Chapter 41
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 41
Chapter Title: The Mage with Red Hair
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The door opened, and in walked a human woman with red curly hair. Her green eyes contrasted strikingly with her red locks, giving her an oddly captivating beauty.
Her hair fell in fine waves down to her waist, and she wore a black dress that clung tightly to her body without any revealing cuts.
Glancing sideways at her figure, Tae-jin could easily understand why she dressed like that. She had a body worth showing off proudly. It was very, very impressive.
She looked a couple of years older than Tae-jin, but her skin was so well-maintained that not a single wrinkle was visible. Unlike most continentals, her skin wasn't tanned at all. She clearly didn't spend much time under the sun.
And trailing uncertainly behind her was a male mage.
But that wasn't the important part.
"Who are you?"
The person who should have shown up here wasn't some woman with a killer figure—it was supposed to be that old bachelor-scented geezer.
"And who the hell are you?"
But the woman was the one acting bold.
"We requested you bring our companion, but it seems the wrong person arrived."
The guard captain replied with a bewildered expression.
"Didn't you say one of your group was a War Mage?"
"That's right. But is this person a War Mage?"
"Yes, that's what I was told."
Tae-jin looked around, not grasping the situation. Viscount Merka pressed his temple, sensing things had gone awry, while Pavilion sat frozen with wide eyes.
"You're my disciple? I've never taken on a pupil like you."
"That's what it looks like to me too. Guard captain, where did you pick this person up from?"
"From the 'White Pot' inn."
"Our group is staying at an inn near the north gate. I don't remember the name exactly, but it wasn't that one. Something like the Windwave Inn."
"Near the north gate? That would be the 'Billowing Breeze' Inn, then. My apologies, Mage."
The guard captain bowed his head to the woman in apology. But far from looking upset, she seemed intrigued.
"It's fine. I was curious about the situation myself, so I tagged along. So, there's a War Mage from your group at the Billowing Breeze Inn?"
Her casual familiarity irked him a bit, but since she seemed older, he decided not to call her out on it. She was a beauty, after all.
"Yes, that's right."
"Who's your master? Impersonating a War Mage gets both your wrists chopped off. You know that, right?"
This old man hadn't lied just to puff up his chest, had he? No, it wasn't a lie. Viscount Helio had treated Richer like a War Mage as if it were obvious.
"My master's Richer."
"Old man Richer? Anyone else, maybe, but he's not the type to take disciples. You're not impersonating him, are you?"
The woman said that, then abruptly turned to the guard captain and issued an order.
"Hey, go check out that Billowing Breeze Inn or whatever. Hurry."
The guard captain looked awkward at taking orders from a woman who wasn't even the viscount. When he instinctively glanced at Viscount Merka, the viscount nodded desperately. Go fetch him quick.
Viscount Merka wore the most uncomfortable expression imaginable. Tae-jin could fully sympathize. They'd invited just him, and now two War Mages had crashed the party.
Moreover, judging by how the red-haired woman treated Viscount Merka, a War Mage's influence clearly outranked a viscount's. A lord lounging leisurely in his domain now had to host two big shots—it was bound to chafe.
An excruciating silence settled over Tae-jin's group, the red-haired woman, and Viscount Merka. The viscount sat still, watching her expression, while she stared fixedly at Tae-jin without looking away once.
Tae-jin passed the time sneaking peeks at her figure. It'd be so much easier to ogle if she'd just look elsewhere.
And after some time—when Viscount Merka's tension had turned to dizziness—the parlor door opened.
Sure enough, the one who entered was Richer.
"Hey, what gives, sweeping up every last coin? The innkeeper gave me such a side-eye when I tried to eat lunch on credit..."
Richer grumbled as he opened the door without even checking the room, but his face crumpled the moment he spotted the red-haired mage.
"Ariete? What are you doing here?"
Her name was Ariete, apparently. She ignored Richer's question and fired one back instead.
"Old man Richer, it's true then?"
"True about what? I asked why you're here."
But no matter what Richer said, Ariete just kept rattling on with her own story.
"I figured some otherworlder was lying, so I was about to chop his wrists off."
"Hey, answer me. Why hasn't this girl changed? She just talks over everyone."
"I had nothing better to do, so I came to Volterio Kingdom for fun. Then they said a War Mage's disciple showed up, so I followed. How've you been?"
