“Master Balaka?”
Glia pitifully searched for the necromancer who had manifested through her body...but there was no response. She sensed the connection between Balaka and herself had been completely severed.
Balaka had returned to where the dead rightfully belonged—the spirit realm. She abandoned all the efforts made to return to this world since her death, perhaps even risking never being able to return again.
“Why?”
A most irreverent reason flashed through Glia’s mind.
She fled.
Suddenly, Glia slumped lifelessly. Salana had sneaked behind, striking the back of her neck.
With that, the sche of the shaman backed by a necromancer concluded as a re disturbance.
“Miss Salana, if you’ll excuse for a mont.”
Risir moved without hesitation, walking over to touch Salana’s scar.
“Ah...”
Salana unconsciously placed her hand over Risir’s, not knowing how to describe the sensation she felt. It was like the filth that had clung to every part of her body was being washed away.
Monts later, Risir removed his hand and Salana imdiately took out a mirror to check herserlf.
Completely cured. No other expression was necessary. Salana’s skin had regained its natural color. Though scars and wounds remained, they were now easily treatable with just a fraction of the effort Salana had been putting in until now.
She spent a while gazing at her reflection, caressing her restored skin, while Risir smiled contentedly at her.
He figured this counted as a great success in achieving his initial goal of making a good impression on the high-tier adventurer. Risir had high hopes for this aspect.
You really can’t get anything done as a bastard, huh.
This was sothing he had keenly felt throughout this incident.
Risir’s illegitimate status easily led to being dismissed, even though he was invited to help based on his ability.
If not for high-tier adventurer Salana’s full support, he wouldn’t have been able to say or do anything. And without the na of the esteed Durayegs, even his power of normalization wouldn’t have been accepted.
But what if I’d been a high noble instead?
There was no need to even think deeply. The mont he revealed his ability at the first eting with Salana, everything would have been resolved smoothly. Salana would’ve begged for aid, ltas would’ve walked on eggshells, and Glia would’ve trembled in her shoes.
Thus, Risir ca to one conclusion.
Maybe I gotta aim for social advancent.
Despite his belief that escaping his life as a bastard would free him from the constraints of social status, it was quite the opposite.
Another essential elent was added to Risir’s idea of a happy life: money and social status.
In that sense, this connection with Salana was very aningful. With just a nod from a high-tier adventurer, establishing himself in Bondalles and laying the groundwork for social advancent would beco much easier.
While Risir organized his mind, Salana had sorted out her own thoughts and spoke up.
“Risir. Let introduce myself formally once again. I am Black Serpent, a master of the Black Hand. You might find it more relatable if I say I’m a master of the Assassin’s Guild.”
“?”
Wot.
Risir was bemused. He had expected her formal introduction to be about her experiences as a high-tier adventurer in Bondalles, but...what? A master of the Assassin’s Guild?
I an, I guess that makes her even bigger than a high-tier adventurer...Yeah but...Hmm...
Risir’s eyes trembled uncontrollably.
Finding his reaction endearing, Salana laughed in her hearty way before continuing.
“I owe you a great debt. I’ve been thinking about how to repay it, and this is all I could co up with.”
Swoosh. Salana handed Risir a piece of parchnt she pulled from her bosom.
“If you ever have soone you want dead, write their na on this. Then, even if it ans breaking the rules, I’ll fulfill your wish.”
“?”
Risir was dumbfounded.
What is this, a Death Note...?!
The reward differed vastly from his expectation.
I guess it’s a huge reward that can’t even be compared to connections with high-tier adventurers...But still...Hmm...
Taking Risir’s confusion in stride, Salana pressed the parchnt into his hand, urging him to put it away.
Risir was shocked by Salana’s casual attitude, as if she were handing him so pocket money rather than an ominous object.
Suddenly, ltas spoke up from behind.
“Is it appropriate for soone who calls herself a master to be so worldly?”
He seed more flustered now than when he had witnessed the necromancer manifest from death.
Assassins were typically reclusive. They took lives solely for the beliefs they held and isolated themselves thoroughly from the outside world.
Despite being seen as figures of terror in the public eye, their lives were more akin to those of monks. Yet here she was, masquerading as a high-tier adventurer in the secular world, casually handing out death warrants.
And she wasn’t just any assassin—she was a master, one of a guild’s elites.
“Blind faith is noble, they say.”
The way she nodded humbly, it was as if she ant: I’m not noble, so I’ll do as I please.
ltas thought Salana was indeed an assassin worthy of being feared in the truest sense.
“ltas. I’m asking just in case, but do you have any intention of taking what happened here today outside? Even a little?”
Salana spoke in the cheerful manner of the high-tier adventurer ltas rembered. But those eyes...those dead eyes that seed to absorb the surrounding light sent chills down the old scholar’s spine.
Without a doubt, she was soone even ltas, a 6th rank mage and elite of the Caig Mage Tower, couldn’t treat carelessly.
“I must be getting old, with my mory all hazy...I can’t even rember why I ca here.”
“Haha, old age isn’t worth living for? There’s no need for such self-deprecation, y’know.”
“...My mory must really be failing. When did I ever say such a thing?”
Salana slung Glia’s unconscious body over her shoulder. Then she went over to Risir, playfully patting his face.
“You know what? Thanks to you, I’ve lost my excuse to wander outside.”
“Ah...Did I do sothing wrong?”
“Haha, I’ll let it slide. Honestly, I was starting to get bored anyhow. By the way...”
She gently stroked Risir’s face with her palm.
“You’ve got really nice skin, huh?”
