Chapter 57
I lowered my voice and spoke quietly to Director Jang, restraining my usual boldness.
“Please save the mages who are being exploited. They say the contract can’t be broken easily because it’s a three-party agreement between the mages, Carun, and Pen-Sing Factory. We need your power as Pen-Sing’s representative.”
“So that was your goal from the start.”
I just smiled at him, not bothering to reply.
Of course, if I really wanted to, I could dig up every secret about Pen-Sing Factory.
But I chose the proper way because I couldn’t stand the thought of those mages right now, pumping magic into their contract quills and getting drained of their lifeforce.
Every second mattered. Saving them came first. There’s nothing more precious than a person’s life in this world.
After thinking for a while, Director Jang raised one corner of his lips.
“How impudent. That Carun fellow—daring to put his own representative in such a difficult position.”
“Then you’ll do it?”
“Well now, what if I say no?”
“I don’t have the guts to threaten you or Pen-Sing Factory. What should I do?”
“That statement itself sounds like a threat.”
He let out a booming laugh, his large belly shaking, and the gold necklace around his neck clinked loudly.
“Fine. I’ll try to cancel the contracts. I can’t afford to make an enemy of the Hero.”
The following days were extremely busy.
First, Pen-Sing Factory and I formed a goblin-hunting squad and wiped out the goblins that had appeared on the southern coast.
After defeating them, we distributed Timhe stones to the coastal residents.
“If goblins appear, don’t panic—just throw this stone. They’ll vanish immediately.”
“As expected of the Hero! And Pen-Sing Factory! You’re the best!”
The terrified citizens soon cheered for me and Pen-Sing.
Next, I contacted Arines through the video-call crystal.
— Jiana, why are you calling so late?
“Ugh, I swear, babysitting your disasters is turning me old!”
It was frustrating that I could only see Arines through the crystal orb. If she were here, I’d have smacked her back good and hard.
— What do you mean?
“You knew goblins showed up in the Astria Empire, didn’t you?”
— …I’m sorry.
Arines lowered her head like a guilty child.
After giving her a long scolding, I got to the point.
“Could you talk to Victor for me? To break a three-way contract, we need consent from Carun and every mage. Victor can handle that.”
— Yes, ma’am! As Hero Jiana commands, so shall I obey!
“Don’t meet Victor too often though. The Tower Master might get jealous.”
I teased her one last time and ended the call.
Then it was finally time to return to the capital.
Riding Garri would’ve been faster, but Director Jang invited me to ride in his luxurious private carriage, so we boarded together.
It was a good chance—there were many questions I wanted to ask him.
Inside the carriage, I began firing them one by one.
“Director Jang, you’re not originally from the Astria Empire, are you?”
“No, I immigrated from another continent. I first sold contract quills in Tion Kingdom, then expanded to Astria.”
“How did you come up with the contract quill? What’s its mechanism?”
“Oh dear, that’s a trade secret.”
“Using a person’s lifeforce is dangerous, isn’t it?”
“Hero Jiana, please stop interrogating me.”
He was sharp—dodging questions with expert precision.
“If you pry too much into a businessman’s secrets, it puts us in a tough spot. What if you create your own contract-quill factory? I’d go bankrupt!”
I couldn’t press further when he put it that way.
After I stopped questioning him, he changed the topic.
“Actually, I’ve been curious about something too.”
“What is it?”
“You defeated a dragon, yes? May I see it up close?”
Garri was quite shy—sometimes I regretted naming him that.
He’d flown around gleefully fighting goblins, yet now he was curled up in my bag, avoiding new people.
When I reached in, he scowled but crawled out reluctantly.
“Garri, say hello to Director Jang?”
“…I am a mighty dragon.”
“My word, the legendary conqueror of the Dragon Seas standing before me? May I touch him just once?”
“Grrr…”
Garri was adorable, and many people wanted to pet him. He used to refuse fiercely, but eventually learned to endure it with his eyes shut tight.
This time should be no different—
or so I thought.
But the moment Director Jang’s hand touched Garri’s head, Garri screamed loud enough to shake the carriage.
“GYAAAAAAH!”
“G-Garri?! What’s wrong?”
Startled, I tried to calm him, but Garri thrashed violently, then suddenly crashed through the window and flew away.
“Garri!”
I screamed, panicked. The carriage screeched to a stop on the road.
“I-I apologize. I only tried to pet him—how could he react like that…?”
Director Jang muttered, pale with shock, but I didn’t answer. I leapt from the carriage and sprinted after Garri.
— Be careful of her, Director. That woman has strange powers.
The unpleasant voice of the black mage echoed through the ring.
— I almost died because of her. Don’t ever make me board a pirate ship again. I value my life, you know.
“If you had handled it properly the first time, this wouldn’t be such a bother.”
— Magic doesn’t even work on her! How was I supposed to deal with that?
“Are you sure it’s not just because you’re weak?”
— Hah. Meet her yourself and you’ll see. Good luck.
Director Jang crushed the communication with annoyance.
Ridiculous. To be troubled by one mere woman?
He clicked his tongue and headed toward his newly built factory.
By now, news of the goblins should have reached the capital. Even if she rushed, it would take her at least three days to arrive.
Pen-Sing Factory had to defeat the goblins first and earn public praise.
Pen-Sing will win the Empire’s trust through this.
Pretending to inspect the factory, he quietly summoned goblins into the yard.
“Aah! W-what are those?!”
“Monsters! Goblins are here!”
Chaos erupted instantly. He dramatically herded everyone inside and locked the doors “for safety.”
People began panicking as time passed.
This should be enough.
He opened a window, threw a Timhe stone, and shouted heroically,
“Begone, vile creatures!”
A goblin struck by the stone vanished in a puff, and the terrified workers’ eyes lit up. They each grabbed stones and threw them, clearing the yard rapidly.
Good. Now to finish the ones behind the factory—
Just as he moved to another window, he froze.
What? Why is she already here?!
That woman the black mage warned him about—Jiana Hertin—stood there, having already defeated the goblins.
Impossible. Even at full speed, it should take three days!
He was supposed to be the hero today. The citizens should have been cheering Pen-Sing.
But she arrived too soon, ruining everything.
Boiling frustration filled him.
“It’s Jiana.”
She smiled sweetly, which only made it worse.
Then she dropped a bomb.
“Director, do you happen to know Carun?”
He nearly choked.
Five years ago, he himself had recruited Carun as a broker.
Has she already investigated him? Is she suspecting me?
