* * *
The next day, as soon as I opened my eyes, I headed straight to the Magic Department.
This time, instead of Anna, Asel was the one following me as my escort for the first time in a while.
“You’ve arrived, Lord Dowoon! The Head is waiting for you,” the familiar official greeted me with a bright smile and led me to the Head’s office.
“Apologies, but the Lord will have to wait outside,” he said, blocking Asel, who had been following me.
Having encountered similar situations before in the Magic Department, Asel stepped back without a word.
As I entered the Head’s office, I was greeted by a grand and dignified interior.
In the center of the room, a man looked up at me, then rose slowly from his seat.
So… this elderly man is Cedric?
Cedric, a minor supporting character in the original story, was someone I didn’t know much about.
To be honest, I’d assumed, given how casually Baek Yigang had spoken of him, that he was relatively young.
But the Cedric I finally faced was an old man with white hair and deep, time-worn wrinkles.
“Greetings to the Head. I understand you called for me.”
Cedric had actually requested to see me quite some time ago, during a regular Magic Department meeting, but still…
Standing in front of someone who seemed this old made my head and hands instinctively show more respect.
As I offered a quick greeting, Cedric approached me, inviting me to sit down.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you in person. I’m sorry to have kept you waiting so long; my absence caused quite a delay,” he said, looking regretful.
Technically, it was Baek Yigang who drove him away, so Cedric didn’t really have to feel responsible.
“No, it was Baek Yigang’s doing,” I responded.
“…Pardon?”
For a moment, Cedric’s face went blank with surprise.
Realizing my slip, I inwardly sighed.
I’d grown too accustomed to using that title, so it was hard to avoid mistakes.
“Ah, that….”
“It seems His Majesty granted you a personal name,” Cedric observed, his green eyes lighting up with admiration, his composed expression slightly flushed.
“Yes, um, that’s correct….”
I stumbled, somewhat at a loss, as Cedric’s lips curved into a gentle smile.
“Haha, it seems His Majesty has finally… cough.”
…Is he actually tearing up? I thought I heard a slight sniffle.
“Excuse me. But I would advise caution regarding the title in front of others,” Cedric continued, his tone warm, as he quickly recomposed himself.
I nodded, and at that, Cedric finally got to the point.
“The reason I wanted to see you… was to apologize to you, Lord Cheong Dowoon. I had intended to do this at the last Magic Department meeting.”
“Apologize?” I blinked in confusion.
This was the first time I’d met Cedric, so what could he possibly have to apologize for?
“It may not be clear to you, but we’ve met before,” Cedric explained calmly, nodding as if he expected my reaction.
Meeting Cedric before?
What is he talking about?
Since I’d possessed this body, I had never once seen Cedric.
Surely, I’d remember meeting an intimidating old man with stark white hair if I had.
“Forgive me, but do you recall when that might have been?”
I asked, curious if he had mistaken me for someone else.
“It was the day you appeared at the Imperial Palace—a day of some infamy, as your execution was set to take place outdoors.”
At his words, my racing mind ground to a halt.
It was a distant memory now, but I could never forget that day.
I had often charmed protagonists across various worlds, leading a luxurious life in those realms.
But that day, as my neck felt the cold touch of a blade, I’d never come closer to the end.
All of that happened the moment I possessed this body!
So there was no way I could forget it.
That day was unforgettable—the first day I possessed this body.
“Ah…!”
With the memory fresh, I let out a soft sigh, which seemed to reassure Cedric as his green eyes calmed.
“That day, I was the first to find you, Lord Cheong Dowoon.”
“You?!” I gaped as more surprising information continued to come out.
When I’d regained consciousness, the execution was already in progress, so I hadn’t known what had happened before that.
“I was in the middle of work when I felt a strange, ominous energy, followed by an earsplitting roar. Worried it was an enemy invasion, I rushed outside…”
Cedric recounted, explaining that upon stepping out, he’d seen me lying unconscious beside a blazing fire on the palace grounds.
He’d reported it to the Imperial Guard without delay.
“Initially, I thought you were an arsonist who had infiltrated the palace,” Cedric admitted, lowering his head apologetically.
I quickly waved my hand to dismiss his apology.
“No, that’s understandable.”
“Had I listened, I would have known better… This old man was too hasty. I almost lost a rare gem.”
Outwardly, I accepted his apology, but inwardly, I seethed.
Now it makes sense!
That day, they never asked a single question and were ready to kill me on the spot.
It was because of Cedric, not Baek Yigang, that it all happened.
As we continued to speak, I remembered something Reggie had once said.
“Hmm, the Magic Department used to have a head who specialized in barrier magic. But one day, they just up and left, poof!”
Yet, that same head had now returned. Which meant I didn’t need to rely on Reggie for barrier training.
With the Leader back, there was no need to choose Reggie.
If Cedric, an expert in this field, were to teach me, my skills would grow quickly, and I could ask him about technique application as well.
“Thinking back… that day, I came very close to dying. Had Baek Yigang ordered them to stop a moment later, it would have been too late,” I said, bowing my head.
“I truly regret what happened. Please allow me to make it up to you in any way I can.”
“If you’re that sorry… I do have a favor to ask.”
I flashed him a slight smile and spoke carefully.
“Please teach me barrier magic.”
“Barrier magic?”
Cedric’s face smoothed out at the rather unexpected comment.
The wrinkles on his brow completely disappeared, signaling that he was genuinely caught off guard.
“Yes.”
“Why… are you trying to learn it?”
“The person I serve has many enemies. They think they’re the strongest in the world… Though that’s not exactly wrong, it’s not entirely true either. So, I want to protect them.”
More accurately, my life that’s beside them.
…Hmm, maybe I shouldn’t say that part.
It might sound cooler if I don’t.
At my unexpected request, Cedric’s eyes slowly closed, and after a longer pause than I’d anticipated, he finally looked back at me with an indifferent gaze.
“It’ll be tough for you. This field of magic is completely different in theory and practice from standard magical studies. It may look simple on the surface, but it’s one of the most challenging and brutal fields.”
As the hesitation dragged on, I worried he might refuse, but thankfully, Cedric agreed to my request.
“It’s alright. I may be self-taught, but I’m not entirely clueless.”
I shrugged confidently, giving him a grin in response to his concern.
Cedric’s serious eyes softened a bit at my smile.
“Then, if you visit the Magic Department on the day you prefer, I’ll conduct the lessons.”
Starting the day with a nice achievement, I left the Magic Department with a smile.
If I could master barrier magic properly, I’d be able to fend off most attacks.
I’ll learn this quickly and show off to Baek Yigang.
Just wait, you damned Baek Yigang!
I’ll make sure you’re grateful to have a skilled Wizard by your side!
* * *
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Good
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