—————————————————————–
Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Mod7
—————————————————————–
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Sepia saw horrific visions of her past as she listened to the siren’s song.
But that wasn’t all she saw.
Her lips tightened in anger.
‘Ethan… That insolent…’
She was right.
It wasn’t just her past that haunted her.
The siren’s song had a way of preying on personal anxieties, conjuring up all sorts of disturbing scenarios.
What she saw in those hallucinations was Tia Erze and Ethan.
They were together, laughing and enjoying each other’s company.
They walked through the city, as if on a date…
They sat on a bench, talking and laughing…
And Sepia was hiding behind a wall, watching it all unfold.
Why was she seeing these things?
Was it because she had seen them chatting together during the sparring session?
Sepia gritted her teeth.
Sepia had indeed observed Ethan and Tia conversing during the sparring session.
A few days later, she had even resorted to following him.
She had instructed Vivian to keep an eye on Ethan and notify her when he left the academy grounds.
‘Ethan has left the academy.’
Sepia had pulled her hood over her head and trailed after him.
Ethan had walked through the city, eventually stopping at a bookstore.
And that’s where he met Tia.
They had a brief conversation in the adult fiction section.
Rage simmered inside her.
Sepia had turned her back, waiting for them to leave.
Then she had checked the shelves to see which books they had purchased.
It wasn’t difficult to figure out.
She just had to look for the empty spaces.
‘The Hero’s Secret’
And ‘The Tamed Hero and the Fallen Bitches (Volume 1)’
She couldn’t believe it.
They were reading these books?
When did they become close enough to share such scandalous literature?
And they were rated 19+.
Sepia had never seen Ethan purchase such books.
‘…Disgusting and vulgar.’
Still…
She had a duty, as his master, to understand her servant’s preferences.
To think that even he, with his lowly status, indulged in such things.
Sepia glanced around, adding a few books to her basket.
One particular title caught her eye.
‘Master, I’ll Never Cheat Again.’
Intrigued, Sepia pulled the book from the shelf.
The cover depicted a noblewoman leading a swordsman on a leash.
The back cover was adorned with reviews.
‘Taming Your Servant! Highly recommended! ★★★★☆’
‘A masterpiece! Regret, suffering, and tears galore!’
‘If you don’t find this book enjoyable, you might as well stop reading novels altogether!’
When she tried to purchase the books, the cashier requested her identification. Sepia simply placed more money on the counter.
As she stepped outside, a message from Vivian arrived.
Sepia glanced at the text on her communication crystal and replied curtly before returning to her dormitory.
―Ethan has returned to the academy.
―I know.
Back in her room, Sepia placed the books on her desk.
Vivian would be staying in the servants’ quarters.
She picked up a book and flipped through the pages.
Being a quick learner, especially when it came to magic, she devoured the novel in no time.
The story revolved around a knight who had betrayed his lady’s trust by pursuing another woman, only to return, begging for forgiveness.
‘I’m sorry, my lady. I’ll never…’
‘I am a powerful mage. I have wealth, beauty, and power. Why should I forgive you?’
Sepia wanted to highlight that line.
She finished the book in one sitting, slamming it shut with a loud clap.
That day, Sepia enrolled in “Fundamentals of Resistance Acquisition.” All because of Ethan.
The last thing Sepia saw in the siren’s song was Tia and Ethan living a happy life together.
A child with black hair was nestled in Tia’s arms.
Her fists trembled with rage.
‘He’s mine! Why did you take him? How dare a common merchant steal my servant…’
Even in her hallucination, Sepia was hiding near their cottage, watching them.
‘Why am I watching them? I have everything: wealth, beauty, power, talent. I have nothing to envy!’
She knew it was irrational, but she couldn’t help but feel angry.
And she couldn’t tear herself away.
Ethan and Tia were laughing and talking.
‘Honey, I think someone’s watching us.’
Ethan stood up and walked towards the cottage.
Sepia’s feet felt like lead.
And then, as if in a nightmare, their eyes met.
‘Well, well, well. Look who it is. Sepia von Logness, isn’t it?’
Ethan was smirking, his expression smug.
‘My, my, the esteemed lady is spying on our family? Such a peculiar hobby.’
‘I’m not spying…’
‘Go away. I have no intention of taking you as a concubine.’
Sepia wanted to scream.
She could only stand there, fists clenched, her voice trapped in her throat.
How much time had passed?
She had to say something.
‘You… You’re my servant!’
‘Servant? Servant? You’re even more delusional than I remember.’
‘I’m your employer. How dare you…’
‘It’s been a while since I quit working for you.’
Sepia’s head drooped.
In her hallucination, Ethan had left the Logness family as soon as he graduated from the academy. The memories came flooding back.
‘What do you even see in her?’
Her pride was wounded.
‘She’s more beautiful, kinder, and wealthier than you. Let me repeat myself: stay away from my family.’
Ethan turned and walked away.
Sepia stood there, clutching her dress, her heart heavy.
It’s a hallucination. Just a hallucination.
She could break free from it whenever she wanted.
