Chapter 7
A black carriage stood before the Mage Tower. The tall, scrawny mage staggered aboard.
“Where are you going right now?! Put me back to normal this instant!!”
The mage was heading somewhere, holding the cage imprisoning Hermie.
Huddled in fear, Hermie covered her nakedness with a handkerchief that now seemed as large as a blanket. She had raged at the mage with all her strength, but her utmost, desperate fury had no effect at all.
“Ahh, I’d like to. But the research funds are insufficient… This isn’t perfectly complete yet. I tried it once more, and it failed again… If only you hadn’t gone and touched it so recklessly, it might have succeeded…”
That was the frustrating reply he gave.
The mage’s dithering attitude brought Hermie to the brink of fainting. How could he spout such irresponsible excuses in front of the victim?!
“So what are you going to do about it?!”
“It seems I’ll need to purchase another Fairy’s Tear…”
“You can’t get another Fairy’s Tear! Because of you, our guild is on the verge of bankruptcy!”
“Ah, well, about that…”
The mage pressed his face against the cage with a sly, sinister expression. As the giant face loomed before her, Hermie flinched in terror, shrinking back.
His large pores, protruding nose hairs, and disgusting blood vessels… Things that were invisible when she was normal were now huge and clear, making her nauseous.
“Wh-what?”
“I was hoping you might help me a bit…”
“What did you say? You see me like this and still dare ask for help?!”
“Ahh, don’t get excited. Listen. If you just put on a little act for me, I think I can get the money to buy research materials. With just the money, succeeding in the research will be quick. I’ve already succeeded once, so I should be able to do it again.”
Somehow, it didn’t sound very convincing. A strong premonition washed over her that she shouldn’t trust this mage.
“Stop talking nonsense. Just put me back to normal.”
“The method to revert you also requires the research to succeed in order to calculate it in reverse…”
“Sigh…”
She was in deep trouble. Hermie clutched her dizzy head. The sky was already pitch dark.
‘Has Uncle Jen already left?’
If it wasn’t too late, she might still be able to meet Uncle Jen.
But go back looking like this? What if she went like this and the mage never showed up again?
What if the beggar-bastard of a mage couldn’t buy the materials and never succeeded in his research?
Then Hermie would never be able to return to normal. It was a horrific thought.
She couldn’t trust the crazy mage, but there was no other alternative.
“…What kind of act am I supposed to put on?”
“Ah, I have a good idea. What it is…”
As she listened to the mage’s explanation, Hermie screamed that it was absurd.
“Are you insane?! So, you’re saying you’re going to sell me off to a collector?!”
“Se-sell? No, it’s just entrusting you temporarily. If only this research succeeds, the performance bonus will be enormous. With that money, I’ll get you back.”
“How can I trust you?”
“Hehe, do I look like someone who would lie?”
He just looked like a madman. A crazy mage who’d gone off the deep end doing nothing but research!
“I’m sorry, but I can’t believe you. Your eyes look dead.”
The mage had fish-eyes. A rotten look that held not an ounce of trust.
“Well then, there’s nothing to be done. Who knows how long it’ll take to secure research funds… You’ll just have to stay like this until I succeed…”
The mage muttered incessantly, clicking his tongue in regret.
“Sigh, I wonder how long it will take to get a Fairy’s Tear this time. Last time it took a year… and without money, it’ll probably take even longer…”
F**k. Unable to bear it, Hermie cursed.
“Who do you plan to sell me to?”
“He’s a very gentlemanly person. Someone who understands the value of rare items, so I’m sure he’ll take good care of you, Ms. Hermie.”
“Take care of me?!”
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