In fact, Didoa had noticed Tulan's deception before she lost everything to her.

She realized that all the kindness Tulan showed her was a lie, and that her only concern was using her position for her own gain.

Yet, Didoa could not push Tulan away.

- "Didoa, you know you’re the only one I have, right?"
- "..."
- "You are my only confidant and my most treasured friend. I meet many people outside, but ultimately, the person I respect the most is you."
- "...Yeah."

For the half-breed who had lived a lifetime in loneliness, the kindness and goodwill she received for the first time were incredibly sweet.

Perhaps this was Tulan's way of expressing her feelings. Maybe there was some truth mixed in with Tulan's words.

It was once a vain hope that Didoa had.

---

"**Tulan...?**"

The first person to react to Tulan's lost composure was Sofia, a follower of 'Master Tulan.' Sofia gazed in shock at Tulan, whose face twisted in rage.

"...!"

Tulan snapped back to her senses at the sight of Sofia. This was not the time to be expressing anger leisurely.

*I can still fix this!*

Tulan genuinely believed that. If she used her influence, it would be easy to manipulate them while they were confused and freed from mental interference.

Tulan approached Sofia, projecting the image of the beloved 'Master Tulan.'

- "Sofia—"
- "Stay away!!!"

Sofia screamed at Tulan, her voice filled with terror.

- "What are you going to do to me again...?"
- "Sofia...! Calm down, I can explain everything!!! You will believe me, right!? Won't you!?"

Tulan continued to move cautiously towards her.

- "I said stay away!!!"

Sofia, panicked and agitated, swung her arm. The mana she summoned pushed Tulan away.

"Ugh...!"

Tulan's body was unceremoniously thrown to the ground. She immediately glared at Sofia.

"Yikes...!"

But as Sofia stepped back in fear, Tulan turned her gaze to her other followers.

- "Maley?"
- "Brandon?"
- "Horen!?"

These were people who had once clung to Tulan's side, eager to please 'Master Tulan.' They had openly expressed joy when receiving her attention.

"..."
"..."
"..."

Now, these same followers displayed clear rejection of Tulan's call. They began to distance themselves from her, preparing to draw mana at any moment.

"How... how could you do this to me!!!"

Tulan writhed in betrayal.

"Tulan..."

It was then that Parozan called out Tulan's name in a calm voice.

"Master Parozan!"

Tulan looked as if she had found a lifeline falling from the sky.

Tulan had always looked down on Parozan. She had been friendly to maintain connections, but now he was looking at her with contempt. 

How exasperating it was to see him approach with such a petty gaze, completely unaware of his own situation.

But now, Tulan could not have been more grateful for the displeasure she felt from Parozan.

"Please, please listen to me, Parozan! Something... something is happening! That half-breed girl and the bastard are teaming up to harm me—"

Tulan attempted to rush towards Parozan, acting like a helpless woman seeking help. Based on her previous experiences, she believed that if she appeared this way, that foolish man would be unable to think clearly.

"Do not move."

"Parozan!?"

"I'm saying this for your sake. It would be wise for you to refrain from any actions from now on. If I see any suspicious movements—"

"I can't believe you’re doing this, Parozan! How could you treat me like this!?"

"..."

"Just a moment ago, you were all friendly and inviting me to dinner... Parozan...? Parozan! You vile human... like a pig—"

Tulan had completely forgotten to create the friendly image of Master Tulan.

"You all are the same! When you were trying to please me—do you think I would just let this slide!? I will remember this!!!"

She unleashed a torrent of curses upon Parozan and her followers, her expression filled with a strange sense of exhilaration. She was convinced that her words would drive them into a corner.

However, that expression quickly twisted.

Before she knew it, they were looking at Tulan as if she were a repulsive insect.

"What, what are you doing...? How dare you look at me like that!? You, insignificant trainees!?"

"What are you?" 

Parozan shot back at her.

"What do you think you are?"

"I am—"

Tulan's confident response was abruptly cut off.

"I am..."

Only then did she realize the truth.

All the charm and prestige she had prided herself on were meaningless without the name of 'Master.'

That she was nothing without Didoa.

A memory surfaced in Tulan’s mind. The day she was rejected for her research materials and worried about her meager future.

"No! No, no!!! No..."

Tulan begged with a trembling voice.

"Everyone—please come to your senses...!!! That wicked half-breed and the bastard are conspiring against me!!! How can you trust them more than me? You will regret this—you will regret it...!"

Parozan shook his head. Even the slight sympathy he once felt for Tulan faded away. Everyone present looked down at Tulan with cold eyes.

Except for one person.

Didoa.

"Tulan."

"Didoa... Didoa!!! No, Master Didoa—"

Tulan no longer knew what expression was on her face.

"I'm so sorry...!!! I must have been momentarily insane!"

"…"

"Please—please forgive me!"

"Tulan, may I ask you something?"

"Yes! Yes! Master Didoa! Anytime!"

"Have you ever meant it even once?"

"Eh? What do you mean—"

"Have you ever truly considered me a friend?"

"...Yes! Of course—of course! You have always been my friend, Didoa!"

Tulan forced a friendly smile. Despite her efforts, what appeared on her face was an utterly servile grin.

In that moment, Didoa realized.

"Ah, I see."

Tulan had never treated her sincerely.

"…"

Didoa felt a wave of confusion wash over her.

She had tried to deny this truth and refused to accept it until now. But she found herself accepting this reality far too easily. And she realized that she felt no emotional impact at all.

Why?

At that moment, Didoa felt a gaze coming from across the room. Risir. Overlapping with his past self, he looked at Didoa with genuine concern.

"…"

Didoa nodded.

And she understood.

How could she have been surprised that Tulan had never shown her true feelings? How could she not have felt hurt by that?

