IBTVGFTWML | Chapter 18

Without thinking, I stepped into the hallway to head to the garden, only to spot an unfamiliar beastman approaching from the other end. I quickly ducked behind a pillar.

Come to think of it, last night—

“Tomorrow, a chimpanzee from the Magic Tower will be visiting to measure Ed’s magical power.”

Why was it only now that Billy’s words came to mind? As expected, the unfamiliar guest looked unmistakably like a chimpanzee.

He appeared human, yet there was an odd feeling, as though I were staring at an actual chimpanzee. From his jet-black hair and large nostrils to his slightly protruding mouth and imposing frame, anyone could tell he was a chimpanzee beastman.

Hiding completely behind the pillar, I peeked out to glance at him but quickly ducked back, startled.

‘Did he see me?’

I’d grown confident enough to walk through the hallways without hiding as much anymore, but there was something unsettling about that mage.

“Ahhh!”

While catching my breath behind the pillar, I blinked, and before I knew it, the mage was standing right in front of me. The shock made my heart plummet, and I couldn’t help but scream.

“A sheep?”

I was about to greet him politely, as he was a guest, but the mage, who was scanning me up and down, crossed his arms and coldly remarked.

‘Did I do something wrong?’

Why was he acting like this when we had just met?

“What is a sheep doing here?”

Pointing at me with one finger, the mage looked back at the butler and spoke in a tone that grated on my nerves.

“This guest is very important to us. Please be respectful,” the butler said.

“Oh, is that so?”

The fiery expression that seemed ready to pick a fight vanished instantly, replaced by a forced social smile.

“An important guest, you say? My apologies. I’m Kopen Henji from the Magic Tower.”

I looked down at the thick hand the mage extended toward me, feeling bewildered.

“Oh, yes. Nice to meet you.”

I returned the courtesy with a strained social smile of my own, but I could feel it.

This mage didn’t like me.

I didn’t know why, but his earlier comment, “A sheep?” and the condescending look in his eyes made me suspect he was one of those carnivore supremacists.

I’d heard there were beastmen like that.

Having lived only among sheep beastmen, I wasn’t too familiar with them, but apparently, some carnivore beastmen believed they were superior as predators. These individuals were known to intimidate herbivore beastmen for no reason, pick fights when passing through herbivore territories, or even rob herbivores visiting carnivore territories.

Just looking at the way he was staring down at me, pretending to be polite but subtly disrespectful, told me everything I needed to know.

‘He’s trouble. I should avoid him.’

I decided to stay in my room and play with Mimo until the mage left.

“Well then.”

I kept my greeting short, watching the mage walk off with the butler toward Ed’s room. His retreating figure annoyed me to no end.

 

***

 

Knock, knock.

“Young Master, a mage from the Magic Tower has arrived.”

“Come in.”

Ed, who had been sitting on the terrace enjoying a sweet hotcake, immediately stopped swinging his legs and answered.

When the door opened, Kopen stepped in and placed a hand over his chest in a formal greeting.

“It’s an honor to meet you, Young Master. I am Kopen Henji, a mage from the Magic Tower.”

“Nice to meet you. I’m Ed Louvre.”

Having grown quite accustomed to introducing himself as Ed Louvre, he extended his small hand to the mage. Kopen clasped it with both hands, bowing repeatedly as he spoke.

“Oh, just from holding your hand for a moment, I can already sense the vast magical power you possess.”

“Really?”

The butler’s proud tone made a faint blush appear on both of Ed’s cheeks.

Kopen knelt on one knee, closed his eyes, and placed a hand on Ed’s chest. This was to detect the flow of magical energy within his core.

To be honest, since Billy Louvre, a renowned mage, had already verified the boy’s abilities, there wasn’t much need for Kopen to go to such lengths.

Still, who knew? Going the extra mile might bring about unexpected rewards.

After a few seconds of concentrating, Kopen opened his eyes, which were now filled with astonishment.

“He is still young, and his magical energy is not yet well-controlled, as he hasn’t used magic before. However, this is more than enough talent to become a mage of the Magic Tower.”

“Is it over?”

Kopen, who had been brimming with pride while delivering the results of Ed’s magical aptitude, froze for a moment at Ed’s casual response.

Even hearing that he had enough talent to become a mage of the Magic Tower, Ed remained indifferent.

‘If Uncle is such a great mage, then of course I’d have some talent, too.’

