Chapter 50
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 50
Chapter Title: The Black Mage's Request
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I slung the staff over my back and headed to the place Karin had told me about.
Iswant was a walled city, just like the others. It had four large gates—one each to the north, south, east, and west—so people usually oriented themselves by the gates. The area around the north gate was where the poorer folks lived, or so I'd heard. Anyway, that's where I went.
"Where the hell is this place, damn it."
Slum? Yeah, that fit. After walking north for about an hour and a half, the scenery changed dramatically. Shanties pieced together from scrap wood dotted the area, and the whole place had a dingy vibe that screamed perfect for a black mage to set up shop. High-crime district? Spot on.
She'd sketched me a rough map, but honestly, it wasn't much better than Elise's. I did my best to recall her instructions—turn at this alley, that many times—and pieced my way through with those vague directions.
"So, go in here?"
There was an old tower-like building she'd marked as a landmark, so I ducked into that alley.
Should I ask the locals for directions? Nah, inquiring about a black mage felt risky, and the residents' eyes—wild and strung-out like drug addicts—didn't inspire confidence anyway. Better not.
Last thing I needed was to run into some punk in a dead-end alley.
"Hey, mister, lend us some coin while I'm asking nice. My mom's real sick. If you cough it up before I turn you into a rag doll, it'll be good for me, good for you, and good for my mom too."
"Uh... I don't have any!"
"Man, this guy's something else."
Sure enough, no sooner had I stepped into the alley than I stumbled on a shakedown in progress. Never miss a show, right? I pretended to pass by while sneaking peeks at the scene.
A burly half-naked thug was shoving a knife in the face of a shota—er, a young boy. The kid screamed for help when he spotted me. But I had no obligation to play hero, and a taste of the world's bitterness would be a good lesson for him. Besides, back in my F-rank scrub days, I'd gotten mugged plenty too. Life was nonstop struggle back then... anyway.
Let's see, turn here and the building should be...
"Ah...! H-Help!"
"Huh?"
This little shit.
The boy straight-up begged me for aid.
"And who the hell are you? Never seen a guy borrow money before? Quit staring and fuck off already. Your mom's gonna worry if you're out late."
The knife-wielding thug eyed me as the kid called out.
Why the fuck is this asshole bringing up my mom outta nowhere? Pissed off in an instant, I drew my sword and yelled as politely and ferociously as I could.
"What? My mom? Hey, you bastard. Why the hell's my mom popping up here? I was just gonna walk by, but you're picking a fight now, you son of a bitch?"
"Whoa, whoa, calm down, mister. My bad. Sorry. It was a reflex. Really, forgive me this once."
Who the fuck reflexively drags moms into shit, you motherless prick!
I barked at him sword in hand, and the guy cowered, switching to apologies. No way he could beat a real swordsman like me with that puny knife, dead or alive.
In a fight, reach always wins.
"Bullshit! Hand over everything you got, you fucker! I'm pissed now!"
I lunged three quick steps and jammed the blade tip under his Adam's apple. The thug stumbled back, melting into the wall.
This broke-ass punk dares mouth off to a swordsman like me? No forgiving him without shaking him down. But looking at his bare chest, dude probably couldn't even afford clothes...
"S-Spare me! Mister! I got no money! That's why I was hitting up this kid!"
"Then drop the knife and scram!"
"This is my business lifeline! Without it, I can't even borrow shit!"
Borrow? You're robbing him, asshole. His ridiculous line cracked me up. Guy's got comic timing.
"Eat shit and die, fucker. Sword's coming in."
But the victor's world is ruthless. I pressed the tip into his skin. One more ounce of pressure and blood would flow. Instead of more threats, I burst out laughing again.
"Here, take it! Stop! Please don't! I beg you!"
"Good call. Drop it on the ground, kick it that way."
The thug obeyed, dropping the knife and booting it to the opposite wall. I guided his retreat with my blade.
"Good, good... now get lost."
"..."
