Chapter 77. The Witch
“Handmade love potions for sale! Full compensation if they don’t work!”
“Best-price guarantee on magic materials! Come on over to the materials shop~!”
The black market, lined with stalls on both sides of the street, was loud with aggressive sales pitches. Couples and groups of young people who seemed to have wandered in for fun looked flustered as they got swept up in the vendors’ calls.
Burkin glanced around, careful not to stray from Liam’s side.
“…It’s more lively than I expected.”
“That’s because up to this point, it’s officially licensed,” Liam replied. “It’s called the ‘Deepdale Underground Market,’ at least on paper.”
“Then why disguise the entrance as a bathroom?”
“The door we used doesn’t check belongings or identity.”
Instead of continuing, Liam suddenly stopped by a stall. The owner immediately greeted him and Burkin with a grin.
After briefly scanning the goods, Liam pointed at two robes.
“Those are 16 gold each! But if you take both, I’ll give them to you for just 30 gold.”
It was an absurd price. Yet Liam showed no sign of bargaining and immediately reached for his wallet.
Burkin stopped him.
“16 gold for these robes? Do they have any special functions?”
“Oh, of course! They keep you warm, and look at this big hood—you can hide your face too.”
“So, no magic on them.”
Burkin cut through the seller’s attempt to dress up ordinary features. The owner let out an awkward laugh, while Burkin smiled just as pleasantly.
“How about 15 gold for both?”
“What?! They’re 16 each, and you want both for 15? No deal!”
With arms crossed, the seller stood firm. Burkin sighed as if conceding.
“Then 20 gold. How about that?”
“You want one for free? Hmph, be reasonable.”
“Then what price would you accept?”
Burkin asked sweetly, still smiling. The seller frowned, clearly troubled.
At this rate, there was no way he’d get the original 30 gold.
“…25 gold. How’s that?”
“Deal.”
“…Hah. You look so gentle, yet you’re such a good negotiator. Fine, 25 it is.”
Though regretful, the seller accepted the 25 gold Liam handed over. From the moment he reacted to the 15 gold offer, he’d already been caught in Burkin’s rhythm.
Clicking his tongue, the seller handed over the two robes.
“Thanks. We’ll wear them well.”
“I stitched those by hand, you know! Huh?!”
“Yes, yes. Thank you.”
Still smiling, Burkin passed the stall. Once they entered another alley, Liam looked at her curiously.
“…Do you come to markets often?”
“If you’ve ever followed your mother to one, this much is normal. And honestly, this wasn’t even cheap.”
“Not cheap?”
“Feel it. The lining is rough, right? It’s low-quality fabric.”
Burkin held out the robe’s inner lining. Liam quietly rubbed it between his fingers.
Now that she mentioned it, it did feel rough.
With a slightly regretful look, Burkin put on the robe. In the alley, she and Liam faced each other, both now wearing them.
“I’ll pay you back for mine later.”
“It’s fine.”
“No, we should keep things clear. But why the robes all of a sudden?”
Just as she asked, a commotion rose from outside the alley.
“We’re cracking down on unlicensed mages conducting illegal trades! Please cooperate with inspections!”
Knights were stopping passersby one by one.
As Burkin glanced at them, Liam spoke quietly.
“It wouldn’t be good if they found out a mage from the Magic Tower is here.”
He adjusted her hood, pulling it lower. Most of her vivid red hair disappeared beneath it.
When his hand brushed the back of her neck, Burkin flinched slightly. But Liam remained expressionless, simply tidying her robe.
“There’s a place that privately recharges items. Let’s go.”
After finishing, Liam took her hand and led her deeper into the alley. Burkin followed, trying to steady her thoughts.
The path to the private charging station was narrow and filthy. Even so, many people passed through, forcing Burkin to occasionally bump shoulders with them.
“Hahaha! You know how much I won today?”
“Then you’re treating us, right?”
The worst was when several people came at once. Burkin pressed herself against the wall, trying to avoid them—but it was impossible to avoid completely.
If I hit that guy, I might go flying…
Just as that thought crossed her mind, she felt a hand firmly grip her shoulder.
“Move.”
“…”
Liam held her shoulder and stared coldly at the three approaching men. Sensing it, they lined up and slipped past instead.
After that, he kept his arm around her shoulder as they walked—without saying a word.
Before long, they reached a worn building with an old wooden door. In front of it stood a woman with long black hair down to her waist, holding a pipe.
“What’s this, Liam? Haven’t seen you in a while, and now you’ve brought a new customer?”
Burkin, who expected to pass by, paused as the woman suddenly spoke to them. The woman’s gaze scanned her from head to toe.
“Oh my. You’re ridiculously pretty. Absolutely stunning.”
“…Who are you?”
The woman removed her pipe and approached, then grinned and extended her hand.
She was nearly as tall as Burkin.
“A mage working in the black market—Skadi Scarlet. Oh, and I do have a license, by the way?”
“…Burkin Redfield.”
As Burkin shook her hand, Skadi chuckled. When their hands parted, the lingering touch felt oddly sticky, making Burkin glance down at her hand with a subtle frown.
“By any chance, are you from Turf Moore Academy?”
“Huh? Ah, yes.”
“Burkin Redfield… Redfield… ah! That ‘mana tank’?”
A flicker of surprise crossed Burkin’s eyes. Skadi caught it and burst out laughing.
“Don’t recognize me? Skadi Scarlet—Class of 975, the crazy bitch!”
“…You attended Turf Moore Academy?”
“Mm, not quite. I dropped out. No, actually—I got expelled!”
She laughed proudly, as if it were an achievement. That jogged a faint memory for Burkin.
When she was in her fifth year, she had heard about a student—one who rarely showed up—getting expelled.
The reason was…
“But seriously, you’re even prettier than I heard.”
Before she knew it, Skadi had linked arms with her. Liam immediately pulled Burkin back with an irritated expression.
“Cut it out.”
“Oh my. The more you react like that, the more competitive I feel.”
Before Burkin could react, Liam stepped between them, wrapping an arm firmly around her waist.
Even so, Skadi didn’t back down. Leaning over Liam’s shoulder, she cupped her cheek playfully.
“You’re totally my type, sis. Don’t you think so, Liam?”
The reason Skadi Scarlet had been expelled—
—was due to romantic disputes with female students.
