Chapter 17
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 17
Chapter Title: Date?
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The strangest thing was that Winia never once suggested grabbing a bite to eat.
She really seemed oblivious to the whole concept of hunger, like she wasn't human at all. How the hell could anyone survive without shoving food down their gullet? My theory was that she fed on human suffering instead.
This bizarre conviction had already solidified into fact in my mind. She was a monster that just looked human.
Groooowl.
My stomach let out a monstrous rumble, like I'd boiled and eaten a train boiler or something.
I felt like I was about to keel over from starvation any second. All I'd had since morning was a single bottle of holy water. Unless some miracle turned that splash of divine power into calories, today was basically a water-only fast.
Back home, eating had always felt like such a chore. But ever since coming here, I'd learned just how precious a good meal really was.
Turns out, humans are fragile little shits that die without food. No joke. First time in my life I'd seen someone starve to death, and it wouldn't be hard to guess I'd be next.
"Hey, Winia."
"Yeah?"
"You not hungry?"
"Nah, not hungry."
Fuck.
"Our little blackie hungry?"
"Yeah."
"Wanna eat?"
"Hell yeah!"
"I don't."
And that was the end of the food discussion.
Asking if I'm hungry and then saying no? Pure fucking humiliation.
Swallowing my rage and hunger, I hoisted the luggage and trailed after Winia, sweating bullets. No clue where we were headed or why she'd bought so damn much crap. My stomach was so empty my head was spinning. If I'd at least brought my pouch, I could've chewed on the emergency rations inside. But nope, empty-handed.
Winia veered off into a path I'd never taken before.
"Where the hell..."
We'd arrived at the Magic Tower district.
The elite enclave built around the massive Magic Tower I'd only ever ogled from afar—a place for the city's upper crust, with zero reason for me to ever set foot here.
It's called the "Magic Tower district" because the whole area is walled off like a fortress to keep outsiders out. The scale was lord's-castle level. I'd heard all the Magic Towers did this to flaunt their mages' wealth and power.
Anyway, regular folks can't just waltz in. It's like a gated luxury condo complex, complete with guards. Everyone coming and going looked loaded. A bum like me would get bounced at the gate in a heartbeat.
"Hey, I can't go in here. Let's hit somewhere else, please."
I knew my place—this was way above my pay grade. I grabbed the hem of Winia's robe and begged.
"But this is where I live?"
"Holy shit, living large, huh? Guess this is where we part ways then. Take care going in. See ya next time. I'll miss you like crazy. Might not sleep tonight. Thanks for today."
I immediately shoved the luggage at her. Regrettable, but time to split. No way I could tag along inside.
Perfect timing since this was her place—best for both of us.
"Gah!"
Winia, who'd been smirking and glaring at me, hooked the staff's loop right around my neck.
"Sure thing. Fuck off, blackie."
Goddamn it.
She dragged me along like a condemned soul to hell, breezing past the gate like it was nothing.
"P-Put me down! People are staring weird!"
The guards didn't bat an eye at a obvious mage like Winia. They only eyed me like a suspicious creep, but no intention of stepping in. Do your job, asshole... "Hold up, miss mage. This loser's banned." Just say it!
"Our blackie cares a lot about other people's stares, huh? But today, wouldn't it be too much just focusing on mine?"
Winia finally released my neck and muttered. I had no choice but to treat her more cautiously than a battered kid eyeing his drunk stepdad. One wrong look, and she'd swing happily.
"Yeah. I'll just watch you, Winia."
"Good. That's all blackie needs to do."
I followed her like a mangy dog.
The street screamed refined luxury, pristine like this was the only civilized spot in the world. Felt shitty, like Winia and I were the only filthy things here.
Roads and buildings all white stone, like a tourist trap. But remembering this was another world, not just overseas? Kinda trippy.
Walking a shithole like this made me shrink automatically. Unfriendly stares from passersby stabbed at my grubby self. Body heating up from shame, I stuck as close to Winia as possible. No one said shit, but I wanted to yell, "I'm with her, that's why I'm here!"
Fuck... Should've brought a sword...
Just holding one fills me with confidence. Humans aren't dumb enough to fuck with an armed guy. Wait, scratch that—world's full of idiots. Plus, power gaps and all.
"Blackie sticking too close, no? You like me that much? That's why you're clinging?"
As if.
"Please. Just this once, cut me some slack, Winia. I'm scared shitless. If I stray from you here, they'll clock me as a fake and beat me like a dog."
"Kyahahaha! What bullshit is that, blackie? You're hilarious!"
What the hell's so funny?
"So, permission? I wanna stick right by your side. Gotta ask first, right?"
Winia grinned wickedly as she said it.
"Lady Winia... mind if I stick by your side...?"
"Yeah. Stick by my side, blackie."
"Thank you."
"Heh heh heh. Good boy. Blackie listens so well."
Winia kept petting my long hair.
"Such a cute, obedient blackie."
"Thank you."
