Chapter 90
I froze only for a moment before Wishid’s head tilted slightly.
The sunset rested gently on his lashes. His golden lashes, which always sparkled like sunlight, shone even brighter.
Fearing that even my breath might shatter this moment, I inhaled sharply and closed my eyes.
Just before our lips touched, Wishid pulled the back of my head into his chest.
Instead of the softness of lips, I felt the firmness of his chest and opened my eyes in surprise.
While I was flustered, Wishid whispered softly in my ear.
“Someone’s watching us, Luna.”
At once, my face flushed with heat.
Crazy. I’m crazy!
I wanted to punch myself for closing my eyes so naturally.
But then I thought—Gruel and the others were probably lurking around, hiding their presence while guarding us. If so, what was the problem? I blinked.
But then his next words made my eyes fly open wide.
“A magician.”
At that single word, I stiffened.
If we ended up fighting a magician, we absolutely had to capture them alive. No matter what crimes a magician committed, they were never sentenced to death.
At most, they’d be given life imprisonment and forced to work until death.
That’s how valuable magicians were.
Which is why killing one during battle was punishable.
Self-defense was never recognized as justification under any circumstances.
Because of this, people hated fighting magicians—it was tricky and dangerous.
And now, one of them was targeting us.
Nervously, I asked,
“Are they strong?”
“Not really. And if they do die, we’ll just dispose of it quietly. Don’t worry.”
Wishid patted the back of my head while slowly scanning the surroundings.
The sun was just setting, and the sunset reflected in his eyes.
The vivid red color made me forget the situation and gasp without thinking.
Beautiful.
Did I mutter that thought aloud? Wishid suddenly lowered his head, and our eyes met.
Startled, I leapt to my feet.
“Luna!”
I remembered only too late that a magician was after us. By then, Wishid had already pulled me into his arms.
Whoosh!
A sharp wind sliced across my cheek, and goosebumps pricked my skin.
That wasn’t just wind—it was the sound of something sharp flying by.
Had Wishid not pulled me, that attack would have pierced my shoulder.
As the strike narrowly missed me, Gruel and Miguel revealed themselves from hiding.
“Capture them.”
At Wishid’s short command, Gruel and Miguel vanished again.
“Are you scared? You’re not hurt, are you?”
I stood dumbfounded for a moment, then nodded.
“Y-yeah… I’m fine. Just startled… I was startled, that’s all. S-sorry for suddenly standing up…”
“Phew, be careful. You almost got hurt.”
I pressed a hand against my chest, trying to calm my racing heart, and Wishid held my shoulder supportively.
“Let’s head back to the hotel. By the time we arrive, the magician will be caught. Don’t worry.”
Half-carried, half-supported by Wishid, I returned to the hotel and descended into the basement.
And there, indeed, was a stranger.
“Ugh, magicians are a damn pain to capture.”
“Killing them would’ve been easier.”
Gruel and Miguel were talking as they glanced at something.
When we entered, they turned—and revealed a magician tied tightly with ropes, even his fingers bound.
Wishid approached without hesitation and pulled back the hood of the robe.
When I saw the young face and violet eyes, my breath caught.
Wait, why is he here?
It was Duncan, Reynard’s companion and the child prodigy magician.
Wishid crouched down and removed the gag from his mouth.
“Pwah! Child abuse! Somebody help me!”
“You’re the magician sent by Duke Ventes, aren’t you?”
Duncan, who had been shouting loudly, instantly fell silent.
Wishid, as if expecting that, dusted off his hands.
“I knew you were sensitive, but I didn’t expect you to be a little beast.”
He clicked his tongue.
By now, Kaiman had appeared holding a stack of papers—magic scrolls, probably the ones bought at the auction.
“Why did you attack us, kid?”
“I’m not a kid! I’m fifteen!”
“Just tell us the reason, kid.”
Duncan puffed out his cheeks, then bit his lip and looked away.
“Tch. Nobody told me there was a beastkin with you…”
Duncan was young but a genius, eccentric, and, above all, a beastkin hater.
To be exact, his younger sibling had been murdered by a beastkin. Because of that, he harbored a deep grudge.
Duncan turned to me, looking flustered.
“Sorry. I didn’t mean to attack on purpose.”
“You didn’t mean it? You had plenty of killing intent.”
“…I’m like that with all beastkin! Even if I try to control it, if I meet one when I’m unguarded, I attack without realizing!”
…But why does this seem so familiar?
“I’m sorry! I’m really sorry! I didn’t mean it! Please accept my apology!”
…Lenen?
For a moment, I overlapped him with the black panther.
The way he threw a tantrum was identical.
“Do you want me to fix that nasty attitude of yours? What gives you the confidence to act so rude?”
Wishid tilted his head, genuinely curious.
Duncan flinched.
“J-just tell me what I need to do. I’ll finish it quickly and leave.”
Kaiman set the scrolls in front of Duncan.
“Can you identify where these were made? And whether they can actually be activated?”
Duncan studied the scrolls closely.
The whining child from before was gone—he looked serious now.
Soon, he divided them into three groups.
Pointing to the largest pile, he said,
“These are from the imperial palace.”
Then, the smaller pile.
“These are from the Magic Tower. And the smallest group is of unknown origin—they’re from the back alleys.”
“Can they all be activated?”
“Most of the imperial ones won’t work. Ironically, the ones from the back alleys look more functional.”
When talking about magic, Duncan seemed more earnest than anyone else. His passion was obvious.
“What about this one?”
Kaiman placed a new scroll before him. Duncan’s eyes widened in shock.
“You… where did you find this?”
Duncan shot to his feet and lunged at Kaiman, but Miguel easily restrained him.
Even as Miguel held him down, Duncan glared, veins bulging in his eyes.
“I asked you where you found it!”
Then, as he struggled, his face twisted in pain.
“Please—please tell me! I’m begging you! I’ll do anything, just tell me, please…!”
Darkness clouded my vision as a dull sound rang out.
Wishid lowered the hand that had covered my eyes.
“Ah, so noisy.”
He had gestured for Gruel to knock Duncan unconscious.
“Talk to him when he wakes up. And contact Duke Ventes.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Luna, aren’t you going up?”
“Huh? Oh, yeah.”
I glanced down at the unconscious Duncan before stepping into the elevator with Wishid.
…Just what is happening?
Reynard had changed. The story I knew no longer matched.
Duncan, who should have been Reynard’s companion, was suddenly working with Duke Ventes. It wasn’t just this—many things were different. But this, at least, was certain.
This isn’t the world I know.
The same events, the same people—yet everything was different.
“Rowen? Why are you here?”
“Oh, Wishid. An invitation came from the imperial palace. To a banquet.”
I stared blankly at Wishid.
If this world isn’t the one I know…
“Luna?”
…Can you live differently from the original story?
