Walking in step, I stole a glance at Odile's profile.
She was two heads shorter than Siwoo.
Yet because her head was so small, from a distance, she didn't seem short at all.
Her hair, always scented with perfume, wafted a sweet fragrance, and her amethyst-like, shimmering eyes held a fairy-like mystical charm.
Her healthy peach-blossom blush, nicely plump lips, and the innate elegance in her every step.
She was like a princess who had popped straight out of a Rococo-era film.
If Siwoo were living in the modern world and unaware of Odile's true nature, he might have been overcome with flattered joy just from walking beside her.
That is, if Odile weren't a witch.
"Lady Odile."
"What is it, Assistant Shin Siwoo?"
"Thank you so much for helping me earlier. Thanks to you, that scumbag con artist won't trick me again."
Odile, who had been looking around curiously at the citizens of Tarot Town, stopped and met his eyes.
Siwoo hurriedly averted his gaze.
Forget how intimidating she was—her beauty was as hard to look at directly as Amelia's.
Just making eye contact made him feel awkwardly embarrassed.
"Don't sweat it! In return, you've become my fantastic escort."
"Ha... haha..."
Even at a glance, Odile seemed unusually excited.
People always find it easy to grant favors when they're in a good mood.
Was now the time to make a break for it?
If he came up with a decent excuse, she might let him go.
"About that escort duty... may I speak freely?"
"Permission granted."
"I'm not very familiar with Tarot Town's layout. It might be more convenient for you to choose someone better suited."
He swallowed the unspoken addition: So please, just let me go.
Instead, he bowed his head as politely as possible, careful not to offend her.
"And?"
The smile faded from Odile's face, which had been animated just moments before.
His heart sank.
Had he rushed it too much in his eagerness to escape?
"Ah, um... There's a decent tavern nearby—how about that? A stroll is nice, but stopping at a quiet pub could be even better. Especially with a questionable guide like me. Ha, hahaha...!"
Yeah, this was better.
Fleeing was tempting, but since she'd already discovered he could use magic, he needed to ask her—by any means necessary—to keep it secret through conversation.
"A tavern? Great idea! Lead the way!"
Fortunately, Odile bounced with delight.
Siwoo guided her to the White Whale Tavern he'd spotted earlier.
2.
White Whale Tavern.
It was the largest tavern in Tarot Town, a place Siwoo had visited a couple of times with Takasho.
"Pour more!"
"I'm sweeping this round—sorry about that."
"Coming right up!"
"Innkeeper, two more beers here!"
A musician skillfully playing the accordion.
A hairy old man chugging beer like it was a bet.
Drunkards puffing pipes while focused on their card game.
A little server boy bustling between tables with food.
There were even burly young men arm-wrestling.
It was a lively, upbeat scene that naturally lifted the spirits...
But the moment Odile and Siwoo stepped inside, the boisterous chatter of thirty or forty patrons fell silent as the grave.
Odile's presence stood out like a sore thumb in the dingy tavern.
As if frozen in a play scene, everyone halted, and the owner came rushing out, hat in hand.
"Oh dear~ Lady Witch, what brings you to a humble place like this? We keep to hygiene standards and pay our taxes on time!"
The owner recognized her as a witch at first sight.
Well, a girl in a silk dress worth a whole row house wasn't a witch? That would be the real oddity.
"It's fine. I'm not here to scold you."
"Pardon? Then what brings you..."
Odile slipped her hand into her sleeve.
Three gleaming gold coins sparkled on her dainty palm.
The iridescent gold mesmerized the owner, his mouth agape.
"Here."
"Pardon? What do you..."
"I want to rent the place for the day. Clear everyone out in five minutes. We'll leave in about an hour."
Twelve pennies make a shilling, twenty shillings make a gold coin.
In other words, Odile's rental fee was a fortune Siwoo would need three years of saving to match.
"Thank you!"
The owner personally kicked the patrons out.
They grumbled but left without fuss.
When a witch tells you to go, you go.
"Don't be too upset—come back for dinner, and drinks are on the house."
Only then did the patrons leave with brighter faces.
The owner got a windfall, and the regulars got free booze later. Win-win.
"Nice and quiet now."
Odile plopped down at the best-looking table, looking pleased.
So this was how the rich threw money around.
Three gold coins—ones Siwoo had never even touched—just for some peace and quiet.
"The best snacks will be out shortly. Make yourselves at home."
The owner set down two beers, rubbed his hands, and vanished into the kitchen.
This tavern only served beer, but the magically chilled brew was the best Siwoo had ever tasted.
It had to be.
Gehenna's citizens mostly stuck to family trades for generations.
No sudden breaks in tradition, no other gigs in this small world—so most honest folk became masters in their craft.
