The Dark Mage Of The Magus World-Chapter 124 - 125: Rejection

Hutson had barely warmed his seat before he was on the move again, this time heading for Bessie’s home.

It wasn’t far—just two stretches of forest away.

"House 16..."

He scanned the area and soon spotted a red wooden house, standing in quiet solitude.

Walking up to the door, he knocked lightly. Soft footsteps followed from inside, and then—the door swung open.

Bessie stood before him.

For a brief moment, Hutson’s gaze was involuntarily drawn in.

Bessie was wearing a thin camisole top, just barely covering the most dangerous curves of her body.

Her long, silken legs were wrapped in black garter stockings, revealing a teasing glimpse of bare, pale skin above them. The contrast made it impossible not to notice.

She had always been tall, but now, standing this close, with those endlessly long legs, the effect was... striking.

Hutson quickly snapped his attention back to her face.

"You’re injured? You look just fine to me." He immediately redirected the conversation, realizing his initial reaction had been less than composed.

Bessie offered a gentle smile. "It’s mostly healed. Come inside."

The interior of Bessie’s home was nearly identical to Hutson’s—a simple wooden lodge, its layout standardized like most homes in this region.

The living room featured a few comfortable sofas and a fireplace, where bright flames flickered and crackled. The warmth inside was pleasant, almost inviting.

Bessie poured a pot of coffee, leaning forward to fill his cup.

As she did, Hutson couldn’t help but notice—

The way she bent, the way certain assets were emphasized, creating an almost overwhelming view from his seated position.

He hadn’t expected such an impressive landscape.

Before his thoughts could wander further, he forced himself to look away.

The first glance is instinct. The second is rude.

Bessie, however, seemed completely unbothered—as if she hadn’t noticed his reaction at all.

She sat down beside him, close enough that her scent—a light, pleasant fragrance—drifted toward him.

It wasn’t overpowering, just subtle and soothing.

"I heard from Master Larry that you’ve advanced to third-tier apprentice sorcerer."

Bessie’s voice was soft, but there was a tinge of emotion beneath it.

She leaned in slightly, as if instinctively drawn toward him.

Hutson nodded. "You’re a third-tier apprentice too. You advanced long before I did."

The warmth pressing against his arm was impossible to ignore.

But then—her expression dimmed.

Her voice dropped to a whisper, filled with melancholy.

"Yes, but unlike you, I have no future."

Hutson’s eyes narrowed slightly. "What do you mean?"

Hutson might not know her well, but from what he could see, she was in perfect condition.

Bessie let out a bitter laugh, her fingers tightening around her cup.

"During the last war, my mental power suffered severe damage. It will never grow again. Without that... I can never become a full-fledged sorcerer."

Hutson’s gaze sharpened.

"Have you spoken to Larry about this?"

"I have. He checked, tried to help, but..."

She shook her head.

"It was no use."

If Larry couldn’t fix it, then the damage was likely irreversible.

A heavy silence settled between them.

For a sorcerer, advancement was everything.

A third-tier apprentice had slightly extended longevity, but a true sorcerer could live for centuries.

And she was stuck—forever at the threshold, never able to step beyond it.

It was a cruel fate.

The only sounds in the room were the occasional crackling of the fireplace and the quiet, steady rhythm of their breathing.

Then—Bessie moved.

She pressed herself against him, arms wrapping around him tight.

"Hutson, let’s live together."

Bessie didn’t hesitate.

"I need a pillar of support."

Her words were honest, direct, without any illusion of romance.

Hutson frowned. "Even if I become a full sorcerer, I have no background. I can’t protect you from anything."

Bessie shook her head.

"You don’t understand. In the world of sorcerers, beauty means nothing. No powerful sorcerer will take me in—not for anything lasting."

Her voice was flat, but her meaning was clear.

"Even if one did, I’d just be a toy—something to be enjoyed and discarded when the novelty wears off."

She gave a humorless smile.

"I won’t let that happen."

Hutson finally understood.

She wasn’t looking for love.

She was placing a bet.

On him.

"You have talent, potential. You are destined to go far." 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

"If we’re together, I’ll do everything in my power to help you rise."

Her voice lowered further.

"My talent score is 82. Yours is high as well. If we have children, they’ll inherit strong potential—we could establish a pure-blooded sorcerer family of our own."

Bessie was smart.

She had calculated everything.

She knew she couldn’t rely on luck or chance.

And she had chosen Hutson as the most viable option for her future.

She wasn’t wrong.

But she had no idea just how much power he truly held.

Hutson stayed silent, his mind racing.

If he accepted... it could be beneficial.

But it could also entangle him in ways he couldn’t predict.

And Ai chip...

That was a secret he could never risk exposing.

His decision was already made.

He would leave Moonlight Grove.

And he would walk this path alone.

Bessie’s offer was tempting in its own way—but it was one he could not accept.

"I don’t belong to anyone."

"And I never will."

A sorcerer with talent and potential, guided by a renowned potion master, yet free of any political entanglements—

Hutson was the perfect candidate.

Bessie had clearly thought long and hard about this decision. She wasn’t acting impulsively.

She had calculated everything, analyzed her options, and chosen him.

But Hutson had no interest in building a ’pure-blooded sorcerer family.’

To him, having exceptional descendants meant nothing compared to his own strength.

It didn’t matter how many talented children he might have—his own power was the only thing that truly mattered.

If he was strong enough, he would never need to rely on anyone else.

He shook his head.

"I’m sorry."

Bessie’s beautiful eyes shimmered, a delicate mist forming as she whispered:

"Why...?"

Her voice trembled, as if she had braced herself for many answers—but not this one.

Hutson couldn’t tell her the truth.

He couldn’t say, "I don’t plan to stay in Moonlight Grove."

So instead, he answered calmly, firmly:

"Right now, all my focus is on advancing to a full-fledged sorcerer. The things you’re talking about... I’ll consider them in the future."

That was all he could offer.

Once he truly became a full sorcerer, he would tell her the truth.

Of course...

He could have simply gone along with it.

He could have enjoyed her warmth, let her believe in a future together, and when the time came, revealed his decision to leave.

Many would have taken that path—to indulge now and worry about consequences later.

But Hutson was not that kind of man.

Bessie might not be his closest friend, but she was still a familiar face in a world where allies were rare.

In the ruthless world of sorcerers, friends were a luxury, and even acquaintances were valuable.

Bessie had already lost so much—her future, her strength, her ability to advance.

He would not be the one to push her down even further.

He might not be able to help her, but he would not betray her trust either.

And so, he made his choice.

A path of honor, even when it would have been easier to walk another.