Chapter 292
Chapter 292
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 292
Chapter Title: Winter Chill
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Tap tap.
"Hey, blackie."
"Wha, what?"
Something jolted me awake from sleep. I barely managed to open my eyes, and there was Winia. She was poking my face with her finger.
"Ugh... what? That tickles."
Out of habit, I reached for her chest—smack. Winia swatted my hand away and leaned in close to my face.
"Didn't our little blackie come home fucking late again last night?"
"Oh."
Her words brought back memories of yesterday.
After spending time with Lisha and getting home, both of them were already asleep, so I'd squeezed in between them and crashed. The bright light outside meant it was morning... but since Winia had to wake me, I must've been pretty wiped out.
"Sorry, Winia. Come here. Let me hold you."
"Forget it. Like sis said, you went to see that guild master yesterday, right?"
"Yeah, pretty much..."
"Tch. Get up already."
Did she have something to do?
I got out of bed without a word, just as she ordered. As I stood and instinctively went to stretch with my Director's Fist Technique, Winia stopped me.
"Blackie, cut the bullshit and get dressed quick."
She was already ready to head out.
"Something you need to do?"
"Yeah. Let's go to the Magic Tower together today."
"The Magic Tower?"
I asked while pulling on my pants.
The Magic Tower?
Come to think of it, I'd never been to the one in Isvant. Actually, the only Magic Towers I'd poked around in were back in Krasheim for one reason or another.
What did she need me for?
I put on my pants, splashed some water on my face, and threw on the rest of my clothes.
No need for gear, right?—the thought crossed my mind briefly, but going unarmed to a place full of mages was as dumb as it got, so I geared up completely.
"You're my pack mule for the day, blackie."
"So that's it, huh? Heh heh heh."
Once I was ready, Cloude stretched and sat up.
"Mmm... Katt, Winia? You heading out?"
Her disheveled purple hair and sensuous brown skin... Seeing her bare upper body made my lower half stir to life too.
"Winia needs a pack mule."
I grabbed my backpack first.
"Wanna come too, sis?"
Cloude shook her head and burrowed back under the covers. Typical winter-weak Cloude. She just blew me a kiss and told us to have a good trip.
Whoosh.
The winter morning chill hit us the moment we stepped outside.
I took Winia's hand and said,
"Wanna grab breakfast first? Kinda early to head out. Gotta fuel up if I'm hauling your stuff."
"Hmm... Yeah, sounds good. Let's go."
Unlike me, who'd grabbed her hand first, it was Winia who gripped mine tight and half-dragged me around, scouting spots for a meal.
We ended up at a decent-sized place on the way to the Magic Tower. Looked a bit pricey. Good thing my wallet was still fat.
We sat at a table, and I left the ordering to Winia.
After rattling off a bunch of stuff and shooing the server away, she looked at me.
"Blackie."
"Yeah?"
Her chin-resting pose radiated dissatisfaction.
"I've been thinking. It's not great that our blackie just follows sis's every word. People need some backbone, right?"
"Wait, Winia, what the hell are you talking about?"
Not great? What?
"Cloude-mama's words are absolute."
To me, Cloude-mama—no, fuck, 'mama' was sticking to my tongue now anyway—Cloude's words were like holy scripture.
"Ugh, you moron."
"Watch it. She is mama."
"What even is mama...? So I'm not mama?"
She shifted, resting her chest on the table, and said,
"There's only one mama in this world."
"I have no fucking clue what you're on about."
"Heh heh heh. That's life for ya. Anyway, what're we doing at the Magic Tower that you need a pack mule? Shopping?"
Probably needed me to carry purchases.
Come to think of it, it had been ages since I'd played pack mule for Winia. Kinda like a rare date... Back in the day, we'd done it pointlessly all the time. Made me nostalgic for rookie isekai Kim Katt.
"Mmm... Got interested in ice magic. Figured I'd learn one while I'm at it."
"Not enough with fire and lightning?"
"To reach higher realms, I gotta master the basics of elemental magic."
"Elemental magic?"
Like water, fire, ice, wind?
"Our blackie knows zilch about magic, huh?"
"It's all so mystical. I know nothing."
"Pfft. Dumbass blackie."
"Hey, why dumbass? Everyone who doesn't know magic a dumbass?"
"Nah, just you, blackie."
"Grrr."
That one line seemed to lift her mood; she grinned and gave me a quick rundown on magic.
Basically, she planned to train ice magic over winter and aim for even stronger mage status next year. Winia was pretty damn powerful for her age, now that I thought about it.
We'd met a few years back, and she'd been grinding quests and training ever since. Ambitious girl.
"Who knew you were thinking such constructive thoughts!"
"Always am. You've been distracting me lately, so time for some catch-up. You big-dicked blackie bastard."
The food arrived before I knew it—something like a Western breakfast platter.
Judging by the plates... no clue on the price. First bite was damn good. Hearty meat-focused meal with generous portions; worth whatever it cost.
"Am I just a dick to you?"
"Nah, not exactly."
"Then what am I?"
"Dunno."
Pfft. Her laughing face showed her mood had improved since waking up.