Ed, who resembled his uncle in terms of self-confidence, had long considered the possibility of becoming a mage of the Magic Tower.

Kopen, staring at Ed, was brimming with awe.

‘As expected of the Louvre family’s heir! Not even the prospect of joining the Magic Tower excites him!’

When he was young, Kopen had been proud and boastful upon discovering his magical talents. Later, after being recruited by the Magic Tower, his pride only grew.

Seeing such a vastly different reaction from a child, Kopen felt not just admiration but also a desire to stay longer at the estate. He hadn’t yet met Billy Louvre, the head of the family, and leaving without doing so felt like a missed opportunity.

However, lacking a proper reason to linger, he reluctantly left the room. Each step away from the estate felt heavier.

Just as he was about to step outside—

“Steward! Mary just caused an accident in the kitchen…!”

A maid rushed over, pulling the steward away and leaving Kopen to exit the mansion alone.

As he neared the gates, his gaze caught sight of the sheep he’d seen earlier—the one deemed an “important guest.”

‘Even I, a mage from the Magic Tower and a carnivore beastman, am treated like this. What could possibly make that insignificant sheep so important?’

It was a completely skewed thought, but he was oblivious to his own bias. Unconsciously, he approached the sheep.

“Excuse me.”

 

***

 

I was sitting in a quiet corner of the garden, tired from playing with Mimo, enjoying the flowers. Enough time had passed that I figured the mage must have left by now, so I let my guard down.

Basking in the sunlight, I admired the flowers until a large shadow fell over me, blocking the warmth.

Curious about who had cast the shadow, I looked up to find the same mage from earlier, still wearing that haughty expression, standing beside me.

“Excuse me.”

Hearing his voice, I stood up and met his gaze. Now that no one was around, he seemed to feel no need to hide his displeasure, his furrowed brow making his irritation clear.

“Why are you considered an important guest?”

“Pardon?”

“No, I’m just curious.”

At least he wasn’t fully dropping his pretense. It seemed he had enough sense to maintain some degree of decorum. Thinking about how best to answer, I came up with a simple response.

“Because I am an important person.”

There was no need to explain the household’s circumstances to someone unrelated to it.

It was true that I was an important person, but Kopen seemed to interpret my words as mockery. His face flushed with anger.

“Hah, you look like an ordinary herbivore beastman with no magical power.”

“Does having magical power make someone important? Someone who seems ordinary could actually be extraordinary.”

He still didn’t seem satisfied with my answer. His raised eyebrow reflected his discontent.

I didn’t care. Judging by his demeanor, he had finished his business and was on his way out. So I casually bid him farewell and prepared to leave.

“Wait a second!”

Suddenly, Kopen grabbed my arm, pulling me toward him. He lowered his voice as if worried someone might overhear, which I found mildly amusing given the situation.

“Now that I look closely, your face seems familiar. What’s your name again?”

“I never told you my name. And please let go of my arm.”

It was then.

With a knowing smirk, he sneered and said, “Are you the notorious daughter of the Morton family?”

How did he know?

Was Remi truly infamous enough for her face to be so recognizable?

Kopen, as though finding a reason to torment me, seemed elated at the revelation that I was the “disgraceful daughter of the Morton family.”

“I don’t know why you’re here, but if you’ve deceived the Louvre family head, you’d better stop. Someone like you has no business meddling with them.”

“I haven’t deceived anyone. Now, if you’re done, please leave.”

My patience was wearing thin.

“Do you think you’ll still be considered an important guest if I expose what kind of beastman you really are?”

For some reason, the chimpanzee, emboldened, shifted his demeanor and began pressing me in a more threatening manner.

Why was he acting like this?

Extreme carnivore supremacists were said to harbor a deep hatred for herbivore beastmen and often went out of their way to torment them. Kopen seemed to fit that description perfectly.

‘Not very bright, is he?’

If I were a herbivore supremacist, I wouldn’t behave so foolishly.

“I’m still an important guest. Leave while I’m asking nicely.”

“What if I don’t? Are you going to show me some of that infamous bad behavior?”

He was openly smirking now, provocatively picking a fight. I sighed quietly, glancing around.

If this chimpanzee lost control and resorted to violence, I’d have to defend myself since there was no one nearby.

“Well? Let’s see it!”

With that, he poked me in the forehead with his finger, a smug grin on his face.

Tap.

I’d reached my limit.

If he wanted to see what bad behavior looked like, I’d give him a proper demonstration.

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