Chapter 79
Emerging from the dizzying space, my body floated in midair.
‘The original destination was supposed to be the Dawn Mansion.’
No matter how I looked at it, this was definitely not the intended location.
Turning my head around, all I could see was the blue sky—so it was the natural conclusion.
“Uwaaah!”
The moment I came to that conclusion, the magical energy completely dissipated, and my body began to fall downward.
I felt the incredible speed all over my body, clutching my handbag tightly, and squeezed my eyes shut.
‘A spell to slow down the fall!’
I quickly recalled the spell from memory and cast it, but my timing was slightly off.
“Ugh!”
I crashed into the ground with some of the falling speed still carrying over.
At least it wasn’t completely bare ground—I had something cushioning my fall.
Some soft, unidentified material wrapped around me the moment I hit the ground.
“Ugh… where am I…?”
I flailed around and touched it—it felt rough under my hands. A familiar sensation.
‘Straw?’
Groaning, I opened my eyes to see golden straw all around.
Fortunately, it seemed I had landed on a haystack.
I let out a sigh and extricated myself from the straw. My clothes and hair were covered with it.
‘I went through all the trouble to dress up.’
All the effort from spending hours preparing seemed wasted.
‘Who would’ve thought my appearance could get ruined like this?’
Grumbling, I looked into my small handbag.
Blanche, the cause of this disaster, was sprawled inside, peacefully unconscious.
Annoyed, I shook the handbag violently and stomped forward.
I planned to head toward a place where there were people, to figure out my location. Only then could I return to the Dawn Mansion.
However, before I could even take a few steps, I achieved my goal.
There was someone near the haystack.
A man with dark straw-colored hair, resembling the hay, was staring at me with his mouth wide open.
“Uh….”
‘Could it be that he saw everything from the moment I fell?’
Everything—even when I muttered to myself and shook the handbag like a madwoman?
Embarrassment made my face flush red.
“…Angel?”
“Huh?”
“Are you really an angel?”
The man, still looking dazed, cautiously poked my cheek with a trembling finger.
“Eeek!”
‘He pokes me, then acts surprised?’
The moment his finger touched my cheek, he panicked and stumbled backward, tripping over a rock.
“P-Person? Not an illusion?”
“Unfortunately, I’m neither an angel nor an illusion. I’m just a poor soul who wasted a magic scroll.”
“Magic scroll…?”
He repeated my words, still dazed.
As time passed, his blurry eyes became sharper and more focused.
“Ah!”
Finally, when his eyes seemed to have fully focused, he jumped up as if propelled by some strong rebound.
“Angel! I-I-I-I’m Belois!”
“Nice to meet you, Mr. Belois. But I’m not an angel—I’m Danae.”
“I see. So the angel’s name was Danae. Truly a beautiful name.”
“No, I’m not an angel! Stop calling me that embarrassing title.”
“Yes! Understood, Angel!”
‘…Understood what? You don’t understand anything.’
I thought he had regained his senses, but apparently, his mind was still wandering.
‘Or maybe he’s just naturally a bit slow.’
I sighed and looked around.
It seemed unlikely I could get help from this man, so I’d have to look for someone else.
Unfortunately, the surrounding area was a barren field. Only haystacks were scattered across the winter fields after harvest.
And then…
‘An easel?’
Before me, an easel, canvas, and paints were neatly placed.
Looking at the man’s clothes, there were traces of paint here and there.
‘He must be a painter.’
Fortunately, he didn’t seem completely foolish, so I could just wait for him to regain his senses.
I found a spot on a haystack and sat down. The man followed me, grinning and waddling like a baby duck trailing its mother.
‘…He really isn’t completely dumb, right?’
Even a slightly slow person could be a talented painter, I thought.
I narrowed my eyes and observed him.
Painter. Belois. Fool.
Listing these words in my mind, a strange sense of déjà vu washed over me.
“…Huh?”
‘I got it!’
A spark of realization flashed through my mind.
I jumped up and pointed at him.
“You!”
“Huh?”
“You’re the painter Belois?”
“Yes, my name is Belois, and I am a painter.”
Painter Belois.
The famous painter gaining popularity in the capital!
‘Kana encouraged me to buy his paintings at an auction.’
As I recalled this, memories of stories Kana told me flooded back. Nowhere in those stories did it say Belois was foolish.
‘They said he was clever and calculating.’
Looking at the man before me, I wondered where the clever and calculating part was.
‘…Could the rumors be wrong?’
Sensing my doubtful gaze, Belois scratched his cheek in embarrassment.
“Angel, it’s a bit embarrassing if you keep staring at me like that.”
“I said I’m not an angel!”
“Yes. But in my eyes, you are, Angel.”
“If you call me ‘angel’ one more time, I’ll kick your shin.”
“Understood, Angel… ugh!”
As promised, I kicked Belois in the shin.
It was winter, so my boots were sturdy—he must have felt a good deal of pain.
Yet, he still grinned even after being hit.
“Angel, you’re strong too.”
“….”
‘Forget it.’
He was impossible to reason with.
‘It’ll be faster to find someone else than to wait for his wandering mind to return.’
I sighed and turned my back.
Behind me, I heard the sounds of him tidying up his painting tools, and soon he followed beside me.
“Angel, where are you going?”
“Anywhere you won’t call me an angel.”
“The nearest village is over an hour’s walk away.”
“I see. That does sound better.”
“You mean with just the two of us?”
“No, I mean walking an hour to the village.”
I smiled faintly and bid farewell to Belois.
“Then, goodbye for now.”
“Wait, Angel!”
Belois hurried to stop me from leaving.
“I have scrolls! Magic scrolls!”
“…Really?”
Looking at him skeptically, he fumbled through his bag and pulled out the magic scrolls.
“Three teleportation scrolls. I planned to move around while painting, so I brought enough.”
I quickly examined the scrolls in his hands. They were definitely real magic scrolls.
“Sell me just one.”
“Sell? That’s impossible!”
Belois leaped at the suggestion.
“How could I sell a scroll to you, Angel? I’ll just give it to you.”
“…You’ll just give it? Really?”
“Yes. Of course, Angel.”
Belois bowed politely and handed me the scroll. I took it carefully, and he smiled.
“…Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. I’m glad to help you, Angel.”
‘Fine, I’ll endure being called Angel this time.’
I swallowed a sigh and extended my handbag to Belois.
“I have nothing to give you, but take this as collateral. I’ll pay for the scroll later.”
I couldn’t use the scroll with Blanche anyway.
I left Blanche and the handbag as collateral, planning to pay later. The handbag bore my family crest, so it was a good guarantee.
But Belois refused to take it.
“No, really, you don’t have to pay, Angel.”
“No, I will pay.”
When I shook the handbag to urge him, Belois reluctantly accepted it.
“Then we’ll meet in the capital.”
“Yes, in the capital.”
Belois nodded with a smile.
I recalled the coordinates of the Dawn Mansion in my mind and tore the scroll.
Light brightened, and the space distorted. Unlike when I moved with Blanche, this was a normal teleportation.
As the bright light faded, I heard voices calling me from all directions.
“Danae!”
“Miss!”
