I Played the Role of the Adopted Daughter Too Well

The 6th Mage Tower was the farthest away from Monakro, the epicenter of the central continent, towards the north. In other words, it was at the northern tip of the central continent. It was also the closest Mage Tower to Winter Castle.

 

Crimson was born and raised at the Mage Tower. Like most mages, he had ambitious dreams of becoming a magic master at a young age and establishing the 8th Mage Tower. However, the walls of reality were high.

 

Unfortunately, Crimson fell behind other mages in terms of talent and understanding of magic, not becoming aware of it himself for some time.

 

In his younger years, he refused to acknowledge this fact, thinking that the Mage Tower’s teaching style did not suit him.

 

Thus he thought to himself, ‘Huh! I’ll get rid of this kind of Mage Tower first.’

 

Even when he reached his 30s, Crimson could not admit that he was lacking. At the age of 36, Crimson finally decided to leave the Mage Tower.

 

“You have requested voluntary dismissal. Is that correct?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“What is the reason?”

 

Crimson still couldn’t let go of his dream.

 

“To fulfill my grand dream as a mage, to go outside and widely promote the greatness of magic.”

 

“I see.”

 

The formal paperwork and a brief interview were concluded.

 

“All benefits provided by the Mage Tower will be discontinued. Do you agree?”

 

Crimson wanted to say, “Benefits, my foot. Was there ever any benefit?” but he held back and agreed before signing.

 

“You may leave. May the blessings of mana be with you.”

 

Having left the Mage Tower at the age of 36, Crimson soon found himself in a difficult situation. He needed money wherever he went. He wasn’t unfamiliar with the concept of money, but it wasn’t closely tied to his way of life.

 

“That thief! If he ate, shouldn’t he pay for the food?”

 

He silenced the arrogant restaurant owner who scolded him with a simple spell. It resulted in all the village guards getting involved.

 

‘Darn it! That money! Money! Money!’

 

While he was inside the Mage Tower, he never worried about having a place to stay, food to eat, or clothes to wear. Basic necessities were provided without question.

 

This was the first time Crimson had to provide for himself and the world felt harsh to him. He quickly learned that to survive he needed to work and earn money. That was the reality of living outside the Mage Tower.

 

Eventually, he decided to find a job. Even a mage needed to eat, but it wasn’t easy.

 

“Do you dare to ask a Mage Tower-trained mage to do such a menial job?”

 

“This is not a menial job.”

 

“You insolent fellow! Making ice for noble ladies isn’t menial work? How dare you insult me!”

 

Yes, the wall of reality was stern and high. The tasks he considered suitable for a ‘real mage’ were already being done by elite mages dispatched from the Mage Tower. The assignments and requests given to him were not up to what he thought a ‘real mage’ should do.

 

A year passed, and by the time he was 37, he finally reached a point where he could compromise with the world.

 

“Alright. If it’s a commission from Bellato, I can accept it.”

 

Only now did he feel like the world was acknowledging him.

 

The 6th Mage Tower was the closest to Winter Castle and knew that even the elite mages from other towers feared the pureblood Bellatos near the 6th Mage Tower. Crimson, who had never left the Mage Tower and only heard rumors about Bellato, had high expectations.

 

However, the individuals before him were something else.

 

‘One has a cripple while the other one… Is she really a Bellato?’

 

Would Bellato, who was known for their incredible swordsmanship that was faster than magic, actually have such a helpless young girl who couldn’t even cover her own face sitting in a wheelchair?

 

‘The other one looks like she’s not even ten years old.’

 

He was severely disappointed, thinking that a true Bellato would never visit a place like Parr Viscounty, known for extravagance and luxury.

 

‘Darn it!’

 

Crimson thought he understood why someone from a prestigious family like Bellato would choose not to contact the Mage Tower. They were probably just on a casual trip with some young members of the family who had no stake in Bellato or weren’t even involved in the succession competition. The mages from the Mage Tower wouldn’t be needed for such a casual excursion.

 

‘To the Mage Tower mages, this request would be an insult.’

 

The request had been addressed to Crimson himself and now he was very angry.

 

“Aren’t these supposed to be the famous Bellato mistresses? What’s with these little kids?”

 

“…”

 

“Am I being ignored just because I’m not affiliated with the Mage Tower anymore? Is that what’s happening?”

 

That’s when Viola moved.

 

* * *

 

Viola raised her hand and slapped Ersa hard on the cheek.

 

Smack!

 

Ersa’s whole head turned with a loud noise. Viola was quite surprised because she didn’t expect to hear such a loud noise.

 

‘It’s not going to hurt for real, right?’

 

Ersa was known as a ‘savage,’ a term used for the tough mages. Getting slapped by 12-year-old Viola wouldn’t give her a wound or harm her in any way. Viola knew that very well, so she was able to hit her without worry. She had no idea her head would turn so far to the side.

 

‘Well, I didn’t make her neck turn all the way around because the way I hit her was the proper way. It was just enough to turn it to the side.’

