Home/The Reason I Was Reincarnated as a Witch in a Novel/ch 12

Chapter 012

Mikael set down before Lindsay all the materials he had gathered on mana deficiency syndrome.

For years' worth of collected data, the volume was surprisingly small—but considering it concerned a rare disease, it was actually quite substantial. A low, measured voice resonated through the office.

"This is everything our guild has investigated regarding mana deficiency. The client's request is singular: a cure for the disease. It's been a long time since I took on this commission, but I haven't found a single clue. Then, sometime ago, peculiar potions began appearing on the Deep Market."

Unprecedented potions with astonishing effects.

All of it gave hope to Mikael, who had been despairing over Aria's foretold death. Perhaps that 'Witch' might know a cure.

He immediately dispatched his informants to gather intelligence on the Witch. The more information he collected, the stranger the conviction grew—the conviction that she might be able to heal Aria.

"I saw in you the hope that this commission might be fulfilled. Witch."

Money was never an issue. The title and house he had secured to survive had given him much, and he intended to use every resource at his disposal for his friend.

"The client is willing to pay you anything, as long as you can cure the disease."

"Hm..."

Seeing the desperate gleam in his dark eyes, Lindsay picked up the materials Mikael had gathered.

She had already prepared the potions for the heroine, but she couldn't just blurt out that she had the cure. At least she had to pretend to read them...

Oh? Why is she here?

Lindsay studied an old photograph tucked among the documents on mana deficiency. Red hair, red eyes, a beauty mark at the corner of her mouth, and cat-like features.

No matter how closely she looked, it was unmistakably the face she knew. The woman in the photo was a witch who, before Lindsay had met Nero, had sympathized with and encouraged her, saying they were in similar circumstances—and had even taught her about mana-enhancing potions.

It was no coincidence that a photo of her, looking exactly as she had a hundred years ago, was inserted here. Lindsay turned the photo over and found words written on the back.

"Diana..."

The elegant handwriting was unfamiliar, but the name confirmed it was indeed her. Diana, who in Lindsay's memory was always full of laughter, wore a solemn expression in this photograph.

Diana, who had been desperate to increase her mana capacity, must have been diligent enough to leave records among humans. Lindsay held back a smile, recalling the warm and cheerful witch.

Mikael glanced at the photo Lindsay was holding and explained offhandedly:

"A famous healer from a hundred years ago. Records remain in the literature of patients with mana deficiency who were treated by that woman. They all reportedly recovered after taking a shimmering red potion. Can you reproduce that potion from the documented materials? If there's another method of treatment, that would also be fine."

The red potion was undoubtedly the mana-enhancing potion Diana had developed.

The potion Lindsay had prepared in advance was also made using the method Diana had taught her. As memories of her came flooding back, Lindsay made an unexpected request to Mikael.

"Can I have this photo?"

Perhaps finding the question inappropriate for the situation, Mikael's Skin-Change Mask twisted grimly.

"The answer about the cure comes first."

"It's a potion I can make."

"Keep the photo. When will the cure be ready?"

She would keep the photograph and show it to Diana later, when she met her again. Look, your picture was circulating among humans.

Imagining a delightful reunion, Lindsay tucked the photo inside her cloak and answered.

"Right away."

Just as Mikael was about to smile with satisfaction at her confident reply, Lindsay added:

"Before that, let me see the patient."

"Reason?"

True to his shrewd nature, Mikael asked for the reason first—and the answer came back as casually as if she were discussing something trivial.

"To see how many bottles she needs. Or just buy ten. Give her one every time she has a seizure—when the seizures stop, she's cured. Even if you buy ten, I'll only charge you five million gold."

"..."

Lindsay knew what choice Mikael would make. He was not the kind of man who could stand by and watch his precious childhood friend suffer through seizures.

As she expected, after a long silence, Mikael spoke.

"I'll consult with the client."

Soon, I'll be able to meet the heroine.

Satisfied with the conversation, Lindsay rose from the sofa—and Mikael handed her a promissory note.

It was a note guaranteed by the Central Bank. The amount had already been filled in: one hundred thousand gold. Beneath the amount was stamped the Raven Ilbo's crow seal.

Lindsay studied the seal bearing the image of a crow and a pen, then took the note. The purpose of giving her a note instead of gold coins was obvious.

As the note disappeared into Lindsay's cloak, she thought: They must want to track it. Fine. If you can, go ahead.

"Consider this an advance. I'll put it to good use. Next time, give me gold coins."

"How should I contact you?"

"Ah! I don't have a contact method. Just a moment..."

...What should I use to contact them?

Hesitating, Lindsay considered how to communicate without revealing her identity.

Until now, all her transactions had gone through market brokers, so she had little to worry about. But now that she was dealing directly, she couldn't use the Deep Market brokers. A way to communicate easily while staying anonymous—Ah!

She had one!

Right now, in her workshop, there was a communication magic tool she had extorted from Lionel. So she could simply use the contact number on the business card he had given her!

Even if someone tried to trace the number and find its owner, that person was Lionel—so she had no fear of being followed.

Lindsay held up the business card she had received from Mikael.

"I'll send a communication request to the number on this card tomorrow night. Until then, discuss it with the client and let me know."

With her business concluded, Lindsay placed her hand on the doorknob. The door clicked open—and just as she was about to leave, a low voice came from behind.

"I'll be waiting for your contact."

Was he making sure I wouldn't run off with the money?

Lindsay nodded, acknowledging that was fair. She had already received one hundred thousand gold before even delivering the medicine.

No matter how wealthy a duke might be, it was a sum that would niggle at him like a hangnail. Of course, to him, it was probably just that—a hangnail. It would sting for a moment after being torn off, but soon be forgotten.

I would never have paid first.

She wanted to show Mikael's actions to the cat who was always chiding her for being naive—to prove that even she wouldn't hand over money with such blind confidence...

Or was he really that confident?

A sudden doubt struck her. Lindsay looked back at the Raven Ilbo building she had just exited. Mikael had been described as clever and meticulous—like the crow mascot Raven Ilbo used.

Would someone like him, even if desperate, let her go so carelessly? Without any safeguards?

She pulled out the promissory note and the business card and examined them closely. But they were just ordinary pieces of paper. No special devices or magic were embedded in them.

Lindsay tucked the stiff papers back into her bosom and murmured:

"Maybe he's just so rich he truly doesn't care..."

Come to think of it, in her past life, there had been businessmen who spent billions on election campaigns. To a duke far more prestigious and wealthier than such businessmen, one hundred thousand gold might be a sum worth tossing as bait. It might not even have been a hangnail...

Though reborn, the witch—still far removed from wealth—looked somewhat sheepish as she set the coordinates for teleportation.

Stepping into an alley not far from the boulevard where Raven Ilbo stood, Lindsay's form vanished in an instant.

In the dark alley where Lindsay had disappeared—with no light save for the moon hidden behind clouds—shadowy figures appeared one by one.

One of them placed a transparent orb on the spot where Lindsay had vanished and recited an activation phrase. The orb rose a handspan from the ground, emitted a glow, and fell.

The clouds that had covered the moon parted. Moonlight poured into the alley, and a man wearing a crow mask picked up the fallen orb.

The orb in his hand glowed a jade-green.

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