IMTDIK 15

Chapter 15

Just Do What You’re Good At

Jed briefly averted his gaze at Ferda’s words.

It was clear that the “disloyal servant” Ferda mentioned referred to that young girl, Ruri, who had been following him around like a shadow. Given that his profession relied heavily on reading the room, Jed could at least figure out where the killing intent was directed.

‘No matter how I look at it, the killing intent isn’t directed at me, but at that guy…’

It wasn’t a misunderstanding. In fact, it was the truth. Ruri was extremely annoyed that Ferda had lost money. While the amount wasn’t significant compared to the entire Balderova estate, it wasn’t a small amount for an individual to throw away frivolously. Especially not in Hallim. The sum Ferda had recklessly thrown around wasn’t the kind of money one would use in a normal gambling house.

Since Jed had no way of knowing the backstory, he could only be confused.

“…Alright.”

The dagger Jed was holding spun in his hand before disappearing into his back pocket.

“Let’s talk first. What is it you want to say?”

“This isn’t the best place for sensitive conversations. Let’s move somewhere quieter.”

“Follow me.”

Jed led him to his room. He was staying in the most expensive suite in the hotel attached to the casino. Despite the lavish surroundings, the drink he pulled out was a cheap bottle of rum.

“This is my favorite drink. Not sure if a noble young master’s refined taste will appreciate it, but wanna give it a try?”

Ferda shook his head. “I don’t drink.”

“You’re a mage, and you don’t drink?”

“Precisely because I’m a mage, I don’t drink.”

“A mage who doesn’t enjoy alcohol? You’re quite the odd one.”

For mages who spent all day thinking and concentrating, their escape was often found in women and alcohol. And since booze was the cheaper option, there were plenty of mages who drowned themselves in it. But Ferda, always focused on moving forward, didn’t drink, and abstinence had naturally become a habit for him.

“So… how did you find out about that name?”

“I came across it while looking for information.”

“And your source?”

Naturally, it was his own mouth in the future. But since telling the truth wouldn’t be believed, Ferda decided to deflect.

“There’s no point in telling you now. The important thing is that I know.”

“If you came here intending to test me like this, I should’ve just killed you outright.”

“This isn’t a test. I know who you are. You leech off desperate women, leech off nobles, and slowly amass wealth that way so you can climb your way into high society, don’t you?”

“…”

“To find your sister, Emilia, you need to succeed and build connections with the upper class, don’t you?”

Jed, who was adept at keeping a poker face, stared at him blankly. But his hands betrayed his inner turmoil. There wasn’t a shred of speculation in Ferda’s words—only firm certainty. And that certainty perfectly struck at the heart of Jed’s intentions.

“Impressive. You don’t seem to be using magic, yet you’re reading my mind…”

“It’s not that hard. I used to have thoughts similar to yours once.”

It was a thought Ferda had entertained back when he’d been cast out of his family. He had vowed to rise above the Rosnova family, become greater than them, and force them to admit their wrongs.

‘Though I ultimately failed.’

Ferda, being a Red Circle bearer, had been rejected by the Mage Association. Meanwhile, Jed had been disqualified as well, labeled as nothing more than the plaything of a widowed marchioness.

“I’ll provide the stepping stone for you.”

“A young, inexperienced noble like you?”

“Young, inexperienced nobles.”

Even if they were exceptionally talented and gained public attention, they’d quickly fall and become traitors to the crown. The weaker their connections and the younger their age, the harsher the scrutiny they faced. For someone like Ferda, who had only just reached adulthood, his position was as precarious as a candle in the wind.

But Ferda was far from an ordinary mage. For starters, he was the consort of the Crimson King (Valdrova).

“I guess I should reintroduce myself. My name is Ferda Balderova.”

“Balderova… That’s the name of the Red Dragon, isn’t it?”

At that, Jed scoffed. “You’re aware that in the noble world, that name implies disgrace, right? Who in their right mind would get engaged to a Red Dragon?”

“I’m that lunatic.”

“…Seriously?”

Ferda’s expression didn’t change for even a moment.

Jed scratched his head awkwardly. “Damn it. If it was that important, I should’ve heard about it sooner… Guess it’s inevitable that staying in the casino messes with your sense of time.”