"Hey, blackie? I praised you, so you praise me back, right?"
"W-Winia, you're super cute too! And fucking gorgeous!"
"For real?"
"Yes!"
"Ahh, blackie listens so well. Love it."
This crazy bitch, seriously.
Anyway, felt like a hobo crashing the rich hood. Some say looks don't matter—bullshit from the carefree.
Try strolling into a fancy restaurant covered in cement like a day laborer. No one looks kindly. Common sense: go home, change first. "Fashion? It's for food!"—I'd smack 'em.
"Here! My place!"
It was a massive dorm-like building.
Sign by the gate read Sevnael Women's Mage Dormitory. Yup, women's only. This could go south fast.
Young women around Winia's age, fellow mages, came and went, already side-eyeing me. Not a great vibe.
"Nice place! But women's only, so I can't go in!"
"Oh? Blackie can't come in?"
"Physically impossible. Legally too."
I said it while gauging Winia's reaction. Shockingly, she beamed.
"Can't come in? Then weak little me has to lug this all to my room alone? That's what you're saying, blackie?"
"No, I didn't mean it like—"
"You came with me to that shithole church, but can't do this? And backtalking again?"
"I'll go in."
I gave up. Better to enter and deal than argue. What could go wrong? Worst case, "Winia invited me." Not my fault.
"Hurry up! I wanna carry your stuff right now!"
"No! I'm mad now!"
Winia suddenly crossed her arms and yelled she was pissed. Heads turned. Somehow, I knew I was fucked.
"Blackie crawls in like a dog!"
What'd she just say?
"...What? Crawl?"
"Deaf?"
"You said crawl like a dog, right?"
"So you won't?"
My dignity? Trashed.
Thinking about it, I had no human rights here. Slavery's alive and well... Was I Winia's slave? Heart pounding. How to escape this...!
While I stood dazed, Winia started casting. I flipped out.
"W-What? Hey, wait! Hold on!"
"Stay still. Casting a 'listen well' spell on blackie."
"No no no no! Not that—crawling'll dirty the new clothes on the ground!"
"Then crawl without dirtying 'em."
"You fucking bitch! Make sense... Fine, I'll do it."
Half-cast spell? Tail between legs. Pride too. Was gonna punch and bolt if shit hit the fan, but her magic's faster.
"You just cussed?"
Am I nuts?
"C-Cuss? Nah, just friendly banter. Back home, closer friends cuss more. Haha, slipped."
Desperately covering my ass.
"Oh? We're friends? Blackie and me?"
"We're friends!"
"Huh? Ehehe? Right? Yeah?"
"Uh? What?"
Winia let out a creepy laugh. She'd always called me friend, now this?
"Nothing. Anyway, we're friends, so relax!"
"Phew. That's a relief."
"But blackie still crawls up. Let's go!"
"Fucking hell. Total bullshit, goddamn it."
I crawled on all fours before the audience of our convo. Their mocking crushed my soul. Winia kindly piled all the luggage on my back.
But wait.
Fine for me.
But Winia lives here. Showing this insanity to neighbors? No shame? Was this normal for mages? No idea.
Thus, enduring weird stares, I crawled to the third floor.
"Huh? Winia?"
Someone greeted her. Red-haired, bespectacled mage girl. Winia waved energetically.
"Besty? Hi!"
"Uh... hi. But... that."
"Yeah?"
"That your boyfriend?"
Besty pointed at me awkwardly. Still on all fours.
"Nah, just a friend!"
"Friend...? Hmm..."
Her doubt deepened. Totally get it. I went nuts every time this psycho called me friend. She needed a crash course on friendship.
"Winia, your hobbies are... always kinda... I don't say this lightly, but this is too much."
"What's wrong with it?"
Besty seemed pretty normal. Reacting like that to this mess proved it. Plus, looked like Winia was known as a psycho among friends.
"Oh, right!"
Winia clapped suddenly.
"C'mon, blackie! Say hi!"
"What? Hi?"
"Yeah! This is my friend Besty! Greet her!"
I awkwardly looked up at Besty. On all fours, duh. She looked flustered.
"Won't?"
She whispered "Won't?" in my ear, so I grudgingly did.
"Uh... hi? Nice to meet you. I'm Katt, Winia's friend."
"So..."
Besty hemmed and hawed. Her normal reaction comforted me a bit. Only Winia's the weirdo. I'm a pussy submitting to violence, but.
Don't wanna die, though.
"Good boy! Well done! Our blackie did great!"
Winia beamed, thrilled like her walkies dog had learned to shake.
Why?
Her thinking felt monstrously alien. What joy in that? Gets off on my pain, you fuck? You're hellbound.
"Ah... yeah... I'm Besty. Just... friends with Winia..."
Besty replied reluctantly.
"W-Winia? I'm gonna go?"
Terror-stricken, she bolted.
"Ehehehe! Hehe! Hahaha! Yeah, bye Besty!"
Winia's eerie laugh echoed, mood sky-high.
I was scared enough to puke.