Chapter 19

“Compensation?”

“Yeah, compensation. You’re willing to take risks and work without getting anything in return?”

“Hm? Am I in danger?”

At Diena’s puzzled question, Varkan fell silent.

It would’ve been ridiculous to tell her that he was the dangerous one.

“If I’m telling you to take it, then take it. You seem to enjoy working, so why don’t you ever make sure you’re rewarded for the work you do?”

As he said that, Varkan looked at Diena and asked,

“Is there anything you want?”

Something she wanted.

Diena frowned.

It was a question she had never really considered before.

‘What I want… the Varkan from my previous life?’

But that was something she could never have.

She needed to ask for something else.

‘I don’t really want anything.’

For a contract to be established, both sides had to give and receive something.

Varkan would probably be able to trust their relationship more if he paid her properly as well.

After thinking that far, Diena spoke with a solemn expression.

“…Money?”

“Money?”

“Yes. I think that’s probably the best option. And could you also help me whenever I ask for assistance?”

Without a moment’s hesitation, Varkan pulled out a blank check from his pocket.

“Write whatever amount you want on it. I’ll also have Hasen arrange a regular salary for you.”

Diena stared at the check being offered to her.

“I’ll pay you additional bonuses whenever Bianca’s condition improves.”

Before she knew it, Diena had accepted the check.

“Wow.”

‘This is way more money than I meant.’

Most people would’ve refused and said they didn’t need that much.

But Diena wasn’t most people.

She immediately accepted the money Varkan offered.

It was because of something Varkan had taught her in the past.

‘Never refuse money someone offers you, Diena. Money comes and goes. When someone has money, you should get as much out of them as possible.’

In fact, when she met Varkan in her previous life, he had been completely broke.

But the Varkan of this era was incredibly wealthy.

And he didn’t seem hesitant about spending money either.

‘Not that I’ll let him end up like that this time. Still, it’s best to accept as much as possible for now.’

He probably hadn’t meant for her to apply that lesson to him.

But Diena decided to faithfully follow Varkan’s advice.

“Is it not enough?”

Diena answered quickly.

“It’s not that. But if you want to give me more, I won’t refuse.”

As expected of someone with plenty of money, Varkan nodded casually.

“Alright. I’ll let Hasen know.”

“Okay.”

“And if you need help, just tell me.”

“Okay. Thank you.”

“So. Tell me your conditions.”

After hesitating briefly, Diena asked,

“What if you don’t like the conditions?”

Varkan shrugged.

“Then we’ll negotiate them or the deal falls through.”

“…Alright.”

After thinking carefully, Diena finally spoke.

“First, guarantee that Lady Bianca and I can spend time together.”

It was absolutely necessary if she wanted to treat Bianca’s Darkness Corruption.

“That’s not difficult.”

“Second, I’d like you not to interfere with the things I do for Lady Bianca.”

Varkan paused for a moment, but after seeing the seriousness in Diena’s eyes, he nodded.

“Fine. I can agree to that too.”

“Third, whenever you’re sick, come find me. Those are the only three conditions.”

Varkan looked at her again.

Then he quietly nodded in agreement.

* * *

The Family Head of House Kardian, Sevar Kardian.

After spending months wandering battlefields, he finally returned to the North for the first time in a long while.

“Your Grace, shall we head straight back to the family estate?”

“No. We need to stop by the Magic Tower first. I need suppressants.”

“Ah, understood!”

In response to his escort knight’s question, Sevar answered with what sounded like a deep sigh.

His complexion was deathly pale.

His already crimson eyes looked even redder because of the blood vessels showing through them.

The knight turned pale and quickly urged the carriage forward.

A power running wild beyond control.

The immense force flowing through his bloodline was so powerful that if he didn’t regularly pour it out over monster corpses during subjugations, it would even erode his sanity.

The moment they arrived at the Magic Tower, the knight hurried inside.

Not long afterward, he returned carrying suppressants.

“Here they are, Lord Sevar.”

Sevar snatched the suppressants from him roughly.

The carriage door closed.

“…Haa.”

A cold breath escaped Sevar’s lips.

He gripped the ampoule of side effect suppressant tightly.

Beneath the rolled-up sleeve of his arm, black veins flickered as though proving his ability was on the verge of rampaging.

The sharp needle pierced his vein.

As the suppressant forcibly suppressed his ability, he frowned deeply.

It truly was an unpleasant sensation, no matter how many times he experienced it.

One wasn’t enough.

His hand roughly reached for another suppressant.

At that moment, the carriage, which had just begun moving, suddenly came to a stop.

“What is it?”

His low voice was filled with irritation bordering on murderous intent.

A man’s voice came from beyond the carriage door.

“Looks like your personality hasn’t changed.”

“Old man Malakar.”

Sevar scowled and flung open the carriage door.

The man standing there was Malakar.

With an annoyed expression, Sevar spoke.

“Quit wasting time and get to the point.”

“Still the same! You really don’t have a shred of respect for your elders, do you?”

Standing straight before him, Malakar met Sevar’s gaze.

“I came because I intend to accompany you back to your family.”

Sevar’s eyes turned cold.

His senses, sharpened more than usual by the suppressant he had just injected, examined Malakar’s every movement.

“Accompany me?”

Sevar tilted his head slightly.

His eyes gleamed through his disheveled silver hair.

“Why? I don’t see any reason for you to visit House Kardian.”

His fingers tapped rhythmically against the carriage seat.

“Is it an order from His Majesty the Emperor?”

“You’re the one who received His Majesty’s orders.”

Despite Sevar’s sharp hostility, Malakar remained completely calm.

“This is a purely personal matter.”

“What is it?”

“I’ve become interested in a guest currently staying with your family.”

Sevar’s eyes narrowed.

“A guest?”

Come to think of it, he remembered receiving an urgent message from the main estate not long ago.

While he had been away on the battlefield, a guest had apparently come to stay with the family.

‘Malakar is interested in them?’

Suspicion slowly began to grow.

Malakar was never an idle man.

He was the strongest candidate to become the next Master of the Magic Tower and a mage who viewed the world with cynicism.

Yet the moment he set foot in the Magic Tower, he handled only the most urgent matters before declaring his intention to head straight for House Kardian.

That meant this “guest” possessed enough value to make a candidate for Master of the Magic Tower move personally.

But as far as Sevar knew, that guest was far from welcome.

‘Rothwell…’

The family name that surfaced in his mind caused Sevar’s eyes to grow icy.

It was already unpleasant enough that someone from House Rothwell had entered Kardian Fortress.

Now even the Magic Tower had taken notice.

That was one more reason to remain on guard.