Episode 112

My existence, after driving out Viviana and defeating Dylan, seemed to be a beacon for the people of Vanhel.

Even though Dylan was alive and in Vanhel, the townspeople didn’t seem to feel any threat. It was because they believed he was captured by me, in our general store, or more precisely, by me.

Eventually, as if enjoying the situation, fireworks were set off here and there, and new banners were hung.

‘Giselle Roycevin’s dream of world domination will come true…’

I have no idea since when my dream was world domination. Not that I cared to know.

Surely, Sullivan must have exaggerated the story.

I rested my chin on my hand and glanced at the corner of the store. Seeing the massive figure occupying that spot for days, I let out a sigh.

“When on earth is that guy going to wake up?”

Dylan, who I had hit, just collapsed.

Since then, he’s been occupying a corner of the narrow general store without waking up.

Just in case, I had tied him up tightly, and even put up Rainiel’s barrier, ready to use my magic to fend off any attack, but all that tension seemed pointless.

“You should’ve gone easy on him.”

Rainiel, who had been by my side for days, sighed deliberately as he spoke.

“If Dylan Stasi was the kind of person to fall unconscious just from being hit by a broom, he would’ve retired long ago.”

Sullivan had said that Dylan would’ve collapsed even without my broom attack.

Though I hadn’t realized his condition was so bad that he couldn’t get up.

“And besides, why is he unnecessarily so big?”

As I grumbled, sitting at the counter and glaring at Dylan, Rainiel smiled brightly and said.

“You don’t like that kind of big build?”

“My taste is for lean muscles, not bulky ones.”

Like Rainiel’s body.

Honestly, it’s not because he’s my lover, but objectively speaking, Rainiel’s body was as great as his face. I hadn’t seen him undressed, but I was sure of it.

‘He could pull off anything he wore, and those arms were so toned, of course.’

Just as I was thinking that, Rainiel spoke as if he had read my mind.

“You can just outright say it’s me.”

…He’s not wrong, but hearing him say it like that made me not want to acknowledge it.

Shouldn’t Rainiel be a little less self-aware?

[What a show-off…]

Isabel, who was sitting on the counter, grumbled as she turned away from Rainiel.

I patted Isabel’s head and glanced at Dylan again.

‘But really, when is he going to wake up?’

The current situation of having an unconscious Dylan on my hands was very uncomfortable. Whether or not he was dangerous was a secondary concern.

On the first and second days after bringing Dylan in, I didn’t even open the store.

Eventually, unable to endure the loss in sales, I opened the store from the third day… and the sight of Dylan tightly bound in the corner spread through some of the customers.

Hmm… actually, quite a lot.

“Well, it’s not too bad to just display him like this, is it?”

“Yeah, the number of customers has increased!”

Sullivan, who was diligently collecting samples with a syringe beside the unconscious Dylan, shouted energetically.

Sullivan, who had always claimed that Dylan’s blood would be blue, seemed briefly disappointed when he saw Dylan’s blood was the same as everyone else’s.

However, he soon regained his energy and continued enthusiastically collecting research materials, volunteering to monitor Dylan.

This morning, he even brought equipment and set up, claiming that fresh blood needed to be used immediately to get accurate results.

“This isn’t a museum, it’s a general store. But everyone just comes to look and then leaves!”

Customers just browsing and leaving in an open store!

The store was packed with onlookers, so for now, I closed the store with the ridiculous excuse of taking a break.

However, even at this moment, there was a line of Vanhel residents outside wanting to see Dylan.

Letting out a series of sighs as I glimpsed the shadows outside the window, Rainiel casually asked.

“Should we charge an admission fee?”

“…Should we?”

Since the goods aren’t selling, maybe we should charge an admission fee? Maybe expanding the business into a cursed goods museum would be a good idea?

I jotted down the sudden idea in my notebook and leaned against the counter, looking at Rainiel.

“But boss.”

“Yes?”

“With Dylan captured like this, isn’t there any reaction from outside?”

Honestly, I thought I’d hear news that the Audrian Knights had stormed at any moment.

But somehow, Vanhel remained peaceful until now, even with Dylan unconscious and collapsed here.

At my question, Rainiel tilted his head.

“Oh, right. I guess they don’t know.”

Is that possible? Dylan doesn’t seem like someone who would go unnoticed.

Seeing my skeptical expression, Rainiel added casually.

“Or someone could be hiding his absence.”

Is there anyone who would do that?

“Who… oh, could it be that he came here after a lover’s quarrel?”

Among the events in the original story, there was, of course, a lover’s quarrel between Viviana and Dylan.

It was about Viviana, who reduced her words out of worry for Dylan, leading Dylan to misunderstand.

There was even a minor episode where Dylan left Viviana without a word. Viviana quietly waited for him to sort out his feelings, but instead, Dylan ended up misunderstanding her even more.

