Episode 5
“Erpin? What brings you here?”
The moment I opened my eyes, I went looking for Eden.
Since he was the son of a prestigious swordsmanship family, I was told he was already at the training grounds early in the morning, so I hurried over.
It was just past dawn. Under the glowing morning sky, Eden swinging his sword looked like a painting.
If I’d had a camera, I probably would’ve pressed the shutter five hundred times without realizing it.
“Well, I was just wondering if you’d eaten breakfast.”
“Not yet. If you haven’t either, want to eat together? It’s been a while.”
“Yeah… sure.”
“Then wait a moment. I’ll clean up and come right back.”
On the way to the dining hall, we talked nonstop. We’d known each other for so long that we always had plenty to talk about.
When we entered the dining room, Eden pulled out a chair for me and smiled warmly.
“Thanks.”
“No problem.”
He replied playfully and chuckled as he walked away. I laughed along with him without thinking.
Once Eden sat down, the servants brought the food as if they’d been waiting.
The onion soup looked delicious. As soon as I took a bite, warmth spread through my body, and the tension I hadn’t even realized I was holding slowly melted away.
“Hey, Eden.”
“Hm?”
Eden looked at me with a small smile.
“I think it’s about time I leave the duke’s house.”
At my words, Eden froze and set his spoon down with a loud clink.
“What are you talking about, Erpin?”
“Well… I’ve already been staying here for years. I’ve relied on you all too much.”
“You’ve been thinking like that all this time? You don’t have to. There’s no one in this house who doesn’t like you. Especially my parents—they treat you like their own daughter.”
He was right.
When I thought about the servants, including Lise, and Eden’s parents who had always welcomed me, my chest tightened for no reason.
“I know. And I’m grateful. But you and I are both adults now. I think it’s time to be independent.”
“Wait… you don’t mean—”
Eden hesitated, then spoke carefully with a serious look on his face.
“Did you… fall for someone?”
“What? No! That’s not it!”
“Then why would you suddenly say something like this? Isn’t it weird?”
He narrowed his eyes and questioned me like an interrogator.
It seemed he’d misunderstood badly after hearing me talk about adulthood and independence out of nowhere.
“That’s really not it! I barely even go out—how would I meet someone to like?”
I waved my hands, denying it desperately.
Eden stared at me suspiciously for a moment, then finally relaxed.
“Hmmm… alright. I’ll believe you.”
“I’m telling the truth!”
“Haha, okay, okay.”
Eden burst out laughing, clutching his stomach.
He even had tears in his eyes from laughing so hard. It was ridiculous, but it seemed like the conversation was over.
Then suddenly, Eden spoke again.
“Erpin. You’re not really planning to leave the house, are you?”
He looked genuinely worried—probably afraid I’d end up in danger with no home or money.
I was planning to leave eventually, but for now, calming him down came first.
“Of course not. Why would I leave such a nice house with such good food?”
I just need to eat quickly and head to the tower to learn magic.
I was busy chewing my crunchy salad when Eden’s voice drifted softly, almost like it was carried by the wind.
“Yeah… where would you even go?”
I lifted my head and looked at him, but Eden avoided my gaze and continued eating.
Did I imagine that?
The Mage Tower was far away.
You had to follow the river, cross a mountain peak, and then climb halfway up another mountain.
Normally, I would’ve dozed off during the ride, but the conversation with Eden earlier kept my mind restless.
“How can I leave the duke’s mansion naturally?”
Since I’d already resolved the magic issue that caused Erpin’s death, I wouldn’t die the same way as in the original story.
But was that really the end of it?
Would nothing happen if a character who was supposed to disappear kept staying near the male lead?
What if I survived that fate only to die for another reason after the female lead appeared?
Those thoughts chained together endlessly, giving me a headache all night.
I wanted to disappear as soon as possible—before the original story even began.
Even if I ended up as a nameless extra who only appeared in a single line.
It’s not like there’s no way…
The real problem was whether the plan was actually doable.
Only two options had come to mind since last night.
One was to go to Joseph and boldly demand the inheritance that was rightfully mine.
The other was to reclaim part of the land that had been transferred into my name before my parents died.
But both options would obviously involve Joseph, so neither would be easy.
Joseph had been the true power holder of the family for over ten years now. He’d surely replaced the retainers with people loyal to him.
That meant I had no one on my side.
There’s no way my uncle is running the family cleanly. He must’ve been doing something shady. If I can prove that, I could open a trial.