There was no longer any reason to cling to that.

Now that she understood what genuine goodwill and kindness were, Didoa responded to Risir with an awkward, clumsy smile.

Then, she returned her emotionless expression and looked back at Tulan.

"I understand. Tulan, I will forgive you."

"...What?"

"What you did to me. It doesn’t matter anymore."

"..."

Hahaha.

Hahahahaha!!!

Tulan, watching Didoa in a daze, lost her mind.

Then, her expression suddenly turned cold and hard.

Before she knew it, Tulan was holding a vial in her hand, poised to throw it at Didoa.

"Didoa! Watch out!"

Melthas and Parozan immediately raised a mana barrier around Didoa.

Tulan was not surprised. It was as if she had been waiting for just that moment.

She turned to face Risir.

The person Tulan hated most at that moment was none other than Risir.

The bastard who had suddenly appeared and ruined all her plans.

At that moment, Tulan was about to throw the potion filled with pure hatred at Risir.

"Ahhh!!!"

A scream erupted from Tulan’s lips as a green flame erupted from her body in an explosion, consuming her.

The green flame extinguished almost immediately, but that was enough.

- Clang!

The grip on her hand loosened, and the vial fell to the ground.

Tulan’s body crumpled weakly to the floor.

The Master Tulan that all the students at the magic tower had admired was now gone. What lay there was the wicked woman, her hair burned off and her skin scorched.

"Huff—huff—"

Meanwhile, Didoa was gasping, her eyes wide open. This was an intense agitation rarely seen from her usually emotionless self.

Everyone present immediately understood. The one responsible for the explosion was none other than Didoa herself.

Didoa could forgive all of Tulan's actions. But there was one thing she could not forgive.

"Are you okay!?"

Didoa shouted toward Risir.

"Ah—yes! I'm fine."

"...I'm relieved."

Didoa brushed her hand over her chest.

"Thanks to you, Didoa! Thank you for helping me!"

"...Yeah."

At Risir’s continued words of gratitude, Didoa’s emotionless expression wavered.

Like a sprout timidly rising from dry earth.

Once the incident settled down and the onlookers dispersed, Didoa’s laboratory returned to its former calmness.

"Tulan—no, Master Didoa. I

 will take care of the aftermath of this incident, so you should rest for now. You’ll be busy with the trial soon. While you rest, please also assist with Risir's potion intake."

"Understood."

Didoa nodded after gazing at the restrained Tulan for a moment.

"Lord Melthas, did you say there will be a trial?"

"Indeed, Risir. It is the principle that matters concerning the tower are handled within the tower. Tulan will undergo a trial according to the rules of the tower and will be punished accordingly."

"Will there be any torture involved?"

"Do you think the tower is some kind of cult? By the way—Master Parozan. It’s time to get your wits about you."

"...I still can’t believe it. That Tulan was a black mage."

"I can hardly believe it myself. I thought all this time that Master Didoa was a mere apprentice."

Melthas frowned as he recalled the events that had transpired between Tulan and Didoa. He bowed his head toward Didoa.

"Didoa. I apologize once again for my previous rudeness."

Parozan followed suit. The two masters bowed their heads to Didoa.

"..."

Didoa awkwardly returned their bow.

"Ah, Risir. You can expect a lot of interest from the tower following this incident."

"Really?"

"Isn’t it obvious? You’ve uncovered black magic that even the masters didn’t notice, and you’ve revealed the mastermind behind the incident. You should expect due rewards."

"Does that mean...!? That even without becoming Lord Melthas’s apprentice, I might enjoy various privileges within the tower!? "

"What a terrible thought."

Melthas left Didoa with Risir before departing with Parozan to handle the aftermath of the incident.

Risir and Didoa were left standing alone in the laboratory.

"Do you want to sit down for a bit?"

"Ah, yes. Thank you."

Didoa guided Risir to the best seat in the laboratory before heading to the cupboard.

A moment later, a teapot filled with steaming tea and a box of pastries appeared on the table.

"Here."

Didoa poured tea into Risir’s cup and placed pastries on the plate.

"Ah, thank you."

As Didoa filled Risir’s cup with tea and placed pastries on the plate again, confusion filled Risir.

"Is there anything more you need?"

Her emotionless eyes sparkled.

Risir, lost in a daze, shook his head.

"Right. If you need anything, just let me know."

Risir had no idea.

The emotionless lady before him was desperately wanting to befriend him.

This endless tea party was the result of her heartfelt yet clumsy efforts.

If he were to ask for her liver and gallbladder as a token of friendship, she would unhesitatingly offer both without a second thought.

Didoa’s hands, adorned with intricate patterns, fidgeted restlessly.

*How can I get closer?*

She watched Risir's cup and plate with eager, emotionless eyes.

The rumors spread quickly throughout the magic tower, sparked by the onlookers present.

There was one individual particularly enraged by the rumors—

"You!"

A sudden guest arrived at Didoa's laboratory.

Heinya, Risir’s duel opponent, inspected Risir’s condition and widened her eyes.

"It’s true! I can’t believe it! You actually took the potion?"

This was the part of the rumor that particularly caught Heinya's interest.

Risir.

Remembering, he was the man she was supposed to duel.

And now he was taking a potion.

Right before their duel.

Not for a life-or-death fight, but just for a simple duel—taking a potion was a luxury even Heinya, who came from noble blood, could not even dare to consider.

"You’re taking a potion just to win a duel!? Wait, you actually planned on taking a potion before our duel!? Is this for real!?"

"?"

Heinya, so flustered she was speaking nonsense, was met with Risir, who was confused amidst the endless snacks.

"I haven't taken the potion yet."

"?"

---

**────────────────────**

**▷ Destiny 44: Parasite - Deactivated.**  
**Corresponding benefits will be granted.**