“Doesn’t he know that I’m not the grandson of my grandfather?”

“He knows.”

“And that my magic is not ordinary?”

“Of course, he does.”

Even with that knowledge, he wanted to be friends.

Young Irtis shyly nodded her head.

“Well then… I want to go.”

“Good choice. We’re planning to leave tomorrow, so prepare yourself.”

“Yeah!”

That day, Irtis couldn’t sleep properly due to her excited heart.

A few years had passed since then.

Irtis, who had grown up as the adopted grandson of the North Elhas Principality, now had a different status.

However, despite her improved magical abilities, there was still no one she could call a friend.

That changed when she finally met Leke, the Grand Duke’s son.

“Welcome, Irtis. I’ve been waiting for you.”

Leke warmly smiled and extended his hand to Irtis.

The moment they held hands, Irtis realized that Leke was of the same kind.

Innate strength. Even the lonely gaze seemed to match.

They both instinctively felt that they had been searching for such a friend for a long time.

Perhaps that was why it didn’t take a long time for the two kids to become close friends.

“Irtis, I’m really glad you came to me. I believed that we would become good friends.”

“Even before, I was curious. Why did you want to be friends with me?”

To that, Leke smiled affectionately.

“Because you’re cool.”

“Huh…?”

“Irtis, you’re an amazing magician. The moment I heard your story, I thought you were really cool.”
Irtis looked at Leke with a surprised expression. It was the first time she had heard such words since birth. Everyone had either mocked her or feared her. However, since that day, Irtis completely opened her heart to Leke. While Matapju stayed in the Elhas Principality, handling commissions, Irtis spent most of her time with Leke. That was the most enjoyable day in Irtis’s life. As time passed, winter had come to the northern regions. More dangerous than the severe cold was the monster living in the icebergs. When winter arrived, monsters descended to attack villages. Therefore, regular military dispatches were necessary to subdue them. And this time, Irtis was part of the subjugation force. Leke couldn’t go alone, so Irtis volunteered to join. Fortunately, the two of them had excellent chemistry.
During the suppression, a high-level demon suddenly appeared and breathed fire towards the soldiers.

Irthis immediately deployed magic.

“Freeze!”

At that moment, the flames burning from the demon’s mouth froze instantly.

“Reke, now!”

In response to Irthis’s signal, Reke soared up and swiftly beheaded the demon.

The severed head rolled on the ground, staining the snowy field with a reddish hue.

Reke, drenched in the demon’s blood, looked disheveled.

Instantly, Irthis’s face turned pale.

It was his first time dealing with demons, and such a sight was unfamiliar.

Irthis quickly used healing magic on Reke.

But soon, he realized that Reke had no injuries on his body.

Irthis finally let out a relieved sigh and sat down on the ground.

“Ugh, I thought you were hurt and got a big shock.”

However, unlike Irthis, Reke seemed very composed.

“Don’t worry, Irthis. I don’t get hurt that easily.”

Irthis vowed at that moment.

He would become a great wizard and accompany Reke every time he went on a demon suppression mission.

Finally, the demon extermination was over.

Everyone returned to the capital, exhausted.

Irthis headed towards the bathroom to wash off the demon’s blood clinging to his body.

Then, he noticed a boy of his age.

Judging by his luxurious attire, he seemed to be a noble from the kingdom.

Irthis tried to pass quietly, but at that moment, their eyes met.

The boy immediately pinched his nose and expressed annoyance.

“Ugh, the smell. You’re that magician who crawls up to the Grand Duke without knowing his place.”

Although Irthis was angered by the rude remark, he decided to endure it.

He didn’t want to cause any harm to Reke.

But the boy misinterpreted Irthis’s restraint as fear.

He became more arrogant and continued provoking.

“You, who knows where you came from. How dare someone like you approach the Grand Duke…”

However, he stopped talking.

Leke, who had just finished bathing, appeared before them.

The boy ran towards Leke with a bright smile.

“Grand Duke, you’ve returned from the suppression! I was worried and came to see you.”

“Why would you worry about me?”

“Well, it’s natural for friends to worry about each other.”

Leke made a strange expression at that moment.

“You’ve never been my friend even once.”

The noble boy’s face turned pale at Leke’s words.

Irthis couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

“Pfft.”

Although the noble boy glared at Irthis as if he wanted to kill him, there was nothing he could do in front of the Grand Duke.

Leke gave him a troublesome look.

“Just go away. I’m tired.”
“Th-then, please rest. Grand Duke.”

However, the boy didn’t just back off.

After deliberately bumping shoulders with Irthis, he mumbled something and quickly fled.

“You monster b*stard, I won’t let you off easily.”

Irthis just chuckled at his childish behavior.

But it seemed different for Reke.

He angrily tried to chase after the noble boy.

Irthis quickly intervened.

“Hold on, Reke. I’m fine.”

“But just now, he insulted you!”

“So what if he called me a monster? Thanks to that, I got a friend like you.”

It was sincere.

Ever since Reke became his friend, such insults didn’t bother Irthis.

Smiling, Irthis urged Reke.

“Why dirty your hands for someone like him?”

At that moment, Reke’s eyes gleamed strangely.

It was a peculiar expression Irthis hadn’t seen before.

But soon, Reke returned to his usual warm smile.

“Okay, got it.”

The following days were normal, just like usual.

So, Irthis completely forgot about the noble boy.

However, a few days later, something unforgettable happened in Irthis’s life.