Valerie looked as if she were in shock, completely dazed.
But soon, she let out a hollow laugh, as if she found the situation absurd, and muttered,
"This is ridiculous…"
Her body slumped.
"How did you figure out whether I was telling the truth? You said you didn't know anything about me… Don't tell me it's the power of your Mystic Eyes?"
I replied with an indifferent expression,
"You know I didn't use my Mystic Eyes. I didn't rely on any special power. Anyone could tell just by watching your expressions when you answered."
"My… my expressions gave it away?"
"You underestimated a warrior's ability to observe."
In truth, her expressions were quite varied, and with enough focus, it was easy to read them.
Of course, the fact that I threw unexpected questions at her, making it impossible for her to maintain a poker face, played a significant role.
"But… when I looked at you with my Mystic Eyes, your answer was definitely a lie."
"On the other hand, for a warrior, controlling even the slightest muscle movement is quite easy. Just as mages train their minds to the extreme, warriors train their bodies to the extreme."
"Heh."
Valerie let out a weak exhale.
This must have been a first for her.
All this time, she had always dominated psychological battles in three-question duels, using her Mystic Eyes to counter any attempts at deception.
"I lost."
Valerie admitted defeat without resistance.
She never imagined she would lose in such a way.
It wasn't because of some special power—just a simple psychological battle.
'Even if I underestimated him, how could I lose to some kid?'
It even bruised her pride a little.
"If you don't mind, can you tell me at what point your calculations began?"
I looked at her for a moment.
'She's self-centered like my aunt, but… she feels a little more composed.'
Although Valerie's pride was hurt, she was already analyzing where she went wrong.
"If I say from the beginning, would that sound too arrogant?"
"From the beginning… huh. Haha, I see. No, I was too conceited. Maybe it was inevitable that you won."
Valerie gave a self-deprecating smile.
Seeing that smile made my chest twinge slightly.
'I do feel a little bad. I didn't lie, but this was a battle I was bound to win.'
Soon, Valerie let out a deep sigh and composed her expression.
With slightly sluggish movements, she took out another cigarette and placed it in her mouth without even attaching a holder.
"…As promised, I'll answer your question first."
The magic was not over yet.
This game would only end once she gave a proper answer to every question.
"The first one doesn't need a long explanation. I was curious. Like most mages, I can't resist my curiosity. And Mystic Eyes are so rare and mysterious that they can't even be properly researched."
I couldn't help but make a slightly sour face.
Of course, it was true that mages have a strong thirst for knowledge.
But not all of them were as reckless as Valerie.
'Better not point that out.'
Years of experience dealing with my similarly stubborn aunt told me one thing—pointing it out would just be a hassle.
"Do you know why Mystic Eyes are so unique among supernatural abilities?"
Hoo—
Valerie's cigarette smoke mixed with her magic, turning an even murkier color.
I answered calmly,
"Because they possess an absolute aspect."
That was why Mystic Eyes were so powerful.
Eyes that read minds, eyes that see the future, eyes that perceive death, eyes that analyze everything—like Valerie's Interpretive Eyes.
The effectiveness of Mystic Eyes depended on how their owner developed and mastered them.
But above all, what made them truly extraordinary was that they were absolutely unavoidable, regardless of how they were used.
"Exactly. No other ability works like this. That's why they're even called 'Evil Eyes.' As someone who possesses Mystic Eyes myself, I've been researching them. But research materials are scarce, and getting cooperation isn't easy. That's why I sought you out."
Her first answer alone would have sufficed, but perhaps because of the effects of the Three-Question Duel, she continued explaining in detail.
As soon as she finished, a portion of the magical energy filling the space dissipated.
"And the second one…"
She hesitated, her expression slightly twisted, opening and closing her mouth as if reluctant to speak.
"Th-The second one… that is…"
I watched her carefully.
It was about her unique magic.
In the future, it would become widely known, but at this moment, hardly anyone was aware of the Three-Question Duel.
Magic was an academic field where information was actively shared, but unique magic was, by definition, personal. It made sense that she would hesitate to reveal it to me.
Vwoong!
And at that moment, the magic floating in the air reacted around Valérie as if urging her on.
She squeezed her eyes shut and was about to speak.
But before she could, I interrupted her.
"If it's difficult to say, you don't have to."
Valérie's head snapped up.
"Are you serious?"
"In exchange, grant me one more favor."
Come to think of it, there was already a bet where I owed her a favor.
And now, "one more" on top of that?
Valérie felt utterly defeated.
"What exactly are you going to ask of me?"
She glared at me while hugging her shoulders.
I grimaced.
"Ah, no, I was just joking. You don't have to look so—"
"…Never mind. You just reminded me of someone who often spouts nonsense like you."
"Oh, uh… I see…"
"So, what will you do?"
Valérie hesitated.
"Wait, just give me a moment—a very brief moment—to think."
She licked her dry lips and sank into thought.
'Would it be better to just tell him instead of owing another favor? He was only asking how much progress I'd made… But considering the nature of magic, I'd have to explain the details too. I might even have to disclose the incomplete and completed parts alike.'
The Three-Question Pledge was an absolute magic, but it came with numerous restrictions.
And since her magic was still unfinished, she might end up revealing more than necessary.
'If I just say it outright and word spreads… No. Absolutely not. But taking on another favor…'
It was a dilemma either way.
But in the end, she had to choose.
"What exactly do you want?"
Knowing the request might make it easier to decide.
"I'm not asking for anything unreasonable. I just need you to interpret something for me."
"…Interpret?"
"But you'll have to keep the interpretation confidential."
