Reincarnated as a Genius Mage-Chapter 46: To Not Die

Marcelle! Marcelle is that you?!

’Edward! Edward!’

Marcelle! Where are you?!

’Eddie..!’

Marcelle!

’Ed..!’

My body quivers aggressively, and I keep hearing her call out to me, but I don’t know where she is..

Where..

Where are you?

’Ed!’

"Ed!"

My eyes immediately snap open, as I jolt awake...

Jennette’s worried facial expression is the first thing in my field of vision.

She’s shaking— and sweat is swimming across her forehead.

Her tender hands are wrapped around me.

"Je..nnette?" I call out to her. My voice barely above a whisper.

"Yes! Ed... blank! It’s me.. it’s me, Jennette! You’re finally.." she lets out a deep breath, "you’re finally awake."

I shut my eyes again, my teeth gnashing. "I lost."

"Eh? What do you mean you lost? You’re an E rank mercenary now!"

My eyes flutter open again, and I blink. I want to jump— I want to hug her, but.. there’s no strength in my body anymore.

I just give her a warm, small smile as I nod my head.

And a single tear rolls down my left eye.

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"Wa..ter" I let out.

"Ah! Yes! Let me raise you up so we can go." She says as she hurriedly raises me up, resting my hand over her shoulder.

And I limp as we slowly walk out of the coliseum.

***

We’ve arrived at the lobby.

It’s scanty now. I guess all the mercs have left for their ’hunting day’ shenanigans.

But few mercenaries remain.. a little above a hundred of them.

I droop my head low, and continue limping— Jennette still walks with me— heading to the receptionist’s counter.

But I can hear the words of the people present. And, coupled with their gazes— it’s overwhelming.

"That guy.. he fought with Spade.. and he got an E rank!"

"Huh? E rank? Spade? Are you sure?"

"Hell, I’m sure! I was passing by when I saw their battle.. the boy. He did what none of us could do. He lasted ten minutes in a fight with Spade. He almost made Spade fight seriously too!"

"Whoa! That guy’s a legend!"

"I tell you! He is!.. but what’s his name again?"

"The masked man.. the one who dueled Gislow’s monster, Spade, without losing an arm.. I think his name was something along the lines of..."

"Blank."

Their whispers are loud. But I pay them no mind, I don’t even glance at them..

We finally reach Mira’s counter.

Mira— her eyes are relaxed, looking at me with a bitter yet warm smile on her lips.

"My.. my license." I choke out. My voice barely above a whisper.

Mira turns her gaze from my pitiful state, and glances at Jennette for a second. Then she nods, and hands me a bronze card, and a bag.. no, a small pouch.

"Your sub-space pouch. And your guild-issued E rank License. Welcome to the Gislow Mercenary guild, mercenary Blank. You are now one of our own.. would you like to—"

"Thank you." I reply curtly, giving her a quick nod as I nudge Jennette to leave.

I’m thirsty.

I glance at the bronze card again on my hand. It has my name on it, my rank, and a serial number.

"Mercenary Blank huh." A smile stretches on my lips.

We walk out of the building, the warm and golden evening sun rays trickle into my eyes.

The thick and lively city noise rings in my ear, and the first voices I hear is: "Hunting day bows here! Buy them here! Low price!"

I pay no attention to them, but.. I can’t help but notice how the scent changed. The streets smell like freshly baked bread, but inside that guild building? Ugh.

As we walk on the road, reaching a row of small kiosks— Jennette stops to buy a small, wooden bottle of water for me to drink.

I finish the bottle of water, and I say: "we blew our ’hide our identity’ stuff. The smart ones would be able to know that Ed is Blank now." a chuckle leaves my mouth.

I turn to look at her face. She’s smiling brightly. Her eyes staring at the distance, and I turn to look at where she’s staring at.

It’s nothing.. just a normal street filled with people walking.. children, adults, carriages, wagons, carts. There’s nothing particularly distinct.

Then I turn back to look at her smiling face.

And slowly, her bright smile fades into a bitter one. And she says; "you’re on your own now Blank."

Huh?

Her words leave me disoriented. What does she mean alone?

"Alone?" I ask, my voice forcing its way through a tightly knitted throat. My tone is shaky, and my eyes flash with a feeling that I can’t discern.

My head’s tilted, and I keep looking at her in confusion.

She refuse to look at my face. Her head is straight, and her bitter smile’s still wide.

"Why are you scared?" Her tone drops to that of a playful tease. "I meant.. I retired from being a mercenary. I— I can’t live that life anymore Ed. So you’ll be alone there. On your own.. I’m sorry."

I shake my head. My tense heart calms down a bit.

"It’s fine. It’s not like I want you to babysit me for the rest of my life. And when I was runnin, I didn’t even have in mind that you’ll be with me." I tell her, my voice mixes with a soft chuckle. "Don’t be sorry Jennette. It’s the path I chose. You didn’t choose it. I’ll deal with the consequences of my choice." As I say this, she turns to look at me. And our eyes lock.

It’s silent for a second.

Our eyes are doing the talking. And I feel what she feels.. she’s scared. Scared that I won’t be able to survive the life of a mercenary. Scared that I might end up dead one day without her knowing.

"Jennette.."

"Yes, Young M— No. Yes Ed?" She tries to turn her face away again.

"Look into my eyes Jennette."

She freezes for a moment, then she looks into my eyes again.

And I flash the brightest smile on my face. "I, Charles Liam Flameworth assure you that... I’d never die."

The tears she’s been holding finally drops, and she nods. "Congratulations on becoming a mercenary."

That’s more like Jennette.

"Thank you Jennette. Truly."

And we walk home.

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