The Master of Language - T.M.L Chapter 30 (Part 2):

There stood the knight commander I had seen earlier at the mansion, along with two or three knights.

Our eyes met, but neither of us spoke first.

He probably has a lot to say, but since I’m a mage, he’s holding back.

I gave him a bright smile, and he scrunched up his face.

That expression is one of insult.

That means he’s definitely one of the Count’s people.

Someone in cahoots with the enemy wouldn’t feel insulted at the mention of an intruder.

They would either fear being found out or force anger to hide it.

So, this place should be safe for now.

I went outside the building.

“Well then. Where should I start? There’s got to be at least one place related to magic in this big city, right?”

I slowly wandered around the famous spots of Sangria Port. All the while, I kept looking for places imbued with magical power.

But it was all in vain.

There’s no way there isn’t a single place related to magic in this vast port.

“Is it hidden?”

Sitting on a fountain’s edge, I let out a sigh.

How am I supposed to find materials to make a staff?

Would the Hansis priest be able to get them?

The sunset was sinking behind the western sea in the distance.

Should I go back?

At that moment, someone sat down next to me.

It was a young jester wearing a pointed hat and shoes.

“Why so worried, noble sir? Would you like to see my skills? It will make all your worries disappear.”

Being in the city center, even begging is done in a unique way.

I shook my head.

“I don’t have time now. No money either.”

“That’s alright. It’s free.”

The jester jumped up from his seat and stood in front of me.

Then he slightly extended both hands forward.

A dagger came out of his sleeve and floated vertically between his two hands.

It was spinning round and round, looking like it might shoot towards my face at any moment.

“A mage?”

At my question, the jester shook his head.

“Oh my. Calling someone like me, who has given up, a mage? Senior, you are too generous.”

“……”

“Of course, there was a time when I had a staff and a familiar. But when I gave up the path of magic, it all disappeared like a dream. Now, I can barely manage something as simple as spinning a dagger.”

Giving up the path of magic.

That’s no different from recognizing oneself as an ordinary human.

And that belief becomes its own kind of magic, turning a mage into an ordinary person.

The so-called ‘resignation magic’.

I folded my arms and said,

“I’ve been looking around carefully, but you spotted me well.”

“Ah, Ran. Your movements were flawless. But I happened to overhear your conversation with Hansis and knew you were a mage, that’s all.”

The jester smiled, his grin stretching from ear to ear.

“So. What business do you have with me?”

The jester waved his hand.

This time, the dagger multiplied into two.

“I run a big business. I’ve pushed out all the competitors and monopolized this entire area. But there’s a hitch. A very troublesome issue.”

Judging by his expression, he looks like he’s about to burst into tears.

“I’m out of time. I need to go now.”

“Oh, then you can listen as we walk.”

The jester put one leg back, bowed at the waist, and then exaggeratedly twirled one arm before pointing somewhere with his palm.

On top of his hand, the building of the company was placed far away.

Did he calculate the angle?

I started walking, and the jester stuck close to my side.

“So, to continue what I was saying earlier, the most fundamental reason my business was able to push out the competition was that my business item was very, very innovative. Would you like to hear about it?”

“No.”

“Originally, you see, this industry had a very inefficient system where a client would come with a request, we’d complete it, and then receive payment. Having been in the industry myself at the time, I felt firsthand how unreasonable that system was.”

I turned down a side street, and the jester stuck even closer.

“Meanwhile, there was a circus I used to frequent. Due to the nature of my job, I often stayed up all night and couldn’t sleep well. So when I was lying awake at night, I’d often go there. Even though it was the same performance, it was fun to watch every time. Then one day, the circus master suggested to me, ‘How about buying a season pass?'”

“A season pass?”

“Yes, a season pass. He said if I bought one, I could come and watch the performance anytime. And the moment I heard that! An business idea just popped into my head. What if I brought this season pass system to the industry I was in… That thought suddenly struck me.”

It’s certainly an interesting idea. I turned my head to look at the jester.

The jester was still smiling from ear to ear.

Doesn’t his face hurt staying like that?

“And then?”

“I built up my influence based on this season pass. It was a huge hit, of course. The great thing about a season pass is that it creates trust between both parties. In our industry, clients and businesses can’t trust each other. But with a season pass, we keep working together, and it’s so good, isn’t it? Plus, as we grew, we could preemptively block our clients from becoming targets.”

I stood still on the spot.

The jester who had been following me swiftly came in front of me and looked me straight in the eye.

I also looked directly into his eyes and said,

“I understand what you’re saying. You’re the one who’s been targeting Count Furst for three years.”

The corners of the jester’s mouth rose up so much that even his clenched teeth were revealed.

Isn’t that going to tear his mouth at this rate?

The jester’s eyes narrowed slightly.

Dangun

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