Chapter 06
“Lafer Wizard”
Lafer Wizard.
He was the strongest mage in the Zeroth Prince on a White Horse universe, the youngest ever to become Tower Master.
And he was also the long-time friend of Callier Esperos, the story’s main villain.
Of course, I didn’t know if he helped Callier kidnap Heidi just because they were friends.
“You seem pretty shocked.”
“……”
“Well, I didn’t actually plan to talk to you like this.”
His casual chatter floated through my foggy mind. Seeing him appear so suddenly, my brain spun.
If the strongest mage helped me, maybe I could pull off a plan I’d never dared imagine.
Like… asking him to take me to Delphian so I could tell him about Callier’s plot.
“What are you thinking so hard about, lady?”
He waved a hand in front of me, snapping me out of it. I quickly looked up at him. He gave a sly smile.
“Just… wondering if I could ask for a favor.”
“From me?”
I nodded. His lips twitched in amusement.
“For example?”
“…I want to meet the Crown Prince.”
“Rejected.”
“Tch.”
Despite my careful request, he shut it down instantly. I pouted.
“So even the great archmage can’t do teleportation? I heard scroll-based teleport spells aren’t that hard.”
“Lady, you’re quite good at poking nerves, huh? It’s not that I can’t. I won’t.”
“Why?”
“Do you know how complicated it is to mess with the imperial family? Just thinking about it exhausts me.”
He shivered dramatically. Honestly, he wasn’t wrong.
And it wasn’t like he owed me enough to take that risk.
“Why do you want to see the Crown Prince anyway? Do you love Delphian that much?”
“Me?!”
“Isn’t that why you asked?”
“Why would I want to see that idiot who only thinks about Heidi—!”
I blurted out before I could stop myself, then quickly clamped my mouth shut.
His eyes widened, then he smirked wickedly.
“You must have strong backing. Not many families could cover for treasonous insults against the royal family.”
He tilted his head, eyes gleaming.
“From what your maid’s been shouting around, your name’s Rebelia, right?”
“……”
“What’s your family name? Plenty of blue-eyed girls, but violet-haired noble ladies… I’ve never heard of one.”
Ugh, why did my hair have to be violet?
Even if I wanted to pretend to be someone else, it was as conspicuous as his silver hair.
Why does the villainess have to stand out like this, while the heroine Heidi gets boring blonde hair…
Suddenly, an idea flashed through my mind.
An absurd, possibly life-threatening idea.
“Do you know how to make hair dye?”
“What?”
Before I could think, the words came out.
Lafer’s Perspective
Life was boring for Lafer Wizard.
His immense magic power, present since birth, guaranteed him fame and wealth without effort.
He could have anything he wanted without even trying. And everything was too easy.
Life was unbearably dull.
“If you’re going to help, do it properly. If this plan fails, I might kill you first.”
That’s why Callier was such a fascinating friend to him.
No matter how rich or powerful humans were, they lived barely 100 years.
But for over a decade, Callier had lived with one goal—revenge on Delphian.
“It’s almost enviable, how he lives like a moth flying into a flame.”
Lafer knew Callier’s plan wouldn’t end well, but he still offered to help.
Because he knew Callier would never back down until he died.
“He’s just looking for a place to die in peace.”
Lafer frowned, remembering his friend who hadn’t smiled once since that day ten years ago.
Over Callier’s shadowed face, a girl’s bright eyes flashed in his mind.
“Do you know how to make hair dye?”
“What?”
“Hair dye that lasts at least three months.”
“Unbelievable.”
Even recalling it made him laugh.
He was the youngest Tower Master in history.
There was no mage greater than him alive.
And she asked… if he could make hair dye?
He blinked at her, stunned. Rebelia murmured quietly:
“Oh, is that too hard? I guess it’s difficult to maintain a color for three months…”
“W-wait!”
“Huh?”
“Do you even know who I am?”
“Yes?”
“Not just my name—do you know what I am?”
His pride burned.
He wanted to believe she didn’t know how great he was.
“Yes, I know.”
“…Then tell me.”
“Lafer Wizard.”
“And?”
“…The youngest Tower Master ever?”
“And knowing that, you ask me to make hair dye?”
“Can you? It has to last at least three months!”
Her eyes sparkled with hope.
Suppressing his annoyance, he growled:
Looking her in the eyes, barely taller than his shoulder, he said:
“Lady Rebelia, I’ve been able to change hair color since I was three, before I even started formal magic training.”
“Wow, really?! Then please make me one bottle. No—two bottles!”
Her quick follow-up request made his face twist.
Something felt wrong.
“…Why should I?”
“Because… you’re interested now.”
“What?”
“You’re curious about me, aren’t you?”
Her confident smile turned sly.
Lafer burst out laughing.
“Interesting. She’s really interesting.”
Honestly, she was right.
He was intrigued.
Her composed facade, her nervous eyes fearing rejection…
Rebelia Piace had suddenly become the most fascinating thing in his dull life.
He wanted to know what her plan was.
Suddenly…
A candle flickered. Before he could react, cold metal pressed against his throat.
He raised his hands awkwardly.
“Uh… hey. Sword? Can’t we talk?”
“I think it’s better to kill you first, then ask questions.”
“If you kill me, I can’t answer, Callier.”
“You’re a wizard. Make the corpse speak.”
Before Lafer could protest, Callier’s sword sliced through him.
But the image flickered and disappeared.
Callier’s sword glowed red with aura.
Five steps away, Lafer reappeared, rubbing his neck.
“You really were going to kill me? You know, if you miss even a little, I’d die.”
“Hard to believe, seeing as you never seem to die.”
“That’s because I’m just that amazing.”
Callier gripped his sword tighter, knuckles whitening.
Lafer quickly raised his palms.
“Okay, okay. Calm down. Listen to me.”
“……”
“I know you’re mad, but I’m ready. I’ve drawn magic circles across all of Adely so you can escape safely with the flower.”
At that, Callier’s murderous aura eased slightly.
Lafer sighed in relief and turned a chair backwards, straddling it.
Of course, he still kept five steps away.
Propping his chin on his arms, Lafer studied Callier’s face.
Callier was violent (extremely so), harsh (more than a little), but to Lafer, he was still precious.
Lafer grinned mischievously.
“So, how was Crocan Piace? I hear he’s like a snake.”
“Why ask now, after running away?”
“I wasn’t running. I was busy drawing magic circles.”
Callier’s glare could kill, but Lafer just smiled lazily.
Finally, Callier frowned, lost in thought.
“…He has a daughter.”
“A daughter? Crocan Piace has a daughter?”
Lafer’s eyes sparkled with curiosity.
Callier nodded indifferently.
“She doesn’t look like him.”
Lafer chuckled from his chair.
“Whoever she takes after… lucky her.”
