A Two-for-One Deal
Name: Yen Katia
Mage Class: Former Middle 2nd Class, Current Lower 3rd Class
Background: Despite originating from the slums of North Yellow, she independently constructed her Magic Circuit at the age of fourteen. She subsequently submitted applications to numerous magic towers within the city, but was repeatedly rejected due to her impoverished background and lack of a sponsor.
She immersed herself in magical studies alone, reading every single magic book in the public library. An anonymously submitted thesis of hers received high acclaim in the academic community, which served as her gateway to the Rosemia Magic Tower. At eighteen, she became the direct disciple of the Rosemia Tower Master.
At twenty-three, she left the Rosemia Magic Tower to enlist in the Security Bureau. She distinguished herself as an agent of both literary and martial prowess, possessing both theory and practical combat skills. However, at twenty-six, due to the aftereffects of magic...
Her whereabouts after her demotion to Redline remain unknown.
The smell of disinfectant still lingered in the hospital room.
There was no miracle. Even though more than a week had passed since the terror attack, Yen's condition had not improved. Instead, the shadow of death grew darker with each passing day.
Even with a face so pale she looked ready to stop breathing at any moment, Yen still hadn't made her decision. If it were a simple matter of life and death, she would have chosen life without hesitation, but this wasn't a choice she could make on impulse alone.
"It's a difficult choice. For both me and you."
"Why me?"
"What do you mean, why? It's because you'll have to... take responsibility for me."
From her hospital bed, Yen looked up at Muzark. Leaving behind his bewildered expression, she shifted her gaze to the side, where the grim-faced investigator was staring intently at her.
"You said you would prepare the new vessel," she said to him.
"It was a reasonable trade. It is only right that I pay the price," Aiden replied.
"What if I refuse to accept it to the very end...?"
"Personally, I'd consider it a win. Though I might feel a bit indebted."
Aiden looked at Muzark and crossed his arms.
"Though it seems this fellow didn't even consider that possibility."
Just as he said, Muzark had proceeded under the assumption that Yen would naturally accept a new lease on life. Time was of the essence. He couldn't afford to waste days waiting for an answer.
Above all, he had witnessed her despair with his own eyes. That was why he believed she would seize any opportunity that came her way. Yen had a clear purpose in life, after all.
He couldn't understand why she was hesitating.
"What's the problem? I didn't expect you to drag your feet like this, given your personality."
"You're just being too optimistic," Yen said, frowning.
"You call it a 'new vessel,' but it's probably far from a human body. I know expecting that would be greedy. Homunculi are ridiculously expensive just for the shell, not to mention incredibly rare."
"Then a doll?"
"Not unless it's a special doll crafted by a master specifically for that purpose. It was proven long ago that if a soul assimilates into an inanimate object, the ego quickly dissolves."
The conditions were strict.
The vessel had to preserve her ego for a long time. Unless she wanted to be carried around like a totem, it needed to allow for basic communication. And it had to be something an Orangeline investigator could actually acquire.
Eliminating the impossible left only one option.
"A magical lifeform."
"Like a demon, for example?"
"Not 'like' a demon—a demon is the best option. Golems aren't free from ego dissolution either. So the only way is to obliterate a demon's existing ego and enter its empty shell."
A wave of discomfort washed over Muzark's face. Abandoning a human body to transfer into the grotesque form of a demon—any normal person would find the idea repulsive.
Aiden, on the other hand, let out an impressed murmur.
"Impressive insight."
Even though it wasn't her specialty, her depth of knowledge was remarkable.
Aiden had also acquired various bits of knowledge during his career as an investigator, but most of it was superficial. He had never approached the subjects with such academic depth.
Yen. I wondered why that name sounded familiar.
Investigators often interacted with figures from the upper regions. While Redline was neglected, exchange between Orangeline and Yellowline was relatively active.
Because of this, rumors of all kinds reached his ears. Tales of someone outstanding making a name for themselves. Among them was the story of a mage from the slums who had risen like a dragon from a ditch.
Her wings may have been clipped, but her reputation was no empty boast.
"...It's not that I'm refusing because it's a demon's body. My situation is too miserable to be picky. And I know this is shameless of me to ask of you."
Yen's eyes trembled with anxiety.
"In short, I'll be becoming your familiar."
"A familiar."
"Yes. If it were a normal familiar, it would actually be a benefit to you. You could use me conveniently like a tool, and discard me when things get dangerous. To a mage, a familiar is nothing more than that."
She took a ragged breath before adding,
"But that's not the case here. Do you have the confidence to treat me like a tool?"
"..."
