~Chapter 9~
“I am Rinnegrim Feahil.”
“Feahil?”
Luce repeated my family name thoughtfully.
“I think the one who’s been pestering the Mage Tower lately was also a Feahil.”
“That’s probably my father. And it’s not just recently; it’s been at least ten years.”
“Has it really been that long?”
The mage, who looked only a few years older than me, sighed about how fast time flies.
“So, how is Count Feahil doing?”
“Unfortunately, he passed away long ago.”
“I heard he was making ridiculous noises about introducing magic to the empire. Didn’t work out as planned, huh?”
“…Yes. Our family just went completely under.”
“I see.”
The mage answered plainly. There was no comforting word, but it was better than pity.
“What should I call you?”
“Luce.”
Hmm, a very concise self-introduction.
“Luce, you’re the mage who came on my request, right? You came to treat my mother?”
“Treat?”
Luce relaxed the hand that had been propping his chin. It seemed like the first time he’d heard that word.
I was the one flustered.
“Why? Don’t you know healing magic? Aren’t you a healer?”
Luce showed clear displeasure at my question. His well-defined brow furrowed harshly.
“Healing mage? You compare me to fools who have no real power and survive by trifling tricks?”
Though Luce disparaged healing mages, thanks to my father I knew better:
Healing magic isn’t something just any mage can do—it’s extremely advanced magic.
“So you’re saying you can’t use healing magic?”
“Idiots who don’t even know the basics of healing magic can’t even stay in the Tower.”
I breathed a sigh of relief.
That meant Luce does know healing magic.
I didn’t know how impressive he must be to speak of healing magic so lightly, but that didn’t matter now.
What mattered was that I’d found a mage who could heal my mother.
“So what’s the problem? I want a mage who can heal my mom. You can use healing magic, right?”
Luce gave a bitter laugh and asked:
“You really just called me to treat a person?”
“Uh, is that a problem?”
“No. Not exactly a problem. Just a waste.”
“A waste? Me? How is treating my mother a waste?”
“A mage of my caliber should be used freely, not just to heal one person. It pains me. Do you know how much you’re paying me?”
It sounded like he was hired for a hefty fee. I silently thanked the divine beast clan again.
“Then… should I ask you to conquer a kingdom or something?”
“If you want.”
Luce sounded full of himself—as if conquering a kingdom was easy for him.
I joked, but he answered seriously, so I quickly backed off.
“No, just kidding. I’m not interested in kingdoms. I avoid things I can’t handle.”
“But you sure love money.”
“How did you know? Is that something only a mage can tell?”
Luce shook his head and pointed to the box beside me.
“You held onto it tight the whole time.”
“Ahem!”
I coughed awkwardly. Showing my desire so openly even while sleeping was a mistake.
“Anyway, now I have enough money, so I don’t need much else. All I want now is for my mom to get better.”
“Why?”
“What?”
“People always want more and more. You’re really satisfied with just this little bit?”
“This little bit? Has this guy gone crazy from all that magic research? How can this be ‘little’? There are hundreds of gold coins in each box, and there are ten boxes! Each one worth thousands of gold!”
“For a small fry like me, this is perfect. I’m too tired to be greedy. The reason I worked so hard was just to heal my sick mother.”
Luce tilted his head at that.
“I can give you honor, status, power, anything you want. If you desire. It’ll cost more than the fee, but I could even take fertile lands from a poor family like yours.”
No thanks.
“Still, you reject all that and just want to save your family?”
“J-Just family?”
How could anyone say that? I couldn’t even imagine.
For me, who grew up an orphan with a lonely life even in my past life, this was the first family I’d ever had. Now that my father is gone, my mother is my only family. Though I didn’t have many memories with her due to illness in childhood, I still clearly remember the love she showed me.
“…My mother means more to me than all those things.”
“What does family mean to you?”
“Huh?”
“You said you struggled to save your mother. What does family mean to you that you’d fight so hard to save her?”
It wasn’t sarcasm. He genuinely seemed curious.
“What kind of nonsense is that? Of course because she’s family.”
“Is that the only reason? You’d save her just because of blood ties? Rejecting more valuable things?”
“How many times do I have to say it? The most precious thing to me is my mother’s life! That’s what family is!”
Honestly, I didn’t know much about family since it was my first time having one. But I wanted to prove I was different from those who abandoned me in my past life. I would never abandon my family.
