Episode 6
Does he know something?
Lindsay froze at Lionel’s question.
Her head filled with doubts, but when she looked at his innocent smile, it was clear he hadn’t meant anything deeper.
She brushed her worries away.
There was no way he could know the truth about her potions.
“Healing potions are the most in demand.”
She gave a plain answer and got back to work.
Even in peacetime, healing potions were always popular.
Lionel, who knew this better than anyone, plucked healing herb leaves and thought to himself—maybe this was a chance to earn her favor.
“…Should I get your shop Mage Tower certified?”
“You?”
The words slipped out before she remembered—oh right, he was the Tower Master.
“Yep. I’m the head of the Tower. Getting certification would be nothing.”
His shoulders even seemed to puff up a little with pride.
“…No, thanks. Just finish prepping the herbs.”
Money wasn’t an issue anymore, and she wasn’t about to deal with floods of customers.
Maybe later, but not now.
Lionel sighed with disappointment.
“…I thought you’d be pleased.”
“Why are you always disappointed? Huh—!”
She suddenly let out a small gasp. Lionel instantly looked up.
“What is it?”
“It’s nothing.” She waved her hand quickly and kept working.
But Lionel’s eyes narrowed. On her pale fingertip, he spotted a tiny bead of red blood. His brows furrowed.
Before she could react, he grabbed her hand, lifted her finger—
—and put it straight into his mouth.
“What the hell?! That’s disgusting!”
Lindsay panicked at the soft, warm feel of his mouth around her finger.
She tried to pull away, but he held her wrist firmly.
His voice was muffled as his tongue brushed her skin.
“…I was curious what it tasted like.”
“Spit it out, you freak!”
Who sees blood and thinks, “I wonder what it tastes like”?
Her face flushed bright red.
Then Nero meowed from the cat tower, startling her.
Flustered, she released a gust of green wind.
Lionel was blown off her and slammed into the wall—but he only laughed.
“Were you embarrassed?”
[Embarrassed, meow?]
The two voices overlapped, and Lindsay scowled.
“No! Not at all! Do you know how old I am? I don’t get embarrassed over this!”
Lionel’s lips curled slyly.
“…So you’re used to this kind of contact?”
“Of course!”
The words burst out too quickly.
[What a liar, meow.]
Nero snorted.
Lindsay ignored him.
Lionel didn’t understand cat-speak anyway, so no one would ever know the truth—she’d never even held hands with anyone.
In her past life or this one.
Unfortunately for her, Lionel had already figured it out.
Her reactions gave her away.
To him, she was clearly inexperienced, maybe completely untouched.
Instead of anger, he just found it… endearing.
“Have you ever tried this, then?”
Oh, he’s gonna try something worse—!
In a blink, Lionel shifted onto her lap, straddling her waist between his knees.
He leaned down, trapping her under his arms.
His beautiful face hovered above her, green eyes wide with shock. Lionel smirked.
“…What do you think we’re about to do right now?”
His teasing tone made her cheeks burn—but she forced herself to breathe slowly. I
t’s fine. It’s just a pretty statue. Nothing more. Don’t get flustered.
“B-before… I…”
“Hm? Speak up.”
He leaned in closer, trying to catch her words.
But before he could, a black shadow lashed across his face. Whack!
His jaw jerked to the side.
“Get. Off. Me!”
Shoving him away, Lindsay sat up, fist still clenched.
Lionel blinked in shock—then suddenly burst out laughing.
He’d expected her to blush, avert her gaze, maybe push weakly at his chest.
Not punch him full force in the jaw.
His automatic protective magic had activated, which meant the blow was strong enough to knock out a low-level demon.
“…Are you insane?!” Lindsay snapped.
Nero’s tail flicked from the tower.
[With that punch, you could’ve knocked out most demons, meow.]
Oddly casual, considering he’d just been smacking the tower earlier in annoyance.
Lionel wiped tears of laughter from his eyes.
“Lindsay… if I were a normal man, my cheekbone would’ve been shattered.”
“It wasn’t that hard.”
“It was.”
“…So what?”
Please. I saw your shield catch it.
Lindsay glared at him, and Lionel raised both hands in surrender, still grinning, before returning to his seat.
“Back to work, slave. If you don’t finish before tonight, you’re not going home.”
She piled on the sarcasm thick.
Lionel only tilted his head, amused.
“So if I don’t finish, that means I stay here with you? I don’t see the downside.”
“What nonsense. While the slave works, the master rests. I’m going upstairs for a nap.”
She pointed firmly upward.
“…Then take me with you?” His voice softened, almost pleading.
“Not a chance. Don’t you dare sneak into my bed.”
“…At least feed me. I haven’t eaten since yesterday.”
“What were you even doing all morning?”
He just smiled, not answering.
No way was he going to admit he’d spent the entire night trying to figure out a way to bind her more tightly to him.
“…Fine. Keep working. I’ll bring food.”
She headed upstairs, leaving Lionel’s eyes fixed on her retreating back until the door closed.
The moment she was gone, the shadows in the workshop swelled.
The magic lights flickered, then went out completely.
Nero uncurled from the cat tower.
“…So you reveal yourself the moment she leaves?”
Despite the heavy, suffocating mana pressing in from all sides, Lionel stayed calm.
His violet eyes watched the cat carefully.
Wings of black feathers burst from Nero’s back as his true form emerged—a tall man with flawless beauty, flowing black hair like silk, and two sharp horns curling from his head.
Anyone else would have been entranced by his dark, breathtaking presence.
But his voice came low and heavy, carrying menace.
“I think we need to talk.”
“…Talk? Feels more like you’re trying to crush me.”
Lionel answered smoothly, readying spells in case things went south.
Of course. The cat had never been an ordinary familiar.
“You’re… her familiar, aren’t you?”
“Enough questions. Now you answer mine.”
Shadows surged up, sprouting clawed hands that slammed against Lionel’s barrier.
Cracks splintered across his shield instantly.
He blinked in surprise—the force was strong enough to crush even his strongest protection.
Stacking more shields, he asked evenly, “…So what do you want to know?”
“How did a brat like you find my witch?”
The smile finally faded from Lionel’s face.
