But She's Already Dead
Ian recalled the information about Maria's adoptive grandmother.
A year ago, Maria's adoptive grandmother had passed away. That's why Maria had been working as a maid in Robert's household. If she were still alive, he could have at least talked to her, but right now, there was no way to find out more.
"If my speech bothers you, I can speak plainly."
"Plainly works too?"
"Of course. I was merely trying to show respect considering your position as a mage, sir."
"Nah, it's fine."
Ian's speech wasn't particularly grating. Takarion—that guy's way of talking was something he'd put up with, after all.
Maria set down her stew bowl and rose from her seat. She gracefully bent her knee and offered Ian an elegant curtsy.
"Once more, allow me to express my deepest gratitude, Mage."
"Just Ian is fine."
Maria turned to Ian with a soft, smiling crinkle of her eyes.
"Yes... Ian."
That smile... honestly, it had enough power to startle even Ian. No, wait—wasn't she younger than him? Maria was younger than Ian. But there was something about Maria's beauty that set her apart from other women. A bewitching allure, almost like a mesmerizing charm. A sultriness that didn't match her age, perhaps.
Ian tried picturing Lucy of Talian flashing the same smile. Pure innocence. Lucy would protest immediately, but it was an undeniable fact. Lucy was older, but Maria was far more captivating.
"Ian..."
"Uh, yeah? What?"
Ian caught an unusual vibe in Maria's gaze. If he noticed, the other women certainly had too.
That girl's...>
She really likes Ian a lot.>
Maria continued in a light, singsong voice.
"Today, I have incurred an enormous debt to you, Ian."
He couldn't exactly deny it. Regardless of the reasons, Ian had cleared Maria's false accusation and chased off the real culprit. Without his intervention, Maria would have ended up on the gallows without a doubt.
"I've been thinking... but I don't really think you need to repay me or anything..."
"No. I must."
Ian met Maria's eyes for a moment. And he flinched a little... Maria's pitch-black pupils gave off the vibe of a "dead-eyed" character! No... Maria... why are you staring like that... you're creeping me out...
"I have nothing to offer but this wretched body of mine."
Maria bowed her head once more.
"So, I wish to devote everything I have to you, Ian, and serve you for the rest of my life."
Ian swallowed hard. He knew she was grateful, but... wasn't this a bit too heavy?! And offering everything she had? Was that something a girl should say?!
"Ahem. You've got a bright future ahead—there's no need to follow a wandering mage like me..."
"As a traveler, you must need a servant, of course."
Ian expressed his gentle refusal first. Not having a servant was inconvenient, sure. But even knowing that, he traveled with a minimal group of companions. Paying servants' wages was a hassle. And if they got dragged into some mess and someone died, it left a bad taste.
If he were a lord or ruler, he'd have taken Maria on as a maid. But he was a mage. What use was a maid tagging along with a mage? If he needed menial labor, he'd have bought a slave long ago.
But Maria ignored his refusal entirely. Ian spoke more firmly. He was a mage, after all, and she was just a commoner girl—surely pressing with authority would work.
"You're under a dead man's curse yourself—who's looking after whom here?"
"..."
"You'd just be baggage. I'll introduce you to a mage who can lift your curse, so forget about giving me anything and live your own life."
Was that too harsh? Ian wondered briefly. But it was 100% his misconception. Maria was a girl who'd endured all sorts of abuse while working as a maid for the Roberts. If their words were verbal violence, Ian's warning was like a caress(?).
In fact, Maria felt a slight thrill(?). With a flushed face, she said,
"Ah... such a kind soul..."
"???"
"To worry about a lowly wretch like me... and even my curse... I don't know where to put myself."
As Maria's cheeks tinted pink, Ian's head spun... This is insane. For real. I'm a farmer's son too, you know. Wanna battle lowborn origins with me?
"That makes me want to follow you even more, Ian."
"No, I don't need—"
"I'll do anything you ask. Whatever you demand, I'll obey. Please."
Aaargh! Ian felt crushed under the weight of Maria's earnestness. He was afraid to say anything. He could barely breathe!
"Hey, enough already?"
Belenca finally cut in, unable to stand it.
"Didn't Ian say he doesn't need you? If you want a master, find someone else."
"But if not Ian..."
"Then find a decent guy and get married. With that pretty face, it shouldn't be hard."
Belenca's voice had an edge. Saving her life once was enough. What reason did she have to cling to Ian beyond that?
Belenca knew Maria had feelings for Ian. But women who could like Ian? There were plenty. Lucy, the lord of Talian, liked him... and daughters of baronet families wouldn't hesitate to pair with him. No—they'd welcome it eagerly. In short, Ian was a hot commodity. A promising mage son-in-law who could protect a domain? What noble would turn that down? For a country girl like Maria, Ian was way out of her league(?).
