Skinny Nora had a curvy chest.
Nora also had a great backside.
She was innocent during the day.
But she was irresistible at night.
Oh, Nora, where have you gone?
Where am I now, and where have you gone?
Nora and I were irresistible.
I wish I could go back to those days!
Clap clap clap.
When the mercenary’s song ended, Yuric applauded enthusiastically. It was a song that dramatically expressed nostalgia for first love and the impermanence of time.
The middle-aged singer wore an expression of both embarrassment and pride.
“Well, it’s rare to find someone who enjoys my songs this much.”
“It’s truly moving. A song about the nostalgia of first love and the impermanence of time, right?”
“Uh…yes…”
In fact, it was a song about Nora, a prostitute he met during his rookie mercenary days, but upon reflection, she did somewhat resemble his first love.
“Indeed, an educated man has a different perspective!”
Encouraged by the momentum and having found an audience that appreciated artistic merit, the mercenary cleared his throat loudly to prepare for another song. Of course, the other mercenaries traveling in the carriage paid no attention whether he sang or acted crazy.
– Ganel is a mage.
– A mage with large breasts and a big backside.
– Though her magic was mediocre,
– She was irresistible at night.
– Oh, Ganel.
– Ganel ran off with a nobleman.
– She loves money.
– But I had none.
– Oh, damn woman.
– To earn damn money,
– I leave again today!
Yuric clapped once more. It was a song that vividly conveyed the unrequited love between a mage.
While the mercenary sang and Yuric listened, the carriage finally arrived at the fortress.
This was none other than the Noblevento Fortress, a massive city with a population of 300,000.
First thing that caught Yuric’s eye was the towering wall that must have been at least twenty meters high. The area was bustling with mercenaries seeking “damn money.” Mages could be seen here and there as well.
Despite being geographically close to the demon continent, Noblevento Fortress had thrived for hundreds of years due to its advantageous conditions for development.
In particular, Marquis Shriner who governed Noblevento Fortress was also the lord of Drexter Fortress located right at the southern front line. Simply put, this entire region was the marquis’s territory.
Because of this, the influence of the Shriner family in the southern part of the continent approached that of a kingdom. Even the Central Empire in the central region recognized the autonomy and status of the duchy of Shriner.
Of course, many said this was merely a facade given to them to serve as a shield against demon invasions, but as long as they lived rooted in this land, there was no reason to reject even such a facade.
The prosperous and vibrant city, as always, energized Yuric.
Due to people gathering from all regions, the city was a colorful mix of various characteristics – from clothing and behavior to dialects, food, and even appearances.
However, Yuric had no leisure to enjoy the unique culture of this fortress. Through this journey, he keenly realized that such leisure came from money. He also understood why mercenaries were so obsessed with “damn money.” Finding himself in the same situation, he too had no choice but to pursue money.
‘Money, I need money…!’
Yuric regretted buying a house for street children in Valenroad. …To avoid harboring such bad thoughts, he needed to earn money.
He learned while searching for jobs at various mercenary guilds that mages occasionally sought work as private tutors. Especially in such a large city, there were many promising families that hired intelligent mages to teach their children.
Of course, these families would never hire just any mage and selected candidates through rigorous interviews. Still, many wandering mages took the risk thinking they had nothing to lose. If someone got lucky and secured a private tutoring position, it was far less dangerous and more comfortable than working as a mercenary.
Thus, Yuric visited the Lombardo family, known as one of the wealthy merchant families in Noblevento Fortress.
The middle-aged butler sighed softly upon seeing Yuric’s appearance, assuming yet another wandering mage had come uninvited after hearing the rumors. Still, he couldn’t dismiss someone who had come this far, so he handed him a sheet of paper.
“This is an exam paper from Dveberg Magic Academy. My master believes one should at least be able to solve this level of problems.”
Of course, the butler didn’t think Yuric could solve it. Already over twenty mages had come, and none of them managed to solve it. It wasn’t something a wandering mage who memorized a couple of spells without theoretical knowledge could possibly solve.
There were four questions in total: two basic mana circuit problems and two history questions.
For Yuric, these were ridiculously easy. The circuits were obvious at a glance, and the history questions just required a bit of memory jogging.
As the butler assumed he had failed again, Yuric picked up the quill and began writing answers smoothly. The butler’s eyes widened slightly.
“Here, I’m done.”
Since the butler wasn’t a mage, he had to check the answer sheet. Comparing the circuits, one was correct and the other wrong. Fortunately, both history answers were correct.
“You’ve answered three out of four questions correctly. It’s been a while since we’ve had a mage with such outstanding knowledge.”
Yuric was surprised one circuit question was marked wrong, but decided not to argue since that wasn’t the point.
He then proceeded to the interview with Lord Randolf Lombardo, head of the Lombardo family. True to his role as head of a merchant family, he was extremely meticulous, yet his concern for his children was clearly evident.
Fortunately, Yuric’s philosophy and impression pleased the lord, who hired him as a private tutor. During his employment, he would be provided room and board in the annex.
The person Yuric would teach was Geoffrey Lombardo, a thirteen-year-old boy who inherited his father’s shrewdness and his mother’s good looks. Geoffrey immediately took a liking to Yuric, who was not much older than him. Being an only child with no siblings to play with and few opportunities to make friends, Geoffrey enjoyed Yuric’s company.
Besides Yuric, there was another private tutor – an elderly baron who taught Geoffrey political science. Though the Lombardo family didn’t have a title, it was natural for them to become entangled with nobility as they grew wealthier, so learning politics was beneficial. Yuric, on the other hand, would teach Geoffrey history.
