Chapter 25. Curse
The candle flame flickered dimly to life. Ludvine, standing at the doorway, puffed out her cheeks and shot her mother a sullen glare.
The witch, who had just lit the candle and turned around, placed her hands firmly on her slender waist and scolded her daughter with a stern expression.
"Ludvine, what did I tell you? Huh?!"
"...I'm old enough to know better. Mom treats me like a kid all the time...!"
"This isn't about that. ...Go to your room. Now."
"Ughhh...."
The witch's eyes sharpened even more.
"Ughhh? Where do you get off talking to an adult like that?!"
Ludvine stuck out her lower lip and shot her mother one last pitiful look. But the witch shook her head firmly.
"No. Tsk? You keep disobeying me? You're really in for it now!"
"...Mom, I hate you!"
In the end, Ludvine stormed off to her room in a massive huff, her footsteps thumping loudly.
"That girl...!"
The witch sighed lightly, thinking of her daughter who still hadn't grown up, and closed the door.
She'd gone on that grueling expedition with the hero, and yet she was still acting like a child. ...She needed to toughen up more.
Jeanne slowly turned her body, stealing a glance at the hero. He was looking at her with a faint smile.
"You two have a great mother-daughter relationship."
"...I'm sorry, sir. She's not usually like this—she's just being extra stubborn today...."
"No, it's fine. Curiosity is what makes a mage; that kind of passion is a good thing. ...Have a seat."
The witch sat down across from Ji-hyuk. A brief silence fell.
He leaned back comfortably in his chair, gazing at her. Soon, her expression shifted. She slowly opened her mouth.
"Sir, that thing you said earlier... you didn't say it without knowing, did you?"
"...No, I knew exactly what I was saying."
Jeanne's face gradually hardened into the witch's impassive mask.
"Then you know this isn't a simple matter."
"Of course."
Ji-hyuk tapped his fingers on the armrest and asked, "Can you make it?"
The witch stared at his face for a moment before slowly replying.
"...I've never tried, but I can do it. At least in this capital, no alchemist can match me."
The hero smiled faintly.
"Good. ...If you said you couldn't, I'd be in a bind. No one else to ask."
"But... how do you plan to get that?"
"The Mysterious Stone?"
The witch nodded gravely. The other ingredients for an elixir could be procured somehow. ...But there was one problem. The Mysterious Stone.
A Mysterious Stone whose making method had been lost to history—even Jeanne, a master alchemist, knew nothing of it.
"We received discreet intel that a Mysterious Stone was discovered on the southern continent."
Ji-hyuk spun a plausible tale. Telling the full truth would make her doubt him, of course. He had no intention of doing that anyway.
"Rumors like that pop up often. But none have ever been real. All hoaxes."
"This one's backed by the demon cult. ...High chance it's legit."
"...Really?"
"You don't need to worry about verifying it. Just make the elixir if I bring you the stone. Got it?"
"Yes."
"It's crucial, so no failures. That's why I'm asking you."
Jeanne nodded. If he truly brought a Mysterious Stone, she'd welcome it with open arms.
For any alchemist, the Mysterious Stone was something to handle at least once. Making an elixir with it would be an unmatched honor.
As their conversation wrapped up, he rubbed his palms together lightly.
"I trust you know this stays between us."
"Of course. I have no intention of telling a soul."
Ji-hyuk started to rise but paused.
"...Oh, right. Anything you want? Can't ask for something this tough for free."
"No need. Just making it would be the greatest honor."
"Nah, that'd leave a bad taste in my mouth."
"Then... I'll tell you when you bring the Mysterious Stone next time."
"Deal."
He stood up.
"I'll drop by often. Let me know if you need anything."
"Yes, sir."
They left the room. Jeanne went to her daughter's door and knocked lightly.
"Ludvine? Come out now."
The red-haired, freckled girl emerged with a sulky expression. She threw her arms around her mother.
Oh, this girl—.
The witch gently stroked her daughter's hair.
"There, there. Your mom always believes in you. Got it?"
"...Yes, Mom. Sorry for acting childish earlier."
The mother and daughter shared their warmth before parting. The three headed out the front door.
Quite a crowd of onlookers still lingered. Ludvine lifted her chin smugly.
Look at me—Jeanne's daughter Ludvine, moving up in the world!
Jeanne saw them to the carriage. Ludvine gave her mother one last tight hug before climbing in.
Jeanne bowed toward Ji-hyuk. He nodded lightly in return.
The door slammed shut, and the carriage rolled off.
Ludvine stuck her head out the small window, yelling, "Take care, Mom!"
Then the carriage jolted, banging her head. Ow.
She carefully pulled back in and sat primly before the hero.
Ji-hyuk smiled at her for a moment before speaking.
"...So, what'd you think of what you overheard?"
-_-!!
Ludvine's butt twitched slightly. How'd he know?
She tried to hide her panic and play it cool.
"I-I didn't eavesdrop...."
But her eyes darted everywhere, avoiding him.
"Really? You didn't eavesdrop at all? ...Ludvine, you're not lying to me, right?"
Ah...!
At his words, Ludvine surrendered. She clasped her fists on her knees and hung her head.
