Gaion and Stain
“I’ve heard your story from Seize.”
My first impression of him wasn’t bad.
Just as Seize had said, he had a kindly face.
But his eyes were sharp.
“I heard you’re a mercenary. A mage working as a mercenary—that’s quite the unusual background.”
He wasn’t wrong.
Mages usually hole up in their studies seeking stability, not taking on mercenary work.
Of course, someone like me, scraping by to survive, doesn’t have the luxury to be picky.
“I heard you’re an enchanter who handles enchantment magic. Now I’m curious about your skills.”
The baron glanced at Lena beside me before speaking.
“Seize said the weapons you make are something special.”
He didn’t seem interested in the Jacquard pump or rocket stove at all.
This was straight to the Sunogi.
Weapons seemed more important to a lord like him.
“It’s just an ordinary crossbow, though……”
“An ordinary crossbow that took down a mage? Too much humility becomes arrogance.”
An inscrutable smile played on the baron’s lips.
Then he picked up a paper from his desk and began reading it.
The type who didn’t show his emotions easily.
Tough to deal with.
“According to Frale’s report…… you pierced the thief mage’s triple barrier?”
“Just luck.”
“Luck? There’s no such thing. It’s skill.”
The baron set the document down and stared at me silently.
Nobles were always uncomfortable.
I was starting to sweat.
But Baron Sellevan seemed to reach some conclusion— the sharpness faded from his eyes.
“I need talent like yours. Bandits are plaguing the territory.”
Finally getting to the point.
“We do have Gaion and Stain, but…… they specialize in different fields, so it’s been a headache. This works out well.”
“Gaion and Stain……”
“Oh, you didn’t know? Gaion’s a 3rd-class combat mage, and Stain’s a 2nd-class alchemist.”
The baron paused for a moment before continuing.
“Gaion excels in combat, Stain in potion brewing. But we didn’t have a mage who could craft weapons like you.”
It all circled back to the Sunogi.
Well, it wasn’t just any crossbow.
Baron Sellevan clearly coveted the Sunogi.
“Make two Sunogi per month, and the rest of your time is yours. I’ll even approve a workshop. How’s that?”
Not much different from Seize’s offer.
The Sunogi production was added, but it wasn’t bad.
Two Sunogi a month? I could make that in no time if I had the hours.
But is two really enough?
Honestly, for the baron to propose it himself, it felt like too small a number.
But thinking it over, it was probably my hunter senses clashing with this world’s reality.
Weapons were useless without people to wield them.
In this era, private soldiers meant money.
Even a baron couldn’t afford a huge force.
So he was playing it safe, building up gradually without greed.
And the Sunogi I make aren’t ordinary crossbows.
Sunogi was a repeating crossbow, not a standard one, enchanted with magic powerful enough to pierce a mage’s barriers.
Yeah, two a month sounded just right.
“Thank you.”
I bowed my head in acceptance.
The baron smiled, satisfied.
“Good. From now on, you’re our territory’s mage. Looking forward to working with you.”
And just like that, I became Baron Sellevan’s mage.
Now I could really start putting down roots in this world.
No more wandering for a while.
“Oh, and……”
The baron glanced at Lena before continuing.
“That slave—is she yours?”
Nobles jumped straight in without context.
Baron Sellevan spoke of slaves casually, like everyday talk, without a hint of discomfort.
I tensed up a bit.
Lena’s beauty was no small source of anxiety.
“Yes, she is……”
“Hm. Then we’ll register her as a slave in the territory too.”
“Ah, I might free her soon. She performed well this time……”
“Oh? Is that so? More skilled residents are always welcome. Just re-register her status then. There’ll be a fee.”
Baron Sellevan spoke plainly.
Unlike my worries, he didn’t seem to have any lecherous interest in Lena’s looks.
A decent lord, just like Seize said.
I should ask Lena about it soon.
Once we settled in a bit.
It’d be safer for her too.
“Now, let me introduce you to Gaion and Stain.”
We moved to where the mages were, guided by Baron Sellevan.
I half-expected a magic tower, but it was just an ordinary building.
“This is the mages’ research annex. Where Gaion and Stain do most of their work.”
A strange smell hit my nose as we entered.
The scent of alchemy.
“Oh, Baron siiiir!”
A young woman greeted the baron warmly, bowing her head.
She wore a gray robe and looked mid-twenties.
“Stain, I brought a new colleague.”
Stain looked at me.
Her gaze lingered briefly on Lena beside me.
“A colleague? Are you…… a mage? What’s your specialty?”
“Yes, an enchanter.”
“Ooh! Enchanter, enchanter, enchanter……”
Stain’s eyes sparkled.