Geoffrey wanted to learn magic, but unfortunately, his talent for sensing mana wasn’t exceptional. Honestly, if he hadn’t awakened his mana by this age, becoming a mage would be difficult. That said, Geoffrey, being the son of a great merchant, wasn’t an irrational person who would throw tantrums about things he couldn’t do.
Still, the boy’s curiosity about travel overflowed. He often imagined leading a caravan and leaving the city when he grew up.
Yuric occasionally shared stories from his travels. Particularly, when he recounted how he nearly drowned exploring a dungeon but managed to survive, Geoffrey rejoiced as if he had been there.
Sometimes they went out to explore ancient ruins remaining in the city or wandered through market stalls to see interesting items.
That’s how Yuric spent that particularly cold winter as Geoffrey’s history teacher.
And then… spring came, bringing new growth.
Early spring, still chilly. Yuric received a summons from Lord Randolf Lombardo to visit his study.
“Did you call for me?”
“Ahh, Teacher Yuric, thank you for coming.”
Lord Lombardo mentioned an upcoming banquet. With the weather warming, banquets would become more frequent. There would be social gatherings, New Year’s parties, team-building events, and so on. Basically, once spring arrived, he’d be invited everywhere.
“Of course, Geoffrey is now an adult, so I plan to bring him along.”
Geoffrey, born in early spring, was now fourteen. It was time for him to start learning how to socialize with people from other families.
“And I’d like my teacher to join as well.”
Lord Randolf Lombardo truly relied on Yuric regarding Geoffrey’s matters.
“I may not fit in with that crowd.”
“It’s just a social gathering this time. You don’t need to feel pressured. It’ll mostly be merchants like me and mercenary captains.”
Yuric saw no reason to decline Lord Lombardo’s invitation. Thus, he attended the social gathering alongside the Lombardo family.
Lord Lombardo introduced his son Geoffrey and private tutor Yuric to the guests. During this, Yuric encountered a mysterious woman.
Though her attire wasn’t particularly extravagant, she exuded an air of nobility. Perhaps it was an innate presence.
Lord Lombardo bowed deeply to her, while she merely nodded lightly in return.
“I didn’t know you’d be here.”
“I came as a mercenary captain. Need to make a good impression on merchants if I want any scraps, right?”
“No, we’re the ones who need to impress you.”
Given her apparent stature, Yuric and Geoffrey bowed their heads again respectfully. Lord Lombardo introduced Geoffrey and Yuric to her. She stared intently at Yuric for a moment before leaving.
Curious about her identity, Yuric asked Lord Lombardo who she was.
“She’s the daughter of the late His Majesty the Emperor and also the captain of the Golden Dragon Mercenary Corps.”
Yuric certainly hadn’t expected someone of such standing to attend such a humble social gathering.
The social gathering, which seemed like it might lead to something extraordinary with the arrival of the emperor’s daughter, ended rather ordinarily. Neither Lord Lombardo nor the merchants seemed particularly concerned about her presence.
Yuric wondered if there was some special circumstance. After all, she had referred to herself as a mercenary captain rather than a princess.
The next day, driven by curiosity, Yuric ventured out to gather information.
“At that woman? Quite famous around here. She’s the illegitimate daughter of the late emperor. Her mother was a palace laundress, I heard. What can I say, the late emperor was quite promiscuous. Illegitimate children weren’t exactly rare. This woman reportedly never met her father face-to-face in her entire life. When she was a teenager, her mother passed away and she fled the palace. How could she endure the pressure from the palace?”
At fifteen, she shed the title of princess and spent fifteen years making her name in the mercenary world. Already a well-known figure in the industry.
Though she bore royal blood, without a title, she was little better than a fallen noble. It was said she had abandoned her surname entirely.
After hearing the story, Yuric recalled her appearance from the social gathering the previous day.
‘…She is undoubtedly…’
A mage specializing in enhancement magic.
Having resolved his doubts, Yuric returned to the Lombardo residence. Surprisingly, an unexpected visitor awaited him in the reception room.
“Captain Cecilia is waiting for you.”
The daughter of the late emperor and captain of the Golden Dragon Mercenary Corps.
‘Why is she here to see me suddenly…?’
Surely not because he looked at her improperly.
With curiosity, Yuric entered the reception room.
Cecilia wore casual outing clothes rather than the formal dress from yesterday.
“Your Highness.”
Yuric addressed her thus and bowed his head, but she waved her hand indicating he shouldn’t.
“I’m sorry, but I hold no title. I shouldn’t be addressed that way. Please refrain from doing so. Do you understand?”
“…Understood.”
“Sit down.”
Yuric sat across from Cecilia. The blue-eyed woman with flowing golden hair tied in a single braid exuded charisma and strength. Yet, there was an inexplicable melancholy beneath it all.
“The reason I’ve come is regarding a commission.”
“…A commission?”
“A ground dragon has appeared. We need you to deal with it. We require a highly skilled mage. Someone like you.”
Ah.
Yuric glanced at her face, then inadvertently stared at her chest for a while before realizing his mistake and quickly looking lower. Not that he intended to look at her chest, but somehow it turned out that way.
“Why, are you unwilling? Rest assured, the compensation will be satisfactory.”
After a brief silence, Yuric met Cecilia’s gaze again and spoke carefully.
“…Before that, there’s something else that needs addressing first.”
“Something else?”
Yuric gestured toward Cecilia’s body with his palm.
“Captain… I mean, your body…”
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
“…You.”
Could she sense it?
“Do you not know yourself?”
…She does know.
“Mana Blockage Disease.”
The dreaded illness among mages.
The worst incurable disease.
Mana Blockage Disease.
Cecilia had contracted it.
