TPM 01

Chapter : 1

I was an orphan surviving each day by begging.

And even at that, I wasn’t very good at it. My voice was soft, my personality timid, and the money I earned in a day amounted to only a coin or two.

That day was no different.

I let out a heavy sigh as I looked at the coins in my hand.

One silver coin was far short of the required quota.

“Looks like the captain’s going to hit me again today…”

The guild I had joined to stay alive was a place that gathered orphans and made them work. If you didn’t pull your weight, they often resorted to violence.

“You worthless parasite who can’t even pay for your food!”
“Someone like you should be killed!”

My premonition was right—I was beaten as soon as I returned.

My whole body ached so much that I could barely see straight, yet my stomach was still growling.

Gurgle…

Even my stomach clock, working perfectly in the middle of all this misery, felt unbearably cruel. I curled up, holding in my sobs.

“…I hate this.”

I didn’t know why I had to live. What meaning was there in surviving day by day like this?

At that moment, I wished time would simply stop.

“Ugh…!”
“It’s a wizard! A wizard has come in!”

Boom! The beating stopped with a loud crash.

What…?

When I looked up, I saw a man illuminating the dark basement.

Even in the shadows, his golden hair shimmered beautifully. His green eyes shone brighter than any jewel. A refreshing, pleasant scent lingered around him, as if he were lying in the shade of a lush forest.

“Calling me here just to deal with these puny brats? That seems a bit much. A royal wizard isn’t some dog, you know.”

The man held a staff used by wizards—shaped like the sun I had seen in a painting once.

Light poured from the staff, but the brilliance radiating from him surpassed even that.

As he moved the staff, light filled the basement, and the captain and his men, who had been beating me, instantly burned away.

“Argh!”
“Ahhh!”

Those who once seemed like insurmountable mountains crumbled like autumn leaves.

It was a miracle I never thought I’d witness in my lifetime.

A shiver ran through me.

I stared at the man intently. Busy as he was cleansing the guild members, he finally turned his head toward me.

“Why?”

His calm voice filled the basement.

“Oh, was it too cruel for a child to see?”

“No.”

I didn’t think that at all. Compared to everything I had endured, this was nothing.

“Is that so?”

The man chuckled at my response.

The staff he was holding disappeared, and crossing his arms, he gazed at me with interest.

I hesitated and lowered my head. Nobles didn’t like it when beggars stared them in the eyes.

“It’s okay to look at me directly.”

“But…”

“I’m not a noble.”

His short words seemed to read my mind. I cautiously lifted my head.

It was strange.

In his gaze, there was no pity or disgust—he was just looking at me. Me, a tiny mouse with no name and no place of origin.

“…Who are you?”

I wanted to know who he was.

“Who…”

But my weakened body couldn’t muster the strength to finish my sentence, and I lost consciousness before I could speak.

When I opened my eyes again, fortunately, he was still in front of me.

He began a brief explanation of the situation.

“You’ve been asleep for three days.”

He pointed to himself as he explained that I was nearly beyond saving, suffering from malnutrition, broken shoulder blades, and weakened nerves.

“I saved you with magic. You could say I’m your lifesaver.”

I had nothing to say against his repeated emphasis.

“Ah…”

Instinctively, I knew he wasn’t an enemy.

But he was the first person to do something for me.

What was I supposed to say in such a situation? I had no idea.

All I could do was blink blankly.

He chuckled softly once more and said:

“You’re grateful, right?”

Am I? My flushed face, my pounding heart—was all that just gratitude?

“…Yes, thank you.”

“That’s right. Since I helped you, I’ll ask just one favor.”

He spoke as if he had been waiting for this, and I blinked in confusion.

“For me…?”

He immediately placed a small staff in my hand.

“Become my student.”

“Eh?”

“Call me your master from now on.”

Master. Master. The word sounded so good coming from my mouth.

“What does a master do?”

The honorific came out automatically.

When I asked, he narrowed his eyes and furrowed his brow.

“A master teaches you. You’re my student, learning from me.”

Teach me what? I didn’t quite understand. But there was something more important.

“Then… can I go with you?”

“You? Hahaha…”

He laughed as if my question were absurd, then nodded.

“Yes. You can travel with me.”

He smiled often, though I didn’t feel much sincerity in it. He was used to hiding behind his laughter.

“By the way, I don’t know your name, student.”

The new title made my heart flutter. I answered in a small voice:

“…Little Mouse.”

Little Mouse. I was called that because of my small size and silver hair.

“That’s not a proper name. Now that you’ve awakened…”

He suggested a new name for me.

“How about Themis?”

Themis. A beautiful name I had never heard before, and I liked it instantly.

As I repeated it to myself, he pointed to himself.

“I’m Achilan, a wizard.”

A modest introduction for a grand wizard who had lived 300 years.

This was my first meeting with Achilan Teikan, my master and lifesaver.

That day, I became Themis Moon.

The surname Moon was common among those affiliated with the Mage Tower, but the first name was unique.

It was said to be inspired by the moon goddess of a distant foreign legend. Perhaps he chose it because of my silver hair.

The first thing I learned upon arriving at the Mage Tower was that I was a rare case—I didn’t realize I was a wizard until I was fifteen. Most wizards awaken soon after birth.

The second thing was that my master seemed astonishingly indifferent to almost everything. He often confused his students’ ages by decades and couldn’t tell whether it was morning or night.

People said he wasn’t human, or that he was cold and indifferent, but I couldn’t agree.

My master is a warm person.

The master who asked if I found him cruel at first. The master who stayed by me until I regained consciousness. The master who called becoming his student a “favor.” The master who gave me a notebook, pen, and storybooks when I secretly studied letters after awakening as a wizard of darkness.

To me, he seemed like an omnipotent god.

Because of him, my life changed. My time felt precious.

But at the same time, I felt heavy-hearted.

I have nothing to give in return.

He saved me, gave me a name, and a new life—but I had nothing to offer.

I’ll make it up to him someday.

So I promised myself that if the opportunity arose, I would give him anything he wanted.

“…But still.”

My master… how could I feel so sorry for him?

Tears welled up as I collapsed to the floor. My legs gave way, and the world swirled before my eyes.

And the reason…

I realized my master was the tragic sub-male lead who sacrifices the mana core—like the heart of the heroine, the princess—and dies for her!