Chapter 70 · BMMAW

Chapter 70

A Small Sense of Incongruity

The aide hurried into the guild building.

*‘Surely they haven’t already left…’*

Tracking down a man named Juhwan had not been easy. The guild refused to provide any information, and the village where the report had come from knew almost nothing about him. All they knew was that a soldier had handed over a man who had been in a slave wagon.

In the winter prisoner wagons, many people died. The same was true in summer, but winter was especially severe. Because of that, they would sometimes add death row inmates or serious criminals to fill the numbers, but even then, there were often shortages. Many died along the way, but soldiers would also sell prisoners to villages for money.

When that happened, soldiers occasionally kidnapped someone who seemed unlikely to cause trouble. It was rare—if discovered, the punishment was severe—but there were always those willing to risk their lives for money.

The aide had wondered if Juhwan had been one of those people, but after questioning the soldiers, it turned out he wasn’t.

If only they knew his origin or status, things would have been easier. But there was nothing. It was as if he had fallen from the sky.

In the end, the only option was to trace connections and traces through the guild. Guild members were tight-lipped—so much so it felt like their mouths were sealed with plaster.

Still, he wasn’t serving the border count for nothing. By pulling every connection he had—and even selling his soul, so to speak—he finally learned that Juhwan had been hired by the Miller Company and was heading to Moderni.

It sounded simple when put into words, but the effort behind it was something only those who experienced it could understand. Running here and there, contacting one person after another, threatening some, persuading others—on top of enduring the fiery temper of the border count. It had been exhausting.

But when he entered the guild office, the healing mage was nowhere to be seen.

*‘Have they already left?’*

Panic rose in his chest. As he pushed through the crowd and scanned the guild, his eyes suddenly fell on the inside of the counter.

“!”

He recognized him instantly. The man was exactly as he had imagined.

Descriptions from others were rarely accurate. Someone called a peerless beauty often turned out to be nothing special, and someone described as ugly but kind often turned out to have a terrible personality too. People who were said to be competent sometimes produced results worse than a street beggar.

But the healing mage named Juhwan was exactly as described. No—perhaps even more intimidating. His appearance was almost like that of a bandit leader.

And yet, upon closer inspection, his face wasn’t ugly. It was just that his sharp eyes gave him a fierce impression. Very fierce.

The aide unconsciously shuddered. Juhwan’s gaze was cold.

*‘He really does look terrifying…’*

It wasn’t just his face—it was his entire presence. Even while sitting still, it felt like the air around him had grown tense and rigid.

*‘And that man is a healing mage?’*

He would suit a fire mage far better. A strong, intimidating fire mage—sure, that would make sense. But a healing mage with that face and aura? It almost felt like fraud.

Still, the aide maintained a polite smile.

No matter what, he had to persuade this man. The land was like a ship standing before a storm. If there was someone who could use both healing and fire magic, they needed him—at any cost.

The aide steadied himself and approached.

“Greetings, Mage Juhwan. I am Kyle, an aide to Count Bern, the border lord. I have come today to offer you a favorable proposal.”

Kyle smiled warmly, the kind of smile well received by both men and women, and looked directly at Juhwan.

—

The approach was far more gentlemanly than expected. Based on previous encounters, Juhwan had thought nobles would use harsher methods. But this was simply… a proposal. It felt like ordinary headhunting.

Juhwan calmly observed the man before him.

Kyle, who served the border count, had a polished appearance. He looked to be in his late thirties or early forties. Not particularly handsome, but not light or frivolous either—rather, somewhat strict-looking.

Yet from head to toe, there was nothing to criticize. Even his hair seemed meticulously arranged, as if he had stepped straight out of a medieval painting.

Compared to Leonard of the Miller Company, who had the air of a rugged outlaw, Kyle was entirely different.

Kyle glanced briefly at the guild staff, then back at Juhwan, smiling slightly.

“Were you satisfied with your first job at the guild? I have a general idea of how much one earns here. It may seem like a large sum right now, but it’s not truly fair compensation. You deserve much more. If you’re willing, I’d like to discuss this somewhere more private.”

Before Juhwan could respond, a guild staff member spoke up.

“That won’t be possible, sir. Our guild has a duty to protect its members. If you have something to say, please say it here.”

Kyle smiled gently.

“That’s an odd thing to say. It almost sounds like you’re calling me a swindler who endangers people.”
“Well, not exactly… but haven’t there already been people who died after being taken by you?”
“…Doesn’t that happen with adventurers as well? Even goblin hunts result in deaths.”

The two began arguing, leaving Juhwan out of it.

Both were skilled speakers. Smiling like close friends, they subtly accused each other of exploitation and deceit.

Juhwan listened and pieced together the situation. It seemed that even nobles could not easily interfere with someone affiliated with the Adventurers’ Guild. As long as he didn’t go willingly, he would be fine.

Then he noticed Lizzy watching him anxiously.

Ah, of course. To Lizzy, the aide of a border count was an untouchable figure. Someone to be feared.

