ENGDB 24

Chapter 24

Irene started seriously searching for books about healing power.

‘No… this feels more like a book about herbs than healing. Why are there so many plants…?’

But there were not many books with “healing” in the title, and the ones she did find were mostly about herbs.

‘Maybe I should look for books about the founding myth… or history books.’

She changed her approach and started looking for history-related books.

But even then, the information she could find was limited.

‘Still, I did learn something. There is a healing family, and their ability is very similar to mine.’

At last, in her third life, she finally found a clue about someone with abilities like hers.

‘When Kalid comes back, I’ll ask him. Since he owns this Grand Duke’s mansion, he must know something about this symbol!’

For a moment, she felt excited at the thought of meeting others like her.

But soon, worry returned.

Several days had passed since the day Kalid was supposed to come back, but he still hadn’t returned.

‘Should I talk to Sebastian and send Gray today? I hope nothing happened…’

With worry suddenly rising, Irene hurried out of the bookstore to return to the mansion.

Then—

A long shadow appeared in front of her.

Since she was a ghost, she tried to just pass through politely.

But—

“Hmm?”

Grab.

Her hand was suddenly caught by a man.

At the same time, a faint flow of mana entered her from his hand.

‘Ugh—!’

It felt completely different from Kalid’s mana.

It was cold… almost painfully cold.

She frowned.

She tried to pull her arm away, but the man’s grip was too strong.

“Oh? What is this? If you’re human, tell me your name. If you’re a monster, make a sound. I can recognize most monsters by their cries.”

The man looked like a scholar, with brown hair and glasses.

He smiled lazily.

But behind his glasses, for a brief moment, a sharp purple light flashed in his eyes.

‘W-What? He can see me?’

“I can see you very clearly.”

‘Ah—he can hear me too.’

Irene panicked.

Even Sebastian and Luke could barely recognize her in this state.

But this man could see her immediately—and even hear her voice.

Fear suddenly rose inside her.

What if he captured her? What if she became some kind of experiment?

‘Let go! What do you think you’re doing?!’

She struggled, twisting and pulling her arm.

But the man didn’t move at all.

Instead, he calmly examined her from head to toe, as if studying something interesting.

“Hmm… no matter how I look at you, you’re strange. Are you a new kind of monster appearing in the North?”

‘What nonsense! What kind of monster talks?!’

Irene snapped in anger.

“Well… that’s true. Then what are you?”

The man leaned closer, smiling.

His shadowed face gave off a strange, unsettling feeling.

‘You didn’t even say who you are!’

“Oh, was that the problem? I’m Smith—no, wait. Right now, I’m James. Call me James.”

The name sounded completely made up.

James shrugged shamelessly.

“Now that I’ve introduced myself, you should tell me who you are.”

‘James? You don’t even know your own name.’

“Wow, have you been fooled your whole life? James and Smith sound similar, so you probably misheard.”

Irene was speechless at his ridiculous reply.

And she was getting annoyed at being called a monster again.

‘I am a proper lady! Grabbing a weak and delicate lady like this—how rude! Mr. James, you’re shameless!’

“A lady? Hahaha. Sure. A monster lady.”

James laughed and mockingly bowed.

“My apologies, my lady. Now, where did you come from?”

‘……’

Irene grew more irritated.

“Hmm… it looks like you disguised yourself as a white blob… Are you a wandering mage? Though your skill seems… lacking.”

‘……’

“Or… are you a spy sent by ‘that person’? But you don’t look very capable for that either.”

‘……’

He kept making guesses while looking at her like she was nothing important.

Irene struggled harder.

But no matter how careless he seemed, he wouldn’t let go.

“A talking creature… but modern mages couldn’t create something like this.”

He spoke dangerous ideas so casually.

Then suddenly, in a sharp voice—

“Then, monster lady, why don’t you reveal your identity yourself? If you have nothing to hide, there’s no reason not to.”

Too bad for him—Irene had no intention of explaining herself.

She just wanted to escape.

‘I am…’

“Oh? Finally going to tell me?”

‘I am Whi—’

“Hah, even your voice is weak.”

Since her voice was too soft, James leaned closer to hear.

At that moment—

Irene slammed her head into him.

And kicked his shin hard.

“Argh!”

Caught off guard, James released her and grabbed his leg.

‘I’m not a monster—I’m Whitey!’

Shouting that, Irene ran away without looking back.

‘That was close… I can’t believe there’s someone else who can see me like this.’

Even without a heart, it felt like her chest was pounding.

Back in her room, she finally relaxed.

‘Wait… that feeling earlier was just like when I receive mana…’

She hadn’t thought about it at the time, but she definitely felt mana when he grabbed her.

It wasn’t like Kalid’s—but it was still mana.

‘Sebastian and Luke’s mana didn’t work… so what’s different about him?’

She couldn’t figure it out.

At times like this, she really missed Kalid.

‘Could he be related to Kalid? Or… did something happen, and his ability changed?’

‘Tomorrow, I’ll send Gray right away.’

The next morning, after studying books about mana all night, Irene quickly sent Gray off.

As if understanding her feelings, Gray flew away swiftly.

Watching him disappear into the distance, Irene made another decision.

She would go back to the village.

‘I need to check those old books again… but please don’t let me meet that strange man again!’

She carefully moved like a spy, watching her surroundings.

No one could see her—but after yesterday, she couldn’t relax.

Hiding behind pillars and checking people’s movements, she slowly approached the bookstore.

Like a cautious cat, she slipped inside.

The shop was quiet again.

‘Phew… I made it safely. And I didn’t run into him.’

Feeling relieved, she walked deeper inside where the old books were kept.

‘Today, I’ll look for books about mages. Mana always reminds me of mages first.’

She reached the last door.

But today, it was slightly open.

‘Hmm? Why is it open? Did I forget to close it yesterday?’

As far as she knew, only the old shop owner came this far inside.

And not many people visited this store anyway.

Thinking it wasn’t a big deal, she stepped forward—

—and suddenly came face to face with someone stepping out between the shelves.

‘Hik—!’

“Oh?”

It was him.

James.