The young mage named Vivian clutched her now-empty pouch with both hands, her gaze pleading as she looked at Du Wei. The small bag in her hands was visibly deflated, void of any remaining contents.
"T-this is e-everything I have," she stammered, her voice trembling. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't conjure up anything else.
Nearby, Solskjaer was nearly beside himself with frustration, barely restraining the urge to grab Du Wei by the collar and force him to agree.
A mid-tier aquamarine gem, a sizable pouch of mana-restorative potions, and a generous handful of high-quality magic beast cores—these treasures alone were enough to stir envy in even the most seasoned high-level mages on the continent. Alongside these, she had added a dozen mid-level spell scrolls, each meticulously inscribed.
For any mage, even one known for their wealth, such an extravagant collection was exceedingly rare.
If Du Wei hesitated now and some unforeseen complication arose, what then? After all, an eighth-level mage wasn't someone to trifle with.
Though this girl appeared naive and honest, if provoked, her sheer magical prowess could obliterate their entire party without much effort.
And yet, despite her staggering strength, she carried herself with a disarming lack of awareness, devoid of the arrogance often associated with those of her rank. A single unreasonable act, a powerful spell cast in anger, and the battered remnants of their group would be annihilated.
Even if this girl was somewhat foolish, was it wise to press her so mercilessly?
Thankfully, just as Solskjaer was on the verge of losing his composure, Du Wei finally nodded. His face remained composed as he addressed her. "Esteemed mage, I sense your sincerity. The terms you've offered seem to satisfy my companions as well."
With that, he gave Solskjaer a subtle glance. Relieved, Solskjaer exhaled audibly, stepping forward to practically snatch the "compensation" from the mage's hands. His eyes gleamed as he stuffed the precious materials into his oversized bag, clutching it tightly as if it were his lifeline. His expression mirrored that of a miser safeguarding his treasure, a look that warned any onlooker that attempting to take it from him would be an invitation to death.
"Th-then… can you please let Jiu-Jiu go now?" Vivian pleaded, her large, innocent eyes glistening with desperation. Her angelic face radiated such purity that it was almost unbearable to continue tormenting her.
"Oh, while my men are quite satisfied with your compensation," Du Wei began with a faint smile, "I still have a small, personal condition."
"I… I… I already have n-n-nothing left!" Vivian panicked, frantically shaking out her bag to demonstrate her utter destitution.
"No, no," Du Wei replied with a sly grin. "I don't mean material compensation. You are an eighth-level mage, aren't you? In the Empire, mages of your caliber are incredibly rare, especially someone as young as yourself, holding the insignia of a Grand Mage. Don't misunderstand me—I mean no disrespect. In fact, I have always held the utmost admiration for the art of magic. I've spent much time and effort studying its profound mysteries. Why, I even hired a mage to serve as my magical advisor."
He gestured toward Solskjaer, who was still clutching his bundle like a miser.
Du Wei sighed theatrically and shook his head. "Unfortunately, as you can see, my advisor is… somewhat limited in his expertise. As a result, my magical studies have reached an impasse. But today, meeting you here, an accomplished mage of the highest order, is truly a blessing. Of course, I won't hold a grudge for the fright caused by your pet. Such an outstanding mage like yourself deserves the utmost respect."
Vivian's simple mind was spinning. This young nobleman, who had just mercilessly extorted her of all her possessions, now spoke with such sincerity and fervor about his passion for magic. His words, his demeanor, even his gaze—all exuded an undeniable earnestness.
And when he declared that he wouldn't dwell on being frightened by her pet, Vivian couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt. What a kind and generous man he was!
Tears welled up in her eyes once more. "T-thank… you… for y-your forbearance."
"Oh, but I'm not finished," Du Wei interjected with a faint sigh. "You see, I've long yearned to meet a skilled mage who could offer guidance to someone as lost as I am on the path of magic. Now that I've met you, I must ask—would you, kind mage, be willing to share just a little of your wisdom with someone so eager to learn?"
"W-what?" Vivian blinked in confusion, sensing something amiss but unable to pinpoint exactly what.
"Oh, such a kind-hearted soul," Du Wei murmured, his eyes gleaming with faux admiration. "And after all, it was your pet that frightened me. Surely, teaching me just a few small spells as compensation wouldn't be asking too much?"
"I-I-I can't…" Vivian hesitated, clearly torn.
"Of course," Du Wei said quickly, his voice full of understanding. "I know a mage's time is precious. You must dedicate yourself to unraveling the mysteries of magic, not waste it on someone as mundane as me. I only ask for a few advanced spells—nothing too elaborate."
"B-but my teacher said…" Vivian faltered, visibly distressed.
Du Wei leaned closer, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "And didn't your teacher also say to keep your pet under control? Yet here we are."
Vivian froze, caught between her teacher's conflicting instructions.
In the end, overwhelmed by Du Wei's relentless logic, the poor mage relented, though not without shedding more tears. She whispered, "O-okay… b-but… just one."
"Oh, one?" Du Wei smiled slyly, quickly raising his fingers. "Let me count… One, two, three—"
"Stop, stop, stop!" Vivian cried, flustered. After much bargaining, they finally agreed on six spells.
