Chapter 51
“Ugh, ngh… haa…”
After each time he came, Eki would wipe him clean with a towel. Then Cassius, shuddering, would use magic to remove any traces of bodily fluids.
They repeated this act several times a day. Even while calmly drawing magic circles, whenever the luck potion set the mood, Eki would inevitably touch her Master’s body, and Cassius would endure his disciple’s teasing.
Like that, days passed in a blur, and morning would arrive again. Naturally, time flew by until the day of the midterm inspection approached.
“Wow…”
Eki blinked as she lay sprawled on the laboratory floor.
‘I didn’t get a wink of sleep last night.’
Still, she had barely managed to complete the required number of magic circles and potions.
‘The Association’s messenger will arrive soon… I should get up.’
Cassius had gone to organize the ordered goods.
With his magic, he could easily lift piles of parchment and potion bottles weighing dozens of kilograms, so there wasn’t much to worry about. What did concern her was that her master wasn’t very tidy. She feared he might scatter everything she had neatly arranged.
‘I’d better go check.’
Just as Eki staggered to her feet, she heard a familiar voice from outside.
“Eki! Are you in there?”
It must have been the messenger.
But the person who had come was someone who shouldn’t have.
To be precise, it was someone who had no reason to come here at all.
Eki dashed down the stairs two or three steps at a time and ran to the tower’s main gate. When she opened the large oak door, a familiar face greeted her with a bright smile.
“It’s been a while.”
“Milla!”
Eki’s longtime friend, Milla, held out the Association’s seal in greeting.
“How have you been? We haven’t spoken since we parted at the tavern.”
“How are you here? Aren’t you supposed to be at the Association headquarters?”
“That’s right. But I was sent on an errand to a nearby branch. The courier mage happened to have business at the Thousand Dog Tower, so I said I’d deliver the message in their place.”
“Wow, really? It’s so good to see you!”
It felt as if the heavy fatigue in her body melted away. Eki hugged Milla and bounced in excitement, though she stopped quickly when her legs began to wobble. Her body was still exhausted, though her heart felt light enough to float.
“You must have been overworking yourself. I tried contacting you, but you didn’t answer.”
“Ugh, sorry. You did? I haven’t even been in my room lately. I spent all night drawing magic circles again.”
Eki held up her swollen right hand. From drawing so many circles, blisters had formed in the exact shape of her drafting tools.
Milla looked at her with pity.
“Still, I’ve got some good news for you.”
“What is it?”
“The Association Head decided to lower the order quota to a thousand. After this inspection, it’ll be cut in half until the final one.”
“Seriously? You’re not joking, are you? You’re telling the truth?”
“It’s true.”
“Wow…”
Eki could have screamed for joy but managed to restrain herself. She grabbed both of Milla’s hands and bounced on her toes, then spun around quickly.
“Milla, wait just a second! I have to tell Master!”
“Go ahead.”
“Master! Masteeer! We’re free!”
At Eki’s outburst, Milla let out a short laugh, and Cassius came down from the upper floor, frowning at the commotion.
But the moment Eki saw him, overwhelmed with joy, she ran straight into his arms.
“E-Eki!”
Cassius was startled and put his hands on her shoulders. Unaware—or simply not caring—that Milla was watching, Eki buried herself against his chest and sang out happily,
“We’re free! The Association Head reduced the quota!”
Cassius, who had been about to pull away, froze.
“What? Really? Ikelid actually said that?”
“Yes! It’s true! The messenger— no, my friend who came in the messenger’s place and told me so. Right, Milla?”
Still clinging to Cassius’s waist, Eki turned to look at Milla.
Unlike usual, Milla’s languid eyes lifted slightly as she regarded the two of them with open curiosity.
Eki snapped back to her senses and pushed Cassius away. She pretended not to notice as he stumbled a little, tucked her red hair behind her ear, and cleared her throat deliberately.
“Uh, Master. Is it alright if I talk with Milla for a bit?”
“…Do as you please.”
Cassius answered curtly and walked away, his steps quick and uneven, as if escaping.
Once he had disappeared completely from sight, Milla looked at Eki and asked,
“You… slept with your master, didn’t you?”
“No!”
Eki’s face flushed as red as a beet.
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