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Published at 30th of July 2022 04:33:32 AM


Chapter 14

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“What’s this four-week adjustment period now?”

“Ah, that. Just stay away for four weeks and then meet your family to make up your mind, that’s it.”

“So it doesn’t mean much to you.”

I nodded and looked at the remodeled building.

It looked like an abandoned building on the outside, so I assumed it would take a long time, but it was fortunate that only the exterior had to be repaired now due to the strong frame of the building itself.

We were able to finish painting the outer walls, repair the interior, and clean the building.

The outer walls of the stationary store were painted with refreshing yellow. The windows on the first and second floors were decorated with red vertical stripes.

‘It’s really so pretty. You can never see it like a haunted house!’

The wizards I hired at my own expense gave me a neat remodeling of the stationary store and went back.

It costed a lot to fix it quickly, but I was satisfied that the stationary store became clean and pretty.

We spread grass and benches in the small front yard of the stationary store. It was a wooden bench that meant that any child could come here and play comfortably.

I sat side by side with Dominique on the bench.

“Now we just need to place things inside, and we can open up soon!”

“It’s an amazing job. I can’t believe this old house changed this much.”

I went on, scratching my temple.

Watching clouds floating one by one in the sky, I began to design the future peacefully and carelessly.

“If we succeed, let’s bring in a chef and a chocolatier. And…”

“And?”

I started talking about the casting I had in mind when I decided to open a stationary store.

“Wizards, elementalists, and alchemists.”

If you have an elementalists or an alchemist, things will be easier. Then, my stationary store will thrive in luxury!

But while I was laughing and immersed in my dream, Dominique, who liked to assault others, glanced at me.

“It’ll be hard to get an elementalist or psychic though.”

I also knew that elementalists and alchemists were rare.

‘The alchemist has to be the at the level of the owner of the tower in order to be taken.’

Objectively, I was far behind the owner of the tower.

‘But I don’t give up.’

I clenched my fists and shouted as if punching them into the sky.

“I’ve brought a thousand-year-old sword. Can’t I bring an elementalist or an alchemist?”

Dominique, who listened to me, nodded solemnly and answered proudly.

“That’s true.”

I murmured, looking at the slushy barrel with a hint of regret.

“…I wish I could take the devils in your sword.”

“I don’t know if it’s possible to do so without unsealing them.”

Given that Dominique didn’t even know, there’s probably a slim chance that he would meet the devil again.

‘I’ll have to find a way to bring out the devils.’

I spoke bravely and energetically, hiding my deep regret, “Lastly! Dalgona will be sold as an opening celebration tomorrow, so we have to make it tonight.”

“I’m not going to wear an apron when I make Dalgona. Never.”

I laughed cheerfully as I watched Dominique’s express his distaste for aprons.

“I’ll give you permission.”

At the end of my sentence, I turned my head and looked back.

Beyond the big window, there will be memories filling this stationary store.

There was a black box with slushies, a magic bottle of ink, castanets and xylophones, square notebooks, sugar, and a round pan for making sweets.

There was a lack of funds and preparation for a splendid opening. But as time goes by, I will be able to fill this space with beautiful memories.

“The important thing is that I’m finally perfectly ready to open the stationary store.”

I spoke with a proud and exhilarating smile, “I don’t know if we can sell a lot… but it’s definitely my taste.”

“That’s more than enough. I also like it.”

A boy who sacrificed himself for the Empire and who had been locked in a sword for about a thousand years. And me.

We were together at this moment, sharing the same tastes.

“I hope the promotion goes well.”

I didn’t really know how to promote in this world.

‘It’s too expensive to put an ad in the newspaper…’

Dominique, who was admiring the remodeled building, continued talking, “Back then, the kid we treated.”

“Ah, the Academy noble kid?”

“Yeah.”

“…He’ll bring his friends.”

When I remembered the child, my eyes seemed to sparkle.

Young children were fickle and would forget everything quickly, But it would be nice if he remembered about it even a little bit.

“I have a lot of confidence that I’ll treat the kids well if they come though.”

Only the four weeks of an adjustment period and then the excommunication trial with the emperor were left.

But now, Vaveloa and Hesman were preparing to remain together legally for real.

The dream of isolating from bad people and being with children was finally becoming true.

“I hope he’ll bring a lot of his friends.”

I was still waiting to see my first customer, but…

If I worked hard, I might be able to instill dreams and hopes in all the children someday.

But why did my ear itch so much? Was someone talking about me?

***

At that time, stories about Meldenique were flowing out from the tower.

At the top, inside the office of the owner of the tower, Rasmus, the chief wizard, looked emaciated.

“…I’m ashamed of myself.”

The person Rasmus was looking at was Issac, the tower master.

“I will take responsibility for the security of the tower. I’m sorry, tower master.”

