Sir Mage, You Said We Would Only Hold Hands! Chapter 14 - Withdrawal Symptoms

 

“…Did Team 2 Deputy already call?”

 

Birkin hesitated for a moment while standing in front of Chief Ad’s office. In fact, even though she was an elite with experience working at the headquarters, Birkin was an outsider who had only arrived at Deepdale two days ago.

 

If the old Team 2 Deputy had already buttered up Chief Ad, it would be Birkin who’d be in a difficult spot. She adjusted her clothes, feeling like she was heading into battle.

 

Even if there was no need to look good in front of Team 2 Deputy, it was different with Chief Ad. Birkin had a goal of becoming a deputy here within the year.

 

“Excuse me, Chief Ad. This is Vice Birkin Redfield.”

 

“Come in.”

 

Creak.

 

As she opened the door and went in, she saw Chief Ad holding a quill and writing something on parchment. She also noticed that Birkin had come in, so she put down the quill and stood up.

 

“Come here, Miss Birkin. I called you because I have something to tell you.”

 

Chief Ad, who had Birkin sat down on the sofa where they had talked before, disappeared inside for a moment. SHe must have gone to make tea.

 

What excuse should she make?

 

If she says that it’s because they’re a new team and she’s still adjusting to the branch office… No, that sounds like too much of an excuse. Isn’t it natural for Team 1 and 2, which have more people, to work a little longer than Team 3? Or at least give them people who can do the job properly!

 

When Birkin was wringing her hands, unable to control her impatience, Chief Ad, who had gone inside, brought back the magic teapot along with the two teacups she had seen before.

 

Click.

 

As Birkin watched the teapot floating in the air and pouring tea into the teacups in front of her, she continued to organize her story. In the end, Birkin couldn’t hold it in and opened her mouth first.

 

“Excuse me, regarding the division of counseling work hours…”

 

“Miss Birkin, you received a designated inquiry today, didn’t you?”

 

“Pardon?”

 

However, Chief Ad must have been waiting for the right time as well, because she coincidentally opened her mouth at the same time as Birkin. Birkin paused for a moment, then closed her mouth first and waited for her to speak.

 

“Designated inquiry. Didn’t you receive one this morning?”

 

“…Yes.”

 

“The other party is Sir Liam Moore?”

 

“Yes.”

 

…Wasn’t she called for general counseling?

 

Birkin blinked at Chief Ad’s unexpected remark. She seemed to hesitate to say something while holding the teacup in her hand. Then she finally opened her mouth.

 

“I heard you refused to recharge the item mana.”

 

“…Yes, that’s true. Since he brought forty-six, I informed him that it would be difficult to do within today.”

 

“Forty-six?! That crazy…! No, I understand Miss Birkin’s position, but, Miss Birkin. Listen carefully.”

 

Her reaction was unclear. Although she gazed at Birkin with pitying eyes, she spoke in a firm voice.

 

“Our service division has a duty to help recharge mana for the items that Sir Liam Moore brings.”

 

“…Pardon?”

 

“It seems that you didn’t know because you weren’t told. It has always been my job to handle, so I didn’t expect Sir Liam to personally contact you. I apologize for that.”

 

Birkin couldn’t bring herself to respond to those words, and just stared blankly at her.

 

“Miss Birkin hasn’t been here long, so you don’t know much, but… Sir Liam is a key member of the item development division. He’s a renowned magic engineer in the capital.”

 

“That guy… is famous?”

 

“You’ve heard that Sir Liam has a special constitution, right? That’s why Sir Liam stands out more in the magic engineering field than in the magic field. But about him being a 9th circle… is kind of his nature.”

 

9th circle, nature?

 

Birkin thought there was nothing more ridiculous than this. Some people couldn’t become 1st circle magicians, so they came all the way down to Deepdale and did vices, but to think that him being a 9th circle is his nature.

 

And he’s a genius in magic engineering? Her stomach hurt. This time, it wasn’t stress, it was jealousy.

 

Although Chief Ad hesitated, she continued speaking. And the words that followed made Birkin’s stomach ache even more.

