The Mage’s Scheme and Jing’s Departure

Jing changed into a blue dress Grandma Ila had personally made for her. She then finished a delightful breakfast with Grandpa Joseph and Grandma Ila, enveloped in a happy atmosphere. Faustian Pact, the author of this novel, has made a new character, Grandma Ila, a female character, so her gender has been updated in the glossary.

After bidding Grandma Ila farewell, Jing set off. She carried two steaming bowls of Uli Rib Porridge, intending to visit Mr. Hake and Mr. Bo Aibiyi.

“Umi,” Jing suddenly said to Umi as they walked. “Mr. Bo Aibiyi claims to be a mage. He sounds incredibly powerful, doesn’t he?”

“While it certainly sounds impressive, that mage must be incredibly fragile,” Umi replied nonchalantly. “Otherwise, he wouldn’t have been… been… scratched by a big bear!”

‘Just like the giant wild boar we encountered last time, the creatures in this world are vastly different from those in our original world,’ Jing mused, recalling the Uli Rib Porridge she’d just eaten. She placed a finger on her lips, her expression a mix of doubt and uncertainty as she spoke.

“What difference does it make?” Umi said in her usual light tone. “To Jing, they’re all incredibly weak, aren’t they? They can’t even compare to Mama’s training.”

“Hehe, Umi is right. Mama’s training is indeed more terrifying a… bit…” Jing giggled, agreeing with Umi. However, the sudden thought of her parents, who were no longer with them, caused her expression to dim considerably.

Umi, too, fell silent, speaking no more. They arrived at Mr. Hake’s door in quietude.

“Mr. Hake, it’s Jing. I’ve brought you breakfast,” Jing announced, having composed herself. She then gently knocked on the door.

After a brief wait, the door creaked open. Mr. Hake appeared as if he had just woken from bed, rubbing one eye while covering his yawning mouth with the other hand.

“Ha~ haha~ My apologies, Jing. It’s just that I was… you know, too sleepy,” Mr. Hake said sheepishly, ushering Jing inside. “I dozed off again for a bit, hahaha.”

“No, no, it’s me who’s troubling you, Mr. Hake,” Jing quickly countered, waving her hands. “I’m truly sorry for disturbing you so early… Ah, this is Uli Rib Porridge made by Grandma Ila. Please, Mr. Hake, eat it while it’s still hot.” She then handed the porridge to him.

“Oh my goodness, the aroma! This smells absolutely divine. I’ll just have a couple of mouthfuls first… huff huff…” Mr. Hake opened the lid of the insulated container Grandma Ila had prepared. He inhaled the scent with a look of pure rapture, then immediately ladled out a bowl of porridge and began slurping it down without minding the heat. He then pointed to Bo Aibiyi, who was seated at the table, adding, “By the way, that lad is recovering well. He’s just spaced out over there. I’ll leave you two to it.”

Following Mr. Hake’s words, Jing took out the remaining bowl of porridge and approached Bo Aibiyi. Bo Aibiyi, having noticed Jing’s entrance, was now staring intently at her, his face adorned with a gentle, kind expression.

It had to be said, Bo Aibiyi’s appearance was quite handsome. His high-bridged nose and thin lips gave him a distinctly refined, gentlemanly air. Though he was currently a bit disheveled, it did not diminish the unique temperament of a mage that Bo Aibiyi possessed. For Jing, her exposure to men since childhood had been limited, primarily to her father’s former students. Despite her simple and kind nature, her talent and status meant those students only dared to regard her as an untouchable goddess. Even in Jing’s former world, a place free of war and conflict, men found it difficult to accept a woman who could defeat them in a single second, whose movements they couldn’t even discern, as a romantic partner. Aside from the villagers she had met since arriving at Balyaas Village, Jing had never truly interacted with men on an equal, private footing.

“Thank you,” Bo Aibiyi said softly to Jing, taking the bowl she offered. He gave her what he believed to be a very gentlemanly smile, adding, “If you hadn’t saved me, I fear I would have already bled to death.”

