Chapter 30

EP.30 Old Acquaintance (2)

“What do you want to become?”

In response to that question, I looked at the man in front of me.

An elf with silver hair and golden eyes.

Cardy.

I didn't know much about this silver-haired elf. From the first meeting, he was special. He never revealed anything about himself.

-Just call me Cardy.

-I abandoned my baptismal name long ago.

That's how he introduced himself.

-There are a few conditions.

-One, I'd prefer if you didn't use honorifics. It brings back old memories, and I don't like it.

-Two, don't ask about me. I can't answer even if you do.

That's what he asked.

I kept his request, but Kyle didn't. As a result, Kyle couldn't meet Cardy anymore.

'Kyle couldn't even remember Cardy.'

The day Kyle asked Cardy about his true identity.

From that day on, Kyle couldn't meet Cardy anymore. He couldn't remember him.

I don't know the principle.

It just happened at some point.

So, I erased my doubts about this elf. I decided to think of him as just a unique elf.

'What I know about Cardy...'

That he's an elf who has lived for a very long time.

That he's related to the ancient kingdom that turned to ashes.

And that he's an alchemist.

That's all I knew.

And now, one more thing was about to be added.

'Curse.'

Cardy definitely said that.

I hadn't explained anything yet, but Cardy used the word "curse" when pointing at my heart.

'What does he know?'

I narrowed my eyes.

"You seem to know something."

"I can't not know. It's something you shouldn't forget."

Cardy's gaze was still sharp.

"Answer me, Raniel. My attitude towards you will change depending on your answer."

I answered briefly.

There was no need for a long explanation.

"I met the Demon King and was cursed."

"…What?"

Cardy tilted his head.

"You mean you were cursed, not through a contract or a deal?"

"Why do you sound like I made a deal with the Demon King, you?"

"…Not?"

His calm question made my brows furrow.

'What the hell is he talking about?'

Was he even a reasonable person?

At least, the Demon King I knew wasn't.

'How do you even talk to that monster, damn it.'

Whether it's a contract or a deal, you need to be able to communicate, right?

"No, how can you make a deal with that pile of filth? Even if you could, you wouldn't have."

"…You couldn't communicate?"

"Are you serious?"

The conversation felt like it was going in circles.

I sighed and slowly opened my mouth.

"Hey, Cardy."

"…What?"

"I'll only say this once, so listen carefully."

I opened my mouth and spoke.

That I met the Demon King and was cursed.

That I used the scales to escape from the Demon King.

That the curse was triggered by the Succubus Queen.

'And that, in the end, I ended up like this.'

I told him everything without leaving anything out. As I finished, I looked at Cardy.

His eyes were trembling slightly.

It was an unfamiliar sight.

'I've never seen this before.'

This cunning elf, looking flustered.

"…That."

Cardy opened his mouth. His voice, like his eyes, was trembling.

"Is that… possible?"

"What is?"

"Suppressing the curse by turning mana into a curse? Drawing circuits? No, how did you… counter that fog?"

"Wouldn't I be here if I hadn't?"

"Speak sensibly, Raniel. How…"

It seemed showing him would be faster.

I took off my robe and showed Cardy the circuit etched on my chest.

"…"

Cardy looked at the circuit as if entranced. After a while, he slowly raised his hand and covered his eyes.

"Hah."

Then, he burst into laughter.

"Hah, hah."

He wiped his eyes with a bitter smile.

"…Unbelievable."

His voice was weak.

Cardy muttered weakly.

"Really, it seems to be true."

"…I can't understand a word you're saying. Can you please explain?"

But his response was the same as always.

His tone was like drawing a line.

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

I sighed.

"At least, I can make you a potion."

Cardy, who had stopped laughing, stood up.

"I don't know how to deal with the changes in your body, but there's a way to handle the curse."

He soon returned with a few potion bottles.

"Take one every month. If you run out, you can come back anytime."

"…What does this potion do?"

"It stops the erosion of the curse. If it works with the circuit you etched, the curse shouldn't consume your body as much."

Of course, he added.

"It's not a fundamental solution."

"Of course not."

I didn't expect it to be.

'It wouldn't be that easy to solve.'

It was a curse directly placed by the Demon King, after all.

"Hmm…"

I stroked the potion bottle, inwardly amazed.

Honestly, I thought it wouldn't work.

I didn't think even an excellent alchemist could create a potion that could counter the Demon King's curse.

'So, I came here thinking I'd be cheated.'

This was an unexpected gain. If Cardy said so, the effect would be certain.

"Hmm."

I looked away from the potion.

I raised my head and looked at Cardy.

"So, what will I pay with?"

"…I don't really need payment, but…"

"It looks like you put a lot of effort into it. How about a favor, like old times?"

"Hmm…"

Cardy, stroking his chin, finally spoke.

"For the past few days, I've felt something crawling in the sewers."

"Sewers?"

"The sewers under the slums. They don't seem to be used much since the slums declined…"

He pointed at the floor.

"Lately, I keep feeling something crawling."

"So, you want me to clean it up?"

"Sure, I'd appreciate it. I've already sent one of my students, but it seems they won't finish by today."

…Student?

I tilted my head at the word.

"You have a student?"

"Technically, more like a nanny, but I did teach them magic."

"Wow."

He didn't teach me anything.

Seeing my look, Cardy shrugged.

"You were already complete. Besides, you had a