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Chapter 66
“I never said that….”
“You definitely said it before. That someone who can make potions like these must be a once-in-a-lifetime genius.”
…Wow. Those eyes really look like they could kill a person.
The fact he can explain all this so calmly is kind of impressive.
“So I got curious about who that unprecedented, unmatched genius might be. I threw away all the work I was doing and came here.”
“Is that even allowed?”
“Of course not. But what can you do? I’m curious.”
Good grief.
What a shameless guy.
Talking so proudly about abandoning his duties right in front of his employer.
Well… he IS from the underworld, I guess.
Very unconventional workplace culture.
“Since we’re on the topic—how many circles are you?”
“…Sorry?”
“How many circles. You must’ve gotten something from the temple.”
“Oh, um….”
I never got anything like that….
As I wavered, Kiar reached out his hand impatiently.
“Then show me the back of your hand. If you don’t want to say it, just show it.”
“……”
“I need to see your circle to know whether you’re a once-in-a-lifetime genius, or a freaking insane genius.”
Aren’t those basically the same thing?
Either way, one thing was clear—Kiar was extremely interested in me.
But even if I wanted to show him…
How?
I never received a mark in the first place!
I even dodged the question from Felix before, so this was a nightmare.
I don’t think I can run away this time.
Last time I managed to get out of it somehow, but not today.
That stubborn gaze!
That unwavering determination to find out no matter what!
If I tried to bluff my way through this, I’d be screwed.
“Hand.”
Kiar extended his hand again.
…What the heck.
Does he think I’m a puppy?
Fine, asking to see it is one thing, but this attitude was getting on my nerves.
“Strange. Usually when I ask this, people trip over themselves trying to brag.”
The look in his eyes practically screamed freak.
“Well, since we’re going to be working under the same roof from now on, we have to introduce ourselves properly, right? I made all of the young lord’s potions before you came.”
“…Sir Riese?”
“I told you to call me by name. No titles. I despise honorifics.”
“A-ah. Okay…”
While I nodded awkwardly, Kiar flipped over the hand he’d extended.
There wasn’t a single mark on his smooth skin.
“Right, I just remembered—the person who asks should show theirs first.”
Then—
Snap!
His fingers flicked sharply.
“I forgot to show you mine.”
“……”
“Here. Look.”
A massive wing.
In the blink of an eye, a white crest appeared—proof that he was a grand mage.
“Now I’ve told you my name, my circle… oh, and my familiar is Kazliden. I was tricked into a slave contract with that high-and-mighty guy over there, so now I’m stuck. I’m twenty-one, by the way. You can call me big brother if you want.”
“……”
“When someone shows this much sincerity, you should start responding, don’t you think?”
With a grin, Kiar held out his hand again.
“Show me.”
His determination to gauge my power was almost obsessive. No—this was obsession.
If I say I don’t know, he’ll kill me.
Or worse, he might drag me straight to the temple to be tested.
Absolutely not!
I’ve barely managed to escape the original plot.
If I end up at the temple, everything I worked for will collapse in seconds.
But Kiar’s stubbornness was just as terrifying as my fear.
“If you can mass-produce high-grade potions that I can barely manage myself, I HAVE to know how insane you are. I’ve been dying of curiosity.”
“So just let me see your hand once—”
Kiar suddenly frowned.
Whoosh—
A sharp gust of wind. Something heavy flew across the room.
Startled, I glanced at Felix. Kiar caught the flying glass like a hawk and growled,
“What do you think you’re doing?”
“I was trying to drink water.”
Felix smirked with one side of his mouth, annoyingly smug.
“It slipped.”
“Ha—”
Kiar shot him a look that said, You? Slipped?
“That was obviously on purpose.”
He slammed the glass down loudly.
Tak tak tak—
Then came another sound near the window.
Kiar glanced over and sighed deeply before snapping his fingers again.
The window slid open—clack!—and a small bird flew inside.
Felix whistled. The bird fluttered to its master.
“The old man wants us. Now.”
“……”
“Both you, brat, and me.”
“Ha… Every time he comes back, you’d think he’d take a break.”
Kiar stood up with a face full of irritation and exhaustion.
“You, how long are you staying here? You’re staying, right? Day and night?”
“…Uh, probably?”
I nodded, secretly planning to run away the first chance I got. Fortunately Kiar didn’t guess my intentions and looked relieved.
“Good. Then wait right here. Next time I’ll bring tasty snacks, tea, and lots of things. And then you have to show— Ah, seriously!”
Having been kicked in the shin, Kiar bent awkwardly and scowled fiercely at his employer.
But of course—
“What.”
Felix was even more shameless.
“…Forget it.”
Completely irritated, Kiar flailed a hand and then turned sharply toward me.
“You.”
Just wait.
He clearly mouthed the words, making it obvious I was now on his blacklist.
I opened my mouth to defend myself, but Felix shot me a quick glance and gave a small nod before looking away.
Snap!
With a crisp sound, both men vanished at once.
Before I could even react, the noise disappeared completely.
As if the quiet was unnatural, deep silence filled the room.
“Wow…”
Finally gone…
I melted into the sofa like freshly melted chocolate.
Just that short moment had drained every drop of energy out of me.
(Scene change)
An empty corridor.
Two men appeared on the deep-blue carpet, carried by swirling wind.
“Ha. Unbelievable.”
Kiar put both hands on his waist and glared at the young lord.
“Why did you stop me?”
“What.”
“Don’t act stupid.”
Kiar pounded his chest in frustration. He’d been annoyed for a while from watching the young lord act strangely.
“Why did you block me earlier?”
Felix didn’t bother answering and simply turned away.
Kiar quickly rushed ahead to stand in front of him and eyed him sideways.
“Don’t tell me—”
“……”
“Besides your mana fits, did you… develop some other illness?”
For a split second, Felix’s eyes turned murderous.
“You know… that thing people get when they’re about to die—”
Before he could finish, Felix’s hand moved toward his sword.
Startled, Kiar backed away at once.
“Ahem!”
He coughed roughly, scratching the back of his neck in embarrassment.
“That was too far. Sorry.”
Felix stared at him silently for a moment, then resumed walking.
“H-hey! Young lord! Hey!”
Kiar called out desperately as Felix strode past him.
“That rotten temper, seriously…”
It’s not like I asked for much!
I just wanted mages to introduce each other properly!
He made me curious and then shut me down!
A mage who can produce potions better than his own—how could he NOT be curious?
Of course he wanted to know everything about his future colleague who’d share this grueling workload.
Did he eat something weird today or what?
Normally Felix would watch from afar or even encourage him to push harder.
“Hey—are you really leaving? Hey!”
Why the hell was he acting like this?!