This one beer held the essence of brewing know-how accumulated over six centuries.
"So this is what commoners drink? I've always been curious."
Odile gracefully lifted a mug bigger than her face and chugged it down.
When she set it down, fresh foam clung to her upper lip like a mustache.
Oblivious, she rolled her eyes, evaluating the taste.
"Bitter and astringent. Heavy flavor's nice, but it doesn't quite suit my refined palate."
Odile shuddered with a drawn-out "Euuugh."
Clearly not to her liking.
"What're you waiting for? Drink up."
"Before that, Lady Witch, you've got foam on your face."
Her mature tasting expression still sported the foam mustache.
In a normal bar, it'd be the perfect setup to wipe it off and flirt.
Odile wiped it with her hand and froze.
"I-I knew it was there! I saw a drunk do it earlier and tried it myself. Gotta test if it's tastier that way, right?"
She rapped it out like a rapper and crossed her arms with a huff.
"Quite right."
"Exactly."
Siwoo pinched his thigh to stifle laughter at her fake cough, then chugged his beer.
Even as an apprentice witch, she was pure child here.
The chilling bite made his scalp tingle.
Malty barley aroma and tickling carbonation soaked into his parched body.
Siwoo closed his eyes and shivered.
Too good.
"That delicious? You'd faint over the wine at our estate. Made from Mendell Hills grapes sun-ripened all year."
"I'd love to try it sometime."
"I'll bring some next time."
Siwoo suddenly felt something off.
He'd sensed it earlier, but after a few exchanges, it clicked.
"Um, Lady Odile."
"Yeah, listening."
"Is this your first time in Tarot Town?"
"Yep!"
Odile nodded readily.
That explained her constant gawking.
"My master's strict. I begged to visit Tarot Town, but no dice."
"Focus on building foundations before inheriting the stigma—no distractions."
So she'd never been beyond Ars Magna Town or Lenormand Town.
With her mysteriously beautiful looks, pinning her exact age was impossible.
But her youthful vibe suggested around twenty.
"What about today?"
"My big rebellion. Master's kind but stuffy. Studying magic every day is so boring!"
Imagining her cooped up like a bird in a cage at that curious age stirred pity.
She was this thrilled over dingy tavern beer—might as well let her have some fun outside.
"Anyway, I get your worry. You want me to keep your magic a secret, right?"
"Ah, yes. Please."
"No plans to tell anyone. I'm not that cruel."
Odile smiled brightly.
An angel, truly.
First real human-to-human chat outside class, and surprisingly, she was easy to talk to.
Maybe her youth—no stuffy professor vibes like Amelia's suffocating lectures.
"Snacks are here."
"Ooh! Right here!"
The owner piled the table high—nearly breaking a leg—with platters.
Juicy ham dripping grease, pickled figs, wheat bread with raisins and ginger, figs sprinkled with salt, pepper, and olive oil.
Odile sampled each with sparkling eyes.
"Mmm~ Hng~ Hmm~"
She hummed happily, piling more on her plate—and Siwoo's too, slicing him a big ham chunk.
"Munch munch! You eat too, Assistant!"
"Thank you."
Whole roasted ham.
After months of beans for protein, the golden meat exploded his salivary glands.
Mid-feast, Odile asked casually.
"But why can't slaves use magic?"
"If it got out a slave used magic, they might take offense."
"Really? I think it'd be fine. You broke my barrier—even if just a bit of power. They'd praise you: 'A mere slave studying magic so diligently!'"
Still such a naive girl.
"No way—unless you're as open-minded as Lady Odile, they'd have blasted your head off with bigger magic the instant you dispelled it."
"True, I am understanding. Any other reason? Be honest."
"Yes! Truth is, I'm researching spatial spells to escape this damn Gehenna. Magic to open Border Town's 'gate.'"
"Whoa! You can do that? Opening a 'gate' isn't for amateurs."
"Not yet. But in two years—no, one—I think I can. I've pieced together 70% of the theory from books."
"Books?"
"Yes, part of my duties is archive sorting—great basics there... Huh?"
Siwoo, tearing into ham, sensed wrongness.
He set it down quietly and looked at Odile.
"What did I just say?"
Words he never should utter spilled out like under a truth serum.
And thoughts he'd only mumbled internally poured straight from his mouth.
"How is this happening...? No warning... Self-Generating Magic?"
"Bingo, Assistant."
Odile's friendly face flipped in an instant.
Innocent girl oblivious to the world? What nonsense.
He felt pathetic for ever pitying her, even briefly.
Leaning forward, she patted his head.
"Ahn~ So that's Assistant Siwoo's story?"
"I'm screwed."
"Yep, our assistant's screwed."
Odile beamed.