Chapter 98: The Mage, Deneb

“No, even if you say that, what about your guild and your guild members?”

“You all know I wasn’t planning to stay with them forever, don’t you? I can just leave things to Kevin in the meantime.”

At his absurd words, I turned my gaze toward Kevin.

“There have been similar cases before, but… this is the first time since the guild grew this big.”

Kevin said with a smile that seemed tinged with nostalgic sentiment as he met my eyes.

…I hadn’t even said yes yet, but these guys were already acting like it was a done deal.

‘Of course, if Neveres comes along, it’s good for us.’

He’s the master of one of the Five Great Guilds, and his skill was already proven in the duel just now.

Plus, even temporarily, having a Five Great Guilds master under our command would draw massive attention.

‘Maybe we could even recreate the time when the Five Great Guilds alliance challenged it before.’

We already had two of the Five Great Guilds by our side. Their scale had shrunk and their power had weakened compared to before, but everything they’d built up over the years hadn’t vanished completely. Why else would everyone dream of joining them the moment they became a Hunter?

“Wouldn’t it be fine?”

“You’re the one saying that?”

I said, dumbfounded by Jihyeok’s words. What happened to the time he said he was glad it was just the two of us?

…Well, if he was going that far.

“Fine. But only until we conquer End Cave.”

“Hahaha, great! Then…”

“Don’t come to the office. I think some people might feel burdened by your presence.”

I said it before he could suggest we leave right away.

“Oh, that’s a shame. Well, can’t be helped. Hey, Kevin! Bring some booze!”

“Master, in that state…”

“Shut up! If I let something like this get me down, I’d have been dead a long time ago!”

Hearing him yell like that, I figured things were settled and quietly tried to leave the infirmary.

“Where are you going? Black Mage. You should join in too—”

“I’m a minor, you know?”

My soul wasn’t, of course, but this body was still a minor. And I didn’t want to dirty it with that stuff like I did with my previous body. The fact that my current body was light was definitely partly because I didn’t drink or smoke like before.

If the day ever came in this second life that I touched alcohol… that would be after I defeated the Demon God and rescued Iris.

* * *

After finishing up at Hermes and returning to the office, I saw everyone gathered with triumphant expressions.

“We bought up all the scattered shares — from Sa Sin, Tachyon, the Association, and even Hermes.”

Everyone had successfully secured the rights to the End Cave conquest transfer shares. With this, we could challenge End Cave with legitimate grounds.

All that was left now was to conquer End Cave.

…But before that, there was something I needed to announce to the guild members.

“Neveres is going to join our guild for a while.”

“Huh? Neveres… you don’t mean the master of Hermes, do you?”

“Yeah.”

I answered as Marcel asked with a surprised face.

“So that guy hasn’t given up either.”

“In a way, he’s just like us.”

Wilhelm and Hames said in turn. Those two were also masters of the Five Great Guilds. They must have thought similarly to Neveres and that’s why they joined hands with us.

“Just asking in case, but did Sa Sin and Tachyon say anything?”

“They said it was a Gate that couldn’t be conquered anyway, so holding onto the shares was meaningless, and they sold them off without a fuss.”

“Tachyon was the same. Those folks have changed a lot from before. I reckon it’s because they lost so many personnel.”

“Is that so?”

Well, it was better to have people who didn’t care at all than ones who’d meddle uselessly. Our challenge would be known to the world soon enough anyway.

“When are you planning to launch the conquest?”

Deneb, who had been training steadily to get stronger while we ran around buying up shares, asked. I thought for a moment before opening my mouth.

“…I’m thinking we’ll take about a month or two to prepare and then go for it. When you challenge it is up to you, but the opportunity only comes once. So I want to be thoroughly prepared.”

No one objected; everyone nodded at my words.

Those who had experienced End Cave.

And those who hadn’t experienced it but had heard of its infamy and grandeur were all gathered in one place. They all understood.

“That’s surprising. I thought you’d just charge right in, Senior.”

“Maybe I would have, back in the day.”

Back then… I hadn’t tasted failure. But I did fail, and Jihyeok and I almost died. We only survived because Iris sacrificed herself.

“But now I know that the huge enemy ahead of us is on a completely different level from anything we’ve faced before. To stand against it, we need to prepare just as much.”

“Hah, never thought I’d hear those words from your mouth.”

“That’s what I’m sayin’. Miss Verdi, are ya really the same Verdiol from them rumors?”

Even those two from the Five Great Guilds, who used to bicker with me even in my old body, now understood. So I answered with a smile.

* * *

Everyone had left the office, and I was alone, thinking about the End Cave raid.

“Um, Ms. Verdi.”

“You’re still here?”

Deneb fidgeted with her fingers as she appeared before me.

“I wanted to ask your advice about something…”

“Advice?”

“Yes, but… it’s a bit awkward to talk about here.”

Seeing Deneb hesitate, I cracked a playful smile and spoke.

“For a mere guild member to single out the Master like that.”

“Ah, I’m sorry! Then I’ll take my leave—”

“Just kidding. You know I wouldn’t actually say that.”

“Uh…”

“What are you waiting for? You said it’s awkward here, right? Then lead the way.”

Before Deneb could hesitate any longer, I headed toward the entrance.