“No… no worries at all,” Jing stammered. “I think anyone would help someone so gravely injured! Ah… Mr. Bo Aibiyi, please eat first. Recovering your strength is most important!” Seeing Mr. Bo Aibiyi staring so intently at her, and with such a handsome smile, Jing found herself flustered, unsure what was happening. She dared not meet his gaze, feeling a strange unease. Mr. Bo Aibiyi’s eyes, she thought, seemed a little frightening.

“Heh heh, Miss Jing, do you believe in fate?” Bo Aibiyi asked, his gaze even more fervent as he held the porridge, unsipped. He spoke in what he imagined was his most captivating voice, “I believe this is destiny’s arrangement. You, who rescued me from that dreadful forest, are to me like a benevolent Goddess of Life. You not only saved my life but also illuminated everything within my heart.”

“Mr… Mr. Bo Aibiyi, you should really drink your porridge quickly…” Jing’s mind became even more muddled upon hearing his words. “It won’t be good once it’s cold… And as for fate and such, I… I don’t quite understand…” she replied incoherently.

Observing Jing’s reddened ears, Bo Aibiyi inwardly gloated. He had initially assumed she was merely a naive young woman, but he now realized he was mistaken. Unless her acting was flawlessly convincing, the girl before him was an incredibly, utterly, thunderously naive maiden, with the words “I am easily fooled” practically emblazoned across her face! If he could capture her through romance, wouldn’t he gain both beauty and wealth? At this thought, Bo Aibiyi exerted immense willpower to control his facial muscles, preventing a lecherous smile from appearing.

“Hey, if you’re trying to woo a girl, at least pick your moment,” Mr. Hake suddenly interjected from the side, his tone implying, ‘Oh, you’re quite something, aren’t you?’ “Uncle’s still here, you know. Those words just now almost made my face blush.”

“Are you going to drink that porridge or not? If you don’t, I’ll drink it for you,” Uncle Hake continued before Bo Aibiyi could speak. “What are you always staring at? Didn’t I tell you it’s impolite to keep staring at a young lady? Now, why are you looking at me? Drink your porridge!” He pointed to the bowl in Bo Aibiyi’s hand as Bo Aibiyi awkwardly turned to face him.

“Pfft~ Well then, Mr. Hake, I’ll have to trouble you to look after Mr. Bo Aibiyi for two more days.” Jing couldn’t help but let out a giggle at Mr. Hake’s words. She glanced at Mr. Bo Aibiyi, who was now quietly eating his porridge, then, feeling her neck still burning, quickly turned to wave goodbye to Mr. Hake. She then swiftly ran out of the house, waving behind her as she went.

“Hahaha~ Alright! My taste buds are in for a treat these next few days~” Mr. Hake laughed heartily. He shouted towards the retreating Jing,

“I’ll eagerly await all the delicious food you bring!”

****

Time flew by swiftly. In the blink of an eye, a week had passed.

Whether it was his mindset aiding his recovery, or simply Bo Aibiyi’s excellent healing abilities, he could now walk with the aid of a crutch. In truth, he could have recovered much faster with the help of a priest skilled in high-level healing magic. However, Bo Aibiyi deliberately concealed this, using the excuse that self-recovery would prevent sequelae. He forcibly extended his stay in Balyaas Village for several more days, intending to use this time to interact more with Jing, hoping to capture her heart and achieve his lecherous aims.

However, Bo Aibiyi realized he likely didn’t have enough time. While he could clearly sense that the beautiful young woman named Jing held a strong fondness for him, it was merely at the level of ‘fondness’. It would probably take a long time for her to truly fall in love with him. Through their interactions, Bo Aibiyi had learned that Jing’s parents had both passed away, leaving her without relatives, and she had been adopted by an elderly couple in Balyaas Village. In other words, she had no influential background. Furthermore, ten days had already passed since he received General Baro’s orders and set out. If he delayed any longer, even if he informed General Baro about the sacred artifact in Balyaas Village, the enraged general would likely kill him without giving him a chance to explain. Therefore, Bo Aibiyi decided to abandon his attempt to win the girl’s heart and instead pursue other means to achieve his objective.