 

That’s what Viola thought, and it put her mind at ease. She looked at Ersa with an angry expression. She certainly had to scold her for this matter. This was Ersa’s fault as it was her responsibility to make the plans and she was the one who hired the non-affiliated mage.

 

“Ersa, is this how you handle tasks?”

 

“I’m sorry, my lady.”

 

Ersa took an at-ease posture.

 

“If it were Zenon, it wouldn’t have ended this way.”

 

However, no matter how she went about it, Ersa was Hera’s servant. Looking at Hera’s face, she couldn’t scold her anymore. Actually, she had no intention of scolding her any further anyway.

 

“Thank you.”

 

Seeing the ghastly spectacle, Crimson involuntarily swallowed his saliva. As a mage, he had an enhanced sensitivity to mana. He was especially sensitive to the movement and flow of mana.

 

‘Just now… what was that?’

 

Crimson understood that Ersa had been slapped. However, that small hand contained a hurricane-like force. What if he had been the one hit by that hand? What if he couldn’t defend himself with magic and just took the blow? Crimson’s body trembled.

 

‘My neck would have snapped.’

 

That’s how much destructive force was contained in that strike. It was more potent than any child he had ever seen. He briefly made eye contact with Viola.

 

“Hm.”

 

Her irises were violet but they looked reddish from Crimson’s perspective. It was strange. They were definitely violet, so why did they feel like red eyes? Red eyes that belonged to a ferocious beast. His body was trembling.

 

“Sis, if you’re okay, we’ll reschedule the meeting for 3 hours from now.”

 

“Okay.”

 

Hera smiled broadly. She turned to her servant Ersa and said, “In 3 hours, I’ll return here. Ersa, you should try talking to the hired help during this time. I don’t like rude people.”

 

* * *

 

Zenon grinned and pushed Hera’s wheelchair. 

 

“Thank you, Mistress Ersa.”

 

After Viola, Hera, and Zenon had disappeared, Ersa fell deep into thought. She momentarily forgot about the mage in front of her. Instead, she remembered Viola’s slap.

 

‘Naturally, mana moved.’

 

Viola had used mana naturally without difficulty as if she were merely breathing. She had heard that Viola hadn’t learned magic or swordsmanship.

 

‘Reacting to that mana, I unconsciously used my own mana.’

 

She used mana to protect her cheek in an unconscious reaction.

 

‘She’s only 12, and a ‘White Bellato’ at that. How is this possible?’

 

Crimson had seen it himself. Viola’s mana was enormous. It was something he had never seen before. Even though she was young, the innate purity and concentration of her mana exceeded imagination.

 

‘She’s even more of a Bellato than I thought.’

 

Today, he was convinced of this fact. He hadn’t known it but she was on par with Lady Medea, the successor of the Bellato family.

 

‘No, she might even surpass Lady Medea, especially when it comes to the intensity of mana. This is a fresh revelation.’

 

The fact that a noblewoman with such talent and mana chose to become a ‘White Bellato’ was also surprising.

 

“Hey, are you okay?”

 

Crimson’s voice reached her. Only now did Ersa regain her composure and look at Crimson. How should she have a private conversation with this rude and arrogant mage?

 

“It would be nice if the two of us could have a discreet conversation.”

 

“A discreet conversation?”

 

“Just the two of us, away from prying eyes.”

 

Ersa approached Crimson and when her face got closer, Crimson nervously swallowed his saliva.

 

“Well, I guess that’s okay. I’ll listen.”

 

And then three hours passed.

 

* * *

 

“I will initiate a bodily conversation.”

 

Ersa, who had torn a noise-blocking magic scroll to prevent sound from escaping, began a merciless flogging. Instead of a sword, she held a wooden club.

 

“Don’t worry, I’ll only hit where people can’t see. The reason for your poor social skills is rooted in non-violence. The people in the Tower took care of the Tower’s mages as if they were nurturing the sun. I’ve heard they provide a safe living environment, warm food, clothing, and even temperature control.”

 

She continued to swing the club.

 

Thwack!

 

The loud noises didn’t leave the room. The screams were no different. He tried to resist with magic, but it was impossible. For the first time in his life, he felt helpless.

 

“Today, you will become a lightning bolt. I will help you regain your senses after being struck by lightning.”

 

Ersa chuckled.

 

“Please think about how you as a servant should treat the employer.”

 

Those dreadful three hours passed slowly. When Viola and Hera returned, he was mentally fortified.

 

Crimson bowed deeply.

 

“Ah, guests, have you come?”

 

Crimson clasped his hands together. He looked as though a fly was nibbling at his legs.

 

“I’m Crimson, the servant who will accompany you comfortably all the way to Parr. I’m a level 2 circle mage, and I’ll guide you using my flying magic. I’ll do my best to ensure a pleasant and comfortable journey. Hehe.”

 

In just three hours, the social skills that hadn’t developed in 37 years grew rapidly.

 

—————————————————————

Translator Note:

 

Want to read more?