~Chapter 44~
Johann introduced himself before Leah could say anything.
“I just happened to come along with her today.”
“I see. Are you a knight by any chance?”
“Huh? Oh, yes.”
Leah answered while glancing nervously at Johann.
“How did you know, Dorothe?”
“It’s obvious. He’s got a solid build…”
Johann wasn’t listening to her description—he was deep in thought.
‘Dorothe… Dorothe… I’m sure I’ve heard that name somewhere before. Oh!’
Dorothe, the purification-type mage.
A genius mage from a commoner background who was the first ever to graduate top of her class at the Imperial Academy.
He remembered reading some of her research papers when he was a student because she was that talented.
Judging by her age, she seemed like the same person.
‘But what’s someone like her doing way out here?’
She had been top of her class by a long shot and had joined the Imperial Magic Tower after graduating.
“Didn’t you graduate first in your year at the Imperial Academy?”
Johann asked her suddenly.
“Wha?”
Dorothe, who had just pulled out another piece of jerky, got startled and dropped it.
“How do you know that…?”
“So it’s really you.”
“Wait… are you from the Academy too?”
“Yes. But more importantly, weren’t you assigned to the Imperial Magic Tower? Why are you here now?”
“…”
Dorothe froze. She didn’t even pick up her dropped jerky, nor did she respond.
Leah looked between the two, confused.
“We were in different fields, but I respected your work a lot.”
“…”
“I was shocked when you suddenly disappeared after joining the Magic Tower.”
He remembered how his professor used to constantly praise Dorothe when they were learning about offensive mana.
Even though she specialized in purification magic, she’d published a paper on offensive mana that amazed everyone.
Her methods were so good that even the professors started using her techniques in class.
“Why did you suddenly vanish, Dorothe?”
“…Well, once I got to the Magic Tower, it wasn’t what I expected.”
She finally opened up after a brief pause.
“So I just traveled around the Empire, doing research.”
Still, wandering for nearly 20 years without settling anywhere seemed strange.
Johann thought her explanation sounded more like an excuse, but he didn’t push it.
“Were you studying purification magic?”
“That, and also magic potions, herbology—lots of things.”
“So did you find the answers you were looking for?”
“…Not everything, but close enough.”
She mumbled her reply.
“You really don’t look like you have a penny to your name now. Ever think about going back to the Magic Tower?”
“…Do I really look that broke?”
She widened her amber-brown eyes and looked at herself.
“Yes.”
“You can’t just say it like that!”
Leah scolded Johann for being so blunt.
“After twenty years of research, I think it’s time you settle down.”
“Seriously? Aren’t you being a little too nosy about someone else’s future?”
Dorothe frowned at Johann, who looked a lot younger than her.
“Then let me reintroduce myself. I’m Johann von Blumhardt, head of the Blumhardt family.”
“…What?”
Dorothe was so shocked she pointed a finger at him.
“Leah, he’s lying, right?”
Leah, who had no idea what was going on, looked just as stunned.
“I’m sorry, Dorothe. I should’ve told you the truth earlier…”
“It’s true?”
Dorothe slowly lowered her pointing hand and blinked.
“Dorothe, if you’re willing, I’d like to offer you the position of head mage at the Blumhardt-sponsored magic tower in the capital.”
Johann stood up and made the offer formally.
It was an incredibly respectful gesture, especially from a Duke to a commoner.
But Johann didn’t care about her background—he saw her as a brilliant mage and an alumna of his academy.
He couldn’t let a once-in-a-century talent slip away.
“This is so sudden… Why would you even trust me…?”
She was flustered by both his attitude and the unexpected offer.
“I may not know what you’ve been doing for twenty years, but I trust in the legacy you left behind.”
“…”
“Aren’t you even a little tempted by the massive research funding I’m offering?”
“…I mean, yeah…”
She seemed hesitant, like she was seriously thinking it over.
“We’ll provide housing, and your funding and salary will be higher than what the Imperial Magic Tower offers.”
It was a truly generous deal—enough to shake her resolve, whatever it was holding her back.
“Wow… that’s really tempting.”
Something told Johann her reason for leaving the Magic Tower wasn’t simple.
He noticed a faint trace of fear in her eyes.
Maybe that fear came from the Imperial family.
But with the protection of the Blumhardt family—one of the founding noble houses—even the Emperor couldn’t touch her.
“I’ll also make sure you’re safe from whatever it is you’re afraid of.”
“If you’re worried about people recognizing you in the capital, don’t be.”
He said with firm confidence.
“…Alright. If you keep all those promises, I’ll do it.”
She finally nodded after a long silence.
“Huh? So you’re coming to the capital with us?”
Leah smiled and grabbed Dorothe’s hand.
“Looks like it. When do we leave?”
“Can you make it to the inn in Winster by this evening?”
Johann asked, fully expecting her to come with them.
“Hm… It’ll be tight, but I think I can.”
“Then I’ll take that as a yes.”
“Sure. I’ve got nothing else to do, so why not?”
Johann gave her the inn’s location in detail.
“Dorothe, I’ll be waiting for you there.”
He called out one more time as she walked away.
“Don’t worry. I keep my word.”
She nodded and disappeared in the opposite direction.
“Wow… She must be an amazing mage, huh?”
Leah asked, since she didn’t really understand much of what had just happened.
“She’s known for her purification magic, but she was talented in all sorts of areas.”
Dorothe wasn’t great at combat magic, but she improved the theory behind it.
She was also skilled in healing magic, potion-making, and crafting magic tools—she was famous back in school.
‘To think I’d randomly meet such a legendary mage out here and actually recruit her…’
All Johann had planned was to get Leah safely back to Raphaella as quickly as possible.
“…She’s really something.”
Leah said softly in awe.
They returned to the cabin, still damp from the rain.
Johann’s clothes were soaked through since he had no raincoat or boots—it looked like they’d have to be thrown away.
Leah washed up first and handed him a shirt and pants he’d once worn at the cabin.
Johann stared at the clothes for a moment before heading into the bathroom.
Leah, exhausted from walking around all day, sat down at the table and dozed off.
She had already set out some simple snacks for them.
When Johann came out, he saw Ria dozing in the chair.
‘Why does she look so pitiful like that…’
It annoyed him that every time he saw her, his chest felt tight—and now she looked sad, too.
Then she half-opened her sleepy eyes and looked at him.
Her emerald eyes, still hazy with sleep, were filled with a longing and warmth he hadn’t seen before.
“…Hardt?”
She called out to him with a soft, unfamiliar name.
Her voice was low and full of emotion, like someone reuniting with a loved one after a long time.
‘Hardt? Oh… she used to call me that when she couldn’t remember my real name.’
Her watery voice made the tightness in his chest even worse.
Damn it. Why did she have to call me that…
“…Oh! I’m sorry.”
Her emerald eyes suddenly cleared, like she’d woken up from a dream.
She covered her mouth with her hand, turned red, and rushed to her room.
Johann stood there, frozen.
‘Why call me like that… and then just walk away?’
