nagpurpolice Chapter 137: The Magic Association (2)
Chapter 137: The Magic Association (2)
Chapter 137: The Magic Association (2)
Scarlet Saint Pierre.
She was one of the top mages known by the nickname “the Color Mage.”
‘Was she here?’
Scarlet was a character frequently encountered from the middle portion of MePan onwards.
Of course, Ethan had seen her directly as well.
But what was more common to see were not her herself, but the items sold at the magic shop she ran.
The massive magic shop Saint Pierre that she operated was widespread throughout both the Holy Empire and the Demon Empire.
Befitting her nickname “the Color Mage,” the main products sold at her shop were color-dyeing magic scrolls.
‘She had created numerous color-dyeing magics.’
Color.
It was one of the important factors for any equipment.
Even the magic enhancements additionally sold at Ethan’s Lightweight Workshop ultimately boiled down to a matter of color.
‘Effects that looked like coldness and effects that looked like heat. Of course, it’s not just color, but fundamentally, color is an important factor in choosing equipment.’
The color-dyeing magic scrolls that Scarlet sold perfectly satisfied such desires of people.
‘There were countless color-dyeing magic scrolls. As time went on, more and more diverse colors became available.’
Since scrolls allowed for easy and convenient dyeing, they sold like hotcakes.
Moreover, they were exclusively sold at her magic shop, so it was essentially one of the best shops in MePan.
‘Originally, I had planned to separate the attribute enhancements currently offered by the Lightweight Workshop and turn it into a business if the Lightweight Workshop grew larger.’
The plan was to keep the Lightweight Workshop as is, and gather mages to create another business under the name “Customization Workshop.”
And at the center of that business would be these color-dyeing magics.
‘But to think the person herself is here.’
However, the current Scarlet did not appear to be the owner of a massive magic shop that Ethan knew.
‘She just said it was taken away, didn’t she?’
It seemed she had not yet become an Archmage of color-dyeing magic.
Her appearance was quite plain, but her clothes were certainly colorful.
‘Primary colors.’
Befitting her nickname “the Color Mage,” she gave different names even to the same colors.
‘To me, they look like the same color, but...’
Even if they were the same color, they were not the same color.
“Ethan? Do you know her?”
Seeing Ethan staring at Scarlet, Yerica immediately asked, having noticed it.
At the same time, Schudlen immediately prepared to move.
“I don’t know her. But it seems like we’ll have to get to know her from now on.”
When Ethan gave Mirhak a signal with his eyes, Mirhak nodded.
It meant he could handle whatever needed to be done.
“Why? Why is this happening! I just came here to register, you know? All you need to do is let me register, so why did this happen?”
Scarlet shook her head.
Her hands were trembling, but that was it. What could she possibly do against this massive Magic Association?
“Hello.”
At that moment, Schudlen approached the distraught Scarlet.
“My name is Schudlen. The person over there is my master. If I may, my master wishes to have a conversation with you, the mage. Would you be able to accompany us?”
Caught off guard by the sudden request, Scarlet was flustered.
Suddenly wanting to talk to her?
Could it be that they were trying to quietly deal with her for causing a ruckus at the Magic Tower?
“Why me...?”
Scarlet asked back with a voice full of wariness.
“We came to visit the Magic Association of the Magic Tower, but seeing that you seem to be in trouble, my master wished to help you.”
Scarlet looked at Ethan standing behind.
Upon seeing his characteristic wistful gaze, her wariness completely disappeared. Scarlet slowly rose from her spot.
“If that’s the case, then I’d be happy to.”
“How did you know?”
“I’m also a little interested in colors. So I know a bit about colors. You really have an exquisite color arrangement. A magic that can create such subtle differences between seemingly similar colors.”
Ethan spoke as he looked at Scarlet.
“There may not be a mage on the continent who can match you in color-dyeing magic.”
At those words, Scarlet gulped down a dry swallow for a moment.
“...Do you really think so?”
“Others might have said they’re the same color, but to me, there’s a clear difference. A subtle difference. With these subtle differences, you can create countless variations on the base red color. If there are a hundred people in the world, there would be a hundred different tastes. Every red is red while not being red.”
He then examined the two pieces of cloth she had handed over even more closely.
“At the moment, you may be the only one who can classify colors to this degree with color-dyeing magic.”
At Ethan’s praise, Scarlet simply blinked in seeming bewilderment.
Until now, she had never received recognition from anyone.
She had been mocked for researching useless magic, and mocked for claiming different colors were different despite being the same color.
It was common for her to be told that a mage like her had no value whatsoever. She had even been told that her magic was nothing more than plagiarism of another magic.
Her life had been suffering itself. And yet, she did not stop creating colors.
She had started researching because she fell in love with the beauty of colors, and she didn’t want to give up until this magic was recognized.
She wished everyone would recognize the beauty of colors.
Of course, there were many times when this resolve nearly broke.
There were many times when those she trusted mocked her behind her back.
More than anything, there were times when she wasn’t treated as a mage.
They told Scarlet to research normal magic like other mages.
What was normal? Did this color magic not fall within the realm of normal magic?
Scarlet’s self-esteem could not accept their claims. She considered herself a mage.
But when she was vilified and kicked out by the Magic Association,
she felt like giving up entirely.
And she began to doubt.
Was the path she had walked a dead end?
But it wasn’t.
This person she met for the first time today, this person who understood color as well as she did, was recognizing her.
“The sense of handling colors. If I may dare to give you a nickname, Miss Scarlet, yes, the Color Mage. A mage who can handle all colors.”
At Ethan’s words, tears fell from Scarlet’s bewildered eyes.
‘She must have suffered greatly.’
Like the mages of the Magic Tower, the mages of the world had such lofty egos that they naturally discriminated tremendously.
Ethan gave Yerica a signal. It seemed like an indication that now was the chance to apologize.
“Miss Scarlet, I’m sorry. I unintentionally offended you.”
“Waaahh...”
As Yerica apologized, Scarlet clung to her as if she had been waiting for it. With Yerica’s tall stature, it looked like a big sister hugging her little sister.
Flustered, Yerica didn’t know what to do but slowly patted Scarlet’s back to console her.
Yerica could understand Scarlet, if only a little.
Meanwhile, Mirhak from the Garnet Merchant Guild, who had witnessed this entire process, couldn’t help but be amazed inwardly.
To earn that level of trust from someone he had just met today.
His superior Yuna was always a thorough person, and she would evaluate people in detail.
But when she talked about this Ethan, she simply described him as an incredible person.
Mirhak felt he understood why Yuna had said that.
“Miss Scarlet.”
Ethan extended his hand to Scarlet, who had calmed down somewhat.
Now was the perfect timing.
“I will help you get your stolen magic back. In return...”
Ethan said.
“How about making a contract with me?”
Author's Thoughts
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