The beautiful woman’s eyes widened slightly, and a smile spread across her face, bringing her features to life as if carved from marble.

She looked overjoyed, her face glowing with a radiant smile.

“….”

Wait, that expression…

Something about it felt familiar, but there was no way I had ever met someone as stunning as her. If I had, I would never have forgotten.

While I puzzled over this, the woman spoke.

“Rafa, you’re late today. You usually come out a bit earlier.”

That voice…

No way.

I started to respond, but the woman pressed her finger firmly to her lips.

A signal not to speak.

That gesture…

Could it be… the witch?

In that moment, the warm, rosy feelings filling my mind vanished.

Sigh.

As I exhaled, I realized the air around me had gone cold.

Jealous, piercing stares from all around felt like they were boring into my skin.

I glanced at the crowd, even spotting Skinhead glaring at me with a dark expression.

Really? I thought you liked Jenny.

Sigh.

The witch had to be at least forty years old, though I’d wager she was past sixty. Maybe even older than that—perhaps a century or more.

And now, she looked completely different.

This face could be just another illusion, a different layer hiding who knows what else.

But I couldn’t exactly explain all that out loud.

She was still pressing her fingers to her lips, shushing me with an almost pleading look.

As jealousy radiated from the men around us, I sagged my shoulders.

“Um… do you two know each other?” Jenny asked, breaking the tension in the air thick with envious stares.

Jenny seemed to be handling the witch’s registration as well, with the application papers spread out before her.

“… Sigh… well… sort of…”

Under the witch’s expectant gaze, I gave a reluctant answer, which made Jenny’s worried face light up with understanding.

“I see, so you know each other. Ah, and Rafa, you’re a rare magic-user too, aren’t you? Is that how you met?”

“….”

No, not exactly.

She’s a witch.

I’d never heard her call herself a magician.

As I looked over at her, she laughed softly.

“I suppose Rafa wouldn’t know I was a magician. It was just a fortunate chance that led me to his aid.”

What could possibly be so amusing? She kept smiling.

Even knowing she might be far older than she appeared, I still felt my heart skip a beat.

Get a grip, heart.

She’s a witch. An old witch, maybe not even in her true form.

“I’ve been wanting to meet you again to thank you for your kindness,” she continued warmly. “I’ve always hoped I could repay it somehow.”

A loud grinding of teeth echoed from somewhere nearby.

I understood. If a woman of her beauty had shown gratitude with such a voice to a man I deemed unworthy, I’d feel the same way.

But she’s a witch. Likely more of a grandmother, perhaps a centenarian.

If only they knew.

I glanced up at the ceiling.

More unsettling than anything else was my heart’s occasional flutter, even while knowing she was a much older witch.

Was I a fool?

I used to think my mother was ridiculous for clinging to my father’s handsome face, but here I was, no better.

The witch straightened herself and bowed her head.

“Thank you for your help, Rafa. My name is Tatiana.”

Tatiana.

Even her name was charming.

No, no, don’t think like that. She’s a witch. And possibly a grandmother.

As I kept muttering to myself as if casting a mantra, murmurs rose among the men nearby.

“Tatiana… even her name is cute.”

“It’s a beautiful name.”

“It suits her perfectly.”

Yeah, I thought so too.

Seems the men around here all think alike.

And their compliments aren’t exactly creative: cute, beautiful… that’s about it.

The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

“Rafa, could I talk to you for a moment?” Jenny called out thoughtfully.

As I stepped closer, for some reason Tatiana drew up to the counter as well.

Standing side by side with her at the counter, we were uncomfortably close.

“….”

Too close.

Any closer, and we’d be touching.

Feeling awkward, I glanced over at her, and she looked up at me with a bright, innocent smile.

From somewhere in the crowd came a muttered curse.

“Damn it!”

“I’ll kill him.”

“Why?”

“Why her?”

“Isn’t she afraid of him?”

“I’m far better looking than he is!”

I understood how they felt.

I would’ve thought the same in their position.

Jenny looked at Tatiana and me with a puzzled expression, then glanced around at the silently fuming crowd of men.

