Episode 1
Under the night sky, filled with fireworks for the Empire’s founding festival, a shady deal was happening in one of the Roman Empire’s back alleys.
“Three bottles of hair-growth potion. 100 gold each, so 300 total.”
“Here you go.”
“Perfect. Use them well.”
The cloaked seller checked the coins in the pouch, grinned, then pulled out three small potion bottles.
An old man buying the potions gasped softly when he saw them.
Just one look told him they were real—the famous “witch’s” potions.
The bottles glowed faintly, making it obvious they weren’t fakes.
Clutching the precious potions, the old man quickly turned to leave.
He looked like he couldn’t wait to get home and test them out.
But as he rushed off, his hat blew away, exposing his shiny bald head in the moonlight.
“…Wow. Smooth.”
Lindsay, hidden inside her cloak, muttered awkwardly.
She was the seller, after all.
To make money, she disguised herself and sold rare potions on the black market for high prices.
She already ran a proper shop, but still did shady side-deals for one reason: profit.
After confirming nobody was around, Lindsay pulled out a small vial from her cloak.
It was the antidote for the “Grow Bigger” potion and the “Deep Voice” potion she had taken to hide her identity.
With a sip, steam rose up, and the oversized cloak shrank down to fit her normal body.
She waved away the steam and casually left the alley.
The festival square wasn’t far.
“…Ugh, too many people.”
The square was packed with crowds enjoying the fireworks.
Cutting across it would be the fastest way home, but she didn’t want to squeeze through all those people.
So she decided to walk around the quieter outer path, where she could still watch from a distance.
“Papa! Boom!”
“That’s called a firework, sweetie. Magicians modify signal flares to—”
“Papa…”
“Oh! My princess is bored already?”
She passed by a father and daughter, then a couple whispering “I love you”s to each other.
And then—
“She disappeared!”
“The mana flow is—!”
“It’s about to go berserk…!”
“Hurry, we need the Tower Master!”
A group of robed mages were whispering urgently.
Their panicked tone made Lindsay frown. Still, nobody else noticed—they were all too busy enjoying the festival.
She clicked her tongue, ignored them, and looked up at the sky just as a huge crimson firework bloomed.
Her green eyes reflected the red light.
“Fireworks are the same everywhere… Earth or here. Actually, they’ve got fewer kinds here.”
If the hardworking mages who designed them heard that, they’d probably cry.
Humming lightly, she finally reached the other side of the square.
One more road, then a small alley, and she’d be home.
She turned away from the fireworks, still smiling.
“Ah, what a perfect day to fall in love.”
Because tonight… was the day the novel’s story began.
A Strange Encounter
“…Why is he here?”
In front of her little two-story shop, Lindsay spotted a man collapsed on the ground.
His silver hair spilled over his face, making him look delicate and pitiful—like a fallen angel.
But she wasn’t admiring his beauty.
This man wasn’t supposed to be here.
He was supposed to collapse in some random alley, not right in front of her house.
She glanced up at the roof.
Two glowing yellow orbs stared back.
A black cat stretched and yawned.
[He just suddenly fainted, meow.]
“…Why here?”
[How should I know, meow? Now hurry up and feed me.]
“Ugh, stop with that fake cat-talk already!”
[Technically, this is the front of the house, meow.]
The black cat, Nero, wasn’t really a cat—he was a demon in disguise. And he never lost an argument.
Ignoring her glare, he calmly groomed his paw. Of course. Cats and their grooming.
With a sigh, Lindsay carried the man inside.
[His mana’s going berserk. Gonna heal him?]
“Of course. I can’t just let him die.”
If her guess was right, this man was one of the novel’s main characters.
[Wow, what a saint.]
“My heart’s just that kind.”
Rolling her eyes at Nero’s sarcasm, she lifted the man bridal-style and kicked open the shop door.
Shelves full of colorful potions lined the walls.
“Nero, get a blanket.”
[Why bother? The floor’s spotless.]
“He’s a patient.”
Grumbling, Nero dragged over a green blanket and spread it on the floor.
Lindsay gently laid the man down and checked his condition.
“…Yikes. Completely rotten.”
His mana wasn’t just unstable—it was corrupted, raging wildly inside him.
“How the heck did he survive like this…?”
She placed her hand on his chest. Even through his thin shirt, she felt the fever and violent mana.
[You’re gonna absorb it?]
“Duh. He’s practically serving it up on a platter.”
[Tsk. Always looking for the easy way.]
“What are you talking about? You’re the one who taught me this trick.”
She shot him a look, then focused back on the man.
Putting her hand firmly against his chest, she began drawing in the corrupted mana.
Dark mana flowed into her, turning bright green as it merged with her own.
Her body filled with power.
“…So this is the strength of a sub male lead, huh?”
[Go to a temple, seriously. You need holy water poured on your brain.]
“What temple?”
[So you can cleanse that nonsense out of your head, meow. …Anyway, he’s waking up.]
“What?!”
Startled, Lindsay looked down.
Sure enough, the man’s lavender-colored eyes were slowly opening.
Their gazes met. His eyes were like blooming purple flowers—soft, yet dazzling.
“…Uh… h-hi there.”
[She’s lost her mind, meow.]
Ignoring Nero’s jab, Lindsay panicked.
Did he hear everything? How long had he been awake?!
As she struggled to figure out what to say, the man smiled gently and whispered, “Hello, my lady.”
[…He’s crazy too.]
Lindsay could only blankly agree.
