Chapter 3
The little boy—no, Kallius—argued back.
“That’s not true! It’s not like I can’t use magic at all!”
“But you didn’t even have the strength to climb the stairs and had me carry you.”
“Ugh!”
Kallius’s chubby cheeks puffed up in shame, probably remembering that embarrassing moment.
“…I can still use magic, just a very tiny amount.”
Then he stretched out his short fingers and created a small glowing orb.
“See? I can still use magic!”
“But that’s all you can do.”
In the original story, Kallius had enough power to split oceans and shake the earth! And now? He could barely make a little ball of light, and not even for long!
“Oh no, this is bad.”
Daisy frowned in worry, and finally, Kallius let out a deep sigh and confessed.
“To be honest… yeah. If this keeps up, I could be in serious danger. My enemies might attack…”
“Exactly! And if you stay like this, you can’t cure my illness either! I need Archmage Kallius, not little kid Kallius!”
“…You’re a more selfish human than I thought.”
“People live for themselves.”
Kallius sighed again and waved his hand.
“Fine. You’re right. There’s no way a dumb mortal like you could help me.”
He fell into deep thought. Then after a moment, he spoke.
“…You’ll have to stay in my tower for a while.”
Daisy’s eyes lit up.
“Really? That means I don’t have to sleep outside anymore?”
“Yes. I need a… serv, serva… I mean, a ser-vant! The tower is tall and there’s a lot to manage.”
“So you need an assistant, right?”
“No! A servant!”
“Fine with me!”
Daisy accepted without hesitation. She had a plan, after all.
“But if I help, you’ll find the Essence of the World for me later, okay?”
“What?”
Kallius shook his head quickly.
“I don’t make unfair trades like that.”
“Then go climb those long stairs by yourself and do all the work alone. And if you stay like this forever… just imagine!”
“Grrrgh.”
Kallius’s cheeks puffed up again.
Finally, he gave in.
“Fine. If you help me get my powers back, I’ll help you too.”
It was great news. Kallius’s bad luck became Daisy’s good luck.
“Yay! I knew it! You really are a wise archmage!”
Daisy picked up Kallius and spun around happily.
“Put me down! Stop spinning! I’ll curse you!”
But she didn’t hear him. She was too excited.
“So cute! So brave!”
“You disrespectful little slaveeee…!”
That was how Daisy successfully moved into the magic tower.
Later…
“Kallius! Kallius!”
Knock knock knock!
Daisy knocked hard on the research room door.
Kallius had gone in two days ago and hadn’t come out since.
“How’s it going in there?”
He’d said this would be easy to fix, but now he was completely silent.
The sun was setting, and Daisy was starting to worry.
‘Surely he didn’t skip meals to keep working, right? He’s in a child’s body now…’
Daisy, who came from a culture that believed in the power of food, was especially concerned.
“If you’re alive, answer me! Kal-li-us!”
Bang bang! Bang bang bang!
She knocked so hard it sounded like she might break the door.
Eventually, she gave up waiting and tried the door handle.
Creak.
It wasn’t even locked.
“Kallius, I’m only coming in because you wouldn’t answer…”
As she peeked her head in, she gasped.
“Oh no!”
Daisy screamed and ran into the room.
Kallius was collapsed on the floor, still wearing his black robe.
“K-K-K-Kallius!”
She grabbed him and shook him hard.
“You can’t die! You still have to fix me! Wake up! Live!”
After yelling into his ear, Kallius’s eyelids twitched.
“…Too loud. I’m not dead.”
His black eyes slowly opened. Daisy let out a sigh of relief.
“You were awake this whole time?”
“Yeah. I never passed out.”
“Then why were you lying on the floor? You’re a great archmage, aren’t you?”
Kallius mumbled something.
“…No strength.”
“What?”
When she asked louder, he frowned and finally said it clearly.
“…I had no strength, so I lay down.”
“No strength?”
She tilted her head—and then she heard it.
Growl, gurgle.
It was his stomach.
Daisy’s face turned pale.
“Wait… did you not eat for three whole days?!”
“A true archmage doesn’t need food.”
“But you’re not a true archmage right now! You’re a kid!”
“Ugh…”
Kallius tried to argue, but he couldn’t. Daisy had already picked him up.
“This is not okay. Even busy people have to eat. That’s just how life works!”
Her eyes sparkled.
“Let’s go eat. Now.”
Freshly cooked food steamed on the tray.
‘Too bad there’s no sesame oil. But I guess this isn’t Korea.’
Daisy sighed and carried a bowl of beef porridge out of the kitchen.
At the old, dusty dining table sat Kallius, looking annoyed.
“A lowly servant kept me waiting? My time is more valuable than gold.”
He had insisted earlier that bread was enough to cure hunger.
But Daisy couldn’t accept that.
“You need hot food to stay strong!”
She slammed the bowl in front of him.
“Eat. It’s way better than the dried-up bread in the pantry.”
Kallius poked at the porridge with a big wooden spoon.
“…What is this? It looks like pig slop.”
Daisy, now used to his rude mouth, wasn’t fazed at all.
“You’re half right. It’s not for pigs, though—it’s for you.”
“What’s in it?”
“Just some ground beef and a bit of rice. That’s it.”
A very simple beef porridge with no vegetables. She had wanted to add some, but…
“There were hardly any ingredients in the pantry. What have you even been eating?”
Kallius answered seriously.
“I told you. Archmages don’t need food.”
“Really? Not even a little?”
“Well… maybe a few bites, once or twice a month.”
“What do you eat then?”
“A piece of bread.”
“What about meat or veggies?”
Kallius’s face twisted in disgust.
“Gross. I hate that stuff. Tastes bad. Too much effort.”
“Oh wow… you’re a picky eater?”
“I just don’t waste time on pointless things like eating.”
“But tasty food is one of life’s greatest joys!”
To Daisy, who saw food as a treasure, this was hard to hear.
But she quickly refocused. She slammed the table.
“Anyway! Eat! If you don’t eat, you won’t get better. And if you don’t get better, you can’t help me!”
Kallius pouted.
“Fine. But only three bites.”
‘…He’s like a picky little kid, for real.’
Daisy held in her laughter and smiled.
“Okay, but chew it well, okay?”
“…Yeah.”
Kallius reluctantly took a bite and swallowed.
The warm porridge filled his stomach and spread warmth to his cold hands and feet.
‘…Not bad, actually.’
As he took another spoonful—
Whoooosh…
A breeze blew through the room, and suddenly Daisy shouted in surprise.
“Wait! Kallius! Your body is glowing!”
A soft light started in his hands and spread across his entire body.
Then—FLASH!—a bright light filled the room.
“Ah! Too bright!”
Daisy had to cover her eyes.
And when she finally opened them… what she saw was—…?
