The Male Leads Were Stolen By The Extra [EN]: Chapter 28

“Wow, there are so many strange things here.”

Ella must have felt it too, because she was moving much more cautiously than before.

The shop was unique.

The light bulbs seemed old, flickering every few seconds, creating an eerie atmosphere.

“What is this? It feels like jelly.”

Ella poked a thick, pink, oval-shaped jelly on the shelf with her finger.

“I don’t know. I’ve never seen it before.”

Celonia also carefully examined the object Ella was touching.

This place was full of things that couldn’t be found in any of the shops they had passed so far.

“That is a goblin’s tongue, dried and made into a decoration.”

Just then, a low, hoarse voice came from behind them, startling Ella and Celonia.

“G-Goblin…? Miss, I just touched a goblin’s tongue…”

Ella quickly pulled her hand away from the goblin’s tongue, looking tearful.

Celonia felt a wave of nausea.

She had cut down countless goblins while passing through the Demon Forest.

She knew what they looked like and how bad they smelled.

‘But why make their tongues into decorations…? Are you crazy?’ she thought.

“Hahaha. There are quite a few people who collect very rare items. Sometimes, there are even people who catch and imprison demons for display,” the shop owner chuckled, explaining as if he had read her thoughts just by looking at Celonia’s trembling shoulders.

“Catch and display demons?”

‘What kind of morbid hobby is that?’

As someone who had experienced demons firsthand, she couldn’t understand it at all.

“It’s to show off their power and wealth. Welcome, Princess Bessian.”

“…”

Celonia stared at the shop owner who greeted her.

His white hair spoke of the many years he had lived.

Within the curves of the shop owner’s wrinkled eyes, blue eyes, like hers, were shining.

Was it the power of the years he had lived?

His eyes, like those of a sage, were as deep and brilliant as the sea, and full of bright light.

Deep nasolabial folds were etched beside his thick nose, and a long, white beard, like his hair, grew on his chin.

With a hunched back and an old cane in his hand, he was no ordinary person.

“Everyone in the Empire knows the four saviors. My name is Wicklander.”

“Hello, Wicklander. I was hoping you might have something I’m looking for.”

“What is it?”

“A palm-sized piece of parchment with a magic circle drawn on it.”

She had asked the same thing more than a dozen times, but this time it felt different.

It felt like the thing she was looking for might actually be here.

“Hmm… It’s hard to find based only on the description of a magic circle. There are so many magical items with magic circles drawn on them.”

“Even items drawn on parchment-like paper?”

“Yes, because the use varies depending on what kind of magic circle is drawn.”

That was news to her. The use differs depending on the magic circle.

Celonia didn’t know much about magic, because she didn’t have Celonia’s original memories.

Besides, she had only seen it briefly, so she couldn’t remember exactly what the magic circle looked like. Even if the item was there, she wouldn’t be able to recognize it.

Still, having it was better than not having it. That way, she could investigate it somehow.

“Besides, it’s not commonly used these days. Drawing magic circles on parchment is a very old-fashioned magic.”

Celonia nodded, as she had heard that story before, and got to the point.

“Do you happen to have the item I mentioned here?”

“Probably not, Princess. Did you happen to see someone using it?”

“Yes. I saw them holding it.”

Celonia readily agreed to Wicklander’s pointed question.

It was an easy question to infer, just by looking at her searching for something she didn’t even know well.

“Hmm. Then that person might have been trying to hide something.”

“Hide? What do you mean?”

“What do you think is the reason for using an old-fashioned method that is not used these days?”

“Well, I don’t know much about magic.”

“These days, magic circles are drawn in advance on portable artifacts and taken out for use whenever needed. Once drawn for the first time, it is saved, so you can continue to use complex magic circles without drawing them again. The world has become very convenient.”

At Wicklander’s words, Celonia recalled the items she had seen in the magic shops she had passed.

She had heard an explanation that magic circles could be saved and used in an object that looked like a pocket watch, a little smaller than a fist, and that must have been the artifact he was talking about.

