Did the Mage Make the Knight Angry?

[Ditsy top × grumpy bottom] A bickering couple's travels across a fantastical continent

Ethanard was a black mage everyone hated. Even setting aside his secret identity, he wasn't a normal mage.

He scraped by in a small town, taking odd jobs, until a twist of fate brought him into Duke Lance's faction, where he met Vic: a stern, capable, cautious, suspicious grand knight with fiery red hair.

He had no intention of making enemies, but that plan clearly failed. On his first night at the castle, he managed to splash mud all over the grand knight.

"I'm sorry," Ethanard apologized sincerely.

"It's fine," Grand Knight Vic replied with a cold expression.

The farce clearly didn't end there. He and Vic were always turning the castle upside down, but Ethanard swore he never caused trouble on purpose. Things just always seemed to happen by coincidence.

All in all, life at the castle was pretty good. Even though Vic was always strict and liked lecturing him, Ethanard knew Vic wouldn't get angry at him unless he did something to provoke him. The problem was, he always managed to make Vic angry.

"Is something wrong with your head?" Vic was angry again today.

Ethanard touched his head, expressionless, his eyes full of innocence.

The phrase had practically become Vic's catchphrase. He was immune to it by now.

Until a medical examination after an accidental injury.

"What did you say? There's really something wrong with his head?" Vic stared in shock.

The alchemist nodded. Based on his research into the mind and soul, this mage clearly had mental problems. His facial muscles were also abnormal, and the initial diagnosis was that he'd suffered a severe trauma as a child.

Ethanard didn't have much to say about the results. He'd finally learned that the reason he couldn't make facial expressions was a problem with his muscles. But he was happy that Vic rarely insulted him that way anymore.

Vic didn't know how to feel. The mage might be an idiot, but having a damaged brain was pitiful. Besides, he was Vic's partner mage. Setting aside his stupidity, Vic actually liked him quite a lot.

What else could they do? They were partners, so they might as well share a life together.

A ditsy top and a grumpy bottom.

It's really just a fantasy adventure about a ditsy guy and a grumpy one.

Reading Guide

1. The top is expressionless, has something wrong with his head, and is a bit slow. In practice, he's not smart or reliable. His magic is maxed out, but he's weak-limbed and simple-minded. He messes up even little tasks, and the bottom often has to clean up after him. He's only good at fighting, so Vic relies heavily on him in everyday life.

2. The bottom is strong-limbed and sharp-minded. He's meticulous, so he often loses his temper with the unreliable top. He likes to have the final say, and both characters have their flaws.

3. The scene from the blurb where he apologizes is in Chapter 4.

4. Apologies in advance: my writing and intelligence are limited. I can't write intricate political intrigue, so the royal power struggles will probably be portrayed vaguely.

5. One-on-one, no switching or breaking up. They are comrades, partners, lovers, and each other's one and only.

6. The arguments may trigger high blood pressure and a hatred of idiots. Apologies in advance. If you're uncomfortable, please leave. Don't curse at them. Thanks for understanding, dearies (⑅˃◡˂⑅)

Theme: Courage is humanity's anthem