 

“As you know, Miss Birkin, everything the item development department makes is confidential. That’s why I was in charge of everything, but… Liam submitted a document. He said that Miss Birkin’s mana is better suited to the items he makes, so please change the ‘person in charge’.”

 

“Causing trouble again…”

 

Such a crazy terrible guy.

 

Since it was a muttered remark in passing, Chief Ad asked back, “Huh?”, as Birkin just smiled vaguely and said it was nothing.

 

“Anyway, so from now on, Miss Birkin will be in charge of Sir Liam’s mana recharge. If you think it’s too much, bring it to me. But no one else can get involved. All work in the item development department is confidential.”

 

“Even if it’s too much for me to do alone?”

 

Burkin asked back, reminding himself of the rules written in the service division’s work manual.

 

“…I’m sorry I can’t help you with anything.”

 

Her head was spinning. Just today, she recharged the mana for something like ‘Leo’s Mithril Shield’, which had an incredibly large mana capacity, and her fatigue had built up rapidly, yet she had to deal with that level every day?

 

However, she couldn’t get angry at her boss in front of her, so she just kept his eyes tightly shut. Chief Ad, who was watching the sight with pity, said.

 

“Instead, I’ll help Miss Birkin with the general consultation work that you’re in charge of. Was Team 3 in charge from 4 to 6?”

 

“Yes…”

 

“Miss Birkin will handle Liam’s designated inquiries during that time. I’ll tell them so that the designated inquiry time can be fixed. I’ll lead Team 3’s general consultation work.”

 

Of course, Birkin used more mana to charge one mithril shield than she used for general consultation work today, but this was still a grateful consideration. She also realized that it was the best and all that Chief Ad could do.

 

Birkin eventually lowered her eyes with a small answer of, “…Yes.” It was then that Chief Ad suddenly changed her voice.

 

“That’s all I can say as your superior. Now, I’ll ask as a senior who is older than you. Miss Birkin, what on earth happened with you and Sir Liam?”

 

“I’m… not sure. Since he complained that he was having a hard time because he had low mana, I thought I’d help him a little…”

 

“Hard…? Hard? That mad dog?”

 

It seemed that Chief Ad only used titles like ‘Sir Liam’, ‘Sir Liam’ when she was her superior. She immediately changed the title to ‘mad dog’ and raised her voice a little more.

 

“What did the mad dog eat wrong…!”

 

It was an unusual choice of word for Chief Ad, who always seemed so noble. Birkin raised her head, which had been lowered, as if she had misheard.

 

“That’s why I told him that I would give him enough mana to last him at least a week and that I wouldn’t see him for a while, yet today he suddenly came and asked me to refill the mana for various items.”

 

“…You’ve been bitten hard, Miss Birkin.”

 

“Pardon?”

 

Chief Ad put her hand on her forehead as if her head hurt.

 

Even so, as she left Chief Ad’s office, she was worried because she had heard something she hadn’t heard before. Her words lingered in her ears.

 

“I heard from the Item Development Division Chief, whom I’m pretty close with, that the mad dog ​​swept away all the items there today.”

 

“No way…”

 

“That’s right. Those items that were taken to Mr. Birkin, they’re all from the Item Development Division.”

 

And it still didn’t work?

 

Birkin had to work very, very hard to keep what she wanted to say to herself.

 

Chief Ad sighed deeply. She answered as if she had heard Birkin’s question.

 

“The Item Development Division Chief was crying and saying that the guy ruined the items he took. What did he say to the Chief, who was crying? ‘Just assume I bought them all.’ He threw away gold worth twice as much as those items.”

 

Birkin was starting to feel sympathy for the chief of the Item Development Division who had been crying. If a guy like that, who didn’t care about manners or tact, worked under her… It was horrible to even imagine.

 

“On top of that, he has outstanding abilities, and the superiors are always telling us to please him…! Haa. That mad dog ​​has released dozens of new products so far. Among them, there are ten that have been hits. Look. This Bazport series.”

 

“This is also his work?”

 

“You can’t believe it? That guy made such emotional items. I wonder what went through his head.”