"Blackie, you've got so many good points."
"Heh heh heh, yeah."
Breakfast done, the bill was 1 silver 50 copper. Clutching my sanity, I paid and headed out toward the Magic Tower.
"Blackie. Carry me."
"What, how?"
"Like that."
"Uh, outdoors isn't the place for a quickie..."
"You fucker?"
"Kidding."
I scooped her up princess-style right away.
She was extra clingy today—cutest damn thing. I trudged along like a giant with a dwarf on my shoulder, following her directions.
"Blackie. Feels great just us two."
"Yeah, it does."
"You'll do whatever I say today, right?"
What was with her today?
"No idea what's up, but I usually do whatever you want anyway. Order me around all you like."
"You're such a sweet fucking blackie."
Seeing her happy made me wanna do anything for her. We followed the main road, and the Magic Tower soon came into view.
Isvant's Magic Tower was about half the size of Krasheim's.
Truth be told, Krasheim, Isvant, and even Baron Dodens' lands were all frontier outposts. Krasheim was the biggest among them.
Isvant was smaller.
Frontier of frontiers, but Krasheim bordered untamed wilderness, drawing tons of traffic and naturally growing huge.
Something like that. Recalling the details, we entered the Magic Tower district.
"Winia. We're kinda drawing stares. Wanna get down?"
"Nah."
"I'm heavy, y'know."
"Am I heavy, blackie?"
She had no idea—her tits alone weighed more than a decent greatsword, you vixen. Not saying that out loud, of course.
"Not heavy... but holding you long's tiring my arms."
"Then keep holding."
"Arms shaking. Heart too."
We made it to the Magic Tower entrance anyway.
The area around it had a fancy vibe—special shops mostly selling mage gear and supplies.
Even street-vendor mages. Pretty varied.
Not a ton of mages, so not crowded, but almost all in robes and staves made my armored self stand out.
Glance.
Every passing mage eyed me once. Felt embarrassing. Like I was trespassing where I didn't belong.
"Down now?"
"You're so willful."
"Don't like?"
"Nah... that's what I love! Boss me around more!"
"Shut it, blackie."
"..."
Winia grabbed my hand and strode boldly through the main gate. Scanning around... aside from a few laborers, no other sword-swingers like me.
Not even one black-haired guy?
The whispers and dirty looks probably stemmed from racism too.
Mages—isekai elite powerhouses—tended to have that haughty, clannish mindset.
"Heart pounding, blackie?"
Winia smirked mischievously, peering at my face.
"Embarrassed as fuck, yeah. What, enjoying the show?"
"Pfft. Kinda."
"Pervert. Treating me like this?"
"And you hate it?"
"No, but... feels like bullying?"
"Kinda."
Enough repeating yourself.
Winia parked me against the wall like a leashed pet and headed to the counter. I sighed, leaned back, and watched her.
Maybe picking up an order or filing a request?
Arms crossed, waiting patiently—
Glance.
The stares pinning me were too much.
Mages gawking like I was some freak or eyesore.
From the looks... Winia was totally enjoying my discomfort. You teasing bitch...! I won't forgive you...! Why do you love tormenting me so much!
Tremble.
Fist shaking, I spotted a familiar-looking female mage passing by.
"...?"
What?
Who?
Green-haired mage from memory somewhere.
Face rang a bell... but like some seal blocked it, thoughts wouldn't connect. At the same time, my heart raced like I'd peeked at forbidden memories.
Thump thump.
No clue why, but this familiar feeling was pure rage.
Rage?
Why?
"Ah?"
While puzzling over her identity, she suddenly turned to me.
"Huh?"
Our eyes met.
Definitely someone I knew.
Her face shifted from confusion to bewilderment. Probing at first, then growing suspicious.
Rub rub.
She rubbed her eyes, and her face twisted in horror. Mouth agape, she pointed right at me... Wait, no way! This bitch!
"Ah! I remember! Roel, it's you! How's Custos doing?"
That's right. It was Roel.
"You...! You! You're that guy from back then!"
She was so shocked she couldn't close her mouth.
Feeling nostalgic, I reached out for a handshake—
"KyaAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Roel shrieked like humanity's infinite malice had birthed some grim monster no one wanted, unleashing its first wail upon the world.
"Kyaaak!!!!!!! Kyaaak!!!! KyaAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Then, like the ghouls we'd fought before, she flailed her limbs in convulsions. Witnessing a normal person turn monstrous filled me with sheer terror.
"Wha, what?! Why the screaming?!"
Panicking, I sensed shit had gone south and bolted for the exit.
My hunch: something from the promotion exam had traumatized her into this cursed beast.
"What happened?!"
"What's the commotion?!"
"Quiet! Quiet!"
"So noisy!"
But no escape.
Guards and nearby mages swarmed toward me!
Wha, what the fuck! What the hell is going on!
"Calm down! What the hell happened?!"
"Please stop that screaming!"
The approaching mages surrounded me and Roel, barking orders!
Crack!
Sensing doom, I panicked and yelled!
"W-Winia-mama!!! Saaaave meeeeee!!!"