"No, let me be more honest. If I'm going to survive in such a pathetic state, I don't want to be abandoned. That's why I said what I did earlier. You have to take responsibility for me, even if I become a burden."
Muzark didn't answer immediately.
Responsibility.
He couldn't blindly promise her to just trust him.
Right now, he was fired up with the determination to climb to the upper regions with Yen, but there was no telling what the future held. No one knew how the world would turn.
As he remained silent, the answer unexpectedly came from a third party.
"Calling yourself a 'burden' is a bit cynical."
"Are you saying I'm not?"
"If you remain in a state where you can't perform even the most basic role, then yes, you would be a burden."
"However," Aiden said, turning the conversation around.
"Think of yourself as a guide."
He placed a hand on Muzark's shoulder.
"This fellow is a rough diamond. But he is still incredibly green. Regardless of his mindset, he is a novice mage, and thus possesses inevitable shortcomings."
Common sense of the magic world, information about the upper regions, and crucially, a mentor to teach him the deep, profound path of magic by his side—Muzark needed all of these.
"And I can't exactly drag him around with me all the time like the twins do."
"Mr. Aiden? What do you mean by that?"
"It's hard to call it good luck, but the situation has aligned perfectly with my circumstances."
Aiden stared intently at Muzark.
"Once I prepare the vessel for Mage Yen and assist with the soul transfer, our deal is complete. But don't we both have an unresolved issue to settle?"
Muzark understood what he meant instantly.
"You mean Harmensales."
It was a topic he had deliberately avoided.
He had planned to bring it up subtly only after Yen's life was secured. If they clashed over how to handle Harmensales, there was a high chance the deal would fall through.
Even though Aiden had roughly read Muzark's mind, he brought it up anyway. He had already decided on his policy regarding the Apostle of Knowledge and the anomaly of Redline.
"To be honest, I have very little interest in Harmensales."
"Pardon?"
"In fact, it's more of a burden to me."
He let out a heavy sigh.
"If I brought him back to Orangeline, it would be a massive achievement. But I don't welcome that kind of attention. If the higher-ups from the upper regions start poking around Orangeline because of this... I see nothing but chaos. Would I be able to avoid getting swept up in the storm then?"
He shook his head.
"I am a man with clear weaknesses. I have a family."
"Are you planning to bury it?"
"Isn't that the kind of thing that's only possible here in Redline?"
"How?"
Aiden spoke as if tossing the words aside.
"By killing him, of course."
Muzark swallowed hard at the investigator's firm resolve. With those words, it seemed all his worries were about to be resolved. Their interests aligned perfectly.
But that wasn't all.
"And when I return, I plan to take you with me."
"To Orangeline?"
"It's a highly rational decision."
In Aiden's eyes, Muzark's promotion was already a foregone conclusion. If he was bound to climb anyway, it was better to stake a claim on him early. His character had also passed the test.
"Mage Yen. The same goes for you."
"...You're not entirely sane either, are you?"
"I must strongly disagree with that assessment."
As indifferently as ever, he added,
"A two-for-one deal. Why would I refuse?"
Redline, a place he had descended to half on a whim.
In this trash heap, Aiden had found treasure.
Two treasures that would shine brilliantly once the dirt was wiped away.
A hundred times better than a demon that would only cause indigestion if swallowed.
Aiden truly believed so.
"Well, I shall take my leave now. Continue your chat."
"Where are you going?"
"Back to Orangeline for a moment. I need to find a suitable body."
After dropping several bombshells, he casually walked out of the room. Muzark and Yen stared at the closed door in sheer disbelief, then let out hollow chuckles almost simultaneously.
"Are there no normal people among mages?"
"You do realize you're spitting on your own face with that comment, right?"
"Anyway. Let's not say we can't do it after coming this far."
Yen lowered her gaze and wore a bitter smile.
I really can't trust easily.
She understood exactly why she couldn't make a decision easily. Because she had ignored or doubted the goodwill of others her entire life, she didn't know how to trust.
She wasn't prepared to face the misery of having her trust betrayed. Because she didn't want to blame others when her life went to ruin, she had repeatedly failed while trusting no one, ultimately living a life of self-reproach.
She had lived in this world completely alone.
All sorts of emotions swirled together like a cocktail. Dark, gloomy things like regret, self-loathing, and loneliness. And amidst them, one thing sparkled like starlight.
Gratitude toward the man who was trying to support her.
"...Hey."
"Yeah?"
"Don't abandon me. No matter what happens, ever."
Muzark grinned playfully.
"Depends on how you behave."
"You obnoxious jerk."
