Chapter 33

* * *

‘I wonder if I can just hand over that bracelet now.’

Of course, it was an incredibly high-performance artifact, but since it could immediately track my location if necessary, I couldn’t take it with me.

Doha headed towards the Department of Magic building. Since she was moving quietly without making any fuss, she could avoid running into anyone.

It was all thanks to Bunny’s talent.

‘Perhaps it’s the start of working hours.’

Doha hid near the building and observed the passing wizards with the eye of a hawk.

Most of them were shuffling around like zombies, but there was one who was walking perfectly fine.

Seeing him in a white robe confirmed that he was a wizard.

Doha’s gaze fell on his thick upper lip.

A solid and reliable fellow. Although he was easily swayed by the atmosphere.

‘At least he won’t beat around the bush.’

Although there was still some risk involved, she judged that it would be relatively safe.

As soon as their eyes met, Doha flicked her finger at him.

‘If I enter the building myself, it will be recorded.’

The wizard pointed to himself as if asking, “Me?”

Doha nodded.

“What’s going on here…?”

Senior Mage, Antonio.

He approached cautiously, as if wondering if this was some kind of child’s prank, and glanced around.

“Is there any magic available to move to the Diamin Territory right away?”

“Oh, yes. If it’s a contracted territory, we’re always prepared to move immediately.”

“Then let’s just use that.”

“What?”

Antonio’s eyes bulged.

Doha’s words sounded like a declaration of escape to him.

“Miss, you can’t leave the castle grounds!”

“It’ll only be for a moment. I’ve received various kinds of help from many people this time, and I want to buy a special item to repay the Duke.”

“Good Lord.”

Antonio rubbed his forehead.

“If the First Young Master finds out, I’m dead.”

“Why?”

“Why, you ask? Of course, because of what happened three years ago…!”

She thought he would bring up the incident with Leiden, but she didn’t expect him to go back three years.

He bit his tongue before saying anything further and suddenly shook his head with a pale face.

“I can’t say.”

Ah, because of the vow of silence.

Doha understood immediately.

Unlike servants, wizards and knights were in short supply, so instead of driving them away, they entered into vows of silence.

A vow that would result in sudden death if any mention was made about Bunny’s true identity or the real Ophelia.

It was ruthlessly effective.

‘Is this about when Ophelia was cursed three years ago?’

Doha didn’t know exactly what happened that day.

She had only heard fragmentary stories about Ophelia falling victim to a curse due to the influence of a sorcerer.

‘Could it be related to Angelus?’

Well, it wasn’t that important in the current situation.

“Anyway, it’s dangerous outside the castle!”

“Stop worrying. If you’re going to use the scroll you made for transportation, they can track you immediately, right?”

“Well, that’s true, but…”

“So what’s there to worry about?”

Doha continued to persuade the emotionally fragile Antonio.

“First Young Master is always busy without a moment’s rest. I haven’t seen him for a while either. He only visits when he has business.”

Of course, she volunteered as a home tutor, so he came looking for her every day during class hours. But there was no need to mention that.

“And you know, I’m not some delicate lady who grew up sheltered from the world. I survived alone in a garbage dump without parents.”

“That’s not the issue…”

He sighed as if there was nothing he could do, clutching his head as if in agony.

“I’ll give you exactly one hour. If you don’t come back within that time, I’ll come after you.”

“Got it.”

She replied readily.

‘I’m here.’

Accepting the transportation scroll Antonio tremblingly handed over, Doha once again scrutinized his face.

‘Why, why are you looking at me like that?’

Doha had left a letter in advance. It begged for mercy for the wizard who had helped her, asking not to kill him.

“As expected, you’re not an easy prey.”

“What do you mean?”

Doha tore the transportation scroll without hesitation.

“Wait! Lady? What do you mean by that…!”

Antonio, left alone, shouted desperately, but Doha had already moved to the designated coordinates.

* * *

Finding the rumored wandering wizard was quite easy. He had been staying at the same inn all along.

As he was famous enough for rumors to spread to Diamin Territory, everyone there knew about the wizard.

‘He should be at the inn this morning.’

Doha tightened her hood even more and searched around for the man with red hair and green eyes that Ruby had mentioned.

But suddenly, before her eyes, a red rose was thrust forward.

“Little miss, are you looking for me?”

“…”

“You’ve found me well. I am Muto, the wandering wizard who roams this world in pursuit of justice and peace.”

