Chapter 1 Part 5: People Are The Enemy

“So, it’s docile?

That animal?”

“…”

Ms. Hilipa said nothing.

Come to think of it, earlier Ms. Hilipa had even bowed her head, thanking me for taking this job.

Just how difficult was this task…?

All the strength drained from my body.

I didn’t have the energy to cause a scene anymore.

I had barely eaten this morning to save money on food anyway.

I collapsed weakly onto the floor.

Ms. Hilipa crouched down beside me.

“Alice.

I’ll apologize on behalf of Lady Enencia.

But please don’t resent her too much.

She genuinely wanted to help you.”

I muttered blankly.

“That’s why I’m even angrier.”

“Pardon?”

I couldn’t even protest because there was no malice behind it.

It was my fate.

How long had it been since I swore I’d never sacrifice myself for others again?

I covered my face with both palms.

Ms. Hilipa fidgeted awkwardly, then helped me up.

“Let’s go back to the restaurant and finish our meal first.”

I said, almost mumbling.

“I’m sorry.

I’m really not in the mood to eat.”

Ms. Hilipa kept trying to persuade me.

“The food was about to come out when you ran off, the waitstaff looked so flustered.

Could you maybe have just one spoonful?”

“…”

“It would be a shame to just throw it away, wouldn’t it?”

She had a point.

Eventually, I nodded.

Ms. Hilipa pulled me along and we returned to the restaurant.

The waitress, who had just finished setting the table, looked at us with a relieved expression.

“Enjoy your meal.”

Steam rose from the bacon fried rice.

Ms. Hilipa even scooped some salad onto my plate.

Seeing her act apologetic when it wasn’t even her fault made me feel bad.

I put a spoonful of fried rice in my mouth.

“How is it?”

“It’s delicious.”

Come to think of it, I ordered this the first time I came here too.

I stared blankly down at the plate of fried rice.

I remembered marveling to my seniors about how the Magic Tower’s food was the best.

They even gave me some of their own food, telling me to eat up.

The only one who didn’t smile back then was Aslan, just one person.

From his very first day, Aslan acted rebelliously and earned the seniors’ dislike.

They warned me not to associate with him, but I didn’t listen.

I reached out to him because I wanted to get along with him too.

Thinking back now, it was a wasted effort.

What if this was another wasted effort?

What if I ended up fighting again like back then…?

No, let’s not think about the past anymore.

I shook my head roughly, hardening my resolve.

Even if it was a wasted effort, it didn’t matter.

I was only here for the money anyway.

As soon as I saved enough, I could just quit.

Why was I agonizing over this?

My own happiness was at stake.

I took another spoonful of fried rice and asked.

“What exactly is this animal I need to care for and observe?”

Ms. Hilipa stabbed aimlessly at her salad with her fork.

“Well.

How should I put it…?”

My eyes widened.

“Is it an animal Ms. Hilipa has never seen before either?”

“Yes.

This is our first time encountering something like this too.”

What kind of animal could it be?

I stared intently at Ms. Hilipa.

She bit her lip anxiously, then let out a deep sigh.

“I said this earlier, didn’t I?

That even the mighty dragon behaves meekly before Lady Enencia.”

“Yes, you did.”

“Well, it’s like this.”

Ms. Hilipa pressed her hand to her forehead.

“It’s a child born between a dragon and a human.”

Clatter.

The spoon fell from my hand.

The waitress immediately rushed over and replaced it.

I should have said thank you, but no words came out.

I managed to nod at the waitress, then looked back at Ms. Hilipa.

I felt like I had just heard something I shouldn’t have.

Had my ears gone bad already?

“I’m sorry.

What did you just say?

I didn’t hear you.”

Ms. Hilipa repeated her words exactly as before.

“It’s a child born between a dragon and a human.”

I was silent for a long moment, then let out a hollow laugh.

I knew very well that Ms. Hilipa wasn’t the type to joke or lie, but I absolutely couldn’t believe it.

“That’s absurd.

That’s impossible.”

“When we first saw the child a year ago, we thought the same thing.”

Unlike us, dragons are born with a reptilian appearance, but no one can ignore them.

Their massive bodies, wings that allow them to fly freely through the sky, and most importantly, their immeasurably vast magical power.

Dragons despise humans.

Because humans, with their short lifespans and pitiful power, are so greedy.

But Lady Enencia was an exception.

Lady Enencia was the only one born with magical power even greater than a dragon’s, and she had no particular greed.

That’s why Lady Enencia frequently interacted with dragons.

Wait a minute, then surely that child…!

As my face paled, Ms. Hilipa shook her head.