Throwing out a casual excuse, he changed the subject. “Anyway, if you’re the husband of Balderova, then… Even if people call you a gigolo, you’d still hold immense power, huh?”

“Exactly. You’ll also be able to enter the high society you’ve been risking so much to infiltrate.”

Jed, who had been lowering his head, glanced up at Ferda. “What do I have to do?”

Ferda extended a hand to Ruri, just as he had done with Vernel, and handed over an official letter of appointment.

“With your skills, you’ll serve as my agent and carry out missions under my command.”

“What kind of missions?”

“Anything from small errands to significant tasks. But I won’t assign you anything beyond your ability.”

Jed mulled over those words before asking, “…Basically, you want me to be your errand boy, huh?”

“An agent.”

“That’s still an errand boy.”

“Then make your choice. Will you be an errand boy with access to high society, or will you remain a wannabe nobody who gets laughed at for being a cheap leech?”

“…”

Ferda’s words were harsh, but they weren’t wrong. Would Jed end up as a sugar baby mocked as a golddigger, or as a capable errand boy with a foothold in high society? Jed quickly weighed his options.

“If I refuse… are you going to turn me in?”

Ferda tilted his head. “What would I gain from turning you in?”

“You’re a mage, aren’t you? I’m a Red-Eyed. And the Red-Eyed are beings that shouldn’t exist anymore. It seems like you’d have the upper hand here.”

The Red-Eyed—those born with a bloodline that granted them the rare ability to neutralize magic. They were natural predators to mages, as distinct as cats and mice.

“There’s nothing for me to gain from turning you in.”

“I’ve heard that when the mages destroyed my people, they held celebrations for three days and nights. Aren’t you the same?”

“That’s a stupid question. Being afraid of the Red-Eyes because magic doesn’t work on them is as pathetic as a child hiding under the covers, scared of ghosts. That’s not what a proper mage does.”

What an arrogant answer! But Jed didn’t find it unpleasant.

‘What a peculiar guy.’

Someone his age acting like this would typically either lean on their status or be drunk on their own potential, radiating arrogance. But Ferda didn’t feel like that at all.

‘He looks like a rookie who’s just come of age, but…’

The way he carried himself was no different from that of a well-established, high-ranking noble.

‘He might actually be capable of giving me what I want…’

Even Jed, who was wary of trusting others, found himself beginning to doubt his suspicions.

“Ah, damn it.” Jed scratched his head furiously. “Is this what it feels like to make a deal with the devil? It’s so annoying, but at the same time, it’s hard to resist.”

Rolling his tongue around in thought, Jed lightly tapped the official letter with his fingers.

“Fine. I’ll do it, noble master. But I’ve got conditions. You can handle that much, right?”

“Let’s hear them. I’ll write them down now.” Ferda pulled out a pen from his chest pocket.

Jed raised two fingers. “First, I want to be paid an amount appropriate for the missions I complete. I still need money to do my job, no matter what.”

“Of course. You’ll be compensated.”

“Second, if I ever feel like you’re using me or trying to screw me over, I’ll leave without hesitation. Is that acceptable?”

“That’s acceptable. I don’t intend to deceive or take advantage of you. Is that all?”

“For now, yeah.”

Actually, Jed wanted to add one more condition—a contract that stated he’d only do this until he found his sister.

‘That could end up being a shackle that drags things out unnecessarily.’

So Jed limited his conditions to just two.

“While we’re at it, let’s add one more thing.”

Ferda picked up his pen and wrote one more clause in the blank space of the appointment letter.

“Our contract will last until you find your sister.”

Jed’s head shot up in surprise. “…Are you really okay with that?”

“Once you’ve found your sister, that’s it. After that, it’s up to you whether you stay or not.”

His tone and terms were clean and straightforward, with no trace of greed. Jed was stunned. He had deliberately avoided bringing up the time limit, yet Ferda set it himself.

‘What the hell kind of guy is this?’

Jed’s curiosity about Ferda only deepened. The calm confidence of someone who acted like no matter how much chaos unfolded, it was all still in the palm of his hand. Ferda had the qualities of a seasoned noble who had seen and endured everything.

‘It’s unsettling that he knows about Emilia…’

But at the same time, he was the only one who knew and could help. Regardless of his abilities, his position was trustworthy enough. For now, Jed had no choice but to trust him.