Of course, in the original, he didn’t suddenly come to Vanhel to hide because of a lover’s quarrel…

Besides, it would be strange for someone to suddenly decide to become a traitor and reveal secrets to the enemy over a lover’s quarrel…

Frowning as I agonized over it, Rainiel frowned and asked again.

“What fight?”

“A lover’s quarrel.”

“Between who and who?”

“Of course, Dylan and Viviana.”

Rainiel’s face twisted subtly at my words.

He looked like he was debating whether to laugh or not.

Staring at me with that subtle expression, he ultimately chose neither and looked away.

“It would be nice if it were just that.”

Rainiel’s single comment barely held back a hint of ridicule.

‘…Are those two close enough that they don’t fight?’

I think they fought a couple of times in the original… but these people have different personalities, so maybe a lover’s quarrel won’t happen.

Just as I was understanding that, Sullivan muttered in a curious voice.

“Do white wizards use potions when they fall in love?”

“What?”

Sullivan, who had been looking into a few vials, tilted his head and looked at me.

“This guy’s blood is a bit strange.”

He held up the vial towards me. Even seeing it like that, I couldn’t tell what was strange at all.

[That person, his mana is unstable. He can’t control it properly.]

Isabel, who had been engrossed in her coloring, suddenly spoke.

Come to think of it, Isabel had instantly recognized the state of Rainiel and me before. And now, she seemed to be able to see Dylan’s condition as well.

“So, will he die?”

[No. He’s not on the verge of death. But if this continues… I can’t guarantee anything later.]

“Why did he end up like that?”

[I don’t know. There are many reasons someone can’t control their mana. I can only see his current state.]

Isabel, having finished her explanation, turned her attention back to her canvas.

‘It’s a relief that he’s not on the verge of death.’

I was staring at Dylan, mulling over Isabel’s words, when my eyes widened.

“Sullivan! You didn’t administer something to an unconscious person, did you?”

At my shock, Sullivan jumped up, waving his hands.

“No! I always get consent forms for experiments these days!”

“If that’s not it, is it because of the fight with the boss?”

“It’s not that either. I told you, this guy’s blood is weird from the start. It’s not pure. I can’t get proper results with contaminated blood like this. Tsk.”

Contaminated blood… just hearing that made it sound even more sinister.

Looking at Dylan with wary eyes, I lifted my chair slightly and shuffled away while still sitting.

Moving to the inside of the counter, creating a bit more distance from Dylan, made me feel a lot better.

‘…No, wait, even if I’m farther away, I’m still breathing the same air, right?’

Could that guy be spreading some kind of virus into the air while unconscious?

“That blood, it’s not some contagious germ, right?”

“It’s not an infectious disease. I think I need to research more to figure out which potion caused the contamination. I’ve never seen anything like this before.”

Rainiel, who had been uninterested in whatever Sullivan was saying, seemed to be a bit intrigued by now.

“There seems to be some internal strife.”

Rainiel, who had been stroking his chin, deep in thought, stood up.

He took out a small crystal orb, presumably for communication, and infused it with magic.

The inside of the crystal orb swirled black, and soon a voice was heard.

-…Lord?

“Wayne.”

-…My lord!

The communication seemed to be in poor condition. Clicking his tongue, Rainiel shook the orb a few times before continuing with a resigned expression.

“Can you hear me? Leave that to Vaidro and come to the general store.”

-…My lord! Dylan in Vanhel… is it true?!

“Yes, it’s true.”

The voice was intermittently cutting off. Rainiel nodded absentmindedly, having caught only a few words.

-Is it really… true?!

“I said it is. Hurry up and get to the general store.”

-That insolent… right away…!

With Wayne’s angry voice, the communication ended.

It seemed that Wayne held a considerable grudge against Dylan, seeing how furious he was.

Rainiel, who had summoned Wayne, sat down calmly and immersed himself in reading, as if his work was done. Sullivan, who had been contemplating over a vial, also dived into his research, diligently writing something down.

With the two of them returning to their peaceful routines, I felt like I should also spend some quiet time on my own.

‘He won’t die, after all.’

If I leave him, he’ll wake up eventually. The Audrian Knights are quiet, too.

Shrugging, I took out the poison vials. It was to label and organize them, just like before.

How long had I been focused on meticulously sorting the poisons?

Suddenly, the door to the general store burst open, and someone entered with a loud shout.

“My lord! I have arrived!”

Oh, it’s Wayne Eyeore. He came faster than I thought…

“Insolent Giselle Roycevin! Using that madness to stage a rebellion and joining forces with Dylan to seize the general store!”

I watched Wayne, his face fierce, and then, seeing Rainiel rise with a frown, I just lost interest.

Well, if he lacks awareness, he deserves to get hit.