episode_0093

《Let me ask you one thing. What is the reason?》

《It’s getting so dirty.》

《Don’t get me wrong. I don’t care a thing about people like you. I just want to know why.》

“Because I’m ugly.”

“…yes?”

《There is nothing more difficult than seeing an ugly face every day. So, find a man who is worthy of you. I will also find a woman who is worthy of me.》

“That’s really rude.”

《Your face is more.》

《… … .》

**

Sigh.

The sun was high in the sky, but it was a hazy noon because it was covered by snow clouds.

Anna, who was walking under the gloomy sunlight, suddenly burst into laughter.

That was the reason why I remembered the marriage proposal from that day, which may have been several years ago.

The marriage proposal that day was the greatest humiliation a noble young lady could suffer.

Blood rushes to my head.

The marriage proposal with that damn bastard named Elden Raphelion was so disastrous that only that short sentence, which contained absurd, physiological, and providential absolute impossibility, could describe my feelings that day.

After that, there were difficult days, both personally and externally, and it took a lot of time and effort to let it go.

Didn’t they say time heals all wounds?

Although I felt extremely humiliated at the time, that day’s marriage proposal is now one of many memories.

It’s also one of those insignificant, dry, and faded memories.

It was quite a profitable situation for Anna, as she earned a hand with one such cheap memory.

To be honest, it was an impossible task to install a mana detection device alone in this vast land.

‘If only he hadn’t been that damn old man.’

Anna kicks a rock on the road.

The principle was to investigate black magic on a large scale as soon as a report was received.

On the day when the user is swallowed by black magic and goes berserk, countless lives will become sacrificial lambs, and the black magic, which has condensed its destructive power into those lives, will soon use the user as a medium to cause a huge explosion, vaporizing the entire area.

The explosive power varied depending on the user’s ability.

Of course, cases where a rampage leads to an explosion are extremely rare, but historically, there have been cases like this, and the explosion in the Baronial domain of Grendor 200 years ago had such incredible explosive power that it blew away half of the territory.

There is a saying that one should be careful of even falling leaves in the final years, and although most reports of dark magic turn out to be misunderstandings or delusions, Anna could not understand the old man who did not ask for help from the Duke of Winterfell because he did not want to leave even a small stain on his last career.

It’s even more outrageous when they say the reason they can’t send people is because they’re preparing for the retirement ceremony of the damn association president.

In the end, I tried to grab any random person who came into view, but unfortunately, an incident occurred in the Association Department where unrefined mana stones were leaked, and all departments were mobilized to deal with the situation, so I had no choice but to go on a dispatch alone.

The past bad relationship and the forgiveness that the bad relationship wanted that appeared in front of her became a good stepping stone that helped her resolve the frustrating situation a little.

Confidentiality is a top priority in black magic investigations.

The main reason is to prevent users who notice the investigation from disappearing and to prevent confusion in the world, so it was customary to do it with a trustworthy or verified person.

From that perspective.

Elden Raphelion was a seed that didn’t fit in anywhere.

He was debaucherous, promiscuous, wild as an animal, and full of mockery and insults.

I had heard it dozens of times and experienced it only once, but the impression I got from that one experience was so strong that I was able to make a judgment about it.

Still, the reason I borrowed the hand of that human scumbag is probably because his eyes, asking for forgiveness, looked so earnest and sincere.

Although it had become a faded memory, Elden Raphelion was vivid in that faded light.

The sharp eyes filled with contempt, the snout that spewed ridicule and contempt, and the ferocious demeanor like that of an animal came to mind vividly, but when we met again several years later, he acted as if those vivid memories had been distorted and docile.

what.

It may not qualify her to be a helper on a dispatch mission, but if the apology was sincere, she felt that he would be better than someone who had never experienced it, so she asked for his help.

Plus.

‘The performance fee is fixed.’

If circumstances were not favorable, the plan was to use the performance fees paid by the association to hire capable people.

However, someone appeared in front of him asking for forgiveness, and promised to forgive him if he helped him with the work.

Of course, if you show up at the promised location.

If the apology was sincere, it would show.

Then, I will go on a shopping trip(?) to relieve the humiliation I experienced years ago with a solid training fee.

Compared to the years I’ve suffered because of that one word, being ugly, it’s a truly humble escape, but I’ll be content with that.

Anna, who thought so, arrived at the place where she reunited with Elden yesterday.

“… … … ?”

I could see two women standing on either side of Elden, a woman with her hood pulled over her head, and an old gentleman.

Anna witnessed the heartwarming sight of one hand pulling another.

**

Unable to bear the complaints of the members, I ended up arriving at the meeting place with everyone.

Although Lumiang wanted to let Rachel stay at the dorm with him, he ended up going out with her because of her stubbornness.

Rather than having Lumiang stay in the same room with the lender alone, it would be safer for them to all move together.

It also seemed that Lumiang had a strong desire to help.

“Don’t follow anyone you see who looks suspicious, it could be dangerous.”