“But instead of being convenient, it leaves traces. In other words, traces remain. If you want to investigate, you can find out what magic circle that person used.”

“Ah…”

Celonia understood the owner’s words at once.

Using an artifact from the Magic Tower is convenient, but it leaves traces.

But what if you draw a magic circle directly on parchment?

The paper can be burned and destroyed, so anonymity is guaranteed.

So, the reason Gillian used parchment was to hide the fact that he was using magic.

‘Why?’

What was the use of that magic circle?

Celonia’s mind became complicated, but one thought became clear and distinct.

That she could no longer completely trust Gillian. Until she found out his true intentions, she had to doubt him again and again.

“The reason why a person’s name is written under the magic circle is because there are multiple uses, right?”

“Hahaha. That’s right. There may not be the item you want in the store, Princess, but there will be books left.”

“Books?”

“An instruction manual on what magic circles to draw and how to use them. I will find it for you if you wish. As you can see, it has been a long time since I organized the store, so it is difficult to find it right now.”

“Yes, please.”

Celonia smiled brightly for the first time since entering the Magic District.

Even if she didn’t know for sure, the book would definitely be helpful.

“Then I’ll come back in a few days. Thank you.”

“Princess.”

Celonia, who was about to leave the store with Ella with a lighter heart, turned around at Wicklander’s call.

“Do you often get sick?”

“My body? No. I’m fine, why do you ask?”

Celonia tilted her head at the sudden question.

Wicklander was still looking at her with a smiling face.

Was it because the eyes she met were so clear?

Celonia felt less uneasy and more like she was being seen through.

“Is that so? Then that’s a relief. Always take care of your body.”

It was a word she couldn’t fully understand, but Celonia thanked him for the farewell-like greeting and left the store.

“What is that person’s identity? I don’t think he’s an ordinary shop owner.”

Celonia nodded in agreement with Ella’s words.

Could his identity be a retired wizard or something?

“Are we going to the boutique district now?”

“Yes. We have to.”

Celonia, free from curiosity, headed south with Ella.

* * *

A shantytown with an unpleasant smell.

Torn tents and shacks made of shabby planks filled the weedy vacant lot.

It was a remote location that no one would visit unless they lived there, but Tan entered as if he was used to it.

As always, holding a bag of food he had received from the cafe.

As soon as he entered, the people who were sitting around the fire made of garbage stood up.

Among them, two children in ragged clothes were pushed towards Tan.

The adults were still frozen in place, intimidated, and only watched.

“E, Emily. I’ll take it.”

The girl hid the little girl who accompanied her behind her and cautiously approached Tan.

Tan didn’t pay much attention and indifferently handed the bag he was holding to the girl.

“Th, thank you… Hiccup!”

The girl, who couldn’t even make eye contact, received the bag in a tiny voice. She couldn’t even say it properly and hiccupped.

“Go.”

It wasn’t a day or two that people were afraid of him, so Tan waved his hand at the children to leave.

Then the two children ran away from him as if they had been waiting for it.

He felt like the number of people gathering was decreasing day by day, but he didn’t care much.

His business was over, so he turned around without regret and moved to leave the shantytown.

‘I wonder if she’s back at the mansion by now?’

He thought about that and recalled the conversation he had with her this morning.

“Hey, that’s not it…”

“Tan.”

“Yes? Oh, right. Yes, Tan. It’s not that I’m trying to break the promise, but I have something to do and I have to go out.”

She was trying to explain why she couldn’t have lunch with him, but she called him ‘Hey’ again, so he corrected her.

After that, she called him Tan every time.

He had to hold back the corners of his mouth that were so pleased to rise.

“Tan.”

Tan tested his name as Celonia had called it.

As if it had been his from the beginning, the name wrapped softly and familiarly around his mouth.

“Hyung!” [Korean term for older brother or close male friend]

Just then, the corners of his mouth, which were rising on their own, turned downwards at the voice from behind.