Chapter 32
“Looks like you’ve been living like that these days.”
When Herace acknowledged him, the Master’s mouth slowly opened.
“I thought you were a descendant because you looked so similar… but it’s really you, Herace?”
“I don’t remember seeing a child of mine.”
“Right. I didn’t remember either. That’s why I was unsure.”
The Master leaned in toward Herace. At that uncomfortable proximity, Herace recoiled, pushing his face away.
“Back off. It’s gross.”
“The really gross thing hasn’t changed—it’s you.”
The Master seemed fascinated by how Herace had remained youthful, circling around him and observing carefully.
“When did you break the seal? And 500 years have passed—how haven’t you aged at all?”
“Well, it just turned out that way. You’re the same as ever.”
I blinked at the familiar, friendly conversation between the two of them.
‘Judging by the way they talk… it seems like they already know each other…?’
Wait, what? Does that mean the Master is someone from 500 years ago?
‘This is ridiculous… so he’s not even human…?’
Before I could process it further, Herace must have briefly explained the situation, because the Master rubbed his chin and circled around me.
“So, the princess broke Herace’s seal?”
“Yes, I did.”
Why hide it when they already know each other? I revealed the truth.
“This is really interesting.”
The Master’s gaze changed as he looked at me—curiosity, surprise, and even friendliness.
“So, what information do you want? It’s been a while, so I’ll tell you anything. Are you still trying to find Daphne’s weakness?”
“When were we talking about enemies? You claim to be the empire’s top guild, but that was just a rumor.”
“Huh?”
“Information updates are slow. I don’t care about them even a little anymore, so make sure that’s properly noted. I don’t even want to see that cursed couple anymore.”
“Then what is it that the princess truly wants?”
“I…”
I was about to skip the preliminaries and bring up Margo’s story, but I suddenly froze at a sense of déjà vu.
‘This scent…’
The fragrance lingering around my nose since earlier felt familiar. The herbal scent kept catching my attention.
‘Where have I smelled this before?’
It wasn’t an ordinary herbal scent. It seemed mixed, a very unique fragrance.
I frowned, pressing my forehead as a vague memory teased me. Mistaking my reaction for a headache, the Master hurriedly asked.
“Hey, Princess. Are you okay?”
“Take your hand away.”
Herace pushed the Master’s hand away and wrapped me in his arms.
“Cici, what’s wrong?”
“Nothing… it’s not like I have any ill intentions. Huh…”
I didn’t hear Herace’s worry or the Master’s flustered voice.
Earlier, when the Master approached, the fragrance deepened, and I stared at him intently.
“Master. Haven’t we met before?”
“Sorry, Princess, but you’re not my type.”
The Master frowned and leaned back. His gaze was impure, as if looking at a shameless human.
I flared up, shouting at him.
“Are you crazy? That’s my line! Long-haired guys aren’t my type!”
“You’re talking nonsense. You must be crazy. Well, after living over 500 years, dementia makes sense.”
Herace smirked, apparently pleased with whatever had upset me.
“Dementia? I’m still perfectly fine!”
The Master jumped up, claiming he was going insane, but surprisingly, no one paid attention.
No one, indeed. I continued verbally thrashing the Master without pause.
“So, it’s just prince syndrome, is it? And if we’re talking tastes, I prefer this one.”
Outraged by the ridiculous misunderstanding, I quickly grabbed Herace’s arm and gave the Master a sharp glare.
“I have Heren; there’s no way I’d be interested in you.”
Ridiculous. Seeing that handsome face every day, do you think I’d suddenly like another guy?
Muttering the unspeakable thoughts to myself, I turned my head at the heavy weight pressing against my shoulder.
Herace pressed his lips to my head and let out a faint smile. His low voice brushed against my ear.
“You’re my type? I’m flattered.”
“I take that back. You’re not my type either.”
“That’s harsh. Weren’t you saying I was your favorite? Cici’s heart is like a reed.”
“Heren. Shut your mouth. It’s annoying.”
“Pfft!”
The Master chuckled, shoulders shaking, as if listening to a comedy sketch. He laughed for a while, wiping tears from his eyes.
“The more I see, the more fun it is.”
“Don’t change the subject.”
I narrowed my eyes, suspicious of his sly attempt to redirect the conversation.
‘This just makes it more suspicious.’
I suddenly leaned toward him.
“I’ve heard the rumor that the princess is a dog, but maybe it’s better if you say it verbally?”
The scent I caught again was indeed not suited to someone as dubious as the Master.
‘An herbal scent in the information guild… such a fragrance suits that child I met back then more than the Master…’
Huh?
“Didn’t we bump into each other on the street a few days ago…?”
I knew it was impossible, but my instincts screamed madly.
That child and the Master were the same person.
“You’re him, aren’t you?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
See? The Master shrugged, feigning ignorance.
“Fairy’s tears, windgrass, soul flower… is that about right? I thought the scent got on me because of the herbal basket back then, but it wasn’t because of me?”
“…You recognized it by the herbal scent?”
“Yeah.”
“This is really surprising.”
Those words were practically an acknowledgment that they were the same person.
“I have a good nose.”
I brushed my hair back and smiled confidently. Who am I? I’ve tried every herb and miraculous medicine in the world.
I didn’t know all herbal scents, but such a unique fragrance was unforgettable.
“So, little El—”
“It’s Oel.”
Oel, revealing his real name, burst into laughter.
“Oel. You sold a token to my brother in El’s form, didn’t you?”
At first, I was just happy—a token to meet the master of Valhalla. I couldn’t have been happier.
But the joy was short-lived. Doubts crept in.
‘I distributed money everywhere for half a year to buy that token, and you got it in just a few days. How?’
Noah excelled in every way, but he was slow with this kind of information.
Especially Valhalla’s info. After a half-year obsession, I couldn’t have been behind Noah.
But I failed, and Noah succeeded?
‘Unless someone deliberately sold it to Noah, this makes no sense.’
But the Master, Oel… that little El. Now the puzzle fit.
“So this is what you meant by repayment?”
“Quick to notice. If I knew it’d be this fun, I would have appeared when the princess was tossing money into the air half a year ago.”
Oel’s eyes gleamed with joy.
Recalling those days of tossing money into thin air made my stomach churn.
‘My blood money!’
Now, I’d extract everything from head to toe.
“Alchemist, I want to know Margo Flynn’s location.”
“Hmm. Why?”
“I need to make medicine. I’ll give you any amount of money, just find her in time.”
I placed the advance payment on the table and asked again.
“Can you do it?”
“Of course.”
Relieved, I let out a breath.
“How long will it take?”
“Not long.”
“What do you mean ‘not long’? Tomorrow? Day after? A week?”
“No, right now.”
What? My face filled with question marks as Oel’s smile deepened.
“I’m right in front of you.”
“What’s?”
“I am Margo Flynn, the one the princess has been desperately searching for these past two months.”
Oel, the Master of the information guild Valhalla, had a special ability.
He could change not only his age and appearance, but even his gender.
He sometimes became a child, sometimes an elderly person, sometimes a woman, collecting the information he needed.
Using this ability to its fullest, he made Valhalla the empire’s top information guild…
…so he explained.
I couldn’t take my eyes off the transformed Oel.
Seeing a red-haired woman in her mid-30s naturally left me in awe.
So this was the real Margo…
“Is that magic?”
“No.”
“Then how do you change your appearance?”
“It’s a secret.”
Shushing with his finger to his lips, Oel tried to slip away smoothly.
“A secret? He’s a dragon.”
Herace revealed everything.
“Hey! How can you say that? That’s a trade secret!”
Oel yelled, grabbing his head in frustration.
