Chapter 3
Chapter 3
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 3
Chapter Title: The Merchant Who Outshines the Leads
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He was a man whose beauty could surpass even the male lead Ryan and the sub-male lead Kaisen.
The face peeking through long, soft silver hair that seemed even better maintained than mine was undoubtedly the finest in the empire—no exaggeration.
His cat-like upturned eyes gave him a fierce impression, but a warm, soft voice offset it. The way his eyes crinkled at the corners when he smiled helped too.
...I could believe he was the true hidden male lead. I stared at him blankly before asking.
"You're really a merchant...? You're too handsome to be just an extra...."
Leti had said he was a fallen noble. He was clearly below my station... but how could someone like this not appear in the original story?
"Afraid so, I'm a merchant. What's an 'extra' mean?"
The man, who introduced himself as Darsi, tilted his head curiously.
"Oh, nothing."
I'd have to ask Leti later how she found this guy.
As I nodded entranced, my eyes suddenly widened.
'I used polite speech without thinking.'
His intimidating presence had made it slip out automatically.
No, I had my pride as the marquis's lady. Did I really need to take informal speech from a merchant whose background I didn't even know properly?
I bravely lifted my head.
Our eyes met. His intense gaze and overwhelming aura, like facing a beast, crushed my resolve in an instant.
"Excuse me."
"Yeah."
The refined air about him made it hard to see him as ordinary. Even his slightly rude speech suited him perfectly.
...Was he some kind of hidden master? If he didn't know who I was, informal speech made sense.
"Do you know who I am...?"
I asked, wondering if he really didn't know my identity.
"The only daughter of the Etwar Marquis House. Marso Etwar. Right?"
Even the way he slightly furrowed his brow, as if searching his memory, was like a painting. His memory was fine, though.
As I looked at him puzzled, Darsi smirked and continued.
"I'm the type who hates using polite speech with nobles. Forgive me if it sounds a bit rude, miss."
"I-I see...."
His sudden switch to polite speech felt awkward—he suited informal so much better. Sweat trickled strangely down my back.
The man lowered his gaze and muttered with a sigh.
"Everyone's the same in the end, so why obsess over status and rank...."
An inexplicable depth emanated from his words. Calling nobles obsessed with status and rank like that. It had been a while since I'd seen such a modern perspective.
His actions were more noble than anyone's, yet his mindset was quite unique.
"I came because I heard someone was looking for magic tools today... but if you don't like it, chase me out right away."
I'd found a strange point of similarity with this man I was meeting for the first time. My status was just marquis's only daughter on paper anyway—I'd never suited this class society. I decided to be lenient with the most stunning beauty I'd seen in ages.
Caring what others thought was just tiring.
"...Feel free to use informal with me."
Informal for informal.
"Thanks."
He switched back to informal like he'd been waiting. His satisfied, curving eyes looked like a well-fed cat.
"How'd you get in here?"
"Using a magic tool I made. A teleportation ring that lets you teleport. I just finished making it and was testing it out."
A ring embedded with a purple gem sparkled on the man's wrist. It used a magic crystal. The delicate craftsmanship was as beautiful as if done by a jewel designer.
To achieve teleportation, which normally required hiring a mage to draw a magic circle over a long time, this easily? My earlier intuition was right. This man was the real deal.
I'd thought he was just a merchant, but him making it himself piqued my interest even more. Bonus that his face was a jackpot.
I needed to continue the conversation first. It was just a business relationship anyway—informal or polite didn't matter. As long as he did the job well, that was it. I wasn't that curious about who he was.
"You can craft magic tools yourself?"
"Yep. And sell them."
Darsi's eyes sparkled as he looked down at the bracelet he'd made.
He seemed like a merchant since he knew his stuff so well....
After a moment's thought, I opened my mouth resolutely.
"I want to commission a magic tool. I'll provide the magic crystals."
"What's the pay?"
"50 billion gold."
Back in my modern life, I'd trembled at spending even 100,000 won, but who'd have thought a billion would feel trivial someday. And this was cheap since I was supplying the crystals myself.
Darsi nodded readily.
"Sounds good. But what magic tool does a noble—Etwar Marquis House's only daughter, no less—want made?"
He seemed more curious about my intentions. Fair enough. In a world that scorned magic tools, the daughter of the renowned Etwar Marquis House seeking one out was bound to raise eyebrows.
But it was all for my hermit life!
I held out the drawing I'd made myself.
"A video recorder and player."
My first project for holing up in my room was...
Building a movie theater.
"Oh, this is just the start. There's more."
Darsi's previously indifferent face lit up with interest.