It would turn into a huge mess, but it was the most reliable way to reclaim my family.
Unless I somehow found the document where Count Quineardel swore that “all of the count’s assets will be inherited by Erpin” to celebrate my birth.
But Joseph had probably torn that up long ago.
“Ugh…”
Before I knew it, the carriage had entered a rough mountain path and started shaking violently.
Nausea rose up, and my head began to pound. At this rate, I’d pass out before even reaching the tower.
With no other choice, I pushed those thoughts aside and closed my eyes tightly.
I focused on breathing slowly—inhale, exhale—until my twisted stomach finally calmed down.
By the time I opened my eyes again, we were already close to the Mage Tower.
“Please, I’m begging you!”
“I told you, I don’t have that kind of authority!”
“But you can do it! You’re the one chosen by Lord Dante!”
“Chosen, my foot! I have to stay on his good side too, you know!”
Right now, I was using every method possible to get rid of Kaiden.
The moment I entered the Mage Tower, he’d been all smiles—but as soon as we headed toward the basement, his true colors showed.
“Just tell him that I exist! That’s all I’m asking!”
He chased after me, insisting I somehow engrave his existence into Dante’s memory.
“Stop following me already!”
Bang!
I barely managed to shake Kaiden off and slammed the door shut after entering Dante’s room.
Thankfully, he didn’t seem brave enough to follow me all the way here.
“What are you doing?”
Ah—right.
Only then did I remember that Dante was already in the room.
Unlike usual, he was wearing a white robe, arms crossed, frowning deeply.
“It—it’s nothing. There was a rat in the tower.”
“A rat?”
“Yes. A huge one with gray fur. Ugh. I never want to see it again.”
Dante ignored my nonsense completely and asked,
“Did you read the books I gave you?”
“…Of course not. How could I read all of that in one day?”
“Then how much did you read?”
“What was the title again? Royal Fundamentals of Magic? I read through the magic control section in that one.”
Dante’s face twisted horribly, and he muttered to himself.
“Why was that book included…”
“Huh? What did you say?”
“Nothing. Do you remember what it said about magic control?”
I nodded.
I remembered almost everything—but I wasn’t sure if I should actually say it out loud.
“It said to imagine a small point traveling throughout your body…”
That was the only part that felt useful.
The rest was just the author bragging about his career and knowledge.
Even while reading, I wondered if it was legit—but it was strangely entertaining, and since Dante had recommended it, my doubts faded quickly.
But seeing Dante’s deep sigh and twisted expression, I felt like I shouldn’t have read it at all.
“Is that all you read?”
“Uh… yes. I didn’t have much time.”
“Forget it. That person’s explanation is useless anyway.”
“Then why did you give it to me—!”
Just as I was about to complain, Dante suddenly handed me a thick book.
“I gave you the wrong one. Read this instead. I have something to finish, so you’ll need to stay here alone for a bit. Is that alright?”
“Yes. That’s fine.”
Dante immediately turned around and headed for a lab table filled with tools.
Soon, he was completely absorbed in his work.
I opened the book.
It was another basic magic textbook, explaining everything in detail from the fundamentals.
The difference was that this one actually focused only on magic.
Maybe that’s why, after just a few pages, I started yawning.
Without thinking, I glanced over at Dante, who was still intensely focused in the same spot.
He looks crazy busy… but also kind of excited.
Dante repeatedly poured clear liquid from a beaker into a flask filled with blue liquid, then moved on to another container.
The sharp scent of chemicals I’d noticed before filled the air.
Curious, I quieted my footsteps and carefully stood behind him.
Peeking over his shoulder, I saw the table covered with various herbs and tools.
“What are you doing?”
Dante replied calmly, as if he’d known I was there the whole time.
“I’m experimenting.”
He lifted the beaker filled with mixed liquids.
A bright light flared in his hand, and the liquid fused together.
I stared, completely mesmerized.
“What kind of experiment is this?”
Still watching the beaker, Dante answered flatly.
“I’m testing a magic potion.”
“A magic potion?”
“Yes. Potions made at the Mage Tower are very effective. We produce many kinds—ones that aid digestion, clear the mind, or help with quality sleep. I’m researching a new one.”
I remembered hearing this as a child from Count Quineardel.
The Mage Tower didn’t just make magical tools—it also sold potions.
Their effects were incredible, but they were so expensive that commoners could hardly even see a bottle, let alone buy one.
Wait… royalty…?
At that moment, it felt like someone had smacked me in the head.
“There it is! That’s the way!”
