Breeding Season - Chapter 33
“Glasses…?”
“I wear them sometimes when I read. Only at home. They don’t fit the ‘setting’ outside, so I don’t use them.”
“Setting…?”
“Because my setting is that of a former slave gladiator.”
He never explained things kindly. But he wasn’t particularly unkind either. If one thought carefully, they could understand what he meant.
“So, you’re saying you act in a way that matches the identity of a slave gladiator?”
“For the most part. Sometimes, I really do feel like that kind of person… Some parts of me truly are like that. And some aren’t. But then again, maybe they are?”
Difficult. Was this some kind of philosophical discussion? She quietly recalled the philosophy books she had read.
But the man soon changed his expression and smiled brightly. Effortlessly washing away the awkwardness from moments ago, playfully.
“It’s a rare moment of leisure. What should we do today?”
“I-I have a lot of questions. Please teach me.”
“What? The thing we didn’t finish yesterday?”
“No!”
What kind of nonsense was this so early in the morning?
Siren shook her head frantically, her face pale. Seeing this, Yasamin latched onto her words with an even more mischievous glint in his eyes.
“What were you thinking to deny it so strongly?”
“T-That…!”
“I was talking about introducing you to the patron trees, you know?”
“……”
She walked right into it.
Siren pressed her lips together, unable to say or do anything. It was frustrating, but showing her frustration would only make things worse.
The only one enjoying this was Yasamin.
“Alright, alright. We haven’t even had breakfast yet, so I’ll stop teasing. What do you want to know?”
“I want to learn more about Diet… and about the southern system as well. What I should be cautious of… cultural or social customs, things like that.”
“Ah… For that, Jin is better than me. I’ll call Jin for you later, so let me know once you’re done with the boring stuff.”
Yasamin stretched with a lazy yawn, looking utterly carefree, as if nothing in the world could scare him. It was enviable. And a little irritating.
‘I’m about to enter a whole new world, and I’m terrified.’
But at least he didn’t refuse to tell her. Last night, for the first time in a long while, she slept without nightmares.
She couldn’t remember the last time she’d woken up feeling refreshed by the morning sun.
Though she had been flustered the moment she opened her eyes, aside from that, today felt like a day when something good might happen.
“Oh, have you read the magic script inscribed on the walls?”
After sharing a simple but satisfying breakfast with the others, Siren walked down the corridor with Jin.
When she mentioned the characters she had seen, the old man’s eyes widened to the size of saucers.
“My, my, that is impressive. You might have a natural talent for magic, Madam.”
“You mean… me?”
“Yes. I personally inscribed those magic script characters. They protect this mansion while also making it invisible to the eyes of ordinary people.”
So something like that exists.
There were no books on sorcery in the royal capital. There were tales of absurd magic, but most were depicted negatively, and witches, in particular, were always to be hunted down and killed. She had never imagined that magic could be used in such a practical way.
“The first qualification of a sorcerer is being able to see magic script. These days, it’s a rare ability.”
“……!”
“I have an introductory book on sorcery. I will lend it to you. Read it, and if there are any parts you do not understand, let me know.”
Could I really have such a talent?
Siren lowered her head, unable to believe what she was hearing.
But the first compliment she had ever received had already taken root in her heart, seeping into the cracks of her wounds. As if determined to grow and bloom no matter what.
So, she had no choice but to open the book on sorcery.
“Sorcerers are actually treated quite well in the South. There are no doctors there, so most people turn to sorcerers instead.”
“Do they also act as physicians?”
“They know how to handle medicinal herbs, treat minor wounds, and even use certain spells to instantly mend broken bones. That’s advanced sorcery, but I can teach you.”
If I had such a useful skill, even if Yasamin abandoned me, I’d still be able to survive!
She struggled to suppress her growing excitement as she listened quietly.
It was still vague, and chances were that even if she tried, she’d only have a mediocre talent at best… but still. Still, she couldn’t be sure.
Maybe it would be enough to scrape by.
Hearing this now, while she was deeply worried about what she could do for herself, made it all the more welcome. It almost felt like fate.
