WIOHMH 76🔐

Chapter 76. The Bathroom Beneath the Shade

“Hmm? Black market? Why the black market? Are you asking me to go to the black market together?”

“N-no, sir, that’s not what I meant……”

“Hah! This is the first time I’ve been asked out on a date in the Magic Tower! Hahaha!”

“…A date?”

Liam, who had been listening, muttered in confusion. His face turned cold in an instant.

Arnold scratched his head and glanced at Liam before speaking casually.

“Hey now, if you glare like that, you’ll bore a hole through my face.”

“Berkyn, are you trying to go on a date with him?”

“N-No! Of course not!”

Startled, Berkyn shook her head vigorously. Dating a client was one of the things she avoided the most.

Besides, Arnold Daisy—with his rough, intimidating appearance—was completely not her type. She even waved her hands as she hurriedly explained.

“I-I wasn’t asking the client! I was asking Mr. Liam to go together!”

“Oh? So that’s how it is? Are you two dating then?”

Chuckling, Arnold looked back and forth between Berkyn and Liam. Though he seemed to have formed a new misunderstanding, Berkyn felt relieved just clearing up the earlier one.

Liam, who had looked cold, returned to his usual indifferent expression. He seemed quite satisfied that she hadn’t been trying to go on a date with Arnold.

“Anyway, so when are you going to recharge my items?”

“Ah, sir… about that……”

When working at the Magic Tower, there were times when work piled up unfairly all at once.

Berkyn thought that time was right now.

…Fine. I’ll just work overtime today.

After steeling her resolve, she spoke.

“…If it’s alright, could you come back tomorrow morning? It looks like it’ll take quite a while.”

“Oh? So I should come early tomorrow morning?”

“Yes, sir. But next time, please make sure to list all the items you want recharged in the request form. Otherwise, I won’t be able to process it.”

“Goodness, you’re quite strict, miss. Alright, alright.”

Waving his hand, Arnold left down the corridor. Once he was gone, Berkyn let out a sigh of relief.

…Wait, should she really be relieved? She was clearly stuck working overtime to recharge all those items.

Through the slightly open door, she could see the pile Arnold had left behind. With her skill, she wouldn’t need all night—but overtime was unavoidable.

As Berkyn bit her lower lip and vowed to report Hermod’s misconduct to higher-ups—

“When are you going?”

A voice from behind made her shoulders flinch. Only then did she remember Liam.

Turning around, she saw him standing right behind her, closer than expected.

“Huh? Go where?”

“The black market.”

“…Why would we go to the black market?”

“You said we should go on a date.”

“I did?”

Berkyn pointed at herself, eyes wide. A date? When had she suggested—

Ah.

She remembered mentioning Liam just to escape Arnold’s misunderstanding. It had been nothing more than an improvisation for her… but apparently not for Liam.

With a gloomy expression, she replied,

“Maybe next time. As you can see, I can’t leave work until I finish recharging all those items.”

“Items?”

“Yes, see that pile inside? I have to recharge all of them. I don’t even know if I can finish today……”

Liam’s gaze shifted toward the items on the desk. Even to him, it was quite a lot.

Berkyn tried to steady her sinking mood. Back at headquarters, she often couldn’t leave on time due to assigned inquiries anyway.

Still… it would’ve been nice to keep working with Liam.

Lost in that thought, she suddenly asked,

“Oh, Mr. Liam. What brings you here? Our assigned inquiry is already over.”

“…Over?”

“Yes, didn’t you hear? The Ad Chief told me. That I don’t need to supply you with mana anymore… I mean, that we don’t need to work together anymore.”

Liam’s face crumpled completely. Judging by his reaction, this was news to him.

“Who decided that?”

“…Well, wouldn’t it be the department chiefs?”

Berkyn expressed her disappointment openly. Working with Liam was easier, brought extra incentives, and also…

“That won’t happen.”

“Huh?”

“We’re continuing the assigned inquiry.”

“Well… we can’t decide that ourselves.”

“Why not?”

Liam rummaged through his pocket and pulled something out—a small brooch. It was an item.

Judging by the situation, he had brought it for recharging. Instead of taking it, Berkyn showed an apologetic expression.

“I don’t think I can recharge it today. I already have prior commitments.”

“You said you’d leave it at the black market.”

“…I never said that.”

“Isn’t that what you meant by going to the black market?”

Berkyn, who had indeed thought something similar, quickly shook her head despite the pang in her conscience.

“T-that’s illegal.”

“If you leave it with someone licensed, it’s not illegal.”

“…Someone licensed?”

Berkyn stared blankly at Liam. He tilted his head, as if nothing was strange.

Come to think of it… that was true.

Not everyone in the black market was unlicensed. Though rare, there were officially certified magicians from the Magic Tower there too.

If she went, paid the fee, and made a proper request… even this absurd workload could be handled, couldn’t it?

Berkyn’s face brightened rapidly.

Going home didn’t seem far off anymore.

“Let’s go to the black market, Mr. Liam!”

Having gotten off work faster than anyone else, Berkyn cautiously looked around.

The sun hadn’t fully set yet, but the alley she stood in was dim due to the lack of light.

The narrow paths branched in many directions, but Liam navigated them with ease. Berkyn hurried after him.

Then suddenly, Liam stopped in the middle of an alley.

There hung a small wooden sign.

[Under the Shade of a Tree]

Liam pushed the sign and went inside. Judging by the lively noise within, it seemed to be a tavern.

“Mr. Liam, we are going to the black market, right?”

“Yeah.”

Having never been involved with such places, Berkyn looked around anxiously. The only person she knew here was Liam, so she stayed close to him.

“But why are we here?”

The tavern called Under the Shade of a Tree looked no different from a normal one—just a bit more shady due to its location.

Instead of answering, Liam approached the bartender, who seemed to be the owner. After recognizing Liam, the bartender grinned and handed him a key.

“The bathroom’s that way.”

“…?”

They hadn’t even mentioned the bathroom—so why that? Still, Liam accepted the key as if it were natural.

Does he need to go?

Berkyn pulled out a chair, intending to wait at the bar. But Liam grabbed her hand before she could sit.

“Let’s go.”

“To the bathroom? Together?”

Even going with another woman would be awkward…

While her mind filled with question marks, Liam led her along. Sure enough, there was a door marked as a restroom.

He unlocked it and swung it open.

“Cheap, cheap! Black cat whiskers for just 1 gold!”

“Buying Tears of a Red Dragon!”

“…This is the bathroom?”

“That’s what they usually call it.”

The “bathroom” beneath the shade of a tree—

was the very place people called the black market.