~Chapter 94~
“Hello?”
“Huh? Another checkpoint? I thought the last one was already behind me…”
My voice trailed off weakly.
The man in front of me had brown hair. No name tag, plain clothes.
But—no.
He wasn’t a judge.
I froze in place.
‘A… magician.’
Cold chills ran down my spine.
“I was just taking a walk and got lost… do you happen to know the exit?”
The man smiled softly as he spoke nonsense. I could feel faint magic flowing from his hair.
He must have used a spell to slightly change its color, to avoid being recognized.
‘Transformation magic only lasts for a few hours… but enough to disturb this maze competition.’
I tried to stay calm, but my fingertips trembled.
The reality hit me. The Demon King had really sent a magician here to find me.
‘Don’t panic.’
I clenched my shaking hands into fists, forcing myself to stay composed.
‘It’s fine. My face is well covered.’
This was the reason I stubbornly kept wearing my mask even after my cold was gone.
Because I had been ready for this.
The Emperor had opened the gates, and I knew a tracking magician would eventually come to Ipsun.
I just hadn’t expected him to enter the maze like this.
I studied the man’s face carefully.
‘Yes… I know who he is. The Demon King’s Fourth Magician.’
We had no direct connection, but I’d heard rumors. And once, I’d seen him in person.
Back when I was planning to escape the kingdom, I memorized the faces of all the magicians.
He spoke with a wide grin:
“Such beautiful hair color. They say the new adopted child of House Zebret has dazzling silver hair. Truly… a color that reminds me of someone.”
I answered calmly.
“Who are you? If you’re lost, you should go that way. A judge is over there.”
He stepped toward me. I stepped back.
If he got too close, he might sense the magic inside me.
‘If I’m discovered, I’ll have to use magic—whether attack or escape.’
But then… what about my family waiting outside? Should I reveal everything here and now?
My heart pounded wildly with confusion.
“Come closer and… I’ll scream.”
“Oh, so frightened, young lady. Don’t worry. I won’t do anything. I just…”
His lips curled upward.
“…want to see the face under that cloth.”
And then—
Blue magic rushed toward me.
Just for a moment, but I recognized the structure of the spell. Dispel Magic.
A high-level spell that removes all magical traces on a person. The rough, filthy mana slithered over my body like snakes.
I gritted my teeth but didn’t resist.
I needed to see the look on his face when it failed.
And of course—
‘Normally, an ordinary child wouldn’t even sense this.’
I bit my lip and endured the disgusting sensation.
Soon, his expression twisted.
“…What is this?”
“…The eyes.”
“…?”
“Why are they still blue?”
Because that’s my real eye color, you fool.
‘Did you think I was using disguise magic, like you?’
I swallowed the words.
Luckily, the evidence that I was a magician was hidden deep inside, out of sight.
Suppressing my pounding heart, I spoke lightly:
“Um… why are you just standing there? I told you, the judge is that way. Want me to take you?”
Of course, I had no intention of doing that. But I forced myself to act cheerful and innocent.
The red-haired man narrowed his eyes at me… then put his mask-like smile back on.
“No need, my lady. My apologies for the rudeness.”
He bowed and stepped aside.
“I’ll ask for help in the direction you mentioned. Forgive me for disturbing your path.”
“…It’s fine.”
I slowly backed away.
The magician walked past me, step by step.
His dispel had failed, so the only thing left was to touch me directly or sense my mana.
I braced myself, imagining the worst-case scenario, preparing a few countermeasures.
‘But the best would be… if he just leaves.’
The garden path was wide, especially near the exit. Even so, I couldn’t relax.
One step. Two steps.
When our shoulders almost brushed, I held my breath and suppressed every trace of magic in me.
And then—
“…What is this mana?”
The magician suddenly jerked his head up.
“…No way.”
His face changed instantly. He sprinted off—not toward me, but straight ahead.
‘The squirrel?’
I caught sight of a brown tail disappearing into the bushes. And overflowing mana—coming from the squirrel.
‘Khal…!’
Above, a hawk circled. Khal had noticed the danger and sent his creatures to help me.
The magician’s distant voice echoed as he chased the squirrel:
“Who’s there? Why are you here?!”
And the real judge’s angry voice joined in:
“You can’t just enter the checkpoint doors without permission!”
Finally, I let out a long breath of relief.
My knees nearly gave way, but I held onto the wall and steadied myself.
“Okay. I’m fine.”
I calmed my pounding chest.
I had expected the magician to come after me, but not so quickly.
‘That was close. Too close.’
But I wasn’t discovered.
I retied my shoelaces and quickly left the spot.
The maze wasn’t over yet.
‘If the magician came after me first, that means… I’m the one he suspects most.’
The rumors of Duke Zebret’s new silver-haired adoptee must have already reached the Demon King’s ears.
‘I hope this is the end of it… but I doubt it.’
Living in the north, I’d never once forgotten that I was being hunted.
Still, facing it directly like this carried a heavy weight I hadn’t imagined.
It felt like the Demon King’s shadow had suddenly fallen right in front of me. I couldn’t breathe.
‘No. No!’
I shook my head hard.
‘I won’t let myself be caught so easily. That’s why I came this far.’
For now, I had to focus on the competition.
I clenched the card full of star stickers in my hand.
Shaking in fear wouldn’t change anything.
So I had to do what I could.
“Win first—and then think about it!”
I would get that herb, no matter what!
“Contestants cannot enter through the judge’s doors. How on earth did you wander this far?”
“Haha, my apologies. I’m not familiar with the area.”
The magician scratched his head sheepishly, bowing. The judge clicked his tongue, annoyed, and waved him off.
“I’ll let it slide this time. Now go back.”
“Yes, yes.”
He quickly left.
His hair had been changed with magic, his clothes were plain, looking like a commoner.
Apparently, the Emperor still kept his arrival a secret.
Truthfully, moving in secret wasn’t difficult.
‘But snooping around too much will draw attention… and the Demon King still wants to stay part of the Continental Alliance.’
So he couldn’t afford to get caught.
He slipped into a quiet path. The transformation spell faded, revealing his red hair once more.
“Still… blue eyes, huh?”
