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Chapter 17

Mage Yona slapped her waist.

Fine wrinkles lined the corners of her eyes, etched by years. Her limping gait made even slow walking uncomfortable.

"Sorry for the sudden visit."

"You know it, then."

Yona plunked a teacup down in front of Sasha.

"Must be pretty urgent, to show up at a stranger's house like this."

"……"

"Drink first."

"Thank you."

She slapped her waist again and sat down across from Sasha. He took a sip without a word and set the cup down.

"I heard you're boarding a ship."

"Huh? How can this old body go to sea?"

"Exactly. Yet your name is clearly listed."

"Mm. I lent it. They said they needed it."

Sasha pressed his lips together, holding back a retort that would have been disrespectful to an elder.

"Please stop lending your name."

"I got paid for it, so why not!"

If you wanted to see a stubborn old woman, Yona was the perfect example. Sasha forced down a sigh and continued.

"If you keep this up, the ships involved won't be able to use our routes."

"I'm old—I don't understand such things."

Sasha took another sip and set the cup down.

It wasn't that they couldn't communicate. Mage Yona was simply pretending not to understand. Her hunched back and limping leg were all an act.

"So you intend to keep lending your name?"

"You brat! Are you trying to starve an old woman to death? I need to earn a living!"

"We could find you a proper job."

"Vicious! You want this old woman to work hard labor?"

Yona swung her walking stick through the air, as if to scold him.

"We'll filter out every ship that lists your name. They'll all be delayed, and in the worst case, they'll be barred from our routes entirely."

"……"

"If that happens, no captain will come to borrow your name. And factoring in the manpower and time we've invested, we could demand substantial damages from you."

Sasha thought of Haley. How on earth had she planned to shout at a mage like this?

"I don't have any money—I'm barely scraping by! Are you determined to drag this old hag away?"

"Will you let yourself be dragged?"

Yona's gaze sharpened as she stared through Sasha.

He didn't look away, but the cold aura emanating from her made his back stiffen.

After a moment, she withdrew her sharp energy and relaxed her expression.

"If I get dragged away, do I get fed?"

"Mage Yona."

"Tsk. They send such a sensitive one."

She stood up. Her back, no longer hunched, straightened fully. Her steps, as she took the teacup away, were steady. With her expression changed, the aged woman's face looked a decade younger. She set the cup in the kitchen and returned to the table with light footsteps.

"Pay me to live, and I'll stop."

"There won't be any more ships asking to borrow your name anyway."

"I'll just change my name."

"Get a job."

"At my age—"

"Where exactly are you old? You're healthy enough to go to sea right now. You'd probably handle a monster just fine."

"I get seasick."

"……"

"So give me money."

Sasha's lip twitched in disbelief.

He'd expected it wouldn't be easy, but the conversation went in circles—seeming to connect yet not. The mage before him deflected every word as effortlessly as if she were repelling magic with Jenol steel.

After a moment's thought, Sasha adjusted his glasses and looked at her.

"I'll give it to you."

"Oh? How much?"

"As much as you've been getting?"

"I got a hundred nets per ship. About three sail a month—so three hundred."

"We know you got twenty nets per ship. No captain would pay that much just to borrow a name—they'd be better off hiring a proper mage."

"Then why bother asking if you already know?"

"Two hundred nets a month."

Yona's displeased expression melted away. Two hundred nets was enough for her to live comfortably alone—and even save some.

With a flick of her finger, she fetched paper from a drawer with surprising speed.

Sasha was a little impressed—she was clearly a stronger mage than he'd thought, needing no incantation.

"Write it down. Two hundred nets a month. What's your name?"

"Sasha Patrick."

"Patrick?"

Her eyes widened. She studied him again, then nodded.

"I see. So that's it."

"But there's a condition."

The contract paper crumpled slightly under her forehead-like pressure.

"Join our company."

"No."

