Chapter 15: Just Do What You’re Good At
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 15: Just Do What You’re Good At
Jed’s eyes flickered toward Ferda.
The "disloyal servant" Ferda had mentioned was undoubtedly the young girl trailing behind him. Having spent his life surviving on his wits alone, Jed could tell exactly where the killing intent was directed.
No matter how I look at it, that bloodlust is aimed at him, not me...
It wasn't a misunderstanding; it was the cold truth. Ruri was currently seething over the fact that Ferda had squandered so much money. Compared to the total wealth of Valdrova, it wasn't a massive sum, but it was a fortune for an individual to blow through in a single sitting—especially in a place like Halim. It wasn't the kind of money one simply threw away at a gambling house.
And yet, Ferda had scattered it on a whim.
Jed, unaware of the internal dynamics between the two, could only remain confused.
"...Fine."
The dagger in Jed’s hand spun once before sliding neatly into his back pocket.
"Let’s talk. What is it you want to say?"
"This isn't the best place for a sensitive conversation. Let’s go somewhere quiet."
"Follow me."
Jed led him to his room—the most expensive suite in the casino’s hotel. Despite the lavish surroundings, the drink he pulled out was a bottle of cheap rum.
"It’s my favorite. I don’t know if it’ll suit a noble young master’s palate, but care for a drink?"
Ferda shook his head. "I don’t drink."
"A mage who doesn't drink?"
"I don't drink precisely because I am a mage."
"A mage who doesn't enjoy alcohol? You’re a rare breed, aren't you?"
For mages, who spent their days in grueling cycles of thought and concentration, women and wine were the standard escapes. Since alcohol was the cheaper of the two, it was common to see mages chugging straight from the bottle to dull the mental strain.
Ferda, however, had spent his life running forward without looking back. He had never touched the stuff, and eventually, abstinence had simply become a habit.
"So... how did you find out that name?"
"I came across it while looking for information."
"And the source of that information?"
The source was Jed’s own mouth—in a future that hadn't happened yet. Since Jed wouldn't believe the truth, Ferda kept it vague.
"There’s no point in telling you now. The only thing that matters is that I know."
"If you were planning to test me like this," Jed said, his voice dropping an octave, "maybe I should have just killed you, even if it meant my own death."
"I’m not testing you. I know everything about you. You’ve been squeezing money out of pitiful women and nobles alike, slowly amassing a fortune to claw your way into high society, haven't you?"
"..."
"Because you need high-society connections to find your younger sister, Emilia."
Jed, a master of the poker face, stared at him expressionlessly. However, his hands were trembling. There wasn't a hint of guesswork in Ferda’s voice—only absolute certainty. That certainty had struck Jed’s hidden motives with pinpoint accuracy.
"Impressive. You don't even seem to be using magic, yet it’s like you’re looking right into my head..."
"It’s not that difficult. I once had similar thoughts myself."
It was a fantasy Ferda had harbored when he was first cast out of his family: to become greater than the Rosnova family and bring them to their knees. Back then, in his naivety, he had vowed to make them admit their wrongs.
Though I failed in the end.
Ferda had been rejected by the Magic Society because he possessed a Red Circle. Jed had failed to join the upper crust because his reputation as a "widow's plaything" had become an indelible stain on his name.
"I will provide that stepping stone for you."
"A green noble like you?" Jed scoffed.
"Green nobles." Even if they were talented enough to draw public attention, the world of nobility was a place where one could slip and be branded a traitor in an instant. The weaker your connections and the younger you were, the harder it became to survive. For someone like Ferda, who had just reached adulthood, his situation should have been as precarious as a candle in the wind.
However, Ferda was far from a conventional mage. For starters, he was the Archduchess’s consort.
"I suppose I should reintroduce myself. My name is Ferda Valdrova."
"Valdrova? Isn't that... the Red Dragon’s name?" Jed snorted. "Even I know that in the noble world, taking that name means being cast out. What kind of madman gets engaged to a Red Dragon?"
"I am that madman."
"...Seriously?"
Ferda’s expression didn't flicker. Jed scratched his head, looking genuinely embarrassed.
"Damn. If the news was that big, it should have reached my ears by now... I guess staying in a casino makes you lose track of the world." He offered a quick excuse before shifting the subject. "Anyway, if you’re the husband of Valdrova... even if people treat you like a gigolo, you’d have an enormous amount of power, wouldn't you?"
"Indeed. You’ll be able to enter the high society you’ve been risking your life to break into."
Jed, who had been looking down, glanced up at Ferda. "What do I have to do?"
Ferda reached out to Ruri. Just as he had with Burnell, he handed Jed an appointment letter.
"Use your abilities to serve as an attendant under me."
"What kind of missions?"
"Anything from menial tasks to major operations. However, I won't ask you to do anything beyond your capabilities."
Jed chewed on those words for a moment before asking, "...So, I’m a lackey?"