Having completed a fruitful outing for once, Darsi activated his spatial movement magic tool. His view shifted in an instant.
He was in the bathroom of a rundown palace that resembled ruins.
He peeked through the curtains he'd drawn beforehand. Guards were patrolling the area.
Their movements, as if determined not to miss a thing, were almost comical. Yet they couldn't even catch the main person coming and going from the palace.
Occasionally letting him take walks to ease their guilt amused him to no end.
'Well, thanks to that, I found something interesting.'
That rumor about the Etwar Marquis House's daughter seeking a magic tool merchant was how he'd heard.
Without it, he'd have gone to see Prince Ryan's face to get magic crystals, or sneaked into the Epekle Marquis House where Resuan—that woman he cherished so dearly—was.
The second option was far more appealing, considering his relationship with Ryan.
But the effort and time to infiltrate would be too much.
Seducing one naive lady was easier than sneaking into a heavily guarded palace. Especially for Darsi, who knew his own face was quite the asset.
The woman he'd met in person seemed momentarily swayed by his looks but didn't forget her place.
Truth be told, today's teleportation success was uncertain. This place was designed to prevent any magic circles from being drawn.
His eyes narrowed as he recalled his first impression of Marso Etwar from memory.
Rumors painted her as vain, a spoiled brat who could do nothing but throw tantrums.
He didn't trust rumors, but he knew nobles were hostile to magic tools and mages. So he'd assumed the noble Etwar's interest was just a whim.
He'd planned to achieve his goal by holding a knife to her throat or even chopping off a finger for leverage.
'...Who knew she'd genuinely be interested in magic tool crafting.'
Even her reason for this odd tool was peculiar. To lounge comfortably at home, huh. While others couldn't leave even if they wanted to.
Well, that might be why it intrigued him.
Darsi checked the bag full of magic crystals. This amount would suffice for his research.
Money wasn't what mattered to him—magic crystals were. During the deal, Darsi had added conditions.
Meetings always one-on-one, no one else knowing. If anyone found out, the deal ended immediately.
There had to be desperation behind the Etwar Marquis House's daughter seeking a mage to craft magic tools. Marso even seemed impressed by his skills.
It was only natural. Few welcomed magic tools, and even fewer mages dared touch them. Cases like Darsi were rare.
'I'll stop thinking here.'
Darsi stripped and sank into the already-cooled bathwater. Cold water was perfect for clearing stray thoughts.
He tossed a small orb onto the clothes he'd just worn. A magic tool that ignited.
The clothes crackled on the bathroom floor, burning away. He watched with an expressionless face.
"Oh, gotta take this out too."
Blinking, Darsi removed the eye color changer from his right eye.
This magic tool, like a thin film over the eye, had been made because he was sick of the terrified stares from soldiers, nobles, and fellow mages who trembled at the sight of him.
His reflection appeared in the mirror diagonally across from the tub. His right eye gleamed red, contrasting sharply with the blue of his left—like good and evil incarnate.
Darsi blinked, then irritably swept his hair back.
He passed through the door connecting to the bedroom.
He stuffed the magic crystals he'd received today under the bed, then took incense from the drawer. For someone whose daily life was confined to his room, it was one of his few pleasures. His toned bare skin showed as he leaned slightly.
Chiiiik. Using a fire-starting magic tool, he lit the incense, and white smoke began to rise. Lounging on the sofa, Darsi inhaled the scent with a languid expression. The bitter taste filling his mouth reminded him he was alive. He exhaled with a "Hoo," smoke enveloping his vision. His drowsy, dissipated look belied the chilling sharpness in his downcast eyes. Darsi gripped the paper Marso had given him. His head tilted crookedly.
"A recorder and player, huh."
The blueprint he'd received today was far more intuitive and innovative than expected. Innovative was the perfect word. He had no idea what it was for, but the research seemed like it would be enjoyable. Getting involved in the throne struggle was a headache, and enduring this life forever was horrific. In that sense, this project offered the magic crystals he needed and a way to kill boring time—a great opportunity. He glanced at the bracelet on his wrist. Short-range teleportation worked with this magic tool, but escaping to another country was another matter. Knock knock. A knock echoed at the door.
"Yeah, come in."
With a brazen face as if he hadn't just left, Darsi replied shamelessly. The attendant glanced at the paper in his hand before offering the tray. It held his meal.
"Your Highness, you were in the bath quite a while today."
"Being watched all the time gets stifling. I need my alone time too, right? You get it as a fellow man."
The attendant's face flushed as Darsi continued with a blank expression. With a nod, the attendant withdrew silently.
"Hoo."
Darsi exhaled again. Smoke filled his vision like thick fog. His eyes flashed.