episode_0033

“Mr. Balaka?”

Glia’s sorrowful voice called out to the necromancer who had manifested in her body. There was no answer from the necromancer. Glia felt that the link between herself and Balaka had been completely severed.

The deceased returned to the spirit world, where she should have been. She gave up all the efforts she had made to return to the present world, from her death. She even took the risk of never being able to return again.

“Why?”

Very irreverently, those two words came to Glia’s mind.

escape.

In an instant, Glia’s body collapsed limply. Salana approached and struck her on the back of the neck.

With that, the sorcerer’s scheme with the necromancer on his back ended with a minor commotion.

“Mr. Salana. Excuse me for a moment.”

Risir moved without delay.

He approached Salana and placed his hand on her scar.

“Ah… ”

Salana unconsciously placed her hand over Risir’s. How can I express my feelings at that moment? It felt like the filth that had clung to every part of my body was being washed away.

Risir took his hand away. Salana immediately took out a mirror and checked her appearance.

Completely cured. No other expression was needed. Salana’s skin had regained its original color. There were still scars and wounds, but they could be easily treated with only a fraction of the effort Salana had put in so far.

Salana looked at herself in the mirror for a while, caressing her skin that had returned to its original state.

Risir smiled with satisfaction as he watched Salana like that.

At this point, it would be right to say that the original goal of ‘making a good impression on high-level adventurers’ was a great success.

Risir had high expectations for this part.

‘I feel this once again, that as an illegitimate child, I really can’t do anything.’

This was something I felt very keenly during this incident.

Even though he was invited to a position where his abilities were recognized, he was often ignored because of his illegitimate status.

If it weren’t for the full support of Salana, the high-ranking adventurer, nothing could have been said or done. Furthermore, if it weren’t for the name of Durayeg, the high-ranking noble, the power of normalization would not have been accepted.

‘On the other hand, what if I had been a nobleman instead of an illegitimate child?’

There was no need to think deeply about it. The moment I told Salana that I had this ability when we first met, everything would have been resolved in no time. Salana would woo her, Meltas would watch her closely, and Glia would be nervous.

So, Risir came to one conclusion.

‘Should I aim for a rise in social status?’

I thought that if I escaped the life of an illegitimate child, I would be free from the constraints of social status, but it was the opposite.

One more essential element for a happy life has been added to what Risir believes is already there.

Money. And status.

In that respect, this encounter with Salana was very meaningful.

If you can just get ahold of a high-level adventurer, it will be much easier to establish yourself in Bondales and build a foundation for rising in status.

While Risir was organizing his thoughts, Salana, who was also organizing her thoughts, opened her mouth.

“Rishir. Let me introduce myself formally once again. I am the Master of the Black Hand, the Black Snake. Perhaps the expression Master of the Assassin’s Guild will be more appropriate for you.”

“?”

What.

Risir was embarrassed.

Since he was introducing himself formally, I thought he would let me experience the full course of Vendalos as a high-level adventurer. What? The Master of the Assassin’s Guild?

‘If we really have to compare him to a high-level adventurer, he’s a big shot… He’s a big shot, but… Ugh… ‘

Risir’s eyes trembled without mercy.

Salana burst into her signature cheerful laughter, saying, “Ha!”

“I owe you a huge debt. I’ve been thinking about how to repay this debt, and this is the only thing that comes to mind.”

Chook.

Salana took a piece of parchment out of her bosom and handed it to Risir.

“If there’s someone you want to kill, write their name down there. Then, I’ll make your wish come true even if it means breaking the rules.”

“?”

Risir was dumbfounded.

‘What Death Note…!’

The reward was completely different from what I had expected.

‘If we really have to compare it to the high-level adventurer connections, it’s an incredible reward… but it’s a reward… useless… ‘

Salana handed the parchment to Risir, interpreting his confused look.

Leave it there.

Leave it there.

Risir was horrified at the sight of Salana carrying the hideous object as if it were a moving fee.

It was then that Meltas’ voice was heard from behind.

“Can someone who calls himself a master be so worldly?”

He looked more bewildered than when he saw the necromancer who had emerged from the dead.

The Assassins were a closed group. They killed solely for their beliefs and completely isolated themselves from the outside world.

Contrary to their perception as terrifying beings in the world, they actually lived a life close to that of monks.

But, how can someone who acts as a high-level adventurer in the secular world and hand out lists of death? And that too from someone who is the head of a guild, a master?

“Blind faith is a noble law.”

The sight of him humbly muttering seemed to suggest, ‘I am not noble, so I will do as I please.’

Meltas believed that Salana was an assassin who truly deserved to be feared.

“Meltas. Just in case, do you plan on taking what happened here out today? Even a little bit?”

Salana spoke with the cheerful appearance of the high-level adventurer that Meltas remembered. But those eyes. The dead pupils that seemed to suck in the surrounding light made Meltas’ liver shiver.

I can confidently say that she was a sixth-tier wizard and someone that even Meltas, an elite member of the Keig Magic Tower, could not treat lightly.

“I guess I’m getting old. My memory is hazy… I don’t even remember why I came here.”

“Haha. You should die when you get old. There’s no need to mock yourself like that.”

“…My memory is definitely hazy. When did I say that?”

Salana lifted Glia’s body, which had fallen to the floor, over her shoulder.

And he approached Risir and patted his face friendly.

“You know what? Thanks to you, I no longer have a reason to go out.”

“Uh… Did I do something wrong?”

“Haha. I’ll let it slide though. Honestly, I was starting to get sick of it too. By the way-”

Swish. Swish.

