Chapter : 11
Everyone’s eyes turned toward the window. Outside the relatively small window, compared to Luisa’s house, a ball of magic in the shape of a blazing red lion was watching them.
The lion, locking eyes with her, tossed aside its proud expression and began spinning its tail like a propeller.
“That’s Leon.”
At the sight, Noah, who was beside her, reached out and opened the window.
Through the opening, the lion squeezed its way inside and landed neatly on Luisa’s palm.
After rolling around and acting cute on her hand for a while, the lion transformed into a note.
[Luisa, urgent. Very urgent request.
If you don’t accept this, this world might be destroyed. Then I’d die having earned all this money but never been able to use it. Poor me, right?
I’ll pay you generously. How much do you need? Name your price! I’ll give you anything.
Hurry, Luisa.]
“What a ridiculous show. Honestly, that guy has delusions of grandeur. And such a miserable aura to match.”
Noah, reading the note beside her, shook his head.
But Luisa’s expression hadn’t changed at all. She simply clicked her tongue and crumpled the note with her magic.
“From today, Noah, you’ll also handle putting him to sleep. I’ll probably need to check the request in the underground city.”
“It’s fine to leave him with me, but the magic comes first. I need to check something urgently.”
Seizing the moment, Noah demanded her magic again. The playful expression was gone, replaced with seriousness.
“As long as it’s not for creating curses.”
“Is this the time for jokes? Who’d be stupid enough to make a curse with that magic?”
‘…Here’s one, you cheeky brat.’
“Even a god couldn’t manage that, so don’t worry unnecessarily. Or, do you want me to write it down on magical paper?”
Not an empty threat, as Noah began searching for the magical paper, Luisa nodded in agreement, showing she accepted.
“I trust you, Noah.”
With her low, calm voice, Noah met her gaze and replied that he understood.
Yes, this should be enough to know he won’t try any tricks.
Deciding to trust him, Luisa rose from her chair. At that moment, Adel grabbed her forearm and made her look at him.
It was exactly the posture of a dog seeing its owner off to work. Adel muttered softly in a deflated voice.
“Are you very late, Luisa?”
“Probably. Judging by how urgently they’re looking, they might be going to a battlefield. But I won’t be too late.”
“That’s a relief. I’ll wait diligently until you come.”
The words directed fully at him pressed down on Luisa’s shoulders. But the weight felt pleasant, and she faintly smiled.
“Good. Wait diligently. Even if it’s annoying, I’ll come as quickly as possible.”
Breaking the warm moment, Noah interjected.
“Wow, I almost got scolded.”
Luisa’s face twisted in irritation.
‘…That damn brat. I should have sealed his mouth with magic.’
Filling the large bottle Noah handed her with magic, Luisa ruffled Adel’s hair once before leaving.
Adel, not wanting to lose the warmth she left behind, held tightly onto the last strand of her hair she touched.
“Stop being foolish and help me with my drug experiments quickly. Ah, you’re the one drinking it, so keep that in mind.”
“…Did you completely forget what Luisa said?”
“Do you think I’m crazy? You don’t know, but Luisa is unbeatable in this back alley even if the entire neighborhood except Hart attacks her. I can’t disobey the rules she sets.”
Noah’s words contained a contradiction. He insisted on following everything Luisa said, yet wanted to use him for experiments. Adel couldn’t understand him.
Meanwhile, the curse began seeping back into Adel’s complex thoughts. Noticing Luisa’s absence, it started raising its voice.
Noah frowned at Adel’s grim expression and shook the magic Luisa had left in the bottle.
The golden magic shimmered brilliantly, heavy within the bottle.
“I’ll break the curse that’s driving you mad.”
“…!”
Adel’s shoulders tensed at Noah’s words. It was hard to believe. But he quickly calmed himself.
The man who had looked at him with disdain wouldn’t do something for free.
As expected, Noah offered terms with a proud expression.
“But only if you don’t tell Luisa. Then I’ll completely remove your curse within three years.”
It was an appealing offer. That’s why Adel didn’t let his guard down.
He couldn’t trust Noah, and the condition was entirely in his favor.
“…What’s in it for you?”
Seeing Adel extremely wary, Noah continued calmly.