Belenca figured that would get through. But Maria was far more serious about Ian than she thought.
"Live my own life, you say... But Knight, I'm weary of life."
"What?"
"A life filled with that lord's torment... agonies I never want to taste again. So I have no will or desire to continue it."
"..."
"If I can't follow Ian... well, yes. I'll bring it to a fitting end."
The "end" of her life... no need to spell it out—it meant death.
Ian was shocked by Maria's words. This went beyond heavy straight into burrowing underground!
Wasn't she saying she'd make a "drastic decision" if he didn't take her in?
Ian snapped back in genuine anger.
"You think you can threaten me with your worthless little life right now?"
You dare? Threatening someone with your lowly life? Saying you'd die if not taken in was straight-up blackmail. This level of mind game was borderline psychotic.
But Maria's response left Ian speechless for a moment.
"Such a gentle soul..."
"???"
"You asked if I'm threatening you with my life. But Ian, a threat only works if it's something precious to the other person."
"..."
"Yes. You see my life as 'precious,' so my words sound like a threat... Hehe. I'm sorry, but... it makes me so happy."
Whoa... amazing. For real. Ian lost his words at Maria's divine powers of interpretation. What pissed him off more was that he couldn't deny it. He did value Maria's life. Otherwise, he'd have coldly continued his journey no matter how miserably she died. Because he wanted her to keep living, he'd even planned to introduce her to a mage.
"So you're not repulsed by me."
"...Of course not. Why would I hate you?"
Maria smiled faintly.
"There are plenty of reasons. An orphan wretch, haunted by the dead. A girl with ominous black hair."
"Can we drop the ominous black hair thing? I told you before—it's just our bloodline. Neither you nor I are ominous at all."
Maria laughed and took a step closer. That smile carried a seductive edge unfit for her age.
"Yes. You and I must be kin, then."
Kin? What, like monsters? Ian sighed at the thought. He could shake her off and leave, but then she might really make a drastic move and come back as a virgin ghost. There was a hint of madness in her eyes...
"Ugh, fine. Come along. Follow us!"
"Thank you so much!"
As Maria expressed her gratitude, Ian felt cognitive dissonance hit. Why the hell am I the one getting thanked for taking on a servant?!
The feeling was odd, but anyway—Maria was now joining Ian's journey.
The next morning, the village was astonishingly back to normal. As if nothing had happened.
"Must've run off."
Sir Rshah had patrolled the village outskirts at dawn. No traces of undead or the necromancer.
Necromancer Bertolt had fled during the night.
"No grit, huh."
Ian muttered, and Sir Rshah chuckled.
Wasn't a necromancer like him pretty high up in the Golden Rule Research Society? Even after Ian exposed him, to slink away so cleanly...
"Better call it caution. Without that much, he'd have been executed ages ago."
"Fair point."
Unlike mages, black mages were shunned by nobles. Hang out with them, and the Pope's excommunication beam comes flying. No wonder Bertolt chose to vanish cleanly rather than tangle with Sir Rshah.
"Getting that girl was probably just a diversion for him."
"Diversion? And he causes this mess?"
Ian grumbled, and Sir Rshah laughed.
"Watch your mouth. You're the one who turned the situation upside down."
Without Ian, Bertolt would've snatched Maria and vanished smoothly. Honestly, even Bertolt must've been baffled. Who expects a random passing mage to crash the trial and flip it?
Ian knew Bertolt hadn't put much effort in. He didn't know the exact nature of the death mystery clinging to Maria. A living Pael might've guessed, having seen her lunge at a rotten wolf corpse. Bertolt had likely acted on her beauty and the faint death aura he sensed. A half-baked plan if probed, but fine since no one would. But like a fairy tale, the "passing mage" Ian saw right through it.
"You've earned Bertolt's hatred, Ian."
Sir Rshah teased slyly, hoping Ian might stick with him out of attack fears.
But Ian was even more stubborn than he imagined.
"Doesn't matter."
"Really?"
"Yeah. What can he do, hate me? Think he'll chase us down?"
Hey. You got the guts?
Sir Rshah inwardly admired Ian's stubbornness... or boldness. Unfazed by a black mage's grudge—what mental steel!
But it was grounded confidence. Ian had skill card magic as his ace. Any half-assed ambush, and he'd shatter Bertolt's skull in return.
And Ian already had his next destination.
"After stopping by Viscount Vincent's territory. We'll head straight north."
"North?"
"Dranheim Imperial University."