Chapter 32
Calyphe was done being a patient. She unleashed her fury, battering Dietrich's skull with her fan and fists.
Slap! Slap! Thud!
“Agh! Ow! It hurts! It really huuurts!”
“Oh, Baron!”
Dietrich’s butler, too terrified to intervene, could only wail for his master. With no one left to hinder her, Calyphe snarled after pummeling Dietrich senseless.
“You’re causing a scene even after I saved you. Should I make you vomit the potion?”
“The Viscount would’ve sent a mage even if you hadn’t interfered!” Dietrich spat defiantly.
“Is that so?” Calyphe snapped her fan shut. “Then test it.”
“What…?”
“Once you’ve made your decision, send someone to Duke Ortega’s residence.”
“What nonsense— Hey! Are you ignoring me?!”
Calyphe flipped him off over her shoulder and vanished. Dietrich barked a harsh laugh.
‘You think I’ll obey like a dog? Never!’
Yet Calyphe’s unwavering confidence gnawed at him. She wouldn’t have wasted such a precious potion without a plan.
“…Old man. Don’t breathe a word about Calyphe Ophensa’s visit.”
“Huh? Y-Yes, sir.”
Dietrich haphazardly bandaged himself and collapsed onto the bed. The healers rushed back in moments later.
“We’ve brought the healing mage sent by Viscount Kaiman!”
The lead healer gaped at Dietrich’s mummified state. “Butler! How could you tamper with the patient?!”
“Forgive this old fool! I panicked… Useless bones should just crumble already…”
The mage waved dismissively. “Enough. I’ll handle this.”
As light enveloped Dietrich, he awoke as if from deep sleep, shedding his bandages to reveal flawless skin. The healers gasped.
“Truly worthy of Viscount Kaiman’s envoy! To cure even a magical beast’s poison!”
“Hm?” The mage shot Dietrich a nervous glance before laughing. “Naturally! The Viscount’s special orders demanded my utmost. He’ll be delighted.”
“…My gratitude. I’ll pay my respects soon.” Dietrich’s eyes lingered on the mage’s armband. “Everyone out—except the butler.”
Once alone, Dietrich ground his teeth. “A 4-star mage? Not even 5-star…”
Magic Tower mages displayed rank through armbands. Only 5-stars or priests could neutralize magical toxins. A 4-star’s presence screamed one truth:
‘He only needs me breathing until the wedding.’
Calyphe’s transformation baffled him. The same woman who’d once groveled before the Viscount now seemed… formidable.
‘Why help me? This stinks.’
Though healed, he couldn’t dismiss the debt. The Black Hand’s code demanded doubled repayment—for grudges and favors alike.
When the butler produced paper, Dietrich’s hand froze—then moved freely. Words stayed put. No floating letters.
‘Since when?!’
A realization struck.
‘Calyphe…? No, that’s absurd.’
Yet the timing matched. Jaw tight, he scrawled a note.
“Deliver this to Calyphe Ophensa personally.”
[Sudden Quest Reward Calculated!]
[Acquired ‘Silver-Haired Man’s Favor’ and Assembly Ally ‘Dietrich’!]
Called it.
Seeing Dietrich half-dead had clued me in. Using my last supreme potion stung, but he was the delayed reward.
Would I have saved him without the quest? Probably.
Out of human kindness? Hardly.
‘I just want to be a proper guardian to Noah.’
That’s all.
Of course, Dietrich would pay tenfold.
“Heh heh…”
“Why the villainous grin?” Rainen muttered, carrying me piggyback. He’d offered his back despite my protests—the man was allergic to ignoring distress.
“Nothing. To Duke Ortega’s residence. It’s nearby.”
“One might think it’s your manor.”
“Will you gift it to me?”
“Wake up.”
The Ortega servants trailing us eyed our bickering curiously. Raoul the beastman glared while shredding a handkerchief.
As we exited, Ophensa House servants swarmed me.
“Young Lady! Are you injured?”
“Where’s the healing mage?”
“He— Someone required urgent care…”
‘Liar.’ They’d all rushed to Dietrich. I feigned outrage.
“Fetch me treatment immediately. Scram.”
“But Viscount Kaiman sent a special carriage!”
The “special” carriage was a rickety eyesore. Riding it would humiliate me.
‘I’ll burn that—’
Crash!
A brown public carriage rammed Kaiman’s transport. Out tumbled a muscular maid—and a small figure.
“Noah?!”
The boy barreled into me, face slick with tears and snot. “Y-You’re okay? Not hurt?”
“Perfectly fine.”
I wiped his nose with Rainen’s handkerchief.
“Blow.”
Honnk!
“…That’s mine.”
Busted. I returned it under Rainen’s glare as the maid fretted.
“We came the moment we heard! They said dozens died!”
“That’s the rumor?”
“Yes! We grabbed the first carriage—”
“By harassing the driver?”
“Young Master Noah kept pounding the roof!”
Noah? The trembling child clutching my skirt didn’t match that image.
“He wouldn’t calm down,” the maid whispered.
I patted his head. “The monsters are gone. That dark duke obliterated them.”
Noah peeked at Rainen, eyes shining.
“If trouble comes, just live with him.”
“N-No… Waaah!”
He crumpled, wailing into his hands.
