While the entire city was in turmoil due to the flesh-eating ants, Rira had locked herself in her room, trembling in fear.

Monsters inside the city walls... At first, she thought it would be her time to shine. She had imagined herself burning them all away with her fire magic.

And so, she ignored her attendant's protests and ran outside.

But the moment she saw the flesh-eating ants from afar...

Rira covered her face with both hands, the shame and fear of that moment washing over her.

When she saw the monstrous creatures tossing people like ragdolls, her legs gave out beneath her. By the time the attendant managed to lift her back up, the ground beneath her was wet with a pool of urine that carried a distinct smell.

Though her attendant pretended not to notice, Rira knew he had. He couldn’t have missed it.

Since that moment, she hadn’t left her room.

During the dragon-slaying mission, the dragon had already been dead by the time she saw it. She hadn't really understood how terrifying monsters could be.

She thought the flesh-eating ants would be a joke compared to a dragon, the strongest of all monsters.

‘What do I do now?’

It wasn’t just fear. The confidence she had in herself—her belief that she was special—had plummeted to rock bottom.

A magician is a rare and valuable being. The female magician who had been her tutor during childhood had told her so.

She had said that the bloodline of a magician was cherished and celebrated in any family.

The royal family of their country, she said, carried the blood of magicians. The Duke's family, which carried the royal bloodline, was the same.

Two of the most powerful families in the kingdom were known to have the strongest magician bloodlines.

Because of this, even families unrelated to magic cherished magician bloodlines as prized gems—rare adornments to embellish the family’s prestige.

But those with a talent for magic were becoming scarcer by the day.

Powerful magicians were becoming rarer, and even mid-level magicians, who were once common, were now few and far between.

That’s why even those with a little talent for magic were highly regarded by magician families, the female tutor had told her during the three short months she taught her.

[That’s why I was able to marry into a magician family myself,] her tutor had said, smiling—a smile that had left a deep impression on young Rira.

‘But…’

That day, Rira had seen it.

A woman, younger than herself, with the ability to control water as if it were part of her own body.

Rira could barely produce flames, moving them just a short distance, while this commoner...

Jealousy was quickly followed by doubt.

Perhaps the things she had been told as a child were wrong.

Perhaps her father and her brother were right after all.

She knew her behavior had become infamous in high society. She was known for her temper.

But she had never cared. She believed that her value, being born with a magician’s blood, was different from that of an ordinary noblewoman.

She thought her worth wouldn't diminish just because she got older.

But was that really true?

The matches her father had suggested had steadily declined in quality.

Initially, her suitors came from some distant magician families, but now it was only ordinary families they talked about.

Her brother had warned her repeatedly that her worth wasn't high. He’d said that if things continued this way, in a few years, they would have no choice but to marry her off to a less desirable family.

She’d thought it was just a threat, something to get her to behave.

But if it was true...

‘What do I do?’

Perhaps she should just accept the proposal her father had recommended, even if it wasn't the best match.

But the prospects currently available were far inferior to her previous suitors.

Even those from similar ranks were from less prestigious families, non-magician households, or families otherwise a rank or two below her previous prospects.

If she were to marry into such a family, she would surely become the laughingstock of high society.

And many of her previous suitors had already married other women.

If she attended a social gathering and saw them happily married to other women while she herself was bound to a much lower match—how they would laugh at her.

The thought alone was unbearable.

Rira sighed heavily as her attendant entered the room.

"My lady, the Count is summoning you. He says he has something important to discuss, and he wants you to come to the drawing room immediately."

"I understand."

Rira swallowed nervously.

Whenever her father summoned her to the drawing room, it was always about marriage.

‘This time… This time, I won't refuse, even if the family is a step down.’

Recalling the mage who controlled water, Rira bit her lip.

Even if it was humiliating, she had no choice now.

She needed to compromise.

Suppressing her discomfort, Rira stood up.

When she arrived at the drawing room where her father waited, even the attendant present left the room.

What was this about?

Her father had an unusually stern look on his face.

‘Maybe he thinks I'm going to refuse again.’

Rira let out a small sigh.

She knew she had been stubborn, that she had made things difficult.

But this time, it would be different.

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

She understood that she would have to marry whomever her father deemed appropriate.

Rira bowed her head slightly to her father.

“Father, I have come as you requested.”

“…”

Her father stared at her with a heavy expression before opening his mouth.

“Your future partner has been decided.”

“…Yes.”

Which family was it this time?

Last time, it had almost been the son of an Earl.