She came on her own.

So, is this some kind of fan service?

Doha stared blankly at the man, who was quite flamboyant as Ruby had described.

But to her eyes, what mattered more than the ideal harmony of facial features universally preferred was the physiognomy.

Thick and short eyebrows, large round eyes, a nose so straight that you couldn’t see the nostrils, thin and large lips…

He was a typical sanguine temperament.

But he had a sense of humor and a spark of curiosity, and he wasn’t the type to step on others mercilessly.

“Would you like to hear my song? Or perhaps a tale of defeating villains and achieving victory?”

“…”

“Say anything you like. Since you’ve come all this way to see me, I’m happy to meet your expectations.”

The persistent gaze of the wizard was fixed on Doha’s hood.

A hood made of high-quality fabric.

It was the most modest one she could find, but she couldn’t hide the fact that she was a noble.

In other words, Muto was approaching her, assuming she was a noble heiress with a smell of money.

“You seem like someone I can have a good conversation with.”

As Doha bluntly said that, the corners of Muto’s thin lips curled up.

With a capitalist smile, he extended a rose to her.

“What is it that you desire, little miss?”

Doha accepted the rose Muto offered and threw it away behind her.

“No…!”

A passerby happened to step on the rose without a second thought.

It was when Muto was looking at the scene with a sense of futility.

“Five transportation scrolls and about ten artifacts of various kinds.”

Doha stated what she wanted.

“What types of magic can be engraved on mana stones? How long will it take? I need to work while moving to different territories. Is that possible?”

“Why the transportation…?”

“They’ll be tracking us soon.”

“I don’t engage in risky activities.”

Muto suddenly became serious.

“I heard you defeated a bear.”

“W-well, that’s… It was just a wild animal. It’s annoying to be followed.”

He had promised to tell her a story about defeating a villain earlier…

Instead of answering, she took out a diamond fragment from her pocket and handed it to him.

“I haven’t counted, but I brought plenty, enough to fill three pockets.”

“…”

“I’ll give you all of them.”

“Please entrust anything to me.”

In just three minutes, she managed to earn Muto’s loyalty.

* * *

‘I won’t be able to use this method again.’

Doha looked down at the torn transportation scroll with a regretful expression.

It had taken almost a whole day for Muto to prepare everything Doha had requested. Of course, it was a fast pace, but still.

‘When I return to the castle, I won’t be able to escape so easily like this.’

How will I escape then? More importantly, when will I be able to leave again?

Such thoughts crossed her mind, but there was no regret.

It was the only option for now.

From the royal castle to the garbage dump, even if she took a carriage, it would take almost a month.

‘I don’t have time for that.’

She needed to confirm if Damian was safe right away.

‘I need to move to a safe place before Kredel starts tracking me.’

There shouldn’t be any problems.

As she ran with all her might, the darkness gradually receded, and the sun appeared on the horizon.

From the moment she made the decision, she moved without delay, but it took several days.

Every minute felt urgent, and her heart burned with impatience as the situation didn’t allow for any delays.

It wasn’t a good sign considering that assassins were usually active at night.

‘Please, let nothing happen tonight.’

How far did she run?

―Are you there?

The gem she was holding finally emitted a glow, signaling success.

“Hey, you…!”

He was alive. Fortunately, it seemed that her worries were unfounded.

Although there was no satisfaction in escaping from Kredel Castle with the burden of the risk that she might not be able to come out again, it was still alright.

Because she was safe.

She wiped her chest and, instead of reproaching him for not contacting her, she brought up something more important first.

“It may come as a surprise, but there are people targeting your life. This year is critical, so if you’re careful this year…”

―Yeah, I know.

He knows?

Doha stood still in her tracks.

Right in front of her was the entrance to Bani’s hometown, the garbage dump. She could see vagrants loitering around the entrance. They were casting curious glances at her, or more precisely, predatory gazes.

But Doha didn’t have the mind to care about such things right now.

Doha asked, somewhat absentmindedly, “How do you know?”

―I want to live…

Damian whispered in a voice barely audible.

―Sorry, it seems tough.

“That’s… What do you mean…!”

―But still, I wanted to thank you.

At the same time as his voice, there was a crackling sound of something breaking.

―Ah… I found the Rabbit Star.

He said he found it, so it’s over now, he seemed to imply, and the communication ended there.