Valérie looked puzzled.
Now that she thought about it, he had arrived carrying a large golf bag and a hard case.
Could the item requiring interpretation be inside one of them?
"Wait a minute."
Her gaze changed in an instant.
"You… You really came here specifically for me, didn't you?"
Her words were filled with certainty, making me pause for a moment.
"You came to me from the very beginning for that item's interpretation."
Valérie furrowed her brows and murmured.
"But you claimed this was our first meeting. And there was nothing wrong with the magic, so that was true. Then just what in the world…"
I felt a chill run down my spine.
She suddenly seemed different.
'Damn.'
Her momentary insight caught me off guard.
Maybe I had underestimated her just because things were going smoothly according to plan.
But of course—she was one of the future Archmages.
Someone like that wouldn't be so simple-minded.
"…You're not going to tell me, are you?"
"No. The Three-Question Pledge is over, after all."
"Tch."
Valérie clicked her tongue.
She had entered this Three-Question Pledge with a lighthearted certainty that she would win, fueled by her own intellectual curiosity about the Evil Eye.
But somehow, she ended up owing two favors instead.
'Is this what they call being robbed blind?'
She recalled her master's words.
Before leaving for Korea, her master had warned her over and over.
She was told to beware of the martial prowess of the Sungmu Clan.
But in reality, the thing she should've been most cautious of wasn't the sword—it was words and the tongue.
She let out a small chuckle.
"Fine. I have no idea how you managed to create such a contradiction, but it seems I don't have much of a choice either way."
Under the table, I clenched my fist.
'It worked. I got lucky.'
In truth, when I traveled to Gyeongju, my goal was to meet her and lead her into a Three-Question Pledge.
I had thought through countless scenarios to make sure it would unfold in my favor—but things had gone even better than expected.
"With this, the game is over."
Valérie's voice rang out low, as if making a declaration.
Whoosh!
As if marking the end of the Three-Question Pledge, the scattered magic around them was absorbed into her.
Perhaps due to the magical oath, a portion of that magic split into two streams as it was absorbed.
That would serve as a binding restriction on her. Now, she had no choice but to fulfill my request.
"Sigh."
Valerie let out a weary sigh.
I smiled slightly.
***
I was led into the depths of Valerie's workshop.
As I opened the café door, that strange sensation washed over me again, revealing a long corridor ahead.
"Don't go touching anything unnecessarily. Just follow me closely."
I glanced around the hallway of the workshop—linoleum flooring, walls neatly painted in crisp white.
Ordinary people, when they hear the term "wizard's workshop," tend to imagine something strange due to the mystical connotation of the words.
A dimly lit room, a cauldron bubbling with some unidentified liquid in one corner, bookshelves packed with thick, leather-bound tomes, and walls covered with intricate magic circles.
But in truth, such workshops are nearly nonexistent these days. With technology advancing so much, there's hardly any reason to cling to outdated methods.
Books are safer and more convenient to access in digital form, and for research, high-precision modern machinery is far more effective than an old iron cauldron.
"This is the heart of my workshop. Make yourself comfortable."
Contrary to my expectations, the space Valerie led me into was not a dimly lit, chaotic mess. Instead, it had the bright and orderly atmosphere of a research lab.
There was even a sterilized cleanroom and an air shower chamber adjacent to it.
I settled comfortably on the sofa in the center of the lab.
"Aren't wizards supposed to keep outsiders from entering their workshops?"
"Well, yeah, usually. If an untrained person were to accidentally tamper with a barrier or magic circle, it'd be a huge nuisance."
Valerie sat on the sofa across from me, resting her chin on her hand in a smug pose.
"But you see, I'm pretty skilled. A minor scratch on my workshop? I can fix it in no time."
That confidence.
And she had every right to say it.
Even in the future, people might have teased her for being eccentric, but no one ever doubted her abilities.
'Unlike the café earlier, this place truly feels like a wizard's workshop.'
I took another glance around.
The floor was marked with geometric magic circles, and the desk was cluttered with gleaming gemstones and antique artifacts.
'…This reminds me of my aunt.'
Compared to her, Valerie's space was at least somewhat organized, but I could never understand why people of this kind never bothered to neatly arrange their collections.
A brief silence settled between us before Valerie, unable to hold back any longer, broke it.
"Anyway, tell me how you did it."
"How I did what?"
"You came looking for me first, yet you claim you didn't know about me? That's a contradiction. It doesn't make sense. If the magic wasn't faulty and you weren't using any tricks, then what exactly happened? Explain."
A peculiar gleam flickered in Valerie's eyes.
I pondered for a moment, then smirked.
"Are you sure you want to know?"
"What do you mean by that?"
"I mean, if I just tell you, will you really be satisfied?"
Valerie blinked her large eyes.
"You…"
"It would be far more meaningful if you figured it out yourself. And besides, the game's already over, so I have no intention of telling you."
"Hah, so that's how you want to play it?"
Valerie scoffed, twirling the stylus in her hand.
"Fine, then. I'll figure it out myself. You must not know how troublesome it is to provoke a wizard's curiosity."
A strange fire flickered in her eyes.
But soon, she waved a hand dismissively and changed the subject.
"Well, whatever. Let's get to your request. What exactly do you want me to decipher?"
Even Valerie was curious now.
For someone this exceptional to seek her out for an interpretation—just what kind of artifact could it be?
"This."
I carefully input the code to unlock the hard case and opened my bag.
Inside lay a stone tablet.
"This is…"
[T/L: Read extra chapters on my ko-fi page "Pokemon1920" : http://ko-fi.com/pokemon1920 ]