novelraw Chapter 45 – Only him, just him
Chapter 45 – Only him, just him
Bustling.
Noisy.
Clamorous.
Today, Allenson City is as prosperous as ever.
At the grand gate forged of steel and gears, merchants come and go in their steam-powered magic trucks, their faces beaming with joy and delight, while the residents chat with family and friends as usual.
No one noticed.
Among the people entering and leaving Allenson City today, there wasn't a single great noble.
To ordinary people, great nobles are an extremely rare sight, so even if they disappeared, few would notice.
Now, at this very moment.
This steam city standing in the north of the world.
Inside, only a large number of commoners and mid-level individuals who aren't qualified to know the truth remain; the true upper echelons have long since departed.
"I need... to quickly... buy everything..."
In the sky above Allenson City.
Krisa no longer concealed herself, unleashing her magic to the fullest, using Wind Magic to fly faster, heading straight for the bustling market in the city center.
When she landed, she immediately drew astonished gazes.
Regarding Krisa.
Regarding this beautiful girl.
The market vendors all knew she was associated with an Official Mage, possibly as a relative or perhaps as the mage's personal maid.
It was precisely because of this enigmatic relationship that the witch hadn't faced any harassment.
But today.
Witnessing Krisa use magic firsthand.
The ordinary vendors in the market were utterly shocked, their eyes wide as they stared at Krisa holding a magic wand, their voices trembling.
"A mage, that girl is actually a mage?!"
"Hiss... If I had known, I would have been more polite before."
"By the Goddess of Harvest, this is truly unbelievable!"
People murmured among themselves.
Some were envious, some jealous, and others completely lost.
But soon.
Everyone, as if in unison, began to shower Krisa with all kinds of praise, extolling her beauty, kindness, and benevolence.
Some even boldly offered her free goods.
From exquisite mechanical pocket watches to crisp and delicious fruits and vegetables, and even outrageously luxurious women's clothing.
The vendors, in a frenzy.
Competed to present their best items, trying to force them upon Krisa.
"...Boring."
Krisa calmly watched the farce before her.
Was it because the massive steam from the engines no longer concealed it?
For some reason, even though it was the same market, the same vendors, the same buildings, the hideousness and ugliness on people's faces became glaringly obvious.
Everyone crowded into the same space, flattering her to win her favor.
Yet.
Wasn't this the scene she had always longed for?
No one beating her, no one spitting on her, everyone vying to be her friend, everyone eager to be close to her, wasn't this the life she had always dreamed of?
Why now, does it feel so repulsive?
"Ah, so that's it..."
Looking down at her fair hands, then at the exquisite magic wand.
Krisa suddenly understood.
The people here, the crowd around her, didn't like Krisa, but rather a pretty female mage named "Krisa," a mage with a bright future compared to ordinary people.
They didn't like the witch, nor Krisa herself.
From beginning to end.
The one who would lend a hand to the witch, who would embrace her like the sun, giving her warmth and hope.
Was always that person.
Only him, only he, would not mind getting his hands dirty, gently taking the filthy witch home.
"I need to quickly fulfill my mentor's instructions," Krisa thought, waving her magic wand, using Wind Magic to forcefully disperse the encroaching vendors.
Under the fearful and hesitant gazes of the vendors, Krisa quickly locked onto various items.
Food.
Household goods.
Clothing and tools.
Using Wind Magic to sweep them up, sorting them into categories, then storing them all in her space ring.
The entire process took less than three minutes.
Magic is indeed a convenient thing.
"Now I can go back."
Krisa glanced at her space ring, sensing the space inside filled to the brim, nodded slightly, and tossed a bag of coins, distributing them among the vendors.
Equivalent exchange.
This was the first lesson Xu Xi taught the witch.
The witch remembered it well.
"Wind Magic, gather," without giving the vendors a chance to speak, Krisa waved her magic wand, the howling wind elements enveloping her once more, flying back toward the courtyard.
She completed her task quickly, the round trip taking less than ten minutes.
Perhaps she would receive praise from her mentor?
With this thought flashing through her mind, Krisa increased her magic output, making the wind fiercer, her flight faster, eager to return to Xu Xi's side.
But.
But why.
Does her chest feel so heavy?
"Whoosh—" In the sky, the fierce wind howled.
Krisa rode the gale, approaching the courtyard at an ever-increasing speed, almost there, so close, yet the unease in her heart grew more pronounced.
She clutched her chest, her eyes bewildered.
Not understanding, not knowing why, only feeling a heavy oppression in her heart, instinctively speeding up her flight.
This long-lost pain.
Made the witch panic.
"Return... return to the mentor's side..."
"As long as the mentor is there, everything can be resolved," the witch, unable to comprehend what was happening, instinctively chose to rely on the person she trusted the most.
Xu Xi, her mentor, her sun.
As long as she returned to Xu Xi's side, all anxiety and pain would vanish, Krisa sincerely believed this.
Soon.
The high-speed flying Krisa saw the familiar courtyard.
At the thought of the man inside, the oppression in her heart eased slightly.
So, Krisa accelerated, with a sense of urgency she couldn't understand, rushing toward the courtyard as if her life depended on it, even forgetting Xu Xi's usual teachings of caution.
Faster.
Faster.
Please, faster.
The witch frantically urged her Wind Magic, finally, she reached the vicinity of the courtyard as she wished.
But it was at this moment.
The sky darkened.
"Boom!!!!!!!"
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An unimaginable cluster of fireballs descended from the sky, like thousands of falling meteors, suddenly appearing above Allenson City.
Roaring and rampaging, they surged wildly.
The high-speed impact obliterated everything.
And one of the exploding fireballs was headed straight for the courtyard Krisa was trying to reach.
"No, wait!... No, no... it can't be!"
Sensing something terrible, Krisa's pupils contracted, she let out a voice of unprecedented panic, so panicked that her voice trembled.
The heaviness in her chest peaked at this moment.