The naive Vivian, outmatched by Du Wei's cunning and eloquence, could only wipe away her tears in resignation. As she solemnly recited an oath—sealing it with a contract spell—Du Wei couldn't help but marvel at how quickly and flawlessly she spoke the incantation. It was a stark contrast to her stuttering speech.
For all her simplicity, Vivian possessed an extraordinary talent for magic. Yet, it was precisely her purity that left her vulnerable to Du Wei's manipulations.
The poor girl couldn't help but wonder what sort of terrifying person her sister would encounter if she were to find her now.
Perhaps, Vivian thought with a pang of dread, staying with her teacher in the safety of the house would have been wiser
Caught in despair, the sorceress could only wipe away her tears in silence.
"Oh, esteemed teacher, please forgive poor Vivian for defying your orders… It was only to recover your beloved pet. I disobeyed the second command to fulfill the first… But is this right or wrong?"
"I am a noble, and you are a mage. We both have our honor. A promise, once made, cannot be altered lightly. I suggest we swear an oath to seal our agreement until the terms are fulfilled."
Without waiting for the sorceress to voice her objections, Duwey immediately swore a solemn vow to the great God of Light.
Left with no choice, the sorceress reluctantly followed suit. To Duwey's surprise, she even cast a binding spell, formalizing their pact and ensuring both parties would honor it.
Despite her timid stammering when speaking, the young sorceress astonished everyone with her incredible speed and precision in casting spells. Arcane syllables, complex and obscure, tumbled from her lips like a cascade of falling pebbles, swift yet impeccably clear.
It was hard to reconcile this remarkable fluency in incantation with her nervous stutter in ordinary speech.
Notably, throughout the ordeal, poor Vivian never displayed even the faintest hint of rebellion through violence against Duwey's coercion.
What kind of teacher, one might wonder, could raise such a naïvely virtuous girl?
•
Though many of the Rowling family's guards silently witnessed their young master's extortion of the pitiable girl, none spoke out. After all, they had suffered plenty at the hands of the Phantom Beast and felt no sympathy for her plight.
The only one who harbored some unease was Sir Robert, a knight devoted to chivalry. He found Duwey's exploitation of the young sorceress distasteful but, as a vassal, could not openly object to his lord's actions.
And yet, Robert couldn't help but wonder: wasn't it risky to treat an eighth-level mage this way?
His concern, as it turned out, would soon be validated.
Having promised to teach Duwey six magical spells, the sorceress had no choice but to follow him back to Half-Horn City. Bound by an unfair contract, she agonized over which six incantations to pass on, trying to choose the least significant ones.
It wasn't her nature to think this way, but after being extorted by someone as devilish as Duwey, even the purest angel might learn a little cunning.
For days, she pondered without reaching a conclusion and had to stay by Duwey's side to continue deliberating.
Luckily, her teacher wouldn't return for several more days. As long as she resolved this matter by then… And hopefully, her sister wouldn't find her before that!
Once this ordeal was over, she could return to her teacher's house, away from this frightening world. Were all people outside as terrifying as this little noble?
Oh, merciful gods, please forgive little Vivian for harboring such critical thoughts. Have mercy on me… But that young noble is truly frightening.
When I return, I swear I will never venture out again!
Ah, sister… Sister, surely you won't find me so soon, will you?
•
The magical beast incident in Half-Horn City was finally resolved, bringing immense relief to Sir Span. Not only was the beast subdued, but the young master of the Rowling family emerged unharmed.
Though the situation had been humiliating—dozens of well-armed soldiers nearly wiped out by a single small beast—it was, after all, the pet of a grand mage. That made the failure somewhat excusable.
Feeling at ease, Sir Span warmly invited Duwey and his entourage to stay at the local garrison commander's residence, offering superior accommodations to any inn.
Duwey accepted, eager for a quiet setting where he could discuss the sorceress's promise to teach him spells.
Thus, the group bypassed the city and entered the garrison's fortress, a permanent military stronghold that also housed the commander's quarters.
That evening, eager to curry favor with the young noble, Sir Span hosted a grand banquet, even secretly bringing out the commander's prized wine reserves. Surely the commander wouldn't mind, knowing it was for the Rowling family's esteemed guest.
Exhausted soldiers and guards from the Rowling household finally relaxed, drinking and reveling to shake off the frustrations of the day.
Duwey, after briefly humoring Span's pleasantries, excused himself to rest, intending instead to check on the sorceress.
Span, grateful for the honor of dining with such a distinguished guest, dared not press him to stay. He rose to bid Duwey farewell when suddenly, a deafening explosion erupted outside the hall.
Under the previously serene night sky, a massive bolt of lightning split the heavens, its thunderous roar jolting everyone to sobriety.
Moments later, flames erupted in the courtyard as a fiery streak struck the garrison's flagpole, reducing it to ashes in an instant.
Before anyone could recover from their shock, an icy, detached voice echoed from all directions, chilling the blood of everyone present.
"Vivian! My dear sister, where do you think you're running off to? Hand over the Phantom Beast this instant!"