IDEFP 03

Chapter 3

The manager’s private office on the top floor was as extravagant as his personality suggested.

I sat down and stared straight ahead, pretending to remain composed.

Exactly four days had passed since that incident.

As expected, I still hadn’t paid. Even half of the amount was not something I could realistically obtain in such a short time.

“You’ve exceeded the payment deadline again.”

He seemed to have come today with firm resolve, cutting straight to the point.

I swallowed dryly and replied as casually as possible.

“Did I?”

I spoke as if I had never seriously considered any deadline he had set. Showing weakness here would only invite more nonsense.

I lifted my eyes and glared at him sharply. The manager coughed awkwardly under my stare.

“I actually brought you here today because I have a proposal.”

My shoulders stiffened. If this was more of his ridiculous talk, I was ready to hit him properly this time.

But contrary to my expectations, he called over a servant and had a document brought in.

It was a contract.

“…What is this?”

At my question, he quickly continued.

“If Lady Isabella agrees, we could consider your 500,000 gold debt settled in exchange for this. You would only need to work for one day.”

I doubted my own ears.

Work for just one day in exchange for 500,000 gold? There was almost no reason to refuse.

Still, I maintained my poker face.

“Well… I’m not particularly interested.”

My cold tone made him smile awkwardly.

“Haha… I assume this is something you’ve already heard of—the upcoming auction next week.”

At the word auction, I immediately remembered the carriage I had seen during the day, and Alzuro’s explanation.

“That auction… why?”

Perhaps sensing my interest, he quickly continued.

“We would like to formally hire you, Great Mage, as part of the auction’s security.”

My eyes widened in disbelief.

“It’s nothing difficult. You would simply attend and remain present during the event.”

I briefly suspected there was some hidden motive behind offering such a large debt reduction for such a simple job—but as he continued speaking, I began to understand.

In short, the auction was one of Midtown’s biggest annual events. High-ranking nobles would be visiting for it.

And Monteo Garden was apparently one of the major financial backers.

From the manager’s perspective, if the auction gained enough attention and drew more visitors, his investment would multiply—there was nothing better for him.

And it seemed he wanted to use me, a Great Mage, as part of that publicity.

“The security is already handled by another guild. We only ask that you lend your presence to elevate the event.”

So he just wants to use my name.

That much became clear.

Now I finally understood something that had been bothering me.

Why had Isabella been staying in the most expensive room of Monteo Garden for so long despite having no money?

Perhaps she had been waiting for exactly this kind of offer.

Her presence during the auction season here was not a coincidence.

In a world where magic existed, a Great Mage was a walking source of wealth in many ways—especially one like Isabella, who had both skill and beauty.

“….”

I folded my arms and remained silent.

There was no reason to refuse. This was clearly an opportunity.

But there was one major problem.

“Great Mage…?”

The manager grew anxious at my silence.

I calmly spoke.

“Bring me another cup of tea while I think. I don’t drink cold tea.”

As he hurried out, I quickly began thinking.

Why was I hesitating even though this was clearly my chance to leave Monteo Garden?

It wasn’t just because the job felt morally questionable.

There was a far more practical issue.

I couldn’t use magic.

Since the moment I realized I had possessed Isabella’s body, I had tried repeatedly to use magic—but nothing worked.

It was like trying to operate a device I had never seen before.

A Great Mage who couldn’t use magic… that would be suspicious at best, dangerous at worst.

My leg trembled despite myself.

Then I noticed a clause in the contract.

Clause 5.

It was written in complicated legal language, but the meaning was simple: another guild was already handling security, so I would not be required to take action or be put in danger.

“….”

While I was staring at it, the manager returned with a teapot.

“Have you reached a decision?”

Refusing here might mean I would end up washing dishes in Monteo Garden.

The thought of being trapped under that old raccoon was worse than death.

I had no real choice.

After a quiet sigh, I answered.

“I accept the proposal.”

At my reply, his face lit up, and he began rambling about preparing the finest meal in celebration before finally leaving.

The next day, I headed straight to the public library in central Midtown.

Even if I wasn’t expected to act, life rarely went as planned.

I pulled my robe low over my head and entered the library cautiously, as if I were being chased.

I assumed there would be books on magic theory—and I was right.

There were several introductory texts on basic magic. I picked them up and sat down to read.

The language itself wasn’t a problem thanks to the translation effect—but understanding it was another matter entirely.

Magic basics required sensing mana and circulating it through the body.

From what I could tell, I couldn’t even feel mana to begin with.

The realization hit me like a heavy weight.

“Seriously… who would believe a Great Mage who can’t even feel mana?”

Normally, in possession stories like this, you’d expect some kind of bonus ability—something that makes magic as easy as breathing.

I buried my face in my palm in frustration.

Luckily, once this job was over, I could leave Monteo Garden—but what came after that was even more uncertain.

Isabella was a wandering figure.

Most people called her Isabella or Great Mage, but she also had a family name.

Isabella Gwell—the daughter of House Gwell, a marquis family.

“…Of course, she hated her family so much that she made anyone close to her call her only by her name.”

“Isabella?”

“Yes. Like that.”

I lifted my head in surprise.

A blond man was standing over me.

I quickly pulled my hood down.

“….”

My expression clearly asked how he recognized me. The blond man smiled brightly.

“Even a hood can’t hide hair like rose petals, so red and beautiful.”

I frowned at his overly sweet tone.

“I haven’t shown my face lately, so to meet you here… perhaps this is fate?”

I didn’t recognize him.

But tall, broad-shouldered, and most importantly—he was exactly the type of man Isabella would have liked.

Which meant he was probably another fleeting acquaintance from her many nights.

I cleared my throat.

“I don’t remember the face of every one-night partner.”

That was one of Isabella’s usual lines. I said it without hesitation.

His expression stiffened for a moment, but soon turned even more intense.

“Then I suppose we can start as if meeting for the first time today.”

Before I could react, he stepped closer. I backed away—and he followed.

“I’ve been longing for another night with you, Isabella… haven’t you?”

The way he loosened his collar made my stomach turn.

This was exactly why I couldn’t move freely outside Monteo Garden.

Whether it was Isabella’s rumors or the novel’s twisted fate, men kept getting tangled around her.

And I knew exactly where this would lead.

It was this very pattern that would eventually bring about Isabella’s death.

To avoid that fate, I needed to treat men like they were nothing more than passing scenery.

That should have been easy—since this was my body now.

But reality mocked that thought at every turn.

As the blond man leaned in with pleading eyes, I abruptly pushed past him and ran.