Home/I am switching to a ruined archmage family/ch21

Chapter 21

"Just toss some food over there for now. I think it's hungry."

"Wha—no, we should be trying to kill it, not feeding it."

"If we don't, it'll try to eat that person's leg."

Adrian swallowed the retort that was about to come out.

How could she not be afraid of that thing? Why was it listening to her? How did she know he carried food around? And more than anything—why was it here in the first place!

Everything was incomprehensible, but this was hardly the time to press for answers.

Adrian reluctantly pulled out some dried fish jerky and tossed it precisely toward the creature's head.

A mouth, triangular and gaping, split open somewhere on its face, caught the offering, and after swallowing it down, the creature turned without hesitation and disappeared deep into the dark void.

The tear in the air soon closed.

---

The guard carried the body away from the alley. Only after watching them leave did Alexa finally head for her home.

No matter how badly that woman had behaved, she hadn't wished for her death.

'At least that's a relief.'

The thought that the body might have been desecrated was horrifying enough. The fact that it had been handed over intact was a blessing in itself.

As if nothing had happened that night, the fog lifted and moonlight poured brightly onto the road.

"But… how long are you going to follow me?"

I'm in front of my house now?

She turned around—and behind her, joined by Sasha who had caught up with Adrian, the two men stopped.

…What's with this wary look? Isn't that the kind of look I should be giving you?

Then the two of them began whispering again.

They'd been at it for a while now, apparently unable to reach a conclusion. According to them, this was unprecedented—a monster, and one that understood commands, no less. They went back and forth: the captain was spouting nonsense, he was being rude to a superior—only to circle back to the same arguments.

"Ah, um. Well…"

Sasha Patrick hesitated, looking troubled, as Alexa blinked her weary eyes.

Having witnessed something gruesome late at night, the tension had drained out of her. Fatigue pressed down on her entire body; all she wanted was to lie down right now.

Still, she couldn't just slip away and leave them standing there. Who were they? Her gracious creditors, who had extended her repayment period. Alexa forced the best smile she could muster.

"Come inside and we'll talk."

Creeeak— The iron gate's spine-chilling screech seemed louder tonight. Alexa walked ahead briskly.

"Is that really so strange?"

Rubbing her sleepy eyes, Alexa asked as if she didn't quite understand.

The three had hastily arranged chairs in the lobby and were holding their conversation. Everyone was equally tired.

"You weren't startled by the black void appearing out of nowhere—because it seemed plausible?"

"Plausible?"

"Yes. Isn't it similar to the portals mages use? They open and close in empty spaces."

"Portals don't just appear in any empty space. They begin on the ground, expand, and fully open. They can't just materialize arbitrarily in midair like that…"

Adrian trailed off, looking at Alexa as he spilled out his objections. She was barely staying awake, her eyes half-dazed.

"Oh… really?"

"…Yes."

"I see…"

Alexa shook her head and blinked her heavy eyelids again. All she could think about was wrapping this up quickly.

"Anyway, I didn't know that. I just assumed that black hole was some kind of 'plausible' transport route."

Her disinterested tone, devoid of any intent to deceive, made Adrian and Sasha exchange glances.

Right, she might not know. Maybe we're overthinking it. Yes, if we're generous, that's possible.

But wasn't speaking to the monster still too strange?

"How could you not be startled by a monster coming out of there? And why did you speak to it?"

Adrian watched her with his arms crossed.

She didn't like the way he seemed to be probing into every detail, but what could she do? He was an important man, so she had to answer diligently.

"It's the first time I've seen one, but it didn't look scary—and it was small, wasn't it?"

Smaller than a puppy, even. Alexa held up her hands to gauge the size.

Sasha snorted in disbelief.

"Tarantulas are small too."

"If they bite you, you die."

"If that thing bites you, you die too. It's venomous."

"Really? I didn't know. It looked friendly."

Sasha let out another dry laugh. He'd never in his life heard anyone describe a monster as "friendly." If she knew how vicious, ruthless, and merciless they were at sea, she'd faint.

He lamented once more that he hadn't seen the scene himself.

He decided that he was the only one fully alert and that he should filter everything through that lens. Perhaps that monster had some charm ability.

Maybe. Could be.

Alexa quietly watched the two lost in thought—until her head suddenly drooped. Startled, she snapped it back up and continued as if nothing had happened.

"And you say I spoke to it, but I wasn't really talking to it. I just saw the little thing trying to eat that woman's leg—and you can't let that happen, right? So I shooed it away, like you would a bird or a mouse—like this!"

Alexa waved her hands vigorously to demonstrate.

"Oh, and one more thing! That creature kept eyeing your left pocket, as if it was reluctant to leave. It kept smacking its lips. And those small, adorable eyes were so bright and sparkling."

Sparkling…?

Adrian was speechless.

She'd seen the position of its triangular eyes in the dark and fog? Even Adrian himself had only sensed its gaze instinctively.

"Animals are simple. Once you feed them, they don't try to take more."

As Alexa shrugged, Sasha nodded beside her, looking convinced.

"That was fortunate. Since our captain adores cats, he always carries treats to curry favor with any he might meet—"

"Ahem. Anyway, what would we have done without that dried fish?"

Adrian quickly cut Sasha off.

"Without it? Then I'd just have done what I did earlier. Shoo! Shoo! Like this?"

Alexa waved her hands through the air again. Adrian and Sasha were left speechless. Where did they even begin to explain?

Could her ignorance of monsters actually be what made her so bold?

"So that little thing is really a sea monster? One of those huge, terrifying ones that live in the very deep sea?"

"…Yes."

Alexa looked even more confused.

The monsters she'd imagined were enormous, hideous creatures that made your legs give out just by looking at them. But that thing was so insignificant—just a small lump of dough, hardly worthy of such a grand name.

"So why did it appear here?"

"I can't say."

"Ah, okay."

Alexa had only asked out of idle curiosity. She didn't particularly need to know if it was confidential. She was already on the verge of passing out, so what did it matter?

She'd said everything she needed to say. So now—

"Um… if we're done talking, could you please leave now?"

"Oh, right! I forgot to mention something important."

"What?"

"Could you let us stay for the night?"

"Excuse me?"

"All the hotels are fully booked because we came so suddenly."

Sasha smiled warmly.

Alexa turned to Adrian, as if asking if he agreed. But he merely raised an eyebrow, showing no intention of correcting Sasha.

What? They really want to sleep here? Just because I owe them money—what do they take me for?

Shaking off her drowsiness, Alexa opened her eyes wide and looked at Sasha.

"Well, of course it's possible… but I'm genuinely curious."

"Yes?"

"Couldn't you just use a portal to get home? Not that I'm trying to turn you away or anything."

"That's certainly possible. But from the capital to West Sea Nest, we'd have to take seven portals, and we have an early morning appointment in the capital tomorrow, so we'd have to come back anyway."

"Oh, well then—"

"Am I being too much of a burden? It's fine. I can just make a long detour and struggle through the inconvenience. As the mage and secretary serving this man, I'm far too exhausted—but I'm a capable mage, so I won't die."

"No, that's not what I—"

Did you really have to put it that way…? Alexa stared at him blankly, and Sasha let out a completely unnatural yawn, patting his own shoulder.

But she couldn't back down now. Alexa narrowed her eyes with resolve.

"I realize I'm in debt, but isn't it inappropriate for two grown men to stay overnight in a woman's house when she lives alone?"

…She wanted to say that, but last time she'd slept way too well by herself! It'd been her most restful sleep in recent memory, no less!

Back   Next