She even caught the male guild receptionist staring intently at Tatiana.

Jenny sighed softly, looking back up at me.

“Rafa, both you and Tatiana are rare magic-users in our guild. Have you considered forming a party together?”

“… Uh.”

No, I haven’t.

Jenny’s eyes were practically pleading, urging me to say yes, but teaming up with the witch would be a hassle.

The witch herself had a rather troublesome nature, and the atmosphere in the guild spoke volumes.

All these men who had once looked down on me as a barbarian now seemed ready to seethe with jealousy.

No doubt, one of them would end up lurking with a knife, biding his time.

I was a hundred percent certain.

Never underestimate a man’s jealousy.

This would be trouble.

The witch mumbled to herself, “A magician’s party…”

Her voice sounded dreamy, like a girl imagining an adventure.

Hey, witch.

Before I could speak, Tatiana’s eyes sparkled as she looked at me.

“That sounds wonderful. Rafa, I heard you’re a wind magician, right? I use water magic, so together we’d make a great team.”

“No, I—”

What on earth was she thinking?

I already have enough power just controlling the wind on my own. Combining forces would be unnecessary.

But just as I opened my mouth, Jenny met my eyes.

She lowered her voice.

“Rafa, take a look around. Look at their eyes.”

“….”

I didn’t have to look to know what she meant.

Jenny took a small breath and continued.

“I was concerned for you, honestly. You know how the men in this city are—they’ll do anything to lay claim to a woman.”

It’s not just men; I’d say that goes for women too.

After all, my mother kidnapped my father and dragged him to the forest to live.

“But Rafa, if you’re not interested in Tatiana, then you’re actually the safest and most trustworthy person around for her.”

“….”

“Now, think about what would happen if you left her on her own. It’d be like throwing a rabbit to the wolves. Do you think her lodgings would be safe? People would be breaking in every night.”

“No, you don’t need to worry about me,” Tatiana interrupted, clearly alarmed.

She looked up at me, genuinely concerned, and shook her head.

“I mean it. You know I can take care of myself. I don’t want to trouble you.”

Jenny shook her head, turning to Tatiana.

“I’m sorry, Tatiana, but however skilled you may be, I think you’d struggle against a group of adventurers. You can’t stay alert 24/7.”

“….”

“Besides, you’d need to work alongside other adventurers for some requests, and sometimes, you’d be in dangerous areas. Not just other adventurers, but even the places you’re sent to could be risky.”

I could see it now—like when I was in the Cursed Forest, surrounded by wolves and barely able to rest.

Jenny sighed softly.

“As the guild, we can’t knowingly send you into that kind of danger. If we have to limit your work because of safety, we wouldn’t be able to make the best use of a valuable magician. It would be a major loss for the guild.”

She continued her reasoning.

“Tatiana, we’d like you to form a party with someone reliable. This isn’t just about you—we often recommend female adventurers work in a party. I’ll be frank, every year we hear stories of female adventurers facing harm.”

Though I couldn’t relate directly, Jenny explained that simply having one or two male allies reduced the risk of an attack significantly.

Tatiana shook her head weakly.

“I don’t want to impose on Rafa. If that’s the only option, then maybe I should just… not be an adventurer.”

I let out a small sigh.

Maybe the witch had come to the guild to repay her “debt” to me, but she probably also needed to make a living.

I didn’t know how she managed to change her appearance and look so young, but she couldn’t survive on air alone.

She needed food, just like anyone else.

“All right. I suppose a magician’s party does sound kind of… impressive.”

Tatiana’s face lit up, a blossom of joy transforming her expression.

When I looked at her, she seemed to realize what her expression betrayed, clearing her throat and adjusting her demeanor.

“Y-you really don’t have to, Rafa. I’ll be fine on my own.”

But with that expression, there was no way I could believe her.

Jenny, evidently seeing enough, clapped her hands.

“Perfect. So it’s decided! Now, what should we call your party?”

“….”

Good question.

As I scratched my head, Tatiana glanced at me shyly.

“Um… how about ‘Magician’s Party’?”

“….”