“We suspected that at first too, but not a single drop of Lady Enencia’s blood is mixed in.”

“Then what kind of human on earth…”

I couldn’t even finish the sentence.

I had absolutely no idea.

The fact that some human other than Lady Enencia had formed a relationship with a dragon was shocking enough, but to have a child as well?

If the continent found out, it would be turned upside down.

So this was why Lady Enencia had asked to keep it a secret.

I just thought it was because the animal was truly rare and had high research value.

Wait, animal?

I hesitated.

“But why did Lady Enencia call it a rare animal?

I really thought it was an animal.”

“Ah, because by Lady Enencia’s standards, it is an animal.

We usually just call it a beast.”

“Why?”

For an instant, contempt flickered in Ms. Hilipa’s eyes.

Tch, she clicked her tongue.

“Because it acts exactly like a beast.

It’s so ferocious.”

“…”

“At first, it used just one room, but now it uses an entire floor.

Being a dragon hybrid, its strength and magical power are no joke.

I thought if we could refine it, it might become a talented person… but, well.

It just won’t listen at all.”

Ms. Hilipa, as if frustrated, gulped down her cold water.

“You have no idea how much it rampages all day long.

Lady Enencia subdues it easily, but she can’t stay by its side 24 hours a day.”

“When Lady Enencia isn’t there, who takes care of the child?”

“Mages formed teams of three to look after it.”

“Dear me.”

A sigh escaped my lips involuntarily.

Mages who couldn’t even properly care for their own children were looking after someone else’s child.

“That must have been chaotic.”

“Yes, it was a complete mess.

Unable to bear it any longer, I complained to Lady Enencia, asking her to do something.”

Apparently, Lady Enencia was quite surprised by Ms. Hilipa’s complaint.

She said she never dreamed that everyone was stressed because of the child.

Lady Enencia pondered what to do with the child, then declared she would bring in a discreet, good-natured, and kind mage to take charge of the child.

My hands started trembling involuntarily.

I spoke, dreading the answer.

“Surely that discreet, good-natured, and kind mage isn’t…”

Ms. Hilipa nodded gloomily.

“Actually, the moment we heard that, we had a hunch who she would bring.

Among the mages we know, the only one fitting that description is Alice.

You know how it is.

Mages, especially those in the Magic Tower, only care about themselves.”

I said nothing.

Ms. Hilipa glanced at me cautiously and continued.

“When I heard that you had accepted Lady Enencia’s offer, I was incredibly worried.

That beast is difficult to handle even for three mages working together.”

Suddenly, the ceiling looked yellow.

I covered my eyes with my palm.

“So I thought I’d bring it up during the meal, just in case…

Alice?

Alice?!”

And that’s how I fainted right there in my seat.

***

“You only fainted for a moment.

There’s nothing wrong with your body, so you don’t need to worry.”

A mage working in the infirmary said, scribbling something on a piece of paper.

Ms. Hilipa let out a sigh of relief.

“What a relief.

It’s not serious.”

But it is serious.

Lying on the bed, I thought to myself.

Yes, there’s nothing wrong with my body.

It’s my mind that’s the problem.

To have my mental state become this devastated on the very first day of being re-employed at the Magic Tower.

This was insane.

Should I run away even now?

They probably wouldn’t give me a pen and paper to write a resignation letter if I asked.

I impulsively muttered.

“Should I really just become an academy professor?”

But again, that damn money held me back.

Why wasn’t I rich?

Just then, Ms. Hilipa approached hesitantly.

“Um, Alice.”

I looked up at her silently.

Ms. Hilipa studied my face for a while, then let out a deep sigh.

“Your complexion is terrible.

It’s only been a day since you returned, and you already look like a corpse again.”

I replied blankly.

“…Please don’t say corpse.

It scares me, like I might actually die.”

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean it like that.”

Ms. Hilipa placed an energy potion next to me.

It had been a while since I’d seen one of these.

I reached out and grabbed the potion.

Mages might be able to live without food, but they couldn’t live without energy potions.

Regular potions were used to heal wounds, but this one was used to eliminate mental fatigue.

I immediately pulled out the stopper.

The tangy scent of lemon stung my nose.

The potion went down bit by bit.

“Ah, I feel a little more alive now.”

Ms. Hilipa called my name once more.

“Alice.”

“Yes.”

“Don’t come in tomorrow.”

My eyes widened.

I had been agonizing over it, but why the sudden change?

“I’ll explain it well to Lady Enencia.

No matter how I think about it, this request was too much.

You absolutely cannot handle that child alone.”

“…Ms. Hilipa.”

“I should have stopped you earlier.

I’m truly sorry.”