Issac, sitting in front of his desk, was searching for the report that Rasmus had given him.

“Some magical artifacts, including mana vessels, have been stolen, that’s it.”

Mana vessels were magical artifacts blessed by a dragon itself, which contained its essence.

Although it was a one-time use product, it’s a rare item because it was known to increase the amount of mana that the user can use.

The tower master, who recently returned from wandering, smiled lowly with his chin on his hand. Like obsidian, he was black inside, full of boredom.

“Rasmus, clean up the shoplifting and do the dirty work.”

In short, he meant to not bother to report it.

“B-but still, I want to tell you about the suspect! We’ll definitely catch them.”

“Then go on.”

Issac, who no longer bothered to argue, cloud his eyes and nodded moderately.

Was it because the window was open? The cool wind tickled the tip of his chin.

“Hub…”

Rasmus was speechless for a moment.

The wind scattered his black hair in front of his forehead. The image looked like a picture. He couldn’t get immune to his beautiful face.

‘As beautiful as he is…’

Rasmus, who was briefly admiring him, soon spoke, “Recently, we have narrowed down the dragon’s profile to about three people who have shown suspicious actions. The first is Count Ellie. There are rumors that the mana flow in Count Ellie has become strange.”

“And?”

It was already boring.

It would be more interesting and enjoyable in many ways to hatch dragon eggs that were brought from the wandering.

“The second is Duke Lenox Hesman. Although it’s unlikely, he’s the suspect. He has conducted magic experiments. But that is common. The last suspect is the most suspicious.”

If it’s Duke Hesman, he knew him too.

The perfect way to win admiration from the Empire.

When they met for a slight moment, he thought his twisted mind was disgusting.

As he was looking at the list that was so obvious, he yawned and asked, “Who’s the last suspect?”

“Princess Meldenique Vaveloa. No matter what, her actions lately have been suspicious.”

Issac opened his eyes at the name.

It was quite a familiar name.

“Meldenique?”

“Yes. Since what we lost is a dragon, I dug a little into Princess Meldenique, who was cursed by the dragon.”

“Yeah.”

“It’s quite fascinating. She is building a strange store. She even left her family not too long ago. The store’s name is ‘Mel’s Stationary Store.’ I suspect it’s doing some strange magic. I think we need to look more properly.”

“Really?”

The end of Issac’s word lengthened. He smiled meanly and leaned back.

‘Meldenique Vaveloa… Thinking about it, the sword she was holding was suspicious, and the flow of her mana was unusual for the daughter of Kinoa, who is cursed by the dragon.’

He thought she was an interesting person.

‘I was going to go find out one day anyway.’

He didn’t expect for her to appear as a suspect in a theft case.

Issac nodded seriously and spoke to Rasmus, “It turned out to be very important.”

“Yes? Suddenly? I’m sure you said he’s a petty thief-.”

He tapped the floor several times with the tip of his shoes.

It’s his old habit, just as his heart beat every time there’s something interesting.

“I’ve changed my mind.”

Rasmus looked at Issac with a puzzled face.

Issac’s mouth formed a beautiful half moon.

“I’ll take care of the third suspect.”

There’s also one more reason why he’s interested in Meldenique, who was full of suspicious vibes.

He was the only witness to see Meldenique hit Duke Hesman.

She declared to Duke Hesman, whom everyone envied.

“Now, will you please get lost and get out of my life? You’re dirty.”

When Meldenique spoke, her voice contained deep hatred.

Rasmus lastly expressed his opinion to Issac, who was recalling the past.

“The mana vessel is a great artifact, but it’s not for the tower master to step out himself.”

Why are you banging a stick in your sleep? There was a clear sign he wanted to talk.

Issac lowered his voice and drooped his languid eyes.

“Actually, I have memories about the the mana vessel.”

It’s cheating to make a sad face with a beautiful face. If it were anyone else, Rasmus would’ve bought it. But Rasmus had been fooled by his acting for more than a decade.

“…Liar, you forgot about it!”

“Oh, you’re not buying it.”

Issac, who ignored Rasmus’ words, laughed heartily and joyfully.

Rasmus scratched his ears for the worrisome day.

“No, if the tower master went out just like that, something bad could happen to that person…”

“I don’t think so.”

He declared again as if singing.

“I’m thinking of making good things happen.”

Rasmus carefully asked Issac, “Are you going to find her soon?”

“Yeah. I’ve got a few favors to repay.”

Like a curious child, he swept his black hair gently while his eyes twinkled.

Rasmus suspected to himself, ‘what favor?’, but kept his mouth shut. It wasn’t only once or twice when the tower master had done something unique.

“…I really don’t know.”

Rasmus expressed his condolences to Meldenique inside.

Thief or whatever, she caught Issac’s eyes. I’m so sorry… was what Rasmus thought in his mind.




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