 

This Bazport series, loved by not only Chief Ad but also the entire Empire, was famous for its items that met the needs of customers, especially housewives. Although they were just daily necessities, it was a collection that captured convenience by catering to trivial emotions.

 

…This thing, that mad dog ​​made it.

 

Birkin trembled at the fact that he was a more amazing person than she thought. Although the word ‘9th circle’ didn’t really make sense, her hands trembled when I heard that he was the creator of the Bazport Collection.

 

How much did he earn? At least a million gold…? And that was from this series only.

 

For Birkin, whose dream was to own her own house, it was literally a dreamlike amount. The slight jealousy she had felt at first subsided in an instant. She began to understand Chief Ad’s attitude.

 

“Miss Birkin. Just suffer for two hours a day. In the meantime, leave the work of Team 3 to me.”

 

Birkin felt that her future was bleak. From now on, she would have to see Liam for two hours every day.

 

As expected, the truth that nothing good happens when a boss calls you first was still the same today.

 

***

 

The next day.

 

Birkin had to face Liam’s face again at Chief Ad’s high ground. Instead, after hearing about his incredible achievements, she was able to respond more calmly than yesterday.

 

“Sir Liam Moore.”

 

“Yes.”

 

“I’ll tell you, just two hours. I’ll only be helping you from 4 to 6, which is when I usually do general consulting work. If it takes thirty minutes per item… that’s four a day at most. Even if I could do more, I don’t want to overdo it.”

 

Liam stared at her stiffly speaking face. He seemed to be worried about her sudden change in attitude.

 

Fortunately, there weren’t many items he had brought today. Birkin grabbed the relatively easy items first and started recharging the mana.

 

Even though she started recharging the items, she eventually complained of discomfort as Liam’s gaze still wouldn’t leave.

 

“…I’ll recharge them all, so why don’t you go back?”

 

“Don’t wanna.”

 

“Don’t worry. Even at headquarters, I was famous for recharging mana.”

 

“Still, don’t wanna.”

 

Liam, who wasn’t there to recharge the items in the first place, firmly refused. He couldn’t waste the only time he could meet her during the day.

 

Birkin eventually stopped talking and focused on her work.

 

Even though Birkin had a crazy amount of mana to brag about, pacing was essential for her. She slowly used her mana to recharge the items.

 

Two suffocating hours passed like that.

 

“Thank you for your hard work.”

 

“Already?”

 

“All four are done.”

 

Then Liam tapped the items with a somewhat regretful touch. His touch was so insincere that the items he was touching looked like cheap ready-made products.

 

It was just as Birkin was getting ready to get up from her seat. Liam, who had been watching her until the end, suddenly opened his mouth.

 

“Birkin.”

 

“Yes, you called me.”

 

“…Can you recharge my mana too?”

 

Does he have no conscience?

 

The items he brought today weren’t as much as the mithril shield from yesterday, but they required more than twice the mana of a normal item. And on top of that, he was asking for mana for himself too?

 

However, Birkin was tired. She didn’t want to argue with him anymore. Finally, Birkin, who had sat down again, held out her hand halfheartedly.

 

“Hand.”

 

“Mm.”

 

His large hand covered hers as if he had been waiting for her outstretched hand. Despite his cold impression, his hand was extremely warm. Birkin quietly closed her eyes and handed over her mana.

 

Only about 10 minutes had passed.

 

“I’ll be going.”

 

Birkin, who thought she had handed over a decent amount of mana, ran away from the place. She didn’t even say any remark suggesting that it was over. In the empty consulting room, only Liam was there.

 

Left alone, he squeezed and released his hand every now and then. Then suddenly he noticed that the tips of his fingers were trembling faintly.

 

Only 10 minutes.

 

Just holding his hand for about 10 minutes got him goosebumps. A full sigh escaped Liam’s mouth.

 

— Wise Magic Tower Life TIP! —

The Bazport series is a collection of dozens of kettles. Depending on the type, they are divided into price ranges, main customer groups, colors, etc. The best-selling kettle is the one used by Chief Ad, which has an ‘automatic heating function’. It is also popular with the young ladies!