MCPTD 11

Chapter – 11

* * *

‘What’s going on?’

I stood in the Shadow District’s shopping street, a twinge of suspicion in my mind.

‘Why did everyone disappear?’

When the Stabilization Mage was discovered, the knights had been all excited.

But suddenly, after receiving someone’s summons, one by one, they vanished.

“This is where you… wait, I suppose.”

“Then we’ll be off!”

What the heck was this situation?

After Lord Rend—who had nearly gone berserk—was carried away on a stretcher, I was left alone in the Shadow District.

Out of hundreds of scenarios I had imagined, this one wasn’t among them.

Alone in the quiet street, unsure what to do, a drop of water fell onto my face.

“Oh, what’s this?”

I tilted my head up toward the sky and let out a low groan.

“I’m doomed…”

I ducked under a shop’s eaves to avoid the rain, forcing myself to think positively.

Yes, I’m fine. Why?

“Because I have a raincoat.”

I pulled a yellow raincoat out of my bag and hastily pressed it over my head.

The Shadow District was known for frequent tropical downpours, so I had prepared ahead of time.

‘I guess I also remembered little Pupu wearing a raincoat and grabbed this without thinking.’

Anyway, I was satisfied that it came in handy.

“Do I just wait here…? I thought they’d scout me right away. What kind of people treat a benefactor like this?”

While grumbling, I stared quietly at the edge of the eaves.

Then, suddenly, someone appeared right next to me.

Really, out of nowhere, as if standing there by magic!

A chill ran down my spine. I rubbed my goosebump-covered arms and glanced sideways.

A tall, broad-shouldered man with eyes sharply angled and a terrifying appearance stood before me.

Aldehide—it was him.

From afar, I hadn’t realized how fierce he looked up close. Standing nearby, he radiated an aura of danger.

“Uh…”

My startled voice escaped, but he fixed his gaze on me.

“Hello?”

When encountering a sudden stranger, a polite greeting is probably best.

As his violet eyes stared intently, I couldn’t help but silently admire him.

‘He’s handsome… I almost had a heart attack.’

Although I had seen Aldehide a few times before, this was the first time I saw him up close.

Anyone would be impressed by his appearance, yet the half-crazed expression made him terrifying.

“Do you need something?”

* * *

Aldehide looked at the woman in front of him.

Seeing her bright yellow raincoat, he closed and opened his eyes.

There was no proof that this woman was his sister. Nothing, just a feeling, with no clues at all.

Yet he decided on his own: he would meet this woman.

“Hello.”

“…You’re Aldehide, right? But why did you suddenly appear here…?”

She swallowed nervously as she looked at him.

Their eyes met, each thinking different thoughts.

At that moment, a gentle drizzle fell from the sky again.

Aldehide continued to study the woman in yellow, and over her image, someone seemed to overlap…

Then it stopped.

He instinctively touched his wrist.

Whatever mark—presumably a brand—wasn’t appearing. His wrist wasn’t even turning red.

Because he and his sister were branded, he thought a mark would appear on meeting her.

The absence of it meant that the woman in front of him was unlikely his sister.

But then, why did his chest tighten as soon as she bowed slightly?

Without answering, Aldehide stared, and she smiled as she introduced herself.

“My name is Lilié Simon. Nice to meet you.”

Their eyes tangled, and the first exploration of each other began.

Aldehide leaned close to her ear. As his humid breath tickled the fine hairs, he slowly spoke.

“I’m Aldehide. I want to repay you for saving my subordinate. Is there anything you want?”

She looked at him resolutely and replied firmly.

“Ah! I want to get a job. Employment is hard these days.”

“…A job?”

“Yes. Can I join the Knights as a Stabilization Mage?”

“…A job?”

“Yes. It’s basically a job request. I’ll submit my resume. Please let me in, parachute-style!”

Their eyes collided head-on.

Aldehide’s lips curved slightly.

This was a rare, interesting opponent.

* * *

Bang!

With a loud noise, the doors to the Royal Knights’ Captain’s office flew open.

It was Paul, the vice-captain of the Royal Knights.

“Aldehide! I heard Lord Rend went berserk! What the hell!”

“Late on the info. Are you being sidelined in the knights?”

“Eh, eeh? No…”

“Whatever. Hand me the papers.”

“Ugh, but why do you suddenly need the Stabilization Mage’s resume…?”

Aldehide took the resume and the evaluator’s comments from Paul and squinted.

[Lilié Simon
20 years old
Graduated from a lower academy
Commoner from the Shadow District
Recently advanced to intermediate-level ‘Stabilization Mage.’]

Ten years ago, his sister had been at least two heads taller than him.

So he assumed she’d be five to ten years older. Reasonable logic in hindsight.

Also, his sister had the means to sponsor the orphanage—likely a noble or wealthy merchant.

And since she hadn’t appeared in the Shadow District after the day of the play, she must have been living elsewhere.

Lilié didn’t match any information he knew about his sister.

Should he stop observing?

“Follow the solid logic, or follow the uncertain feeling?”

Aldehide rested one arm on the table, propping his chin, frowning.

As he studied the resume, Paul muttered in frustration.

“So… what about Rend? What happened to him?”

“The woman on the papers saved him. He’s at the hospital now.”

“Ah, my dear friend… the benefactor of my life…! I want to grant her anything!”

“Employment. That’s her request.”

“Ohhh, let’s get her into the knights immediately! Deputy captain, or even captain….”

Aldehide gave Paul a cold stare and said:

“Leave.”

“Sorry.”

“Now go… I mean, leave. Your negativity is felt.”

Paul quietly exited, and Aldehide put the woman’s resume down, deep in thought.

He would repay the favor. But how—that was the question.

‘Should I carefully monitor her Stabilization Magic, see how her body responds.’

“When in doubt…”

“Would you like something sweet? Candy?”

“No.”

He decided to ask the goddess of fate for wisdom.

He took a coin from his pocket and tossed it into the air.

Heads meant sister.

Tails meant another woman.

Though playful, fate always gave him the correct answer.

And the coin landed…

“Hmm.”

Not heads, not tails, but on its edge. Balanced.

An impossible coincidence.

In the end, it was up to the human Aldehide to decide.

Then…

After a brief silence, his eyes widened.

* * *

The next morning.

Honestly, I saved Lord Rend from going berserk, but… this is too much, right?

I stared ahead in stunned disbelief.