Please Leave The Sickly Villainess Alone

The Magic Tower resembled a miniature city in its own right.

While boasting the most cutting-edge scientific advancements, the floating magic circles seamlessly interwoven throughout left no doubt that this was a city of mages.

Jen had once again tucked his brilliant aquamarine tresses beneath his cloak.

“You should wear the cloak too, Miss. If they catch me fooling around with you, I’ll be scolded by the Tower Master.”

“Ah, yes, of course.”

Donning pristine white cloaks, we ventured out into the streets.

“Hey, over there.”

Suddenly, an arm shot out, obstructing my path with a sweeping motion.

A flyer clutched in that hand.

“Why don’t you join us and embark on a grand adventure?”

Accepting the flyer dubiously, I read its contents.

[Newly Established Magitek Development Club!

Members Urgently Needed / Open to All Mages]

Promoting a club?!

“With the communication crystals our Tower Master has developed, earning tremendous profits through overseas exports, we too can achieve success!”

A chorus of ‘We can do it!’ echoed from the dozen or so mages seemingly allied with the young man before me.

“What’s your name? I’m acquainted with every mage in the Magic Tower, so if you tell me, I can instantly pinpoint which floor you hail from!”

“I’m, uh…”

This outgoing mage, brimming with charisma, certainly seemed popular enough within the Magic Tower to know everyone.

Yet I could hardly divulge my real name, leaving me flustered, until Jen interjected on my behalf.

“This is Larisha, and I’m Jen.”

“Oho, Larisha and Jen! Mages from the 79th floor, are you not? The more potent the mage, the better – simply fill out this membership form to join… Huh?”

“What’s this, they vanished!”

“President! They must have warped away, quickly track them down!”

“Drat, they’ve already concealed their traces. No choice then, we’ll have to visit the 79th floor directly next time.”

Despite our clear presence right before their eyes, they had utterly missed the mark.

It seemed Jen had cast an invisibility spell.

His pointed gaze signaled our departure.

Following his lead, we exited the area and headed for the Magic Tower’s entrance.

As we passed by a mirror, our reflections gradually rematerialized – Jen’s invisibility dissipating.

We then arrived at an immense circular magic circle platform.

“What is this place?”

“A magic circle that transports you to any desired floor. The original Tower Master purportedly drew this himself when first establishing the Magic Tower. Warping spells cannot be used within, so this magic circle serves as the sole means of traversing floors. The Tower Master would be the sole exception, of course.”

Just as a group of mages arrived ahead of us, one of them called out ’30th floor!’ before they instantly vanished from sight.

“79th floor.”

At Jen’s command, the magic circle activated, whisking us away to a dizzying height among the clouds in the blink of an eye.

“Woah…”

In stark contrast to the bustling crowds thronging the lower levels, the 79th floor housing a resplendent indoor garden appeared practically deserted, with only a couple of mages visible in the distance.

“Magic is all about practical application. Those charlatan mages’ literary works are utterly useless.”

“You mean Princess Neuw, Jen’s mentor?”

“My mentor was obsessed with profit. As her following grew, she sought to monetize through books… In fact, that particular work wasn’t even authored by her, but rather her familiar summon.”

“Familiar summon…?”

“Like that one over there.”

Jen gestured towards a plump squirrel perusing a book.

Wait, reading a book…?!

It was even donning miniature glasses!

My bewildered expression prompted Jen to chuckle, explaining:

“Familiars lack a default physical form. Lately, transforming into adorable small animals seems to be the trend.”

At that moment, the distant rustling of foliage was accompanied by a distinctive whinny.

“That familiar doesn’t appear to be following the current fad.”

“Does Jen have a familiar too?”

“Most mages above the 50th floor in the Magic Tower can summon familiars.”

[Master! You were just mocking me, weren’t you?!]

Jen’s azure equine familiar came charging through the underbrush towards us.

“Of course not. You must have misheard.”

The trend-oblivious horse was indeed his familiar.

* * *

Sipping the tea and nibbling the cake Jen had served, I surveyed the indoor greenhouse.

[So who is this young lady?]

Having realized its outdated horse form lacked trendiness, Jen’s familiar had shapeshifted into a diminutive cat.

“The young lady under my charge.”

More like under surveillance, I shot Jen a glare, prompting him to smile disarmingly.

[Ah, so this must be the rumored Princess.]

If rumors of me had even reached the Magic Tower, my modest hopes of living an unassuming life were well and truly dashed.

“The reason I brought you here, Miss, is to teach you how to control your magic.”

He added meaningfully, ‘Especially since you must learn to govern your power all the more.’

“For Her Highness the Princess, your healing magic was the sole viable option. But in ordinary cases, physicians or water mages can tend to patients’ recovery.”

Plucking a flower drooping over the table, Jen continued:

“Yet if you were to unwittingly manifest your abilities during such situations, and those incidents became frequent occurrences, it would constitute an abuse of power.”

The implication was clear – I could potentially meet the same withered fate as that flower still clutched in his grasp.

“Princess Neuw’s book emphasizes understanding the conditions for magic manifestation as paramount. I need to comprehend that.”

Jen responded:

“Those conditions differ for each mage. Hence, you must discern the patterns through repeated trials.”

Downing the remainder of my tea, I stated solemnly.

“Let’s begin.”

Nodding in agreement, Jen relocated us, his familiar trailing behind with a swishing tail.

Our destination was an isolated chamber, even by the 79th floor’s standards.