"Bye. Say hi to your mom for me."
I lowered my sword, and he glared at the shota kid before bolting. I silently picked up the dropped knife. No sheath sucked, but war trophy—score.
"Th-Thank you... really, thank you... that was close..."
Oh, right, this kid.
Watching him gush gratitude like I'd saved his life made my blood boil outta nowhere.
"Thanks my ass, you little shit! This is your fault I even fought!"
"Eh? What?"
I yelled, furious.
He probably thought he was just crying for help, but to me, it felt like a sucker punch. Dumping his mess on me. If shit hit the fan and I got hurt, would this punk come to my aid?
Hell no, he'd run!
"Hand over everything you got!"
"Waaahhh!!!"
Legal shakedown. He started it by dragging me in, I responded to the fight and took his stuff. And for involving me in his problem, I claim everything as resolution fee.
Just business, isekai style.
The boy bawled as my wallet fattened up. A whopping 12 coppers—jackpot. He vanished like the thug, same vibe.
"Heh heh heh."
Mood lifted, I hummed Snowun-sensei's compass tune en route. Jongno? Myeongdong? I'd head to Cheongnyangni.
"This the place?"
The faded sign read [Leongreen] in barely legible script. Leongreen—that was her name, per Karin, the black mage.
"..."
The creepy building matched the sign's decay perfectly. Kinda mage-like in a witchy way, but it clashed with the surroundings, making it even more ominous.
A wanted black mage holed up inside? Wouldn't bat an eye. Still, Karin's intro should mean no trouble. I cautiously pushed the door open.
"Um, excuse me..."
A musty stench and dim interior greeted me. Where's the owner? Sunlight barely filtered in—open for business? Who knows.
Shelves displayed skulls, monster hands, crystal orbs. Scary as fuck. What is this place?
"Ahh... we have a visitor?"
A woman's voice from the back. The black mage? Karin called her 'that bitch,' so female. Witch, maybe?
Purple flames ignited, lighting the room.
"Uh."
There stood a girl in gothic dress, snow-white skin.
Girl? She looked girlish from her height, but calling her that felt off. Adult? Also iffy. Age indeterminate. Sharp-featured mystery woman with a girlish face.
Her hair shimmered like melted silver—true silver, not gray from age. Unreal hue. Below, ruby eyes glowed blood-red for some reason.
Silver hair, red eyes.
Black mage.
And eerie beauty.
—Witch.
A chill and terror beyond words hit me. I spun to leave.
"Whoops, wrong place. Have a good one."
"Little one?"
I yanked the door. Stuck. Panicking, I wrenched the handle hard. No dice. Heart raced.
What the fuck, let me out please.
"Little one? You barge in and now run? Come, turn and face me."
A sweet voice echoed behind my sweat-soaked back. I gulped. Dark fantasy gripped me—that thing behind wasn't human.
I slowly turned.
"...Little one? Do I look like a kid to you?"
"How old?"
"Twenty-five... no, twenty-four."
"You're a little one. So, what brings you?"
What nonsense...
You're the kid here...
Couldn't say it. I turned fully toward her, on guard. The girlish thing stood there, beautiful like a cursed doll. Unsettling.
Huh?
Pointy ears?
Peeking through silver strands—long, pointed like an elf's.
I'm gonna faint, for real.
"Oh? That staff."
"Ah."
Staff snapped me back.
Right. Here to sell to the black mage on Karin's say-so. No reason to freak. Trading, not fighting. So why the shakes?
"I sense pleasant magic from it. Here to sell?"
Karin said it felt unpleasant. They perceived the same mana differently—some difference between them. Normal vs. abnormal? Nah, Karin's abnormal too. Whatever.
"Y-Yes. Th-They lowballed me elsewhere. Figured a specialist would pay fair... so here I am before you, witch ma'am."
She emerged from the counter, pulled out a chair. I hesitated, sat. Body tensed. Placed the staff on the desk.
"So, you're here to sell me this staff."