Chapter 1 Part 9: People Are The Enemy

“Yahoo, Senior!

Good morning!”

Huff.

Puff…

I leaned against the door, catching my breath.

Although not as many as yesterday, a fair number of mages were gathered in the hall.

Was there a morning assembly or something?

Why were they all gathered here?

I looked at the mages with curious eyes while I finished steadying my breathing.

Clam’s head popped out from among them.

“You must have run over this morning?

There’s still plenty of time, you could have come slowly.”

Clam flicked his finger.

A tray floating in the air came towards me.

Glug glug, a glass filled with clear water.

I was thirsty, so this was perfect.

I gulped down the water.

Clam, watching me with a pleased expression, asked,

“Your real work starts today.

How do you feel?”

The water got stuck in my throat.

Did I drink too fast?

I covered my mouth and coughed.

Still, I felt a little better now.

I moved my lips.

“Goo…”

Clam immediately snapped his fingers.

“Good?

Ah, you feel good?”

“…”

No matter how much I feared this junior of mine, I couldn’t just say “Crappedy” right to his face.

I pressed my fingers hard against my brow.

“But why is everyone gathered like this?

Does Lady Enencia have an announcement to make?”

“Huh?

No, we were waiting for you, Senior.”

Waiting for me?

The moment I looked puzzled, a mage muttered,

“What, he really came.

I thought he’d run away as soon as he saw that beast.”

Another mage standing next to him folded his arms confidently.

“You underestimated Alice too much.

Pay up.”

“Fine, just give it here.”

A thick pouch exchanged hands.

Don’t tell me you guys were betting on me?

The mages waved at me.

“Good luck, Alice!

I’m rooting for you!”

“You really haven’t changed a bit.

Amazing.

See you later!”

“Let’s grab a meal sometime!

Our treat!”

The strength drained from my hand.

Whoops, Clam quickly snatched the falling glass cup.

Was I already back to my old self?

That was ridiculous.

How hard had I tried to live selfishly for two years?

I stopped sacrificing myself for others.

I came here solely for the money, absolutely.

Not because I felt sorry for the child or because I worried about the other mages suffering.

I quickly shouted,

“I fully intend to quit again as soon as I save up enough…!”

The mages were already gone.

What was this inexplicable feeling of defeat?

As I blankly stared at the empty hall, Clam placed his hand on my shoulder.

“Senior.

I don’t know what you’re thinking, but don’t worry.”

I turned to look at Clam.

“You have your lov―”

Before he could finish, I said firmly,

“You should get to work too.”

“Tch.”

I took the robe out of my bag and draped it over myself.

Clam tilted his head.

“What’s all that stuff you packed?”

“Ah, this?

It’s nothing.”

Clam’s eyes were still fixed on my bag.

“It seems like something.”

“I told you, it’s really nothing.

But seriously, aren’t you going to work?”

I asked as I put my bag back on, and Clam nodded.

“Yes.”

“Why…?

I told you not to leave your post without permission.”

“I told you, I never forget what you say.

It’s not without permission.

Ms. Hilipa said to stay with you because she was worried.”

Ms. Hilipa did?

Ah, come to think of it, she did say she’d ask the other mages to keep an eye on things.

Still, I didn’t feel great about it.

“I heard I’m supposed to work alone.

Am I wasting your time for nothing?”

“Don’t worry.

I’m only helping out today as a special case.

Originally, Senior Aslan was supposed to come too, but he’s been missing since last night.”

“…That’s a bit extreme.”

“Not as extreme as Senior Aslan, though.

Something I realized during the two years you were gone, that senior is really extreme.”

No wonder you’re always fighting with Aslan.

Anyway, we couldn’t just stand here, so I decided to move.

I headed to the elevator with Clam.

Placing my hand on the crystal ball, I asked,

“Did something happen?”

Clam waved his hand dismissively.

“Don’t even mention it.

Without the person who held the reins, he went absolutely crazy.”

“…”

“Senior Aslan’s reputation is at an all-time low right now.”

I just stared at the poor crystal ball.

When I didn’t say anything, Clam quietly called me.

“Senior.”

“Uh?

Why?”

“Are you going to talk to Senior Aslan?”

Well, I wasn’t sure.

I thought it over and gave a reasonable answer.

“If Aslan wants to, I should.”

“You might get burned to death, Senior.”

“I talked to you too, so what’s the difference?

Guys like Aslan are actually secretly soft inside.”

Pfft.

Clam couldn’t hold it in anymore and burst out laughing.

He slapped my shoulder repeatedly, laughing so hard the whole elevator shook.

You really haven’t changed at all, I thought, watching him silently.