This time, it might be a Baron or perhaps even a knight.

But she had resolved to accept it regardless and awaited her father’s words.

“But we have yet to receive consent from the suitor.”

“…”

The words confused her.

A marriage proposal without the other party’s consent?

When Rira looked up, her father's face hardened even more.

A face that said he would brook no objections.

“This time, you must earn your partner's favor before we can proceed with the engagement.”

“Father…?”

Rira still did not understand, and she called out to her father, puzzled.

Her father opened his mouth, his face set with determination.

“His name is Rafa, the hero who saved this city. You've heard of him. I intend to send you to him.”

“What?”

The words were so shocking that her mouth fell open.

Rafa… Wasn’t that the barbarian?

He had no family, no title—nothing.

And she was supposed to… What? Win his favor? Seduce him?

“F-Father, what are you talking about…?”

Rira took a step forward, but her father glared at her fiercely.

“If you refuse this time, you will be cast out of this family.”

Cast out.

Not sent to a convent, not married off into some lesser branch, but exiled—cut off completely.

Her mind went blank, and Rira fainted on the spot.

***

The city was filled with cheers in the aftermath of the extermination of the flesh-eating ants.

People celebrated their survival.

Considering that a monster attack had occurred inside the city walls, the damage to buildings was surprisingly minimal.

This was not just due to my efforts, but also because of the combined forces of the soldiers, adventurers, and civilians who all worked together to fend off the ants.

The city was wounded but standing, and countless people who might otherwise have died had survived.

But not everyone had survived.

Though it seemed like a miracle that so many people were saved, many had still died.

While part of the city was bursting with joy, another part was weighed down by the heavy sorrow of loss, like wet cotton soaked with tears.

Countless graves were dug in the commoners’ cemetery outside the city, and bodies were lowered into those graves.

After the dead were buried, it was time for the living to move on.

Though the dead had no more need of food and shelter, those still breathing did.

People repaired buildings and cleared away debris.

Among the many buildings destroyed, the largest site of destruction was the crater I had made at the end.

It had been a particularly busy part of the city, with buildings clustered together.

I had caused many people to lose their homes and businesses.

I'm sorry.

I didn't think the hole would end up being so big.

I’d thought it would be less than half that size, maybe just a tenth.

It was always difficult to precisely control power when it came to such force.

I had wondered whether they would demand compensation, but luckily, no one had brought it up.

It was probably because the merit of exterminating the flesh-eating ants far outweighed the damage caused to the buildings.

If it had been the other way around, I definitely would have had to pay.

As we walked, Tatiana suddenly stopped.

It seemed they had found a body amidst the debris.

A woman in tattered clothes rushed over, crying.

When one person began to cry, those who had lost their families started crying too.

The people near the woman quietly shed tears.

Tatiana, who had been staring silently at the body, suddenly muttered,

“If my teacher were here…”

Her shoulders slumped slightly.

“If my teacher had come to this city instead of me, maybe we wouldn’t have been attacked by the flesh-eating ants.”

“…”

“My teacher would have known as soon as she found those tunnels. No, she would have known as soon as she stepped into this city. She would have had a plan—a way to keep the ants from attacking.”

Tatiana spoke softly, her shoulders drooping further.

“…I knew something was wrong when we entered that forest, but why couldn’t I sense anything when we arrived in this city? If it had been my teacher, she would have noticed.”

I see.

Tatiana had been quite gloomy since the incident ended.

I had assumed it was because this was her first experience with something like this, so I hadn’t brought it up.

Seeing people die, seeing them get eaten—it’s something that’s difficult for anyone to handle the first time they witness it.

Knowing about it intellectually and experiencing it firsthand are completely different.

But it wasn’t something someone else could help with.

I thought she just needed time to overcome it and get used to it on her own.

But it seemed I had been wrong.

Tatiana blamed herself for the deaths, thinking that her teacher could have saved them if she had been there instead.

Maybe that was how her shock had manifested.

On the surface, she was confident and acted experienced, but in reality, she lacked the emotional resilience that came from interacting with others.

I hadn’t noticed it when I’d thought of her as an old witch, but knowing her real age, I could see her flaws more clearly.

I patted her gently on the back.

“You did well. I’m sure your teacher is amazing, but I don’t think she could have done better than you.”

“…Thank you.”

Tatiana smiled faintly, her gratitude lacking conviction.

She didn’t seem to believe my words had any real weight.

Maybe she thought I was just saying it to comfort her.

‘But I meant it sincerely.’

