The Oath

“Hah, what a bunch of fools~” Cooper mocked, laughing at the ice wall behind them.

“Enough already, let’s hurry up and run,” Assassin said, holding his forehead as he looked helplessly at the grinning man.

A Grand Mage… a symbol of wisdom and rationality.

And yet, among them appeared a madman.

It completely clashed with the title.

“Haha! You just don’t get it! Magic—is art! I’ll tear those muggles to pieces!” Cooper laughed wildly like a lunatic—though it wasn’t really his true intention.

“Damn it, I should’ve brought sleeping drugs. I’d give you a dose just to shut you up,” Assassin muttered darkly.

In truth, Assassin did carry throwing knives laced with anesthetic.

But he knew Cooper was joking, so he played along.

“What are you two doing?! Hurry up!” Karlena shouted, reminding the two lunatics—they were already far behind.

Alex saw them still bantering and bragging and simply gave up on them.

Without waiting, he grabbed Luesu and left.

He didn’t want the few sane people in the group to be corrupted by them.

Karlena turned, saw Alex’s back, and immediately understood—she followed silently.

Bruno and Paladin also caught on and slipped away quietly.

Meanwhile, Assassin and Cooper were still arguing loudly.

Finally, Karlena couldn’t take it anymore and shouted—

“You don’t understand! Magic is art!” Cooper continued, completely ignoring everything.

“To hell with you!” Assassin snapped.

He pulled out a small, strange spherical object from his belt and tossed it at Cooper’s feet.

“Pop!”

A cloud of purple smoke engulfed Cooper.

His endless chatter stopped instantly.

Only a dull thud remained…

“Haha… you finally… couldn’t hold…” Cooper mumbled before falling asleep.

Assassin quickly put on his mask, grabbed Cooper, and dragged him like a hunted deer toward the group.

He knew—

Cooper had been testing his patience all along.

But this time… he couldn’t endure it.

That man was toxic.

What kind of person jokes while escaping?!

Normal people would be running for their lives!

It was like someone being chased by a bear, turning around mid-run to ask—

“Hey Mr. Bear, how old are you? What’s your mom’s name? Do you have a wife?”

The image was ridiculous.

Assassin couldn’t help but laugh every time he imagined it.

People like Cooper deserved to be eaten by a bear…

Though… could a bear even handle him?

The title of Grand Mage was personally granted by the emperor of the Austan Empire to mages who made great contributions.

Across the continent, there were fewer than a hundred.

From childhood, people grew up hearing stories—heroes, demon kings, sword saints…

And Grand Mages were always part of those tales.

They were seen as noble, righteous figures, wrapped in sacred glory.

But in truth…

They were still human.

They laughed, aged, erred.

Cooper was proof of that.

Not perfect—just human.

And Alex preferred that.

If they were too perfect…

They wouldn’t be human anymore.

Luesu wiped the board clean and began writing again.

—Tell the guards downstairs: “Someone upstairs is injured. Go rescue them. We’ll go outside for reinforcements.” Let Cooper act as the injured one. We walk out openly.

She handed the board to Alex.

He nodded.

They would do exactly that.

This was their unspoken understanding.

Luesu wasn’t quiet by nature.

She wasn’t shy.

She was mute.

That was why she wrote.

Perhaps because of her disability, she became sharper—

The strategist of the group.

Even Alex admitted she surpassed him.

She was the youngest…

And the least outspoken.

In the lively atmosphere of the team, she was almost invisible.

Only Alex always paid attention to her.

He treated her gently—like a caring older brother.

And that small warmth…

Was enough for Luesu to open her heart completely.

She entrusted her future to him.

Where he went, she followed.

Her past was cruel.

Her parents abandoned her on a snowy night, leaving her at a church door.

She was mute—a “defect” in their eyes.

The next morning, an old priest found her and brought her to an orphanage.

He named her “Luesu”—

“Lue” meaning omission, and “Su” from his own name.

In the orphanage, she was treated as an outcast.

Even when bullied, she never spoke—because she couldn’t.

Until one day, she was harassed on the street…

And Alex happened to pass by.

Using clumsy sign language, he communicated with her.

From that moment on—

She clung to him.

He was seventeen.

She was nine.

Seeing her thirst for knowledge, he brought her to his family’s library.

Under guidance, she learned to read and write.

Her passion ignited.

Her progress in magic became astonishing.

In less than three years, she reached the level of a Magister.

Even Alex couldn’t match that.

She became his strategist.

“What are you thinking?” she wrote on the board, handing it to him.

Her eyes curved like a kitten’s—soft and curious.

“Nothing,” Alex smiled.

“Really?”

“Really.”

“Welcome!”

A black-robed priest bowed respectfully.

Alex and his group were disguised as red-robed clergy.

Naturally, they were treated with respect.

“One of us is injured,” Alex said calmly.

He pointed at Cooper on Assassin’s shoulder.

“Someone upstairs is trapped. We need reinforcements. We’re going out to call for help.”

“No problem, sir! Please proceed—we’ll head up immediately!”

“All units, move!”

“May the Goddess bless you.”

“Goddess bless!”

And just like that…

They walked out openly.

The priest felt a bit confused—

Why not treat the injured here?

But he didn’t dare question a superior.

Instead, he felt warm inside.

Such a polite priest…

Little did he know—

He had just let the criminals escape.

When the truth came out later…

He would likely be interrogated as a traitor.

But for now—

He remained completely unaware.

“HAHAHA! That was thrilling!” Paladin laughed excitedly.

All seven of them had kept their faces hidden.

The mission failed—

But at least they escaped.

“Everyone made it out…” Assassin said softly, glancing at the unconscious Cooper.

Alex removed his hood and looked at his team.

“Thank you… everyone.”

Even though they cheered him up…

The frustration remained.

“Lian… I will bring you back.”

His voice was quiet.

The group fell silent.