Before the door even opened, pitiful whimpering could be heard from within.

The scene that greeted us was a massive wolf, its body mottled with dark splotches, writhing in apparent agony.

“…!”

“The Magic Tower has been tending to animals that escaped from the Dark Forest. The miasmic energies there are so potent, they inflict these kinds of wounds.”

[Typically, water mages would handle the healing, but injuries caused by miasma cannot be fully treated in a single session.]

I approached the wolf cautiously.

Initially wary of my advance, it soon contorted from the anguish of its injuries.

Gazing into those tear-filled eyes, I gently stroked its fur.

Despite the supposed ‘practical application,’ witnessing someone’s suffering up close still felt utterly foreign and daunting, just like before.

I could never forget the chill of that asphalt, having stood at death’s threshold.

“Recall the sensation when the Sun’s Emblem manifested, allowing you to save the Princess.”

Placing my right hand upon the wolf’s body, I closed my eyes, remembering that moment vividly.

The pained whimpering gradually rekindled those sensations within me.

It cannot die. I wish it would stop hurting.

The wolf’s wounds were merely superficial – its inner being had already been ravaged by the miasmic contamination.

Continuing to caress its fur soothingly, I murmured:

“Don’t worry, everything will be alright.”

Remarkably, as if comprehending my words, the wolf ceased its agonized howling and thrashing, meeting my gaze steadily.

It was then that a faint warmth emanated from my hand.

Simultaneously, a dim radiance blossomed forth like a flower in bloom, coalescing into a magic circle.

Under the influence of my hand, the dark blotches marring the wolf’s body gradually faded.

Soon, its wounds completely healed, the bewildered wolf sprang to its feet, shaking its head in disbelief at the absence of pain. Overwhelmed with joy, it pounced towards me, nuzzling against my body.

“Awoooo! Awoooo!”

Its wagging tail indicated sheer delight, though its massive size practically engulfed me.

“Ria, focus on that moment when the magic circle formed around your hand.”

“Though indescribable with words, it felt… incredibly warm.”

“That’s it. Warmth. That simple emotion serves as the trigger for your magic manifestation.”

“So from now on, whenever I encounter someone injured, by recalling that sensation…”

“You’ll need to suppress activating your abilities. The reason I guided you to familiarize yourself with that sensation was to prevent any unconscious outbursts of power.”

“I suppose that’s true…”

I couldn’t imperil my own life simply to aid others.

Yet Jen seemed dissatisfied with my response, exclaiming:

“Repeat after me. Call a physician!”

“Call a physician!”

“Where are the water mages?”

“Where are the water mages… Hey, I’m not a child! I understand my life is precious too.”

“I’m glad you do. If anything were to happen to you, just imagine how the Tower Master would scold me… For your own safety, you must exercise utmost caution.”

Jen’s familiar snorted derisively at his words.

[You’re quite the comedian, Master.]

It was then that the wolf nuzzled its head into my cupped hands.

Its ash-gray fur appeared sleeker and more vibrant than before, radiating renewed vitality as I stroked its chin while it howled joyfully.

Suddenly, a peculiar marking materialized upon the wolf’s forehead.

[Oh, that’s…?!]

“It seems this was no ordinary wolf after all. Like you, it too was a familiar summon.”

“This one was a summon…? Is this how you typically encounter them?”

“Familiars usually manifest through a mage’s summoning. They tend to live in seclusion. Until forging a contract with a mage, they merely possess the potential to become familiars, indistinguishable from regular animals.”

[It appears this one wishes to enter a contract with you. For a familiar to voluntarily reveal its concealed marking is quite telling.]

“Having saved its life, its loyalty towards you will be extraordinary. A mage of your caliber can certainly sustain a familiar contract, so it may not be a bad idea to accept.”

“It won’t endanger my life or amplify my mana, will it…?”

“A familiar’s mana is separate from their contractor’s. Think of it as more of a partnership.”

“Hmm, in that case…”

I crouched before the wolf, meeting its gaze steadily.

Those golden eyes brimmed with absolute trust towards me.

“I rather like you too.”

During the healing process, I had sensed this wolf entrusting its entire being to me at some point.

That unwavering faith had likely enabled my healing magic to take effect.

Tracing the marking on its forehead, I asked:

“Will you enter a contract with me?”

In response, the wolf lowered its head before me, summoning a magic circle around us.

Wolf and I forged an unspoken pact upon that magic circle. Enveloped by myriad ancient scripts, everything reverted to its original state once the ritual concluded…

[Master.]

The wolf could speak!!

[Why the surprise? You clearly witnessed that runt conversing as well.]

[R-Runt?! Mind your manners when addressing your elder, pup!]

“You can read my innermost thoughts too?!”

“Familiars don’t read minds per se, but rather sense emotions.”

The wolf leapt into the air, transforming into an adorable wolf pup upon landing – small enough to cradle in my arms.

Overwhelmed by its sheer cuteness, I nearly squealed aloud in delight.

“So precious… How about naming you Kitty?”

Its diminutive, adorable stature made the name rather fitting.

[That won’t do, that’s my name.]

Jen’s familiar interjected.

Wait, that massive horse form earlier had been named Kitty…?

“Then how about Nero?”

[I am Tharogrikken Drezula III.]

“Okay, let’s go with Tharo!”

[Your master truly lacks any naming sense.]

It was at that moment the door burst open, and someone entered.