by Geli Cake
It was rare for anyone in this line of work to use honorifics with me. Perhaps because I looked young, most people saw me as someone who just did odd jobs. But a stranger approached me, sat down beside me without asking, and started talking.
"I've heard the rumors. You're the mage mercenary from the Red Lion."
The man had dark, ash-gray hair. His under-eye circles were unusually dark, as if painted on.
It felt a bit rude to say this about someone, but he looked like a corpse, and it gave me the creeps.
"I hear you're quite skilled."
"You flatter me."
"I've always wanted to meet you…"
He started toying with my hair. Wasn't this a bit too close for a first meeting? We hadn't even exchanged names.
"Whether it's coincidence or fate, you also have black hair."
I knew to avoid people who talked about fate during a first meeting. They were likely crazy or cult recruiters. I was wary of him but acted harmless and calm.
"I think I came to the wrong tent. See ya, asshole."
Annoyed, I subtly slipped an ambiguous insult into my farewell. It was a petty act of revenge.
"Where do you think you're going? This is the right place. Sit down."
He spoke in a commanding tone.
'…What the hell? Who does this panda think he is, ordering me around?'
I flinched slightly, but only because his hand, which had grabbed my wrist, was ice-cold.
"I said, sit down."
You sit down. I easily pulled my hand free from his grasp and said,
"My captain told me not to talk to strangers."
"…Ah, it doesn't work on you?"
The man chuckled, saying something I didn't understand. Ash-gray hair and silver-gray eyes. The only color on his otherwise monochrome appearance was his bright red tongue. The stark contrast made me feel uneasy.
"See you around."
I left the creepily chuckling man behind and hurried to Ryzen's tent. As soon as I saw him, I grabbed Ryzen and whined,
"Ryzen, switch tents with me."
"Why are you suddenly acting like a spoiled brat?"
"Come on, please switch with me! There's a weird guy in my tent."
Usually, Ryzen would reluctantly agree if I begged earnestly. But this time, he was adamant.
"No. He's assigned to your team, so you'll have to deal with it, whether you like it or not."
Huh, what?!
"In my team? Who decided that?!"
"Do we need your permission to assign teams, newbie?"
"That's true, but!"
"What's the problem? You're both mages, you should have something in common."
"But you hate mages, Ryzen!"
"Yes, and I dislike you too, kid. When are you going to grow up? Try talking it out. Or did you two already have a fight?"
Go away, I'm busy. He shoved me away, looking exasperated. I was kicked out in less than a minute and lingered outside.
Standing outside in the snow, my nose started to run. Sniff. I wiped my nose and returned to the tent.
Fortunately, or perhaps unfortunately, the man was gone, and the tent was empty.
'I wish I could lock the door.'
I spent some time alone, feeling like I was sitting on pins and needles.
The operation was nothing special, at least from my perspective.
As with most subjugations, the suppression team would first enter deep into the forest or valley to provoke and draw out the monsters. Once the monsters were lured into the designated area, the main subjugation would begin.
The reason I felt it wasn't anything special was because my role was always the same. To momentarily restrain the monsters or distract them.
Mages like me were usually positioned in the rear. The casting time for magic circles made it difficult to be on the front lines.
The next morning, the mercenaries started moving in unison. I could hear the sounds of the operation from all around: a torrent of curses, battle cries…
"Haaawm…"
Having stayed up all night, I picked up a stick suitable for drawing magic circles, still half-asleep.
The creepy guy put his arm around my shoulder and asked,
"Let me see your artifact."
"…Excuse me?"
He took off my glove without permission and looked at my bare hand with a puzzled expression.
"What? You're really going out there without anything? A knight going into battle without a sword."
"My gloves are enough."
Give it back, my hands are cold. I retrieved my glove and put it back on, moving away from him.
But he followed me, continuing to talk. He had done the same thing last night, and I had ended up staying up almost all night, ignoring him.
"Are you interested in me?"
"Interested? Yes, as a fellow mage, you're a subject of study."
His lifeless eyes rolled towards me, taking me in. I averted my gaze, uncomfortable with his stare, and he chuckled.
"It doesn't work on you, as expected."
"What doesn't?"
He rubbed his sunken eyes, chuckling, as if something had gotten into them.
"I'm very interested in you. Your hair color is a hot topic these days."
"You mean that ridiculous oracle?"
It was about me, but the rumors circulating were distorted and exaggerated. Fear breeds rumors.
However, I hadn't done anything wrong, so there was no need for me to cower at such words. The man, unfazed by my indifferent reaction, seemed to have a knack for picking out the things I hated most.
"A foreign visitor with black hair will bring about the end of the world."
Ugh, that's getting old… I've heard that so many times. The next line was predictable. Something about me being a curse…
"Those who cannot die will be saved by the foreign visitor."
…Wait, what?
"I see you haven't heard the rest. Not many people know it."
"You made that up, didn't you?"
The man just smiled silently instead of replying. I avoided his gaze, still uncomfortable with his hollow eyes staring at me.
─── ⋆⋅☼⋅⋆ ───
By the seventh day of the subjugation, we were struggling more than expected.
There were no casualties, but there were many injured, and the nearby temple had dispatched priests to help tend to them.
And I was still providing support from the rear.
"You really learned all this on your own? You mastered this by yourself, without anyone teaching you? All of this?"
…This annoying man was with me. I had asked for his name at first, but he was called different names by different people, and he introduced himself with a different name every time, so I just labeled him as "weird guy" in my mind.
"I didn't learn it all by myself. I learned it from books."
"But it looks like you've practically reinvented it."
"Well…"
That's what happened when I cut out all the parts I didn't understand. Even Haylan had clicked his tongue in disbelief when he saw my makeshift magic circles, asking how they even worked.
"You've shortened the casting time, and they still function. No wonder you're so famous. You're impressive."
Ah… heh. I belatedly realized he was complimenting me and puffed up with pride.
"So, do you think this operation has a chance of succeeding?"
Why ask me about the odds of success…? That wasn't for us to decide. Low-ranking mercenaries like us were just supposed to support the others.
But if it was okay for me to add my two cents, I cautiously said,
"I'm not sure."
"Not sure?"
"The monsters' behavior patterns are strange, regardless of our strategy."
It wasn't just me who felt this way. During winter, the mana flowing through the earth veins weakened, and the monsters' power should have diminished accordingly.
But the monsters we were facing were unusually aggressive, yet strangely weak. We were struggling not because of the individual strength of the monsters but because of their sheer numbers.
Even monsters that were supposed to be hibernating were wandering around, and often, different types of monsters would attack us in mixed groups.
"It doesn't make sense unless someone is deliberately controlling them…"
"...."
I didn't notice the creepy smile that spread across the man's face as he watched me.
Just then, I saw a flock of monsters flying towards us. Ranged attackers usually dealt with flying monsters, unlike ground-type monsters. I quickly started drawing a sniper magic circle, hoping to be of some help.
Just as I was about to activate the completed magic circle, I saw the weird guy flick his finger in the air. It was a small gesture, but it sent shivers down my spine.
'What did he do?'
He was just a slimy, annoying guy who bothered me all day, someone who didn't seem particularly capable. There was no way he could use silent magic without a magic circle.
Then it happened.
"Look out!"
A monster, which hadn't been dealt with, broke away from the group and started flying towards us. I was too slow compared to the others, who quickly ducked.
"Chahyun!"
Thankfully, a nearby colleague pulled me down, and we rolled out of the way, narrowly avoiding death. But my earlobe was half torn, and blood trickled down.