“…That’s just what family is.”
“Yes. Family should be treasured above all.”
“I don’t have anything like that, so I wouldn’t know.”
“Huh? Luce, you don’t have family?”
His expression became ambiguous. Not sure whether to deny or admit.
“I had biological relatives.”
“Then you understand what I mean!”
“No, I don’t. My blood relatives tried to kill me.”
“What?! Why?”
“Well… they wanted my magic.”
…What? How am I supposed to respond to that? He suddenly talks about such dark things and makes me uncomfortable—but he’s so calm about it, it makes it even more serious.
“T-That’s… cruel!”
I don’t know how to comfort someone. I’m terrible at it!
But Luce didn’t seem gloomy or in need of comfort. He just calmly looked at me with clear violet eyes.
Someone who completely trusts me. Someone I can rely on. Isn’t that what family is? Thinking this, I suddenly felt sorry for this mage in front of me.
“…I hope someday you’ll find a true family, Luce.”
That wasn’t just empty words. Despite being annoying, at this moment I truly wished him well.
“…Yeah. Just don’t regret it later.”
He was still annoying, telling me not to regret it after I answered all his questions.
“I’m really grateful.”
I was glad I probably wouldn’t have to see this annoying mage again once my mother recovered.
Wait. Before going to my mom, I have somewhere to stop.
“Luce… what should I do about this? I’m not going straight home; I have somewhere to go.”
“Somewhere?”
“Yes. To Sez village briefly… Or maybe you could go ahead to our house and treat my mother first—”
“I’ll come with you.”
Unexpectedly, Luce said he’d gladly accompany me to Sez village. When he heard the name Sez village, his calm violet eyes flickered.
The carriage rode for a long time.
After half a day, we finally reached Sez village. The knights stopped the carriage near the village entrance and began to survey the surroundings.
“Lady Rinnegrim! You’ve done well! I will escort you!”
Ibel opened the carriage door, but the person greeting him wasn’t me, but a sturdy man sitting there with a sour expression.
“…Miss, who is this?”
Ibel asked politely but kept his hand near his waist, ready to draw his sword.
“That’s the mage! The one His Majesty personally hired…!”
“Ah! I see. Pardon my rudeness. I am Ibel Roan of the Holy Knights.”
Ibel seemed satisfied hearing the emperor had sent the mage, and didn’t complain about his sneaky boarding.
Instead, he extended his hand for a handshake.
But Luce ignored him and jumped out of the carriage.
Even though it was embarrassing to watch, Ibel didn’t flinch and moved his hand toward me.
“Well then, miss, please be careful getting down.”
“Th-thank you, Sir Ibel…”
I took his hand and got down. My back ached from the long ride.
While stretching lightly, I heard the sound of blades clashing somewhere nearby.
“You’re out of your mind. Breaking into a woman’s carriage alone.”
Startled by the low voice, I ran to the commotion and found Luce facing Ethan with drawn swords.
I hurried forward. No! He’s the mage who will heal my mother!
“C-Captain Kreut! He’s the mage hired by His Majesty!”
“You say His Majesty hired him? Impossible.”
Ethan pressed his sword closer to Luce’s throat. But Luce didn’t care and turned toward me.
“I never said the emperor hired me.”
“Huh?”
What nonsense is this? So he didn’t come by summons from Lunaris or the emperor?
“To be exact, Lubein asked the Mage Tower, and I accepted. I burned my grandfather’s lab, so my property was confiscated. I needed money.”
In conclusion, he was indeed a mage hired by the emperor’s order.
But unlike me, Ethan remained cautious.
“You still have that arrogant mouth. How dare you speak the emperor’s name so casually.”
“You’re the one as stiff as a stone. You’ll break someday.”
I didn’t know the full story, but Luce and Ethan clearly didn’t get along well. More precisely, Ethan was completely at Luce’s mercy.
“Is this okay? The Holy Knights captain seems pretty free.”
“I have time to punish a scoundrel who broke into a lady’s carriage without permission. Don’t worry.”
Luce smiled disdainfully, clearly mocking.
“Punish? You?”
“…That arrogance will one day seriously hurt you.”
Veins bulged on Ethan’s forehead. The tense atmosphere made the people around nervous.
“Ahhhh!!!”
Suddenly a piercing scream echoed from somewhere.
