiled thinly. He pulled out a strange-looking mushroom-based bracelet that radiated a pure aura. He placed it in Tizmilly’s palm.

​"Use this. You’re going to need it."

​Tizmilly examined the bracelet, touching its unique texture before slipping it onto her left wrist. "What is this?"

​Theo wore a proud, slightly mischievous look. "A gift from someone great. I’d say it’s one of the best dark magic resistance items in existence!"