Pft.

Lumen, who burst into laughter involuntarily, covered his mouth belatedly. He tried to manage hí expression and looked at Cadel’s condition. Even after hearing such words, Caddel seemed quite calm.

‘Yeah, that’s how a magician is supposed to act. Judging from the fact that he talks rudely from the beginning, it seems that his skills are quite good. Was Leader looking for that magician?’

If Van had been here, he would have come forward as soon as the magician’s remarks were over, but Lumen was not Van. He didn’t have any loyalty to step up for Cadel, and he thought he did his job just by clearing the way. To be honest, he wondered how Cadel would respond because his temporary leader always exceeded expectations. He was looking forward to that surprise.

And that was when it happened.

A bright and warm smile like the sunlight came to Cadel’s face, which had not changed much.

“What a coincidence! The highlight of my day is now that I discovered Mr. Mamil!”

At first glance, he looked like a strange moron who did not understand Mamil’s meaning. Lumen could see that Cadel knew everything but pretended not to know.

Cadel was not normal. He was a man who, given one clue, would come up with two solutions, and there was no way he could not notice the other’s blatant hostility. So that must be a play.

The wrinkles between Mamil’s brows deepened. Whether or not, Cadel was busy sticking to Mamil with a grin.

“Aren’t you curious how I recognized Mr. Mamil at once?”

“You think there are one or two young people like you?”

“Ah, is that so……. Archmage Mamil, who has reached the level of 8-star, has an aura of the strongest that flows even if he is only 10km away. If one’s eyes aren’t on the nostrils, you’re bound to be recognized. Aiya, you must be really tired.”

“It’s all thanks to you.”

Mamil seemed to want to throw Cadel away at any moment, but unfortunately, the concert was not over yet. Without an escort knight, it was next to impossible to get through this solid crowd, and that including Cadel.

Cadel took advantage of such situational advantages. He clung to Mamil’s side so much that he couldn’t get any closer and started chattering.

“Mr. Mami is a master of fire magic. It just so happens that I’m a fire magician. However, I have a lot of worries these days because the power of fundamental techniques seems to be lacking. Magic such as fireball. Could you give me some advice as a great senior and the Archmage of the Kingdom of Mainue?”

“I don’t want to.”

“Alas, it is. After all, the secret to becoming the strongest cannot be told to just anyone. I understand. Then, how about a word of encouragement? A warm word for your juniors! I think it will give me strength!”

“……I thought that even if there was no luck all day, it was just too little. I never thought my luck would hit the floor like this.”

Even to Lumen who was next to him, Cadel was so talkative that he thought it was too much. He was much more excited than usual and his voice was loud.

What was his intention? Lumen’s eyes shone with interest as he watched Cadel’s big mouth and Mamil’s hardened expression.

* * *

Because Mamil was extremely reluctant to contact others, Cadel had no intention of approaching her cautiously from the beginning. Rather, it was convenient for him to take a lot out of himself if he took a bold approach. If he could give him a tiresome annoyance from the first meeting, Mamil, an extremely introverted person, would spit out the information Cadel wanted with just a little stimulus. It was like using his survival instinct.

Of course, Cadel couldn’t just push him too hard. Wouldn’t it be a problem if he ran away for good?

For that reason, Cadel decided to start an appeasement operation.

“Mr. Mamil, Mr. Mamil. Mr. Mamil has also dealt with demons many times, right? He’s been called by the kingdom and participated in an official subjugation.”

“It was hell…….”

“Ah, the subjugation was hard enough to be compared to hell. If it were me, I wouldn’t have dared. Yes. Anyway, since you must have fought many battles, you must have also obtained loot from dead demons, right?”

“A voice louder than a trumpet!”

“So, by any chance, this. Do you know what this is for?”

“My eardrums are torn…….”

Mamil ignored everything Cadel said, treating it as a terrible dissonance. However, his movements stopped.

In front of his eyes was a small vial Cadel had put in. A matte purple powder filled inside a transparent vial. Upon discovering it, Mamil’s eyes widened.

“This is……!”

“I got it by chance, but I don’t know how to use it. Mr. Mamil would know, right?”

Demon Bone Powder! How did this precious material fall into the hands of such a walking scourge?

A strange light appeared in Mamil’s lifeless eyes. He reflexively reached out and tried to snatch the vial, but Cadel moved faster.

It was only then that Mamil, who was grabbing the air, looked at Cadel. Cadel smiled at Mamil’s unsteadily trembling eyes.

“Now you’re looking at me again, Mr. Mamil.”

“……This powder is not a big deal. There’s nothing to see.”

“Hmm, is that so?”

“If you do well, you can use it as a catalyst for making general potions. Even that was when a magician like me made it.”

“Ooooh.”

Mamil was very openly manipulative. Pretending not to notice his clearly evident greed, Cadel shrugged his shoulders.

“Then there’s no good for me to keep it.”

“Yeah, it’s better to hand it over to me―”

“Would you like it?”

“Ehem, no matter how sloppy the material is, it’s better than nothing. Give it to me.”

Cadel’s expression as he looked down at the old man’s palm was subtle. After watching Mamil’s empty hand for a while, he took out the magic book he had brought with him instead of the vial and placed it on top of it. Mamil’s arm fell sharply under an unexpected weight. As he grabbed the magic book in a bewildered manner, Cadel grinned and said.

“Instead, please decipher this magic book.”

“What is this…….”

“Also, please tell me all about the mana operation method, management method, and magic casting principle.”

“Wh, what did you say?”

“Please tell me everything. The knowledge Mr. Mamil had, everything.”

It was a very imposing request. He blinked blankly at that aggressive attitude, and after a while, anger slowly began to fill Mamil’s wrinkled face.

This punk messed with me!

This cheeky magician knew the value of ‘Demon Bone Powder’ from the beginning. Mamil was unsure if Cadel even knew he was looking for bone powder, but at least Cadel knew that this item was worth making a deal with him, an Archmage.

Even so, he deliberately dared to pretend to be naive and throw bait. To this Mamil Kifa! He was a very demanding and evil man.

Mamil, whose face was as red as a tomato, glared at Cadel, fuming. But Cadel didn’t even blink his eyes and just smiled at him.

“Right now or from tomorrow is fine with me.”