Clam struggled to suppress his laughter and managed to say,

“That’s why they call you a pushover, Senior.

A classic pushover who can’t refuse people who come, and can’t stop people who leave.”

“…”

You have such a pretty way with words.

Your foul mouth made me quit before, and now it’s making me want to quit again.

My body convulsed involuntarily again, but thankfully the robe hid it.

Clam casually draped his arm over my shoulder.

“Well, that’s why I stick with you too.”

“If you know that, please stop.”

“I try, but it doesn’t work out.”

Try?

Probably just empty words, I thought to myself as I took my hand off the crystal ball.

With a clanking sound, the door opened.

“It’s true.

I really am trying.”

“Yeah, good job.”

“Then praise me.”

“Later.”

I answered absentmindedly and stepped out of the elevator.

The hallway, which had definitely been a mess, was now neatly cleaned.

As expected, cleaning was nothing for the mages of the Magic Tower.

Unlike yesterday, it was very quiet everywhere.

I tilted my head.

“Is it because it’s morning?

Maybe he’s still asleep.”

“Asleep?

No way.

He always wakes up at dawn.

He’s probably hiding somewhere.”

“Really?

He’s an early riser.”

Knowing the child was awake, I lightly knocked on the wall with my fist.

Clam looked at me with curious eyes.

“Clam, I have a favor to ask.”

“What is it?”

“No matter what happens, don’t shout.

And refrain from calling me loudly either.”

“Why?”

“Because the child might get scared.”

Oh, come on, no way.

Clam chuckled.

“That beast?

Even if you subdue him seven times, he’ll get up an eighth and try to tear us apart.”

“…”

Where should I even begin to explain?

It was so overwhelming I just rubbed my face dryly.

As they say, seeing is believing.

No matter how much I explained, Clam probably wouldn’t understand.

“I’ll lend you the books I bought yesterday.

Read them.”

“I’m sick of reading books, but if you’re lending them, Senior… fine.

I’ll read them.”

I continued walking, gently tapping the wall as I went.

“By the way, doesn’t that kid have a name?

We can’t just keep calling him ‘beast’.”

“We’ve tried to give him a name, but we never have the presence of mind when we’re with him.

But Senior, why do you keep tapping the wall?”

Ah, this?

I explained.

“I’m signaling that we’re here.”

“Then he’ll just run deeper into hiding.”

“Even if he runs deeper, it’s all the same here.

It’s not like there’s another exit from this floor.”

“So we should catch him faster.

We used to deliberately hide our presence and approach to subdue him in one go.

Want me to teach you the trick?

I’m not as good as Senior Aslan, but I’m pretty good at catching him too.”

Even after agreeing to lend him the books, nothing was resolved.

I pressed my hand to my forehead and explained.

“Okay, let’s think about this step by step.

What if you were resting at home and someone suddenly showed up out of the blue?”

Clam answered, several times more brightly than a lemon.

“I’d immediately shower that impertinent fool with attack magic!”

“…”

I was an idiot for expecting an answer like being surprised or scared.

I forced myself to stay calm and asked another question.

“Right, you’re brave, so you’d do that.

But what about someone timid like me?”

“Well, they’d be scared senseless.”

“Exactly.

That child is probably the same.

That’s why I’m deliberately giving him time to prepare his mind.”

Ah.

Finally understanding, Clam nodded.

That should be enough, I thought, taking my hand off the wall.

Where could the child be?

I was pondering whether it was better to find him right away or wait for him to come out on his own when Clam gestured to me.

“Senior, come here.”

“Huh?

Why?”

Clam pressed his ear to the door.

“I think he’s in here.

I hear a sound.”

“Ah, is that so?”

“Should I open the door?”

“Well…”

Knock, knock.

I knocked on the door.

Then, as quietly and clearly as possible, I asked,

“May I come in?”

But no answer came.

I put my ear to the door.

I heard the sound of hurried footsteps and fabric rustling.

It seemed like he was trying to hide somehow.

I had expected this, but…

I fidgeted with the edge of my robe, then spoke.

“Sorry if I scared you.

If you don’t want me to, I won’t come in.”

I took out a bouquet of flowers I had picked from my garden from my bag.

Clam immediately pouted.

“You said it was nothing.

It is something.”

“Do you want one too?”

Clam immediately nodded.

I plucked a small flower and held it out to Clam.

“Here.”

Only then did Clam’s expression soften.

I placed the bouquet in front of the door.

“I heard from Ms. Hilipa that you’ve been stuck on this floor the whole time?

I thought you might want to see outside, so I brought some flowers.

I’ll leave them here by the door.”

Still, no answer came, but the sound of frantic movement was no longer heard.

It meant he was quietly listening to me.