Chapter 15: Chapter 15
Chapter 15 - Just Do What You’re Good At
Zed glanced sideways at Ferda’s words.
The "disloyal servant" he was referring to was undoubtedly that young girl who had been trailing behind him.
Making a living by reading people, Zed could at least tell where someone’s killing intent was directed.
"No matter how I look at it, it seems like her killing intent isn’t aimed at me, but at that brat..."
It wasn’t his imagination.
That was exactly the case.
Luri was extremely irritated by the fact that Ferda had lost money.
Compared to Valdrova’s total wealth, it wasn’t a large sum, but it certainly wasn’t an amount an individual could casually throw away either.
Especially not in Halim.
It wasn’t the kind of money meant to be spent in a casino.
Yet Ferda had scattered it around as he pleased.
Since Zed had no way of knowing the circumstances behind it, it was only natural for him to misunderstand.
"...Fine."
The dagger in Zed’s hand spun once before slipping neatly into his back pocket.
"Let’s talk first. What exactly do you want to say?"
"This isn’t the right place for a sensitive conversation. Let’s go somewhere quiet."
"Follow me."
Zed led them to his room.
He was staying in the most expensive room in the casino hotel.
Despite the luxurious surroundings, the bottle he took out was nothing more than cheap rum.
"It’s my favorite drink. I don’t know if it’ll suit a young nobleman’s taste, but care for a glass?"
Ferda shook his head.
"I don’t drink."
"You’re a Mage, and you don’t drink?"
"I don’t drink because I’m a Mage."
"A Mage who doesn’t enjoy alcohol? You’re quite the oddball."
For Mages, whose lives revolved around constant thought and concentration, women and alcohol were the two common escapes.
Alcohol was the cheaper option, so countless Mages drowned themselves in liquor.
Ferda had always been too focused on moving forward.
He never drank, and before long, abstinence simply became a habit.
"So... how did you learn that name?"
"I came across it while gathering information."
"And where did that information come from?"
From your own mouth, of course.
There was no point telling him something he would never believe, so Ferda chose to evade the question.
"It doesn’t matter how I learned it. The important thing is that I know."
"If you were only trying to fish for information like this, I should’ve just killed you, even if it meant dying afterward."
"I’m not fishing. I know about you. You squeeze money out of pitiful women, fleece nobles whenever you can, and slowly build your fortune so you can climb into high society, isn’t that right?"
"..."
"Because to find your younger sister, Emilia, you need success—and connections among the upper class."
Zed, a master of maintaining a poker face, stared at him expressionlessly.
But his hands betrayed his agitation.
There wasn’t even the slightest hint of speculation in Ferda’s words.
Only absolute certainty.
And every bit of that certainty had struck directly at Zed’s true intentions.
"Impressive. You’re not even using magic, yet it’s like you’re reading my mind..."
"It isn’t difficult. Once, I thought exactly the same way you do."
Those had been Ferda’s own thoughts after being expelled from his family.
To become greater than the House Rosnova itself.
To force them beneath his feet.
The naïve Ferda of those days had believed that if he became greater than them, they would finally acknowledge their mistakes.
In the end, I failed.
Because he possessed the Red Circle, the Magic Association had refused to accept him.
As for Zed, the stain of being known as a widowed marchioness’s plaything had barred him from joining as well.
"I’ll provide that stepping stone."
"A young noble brat like you?"
Young nobles.
Even if they were extraordinarily talented and attracted public attention, noble society was a place where one misstep could instantly turn them into traitors.
The weaker their connections—and the younger they were—the harder it became.
Someone who had only just reached adulthood, like Ferda, should have been as fragile as a candle flickering in the wind.
But Ferda was far removed from an ordinary Mage.
First of all...
He was the husband of the Grand Duchess.
"I suppose I should introduce myself properly. My name is Ferda Valdrova."
"Valdrova... isn’t that the name of the Red Dragon?"
Zed snorted.
"You do realize that, in noble society, that basically means social execution, right? What kind of lunatic gets engaged to the Red Dragon?"
