When Your Secret Crush Wizard Took a Love Potion - Chapter 69

“And if you were going to kill them, you should have done it already. It’s been a week stuck in this damn forest. I haven’t even seen a woman.”

“Dirty bastard…”

The men exchanged sneers, as if they had realized the disgusting plot.

I had heard of magic suppression shackles before. They were initially created for training purposes but were later banned for violating the rights of wizards.

‘They’ve put on shackles?’

It wasn’t a joke. The magic that used to naturally flow to my fingertips was suddenly cut off, like a river dammed mid-course. Cold sweat trickled down my back.

“I have no interest in peeping, so go ahead and do it in the cave.”

“Too bad. I get excited with more spectators.”

“Crazy bastard.”

As the voices of the other two men grew distant, rustling sounds of fabric being removed came from nearby. From their conversation, it was clear what was about to happen.

“Get your dirty hands off.”

The man who had been about to mount me, thinking I was asleep, hesitated when he saw the sharp needle aimed at his face.

The weapon I used was a hairpin I had received from Oz. The long adornment, decorated with colored fabric at the tip, was made of metal and could serve as a weapon if used to stab vital points like the neck or eyes.

Facing three trained men, it was crucial to appear as threatening as possible, even if the odds were slim.

‘Can I really do this?’

Although I had experience fighting monsters with magic since living alone with Edgar in the cabin, I had never killed a person. I never anticipated encountering such a dire situation on what was supposed to be a lighthearted journey.

“Look at this.”

The thief who noticed the faint tremor sneered. His gruesome, pockmarked appearance made his smile even more vile.

“Young fool. Do you know why we wear monster hides and rob in remote forests? We’re all seasoned criminals who have killed before. We ended up here after being sentenced to execution and fleeing from the guards.”

There are criminals who, either through force or a willingness to face their punishment, end up in the hands of state authorities, but others are not so easily caught. Many vile criminals lie in hiding, waiting for their punishment to become void.

While the nobility, obsessed with succession issues, churn out useless policies to gain public favor, real justice takes a backseat, allowing such criminals to run rampant.

“After killing a few people, you get a feel for it just by looking at their eyes. You can tell if someone can’t even kill a rabbit.”

There was a clear and direct malice in the toad-like face of the man who, urging me to make a move, brought his own face closer to the hairpin I was holding.

I was trying to think of a way to escape when I felt a faint but distinct magical aura in the breeze. Among wind magic, there are spells that can communicate over distances. Even though I couldn’t use magic myself, Edgar might still sense my magic.

“Let’s drop the weapons and enjoy ourselves.”

As the thief seized the opportunity to snatch the hairpin from my grasp, a man with wide eyes suddenly fell on top of me.

“Are you okay?”

Angel Runport appeared behind the fallen thief.

“I had learned some important self-defense techniques in preparation for the journey. Fortunately, their overconfidence in my appearance allowed me to win.”

It turns out that being good at magic isn’t everything. Situations can vary, so I need to prepare myself not just by burying my head in books but by undergoing some physical training as well.

Just as I was unlocking the shackles with a key I found in the thief’s pocket and about to stand up, Angel Runport put a finger to her lips and gave a tense look.

There was a presence at the cave entrance. Now that I could use magic, I wouldn’t be caught off guard so easily, but if the other thieves who had gone out to raid had returned to the base…

As we tensed up and kept a vigilant watch, a familiar figure appeared in front of us.

“Are both of you alright?”

It was the mercenary captain, gasping for breath. Though covered in dust, she seemed to be unharmed.

“Marca! You came to rescue me!”