“Yes! I’ll lead the way!”

Following behind Deneb as she walked ahead, we stepped out into the quiet night.

“A lot has happened lately…”

“You’re telling me.”

So much had really happened. Starting with me turning into a girl.

“Um, Ms. Verdi.”

“Yeah.”

“I… I always wanted to become a great mage Hunter, just like Lord Verdiol.”

I’ve heard this story plenty of times. But now he’s not calling me hyung anymore.

“Well, actually…”

“Yeah.”

“At first, I was jealous of you, Miss Verdi.”

“Of me?”

“Yes. Back then, I didn’t know you were Lord Verdiol.”

“Who would’ve figured that out?”

“So I was envious that you could use the same Incantationless Casting magic as Lord Verdiol. I tried so hard to learn it myself, but I couldn’t.”

Hearing that, I recalled a memory from long ago. The day of the D-Rank Hunter Rank Advancement Exam. The first time I saw Deneb. During the exam, Deneb had shown decent skill for her rank. I’d hoped she’d catch my eye.

‘But I couldn’t control my strength.’

I ended up slicing that Mandragora to pieces so thoroughly that all eyes were on me instead. Even now, it’s an unforgettable memory.

‘Still, that incident happened.’

Thanks to that little mishap, I got to meet Deneb, and I also got acquainted with Hames and Glare. And I found out what Mr. Luca thought of me.

“Brother Wilhelm asked me about it.”

“Has your relationship gotten a bit better?”

“Ah, yes. Actually, until recently we were still awkward, but my brother reached out to me first.”

“That’s good to hear.”

No matter what, they’re blood family. They can’t stay like that forever.

“Anyway… I heard this from Brother Jihyeok.”

…Brother Jihyeok feels a bit awkward to hear.

Anyway.

“He said Incantationless Casting isn’t something just anyone can use.”

“Right?”

I hid it from everyone, but this is a ‘Special Ability’ only I can use.

The power I received when I possessed this world. Of course, no one except Jihyeok knows that I possessed this world.

“At first, I thought if I just worked hard enough, I could use Incantationless Casting too.”

Deneb said that while looking up at the pitch-black sky, her expression somehow bitter.

‘So that’s why he didn’t say anything when I used Incantationless Casting.’

I never showed my magic to just anyone. I handled most Gates alone, and the only one I ever fought alongside was my partner, Jihyeok.

So I managed to brush it off with Marcel by lying that I was his disciple. But Deneb saw my magic when I saved her from the Dungeon Break.

“But when I realized it wasn’t something you could achieve through effort… at first, regret just kept flooding in.”

Deneb saw that and “naturally” assumed that if you had talent and worked hard, you could use Incantationless Casting.

But when he realized that wasn’t the case at all.

Deneb saw through me. She figured out that I was Verdiol.

“But as time passed, I started feeling better about it.”

Her gaze, which had been fixed on the sky, turned toward me. Deneb… was smiling. But for some reason, that smile, unlike her words about being fine, looked a little sad.

“The reason I chose this path, even though I have no talent or aptitude for magic, was purely because of Verdiol hyung-nim… Sir Verdiol.”

“……”

“But when I think about it. If I hadn’t harbored such illusions about magic, if I hadn’t thrown myself into it, would I have ever been able to meet Miss Verdi? If I hadn’t been jealous back then, if I’d been indifferent, I don’t think we would have ever met again. So I don’t regret choosing this path.”

“You shouldn’t regret it.”

I answered Deneb’s words with a smile.

“You’re my one and only disciple. The one and only disciple of the great Yoschuko Verdi.”

“…That’s right.”

“No matter how outstanding your talent is, your talent for the sword, you must never forget that your master is me, the top-class mage Hunter. That would be a betrayal of me.”

Honestly, at this point, giving up magic and walking the path of the sword again would be a loss for Deneb too. It would be throwing away all the effort she’s put in so far.

“What… should I do from now on? Honestly, I’m not sure right now.”

“Keep walking the path you’re on.”

I answered Deneb’s words immediately. The conclusion was already set. There was no need to think about it.

“You chose magic. It’s your freedom to give up. But I won’t tolerate you receiving the teachings of a top-class master like me and then giving up.”

Honestly, I think Deneb’s talent, maybe because she takes after her older brother, lies more in swordsmanship than magic. The way she overpowered me with strength back then, and the way she carried that dragon egg without any trouble.

“But if you also want to hold onto the path of the sword, where your talent lies, then you just have to work twice as hard, no, more than that. For example… you could try adding magic to your sword, something like that, don’t you think?”

A mage swordsman… Even as I say it, I’m thinking, this isn’t bad, is it? There aren’t any Hunters who fight like this, so it would be a pretty unique style.

“So effort really is the only answer?”

“That’s right. Even if that effort is in vain, the result of ‘you, who made the effort’ still remains.”

Even I, with the Special Ability of Incantationless Casting, have never been lazy with my efforts. Having near-infinite mana and mana regeneration was also the result of my efforts to maximize the benefits of Incantationless Casting.

“Thank you. I think I can see a little bit ahead now.”

Deneb smiled again. But this time, unlike before when it looked sad, it seemed like a genuine smile from the heart.