Marvel's master of cosmic magic-Chapter 830

"So the captain picked up another stray," the pink-haired woman drawled, turning her head lazily. "The entrance exam’s still a week away, isn’t it?"

Everyone except the photo-obsessed man glanced toward Rowan with mild curiosity.

No one seemed surprised.

Most of them hadn’t joined through the official selection either. Yami recruited based on instinct, not rank or reputation.

"Come here, kid," the pink-haired woman beckoned from the couch, her voice husky. "Sit with me and have a drink."

Rowan crossed the room and took the seat opposite her.

Before he could answer her question, she opened her mouth and promptly vomited a rainbow cascade across the floor.

He stared at it for a second.

"How much did she drink?"

With a quiet sigh, he opened his grimoire.

"Scourgify."

The mess vanished.

"Restoration."

A soft glow settled over her. The haze left her eyes almost instantly, her posture straightening as the alcohol’s effects were erased.

During his journey to the capital, Rowan had spent long hours refining his grimoire. Nothing extravagant. Nothing dramatic. Just a careful expansion of practical spells—utility magic that wouldn’t attract unwanted attention.

He avoided creating anything too extraordinary. This world’s underlying authority was watching, even if distantly. There was no need to draw scrutiny.

With minimal magic, properly shaped, he could accomplish far more than most mages with triple the reserves.

Combat, for now, was unnecessary.

The pink-haired woman blinked, suddenly sober.

"Well," she said, impressed. "You’re useful."

"I specialize in... support magic," Rowan replied calmly.

Support meant fewer front-line battles. Fewer displays of force. Fewer risks.

"I like you already," she laughed, looping an arm around his neck without hesitation. "Name’s Vanessa Enoteca. Just joined not long ago. If you’re confused about anything, ask me. If you’re bored..." She leaned closer. "I can help with that too."

"Thank you," Rowan said evenly.

He had lived too many lifetimes to be unsettled by flirting.

Vanessa studied him for a moment, then smirked and shifted to introductions.

"That one’s Charmy Pappitson. Don’t let the size fool you."

Charmy, barely taller than the table, pushed a plate stacked with pastries toward Rowan.

"Try this! It’s amazing!"

He accepted it politely.

"That gloomy one’s Gordon Agrippa," Vanessa continued. "He’s actually nice. Just... quiet."

Gordon stood and bowed slightly.

"Pleasure to meet you," he murmured.

"And the big one’s Grey."

Rowan’s gaze lingered.

The bulky figure was a disguise. Beneath the transformation spell was a slender girl, nervous and reserved. The magic was decent—but not enough to fool him.

"And that creep over there," Vanessa added, jerking her thumb toward the red-haired man clutching a photograph, "is Gauche Adlai."

Gauche held up the image of a young girl in a pink dress.

"My sister, Marie, is an angel," he declared intensely. "You are forbidden from even thinking about her."

Rowan blinked.

Understood.

This squad had... character.

Yami gambled away his clothes. Vanessa drank herself unconscious. Charmy devoured enough food for five people. Gordon looked perpetually haunted. Gauche worshipped his sister.

Strangely, the chaos felt familiar.

It reminded him of another guild in another world—loud, dysfunctional, yet bound by something unspoken.

"Finral, Magna, and Luck are out on a mission," Vanessa said. "They’ll be back soon."

As if summoned by her words, a spatial portal opened in the center of the hall. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

Three figures stepped through.

The first was a blond man adjusting his gloves. The second had sharp features and a confident posture. The third—

Rowan’s eyes narrowed slightly.

The red-haired youth with the shaved sides and bandana.

Magna Swing.

Memories stirred from this body’s past.

Magna had once been a delinquent from the neighboring village of Raya. Loud, reckless, but talented. He’d left home to take the Magic Knight exam—and succeeded.

That had inspired the original owner of this body to attempt the same journey.

He had just been unlucky enough to meet a wild boar first.

Magna blinked at Rowan.

"...Do I know you?"

Rowan offered a polite smile.

"Not yet."

...

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