Chapter 74

Someone gently picked me up.

While I was gasping for breath, I had already arrived home.

To have covered such a distance in one go? I must have fainted for a while.

"You almost got fried by lightning. Didn't you?"

After all that trouble to save me, that's all he had to say.

This man and I are definitely entangled in a very complicated relationship. Otherwise, things wouldn't have gone awry from the first day he entered my home to this very moment.

After swallowing the rainwater from the tomato stew can for a long time, I finally managed to respond weakly.

"I'm sorry, but I can't say thank you."

"Really?"

What was so amusing that he sat next to me and just kept smiling?

"Then, what do you want to say the most right now?"

"Why did you save me?"

"Because you fell into the sea."

His tone was as light as if he was spitting out someone else's story, and my anger surged up my throat.

"You should have left me. I had no intention of coming back up!"

"Oh, really? I didn't notice. Sorry."

Liar. How can you be so amused? I was so flabbergasted that I couldn't even speak.

"Why did you try to kill yourself? You're so young and cute. Your cooking isn't great, but you're good at filleting fish. You're good at repairing roofs. You have many skills, don't you?"

Why?

My nose tingled, and I couldn't say anything. Bowing my head in silence, the man lifted my chin and asked,

"Why did you try to kill yourself?"

At that moment, his voice was cold, as if he was angry.

"...My brother was pitiful. So pitiful that I wanted to follow him."

"Follow him where? He's alive, right?"

"That was just my foolish wish. I knew it wasn't true... but I couldn't let go of hope..."

That's why I stayed on this island.

If Andert had returned, I could have lived here in this ruin for the rest of my life.

A slow answer came.

"Would you like to go to the mainland with me?"

The man looked stunned for a moment, as if he couldn't believe his own words, but then he smiled even more deeply and proposed to me.

"Let's leave this island and go to the mainland. It would be good. We'll leave this old, rain-soaked island."

Should I?

Should I leave this island? If I leave this island...

"Then, can I take revenge?"

"Ah, revenge. Important."

The man's gaze, which had been heavy with yellow light, sank even deeper.

"So, you're thinking about revenge. It's a path anyone can choose, but no one can easily choose. It's painful."

"..."

"Shall I help you?"

"Yes."

The man, satisfied, patted my back.

"Got it. Get up, miss. We need to leave a farewell message for your brother. It's the right thing to do."

He accepted it?

'Just like that?'

He's not a con artist or anything. Of course, this man looked like a con artist from the start...

I got up to follow him as he was about to leave the house and asked,

"Why are you helping me, sir?"

The man answered with a nonchalant expression.

"Because I like it."

Of course, it was a completely unsatisfying answer.

"Me? Why? I don't think you're very nice."

"The last part was a bit shocking, but it doesn't matter. I like people who are as desperate as you. People who always try their best, even when they're backed into a corner... who fall into despair but get back up. That's why I've been watching you."

"So, you knew I was just wasting my time?"

"No. There's no such thing as wasting time in this world."

With a firm denial, the man walked into the rain and went ahead.

It wasn't a particularly profound answer, but I followed him as if I had been waiting for it.

At the edge of the cliff, we built a stone grave for Andert.

Whether he was buried in the ground or became fish food, returning to nature was the same.

In fact, I couldn't be sure if the headless body I saw at the bottom of the cliff was Andert's. Even if it wasn't Andert, I hoped this stone grave would comfort the victim.

"You're calm."

Is that so?

In fact, I'm not calm. I'm just trying to be.

"I often imagined it in my head. How to compose myself if my brother died. How to take revenge."

"You have a great plan."

"It's not great. It's pathetic."

"Good, partner. Then, what's our first plan?"

I looked into the man's confident eyes and answered.

"I'll become Andert."

The man's eyes widened slightly, as if he was surprised by this unexpected method.

"I'll become Andert and kill his enemy. If I can do that, my brother can rest in peace in heaven. This is the best revenge I can think of. To do that, I need to find a magician on the mainland, right?"

The man listened to my story quietly and then smiled mockingly.

"Who are you going to find? I'm your magician."

"Really? You're a magician?"

Is he lying? A man who wandered around a deserted island and parasitized my house being a magician doesn't sound very trustworthy.