Yen also frowned, but smiled back.
It was a comfortable, genuine smile, the first she had shared in a very long time.
Yes, just a little longer.
Yen decided to live a little longer.
As the guide to a starlight that was still precarious.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
When Muzark stepped out of the hospital, Aiden was waiting for him. Since the twins weren't around, he was puffing away on a cigarette, looking like a scene straight out of a movie.
You know how people say someone smokes with relish? Even Muzark, who had never touched a cigarette in his life, could appreciate the cinematic aesthetic of the moment.
Separately, he thought cigarette smoke was absolute shit.
No matter how good it looked, smoking on the street was incredibly inconsiderate.
"You haven't left yet?"
"I had something to say before I left."
"You should have said it inside."
"I forgot. And it felt a bit awkward to go back in."
Contrary to his cold impression, he was a man with a surprisingly human touch. When Muzark coughed from the smoke stinging his throat, Aiden looked at him with a sheepish expression and stubbed out the cigarette.
"Can't even smoke in peace. Damn society."
"Go to a designated smoking area."
"Is there even such a thing as a smoking area in Redline?"
Is there not? Surely there'd be at least one if you looked.
"You could just learn a spell to manipulate smoke."
"I shall take that into serious consideration."
"Anyway, what did you want to talk about?"
"Now that I think about it, I haven't heard your thoughts."
A solemn weight settled in Aiden's eyes.
"Do you have the desire to climb?"
"To Orangeline?"
"As high as your abilities will take you. Do you intend to live fiercely, seeking a better life and greater learning as a mage, rather than settling for your current existence?"
"Well..."
Muzark stared blankly up at the sky.
"To be honest, at first, I only thought it would be better than staying here."
"I suppose so."
Aiden followed Muzark's gaze. Drifting clouds were painting the sky a murky yellow. It was a weather anomaly that occurred from time to time in Redline.
"That is a decent motivator, but is that all?"
A reason to climb.
He had many thoughts. He had found a purpose beyond mere survival. First and foremost, he wanted to help Yen meet Sariella Prision. And his goals would only continue to grow.
In short,
"Gratitude and grudges."
"Gratitude and grudges?"
"I owe Yen a lot. Naturally, I want to help her. And since I don't want to rot in this trash heap either, we're looking in the same direction. And as I keep going..."
Muzark recalled the events that had transpired in Redline.
"I'm sure there will be things to be grateful for, and conversely, absurd and shitty things will keep happening too. So, I'm going to pay them back in full. Kindness with kindness. Shit with shit."
"Simple."
"Does it need to be complicated?"
He would take it one step at a time.
If he became strong enough to repay his debts and settle his grudges, he would earn the right to climb higher. New relationships would intertwine, leading to one thing after another.
Along the way, he might get the chance to learn about 'himself.' Why he had drifted here. Why he had been granted the magic of Cryptofetica, and what it wanted from him.
"I hope that answers your question."
"In its own way."
"Did you wait just to ask me this?"
"No. As I said, I merely wanted to confirm your intent."
Aiden pulled a notebook and a pen from his coat. It had been a while since Muzark had seen someone carry a physical notebook. Aiden scribbled something on a page for a moment, then ripped it out and handed it over.
The paper was filled with a list of names.
"Who are all these people?"
"The people you need to kill from now on."
"So suddenly?"
"I need a justification to take you with me."
Aiden elaborated.
"Sending a Lower 5th Class mage up solely on my authority doesn't look good. The bomber's identity is still uncertain, and it's unclear if we can even make it public, so we need to secure other achievements."
"What kind of people are they?"
"I like that question. Blindly following orders without thought is irresponsible and selfish. I prefer you to judge for yourself, but... well, it would be inefficient to make you dig up the information."
He gave a stark assessment.
"Every single one of them is a heinous criminal who is a waste of oxygen."
"I've never heard of any of these names, though."
"Because they aren't residents of Eastred. This list was compiled with the input of the Security Chief, so its credibility is high. You can use the archives with the twins' help to verify their detailed profiles."
"If that's the case, then fine. I'll do it."
Muzark agreed without further argument.
He was already well aware of the law of the jungle that prevailed in Redline. It was too late to feel squeamish about dealing with people like Lahar or the bomber.
Though he would perform a brief verification before making his move.
He didn't expect many to be crossed off the list.
"I shall see you again soon, then."
"Yes. I look forward to working with you."
Watching Aiden's retreating back, Muzark thought to himself.
Once Mr. Aiden returns and completes the soul transfer, and after we kill Harmensales...
We are going to Orangeline.