Chapter 67

“Was it fun?”

“Yeah……”

“That’s good. Do you want anything else to eat? Should we get something sweeter for a late-night snack?”

“……”

After Ronos left, Riana became noticeably more withdrawn.

Even when we tried to enjoy something together, Riana seemed to have no energy. Her once ravenous appetite was gone, and her lips drooped lifelessly.

We tried our best to cheer her up, but it felt like Riana was just going along with our efforts without any real enthusiasm.

This state of hers continued, and it was clear that something was seriously wrong.

It didn’t take long for us to realize that dragging her around to have fun would only backfire.

Reluctantly, we took Riana back to the inn.

But waiting for us at the inn was none other than…

“Why do you look like that, Riana?”

“Gasp.”

Sitting at the bar in the inn’s dining area, casually sipping a drink, was none other than Lady Rostia.

“Rostia!”

As expected, Riana, who had been sulking and slouching, instantly brightened up, opened her mouth wide, and laughed as she tightly hugged Rostia.

“Ow, Riana! It hurts, I’m telling you it hurts! Hug me gently!”

“But I’m so happy to see you!”

“I’m small! You have to consider that I’m small… Ouch!”

Rostia struggled, but Riana, overwhelmed with joy, showered her with kisses on the cheek before finally letting her go.

Finally free, Rostia took a deep breath, lamenting her situation.

“Ugh, what is this? No one would believe I’m an Archmage.”

“Even if you say that…”

I casually pointed out something that could have been easily overlooked.

“Couldn’t you have easily escaped if you wanted to? As you said, Lady Rostia, you’re an Archmage. Even a High Magician candidate wouldn’t be weak, but for someone like you who’s been an Archmage for a long time, it should be nothing.”

“Hmph, quiet down. Kairon, you talk too much.”

“Well, the young man isn’t wrong. If anything, you’re the one who talks too much.”

“Can’t you shut your mouth, innkeeper!”

The innkeeper, who had tried to sneakily put me and Abelin in the same room, just puffed on his cigarette, unfazed by the Archmage’s scolding.

Seeing an ordinary person so casually challenging an Archmage, it was clear that Rostia and the innkeeper were quite close.

“Honestly, you’ve already mastered magic to the point where you live for the thrill of seeing young, energetic kids, haven’t you?”

“Hmph…!”

Rostia gestured over her steaming mug, sprinkling ice powder on it.

Then she gulped down the now perfectly warm drink in one go.

“Ahhh… Bring me another one!”

“Drinking cheap stuff while yelling so loudly. At your age, with your wealth, you should be drinking expensive liquor.”

“What does it matter what I drink as a guest! Do you even know who founded this city? I built the Magic Tower here, and this small village grew into a city around it! The city’s name is Rostia, the tower’s name is Rostia, and I am Rostia de Medici!”

Just hearing that, it was quite the combination.

An Archmage who was the living history of this city and its tower, and a plain old innkeeper.

But even though they bickered, it was clear they were close friends.

“Chuckle, but even you can’t run this place alone. Don’t forget the countless people who’ve stayed at this inn, where I haven’t raised the rates in ten years.”

“Hmph. You were trembling in fear when you first met me, and now you’re acting all relaxed because you’re old. I could obliterate your soul right now, innkeeper!”

“Go ahead. That actually sounds like a good offer. I’ve already seen my grandchildren, my wife passed away, and life’s been so boring lately that I’ve started smoking. Don’t waste my time with nonsense.”

“Ugh… You eccentric old man!”

It was a rare sight—a tiny little girl and a wrinkled old man with age spots, loudly arguing.

Then the innkeeper added one more thing.

“By the way, I’m younger than Rostia.”

“Wait… what?”

It seemed like a knockout blow from the innkeeper, but Rostia wasn’t as fazed as expected.

Rostia, as if she hadn’t heard what the innkeeper said, calmly took another sip of the hot drink he handed her.

“So, why do you look like that, Riana?”

“Lady Rostia. It’s just that… huh?”

