Episode 7
Lionel didn’t like it one bit—this so-called familiar referring to Lindsay as if she were his witch.
“…I don’t know what you mean.”
Nero stared him down, already sensing this wasn’t going to be easy.
But he had to know.
If a mage this strong had found Lindsay so easily, her safety was at risk.
She was already careless enough—someone had to watch out for her.
“You knew there was a witch here before you came. Didn’t you?”
Lionel widened his eyes innocently.
“You’re speaking nonsense.”
“And you knew she could heal you.”
“I just happened to collapse in front of her shop, that’s all.”
His firm tone made Nero’s mouth snap shut.
He studied Lionel silently for a long moment, then finally spoke again.
“…If you’re going to be this uncooperative, then I’ve got no choice.”
So far, Lionel had only defended against Nero’s attacks.
That alone said enough about his strength—someone who could block blows from Nero’s real body wasn’t just some average mage.
Nero’s tone grew colder.
“…I may have to move my contractor to a safer place.”
At those words, Lionel’s mana burst outward.
Violet energy ripped through the surrounding shadows like wild stallions, lashing out.
Nero’s lips curled upward faintly. So that’s how you react, huh?
The violet mana twisted into chains that whipped toward Nero.
He batted them away with his black wings, voice sharp.
“If you don’t want this to get worse—talk.”
Above Lionel’s head, two massive spears of pure magic formed, humming with lethal intent.
They hovered for a breath, then plunged downward.
They cut through a few strands of Nero’s hair before halting.
The spears vanished, mana snapping back into Lionel’s body.
“…Fine.”
Lionel’s voice echoed in the darkness.
“A few days ago, I helped an old woman who was being harassed by some thugs.”
It had been a pure coincidence.
For weeks, Lionel had been searching desperately for a cure to his mana corruption.
His pain grew worse every day, gnawing at his patience.
He’d snapped—and when he saw thugs harassing a street vendor, he took his frustration out on them.
“Afterward, the old woman asked me what I wanted most. I told her… to be free from this torment.”
Nero’s golden eyes glinted strangely.
He immediately thought of a particular witch—eccentric, whimsical, one who liked to toy with mortals and grant wishes.
“…And she told you?”
“She told me to find a witch in the capital. A witch who runs a potion shop. She said that witch would save me.”
“…Save me.”
Lionel’s lips curved as he remembered waking up in Lindsay’s shop.
For the first time, the pain had been replaced with something intoxicating.
“The old woman… do you remember her eye color?”
Lionel hesitated, then answered quietly.
“Silver. Shining, like the moon.”
That confirmed it.
Unlike Lindsay—who was born on a new moon with no magic at all—there was another witch. One who had resonated with the full moon.
Overflowing with power, blessed with foresight, revered by her kind.
The Witch of the Full Moon. Selene.
And it was Selene who had led Lionel straight to Lindsay.
Meanwhile, Lindsay was upstairs, happily carrying a tray with three plates of steaming bulgogi rice bowls and three cups of frothy goat’s milk.
She even set out spoons and chopsticks for each of them.
She had no idea what Lionel liked to eat, so she went with her and Nero’s favorite: bulgogi rice.
She floated the tray carefully with magic and headed downstairs.
Before she could even touch the doorknob, the workshop door swung open.
Lionel appeared, immediately taking hold of the tray. His smile was radiant.
“Welcome back. I missed you while you were gone.”
“…How much did you get done?”
She peeked through the doorway and saw he’d already finished prepping four baskets’ worth of ingredients.
Her lips curved in approval. Alright. He’s earned his meal.
Lindsay pushed Nero aside on the cat tower and set one plate and one cup in front of him.
When she handed over a spoon and chopsticks, a black shadow hand rose from the floor, took them neatly, and began feeding the cat.
Between bites, Nero commented casually:
[Meat for dinner again, please, meow.]
“This is meat! Look—nothing but meat on your plate.”
She’d even left out the onions, knowing he refused to eat vegetables.
Yet he still complained like he was deprived. Lindsay jabbed her finger at his dish.
Nero smacked the cat tower with his tail irritably.
[No, I mean a proper steak. Smoked over a wood fire.]
“…Smoked? Who the hell smokes meat here? Who’s gonna sit around inhaling smoke just to cook it?”
She looked up at him incredulously.
[And how am I supposed to do it, meow? I’m a cat. You’ve got hands.]
He stretched out his little paw in demonstration, revealing tiny claws and soft black paw pads.
Cat lovers would’ve melted at the sight—Lindsay just felt her blood pressure spike.
“You’ve got shadow hands for everything else! They can feed you just fine, but they can’t grill meat?!”
[You disrespect my shadows. Heartless, meow.]
“You—ugh!!”
“Lindsay, calm down.”
Lionel stepped in smoothly, steadying her by the shoulders as she nearly collapsed from rage.
He guided her into a chair, then massaged the back of her neck gently.
Nero snorted from his perch.
As Lindsay slowly calmed down, she blinked.
Wait a second.
Did he just… accept all of this? The cat is talking, shadows feeding themselves… and he’s just calmly massaging me like it’s normal?
Maybe he’s just brushing it off as “witch things.”
Yeah.
That must be it.
Shaking off the thought, she pointed at the tray.
Her finger trembled faintly—maybe from leftover anger.
“…There’s a plate for you, too. Eat.”
“Is this your cooking? First time I’ve seen this dish.”
She nodded.
Lionel set the plate and cup down on the table, then gently pried the spoon and chopsticks from her tense hand.
Watching how the shadow hands deftly used chopsticks, he copied their movements perfectly, unfazed by the unfamiliar utensils.
That’s when Lindsay’s quiet laugh slipped out.