*‘That’s why the guild staff stepped in first…’*

Juhwan stood up. The argument between the two stopped immediately.

Looking at Kyle, Juhwan spoke calmly.

“You said your name is Kyle, correct? Thank you for your offer. However, I have no intention of leaving my family to go to war. I’m sorry.”

Both Kyle and the guild staff looked surprised. Most people wouldn’t refuse so directly.

Kyle spoke again, slightly flustered.

“Wait. You’re misunderstanding. For the sake of your family, you must not waste your abilities. If this land is trampled, who will suffer first? Your wife. Your daughter. This is not someone else’s problem. Protecting this land is the best way to protect your family.”

Ah, just as expected—this was a threat.

If Lizzy and Dorothy were not registered as part of a guild party, his words would be true. They would be trapped here and inevitably suffer.

And beneath his words was another implication: *If you refuse, your family may not be safe.*

*‘Registering them in the party was the right decision.’*

Juhwan felt reassured—and slightly disappointed. He had thought nobles might be more reasonable, but that was only because of the guild’s protection. Without it, things would have been very different.

Standing tall, Juhwan spoke again.

“You may be right. If this land is invaded, those who live here will suffer.”

Kyle looked hopeful.

“But I’ve heard that those affiliated with the guild can move to other countries where the same guild exists. My family and I can leave anytime.”

“What?!”

Kyle glared briefly at the guild staff, then back at Juhwan. His expression twisted slightly.

“Then what about your family’s feelings? Surely your wife and child have others they care about—parents, siblings, hometown. Would you have them abandon everything?”

Juhwan smirked.

“My wife has no other family. They sold her for the price of a worn-out rabbit hide. She doesn’t wish them harm, but she has no reason to wish them happiness either. And our child doesn’t even have that.”

To Lizzy and Dorothy, he was everything. Just as they were everything to him.

*‘So that’s why Santa led them to me…’*

They were everything to each other. How perfect.

Juhwan gave a brief farewell, lifted Dorothy into his arms, and left the guild with Lizzy.

“W-Wait!”

Kyle tried to follow, but guild staff deliberately blocked his way. Loud arguing broke out behind them.

The Red Sword party followed Juhwan outside, looking uneasy.

“Is this really okay? Even with the guild, that man serves a border count. Isn’t it dangerous to refuse him so directly?” Marie asked.

“If you answer vaguely, he’ll twist your words,” Juhwan replied. “You saw how well he speaks.”

Marie hesitated.

“With your ability, wouldn’t it be better to work under a noble?”

“If I go to war, I can’t stay with my family. It could be months… or years. Who knows what might happen while I’m gone?”

That was what frightened him most. Even when together, anything could happen—how could he leave them behind?

And from the conversation earlier, he understood something: even if mages were valuable, on the battlefield they were expendable. Tools to win wars, not lives to be protected.

Under a border count, it would be even worse. He would be drained of magic until nothing remained, then discarded.

*That’s not the life I came to this world for.*

War was tragic, but it was not his responsibility.

Dorothy suddenly clung tightly to his neck. Sensing the strange atmosphere, perhaps. Juhwan patted her back gently, then placed a hand on Lizzy’s shoulder.

“Lizzy, let’s go buy what you said you needed.”

They planned to leave with the Red Sword party by noon.

Lizzy nodded, though she kept glancing back at the guild.

After that, they went around buying supplies. Compared to the Adventurer Village, Moderni had far more shops.

Lizzy carefully compared prices before buying tunics, shirts, and shoes.

At one shop, Juhwan noticed women’s undergarments with strings and asked why she didn’t buy them. Lizzy shook her head—it was too expensive.

The shopkeeper approached with a wide smile.

“Good eye, sir. That’s high-quality linen—10 rina each.”

Even the cheaper ones cost 7 rina.

“Women love them. Soft and pretty. Buy two, and I’ll give you a discount.”

Meanwhile, Lizzy stood aside, her face bright red, as onlookers gathered at the entrance.

Embarrassed, Juhwan quickly left the shop.

Afterward, they continued shopping for daily necessities.

Among the goods, Juhwan noticed some Eastern items—scrolls and hairpins. The scroll depicted a tiger, dusty and unpopular.

But what caught his attention were the hairpins.

“What are these?”

“No idea,” the shopkeeper shrugged. “Take them all for a small coin if you like.”

Juhwan bought them along with other items. He couldn’t use them now, but when Lizzy’s hair grew longer, they would suit her well. And in an emergency, they could even be used as weapons.

When he explained that, Lizzy looked embarrassed—but happy.

“Dad, I want to wear one too,” Dorothy suddenly said.

“When your hair grows longer,” he replied.

She beamed.

But since leaving the guild, something about Dorothy felt… off.

Unlike usual, she didn’t run around. She stayed in Juhwan’s arms, holding onto him.

She wasn’t sad—she smiled, looked around curiously, just like always.

And yet…

She remained quietly in his arms.

Since morning, something had been bothering him.

But he couldn’t quite figure out what it was