"An attendant."
"That’s just a fancy word for a lackey."
"Then choose. Will you be a lackey who can enter high society, or a fool treated like a nouveau riche failure who only gets laughed at?"
"..."
Though Ferda spoke harshly, he wasn't wrong. Would he be a gigolo treated like trash, or a lackey with a solid position, however difficult it might be? Jed ran the numbers in his head.
"If I refuse... will you report me?"
Ferda tilted his head. "What would I gain from reporting you?"
"You’re a mage, and I’m of the Red Eye Tribe. The Red Eye Tribe isn't supposed to exist anymore. Wouldn't it be to your advantage to turn me in?"
A race born with the innate bloodline ability to nullify magic. Mages and the Red Eye Tribe were natural enemies, as clear-cut as cats and mice.
"No matter how I think about it, there’s no profit in it for me."
"I heard that when our kin were wiped out, the mages celebrated for three days and nights. Are you different?"
"That’s a foolish question. Being afraid of the Red Eye Tribe just because magic doesn't work on them is no different from a child hiding under a blanket because they’re scared of ghosts. Anyone who thinks like that is a failure as a mage."
It was an incredibly arrogant answer. Yet, Jed didn't find it offensive.
He’s a strange one.
Usually, when someone that young acted that way, they were either leaning on their status or showing the overconfidence of someone who overestimated their own potential. But Ferda didn't give off that vibe at all. He looked like a green brat who had just come of age, but his conduct was that of a high-ranking noble who had firmly established his position.
Maybe he really can give me what I want...
He was convincing enough to make even Jed, who didn't trust people easily, start to believe.
"Ah, damn it." Jed scratched his head vigorously. "Is this what it feels like to make a deal with a devil? It’s irritating how tempting this is, even though it leaves a bad taste in my mouth."
Jed let the silence linger as he tapped the appointment letter with his finger.
"Fine. I’ll do it, milord. But I have conditions. That’s fair, right?"
"Tell me. I’ll write them down now." Ferda pulled a pen from his breast pocket.
Jed held up two fingers. "First, pay me an appropriate amount based on the mission. Regardless of anything else, I need money to do my job."
"Of course. You will be compensated."
"Second, if I feel like you’re ditching me or just using me, I’m leaving without hesitation. Agreed?"
"Agreed. I have no intention of deceiving or manipulating you. Is that all?"
"Yeah, for now."
In truth, Jed wanted to add one more clause: that the contract would end once he found his sister. But that might become a shackle that ends up wasting time. So, Jed stopped at those two conditions.
"Since we’re on the subject, let me add one more thing." Ferda took the pen and wrote in the blank space of the appointment letter. "Our contract will last until you find your younger sister."
Jed looked up, startled. "...Is that okay?"
"Once you find her, that’s it. After that, I’ll leave it up to your discretion."
His tone and the conditions were incredibly clean. Jed was stunned by the lack of greed. Ferda had even set the time limit that Jed had intentionally omitted.
Just who is this guy?
Jed’s curiosity about Ferda only grew. No matter how much Jed pushed, Ferda remained composed, as if everything was within the palm of his hand. He possessed the virtues of a true noble who had weathered many storms.
It’s unsettling that he knows about Emilia...
But at the same time, he was the only person who knew and could help. Regardless of his personal power, his status was reliable. For now, Jed had no choice but to trust him.
"Fine, I understand. Or rather, I understand, sir." Since he was now an employee, he switched to formal speech. With that, the terms were set.
The reason Ferda had set the time limit was simple. There’s no point in holding onto someone by force. He desperately needed Jed’s skills, but he had no intention of turning him into a slave. Besides, even if he tried to hold him, Jed wouldn't stay. He was a master thief who had escaped notorious prisons multiple times.
And... finding her isn't the end of everything.
Ferda spoke as he watched Jed tuck the appointment letter into his pocket. "Then I’ll give you your first mission immediately."
"Already?"
"I’d like to commission a task using the money you took."
"Wasn't that the money I won?"
"Originally, it was the money I intended to use for your commission. Didn't I tell you what you needed to know when you were about to fold? It’ll be better for both of us if we count it as a commission."
"Well, I guess a 'first mission free' vibe isn't so bad. So, what do you want me to do?"
"It’s a very simple task for you." Ferda pointed to one of the names Ruri was holding.
—Echidna Philias.
"Just do what you’re good at."
* * *
Once their business was concluded, Ferda’s carriage left Halim and moved briskly. Unlike the trip with Burnell, Jed was now part of the company.
"As expected of the carriage for the Archduchess’s consort, it’s incredibly comfortable. The interior is spacious, and even when the road is bad, it’s stable without any jolting."
"..."
"And it even comes with a pretty, petite attendant." Jed smiled, naturally shifting the conversation. He leaned in, resting his hand near where she sat. It was the behavior of a natural-born gigolo. "I don't think we’ve introduced ourselves. Might I ask who this lovely maid lady is?"
