WEERR 06

Chapter 6

It felt like she could almost hear the sound of eyes rolling as people inside the hall tried to sneak glances at her.

The orchestra, which had been taking a short break, noticed the tension in the air and hurriedly resumed their music in softer tones.

I haven’t even eaten anything yet, but I already feel like I’m going to get indigestion.

Trisha quietly headed for a corner of the ballroom—where the tables of food were beautifully arranged.

She could feel the gazes of nobles who had arrived before her following her every move, even though they pretended not to look.

Well, let them stare.

They probably didn’t have the courage to actually come up and speak to her anyway.

Ignoring their glances, she walked straight toward the dessert table.

Trisha loved sweets. They made her brain feel sharper and, more importantly, they simply put her in a good mood.

It wasn’t that I didn’t want to eat them—it’s that I couldn’t afford to.

Her family might have been noble and respected, but they were always short on money.
Managing their barren western lands meant cutting costs on everything—food, clothing, and comfort.

The Mage Tower wasn’t much better.
With the number of skilled mages decreasing each year, its prestige had declined.
Even though it was technically under imperial jurisdiction, everyone at the Tower complained about low pay—including Trisha herself, even after she’d risen to the rank of Vice Tower Master.

So, sweet desserts like these were practically a luxury. Something she could only afford once a month—on payday.

I thought if I defeated the Evil God and became a hero, I’d be able to eat this kind of thing whenever I wanted.

Who could’ve guessed she’d end up dying for it? The thought made her feel slightly wronged.

Well, at least I came back to life and get to eat them again. That’s something.

Aside from the inexplicable problem of her rejuvenated body, everything seemed to be going well.
She had saved the world, and her family would surely have been rewarded generously.

All she needed now was to return to her original body, and life would be smooth sailing.

Thinking that made her feel a little better—enough that the stares, which had felt unpleasant before, didn’t bother her so much anymore.

Humming softly, she reached for a macaron.

Just then—

“Ahhh! Someone’s collapsed!”
“Oh no! Get a doctor!”

A commotion broke out in one corner of the ballroom.

Through the confused crowd, she spotted a young noble child lying on the floor, convulsing.

A child—!

Trisha moved before she could even think.
Her resolve to stay quiet and unnoticed vanished instantly.

“Move! Make way!”

Her smaller body was perfect for slipping through the narrow gaps between the nobles.
In a flash, she reached the fallen boy and knelt beside him.

“His fingertips are blue…”

Blood stained his lips and clothes. He had clearly been poisoned.

Poison—at an imperial ball?!

Her head snapped around, scanning the surroundings to find the source.

On the floor nearby was a half-eaten macaron—the same kind she had been about to eat moments ago.

Its bitten edge had turned a dark blue, even though the dessert itself had been a delicious-looking chocolate brown.
And even as she watched, the color continued to spread, like poison seeping through flesh.

Changing color when exposed to air?

Every mage learned basic alchemy and pharmacology at the Tower, and Trisha was no exception.
She knew exactly what kind of poison this was.

“Everyone, step back! You could be poisoned if you touch it!”

Her sharp voice rang out, and the nobles instantly stepped backward in fear.

Then—

“Evan! Evan!”

A woman’s anguished cry cut through the noise as she rushed forward, struggling against the people holding her back. It must have been the child’s mother.

“Don’t come any closer!”

Trisha shouted, her voice fierce.

This poison was dangerous even to those nearby.
She herself had built up a resistance after years of handling it as a researcher, but the nobles certainly hadn’t.

The boy’s complexion was fading rapidly.
Even if a doctor arrived now, it would be too late—this poison couldn’t be cured with holy water or medicine.

What should she do?
If only she were in her original body. If only her mana hadn’t changed—this level of toxin would be nothing.

Yes, if I still had my original mana…

Her eyes widened.

No—maybe it was possible.
After all, poison and medicine were just two sides of the same coin.
Life and death were the same way—different forms of one essence.

Can I do it?

There was no point in doubting.
She was the only one who could save this child.

If it can’t be done, then I’ll make it possible.

She steadied herself and focused, reaching deep inside for the familiar current of her former power.

It wasn’t easy.
Like trying to separate mud from water—it was almost impossible to divide what had already been mixed.

If only I had a mana essence, this would be much easier…

But there was no way such a thing would be here.

She bit her lip and concentrated again—

“Use this.”

A calm voice spoke.
Someone extended a small brown vial, filled with clear, shimmering liquid.

Trisha instantly recognized it—a mana essence.
The exact kind stored at the Mage Tower.

There was no time to see who had handed it to her. She took it and popped the cork open.

Even that tiny motion released an overwhelming surge of magic.

Thank goodness.

She quickly downed the contents in one gulp.

As the potent energy flooded her body, she could suddenly distinguish between the foreign currents within her.
She pushed the dark, corrupted power aside and gathered the faint but familiar trace of her own mana.

Hurry!

Pooling pure vitality into her hands, she pressed them against the boy’s throat.

A gentle light spread from her palms.
The boy’s pained expression eased.

He’s breathing again.

His chest, which had been heaving erratically, steadied.
Only then did Trisha finally exhale in relief.

“Ha…”

“Evan!”

As the tension faded, those who had been holding the mother back finally released her. She ran to her son, weeping.

“Oh, Evan… I shouldn’t have left you alone…”

Trisha didn’t stop her.

“He’ll be fine now.”

“Thank you… thank you so much…”

The mother broke into tears of relief upon seeing her son’s peaceful face.

Good grief. I need a break.

Completely drained, Trisha began to rise, planning to retreat to the lounge—
but a question suddenly struck her.

Who in the world had that mana essence?

Such concentrated extracts weren’t available on the market.
Only the Mage Tower could produce them.

Trisha lifted her head, scanning the hall to find whoever had given it to her—

But then—

“Ugh…”

Thunk.

Something hot gushed up her throat.

This feeling…

It was familiar—too familiar.
She used to feel this way back when she was a researcher…

Her vision spun violently.

Ah, damn it.

That was her last thought before her body crumpled to the floor, like a puppet whose strings had been cut.

“Ugh…”

When Trisha opened her eyes again, she was lying in the infirmary.

What the…?

Her throat burned painfully.
Everything looked tinted red.
She remembered the dizziness—but nothing after that.

I purified the poison, and no one else was affected… Did I just collapse from exhaustion?

Piecing the memories together, she groggily sat up.

The room was silent—empty, it seemed.

No… wait.

The moment she moved, she felt it—
a powerful, piercing gaze.

They’re going to burn a hole through my face.

This was nothing like the fleeting, polite stares from the nobles earlier.
This one was sharp, unwavering—almost predatory.

Who on earth is staring at me like that…?

Irritated, she lifted her head.

The person standing not far away met her eyes immediately.

“……!”

For an instant, Trisha wanted to bolt.

The man watching her with that intense gaze was none other than—

Her superior.
The one who had ignored every letter she’d ever sent.

The Master of the Mage Tower himself.