Chapter 60: What Are You Going to Do with a Fool? (3)


    The mages clicked their tongues inwardly.


    ‘Ugh, you crazy bastard.’


    ‘Tsk, tsk, as expected, he’s not normal.’


    ‘Of course, trying to negotiate with a guy like that wouldn’t work.’


    Even the three people apanying Ghiin were secretly surprised.


    Ghiin might have been yful and mischievous, but he wasn’t the type to threaten the weak without reason.


    ‘Wasn’t he trying tofort her?’


    ‘What are you doing, my lord? Why would you threaten someone who’s already terrified?’


    But despite everyone’s shock, Ghiin continued coldly.


    “For now, the tower has already handed you over to me. Even if you don’t follow me, it’ll be hard to stay here. And even if you could stay… well.”


    Ghiin shrugged his shoulders.


    “I mean, I don’t have the right to stop someone who’s determined to die.”


    Vanessa trembled with fear.


    There was no emotion in Ghiin’s words. If he’d been implying he would kill her if she didn’t follow, it would have been a different matter, but the way he spoke, calmly and detached, as if stating an undeniable truth, only intensified her terror.


    In the end, Vanessa, with trembling lips and a voice mixed with sobs, spoke up.


    “I, I understand. I will serve you faithfully, Young Lord.”


    Then, as if relieved, Ghiin smiled again and spoke gently.


    “Good, I’m counting on you. You won’t be disappointed.”


    The mages and Ghiin’s group momentarily lost their words, dumbfounded. The sudden shift in his demeanor, as if he hadn’t just threatened her, was absurd.


    Hubert was the first to regain hisposure and quietly approached Vanessa.


    “Good, good. You made the right choice. Your master, Lonato, would be pleased in heaven.”


    Vanessa only lowered her head without saying a word, feeling that her opinion was no more significant than a dog’s bark to these people.


    Her only hope now was to find the right moment to ask Ghiin to allow her to continue her studies.


    ‘Hmm, she was still so docile at this point.’


    Ghiin fell into thought as he looked at Vanessa.


    ‘A parasite and a fool. How blind they were. To think they had the greatest genius of the *Crimson me Tower* * *right in front of them. Although… a failed genius.’


    Vanessa was the main reason Ghiin hade to the *Crimson me Tower*.


    Of course, the fact that it was an easy opportunity to rip people off was also a reason, but if Vanessa hadn’t been there, he wouldn’t have gone through the trouble ofing all this way, investing both time and effort.


    Ghiin, whocked strength in almost every way, needed a powerful trump card.


    He was convinced that Vanessa would be that very trump card. Even if she had refused, he had already made up his mind to take her by force.


    ‘Staying here will only lead to a miserable oue.’


    Ghiin hadn’t lied. It wasn’t a threat either. He had only spoken the truth.


    If Vanessa remained in the tower, not only would she be in danger, but many others as well.


    If left as she was, she would be an unimaginable mass murderer.


    * * *


    Ghiin had first heard about her during a time when the world was in chaos.


    One of his subordinates, who had a penchant for rumors and information, had mentioned the “Red Nightmare.”


    “The Red Nightmare?”


    “She’s that crazy woman who ran wild in the Ritania Kingdom. They say her abilities are no joke? 7th Circle, can you believe it? 7th Circle.”


    “The Ritania Kingdom, huh…”


    Something about the mention of his homnd, the Ritania Kingdom, stirred a sense of nostalgia in him.


    “And that alias? Isn’t it so cool? ‘The Red Nightmare.’”


    Seeing Ghiin show interest, his subordinate grew even more excited as he continued.


    “What was her name again… Ah, right, Vanessa. They say she turned the entire northern region of Ritania into a sea of fire. Supposedly, she’s a mage who learned the Mana Breathing Technique.”


    “A mage learned the Mana Breathing Technique?”


    Even Ghiin, who had encountered all sorts of bizarre things during his mercenary days, had never heard of a mage mastering the Mana Breathing Technique.


    “Yes. Maybe that’s why she went mad. She’s been setting fires everywhere and killing indiscriminately, causing trouble for all the lords. They say she has no real purpose—just a woman obsessed with ying with fire.”


    “Wow, that’s impressive. So you can reach that level with the Mana Breathing Technique?”


    “Wait… *that* * *impressed you?!”


    Whether it was the mage’s circle system or the Mana Breathing Technique, both fundamentally stored mana within the body.