"Allow me to explain kindly."
In response to his question, Ruri answered with Dragon Fear.
"Gah!"
Jed, who had been trying to flirt, recoiled and clutched his chest. Even as a member of the Red Eye Tribe, Jed was human, and he possessed the innate fear of dragons.
"Haa... haa... Th-this... a D-dragon?"
"She is a Dragon Spawn. The personal attendant to the Archduchess of Valdrova."
"I never heard that Dragon Spawn could emit Dragon Fear... and she doesn't have horns or a tail."
"It simply means she is a powerful Dragon Spawn."
"I thought she was a Half-Elf or a Halfling at best..."
Jed suddenly remembered when he had threatened Ferda with his dagger. If he had actually tried anything back then, he would have been toast. Jed fanned his shirt with his hand, trying to cool his cold sweat. Ruri glared at Jed with disdain before returning to her prim posture.
"Don't worry. Even if she’s fierce, she settles down if you put food in her hand."
"Who are you calling fierce?"
Ferda nodded at Ruri’s retort. "True. You’re more like a dog than 'fierce.'"
"Huh? Are you insulting me again?"
"It’s a compliment. I heard there’s a small but brave breed of dog called a Chihuahua. I think it fits you perfectly."
"Could you please ask her to hit me just once?"
"I’ll pass. I’m not fond of pain."
Ferda continued to provoke her, and Ruri continued to seethe. If an ordinary person had been hit by that Dragon Fear directly, they wouldn't even be able to breathe right now. Yet Ferda was perfectly calm, and Jed, caught between them, finally spoke up.
"I’ll just go hang out with the coachman. Call me if you need me."
Who cared if the seat was comfortable? Peace of mind was what mattered most.
* * *
To find Echidna Philias, Ferda entered a deep forest. Eventually, they reached a point where the carriage could go no further.
"The coachman says we can't go any further. The path is too narrow."
"Then we walk."
"It’s a bit of a distance, but it’s not steep. Let’s treat it like a stroll."
Ferda stepped out of the carriage, with Ruri and Jed following behind. While the two followers walked as if it were a light stroll, Ferda was already dripping with sweat.
"You might need to work on your stamina, sir."
"Surprisingly... this is my peak."
"Won't it improve if you put in more effort?"
"My family was once a knightly house, and I became the Archduchess’s fiancé precisely because of this."
"Ah, I see..." Jed scratched his cheek awkwardly. "Well... want me to carry you?"
"I’ll pass."
Though he was struggling, Ferda didn't want to delay and forced himself forward through sheer willpower. Finally, a single house standing in the middle of the deep forest came into view.
"That’s the place."
"The dark energy is no joke. Definitely a witch’s house."
"And it’s where you’ll be going in."
"I know. Ahem!!" Jed stretched his body, preparing for the mission. "Whew. Seducing a witch for my first mission... feels like walking into a tiger’s den."
"No need to be so tense. You just need that face of yours."
"That sounds like you’re saying I’m nothing without my face."
Ferda stared blankly at Jed’s face before answering. "Without that face, you might actually become a corpse."
"Ha, you keep looking down on me. Fine. Just watch."
Jed ran both hands through his hair, styling it. Entering 'gigolo mode,' he walked straight toward the witch’s house.
"Echidna Philias. Who is this woman?" Ruri asked as Jed moved away.
"A witch."
"I know she’s a witch. They’re the kind who become sisters through sorcery and become one, right? That’s why they take the surname Philias when they become witches."
"Yes, you know your stuff. Have a candy."
"Do you think I’m a child?" Even as she said that, Ruri took the candy and popped it into her mouth. "My point is, why are you trying to recruit a witch?"
Bringing in a witch was a dangerous move, especially those tied to the name Philias. Only female mages with a Red Circle and a talent for magic could become witches. A Red Circle is formed based on intense emotions; for most women, awakening one stemmed from resentment toward a husband or an obsession with a child. In other words, witches were a group primarily composed of people with an extreme hatred for men.
"That’s why witches are said to be impossible to talk to and incredibly self-centered."
"That’s true."
"If she’s been branded a heretic by those gloomy people, is she the same type of person as Burnell?"
"She’s probably more like my fiancée than Burnell."
"How dare you compare a mere witch to my Master. Please don't say such things lightly."
"I only meant they are similar in nature."
Ruri growled, her eyes wide. Ferda couldn't shake the thought that she really was like a dog.
"There’s no need to worry. We’re only able to recruit her because she was branded a heretic by the Philias."
"Because of that?"
Before her question could even settle, Jed emerged from the witch’s house. He had been inside for barely three minutes. Jed returned, scratching his head with an awkward look on his face.
"Uh..."
Special note regarding Echidna Philias:
"The moment she saw me, she said she’d do whatever I wanted. Is this right?"
She was a total sucker for a handsome face.