Chapter 30
The mage found it strange that Paiki was wearing shorts in the dead of winter without a single goosebump. Paiki glanced at the director and smiled.
“I cast a warming spell on my pants, so I’m fine.”
To perform such a specific, desired magic without a teacher at such a young age meant he was self-taught. The mage, recognizing his talent at a glance, took him from the orphanage and made him his apprentice.
From that point on, Paiki’s life was on an upward trajectory. Although Marius, who became his senior by just one month, was annoying, insisting on his seniority, it was far better than the small kingdom ruled by the director.
After about three years of learning as an apprentice, a man who was a friend of his master took an interest in Paiki.
“You and I are very much alike. Too clever for your own good, which makes your nature melancholy and twisted.”
He took Paiki to his ducal house and adopted him as his own. He said the name ‘Candy’ didn’t suit him, and upon formally registering him, gave him a new name.
Candy was reborn as ‘Theodore Paiki’, his identity laundered. Educated as an heir, he eventually grew into a vile, ruthless, and cold-hearted confidant of the Emperor. His adoptive father was very pleased with this and closed his eyes contentedly.
After inheriting the ducal title, he stood at the peak of power as the Emperor’s right hand. But the world is full of people who crave power. Thanks to those who wanted to pull him down from his summit, he was constantly busy at the center of schemes and plots.
Amidst all this, the Emperor often issued absurd commands.
“Theodore, I had a dream last night, listen. A ship was flying through the sky, carrying goods!”
So, he was to make a flying ship. You’re a genius mage, after all.
Paiki understood the words spoken through the Emperor’s eyes, though they never left his mouth. He thought it was nonsense. The Emperor was a goldfish who would lose interest quickly and even forget he had given the order.
Anyway, he had to at least pretend to make an effort, so he procured a large quantity of dragonfly wings under the pretext of needing them for magical research.
Why dragonflies, of all insects?
It was because he knew a certain ill-tempered mage was using dragonflies in his research on flight magic. Remembering the face of that mage, who was struggling with his research due to a lack of materials, put Paiki in a good mood.
“Theodore, how is the research progressing?”
The goldfish’s memory, which he assumed would be short-lived, lasted somewhat longer this time. It seemed his mind was working well lately, as his desires were being satisfied.
Paiki had to show a little more effort than just collecting useless dragonflies. He went to visit the friend with whom he had studied under the same master long ago.
As expected, Marius welcomed him very warmly.
“Don’t you dare set the dial to ‘Guest’ when you’re no guest of mine! How could you ever be my guest? Absolutely not! I would never invite you in my entire life!”
He was so overjoyed he practically bounced off the walls. Paiki ignored him, walked past, and entered the workshop.
The workshop, which he expected to be filthy, was surprisingly tidy. Just a year ago, one couldn’t tell if it was a pigsty or a workshop. Since he was a man who had never been able to tidy up even as a child, it was clear he hadn’t cleaned it himself. Someone else’s hand was definitely involved.
“Did you get a new assistant? I heard everyone quit, fed up with your fiery temper and stinginess.”
When Paiki spoke with feigned surprise, Marius clenched his fists and trembled with rage.
“My assistants didn’t quit because of me! They left because you stole them away with your underhanded money!”
“Don’t blame me for the fact that no one wants to work under you because you’re a tightwad.”
Having successfully gotten on Marius’s nerves, Paiki was promptly kicked out, making the visit worthwhile in its own way.
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