Salana stroked Risir’s face with her palm.

“You. Your skin is really nice?”

“Is that so?”

“Yeah. If possible, I would like to change it with my skin.

“…It’s a bit scary to say something like that after revealing your identity as an assassin.”

“Haha. What do you think of an assassin?”

Salana lifted Risir’s hand and placed it on her scarred right cheek.

“Lastly. Can you do that one more time?”

I’m not suggesting that you use the power of normalization-

Risir rubbed her cheek carefully.

“…”

Salana closed her eyes and surrendered herself to his touch.

“Hmm~ This feeling. I think I’m going to get addicted. Should I just take it away?”

“…my arm?”

“What do you really think of me?”

After that, Salana enjoyed the touch of Lisir for a long time.

For a moment, Risir thought she looked like a large puppy, moving her head to his touch.

“Okay. That’s enough. Risir. Let’s meet again sometime.”

After saying those words, Salana left the place without looking back.

Risir was so dumbfounded that he took out the parchment he had kept in his bosom and checked it.

“You. Remember. You must be very careful when using that item.”

Meltas spoke from the side with a look of weariness on his face.

“Is there any possibility?”

“Ahem. Okay, then. Should we start going?”

Meltas said, stroking his braided beard.

“We… said.”

“Why? Do you have any other business after this?”

Risir recalled the schedule he had in mind before meeting Salana.

Originally, I was planning to have a meal with Pien, then part ways and visit the Adventurer’s Guild.

Today, Pien and his common goal was to find a job.

Ahem.

Meltas continued talking before Risir could even answer.

“Let me get to the point. Lisir. I’m interested in you.”

“…”

Risir hugged his body with a serious face.

Meltas glared at him with a more serious expression.

Risir released his hand, nodded, and continued talking as if nothing had happened.

“What business does Lord Meltas have with this bastard?”

“…Ahem. I understand. I’m sure you remember the attitude I showed you at first. But. This is something that will help you too, so I hope you listen to it positively. You. What do you think of Keig Matap?”

Keig Mattap.

Also called the Gray Tower.

The group with the most liberal tendencies among all the magic towers was also one of the institutions representing Bondales.

“I would like to recommend you as a trainee at Keig Matatop. But let me be clear, you need to know that this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

It was as Meltas said, and so Risir was confused.

“I have no family or school to boast about.”

Because there weren’t many places that considered status and origin like Matap.

Even Meltas, who had been furious at the fact that an illegitimate child was participating in the event with the same qualifications as himself, was relatively open-minded compared to the magicians belonging to the Magic Tower.

“The minimum requirement for belonging to the Magic Tower is not family or school. It is the third-level realm. Don’t you somehow meet that requirement?”

“As far as I know, the Magic Tower is a 3rd level, so they won’t accept just anyone.”

“Of course. Anyone of your age can reach the third level. It is undoubtedly the realm of the common people. And, the Magic Tower is definitely not a place friendly to common people. And yet- I intend to recommend you to the Magic Tower. Do you know why?”

“Is it because of the power of normalization?”

“That’s right! Thank goodness. I’m not so foolish as to not know the specialness of that power.”

As the power of normalization was brought up, the atmosphere in Meltas became noticeably heated.

“The power to annihilate all evil spirits, regardless of their type! Oh my! This Meltas Dradnov! I have never heard of such power in all my years of walking the path of magic!”

Meltas’ trembling hand pointed at Risir.

“You! As a wizard, you have a duty to fully develop that special talent. You know what I mean, don’t you? If you walk the path of magic!”

“…I don’t know if I should say this in this context, but- actually, magic is a means of making a living for me.”

“What the!!!”

Terminal. Meltas’s body froze.

It took him a very long time to recover from the shock.

“Why does this special talent belong to someone like this…!”

Meltas’ braided beard and hair trembled.

“Can someone like me adapt to the magic tower?”

“…Ahem. First, come and take a look. It’s not something that needs to be decided in a hurry. ”

Risir willingly complied.

Because it was clear that stacking the roof and the kite would be beneficial in many ways.

***

“Oh, wait, I have to stop by before I get to the top. There’s something I need to find there. Is that okay?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

The two left the lab and headed to the center of the magical Earth.

“Here it is.”

Going in a little further, we arrive at the destination Meltas was talking about.

It was a magic shop called [Blue Trace].

“Meltas?”

The moment the two entered the building, a woman recognized Meltas and spoke to him.

‘oh…’

Risir looked at her and secretly admired her.

Wearing a wide-brimmed hat and ornate robes, he truly looks like a wizard.

What was unusual was that her robe had a slit at the chest.

The overwhelming valley that is so proudly displayed.

‘He must be a man with great pride as a wizard.’

While Rishir was secretly admiring her, the woman looked Rishir up and down.

“What’s going on? You’re bringing that kid around. Are you finally thinking of taking on a disciple?”

“It’s none of your business, Marina.”

“Judging from your reaction, you don’t seem to be my disciple. Well, a kid who’s just entered the 4th rank at that age wouldn’t catch your eye.”

“Stop talking nonsense-…Wait a minute, what did you say?”

Meltas, who had been listening to her words with an indifferent expression, looked at Risir with a surprised expression.

“…!”

Soon his eyes opened wide.

“Uh.”

Then, Rishir also realized the change in his body a beat later.

He spoke to calm the astonished Meltas.

“Don’t worry about it. It happens sometimes.”

Before he left the lab, he was clearly at the third level, but he had already reached the fourth level.