"I would be that lunatic."
"...Seriously?"
Ferda’s expression never changed once.
Zed scratched his head awkwardly.
"Damn it. If it was information that important, I should’ve heard about it already... Guess spending all my time in a casino really does make you lose track of what’s happening outside."
After offering that flimsy excuse, he changed the subject.
"Anyway... if you’re the husband of Valdrova... even if everyone calls you a kept man, you’d still wield unbelievable authority, wouldn’t you?"
"That’s right. You’ll be able to enter the very upper class you’re risking your life to reach."
Lowering his head, Zed slowly raised his eyes to meet Ferda’s.
"So... what do I have to do?"
Ferda extended a hand toward Luri.
Just as he had done with Vernel, he accepted the appointment letter from her and handed it over.
"With your abilities, you’ll become an attendant who carries out missions under my command."
"What kind of missions?"
"Anything from trivial errands to major tasks. However, I won’t assign anything beyond your capabilities."
Zed mulled over those words before asking,
"...So basically, you’re saying I’ll be your errand boy?"
"You’ll be my attendant."
"That’s just another way of saying errand boy."
"Then choose. Would you rather become an errand boy who can enter high society, or remain a fool who never gets in and is laughed at as nothing more than a nouveau riche?"
"..."
It was an irritating way of putting it.
But Ferda wasn’t wrong.
Would he become a swindler forever looked down upon as a vulgar upstart...
Or an attendant with a legitimate place in high society, however difficult the path?
Zed silently calculated the possibilities.
"If I refuse... are you going to report me?"
Ferda tilted his head.
"What exactly would I gain by reporting you?"
"You’re a Mage. I’m one of the Red-Eyed Clan. And people like us aren’t supposed to exist anymore. Seems like you’d have everything to gain."
Those born with that bloodline possessed the unique ability to nullify magic.
The relationship between them and Mages was as naturally hostile as that between cats and mice.
"No matter how I think about it, I gain nothing."
"I heard that when my clan was wiped out, Mages celebrated for three days and three nights. Aren’t you the same?"
"What a foolish question. Fearing the Red-Eyed Clan simply because magic doesn’t work on them is no different from hiding under a blanket because you’re afraid of ghosts. A Mage who thinks like that isn’t worthy of being called a Mage."
It was an unbelievably arrogant answer.
Yet somehow, Zed didn’t find it offensive.
What a strange guy.
Young people who behaved like this usually relied on their status or overestimated their own talent.
But Ferda gave off neither impression.
He looks like a kid who’s barely become an adult...
Yet he carried himself like a high-ranking noble who had long since secured his place.
Maybe... he really can give me what I want...
Even someone as distrustful as Zed couldn’t help beginning to wonder.
"Ha... damn it."
Zed roughly scratched his head.
"So this is what making a deal with the devil feels like. It feels so shady... but at the same time, it’s incredibly tempting. Damn it."
Rolling his tongue thoughtfully inside his mouth, Zed lightly tapped the appointment letter with his finger.
"Fine. I’ll do it, my lord. But I have conditions. That’s fair enough, isn’t it?"
"Go ahead. I’ll write them down now."
Ferda pulled the pen from his breast pocket.
Holding up two fingers, Zed spoke.
"First, you’ll pay me according to the difficulty of each mission. At the end of the day, I need money to do my work."
"Naturally. You’ll be compensated."
"Second, if I ever feel like you’re just using me or trying to cast me aside, I’ll leave without hesitation. Agreed?"
"That’s acceptable. I have no intention of deceiving or exploiting you. Is that all?"
"For now, yes."
Truthfully, there was one more condition Zed wanted to add.
That he would only remain until he found his younger sister.
That could end up becoming a chain that traps me longer than I want.
So he stopped at those two conditions.
"Then I’ll add one more myself."
Holding his pen, Ferda wrote another clause into the blank space on the appointment letter.
"Our contract will last until you find your younger sister."
Zed’s eyes widened in surprise.