And, in reality, that’s probably the case.

I couldn’t be certain if everything Tatiana said about her teacher was true, but no matter how incredible she was, there was no way to subdue all those flesh-eating ants in that sprawling underground.

It was too vast.

It felt like a massive, multi-layered city hidden beneath the ground.

I had wandered through it myself, so I knew—the tunnels were incredibly expansive and complex.

Now, soldiers were guarding the ant holes, preventing anyone from entering.

The lord had ordered an investigation team to be formed.

They were probably planning to use it for something someday.

Perhaps as an emergency escape route, or a hidden stash for grain or valuables.

If they installed sturdy doors and made a few modifications to the passageways, it would be perfect for such purposes.

That’s what I would do.

The point is, no matter how vast that underground was, there was no way anyone could wipe out all those ants or force them to retreat.

Not even Tatiana’s amazing teacher.

When I explained this to Tatiana, her lips pursed slightly.

"My teacher was truly incredible. No magical creature ever came near our home when I lived in the forest. Even if one came close, she easily dealt with it. She would definitely have thought of something."

She seemed a bit upset.

“But no matter how big your cabin in the forest was, it couldn't have been as big as this city, right? And there wasn’t anything lurking underground. That’s different—it would be easier to deal with.”

In response to my words, Tatiana began passionately explaining just how great her teacher was.

She spoke at length about how remarkable her teacher was, eyes alight with fervor.

Honestly, it was hard to believe.

If her teacher was as amazing as she claimed, it sounded like the stuff of legends—like something out of a movie or a comic book.

There couldn’t possibly be a person like that.

And as I listened, I got the impression that these weren’t stories she had witnessed firsthand—they sounded more like the kind of stories you hear as a child before bed.

Because they all felt strangely familiar.

Like fairy tales or stories from children’s books.

My guess is that stories she’d heard in her youth had mingled with reality in her mind.

I’d heard before that children often can’t tell the difference between reality and fantasy.

Especially someone like her—a witch capable of affecting the thoughts of others, something called the “Delusion of Dorothy,” or whatever.

Her teacher might not have intended it, but her stories might have planted themselves deeply in Tatiana’s young mind.

If she’d lived among other people, fantasy would have stayed as just fantasy, but she’d only had the witch and a bard to spin her tales.

Even I might have lost my grip on reality in such a situation.

It's understandable, really.

A young girl in the middle of the forest, enthralled by the stories of an old witch—it was a bit sad, both for Tatiana and for her teacher.

She seemed to feel a bit better after her rant.

She took a deep breath, having spoken too much, then shrugged her shoulders.

“Well, I’m not my teacher, so I can't do anything that impressive. But that’s the same for all witches—no witch in this world is as amazing as my teacher.”

“Sure, sure.”

I smiled lightly, nodding, and Tatiana straightened up, her expression serious.

“It’s true. My teacher really is—"

Her words were cut short as we saw the lord’s son, Paul, approaching from a short distance away.

Tatiana let out a small sigh.

Paul had been seeking us out frequently since the attack by the flesh-eating ants.

"That guy is really uncomfortable."

Tatiana muttered quietly.

I felt the same.

Sigh.

After I’d rejected his invitation the first time, he hadn’t extended another, but he still seemed to be waiting for the right moment.

He said he wanted to show his gratitude for us saving the city, but it was clear he wanted more.

Please, just stop.

With my mother’s situation, getting involved with the nobility was terrifying to even think about.

What if I ran into someone from the family of the woman my mother had killed?

On that day, I’d kill everyone and retreat into the Enchanted Forest.

Having come into this world, if I had to return to isolation in the forest without having enjoyed a single good thing, what would be the point?

Just imagining that possibility made me shiver in fear.

I had thought of leaving the city, but I had finally begun to be accepted by people. Starting the whole process over again in a new place sounded exhausting.

It might not seem that way, but it hurt every time people looked at me like I was a monster.

It hurt, just a little, deep inside.

If it had been my mother, it must have hurt her even more, being a woman.

Sigh.

There were probably quite a few people who recognized that I was Helga’s son from my face. Paul was probably one of them.

Then why did he keep coming?

The more his family interacted with me, the greater the chances were that they would face opposition from other noble families.

Surely he knew that?

There was no way a nobleman wouldn’t know something like that.

Yet, why did he keep coming?

I sighed a million times inwardly as Paul stood before us.

“Hello, Mr. Rafa, and Miss Tatiana.”

Paul greeted us, smiling broadly.