But it left a bitter taste in her mouth.
The siren’s song abruptly stopped.
‘Take a ten-minute break, everyone! See you back here soon.’
Sepia raised her head, her gaze drawn to Ethan.
He was staring at her.
His blank expression fueled her rage.
Sepia stood up and walked out of the classroom.
She didn’t need to acquire mental resistance anyway.
She could easily resist mental attacks like the siren’s song with her magic.
And she was destined to become the lord of her territory, the head of the Logness family.
The Logness family had a long lineage of powerful mages who served in high positions within the imperial court.
Sepia, too, possessed a natural talent for magic.
She had only subjected herself to the siren’s song out of curiosity.
Sepia walked down the hallway, her footsteps echoing.
‘Why am I even thinking about him? He’s just a servant! He should be the one thinking about me. The nerve…’
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Thankfully, it seemed like I was getting used to the siren’s song.
It still dredged up all sorts of embarrassing memories, but it felt like watching a movie I had already seen.
Like watching a horror movie for the tenth time. The initial fear was gone, replaced by a detached awareness of the predictable jump scares.
When I checked my skill window, I saw that my Mental Resistance had risen to Level 2.
And it was time for another sparring session.
“Hey, Ethan, can you take a look at this necklace I made?”
Pia approached me, holding out a necklace she had crafted.
It was an imitation of the necklace I used for the “Necklace Snatch.”
Her version, made with magnets and leather, seemed even better than my hastily crafted one. The magnets were neatly encased, and the leather was sturdy.
“You made this yourself?”
“Yeah. Do you think I can use it for the ‘Necklace Snatch’?”
“Yeah, it’s great.”
I meant it. It was actually quite well-made.
Pia, pleased with my genuine compliment, returned to her partner and resumed their sparring match.
A few students stopped to observe them.
“You seem quite popular, Ethan.”
The voice was cold and sharp.
I turned to see Tia standing there, arms crossed, her expression frosty.
“May I have a word with you?”
“Now?”
“Yes, I have something to discuss with you.”
I excused myself and walked over to the edge of the training grounds.
“What’s up? I left the items back at the dormitory…”
“It’s not just about the items. I want to make a deal with you.”
“A deal?”
“Yes, I want my trading company to acquire exclusive rights to the necklace you created.”
She wanted to purchase the rights to the necklaces I used for the “Necklace Snatch.”
I hadn’t given it much thought, considering their simplicity, but it seemed Tia’s entrepreneurial instincts had been triggered.
“What do you say? How about selling the copyright to my company? I’ll give you ten million Elleh.”
I paused, a brilliant idea flashing through my mind.
The Erze Trading Company would undoubtedly profit from the necklaces. They could sell them to every adventurer’s guild in the empire. And if they were ambitious enough, they could even lobby to make the “Necklace Snatch” a mandatory assessment at the academy.
“As expected of Tia Erze. You have a keen eye for business.”
I paused again, letting my words sink in.
“I do have a good eye for business.”
“Yes, I must admit I’m impressed. You anticipated my intention to propose a deal and beat me to it….”
Of course, it was a lie.
But I had decided to be shameless.
They say if you repeat a lie often enough, it starts to sound like the truth.
Tia’s usually impassive expression flickered slightly.
“Yes, that’s right. I obtained your contact information with the intention of proposing a business deal.”
“Hmm… I see.”
“But first, allow me to present my proposal.”
“Are you dissatisfied with the offer of ten million Elleh?”
Ten million Elleh was equivalent to ten million won in 21st-century Korean currency.
Why the perfect currency conversion?
Because that damn author had a knack for simplifying things.
“I’d like to modify the terms.”
“Go ahead.”
“I want ten percent of the sales for every necklace sold. I’m asking for royalties.”
Tia seemed to be lost in thought.
She was probably calculating the potential profits.
“The biggest advantage of my proposal is that, even if the business fails, the risk is lower than investing a large sum upfront to purchase the copyright.”
Of course, Tia would already know this.
She understood the pros and cons of each option.
“Think about it. If the Erze Trading Company acquires exclusive rights to the necklaces, you could supply them to every adventurer’s guild and academy in the empire.”
The “Necklace Snatch” was destined to become a massive trend in the future.
Knowing this gave me a significant advantage.
Tia nodded after a moment of contemplation.
“Alright. Let’s make a deal. I’ll give you ten percent of the sales as royalties.”
I had been expecting a lengthy contract negotiation, but that was it.
Tia Erze was a member of the Erze Trading Company, a company that lived and died by its reputation for trustworthiness.
It was also a reflection of her personality.
Besides, our classmates had witnessed me introducing the “Necklace Snatch” for the first time.
The deal was done. Tia turned to leave.
“Wait, Tia.”
I quickly stopped her.
“Yes? Is there anything else…?”
“When will you collect the items?”
Tia’s ears turned red. But she quickly regained her composure.
“I’ll contact you.”
With those words, she returned to her spot on the training grounds.
It seemed I had secured a new source of income.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
lets go, money secured