"Yes. But our miss is asking for a very difficult spell. Living someone else's life is a high-level magic that ordinary magicians can't even attempt."

"How difficult is it?"

"Even the royal magician of your country can't do it."

Is it that difficult? The man changed his tune just before I fell into despair.

"Don't worry. I'm a genius. I can do anything. You picked a great magician, miss. You must be incredibly lucky."

Is that so?

"You're really amazing."

"Ask me one more thing."

"Sure."

"Can you dedicate everything for your revenge?"

At first, I wanted to ask, "Do I have to dedicate everything?"

But soon I realized that no matter what the answer was, my conclusion would be the same.

"Yes."

The man, who seemed to have expected this answer, asked again.

"Even if it means death?"

"I'm already dead. If you hadn't saved me, I would have sunk to the bottom of the sea, swollen, and waited to float up."

"...So, I'll end up killing you twice."

The man, who had been silent, looked at the stone grave with a heavy gaze and then approached me with a shallow smile.

"Now, I'll change your appearance to Andert's."

"Really? Is it possible?"

"Ordinary transformation magic is a high-level magic that's hard to maintain for a long time. If you go underground right now, you'll revert to your original form immediately."

"That's..."

"Of course, I can make you live as Andert for the rest of your life without being disturbed by such elements. I'm a genius."

Is that so?

"You're really amazing."

"However, like any powerful magic, my magic requires a price."

"What is it?"

"Your lifespan."

"..."

"And the memory of this moment."

Lifespan? I thought magicians used mana to cast spells. Isn't this an unexpected price?

"...Are you a con artist?"

"Con artist?"

He took a step back from me, smiling mockingly at my suspicion.

At that moment,

Whoosh.

The rain that had been pouring like needles stopped.

The raindrops that had been shaking the heavens turned into white petals.

The wet ground began to turn white, and the world was filled with flowers.

Stunned by this unbelievable scene, I just stood there with my mouth open.

Oh my God.

In the fluttering petals, the man whispered in my ear,

"How about it? Do I still look like a con artist?"

I clutched my heart, which was pounding, and shook my head vigorously.

"No, no way! Why would a great magician like you be on this burned-out island?"

"I told you, I'm looking for a heart."

"So, meeting you was just a coincidence?"

"Why? Doesn't it seem like a coincidence?"

"It doesn't seem like a coincidence."

It really doesn't seem like a coincidence.

"Your appearance in front of me is like fate. At least to me."

The man said nothing.

He silently watched me, occasionally reaching out to brush the petals from my nose.

I took a deep breath and made my final decision.

"Okay. I was already dead, so I don't mind betting my lifespan. I'll bet it. If I can achieve my goal, I don't mind betting my whole life."

"Maybe it's because you're young, but you don't hesitate to make such a choice."

"But why do I have to bet my memory?"

"This magic must not be remembered by anyone."

I think I understood a little of what the man was saying. I had never heard of a great magic that required a lifespan as a price.

So, I was a bit concerned about him.

"Are you okay? My lifespan will be shortened."

"Are you worried about me now? Don't most people worry about themselves? You're indeed a bit special."

'Is that why you look cuter?' He muttered softly and gently stroked my head.

"To be honest, I was a bit surprised. I used to have similar thoughts. I was willing to risk my life to achieve my goal... if it was possible."

Does that mean he failed?

If so, this magic must be the greatest favor he can show me. I held his hand, which was touching my head, and made one last request.

"I will succeed in my revenge. So, when everything is over, let's meet again. And bury me next to my brother's grave."

The man, as if saying a final farewell, kissed my hand deeply and replied,

"I hope that day comes."

The dark clouds that had been enveloping the island began to clear.

Sunlight, breaking through the dark sky, reached the cliff.

The brilliant light, as if by divine arrangement, strongly illuminated the man's face, and I stared at his face, which looked like a mirage.

Only then did I remember the man's name.

I know him.

Roo.

The man was Roo.

Oh my God, it's you! You're Roo!

Unbelievable. I forgot this memory? For 14 years?

Ah. As if by agreement, the demon that had been controlling my body left, and my sanity returned to reality.

The maid Daisy opened her eyes.

Jumping out of bed, I shouted at the top of my lungs.

"Roo! You con artist!"