“Yeah!”

“Hehehe. Don’t worry.”

So we waited for Anna to come, and when she showed up at noon at the meeting place, she had to face me with a bewildered face.

“What is this…?”

I had only asked for one helping hand, but it came back as if the helping hand had split into four, which was a bit absurd.

“They are my people. You can trust them.”

“… We don’t have the funds to hire this many workers.”

“Don’t worry about that! We came here to help Elden, so the pay is fine!”

Ariel waved her hand as she spoke, and Anna, who had been looking at us with a somewhat nervous expression, soon let down her guard and approached us.

“Well…then.”

And then I formally introduced the group before we started work.

That was because he thought that way he could quickly build Anna’s trust.

Well, exchanging names is one of the most basic things in human relationships.

“This is Ariel, Countess Elrond.”

“Nice to meet you. I am Countess Anna Ventria.”

“This is Rachel. I am an escort knight.”

“Hello. I’ve heard stories about the purple-haired knight.”

“This is Renderer. He is the head of our family.”

“Nice to meet you.”

“And here… .”

The gesture towards Lumiang, who was wearing a hood over his head, paused for a moment.

I had already thought about what to introduce.

However, since reuniting with Lumiang, it was the first time I had introduced her to anyone, so I was a bit cautious.

“My name is Charles. He lost his voice in an accident and has sensitive skin by nature, so he wears a hooded cloak like this to avoid the sunlight.”

Anna nodded without much suspicion, perhaps because of the setting that he became mute in an accident and suffered from a congenital disease.

“Well. It’s better to be careful with your words. Nice to meet you.”

Bow.

Lumiang bowed his head and responded to the greeting.

With the introductions over, Anna led us into a deserted alley and immediately began explaining how to install the mana detection device.

“Isn’t it difficult? Everyone?”

To summarize, the explanation was simple.

The idea is to ‘well’ place the device in an inconspicuous place and ‘well’ conceal it.

And it was said that when black magic is used nearby, the device reacts and sends a signal to Anna’s pendant.

‘Is it a Bluetooth function?’

Certainly, the Magic Association of this world seems like a place similar to the modern Science and Technology Association.

Isn’t highly developed magic like science?

No, is it the opposite?

what.

Anyway, thanks to the Bluetooth function, the atonement mission was over once I installed the detection device.

Anna took out the map and unfolded it.

The map on which the Grand Duke was drawn had numerous checkpoints marked on it.

“There are a total of 423 points to install. There are about 100 in the southern area alone, but they are relatively dense, so one day should be enough.”

423 locations.

It certainly seems like a ridiculous number to install alone.

After finishing her explanation, Anna took out two pouches and handed them to Rachel.

“Since this will be our first time, we will split into groups of two just in case something happens.”

That’s how we are.

Anna and Ariel.

Me and Lumiang.

Rachel and Rendler team up to carry out a covert operation(?) to install a mana detection device.

**

‘…I never thought I’d end up in the same group as Elden’s bride.’

Ariel, who was walking with Anna, steals glances at her partner as she walks.

Ariel wanted to be with Elden, but was relieved that her rival Rachel was in the same group as Mr. Rendler.

The worst has been avoided, that is.

‘By the way… .’

I never knew she would be such a wonderful and beautiful bride.

His work abilities also seemed quite outstanding, and his way of distributing and directing work was very refined and dignified.

Unlike himself, he seemed strong, confident, intelligent, and straightforward.

‘If there was even a marriage proposal, it wouldn’t have gone wrong easily.’

Marriage negotiations are not child’s play.

There would have already been some contact between the families, and if there had been any marriage proposals, most of the engagements would have been concluded.

Nine out of ten times.

Since it is a matter of great importance to the family, marriage proposals are treated so strictly that even the other party’s shameless past is tolerated.

Why did that marriage proposal never come to fruition?

Ariel, who was dying of curiosity, glanced at him and opened her mouth.

“I… Anna Youngae?”

“Yes?”

“Can I ask you one thing? I heard about your relationship with Elden before.”

“Yes.”

Lips that are hard to open even after opening the door.

Ariel was cautious, fearing that it might be rude and that she might hurt someone’s feelings.

I asked Elden about it subtly, but all I got was a vague answer that it just ended because they didn’t get along.

I feel like it would help if I knew why.

It seemed like it had been years since that happened, so Ariel mustered up her courage and opened her lips again.

“Ho, if you don’t mind… Could you tell me why the marriage proposal didn’t work out?”

and.

After a while.

When the answer to that came.

“They said they didn’t like me because I was ugly.”

“… Yes?!”

Ariel must have felt a deep sense of despair.

So much so that even my steps were unsteady.

To anyone who saw it, Lady Anna Ventria was beautiful.

I also had to feel a little betrayal from Elden.

‘Elden? What happened? We never talked about appearances or anything like that…?’

When asked about his ideal type, Elden simply said he would like someone who cares for plants and animals.