Episode 3-b. Black Mage Subjugation (8)

Ain's gentle touch, stroking my hair like that, had felt so wonderful. When I was sick—more precisely, when I'd tumbled and hovered between life and death—his hand caressing my head had been so careful and warm. Being gray, I never fell ill otherwise, so that was ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠my one and only memory of it. The cautious tenderness, so different from his casual, smiling pats in everyday life. That, too, was a reason I couldn't help but love him.

And now, I felt a hand gently stroking my hair. It was soft and plush, unlike Ain's rough, callused one, yet the emotion behind it was just as tender. Small and delicate, unlike his large, thick hand, yet the warmth enveloping my forehead was the same.

"Ain…?"

I murmured, barely opening my hazy eyes. I wanted to praise him for working so hard to protect everyone, to tell him he'd done the right thing. Part of me hoped he'd come ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠to my side and smile at me. Ain would do that, wouldn't he?

"Ta-da~ Sorry, it's not Ain—it's Eileen!"

"…."

Of course, it was a ridiculous delusion that never could've happened.

"Hehe, you mistook my loving touch for his~ Oh dear!"

"…, or take your hand off and get lost."

"That's so mean!"

I smacked away the hand fiddling with my forehead and sat up. My whole body ached. Every part throbbed with pain.

"Ugh…."

"Asha, you still need to take it easy. The mages aren't professional healers, and we couldn't call in holy priests or outside doctors…. They only did the bare minimum with potions and basic spells."

Even Eileen, who'd been spouting playful nonsense, now looked at me with genuine worry.

"Hoo…, it's fine. I can heal myself."

"Huh? But your condition's serious right now?"

Mana was flowing through my body again, which had been drained empty after that long, grueling battle. Dull gray mana rippled like an old friend, replenished from utter depletion.

So even in this state, healing my body was no big deal. Recalling those nights during my three years alone in the Empire, when I'd self-harm until I was a ragged mess, it felt eerily similar.

"Ah, much better."

"What… I worried for nothing!"

Eileen jumped up from her chair, hopping mad, and I couldn't help but chuckle at the sight.

"So, what happened after that?"

Truth be told, that mattered more than my condition. What happened after I collapsed, how the rewards were divided, the secrets hidden underground, the black mages' research records. I'd pushed myself for those rewards, even if I had collapsed protecting people.

Then Eileen clapped her hands with a smack, as if just remembering, and yanked my hand.

"Oh, right! I was gonna tell you once you woke up, but I got carried away joking…!"

"…."

"Quick summary: nothing to worry about. Aside from the mages and knights, only a handful figured out who you are."

"I see."

"Yeah, the knights controlled everything so well that hardly anyone saw properly. The few subjugation members who noticed got strongly persuaded to keep quiet. The captain said most are nobodies anyway, so no big deal!"

Eileen grinned brightly, mentioning how the knights had knocked out the survivors from the illusion with blows to the back of the head to seal the info. Her story continued.

"And with the knights' and mages' backing, you're officially the top contributor! So they said to give you this orb first. The rest is a huge pile of dera or any 10 items from the treasure vault! Hehehe!!"

She dangled the crystal orb, bobbing her head excitedly like a maniac.

"Its light has dimmed."

My eyes fixed on the orb, its intense glow faded to a soft shimmer.

"Oh…, yeah. When the city's curse lifted, all those squishy, wriggling lights poured out and flew everywhere. Probably people's lost dreams and lifespans."

"Then what's left…."

"The mages figured it's the crystallized dreams and lifespans with no owners left to return to."

That made sense. It was the essence of dreams gathered over a century; such immense power wouldn't linger casually. Once the spell ended and the curse broke, the living reclaimed theirs, but the rest stayed trapped in the orb, now in my arms.

I gazed at it a moment longer before asking,

"Next news?"

"All the black mages' research journals from the underground ancient ruins were destroyed. Too shady to allow as rewards. But we got a copy of the massive ancient magic circle no one could decipher! Here!"

Eileen flapped a huge sheet of paper.

"The mages begged me, saying maybe you could understand it, hehe!"

"…."

What she showed was a vast magic circle covered in bizarre symbols and patterns.

"Well? Ring any bells?"

"Not at all."

Even I had never seen anything like it; after staring a while, that's all I could say.

"Aw, bummer…."

"Want to die?"

"N-no, but I thought you would get it right away…?"

"I've never seen an ancient magic circle either. They're not common, and research barely progresses."

My knowledge wasn't that vast anyway. Orphan scraping by in alleys as a kid, only learning language and society later, starting real study after splitting from Ain. So I carefully folded the paper and tucked it away, thinking I'd study it someday. Guess I was a mage after all.

I stretched my still-lethargic body, got out of bed, and looked down ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠at the dumbfounded Eileen.

"Done talking?"

"No! One more!"

"What."

"Come here!"

She grinned ear-to-ear and dragged me along. Dashing ahead to the distant window, she flung open the curtains.

"Ta-da! It's night!! The night in the city that never had night, thanks to you!"

And there it was: a pitch-black sky dotted with twinkling building lights, as she said. Cheers and songs from the people below.

I'd chosen my rewards: 10 items from the treasure vault. Referencing the past illusions, I picked what Ain and the others might want, one by one.

The massive, ornate axe the dwarf elder craved. Mysterious ancient reagents for the white-robed eccentric. Heavenly biscuits and "God's Tears" drinks for the twin-like kids. Gifts for his comrades, plus one sparkling item for Eileen and four pieces of gear Ain had eyed hungrily in the illusion but ignored.

And.

"…, hiss."

"Asha, that's way too creepy…."

"Not creepy. It's love."

"Creepy love, then…."

"Shut up."

For the last one, I let myself be selfish and grabbed it: an ancient tracking device. In other words, pure, innocent love to chase down Ain no matter what.

Actually.

I'd peeked at the brothel's past illusion. Yes, Ain. I'll find you soon.

Anyway.

The night was profoundly dark. Yet amid the shadows, the building lights and their reflections in people's eyes shone brilliantly. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Night had come to the city without night.

Unable to resist the tearful plea from the city lord, I reluctantly climbed the platform in the square.

Rooooar—

Rooooar—

Waves of cheers crashed toward me from the surging crowd. They adored me. People were clapping for a gray one.

Of course, only a few subjugation members knew my identity, making this possible.

- The city's hero!!

- Tebris's savior!!!

Countless eyes filled with respect pounded my heart. Not hate or contempt, but admiration from a sea of people.

- Thank you, Hero!!!

Grateful salutes from the knights and mages who'd helped and protected me. Silent applause from those I'd saved as a subjugation member.

And.

The night wind blew fierce and strong, whipping my robe loose and briefly exposing my face.

The cheers shook the city hotter than ever.