    In theory, one could cast magic using the Mana Breathing Technique, but no one did it. The reason was simple: magic cast through it was less efficient.


    But here was someone producing more firepower than most mages using the Mana Breathing Technique—wasn’t that truly remarkable?


    Ghiin clicked his tongue in disappointment.


    “What a waste. If only she hadn’t gone mad, her talents could’ve contributed greatly to the world. She would’ve been better off under mymand.”


    With skills like hers, she could have been a valuable asset in fighting against the numerous cmities that gued the continent.


    “Actually, is it still possible? I’ve dealt with crazy people before, and a few beatings fixed them.”


    His subordinate’s face turned pale as he overheard Ghiin mumbling to himself.


    “Who… who are you nning to deal with?”


    “That Bar-something girl. Let’s bring her in.”


    “Wait, where are you nning to take that insane arsonist, and for what?”


    “That’s for you to figure out.”


    “…I must’ve misheard?”


    Without answering, Ghiin simply grinned slyly. It was a clear signal to get on with the task immediately.


    The subordinate turned pale and bolted out of the room.


    * * *


    The story his subordinate brought back after investigating Vanessa’s background was all toomon.


    She was an orphan, barely surviving without parents in her childhood, until a mage eventually took her in.


    However, Vanessa couldn’t sense mana, so she couldn’t be a mage.


    Despite not giving up and trying hard, no one believed in her or acknowledged her efforts. Then, by chance, she seemed to have found and learned the Mana Breathing Technique.


    She had even tried to learn it within the towers, failing multiple times, but for some reason, it seemed she was only able to master that particr technique.


    As someone who had modified his family’s breathing technique and made it his own, Ghiin could easily guess why Vanessa had gone mad.


    “Without a teacher and no understanding of the Mana Breathing Technique, there’s no way she could’ve mastered it properly. Still, with the right adjustments, she might have potential.”


    The more talented people there were to deal with the looming cmities, the better.


    Ghiin turned to his subordinate, who was dawdling nearby.


    “Where is she now?”


    “Not sure. Thest reported sighting was… near some mountain. Bute to think of it, there hasn’t been much newstely. Maybe she’s hiding somewhere.”


    Ghiin furrowed his brows.


    “Send out the men to track her. As soon as possible.”


    When he stood up from his seat, one of his subordinates, looking a bit surprised, asked back.


    “Where are you going?”


    “I’m going to look for her myself.”


    “What wind blew in all of a sudden? You normally find designated requests too bothersome to even ept.”


    His subordinate was shocked that the leader, who rarely moved from his seat, was personally stepping out. But Ghiin didn’t care and headed outside.


    He had a bad feeling about this.


    * * *


    It didn’t take long for Ghiin to track down Vanessa, who had been hiding in the mountains.


    “Found you. You hid well, didn’t you?”


    “Ahhhh!”


    As soon as Vanessa was spotted by Ghiin, she let out a scream and began wildly firing off spells.


    She was like a beast, driven by pure instinct. Yet, it was precisely because of this primal state that she immediately recognized her opponent as a dangerous predator.


    Boom!


    A massive magic circle appeared in the air around Vanessa.


    Boom! Boom! Boom!


    Pirs of fire shot up, and enormous fireballs rained down.


    But Ghiin effortlessly swatted them aside and dodged, steadily closing in on her. He wasn’t the kind of person to be caught off guard by such random, thoughtless, and tacticless attacks.


    “Kyaaah!”


    Perhaps frustrated by her inability tond a hit, Vanessa began pouring out all of her remaining power.


    Dozens of magic circles began forming around her.


    “Wow, you’re even doing multi-casting? And that much at once?”


    Ghiin was genuinely surprised.


    Multi-casting wasn’t something just anyone could do, regardless of how much mana they had. It required pure, innate talent.


    Even those with high-circle magic couldn’t perform multi-casting if theycked the necessary instincts.


    “Now that’s something I’d like to have.”


    Boom! Boom! Boom-boom-boom!


    Fireballs rained down like meteors onto where Ghiin had been standing.


    As always, he dodged them with ease. But as the mes surged, thick, acrid smoke filled the area, swallowing up everything around them.


    Ghiin clicked his tongue and unleashed his mana. The intense flow of mana swept through the surroundings, causing the mes to flicker and eventually die out.


    “Calm down, will you!”


