Chapter 29: That Mage Wrapped Like a Rice Dumpling—Where Have I Seen Her Before?

The confusion disappeared in an instant—because Froyja had already slung an arm around her shoulder like they were old companions.

With an embarrassed smile, she said, “That must’ve been quite the sight—sorry about earlier. Lilisa’s always like that, clumsy and slow with her words. If she’d just explained everything properly from the start, none of that would’ve happened.”

As she spoke, her crimson eyes turned toward Lilisa, and she called out, “Well? Hurry up and come over here to apologize to Miss Eileen.”

Eileen wanted to protest—It’s not really Lilisa’s fault, is it?

But Lilisa obediently stepped forward, bowed slightly, and apologized.

Seeing how meek she was, and the red mark still swelling on her cheek from that slap, Eileen felt an uncomfortable tightness in her chest.

Only then did Froyja smile.

“We’re counting on you for this journey, Miss Eileen. Though the world may say you’re not a good person, I don’t see it that way. I think that’s just how people with exceptional talents gang up to bully those they look down on!”

That struck a chord in Eileen’s heart.

She nodded at once. The two young noblewomen—both born with the worst possible talents—quickly found a shared sense of understanding.

Unprecedentedly, Eileen even drank two more cups with Froyja and felt a genuine sense of if only we’d met sooner.

They talked until the sun dipped below the horizon before reluctantly parting ways.

But even as Eileen was leaving, she never managed to bring up the other reason she had come—her desire to take Lilisa with her.

No matter how she tried to phrase it, it felt shameless.

It was fine to think it, but to say it aloud? That would surely put Froyja, Lilisa’s master, in a very awkward position.

After Eileen left, the smile on Froyja’s face vanished. She muttered under her breath, “Tch. Humans really are easy to read.”

Then she looked toward Lilisa, her expression turning cold. “Lilisa… you’re not holding a grudge about me hitting you earlier, are you?”

Lilisa flinched and quickly lowered her head, shaking it hard.

“N-No, Master. Lilisa wouldn’t dare think that.”

“Good. That’s how my Lilisa should be…”

Froyja stepped closer and lifted Lilisa’s chin with a fingertip, her blood-red eyes narrowing. “Don’t forget—it’s your fault I became like this.”

Lilisa lowered her gaze and said nothing.

Froyja clicked her tongue impatiently. “Ugh, stop making that pitiful face already. Go walk Eileen out. We don’t want to seem uncivilized.”

“Yes, Master.”

Just as Lilisa reached the door, Froyja called out again, “And remember—mind your tongue. This is human territory. If our true identities are exposed, we won’t even have a grave to die in.”

Lilisa nodded. “I understand, Master.”

Once Lilisa was gone, Froyja’s expression twisted into one of open displeasure. She snorted.

“Trash. Useless waste. How could she act so close to someone she just met today, yet not even look at her own master that way?”

“Are you looking down on me too?”

*****

The next morning, after packing her luggage, Eileen arrived at the agreed meeting spot with Froyya. Following behind her were Layla, Clarette, and the unwilling Uncle Ansel.

Froyya was dressed neatly and practically like an adventurer. “Eileen, are these your companions? Their levels are way too low. If they tag along, I can’t guarantee their safety.”

She swept her gaze over the people behind Eileen with undisguised disdain.

That blonde-haired girl was just a D-rank adventurer—it was obvious she was a complete newbie. The blue-haired maid looked a bit more competent, but her level didn’t seem high either.

As for the gloomy-looking middle-aged man… just an extra. Not worth even acknowledging.

Eileen touched her cheek awkwardly. “…I didn’t really have a choice. They all insisted on coming.”

Yesterday, upon learning that Eileen planned to head to the ruins of Endymion City, Layla and Ansel had spent ages trying to dissuade her from such a suicidal idea.

Especially Ansel—he looked as though he’d been struck by lightning. He’d barely escaped from an S-ranked monster alive, and now she wanted to head somewhere even more dangerous?

But he couldn’t refuse. He was Eileen’s captain of the guard. If something happened to her…

He could only follow along with a sour expression, already mentally preparing for the worst.

He didn’t expect to come back alive—he just hoped the Marquis would at least give his family a generous pension if he died in the line of duty.

As for the other guards, their levels were too low to be of use. Bringing them would only bloat the group and attract unnecessary monster aggro, so they were instructed to continue heading toward the border marquisate territory.

Actually, Eileen had initially thought that just bringing Layla would be enough.

But just as they couldn’t persuade her to give up on this trip, she couldn’t convince them not to follow her. Numbers weren’t necessarily better for this kind of thing.

So Froyya’s dissatisfaction came as no surprise.

Froyya sighed lightly. Human nobles really are fragile, huh? They always need their subordinates tagging along when they go out.

“Fine. Let them follow you. I suppose it gives you a greater sense of security. Otherwise, people might think I’m trying to kidnap you or something.”

Eileen gave an awkward laugh. “…No, I definitely didn’t think that.”

Froyya found Eileen increasingly naive. Are all humans this easy to trust others? Though she bore no ill will, she genuinely started to worry for Eileen’s future.

With that thought, she called over Lorabelle and had her introduce the members of the “Crimson Flame” party.

This A-rank team was a six-person squad.

Captain: Red Wolf, a berserker.Team members: the rogue king Bakura;
the monk Baden;
the heavy-armored knight Mario;
the ranger Link; and finally—

At this point, Lorabelle suddenly paused, staring at the sixth member. She held her forehead, her brows furrowing slightly. At last, she lowered her gaze and muttered, “…This person—I don’t recognize him. He wasn’t with us yesterday.”

Red Wolf let out a hearty laugh.

“No wonder! This is our new companion, the great archmage Master Galhai, who officially joined us just this morning!”

Eileen turned to look at this so-called Master Galhai. He wore a loose-fitting mage’s robe, and even had a strange mask covering his face.

Not only was his appearance obscured—she couldn’t even tell if he was male or female, young or old.

Noticing Eileen’s gaze, Red Wolf scratched his head awkwardly and said, “Mages often have some odd quirks. Please don’t mind him.”

Eileen nodded, understandingly. “That’s true. Back when I was still with ‘Rainbow Bond’, Helga also had some pretty bizarre habits. She was always gifting me those little cucumbers grown back in her hometown…”

Often in front of a crowd, too—causing Eileen to constantly receive strange looks from others. Just thinking about it, she could imagine what they were misunderstanding.

Cucumbers are food! They’re not for anything else!!

Just as Eileen was about to dig further into her old teammate’s oddities, she suddenly noticed that this so-called Master Galhai shot her a sharp glance—his eyes even flared with a hint of killing intent.

What’s going on? Did I upset him all of a sudden?

Well, to be fair—who openly gossips about others right in front of them?

Eileen quickly apologized.

Only then did the killing intent vanish at once. But as she turned to greet the other party members, she failed to notice the eyes behind Galhai’s mask—filled with sorrow and grievance—gazing intently at her back.