"I'm fine. I retired to avoid hassle—why would anything happen?"
Listening from the side, Tae-jin picked up a few new facts.
He'd wondered how an Imperial War Mage could hang around the Gate for years—it turned out the geezer was just retired. Maybe hot stuff back in the day, but now he was an unemployed old man.
Time to treat old man Richer a bit more casually from now on.
"Anyway, are you staying in Merka City, old man?"
"Nah. I was heading to the Empire. Just stopped for a few days 'cause something came up."
Hearing he was going to the Empire lit up Ariete's face like a flower in bloom. She looked like a completely different person, beaming radiantly.
"To the Empire? I thought we wouldn't cross paths there."
"Yeah, things worked out that way. Figured I'd swing by home after ages. Plus, show this kid the Empire while I'm at it."
"You settling down there for good now?"
"We'll see. I'll decide slowly."
"Hmm... So, how'd you end up taking a disciple? You always said you never would."
"Ugh, don't remind me. Got drunk, messed up, and that's how it happened. Kinda awkward for both of us."
Ariete's face twisted in confusion at Richer's explanation.
"Messed up... with a guy?"
"No, not like that. Things just got tangled. No need to dwell on it."
Tae-jin realized their conversation felt a tad awkward.
Ariete took Richer's words at face value, even in situations ripe for teasing. If he said not to worry, she dropped it; if he glossed over details, she didn't pry.
"Mind if I tag along to the Empire? My leave's ending soon, and I have to head back anyway."
"No need. We've already got too many in the group. See you in the capital later—take your time."
"Got it, old man."
It happened again. Ariete had pushed pretty hard to join, but backed off cleanly at his refusal. Wouldn't most people insist once or twice more?
Then, her companion whispered something in her ear. Ariete shot to her feet with her usual bright smile.
"Well, come find me when you reach the capital. I'll treat you right. You don't have anywhere else to go anyway, right?"
"Nowhere to go? Plenty of people dying to see me."
"Is that so? Anyway, you better show. Disappear without a word again, and I'll hunt you down."
"Yeah, yeah. I'll be there."
Ariete swept out with her companion. She didn't even greet Viscount Merka on her way through the parlor, clearly viewing him as beneath her.
Yet she tossed Richer a wink, suggesting they were pretty close.
Viscount Merka let out a deep sigh of relief once she was gone.
Tae-jin, on the other hand, liked Ariete. Her lively personality was appealing, but that killer figure impossible to hide under the black dress was especially great.
Plus, in a world without bunny-eared beauties, it was rare to meet someone that pretty.
"Geezer, you know even a stunner like that? Introduce us?"
"No. Anyone else, maybe, but stay away from Ariete."
"Why?"
"Know her nickname? Crazy Bitch. Crazy Bitch Ariete."
But a nickname wasn't enough to deter Tae-jin.
"Could be. Everyone's got one or two."
"No. Remember she's a War Mage. All War Mages have nasty nicknames, but 'Crazy Bitch' isn't one that sticks easily."
"Why? It's pretty concise for a bad one."
"Ordinary folks might get simple ones, but for butchers like War Mages, even that's hard. Countless people heard 'Crazy Bitch' and immediately thought of her—and agreed. Specific ones like 'Human Pulverizer' are easier to earn."
"What'd she do?"
But it wasn't Richer who answered. It was Pavilion, his face rigid.
"That woman's a War Mage I ran into before."
"The one who burned people alive?"
"Yeah."
"But that's something any War Mage could do, right?"
Sure, killing droves of people was creepy. But logically, Ariete wiping out dozens or hundreds at once didn't seem much different from Richer calling down lightning.
Richer provided the answer.
"That nickname wasn't from the enemy. It was from our side."
"Really? What'd she do?"
"Not worth detailing. She's got a shaky grip on sanity—stay away. Don't get all giddy over her tits."
"How do you say that looking at someone? That hurts my feelings."
"It's written all over your face."
Tae-jin smoothly changed the subject.
"Anyway, what about Garam and the coachman?"
"Couldn't bring 'em—lunch on credit and all. Tried to leave together, but the innkeeper got serious."
Viscount Merka stared hard at the guard captain. The captain sighed softly and headed back to the inn.