    He extended his arm toward Vanessa and clenched his fist tightly. In that instant, Vanessa’s body jerked to a halt, frozen in ce.


    As if pulling something toward him, Ghiin bent his arm, and Vanessa helplessly was dragged in his direction.


    “Kyaaaah!”


    “Stay still.”


    Ghiin gripped her struggling neck with one hand and forcibly infused mana into her body. The mana coursed through her veins, spreading throughout her body.


    But after checking Vanessa’s condition, Ghiin involuntarily grimaced.


    ‘This is…’


    Vanessa’s core was already shattered. She was only holding on because she had reached the 7th circle.


    Considering she had been hiding in the mountains, it was clear her condition hadn’t been good for some time. Like a beast whose strength had waned, she had instinctively sought a safe ce.


    And in the brief moments she had spent attacking Ghiin, her condition had rapidly deteriorated.


    ‘Tsk, what a shame. It’s over.’


    If he had found her just a bit sooner, she might have be a useful subordinate.


    Thinking it would be kinder to put her out of her misery, Ghiin tightened his grip on her neck.


    At that moment, his eyes met Vanessa’s as she lifted her head.


    Thanks to the mana Ghiin had infused into her, she seemed to regain her senses. In her eyes, the madness was reced with traces of relief and regret.


    “…Have youe to your senses?”


    Ghiin lowered Vanessa to the ground. She stumbled, struggling to find her bnce before finally standing upright.


    “…Who are you?”


    He shrugged.


    “The strongest and most famous mercenary in the world.”


    Vanessa hesitated for a moment, then nodded.


    “You must be that King of Mercenaries I’ve only heard rumors about.”


    Even as she spoke, she had to stifle coughs in between her words.


    “Did youe to capture me?”


    “No, I came to recruit talent.”


    “It’s an honor, someone like you…ing to find me….”


    Vanessa forced a faint smile, but her body bent forward in pain as she coughed up a mouthful of blood onto the ground. Ghiin clicked his tongue.


    “I was going to recruit you, but seeing your condition, it seems you won’t be joining our mercenary corps after all.”


    “…Is that really something you say to someone coughing up blood?”


    Vanessa snapped irritably, but Ghiin only scoffed.


    “Why should I care about someone who’s not even worth having as a subordinate? It’s not like there’s money in it.”


    As he spoke, he seemed to realize something and let out a small exmation.


    “Actually, if I turn you in, I could still collect the bounty.”


    “Get lost, you bastard….”


    Vanessa hurled a fireball at Ghiin, but the spell fizzled out in midair before it could even reach him.


    “You really are shortening your own life. It’s that kind of stupidity that got you in this mess.”


    She couldn’t answer, too busy coughing up more blood. She could only re at him with frustrated eyes.


    Ghiin chuckled.


    “Well, if you’ve got anyst words, now’s the time. I’ll listen to a final wish, at least.”


    “Last words… I don’t have anyone… to leave them for.”


    “Then you could at leastin about your situation.”


    She let out a bitterugh before copsing to the ground. It seemed even standing had be too much for her.


    “I just… liked magic… I only ever wanted… to be a mage….”


    Vanessa hugged her knees and curled up.


    “Studying that mana cultivation technique… I shouldn’t have done it… So many people died… because of me….”


    “That’s not what you should regret.”


    Ghiin clicked his tongue and scolded her.


    “You should’vee to me sooner. I’m famous for fixing lunatics. You’ve regained your sanity, haven’t you?”


    “You must hear… a lot of people say… you’re a real piece of work….”


    “What kind of nonsense is that? There’s no one as good-natured as me.”


    Vanessa looked at him in disbelief, shaking her head slowly.


    “Really living carefree, aren’t you….”


    “I’m a mercenary, after all.”


    Ghiin smirked and added.


    “Next time, don’t hesitate. Juste straight to me. I’m always open to skilled people.”


    Vanessa blinked silently. Her eyelids began to droop, gradually slowing down with each blink.


    As if she were a flickering candle about to go out, she whispered in a faint voice.


    “Yeah… Mercenary life… sounds fun….”


    With those words, her breathing ceasedpletely.


    A single tear fell, drawing a clean line down her dirtied face.


    Ghiin stared down at Vanessa’s lifeless body for a moment.


    On any other day, he would’ve taken the corpse to collect the bounty… but today, he simply clicked his tongue softly and set the body aze.


    It was the first andst bit of consideration he would ever show to someone who might have be one of his subordinates.