Episode 21
The black cat stared unhappily at the blood soaking into the ground.
[Why spill blood when you could’ve used the mana you absorbed from that brat?]
Lindsay replied casually,
“Blood’s the best way to anchor mana into the ground. And if I’m already bleeding, might as well offer a sacrifice. Two birds with one stone.”
The cat’s black tail thumped the ground in irritation.
What she said was true — the most stable, least wasteful way to fix mana into the earth was through the caster’s own blood.
Plus, according to the contract between her and Nero, if she offered a sacrifice, she’d receive mana equal to that offering in return.
Still, it was strange. You’d expect a demon to want sacrifices, not complain about them.
Lindsay smirked mischievously.
“What kind of demon hates sacrifices?”
[Who said I hate them? I just don’t like seeing my contractor getting scratched up, that’s all.]
“I’m a witch. A tiny cut on my hand isn’t exactly a tragedy.”
[Fine, fine. Then show me your hand.]
“Here, see? Not a drop left.”
Nero examined her outstretched palm carefully. His twitching tail slowed down when he saw it was completely healed.
He then turned his golden eyes toward the big stone glowing faintly with mana.
[Why are you remaking the Moonstone anyway? Didn’t you already build your domain ages ago?]
Lindsay’s Moonstone — the massive crystal anchoring her territory — still shone flawlessly, not a single crack.
“Let’s just say I’ve got a reason. Don’t worry about it, Your Highness. This humble servant knows what she’s doing.”
The cat was silent for a bit, then spoke again.
[…Little witch, make some time soon.]
Lindsay tilted her head.
“Huh? When?”
[The sooner, the better.]
“If it’s not urgent, let me finish one thing first.”
[When will that be?]
“Probably by the end of this week. I’ll let you know.”
[Tell me right away.]
“What’s this about anyway?”
Lindsay asked carefully — Nero was never the type to nag or rush her about anything. The fact that he was now pushing her made her uneasy.
[Someone wants to meet you.]
“Me? Why?”
Her eyes widened. Nero’s acquaintances were never normal. He himself was a demon, after all. Expecting the people (or beings) around him to be ordinary would be ridiculous.
So whoever this was… probably not human.
[They’re looking for advice. I think you should meet them too — that old geezer.]
“Old geezer? How old are we talking here?”
[Let’s see… When I met him, he looked like a young man. That was over a hundred years ago, so… at least a century old now.]
A hundred years? That ruled out angels and demons — those races were immortal.
“Then… an elf? A dwarf? But that age doesn’t fit either.”
[Human. But if you don’t want to meet him, you don’t have to.]
“It’s fine. A short meeting won’t kill me.”
If Nero was pushing her this much, refusing would only cause trouble later.
Lindsay sighed and took out her communication orb and a small card. By now, Michael should’ve finished talking with the “female lead” and made his decision.
A short tone beeped, and a familiar voice answered from the other end.
– You’re late.
“Busy woman, remember? Anyway, did you decide?”
– …Your voice sounds different.
“This is my real one.”
– Bold of you. The client agreed to meet.
Bold? Please. What could he possibly do just because he’s heard my real voice?
Lindsay snorted and asked,
“When and where?”
– Knock on the back gate of the Duke of Perdeus’s townhouse at noon, March 17th. Tell them you’re here to treat the illness of the ‘rose.’ They’ll take you to the client.
She froze for a moment.
Wait— the ‘rose’ is the female lead?
Ugh. Why not just use a simple knock code like “three knocks, pause, one”?
Trying not to cringe, Lindsay stretched her fingers and forced herself to ask,
“And you?”
– My part ends with arranging the meeting. But here’s some advice.
“Go on.”
– You’ve probably guessed. The client is Duke Perdeus. Don’t do anything stupid.
“Thanks for the tip. Tell him one thing for me, too.”
– What’s that?
“He shouldn’t do anything stupid either.”
– …
She hung up before he could reply and started humming.
The once uncertain path ahead now seemed clear.
In a week, she’d visit the Perdeus estate, heal the “rose,” and move on with her own work.
If she could make some useful connections along the way, even better.
Her spirits lifted, Lindsay smiled brightly, and turned to Nero.
“How about March 18th, Nero?”
[Not a bad time. Keep that day free.]
“Got it. …Wait, where are you going?”
She grabbed the cat’s tail as he wiggled his hips and vanished into shadow.
Nero wasn’t the type to move around this busily.
[Going sightseeing.]
“At this hour? What’s there to— …he’s gone.”
Left alone in the power room, Lindsay frowned, staring at the spot where the cat had disappeared. Then she sighed and teleported back to her two-story house in the Imperial Capital.
Just as she appeared in her second-floor bedroom, a violet-tinted wind bird fluttered through the wall.
She squinted suspiciously.
What are the chances it arrives right when I get home?
But soon, she relaxed. She trusted her own magic enough to know Lionel hadn’t tagged her with a tracking spell.
It really must’ve been a coincidence.
The little wind bird perched on her shoulder, whispering in the air:
– Can we have breakfast together tomorrow?
Hearing that voice through the whistle of air, Lindsay couldn’t help but laugh.
She’d told him to rest and come later tomorrow, after her shop hours… yet he still couldn’t wait.
That man’s supposed to be a grown-up. Why does he act like a puppy?
She whispered the breakfast menu into a flowerpot infused with magic, sent the enchanted bloom flying out the window, and went to bed smiling.
Time passed.
Cooking three servings of breakfast had become routine, and spring flowers began to bloom along the streets.
One bright morning, Lindsay fastened her cloak and arrived at the Duke of Perdeus’s townhouse.
She pressed the doorbell.
Barely ten seconds later, the door opened — an old man with neatly combed silver hair appeared.
Trying not to cringe, Lindsay recited the awkward password Michael had given her a week ago.
“I’m here… to treat the illness of the rose.”
Oh God, kill me now.
Face burning, she pulled her hood lower over her face.
If she weren’t wearing a cloak, she wouldn’t have been able to say something that embarrassing at all.
“I am Richard, the butler managing the Perdeus townhouse. Please follow me, miss.”
Despite her quiet whisper, the butler somehow understood perfectly and bowed before leading the way.
He moved gracefully yet precisely, his footsteps soundless on the gravel path through the garden.
Lindsay followed, watching his black morning coat swish as they passed through the estate.
Unlike other noble homes, the trees here grew unusually tall — and there wasn’t a single gardener in sight, even though it was midday.
Instead, mana-bearers — not ordinary humans — were stationed throughout the estate.
It looked like they’d sent all the servants away ahead of time.
Pretty sloppy security for a duke, she thought, scanning the area.
She’d expected anti-magic wards or traps, but saw none.
So the “brilliant” Duke Perdeus thought adding more guards would be enough to protect his precious “rose”?
Just as she was starting to feel disappointed in Michael’s client, the butler stopped at the entrance of the mansion. Naturally, Lindsay stopped too, glancing up at him.