"S-sorry.... I did eavesdrop.... I was just so curious...."
Ji-hyuk chuckled and patted her messy hair.
"Eavesdropping is wrong. Right?"
"...Yes."
"Alright, forgiven. ...You hear it all?"
"From the middle. ...What's a Mysterious Stone?"
Ludvine snapped her head up, her expression shifting instantly.
Ji-hyuk shook his head slightly.
"No idea."
He knew, of course. But it wouldn't do her any good.
"You can make an elixir with it?"
"Yeah."
"Must be super hard to make?"
"Dunno the method. Your mom does. Ask her next time."
But Ludvine's face puffed up in a pout.
"Mom's great and all, but she babies me sometimes. ...I'm all grown up now."
She swallowed I could even have sex now. No way she'd say that in front of her crush.
At least in front of him, she had to play the innocent girl who didn't even know masturbation.
"She's worried about you for real. ...Alchemy's more dangerous than you think. You know that."
"I know, but she overdoes it. I've been on that tough expedition with you now—I'm experienced."
"Yeah, I know. I get it all. ...Not enough that I acknowledge you?"
Ludvine waved her hands frantically.
"No, it's fine if just you know, Captain. ...Hehe."
She beamed, twisting her arms like squid tentacles over a fire in delight.
"Double casting coming along?"
"Working hard at it. ...But it's crazy hard. Been studying a ton with Yael lately."
"How's Yael doing?"
At Yael's name, Ludvine clicked her tongue.
"Ugh, she's the worst TA ever. Holed up in that office all day."
"When do you think it'll wrap?"
"No clue. This paper seems pretty big...."
"Huh."
Ji-hyuk made a mental note to visit and encourage her sometime.
The carriage soon reached the mansion. Ludvine, who had been buried in the library all day wrestling with double casting, looked utterly relieved.
The nosy girl wandered the mansion, exchanging belated greetings with her comrades, then returned to the parlor where Ji-hyuk waited.
And there, this tomboy virgin spotted a scrawny, pathetic-looking girl sitting before him.
Rozalia jumped up at the sight of Ludvine, clasped her hands politely, and bowed deeply from the waist.
"Hello...."
"Captain? Who's this?"
"Your new teammate. Get along from now on."
"Teammate?"
Frankly, she looked too pathetic for the role.
"What's her class?"
"Buff sorceress."
"Her?!"
Hard to believe such a rare buff specialist was this withered twig of a woman.
Rozalia rolled her frightened eyes and bowed again.
"Sorry."
"Why apologize? She's weird."
"Ludvine, she's had a rough time lately, so look after her. Understand?"
"Yes, Captain. ...C'mon, you."
Rozalia bowed to Ji-hyuk and hurried after Ludvine out of the parlor.
The redhead was thrilled to finally have a junior but kept a haughty facade.
"Hey, kid, what's your name?"
"Rozalia."
"Huh. ...Age?"
"Twenty-three."
Whoa, no way—?!
Ludvine was shocked inside. She'd pegged her at seventeen or eighteen—older than her!
"I-I'm the big sis then! Call me sis."
"Can I?"
"Yup. Say 'sis'."
Rozalia whispered softly, "Sis."
Ludvine loved it. She'd always wanted a little sister.
They entered Ludvine's room. Rozalia instinctively hunched her neck, scanning warily.
The redhead freckle-face sat Rozalia in a chair and lounged across from her like a delinquent.
First impressions needed dominance!
"Alright, spill. Rough life, huh?"
Ludvine snorted derisively. As a witch's daughter, her life had been wild too.
If it was just skimping on food, she'd win easy.
Rozalia hesitated, gauging her.
"Uh, well...."
Prodded by her fake sis, Rozalia finally spoke.
"Whaaaa...."
Hearing Rozalia's miserable tale, Ludvine bawled like it was her own tragedy. An unimaginable, tear-jerking life of woe.
Leagues beyond her own mild discrimination.
"S-sis...."
"All that time, whaaa, so hard, right? Whaaa, your sis'll, whaaa, help you lots, whaaa, got it?"
The redhead hugged Rozalia tight. Rozalia sniffled and hugged back.
As the sobs eased, Ludvine pulled away sharply, glaring murderously and muttering,
"Fuckin' bastards."
"...Pardon?"
Rozalia startled at the sudden curse.
"Those fuckin' shitheads. Rotten pricks. Devil fodder. How dare they treat someone this sweet like shit?"
"B-but they gave me work and pay. It's fine."
"They used you! How do you make someone do that brutal shit for two fairy tales?! Assholes!"
Fuming uncontrollably, Ludvine grabbed Rozalia's frail shoulders.
"Rozalia, repeat after me."
"...Huh?"
The redhead bellowed,
"You fuckin' bastards!!"
Her fake sis urged her on. Rozalia paled.
"Th-that curse is too much...."
"Hurry up!"
Rozalia flapped her lips like a goldfish.
"Jeez, just do it—it clears your chest right out!"
Unable to resist, she finally spat it out.
"F-f-fuck, bastaaards."
"What? Louder!"
"F-fuuuck, bastaaards."
"Bigger!"
Rozalia squeezed her eyes shut and screamed,
"You fuuuckin' bastards!!"