“Tsk, tsk... what a pity,” Bo Aibiyi muttered to himself, leaning on his crutch. He watched Jing, who was quietly sitting by the lake, fishing. “It’s rare to see such a beautiful girl in a small village like this. However… if she were to yield, making her my concubine wouldn’t be out of the question.”

His gaze shifted to Jing’s two long swords, observing their awe-inspiring golden radiance. Bo Aibiyi had told himself countless times not to act impulsively, to wait for the most opportune moment. But… they were truly too beautiful, too magnificent… Bo Aibiyi felt immensely fortunate for his luck. While the maiden herself was beautiful, her looks paled in comparison to those two long swords radiating golden light. He knew that those who dwelled in the shadows would scheme and backstab for even an ordinary War artifact. Yet, this foolish girl held such a treasure in her hands, completely unaware of the need to conceal it. It was regrettable, but there was no helping it; this was reality, and perhaps a gift from the heavens specifically for his fortunate self.

‘So beautiful… no matter when I look, they are truly stunning…’ Bo Aibiyi couldn’t help but wear an infatuated expression.

“Mr. Bo Aibiyi… Is there… something on my face?” Jing, who had been fishing by the lake, turned her head. She saw the gentle, wise mage staring at her with a peculiar expression, and asked, her face flushing, “Why are you looking at me like that?”

“No… Jing… I am merely… merely leaving,” Bo Aibiyi quickly roused himself, speaking in a somewhat sorrowful tone upon hearing her soft voice. “I have a mission I must return to report on, and my injuries have mostly healed now. It wouldn’t be right to continue imposing on your lives here.”

“Is… is that so… I suppose… Mr. Bo Aibiyi has his own life too, doesn’t he?” Jing hastily stood up from the lakeside. Though a pang of reluctance stirred within her as she looked at him, Jing still offered a gentle smile, her deep dimples reappearing on her lovely cheeks.

“I will never forget the kindness you and Mr. Hake showed in saving my life,” Bo Aibiyi said, smiling gently as he looked at Jing’s small face. “And do you remember what I said before? I still believe we are full of destiny together. I think we will certainly meet again soon.” Then, seizing an opportune moment when Jing wasn’t paying attention, he took her hand.

“Mr… Mr. Bo Aibiyi?” Jing exclaimed, realizing her hand had been taken. She quickly pulled it back, then turned away, her face burning red, clasping her hands to her chest in extreme shyness.

“Mr. Bo Aibiyi… are you saying we’ll meet again?” Despite the hurried touch of her hand, Jing didn’t intend to fault him. Though the impending farewell saddened her, hearing him speak of a possible reunion filled her with anticipation as she asked.

“Of course, we will certainly meet again,” he replied. “And I believe it will be in the not-too-distant future, my dear~ Hahaha, I apologize, forgive my slip of the tongue. Well then, I bid you farewell.”

“Mr. Bo Aibiyi?” The word ‘dear’ from Mr. Bo Aibiyi, though its reason for use was unclear to Jing, still made her blush and her heart quicken. Upon hearing his farewell, Jing hastily turned around, only to find that Mr. Bo Aibiyi, who should have been behind her, had vanished.

After uttering those words, Bo Aibiyi had used a teleportation spell. He had already transported himself to the forest just outside Balyaas Village.

‘We will meet again, Jing. We will meet again very soon,’ he thought. ‘However, at that time, I fear you will be disappointed, my dear… That dazzling golden light… so beautiful… so beautiful…’ As he fantasized about the two long swords at Jing’s side, Bo Aibiyi bit down hard on his lower lip with his upper teeth. His entire facial musculature trembled unnaturally, as if he were desperately suppressing something, his face contorting into a horrifying, twisted grimace.