Chapter 10
“Where do you think you’re going? You haven’t finished burning the meat on my plate.”
Khalid glared at the man still sprawled on the floor, dazed.
“You tripped me just now, didn’t you? Are you insane? You filthy bastard.”
“Seems like your ears are rotting from hearing the word ‘trash’ so often. Not that it makes a difference.”
Completely ignoring Arne’s curses, Khalid adjusted the black mask pulled up to his nose. Then, picking up Luna’s plate, he dumped its contents over the man’s head.
The lump of charred meat crumbled into ash, smearing Arne’s face. Half-burnt sauce clung in sticky streaks to his brown hair and dust-stained clothes.
“Now you finally look like the useless husk you are.”
Khalid crossed his legs and sneered as if admiring a painting, mocking Arne’s earlier words.
Everyone froze at his brazenness—Luna included. Arne was a spoiled tyrant, propped up by wealth and magic, someone everyone else knew to avoid. No one dared step in to stop the clash.
Arne’s eyes widened as if he had never experienced anything like this. His face flushed red, and mana surged into his hand, flickering flames crackling to life.
“Thinking of starting a brawl here? Just like before—you lose your mind the moment something gets under your skin.”
Still lounging with one leg crossed, Khalid’s voice was cutting.
Arne clenched his jaw at the wandering swordsman’s scorn, scanning the onlookers. Every gaze was fixed on him, breaths held. His eyes met those of a pink-haired girl staring back at him in worry.
He gritted his teeth and let the flames flare brighter at his fingertips. No—he couldn’t afford to disgrace himself here. Not when his future wife was watching.
“You’re begging to die, so I’ll oblige.”
“And who’s really the one begging here?”
Khalid tilted his chin arrogantly and tapped his toe. Rising to his feet, he loomed over Arne, cold eyes boring down into him.
He didn’t care about petty romance squabbles—but if the other man’s opponent was his purification mage, that changed everything.
Veins bulged across the back of Khalid’s hand.
“Scum like you isn’t even worth my sword. Not even my fist.”
“What—”
Smack!
The crack of impact split the air before Arne could finish.
A sharp slap sent his head snapping violently to the side. His vision spun, flashing white, his mouth filling with the taste of blood.
Smack!
“Ugh!”
Another blow landed on the opposite cheek, leaving both sides of his face swelling as though stung by bees.
The flames he had conjured sputtered out uselessly. He hadn’t even taken a hit to the jaw, yet his vision kept flickering between black and white.
Reeling, Arne stumbled backward, hands flying to his face. The world tilted sharply, even the pale face of Luna—covering her mouth in shock—seemed to slide sideways.
What was happening—? Ah. The madman had lifted him clean off the ground.
Crash!!
Arne’s body was hurled into a row of empty tables, wood splintering and chairs snapping under the force.
Among the wreckage, blood splattered, shards of broken furniture cutting his hands and legs as he groaned, barely conscious.
“With all that wealth and magic, maybe focus on improving yourself instead of chasing women. You’re pathetic.”
Khalid brushed his hands off as if ridding himself of filth, his voice low and contemptuous.
To anyone watching, it almost looked like the masked swordsman was the villain here, his violence far too reckless—if not for the fact that Arne had started it.
“Purification mage. No—Lady Aderet.”
“Eh?”
Startled, Luna jumped at hearing him address her so naturally.
“Let’s go.”
“Y-Yes!”
His firm tone left no room for hesitation. Luna hurried after him, following the steady steps of the man in silver.
“Thank you so much for helping me!”
At the edge of the plaza, Luna handed Khalid a skewer of roasted turkey, her heart still pounding from what she had witnessed.
Though he had lowered his mask, Khalid merely folded his arms, eyeing both the skewer and Luna with equal indifference.
“Don’t misunderstand. I didn’t help you.”
“Then why…?”
“I hate mages. And I hate foul-mouthed brats even more.”
“Ahem. I… see.”
Embarrassed, Luna coughed and bit into her own skewer, nearly choking.
Technically, I’m a mage too… She thought back to the time she had struck his cheek in the bathhouse, shivering. What had possessed her then?
Watching his overwhelming display of power tonight made her heart race all over again.
“About that promise we made before—it still counts for life, right? That we’d pretend nothing happened? You won’t go back on it?”
“You keep bringing it up. Do you actually want me to remember?”
Khalid’s voice was blunt as he finally took the skewer from her hand and passed her a drink.
“N-No! Of course not.”
“You said you’d treat me to dinner. Instead you ruined it. Next time, make up for it properly.”
“Please don’t worry. Really—I should be the one thanking you. Everyone probably cheered inside when you put him in his place. He’s notorious here.”
“And what exactly is your relationship with that delinquent?”
“He was a fellow student. We learned magic together… though I only studied theory.”
Luna forced a small smile. After her mage parents had died and her family faltered, everyone’s attitude—including Arne’s—had flipped overnight. Yet she had persevered with her grandfather.
If not for Khalid tonight, she would have swallowed the humiliation like always. That was why she couldn’t help feeling grateful.
“Next time, be a great mage yourself and beat him down.”
“…Eh?”
His words lit a spark inside her. Maybe this gruff man really was kind at heart. With him, strangely, she didn’t feel afraid.
“I will. I’ll definitely do it someday. But… why encourage me if you hate mages? Why do you hate them at all?”
“…”
Khalid said nothing, chewing in silence until the skewer was gone.
Luna tilted her head back, gazing at the brilliant night sky scattered with stars.
“…Because the curse I carry is magic.” His voice finally came, low and reluctant, swept away by the breeze.
“Oh…”
For a moment, his words struck not her ears but her heart. Too sharply. At once, she remembered the purple brand burned into his skin, and her chest tightened in pain. The purification isn’t complete yet…
“I’ll purify the curse. I promise.”
“You think something that’s lasted years will vanish in a day or two?”
His lips pressed thin, but beneath the calm tone was a trace of desperate hope.
Looking at him, Luna felt both pity and something else she couldn’t name.
How had he ended up cursed like this? She knew he wouldn’t tell her if she asked. Still, she resolved to try. Only by purifying it completely could she feel at peace.
“Of course I can do it. I’m perfectly fine.”
He searched her face with a doubtful gaze, then sighed quietly and stood.
“…Fine. I’ll be going.”
Luna sprang up too, inwardly cheering. If her patron promised more payment soon, she had to say she was fine, no matter what!
“May I ask your name, sir?”
She tried again as they walked.
“Did you forget Raven’s rule? No names. None of your business.”
“Now you say that?”
She puffed her cheeks in protest, glaring up at him.
“We’re under contract, aren’t we?”
“Yes…”
“Then you don’t need to know me. Just focus on purification.”
“…Alright.”
So sly. With a single question, he shut down anything unnecessary. As if telling her there was no point in getting closer.
Luna followed behind, lips jutting in a pout. Before long, they reached near her estate. She stopped to bow politely.
“I’ll return the cloak tomorrow.”
“Keep it.”
“But it’s yours—”
“I have plenty. Just go inside before you catch cold.”
Their voices clashed lightly, both raising brows at each other.
The whole evening, Luna had felt like she was being swept along in his current. She opened her mouth to add something more—but he suddenly turned, vanishing from sight.
Left alone, she stared at the dark forest path near her home.
“Huh… wait.”
How had he known where her house was? She’d never told him. Not once.
Her fingers clenched at her dress hem. A chill crept down her neck.
She didn’t know who he truly was—but one thing was certain. If he wanted, he could drag her into far darker depths at any time.
Still shivering, Luna slipped inside her home. Unaware that even now, her mysterious client lingered close by.