“Actually, I’ve been working on that curse for a long time.”
“…!”
“I was curious about how you managed to intercept it and make it before it would have been completed in ten years. So naturally, I had to investigate.”
A hint of madness laced Noah’s voice. But shortly after, he returned to his usual self and spoke plainly.
“Like Luisa said, I won’t use you as a test subject. Let’s just be business partners where we both benefit.”
Adel let out a dry laugh.
“Of course, I won’t force you if you don’t want, but a piece of advice: just being near Luisa won’t remove the curse.”
Adel knew this. The curse trembled and hid when Luisa touched him but emerged again as soon as she left.
“You won’t recklessly make me drink dangerous substances because you live with Luisa. Otherwise, it’d be obvious immediately. Then I’d die, right?”
“That’s nice to hear.”
Adel smiled at Noah.
Meanwhile, the voice in his head grew louder. His head spun. Seeing Adel stagger, Noah clicked his tongue.
“Ah, if I hadn’t found this interesting, it’d be over for you, got it?”
“…It’s probably the curse he’s obsessed with.”
“Same difference. You’re the curse, and the curse is you—so why bother resisting?”
No denial could stand against such brazen words. Treating him like a bundle of curse, Adel felt more reassured than upset.
If a person is that obsessed with curses, he’ll make an antidote somehow.
“So, when do we start making the antidote?”
Adel subtly showed willingness. Noah’s sullen face brightened.
“If you want, we can start right now. And learning to write…?”
“No need. I already know everything.”
Adel answered indifferently. It had been a lie to spend more time with Luisa.
“Really? Then let’s start now!”
Noah smiled and led Adel through a small door beyond him.
Inside, all sorts of dangerous weapons and large jars of bubbling potions were everywhere.
Noah quickly sat Adel in a chair and strapped him to his waist.
“…You said you wouldn’t do anything extreme.”
“Of course. But you might panic and run, right? I’m just taking precautions so I don’t regret it later.”
…Explaining that while pouring strange liquid from a jar?
“Good medicine is bitter and looks weird, you see.”
Don’t justify it. That makes it scarier.
“Now, I’ll mix the antidote recipe I predicted while researching—ah, this and that…”
Noah moved between jars, combining contents into one bottle. With each addition, the liquid’s color turned bizarre.
‘Isn’t that just poison?’
Why does an antidote look like a swamp that’s aged for years?!
“All done! Our business partner, you can use a little. Haha! Hahaha!”
“Crazy…”
This insane alchemist!
Stepping into the underground city to check the request, it seemed someone knew she was coming. The guild member greeted her immediately.
“Hello, Luisa.”
The man, in his mid-twenties, was the guild’s vice-master.
The request seemed urgent; his shoes were mismatched.
“The master is waiting. Let’s move quickly.”
Without time to explain, he hurried forward.
Soon, a large building came into view. The Lion’s Tail Guild building, the center of the underground city.
Upon entering, decorative bells jingled to create a cheerful atmosphere.
The client and guild members on the first floor glanced toward them.
“Is that the witch?”
“Can’t you feel the aura from her body?”
“Indeed… she’s the monster Hart raised.”
“But isn’t she still a dog of the guild? Haha.”
“Watch your words. They can hear you.”
Yes. I hear everything, you fools.
Turning to the man who called her a dog, he and those around him quickly lowered their heads, avoiding her gaze.
They couldn’t attack, but they sure could talk a lot.
“Shall I deal with them?”
The man walking ahead asked nonchalantly.
Wearing a black badge, he was clearly a guild member, yet he asked about killing without hesitation.
Adel shook his head; the man left the option open, saying to tell him if she wanted.
Ascending to the upper floors, the view changed dramatically.
The hallways were filled with colorful magic circles, showing the entire space as a collection of magic.
The floor’s magic circles sparkled and wrapped around her legs, making her feel as if floating. For a first-timer, it would be shocking, but not for her, who had been here countless times.
Walking further, she reached the master’s office.
“The master is waiting for you.”
Unlike the mechanical look of the magical building, the master’s office door was covered with living plants reminiscent of a forest.
The man opened the door and guided her inside.
“Ah, Luisa! You’re here!”