"...You’re really okay with that?"
"Once you’ve found your sister, our agreement ends. What you do afterward will be entirely your choice."
His tone and conditions were astonishingly straightforward.
Not a trace of greed.
He had even voluntarily added the time limit Zed had deliberately avoided mentioning.
Just what kind of person is he?
Zed’s curiosity about Ferda continued to grow.
No matter how wildly others struggled, Ferda carried himself as though everything remained in the palm of his hand.
He possessed the composure found only in true nobles who had weathered countless storms.
The fact that he knows about Emilia bothers me...
Yet at the same time...
He was the only person who knew enough to actually help.
Whatever his true abilities might be, his status was unquestionably trustworthy.
For now...
Trusting Ferda was Zed’s only option.
"Fine... I understand. No, understood, sir."
Now that he was an employee, he naturally switched to respectful speech.
Thus, all the terms of the contract were settled.
The reason Ferda had chosen that time limit was simple.
There’s no benefit in forcing someone to stay.
He desperately needed Zed’s abilities.
But he had no intention of turning him into a slave by keeping him through coercion.
Besides...
Even if he tried, there was no way he could hold him.
Zed was the infamous master thief who had escaped even the most notorious prisons time and time again.
And besides... finding her won’t truly be the end of everything.
Watching Zed tuck the appointment letter into his pocket, Ferda spoke.
"Then I’ll assign your first mission immediately."
"Already?"
"I’d like to commission a job using the money you took."
"Wasn’t that money I won?"
"It was originally meant to hire you in the first place. Since I told you what I was going to reveal if you folded, it’s better for both of us to consider it payment for a commission."
"Well, I don’t mind thinking of my first job as a free trial. So... what do you want me to do?"
"For someone like you, it’s an extremely simple task."
Ferda pointed to one of the names Luri had been carrying.
— Echidna Phyliaz
"Just do what you’re good at."
***
As soon as their business was finished, Ferda’s carriage hurried out of Halim.
Unlike last time with Vernel, this journey included Zed as well.
"As expected of the carriage belonging to the husband of the Grand Duchess—it’s incredibly comfortable. The interior is spacious, and even when the roads are rough, the ride stays perfectly smooth."
"......"
"And on top of that, there’s even a cute and beautiful attendant."
Naturally changing the subject with a smile, Zed casually leaned closer, resting a hand near where she was sitting.
It was the instinctive behavior of a born swindler.
"I don’t believe we’ve introduced ourselves yet. Might I ask who this lovely maid is?"
"I’d be happy to explain."
Instead of answering with words, Luri responded with Dragon Fear.
"Gah!"
The moment Zed tried to flirt with her, he leaped backward and clutched his chest.
Even though he belonged to the Red-Eyed Clan, he was still human—and humans feared dragons.
"Huff... T-This is... a... a dragon?"
"She’s a Dragon Spawn. The personal attendant of Grand Duchess Valdrova."
"I’ve never heard of a Dragon Spawn being able to use Dragon Fear... Besides, she doesn’t even have horns or a tail."
"That simply means she’s an exceptionally powerful Dragon Spawn."
"I thought she’d be something like a half-elf or a halfling at most..."
Zed suddenly recalled the moment he had threatened Ferda with a dagger.
Had he actually gone through with it...
There wouldn’t have been anything left of him.
He slapped at his shirt repeatedly, trying to wipe away the cold sweat.
Luri shot him a look of utter disdain before quietly returning to her seat.
"Don’t worry. As fierce as she is, she calms right down if you put food in her hands."
"Who exactly are you calling tame?"
Hearing Luri’s protest, Ferda nodded.
"On second thought, tame isn’t the right word. You’re more like a little dog."
"Huh? Are you insulting me again?"
"It’s a compliment. There’s a small but courageous breed called the Chihuahua. It reminded me of you."
"Would you kindly let me punch you just once?"
"I’ll pass. I’d rather avoid getting hurt."
Ferda continued provoking her without pause, while Luri looked increasingly exasperated.
