CH 45

“Haaa.”

“Hey, junior. Your sigh may cause the ground to fall.  What makes you sigh like that?”

The mage engineers surveying the massive disc were conversing while wearing robes engraved with the Imperial design.

“I apologize, senior. I’m worried… I haven’t heard anything from my friends. The number of monsters has increased recently, and I’m worried that this is the last letter I received from them.”

“Umm. That’s worrisome. Where did you say your hometown is?”

“I’m from Rycallion. It is a city on the western border.”

“Oh my, that’s far away. It’s a dilemma that it would be difficult to even visit once.”

The junior mage engineer’s expression turned gloomy as the senior wizard engineer kicked his tongue.

“Yes. It would be nice if they couldn’t reply because they were too preoccupied with their work…. Uh. Is it possible for me to take a vacation this month?”

“Place the stamp of approval on top. You have my permission.”

“Yes. Thank you very much, senior. Isn’t it also time for senior to take a vacation?”

“That’s right, but I need to catch up because things keep piling up like this.”

The senior wizard engineer let out a sigh.

“Today also? Why do you need to investigate a gate that is in good condition? It passed all safety checks at the beginning of the month.”

“You are right. However, because it is a direct order from the Imperial Family, there is nothing we can do.”

“That’s right. We should follow their orders. Also, His Highness the Prince…No.”

As if he had made a mistake, the senior mage engineer closed his mouth.

The title ‘His Majesty the Prince’ became nearly a forbidden word once Ian joined the Holy Knights Division and thereby surrendered the claim to succession to the throne.

Even so, those who have served in the imperial family for a long time may be confused by Ian’s title.

‘There isn’t anyone else who looks so good in imperial robes….Oh. What’s the point of thinking this way?’

The senior mage engineer shook his head.

“Hmm. This is an order from Sir Ian himself, what should we do?”

“However, that seems a little unreasonable!”

Another mage engineer, who had been inspecting quietly the entire time, suddenly complained.

“Uh-huh. It’s too loud.”

“Everyone has their field. Haven’t we been taught not to make someone do something they’ve never done before? No, what’s the big deal about calling me when I’m working somewhere else? …..Huh?”

The mage engineer, who had been grumbling, then stopped talking.

“Uh? Why this…This, this can’t be happening.”

“What is it? What’s going on?”

“Se-Senior. Please come over here.”

With a trembling voice, the mage engineer called the senior.

The measuring device that was measuring the mana pouring through the gate reported abnormal amounts at some times. Even after it had easily beyond its maximum, the needle in the instrument panel measuring the amount of mana was shaking in an attempt to reach even higher.

“This……This can’t be happening. What’s wrong with this?”

“Damn it.”

The senior mage engineer who was checking the figures gasped in shock.

“Everyone get out of here. Get out of the gate!”

The mage engineers bolted like rabbits with fire in their tails in an instant.

“Magic Tower! Contact the Magic Tower! Someone, please get me some magic neutralizer!”

“It’s an emergency! emergency!”

The gate management office was engulfed in chaos like hell on earth.

***

When I turned around, a handsome young man was waving at me, his face shaped like a fox.

“Ri, uhm uhm. Baron Monahan?”

Rizelo in the form of Ray Monaghan approached me. I wielded my tongue inside.

[TL/N: Wielding one’s tongue means being unable to speak as one is dumbfounded.]

‘This Master of Magic Tower has a large liver.’

[TL/: having a large liver means being fearless, daring, and audacious.]

He’s very good at disguising himself and sneaking around the Cathedral. I admired his bravery before approaching Rizelo. Unlike at the wedding, his appearance this time felt perfectly timed.

“What perfect timing! Baron Ray.”

“I’ve never seen you so happy when you see me!”

“Haha, what are you talking about? It’s good to see Ray again.”

I muttered, a smirk on my face.

“Dame Joan, can I speak with Ray for a moment?”

“I’ll be waiting.”

Dame Joan nodded, wearing a solemn face.

***

I approached Rizzello and spoke in hushed tones.

“Can you activate the barrier where the sound is distorted right now?”

“Sure. Wait.”

After that, Rizelo raised his index finger and acted to be cute.

“Ta-da. It’s done now.”

“…..Good. Thank you.”

After I finished thanking him, I brought up the main topic.

“By any chance, Could you find someone for me?”

“Haha.”

Rizelo said with a friendly smile.

“Magic Tower is not an information guild, Lady.

“Really? Wasn’t the Magic Tower the place where you were supposed to be able to sell anything to customers?”

For a brief moment, Rizzello stared at me silently. Soon, he made a mischievous grin.

“That’s my favorite phrase. Can I use it as a slogan?”

“Sure. Use it.”

Then I strike up a discussion with him, trying to hide my frustration.