Magician’s Party.

She actually wanted that as the name?

I looked at her, incredulous, but her eyes sparkled as she looked at me like an excited child.

Did she really think it sounded that amazing?

Her eyes seemed to have stars in them.

“….”

I turned my head away.

I couldn’t say no.

I wanted to refuse, but with that hopeful look, I couldn’t get the words out.

Fine.

“Then… the party name will be Magician’s Party…”

Jenny nodded, hiding a smile.

“Got it, Rafa. We’ll register it as that.”

It was strange: she was the same witch, yet just because her appearance had changed, I’d agreed so easily to her wish.

It seemed I’d inherited my mother’s tendencies more than I realized.

Sure, I’d known I looked like my mother, but apparently, I’d inherited her taste too.

This witch is old.

This witch is old.

I’d need to repeat this a hundred times every day.

No, maybe three hundred.

As I muttered to myself, a man pushed his way through the crowd of men in the guild.

“Move aside. Let me through.”

A new face.

The man approached us with muscles bulging as if he’d just stepped off a bodybuilder’s stage.

He strutted toward Tatiana and me, like a peacock flaunting its feathers.

He shot me a quick glance before turning his gaze to Jenny.

“Leaving a delicate female adventurer with a barbarian is no different from tossing a rabbit to a wolf. Jenny, you’re a fair-minded person, so I’m sure you’ll agree that I’d be a much more suitable partner if the guild insists on recommending a party.”

Look in a mirror before you speak.

You look more like a wolf eyeing rabbit stew than anyone here.

Jenny seemed to share my thoughts, frowning as she looked at him.

“I’m B-rank and have plenty of experience. A novice water magician like her would be better off with me. I could guide her. Honestly, putting a female magician with a rookie like him is something you’ll regret, Jenny.”

The man stopped in front of Tatiana.

His chest and arm muscles bulged and flexed as if to make an impression.

To me, it looked more repellent than appealing.

He wedged himself between us and planted his hand on the counter.

With a grunt, he clenched his hand, crushing part of the counter under his grip.

Splintering wood—a display of brute strength.

“My lady, choose me. I’ll protect you.”

Tatiana tilted her head, her wide eyes innocently curious.

Cute.

No, no. She’s old.

Just as I was reminding myself, Tatiana raised her hand, and small water droplets began forming on her palm.

The droplets gathered, multiplying from dozens to hundreds in a matter of seconds.

“Whoa…”

“Incredible.”

“Is that water magic?”

“I’ve never seen anything like it.”

“There aren’t many magicians around here.”

As people murmured, Tatiana gently waved her hand.

“Breath of Water.”

With a single whisper, the droplets clung to the man’s face like tiny suction cups.

“W-what!” He panicked, trying to swat them away, but his hands passed through the water without effect.

The droplets fused, forming a single, large water bubble around his head.

The man’s mouth bubbled with trapped air that floated to the top of the water bubble and popped.

“Sorry, but I can take care of myself,” Tatiana said, waving her hand again.

The water bubble collapsed, splashing to the floor, and the man bent over, coughing and gasping.

I glanced at Jenny.

“Maybe we didn’t need to form a party after all?”

“….”

Jenny forced a smile, looking a bit sheepish.

My bird, Rella, hopped down from my shoulder, bouncing around the wet floor.

Maybe she found the wet wood intriguing, or maybe she just liked the feel of it.

Jenny cleared her throat, glancing at the coughing man.

“We’ll see that the cost of the counter is deducted from his next job payment.”

Then she turned to Tatiana.

“And Tatiana, we’ll let it slide this time since it’s just water, but please be careful. Water can damage wood, and if it rots, you’ll have to pay for repairs.”

“Oh… I’m sorry,” Tatiana replied, looking a bit sheepish.

She shrank back like a scolded child.

“….”

Tatiana’s skills proved she didn’t really need a protector, but maybe, as Jenny said, forming a party was the right choice.

When the man had approached, I’d clearly seen Tatiana’s fingers trembling.

And even now, though she tried to hide it by clenching her fist, her hand was still shaking slightly.