If an ordinary person had taken Dragon Fear head-on, they would’ve been unable to breathe by now.
Yet Ferda remained perfectly calm.
Only Zed, caught between the two of them, quietly said,
"I think I’ll go keep the coachman company. Just call me if you need me."
Who cared if the seat was comfortable?
Peace of mind was what really mattered.
***
To find Echidna Phyliaz, Ferda ventured deep into the forest.
Eventually, they reached a point where the carriage could go no farther.
"This is as far as we can go. The path’s too narrow."
"Then we’ll have to continue on foot."
"It’s still a fair distance, but it’s not too steep. Just think of it as a walk."
Left with no choice, Ferda stepped out of the carriage.
With Luri and Zed following behind him, the three began walking.
The two behind him strolled as though they were taking a leisurely walk.
Meanwhile, Ferda was already drenched in sweat.
"You really should work on your stamina."
"Believe it or not... this is already my limit."
"If you trained a bit harder, wouldn’t your endurance improve?"
"My family used to be a family of Knights. Ironically, this very body is the reason I became engaged to the Grand Duchess."
"Oh... I see..."
Looking embarrassed, Zed scratched his cheek.
"So... want me to carry you?"
"I’ll decline."
Even though every step was exhausting, Ferda forced himself onward through sheer determination.
At last, a solitary house standing in the middle of the deep forest came into view.
"That’s the place."
"It certainly has the gloomy atmosphere you’d expect from a witch’s house."
"It’s also the place you’re about to enter."
"I know. Ahem...!"
Stretching his body, Zed prepared himself for the mission.
"Whew... Seducing a witch for my very first assignment... Feels like I’m walking straight into a tiger’s den."
"There’s no need to be so nervous. Your face alone will be enough."
"That makes it sound like my face is all I’ve got."
Ferda silently studied Zed’s face before replying,
"Without that face, you might very well end up as a corpse."
"Ha... You just keep looking down on me, don’t you? Fine. Just watch."
Running both hands through his hair, Zed carefully styled it.
The moment he entered full swindler mode, he walked straight toward the witch’s house.
"Who exactly is this Echidna Phyliaz?"
Once Zed had gone far enough away, Luri asked.
"A witch."
"I know she’s a witch. They’re women who become sisters through a magical ritual, becoming one family. That’s why every witch receives the surname Phyliaz."
"That’s right. You know quite a lot. Here, have a piece of candy."
"Do you think I’m a child?"
Despite saying that, Luri accepted the candy and rolled it around in her mouth.
"What I mean is, why are we going through the trouble of recruiting a witch?"
Bringing a witch along was an extremely dangerous decision.
Especially one bearing the surname Phyliaz.
Among women gifted with magical talent, only those possessing the Red Circle could become witches.
The Red Circle was born from overwhelming emotions.
In most cases, when women awakened the Red Circle, it was driven by resentment toward their husbands and obsessive attachment to their children.
In other words...
Witches were, for the most part, women consumed by extreme hatred and disgust toward men.
"That’s why people say witches are impossible to reason with and incredibly self-centered."
"That’s generally true."
"If someone was branded a heretic even by those creepy people... are they the same type of person as Vernel?"
Vernel...
"Rather than Vernel, she’s more similar to my fiancée."
"How can someone like a witch possibly be compared to my master? Please don’t say such things so casually."
"I only said they’re somewhat alike."
Luri glared fiercely, almost growling.
No matter how many times he looked at her...
She really did remind him of a little dog.
"There’s no need to worry. The reason we can recruit Echidna is precisely because she was branded a heretic by the Phyliaz witches."
"Because of that?"
As if to answer her question...
Zed emerged from the witch’s house.
It had been less than three minutes since he had entered.
Even he wore an awkward expression as he scratched his head and walked back toward them.
"Umm..."
Special note regarding Echidna Phyliaz.
"The moment she saw me, she said she’d do absolutely anything with me. Is... is that normal?"
She was hopelessly obsessed with handsome faces.
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