“Alright, fine. No, I mean… understood.” Now that he was technically an employee, he spoke in a more respectful tone.

With that, all the terms were finalized.

The reason Ferda added the time limit was simple.

‘There’s no benefit in forcing someone to stay.’

He needed Jed’s skills desperately, but that didn’t mean he wanted to forcefully bind him and turn him into a slave. Even if he tried, Jed wasn’t the type to stay caught anyway. This was a man who had escaped from multiple high-security prisons.

‘And… finding his sister won’t be the end of it.’

Watching Jed pocket the appointment letter, Ferda spoke.

“Then let me assign you your first mission right away.”

“Already?”

“I’d like to hire you for a job using the money you took.”

“That’s the money I won, isn’t it?”

“It was money I had set aside to hire you with in the first place. Didn’t I share the information I was going to use to fold? Counting it as your first job is fair for both of us.”

“Well, I guess I don’t mind a freebie for the first mission. So, what do you want me to do?”

“For you, it’s a very simple task.”

Ferda pointed to one of the names Ruri had in her possession:

Echidna Philiaz

“Just do what you’re good at.”

After finishing their business, Ferda’s carriage left Hallim and set off on a new journey. Unlike with Vernel, this time Jed had joined them as a traveling companion.

“As expected of someone who’s married to the Crimson King, this carriage is amazing. It’s super comfortable, spacious inside, and even on rough roads, it doesn’t shake at all.”

“…”

“And you even have a cute little maid on board.”

Jed naturally shifted the topic, flashing a grin. Leaning in slightly, he casually rested his hand on the seat where Ruri was sitting. It was the kind of instinctive behavior you’d expect from someone who lived as a natural flirt.

“I don’t think we’ve introduced ourselves yet. Miss Maid, would you mind telling me who you are?”

“I’ll gladly explain.”

Ruri answered his question about her identity with Dragon Fear.

“Ugh!”

Jed instantly recoiled, clutching his chest as he scrambled back. Even as a Red-Eyed, Jed was still human—and like all humans, he had an instinctive fear of dragons.

“Wh-What the… Is she… a d-dragon?”

“She’s a Dragon-Spawn. The personal maid of the Crimson King of Balderova.”

“Dragon-Spawn? But I’ve never heard of Dragon-Spawn being able to release Dragon Fear… And she doesn’t even have horns or a tail.”

“That just means she’s a particularly strong Dragon-Spawn.”

“Hah, I thought she’d turn out to be a half-elf or a halfling at most…”

Jed suddenly remembered the moment he had threatened Ferda with his dagger earlier. If he’d gone through with it and swung, he’d have been completely done for. Jed lightly slapped his shirt to shake off the cold sweat dripping down his back.

Ruri, meanwhile, gave Jed a disdainful look before calmly sitting back down.

“Don’t worry. She may be ferocious, but she settles down if you give her something to eat.”

“Who’s ferocious, huh?”

Hearing Ruri’s retort, Ferda nodded.

“True. You’re not ferocious—you’re more like a dog.”

“Huh? Are you insulting me again?”

“It’s a compliment. There’s a breed of dog called a Chihuahua. They’re small but bold. I thought it suited you.”

“Can I hit you just once? Please?”

“I’ll pass. I don’t enjoy pain.”

Ferda continued provoking Ruri, while Ruri looked like she was losing her mind. If an ordinary person had taken a direct hit from that Dragon Fear, they’d be gasping for breath right now.

But Ferda was as calm as ever, and the only one stuck in the middle, Jed, finally said:

“I’ll just go hang out with the coachman. Call me if you need me.”

A comfortable seat isn’t what matters most—peace of mind is.

To find Echidna Philiaz, Ferda ventured deep into the forest. Eventually, they reached a point where the carriage could go no further.

“This is as far as we can go. The path is too narrow.”

“Then we’ll have to walk.”

“It’s a bit of a distance, but it’s not steep. Let’s think of it as a stroll and just keep walking.”

Left with no other choice, Ferda got out, with Ruri and Jed following behind him.

While the two walked at a leisurely pace, treating it like a casual hike, Ferda was already drenched in sweat.

“You really need to work on your stamina.”

“Surprisingly… this is my limit.”

“If you put in a bit more effort, you’ll build up some endurance.”