“Do I?”
“Uh-huh. I’m almost tempted to switch it with mine if I could.”
“...It’s a bit scary when you say that after revealing you’re an assassin.”
“Haha. What do you think assassins are?”
Salana took Risir’s hand and placed it on her scarred cheek.
“One last ti. Can you do that again for ?”
I don’t suppose she wants to use my power again, so...
Risir gently caressed her cheek.
“...”
Salana closed her eyes and surrendered herself to his touch.
“Mmm~ This feeling. I could get addicted to it. Should I just take it with ?”
“...My arm?”
“Oh seriously, what do you really take for?”
Salana continued to enjoy Risir’s touch for quite a ti after that.
For a short while, Risir thought she looked like a large puppy, moving her head to follow his hand.
“Alright, that’s enough. Risir. If the chance cos, let’s et again soday.”
With that said, Salana left without looking back.
Bewildered, Risir took out the parchnt from his pocket to check it.
“Rember this, young man. You must exercise the utmost caution when using that thing.”
A pale-faced ltas offered a warning from the side.
“But of course.”
“Ahem. Well then, shall we get going?”
ltas fiddled with his braided beard as he spoke.
“We...you said?”
“Why? Do you have other business after this?”
Risir recalled his plans before eting Salana. Originally, he was going to have a al with Fienne and then visit the Adventurers’ Guild after parting ways. Their common goal for the day had been to find a job.
ltas cleared his throat and continued speaking before Risir could respond.
“Let get straight to the point. I’ve taken an interest in you, Risir.”
“...”
Risir hugged himself defensively, his expression serious.
ltas shot him an even more deadpan glare.
Risir uncrossed his arms, nodded, and carried on the conversation as if nothing had happened.
“What business could Sir ltas have with this bastard?”
“...Ahem. I understand. You must be holding onto my initial attitude towards you. However, this could benefit you as well, so I hope you’ll listen with an open mind. Tell , what do you think of the Caig Mage Tower?”
The Caig Mage Tower, also known as the Gray Tower.
This group, known for being the most liberal-minded among all mage towers, was one of the representative institutions of Bondalles.
“To be frank, I’d like to recomnd you as an apprentice to the Caig Mage Tower. Let be clear, you should realize this is a once-in-a-lifeti opportunity.”
ltas was right, and that’s why Risir was taken aback.
“But I have no prestigious family or magical school to boast of.”
Few places were as particular about status and background as the mage towers. Even ltas, who had been furious about an illegitimate child participating on equal footing, was considered open-minded compared to the mages affiliated with the tower.
“The minimum requirent for joining the tower isn’t about family or school. It’s about reaching the 3rd rank. You do barely satisfy that condition, don’t you?”
“As far as I know, the tower doesn’t accept just anyone who reaches the 3rd rank.”
“Of course not. Reaching the 3rd rank at your age is sothing anyone can do. It’s undoubtedly the realm of the ordinary. And the tower is certainly not a kind place for the ordinary. Yet, I intend to recomnd you to the tower. Do you know why?”
“Is it my power of normalization?”
“Exactly! I’m glad you’re not so foolish as to not recognize the uniqueness of that ability.”
When the power of normalization was ntioned, ltas’ deanor visibly lit up with excitent.
“A power that can eradicate all negative energies regardless of type! Good heavens! I, ltas Dradnov, have never heard of such a power in my entire life dedicated to magic!”
ltas pointed a trembling finger at Risir.
“You have a duty! A duty to fully bloom that special talent as a mage. Surely you understand what I’m saying? As one who walks the path of magic, that is!”
“...I’m not sure if this is the right ti to say it...but honestly, magic is just a way to make a living for .”
“FWHAAT!!!”
ltas froze, his shriek echoing like a death wail.
It took a long, long while for him to recover from the shock.
“Why did such a special talent end up on soone like this...!”
ltas’ braided beard and hair trembled.
“Do you think soone like could adapt to the tower?”
“...Ahem. Well, I suggest you co and have a look first. We shouldn’t rush this sort of matter.”
Risir gladly agreed. Building connections with the tower would surely be beneficial in many ways.
***“Oh wait, there’s a place I must stop by before reaching the tower. I have sothing to find there. Is that alright?”
“Sure thing.”
The two left the laboratory and headed towards the center of the magic district.
“Here it is.”
After walking a bit further, they arrived at ltas’ destination: a magic shop called [Blue Traces].
“ltas?”
As soon as they entered, a woman recognized ltas and called out to him.
Oh...
Risir was inwardly impressed by her appearance. Wearing a wide-brimd pointy hat and a flamboyant robe, she was the spitting image of a mage.
Interestingly, her robe was cut low at the chest, proudly displaying an overwhelming cleavage.
She must have imnse pride as a mage.
As Risir was secretly admiring her, the woman looked him up and down.
“What’s this? You, bringing along such a youngster? Have you finally decided to take on an apprentice?”
“That’s none of your business, Marina.”
“Judging by your reaction, I guess he’s not your apprentice. I suppose it’s unlikely that a youngster who’s just entered the 4th rank at that age would et your standards.”
“Stop talking nonsense and—Wait, what did you say?”
ltas, who had been listening indifferently, looked at Risir with surprise.
“...!”
Then his eyes shot wide.
“Uh.”
A beat later, Risir also realized the change that had occurred in his body.
He tried to calm the shocked old mage.
“Don’t worry about it. This happens sotis.”
Risir had definitely been at the 3rd rank before leaving the laboratory, yet sohow, he had reached the 4th rank.
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