"Where would the money come from? It's paid by the company as a salary, so this is non-negotiable."

Yona eyed him suspiciously.

"You don't have to do anything—no attendance, nothing."

"Then…"

"Just help when you feel like it. That's enough."

"Hmph."

Not bad—actually, excellent. She could help whenever she wanted.

After a brief consideration, she wiggled her fingers, and the crumpled paper smoothed out.

"Write down exactly what you just said—not a word changed."

"Yes."

"I'll stick to the contract. Just because I get paid doesn't mean I'll help when I don't feel like it. If you're expecting me to feel indebted, you're wrong."

"I know you're not that kind of person. If you were, you wouldn't have lent your name to ships that ended up destroyed—that would be unconscionable."

"…You little."

Sasha picked up his pen without looking up at her. His signature, flowing smoothly, bled into the paper. He slid it across to her.

"Sign here."

He smiled.

Yona watched him with interest—he pretended to yield but said everything he needed to say.

Without even picking up a pen, her signature scrawled across the paper.

「Yona Terena」

---

Yulcan's Ferry 13 was as relaxed as ever. It had crossed a great stretch of sea from Guaras, one of the eastern continents, carrying silk, fragrant oils, vibrant ceramics, and jewelry.

Trade had been successful. Once they arrived at Nest, the goods would head to the capital. Rare and beautiful items, they'd sweep the market at any price.

Mage Edgar Wilson, who had just finished his training with Yulcan, thought as much.

Less than a day remained. Returning to Nest in Chelburg always filled him with excitement.

A substantial hazard pay, a mage's allowance, and an extra bonus for securing goods at good prices—all awaited him.

At eighteen, freshly an adult, he found himself humming.

"Ah, this is nice."

The sea was calm, as if on his side.

Not that sailing was ever as comfortable as land—but the inconvenience was easily cured by money, so it was bearable.

He idly snapped his fingers. A sailor eating in the mess hall shouted.

"Edgar Wilson! That was you!"

The sailor threw a fork at Edgar, who stood on the deck outside the window.

Edgar dodged playfully, and the fork clattered to the floor. Snickering, he snapped his fingers again—the fork restored to its original shape. He picked it up and tossed it back through the window.

The captain caught it instead of the sailor and leaned his arm out the window, grinning.

"Mage, you must be bored to death, eh?"

"Yes. Terribly."

"Haha. Enjoying the easy life?"

Mages were required aboard by regulation but had nothing to do until monsters appeared—like lifeboats: useless in normal times, vital in emergencies.

"I buy plenty of drinks, don't I? And my good looks helped me get better deals too."

Edgar snickered, his warm smile spreading across his face. His brown curls tousled in the wind.

The captain, unable to deny it, laughed in exasperation.

"You reckless fool. Stay humble at sea."

"Yes, sir!"

"Salute properly!"

"…Just like a former navy man."

Edgar pouted but snapped to attention. Pleased, the captain laughed heartily and turned away.

Edgar let his arms drop and lay down on the deck.

The warm sun, the salty breeze, the small talk—all of it was enjoyable. No, there was nothing he didn't enjoy.

Until, just dozens of meters ahead on the barren route, something as round as an island rose abruptly from the thick sea fog.

---

Adrian and Sasha arrived aboard Ferry 13 without delay.

Since the ship was already moving, they wobbled slightly upon emerging from the portal—but quickly regained their balance and assessed the situation.

"There! Over there!"

Edgar Wilson, in a panic, pointed frantically. A massive claw was flying toward the ship's sail.

"Quite large."

As Sasha spoke a spell lightly, the crustacean monster froze mid-air as if turned to ice.

With perfect coordination honed over countless battles, Adrian leaped into the air and threw a punch.

At the right moment, Sasha's magic dissipated, and the monster's claw shattered under Adrian's fist, flying off into the sea. Reeling from the impact, the massive crustacean toppled backward and splashed into the water.

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