Rostia reached out to stop me from speaking.

“I already know what happened. I received a report that Ronos, after realizing Riana had gone out, used magic to blow away the guards who were bothering him and rushed out.”

“He went that far…?”

The image of Ronos, uncharacteristically emotional, crying and expressing his care for Riana, flashed before my eyes.

“That’s exactly why I’m asking you, Riana. Why do you look like that?”

“Well, I knew my master cared for me, but I didn’t know he cared that much.”

“Hmm. Ronos, who usually disregards others and acts entirely on his own, only restrains himself when he’s with you, Riana. But Riana, do you know what Ronos said when he came back and immediately sought me out?”

“What did he say?”

“Don’t be shocked. Well, I wasn’t surprised because it’s so like Ronos, but…”

***

“Rostia!!”

*Crash—*

Rostia, dozing off in a comfy chair, didn’t even flinch when her heavily protected door was shattered into pieces.

“I know you’re not asleep, Rostia. Get up now!”

“Ugh… Why are you like this, Ronos? I’ve always said I need enough sleep because I’m small. Come back later.”

“Don’t try to dodge. You already know, don’t you?!”

Enraged, Ronos swung his arm, and a massive purple flame surged toward Rostia.

But with a slight nod from Rostia, a thick ice wall formed, blocking and extinguishing the flame.

“Answer me. Why did you take Riana away?”

“Take her away? I did no such thing. I just gave her permission to go out for a break.”

“You sly woman.”

“Hmph, coming from you, who’s no ordinary mage yourself?”

“I won’t waste words. Just one warning.”

Ronos glared at Rostia with his blazing purple eyes, grinding his teeth as he spoke with force.

“If Riana doesn’t return properly, I’ll burn this entire tower to the ground.”

“Oh? You think you can create such a massive flame? I’d like to see that.”

“Once. This is the only time you can separate Riana from me. And make sure she returns to me. If this isn’t the last time, Rostia, I’ll make you feel what you’ve always wanted. Even though magic has no end, there’s definitely a peak…!”

***

Hearing about what happened in the tower, Riana’s eyes trembled.

“My master went that far?”

“Now do you understand? Ronos isn’t trying to bring you back because he cares for you.”

“Yeah, he’s obsessed.”

When I said Ronos was “obsessed” with Riana, Abelin nodded beside me.

“Riana. There was a woman once.”

“Suddenly talking about a woman?”

“Her name was Sophia. She fell in love with my comrade.”

Riana looked puzzled, but Abelin, who already knew the name and story, let out a short sigh.

“Sophia was warm to everyone around her, devoted herself to her work as a healer, and earned everyone’s trust. Because of that, her beauty and kind personality shone even brighter, and my comrade fell in love with her. They quickly grew close. And Sophia subtly charmed my comrade and took him to her house.”

“Oh my…?”

Riana’s face turned slightly red at the suggestive story.

But the ending of this story was completely different from what Riana imagined.

“But what I saw when I followed them was a demon trying to pull something on my comrade. And it was covered in yellow pus. The lovely appearance was gone.”

“…That’s…”

Shocked by the sudden horrific turn, Riana covered her mouth.

“I’ve defeated two demons so far. And the common point is that they were obsessed with something. In my eyes, Ronos is no different. He may seem like he cares for you, but he’s definitely dreaming of some plan that involves you.”

I gently held Riana’s trembling shoulders.

“Riana. Look at what your so-called master has done to you, what he’s done to Lady Rostia. Will you trust your master, or will you trust me?”

“……”

After a moment of hesitation, Riana spoke.

“Okay. I’ll trust you, Kairon.”

“Thank you. I’ve made up my mind too.”

I hugged Riana tightly.

“My poor sister, I won’t let that demon take you back.”

“So I have a proposal.”

Rostia suddenly interjected.

“What is it, Lady Rostia? Do you have a good plan to mess with that demon?”

“A very simple method.”

Rostia pointed to the inn’s entrance.

“Leave this city. Right now, without looking back…!”