“Then, can we expect a look that matches the slogan now?  Could you find someone?”

“Who do you so desperately want to find? Let’s start with that.”

Rizelo said, stroking his chin. I wielded my tongue and became jittery. This isn’t the time to negotiate with this wizard leisurely!

Neither the location nor the timing was perfect. Rizelo smiled as if he sensed my worry.

“Don’t be too hard. Ray Monahan has been a devout believer since then. Walking around the cathedral isn’t strange at all.”

“…Is that so?”

“Haha. Should we meet more safely if you’re nervous? Miss Melody is a friend of ours.”

Are you going to dress up as a woman again?

With an unpleasant expression on my face, I looked at Rizelo.

‘However, meeting Melody, a woman, as opposed to Ray, a man, would attract less attention. After all, I am a married woman.’

I remembered Ian, who met Ray yesterday, had warned me not to approach him.

Yow. I groaned and nodded.

“Then I’ll ask permission to pay you a visit today in Lady Melody’s name.”

Rizelo smiled as he said it.

“I don’t know who you are looking for, but please offer us as much information and a description of that person’s face in detail. Oh, and.”

Rizello murmured, his voice dropping even lower.

“Kakulta essence, it’s slowly getting in stock.”

I was surprised and looked up at him.

If it’s Cakulta Essence, it’ll be the key to breaking the time-limited curse.

However, it was the ingredient that caused me to return to the Magic Tower in vain because I couldn’t buy it at the time due to drug ingredients.

“How did you know? That’s what I’m looking for.”

“Haha. Do you think that I don’t know what’s going on in my tower?”

Rizelo shrugged and continued to speak.

“If you still need it, I’ll bring it in the next visit.”

“Master.”

I smiled politely and adjusted my posture.

“I’d appreciate it if you could do it for me. That’s kind of you.”

“Hmm. Sure.”

Rizelo smiled and waved his hand.

“Then I’ll see you again today.”

“Yep. Please get back safe.”

I bowed politely and watched Rizelo’s back as he left.

Rizelo never asked why I needed Kakulta Extract. With his business philosophy of not inquiring about customers’ intentions, he would not investigate inquisitively in the future.

I liked that point. Rizelo was without a doubt the ideal partner with whom to collaborate. If only you had some money.

‘Well, then, first of all, I have to after think about how to ask him to find Elliot-‘

“What are you doing?”

“Ackkkk.”

A strange noise caused me to fall. When I turned around and regained my balance, there stood a face I didn’t want to believe.

“Si-Sir Ian.”

Why is this ghost-like person here?

[TL/N: This phrase has been explained before.]

“When did you return? Haha. I thought you were going to the Knights Headquarters.”

“The departure schedule for going to the war has been confirmed, and I was on my way to you because I had something to deliver.”

Ian’s attention was drawn to the area behind my back. Rizelo had been crossing the garden in the same direction for quite some time.

With a gentle expression on my face, I spoke softly.

“I see. Did you decide to leave right away?”

“You must be quite close to each other.”

Ian covered my question with a question of his own.

I couldn’t help but laugh haha.

“I just ran into someone I knew and said hello for a while.”

“You’ve been staring at his back for a long time for that sort of thing.”

I felt a sense of panic and tightened my lips. His voice, which was interrogating me, was cold.

‘Did you notice Ray’s real identity?’

No, if Ian had discovered Ray’s true identity, he would have acted immediately. Not just by talking about it in this manner.

Right. He probably wouldn’t have noticed. I decided to believe it and brazen it out.

“Not at all. I think you’re mistaken. By the way, do you have anything you’d want to share with me? What exactly is it?”

I thought it naturally led to the last questions.

But the next thing I knew, I was almost choked.

“Is he your type?”

“…..What?”

“I asked you if he was your type.”

Ian said, nodding in the direction Rizelo had disappeared. He was so misunderstood that I became dumbfounded. Ian tilted his head as to how he interpreted my reaction.

No. It was just because Rizelo is a bombshell called Master of Magic Tower. 

His facade evolved into a true show over time. I didn’t know where to start when it came to rectifying this ridiculous misunderstanding.

“Do you like him?”

“It’s not like that.”

I couldn’t stand it, so I raised my voice.

“Do you want to know what my type is? I hate that kind of flirting. I prefer a man who is as straightforward and honest as big dogs who only look at me!”

It was so frustrating that I realized I was expressing my preference without even realizing it.

I -ahem- cleared my throat.

“An acquaintance?”

“Yeah…Well, someone, I used to be friends with.”

I have a history of not telling Ian about my past. This time, too, I roughly stuttered, giving the impression that I wasn’t expecting it in detail.

“…..Really.”

Ian furrowed his brows.

“Is he your ex-boyfriend you broke up with?”

“…….”