Her blue eyes and freckles were striking, but something felt off.
A hint of madness in her gaze, like she’d found a new test subject.
A little scary.
“What’s your level with enchantment magic? If you could enchant the potions I make……”
“Stain.”
Stain shut her mouth at the baron’s word.
Then another voice spoke.
“A new mage?”
The speaker was a middle-aged man in a black robe.
Gaion, the combat mage.
“I heard you took down the thief mage.”
Gaion’s tone was curt.
But his eyes were sharp.
“Just luck.”
“Luck…… So what happened to that mage’s grimoire?”
A pointed question.
Fitting for a 3rd-class mage.
A combat mage, more interested in spoils than anything.
“As Seize-nim said, I don’t have the grimoire.”
Playing dumb was best.
No point dragging it out.
“I…… see.”
Gaion didn’t press further.
But his stare was uncomfortable.
Territorialism?
No, more like wariness.
A 1st-class mage killing a thief mage? Suspicious enough.
Or maybe he just wanted the grimoire.
“You’re colleagues now, so get along. I have business elsewhere.”
All three of us bowed to Baron Sellevan.
An awkward silence fell after he left. Stain broke it.
“Um, if I may……”
“Stain, the newcomer must be tired. Why not let him rest?”
Gaion cut her off.
“Ah, right. Sorry.”
Stain looked disappointed but just gave an awkward smile at Gaion’s back.
“I’ll show you to your room. Follow me.”
Gaion led the way.
He looked older than me, yet used polite speech.
A sense of distance from Gaion.
But no malice—he was guiding us to our quarters, after all.
“This is your room. The slave……”
Kept calling her “slave.” Uncomfortable, but unavoidable.
Needed to sort her status soon.
“She’ll stay in my room.”
Gaion looked at me for a moment.
Seemed like he had something to say.
But he swallowed it and just nodded.
“Understood. Rest well.”
Gaion left, and we entered the room.
Spacious, surprisingly.
“Um, Theo-nim?”
Lena spoke cautiously now that we were alone.
“Yeah?”
“That mage Gaion…… he seems……”
“Ah, he’s not a bad guy. He’s the lord’s castle mage, after all.”
“Yes…… but he feels cold somehow.”
I nodded at Lena’s words.
Gaion did have a cold vibe.
But I didn’t dwell on it.
Whatever. We won’t be together long anyway.
The deal with Baron Sellevan was just two Sunogi a month.
The rest of my time was free.
“Let’s rest for now. Tired, right?”
Lena nodded.
Then I asked her.
About her slave status.
“Hey, Lena? Now that things are safer…… about your status.”
Lena straightened up, as if expecting this.
I broached it carefully.
“What if I free you from slavery? Must be uncomfortable with everyone calling you ‘slave.’”
By my hunter standards, it was humiliating.
But Lena’s response differed from my expectations.
“Um…… could I stay like this a bit longer? If it’s not a burden to you, Master—no, Theo-nim.”
“Huh? It’s no burden, but…… you sure? Money’s no issue. You earned some, and we can sell the loot……”
I thought it was about the cost, so I addressed the practical side.
But Lena’s reasoning was different.
“It’s not about money…… I just want to stay by your side longer.”
“By my side?”
“Is that…… not okay?”
Lena’s face flushed for some reason.
No real reason not to.
But I was concerned.
“You know being with me can be dangerous……”
“That’s why! That’s why I want to stay! You’re in danger, Theo-nim!”
“Huh? R-Really? Then not as a slave, but as a companion……”
“If you don’t call me a slave, we can’t share a room. That scares me……”
Lena wore a poignant expression.
I was at a loss for words.
She must have some trauma I didn’t know about.
Fearful of being alone.
Well, a woman alone in this world……
It made sense, so I nodded to her.
“Alright, for the time being.”
“Thank you! Theo-nim.”
“Drop the ‘-nim’ too, if you can…… Anyway, tell me when you’re ready. I’ll free you anytime you want.”
Lena finally relaxed, eyes glistening.
I wasn’t sure what moved her, but the tears made me awkward.
Didn’t seem like something to cry over.
Her trauma must run deep.
For now, time to read the grimoire. Almost done……
My head was tangled with thoughts of Lena, so I turned to the grimoire.
Nothing cleared the mind like one.
Grimoire Touch of Purification fully read.
Touch of Purification can now be used.
Enchanter proficiency increased: 16% → 17%
I read the rest of the grimoire while resting.
It was a healing spell.
Removed poison, purged harmful energies from the body.
Useful against undead monsters too.
This could come in handy.
I pondered its applications as I read.
Only Seal of Preservation left now.