CH 3

03

–

My mother and father stood there to see me off. I had no choice but to watch my parents affection until they disappeared from sight.

“Oh, that’s right. Harun, I’m joining up with Hestia mid-way. Is that okay?”

Harun was sitting opposite of me, and was looking out at the surroundings. I suddenly said something, so he was surprised.

“What a surprise. You would always ignore my words.”

At those pathetic words I lifted the corners of my mouth one way.

“If it’s Hestia, it’s perfectly fine. ”

Harun saw my smile and soon spoke up.

“Ah, I knew it. ”

He calmly gazed at me. But it was obvious that he was holding back a flamboyant smile and he made another strange statement.

“Anyway, our Char always has a dead look in her eyes, why can’t you be more lively? My only wish is for you to laugh more often! Am I asking for too much when I want you to hug me like you did when you were four, saying ‘big brother~’?”

“I’ll draw a map on your blanket like I did when I was 7.”

I said that and pulled a notebook out. Harun grumbled something along the lines of, “You’re so cold,” but I ignored it lightly. I took out a pen out of my pencil case. I thought I’d write something down in my notebook.

The beginning of the novel starts after entering the Academy. It’s important to know the flow of the novel. It’s like knowing the future. If one knows the future, they can live their lives more easily. The love interests are said to have mixed personalities, so if I can find out their weaknesses, it would be a great help in the future. Turning the pen round and around, I set my head at an angle. I begun to think about what would happen after entering the academy.

“…”

I swiveled the ballpoint pen to the other side.

“…”

The development of the novel was… I was trying to remember how the novel developed.

“…”

I folded my legs over the other and trembled.

What happens after we arrive at the academy…

“Char, you’re going to be hungry. Want a muffin?”

I was trying to think about the events that would dictate my destiny, but suddenly Harun talked and I forgot. I usually remembered everything because I was smart, but I forgot because he interrupted me. I usually never forget things. I stuffed my pen into my bag and ate the muffin I got from him. My mind fell flat, and the muffin was in my hands at the right moment. I don’t know. If I live freely, I’ll burst. Since I often dream about the novel, I don’t think I have to bother as much though.

* * *

I asked my brother to stop the wagon so I could meet up with Hestia. He looked at me suspiciously, but didn’t refuse. I left my brother behind and left for the town. I had to return the magic tools that I had fixed yesterday. It would have been finished if I had just sent the packages to the receivers, but there were some parts I wanted to buy and newly released swords brought out of town that I wanted to browse. I switched into a robe to freely look around and used a magic tool to turn into an adult.

The town was crowded with people. The pleasant sounds of people bargaining resonated through the air. I strode down the street, fiddling with my pocket full of money. If I’m lucky, I could get the rumored dwarf crafted sword. Apparently, it’s said to be put out on display at the weapons shop today. After finishing the work I needed to do, I headed straight to the dark alley, thinking of visiting the weapons shop.

“Move aside!”

As soon as I turned to go to the alley, a boy in a hood popped out. He was running pretty fast. I was flustered and quickly backtracked, but the boy who hadn’t stepped back yet bumped into me. I quickly held him into my arms so that he wouldn’t fall and get hurt.

“…”

The boy who was just embraced by a stranger stared at me for a moment. I don’t want this to be misunderstood as romantic. We strangely stayed like that for a few seconds. After a while, the boy grasped the situation, made an expression, pushed me away, and left. Looking at the boy leave, I dusted my clothes and turned away. Then, as I trudged through the alley, I erased the strange sensation that I felt before.

***

The smell of sweat leaked through the barely open door, and a creak sounded. A big beefy man in terrible condition could be seen through the door. The man kept looking nervously at the door, but when he saw me, the color was back on his face.

“So the request is finished!”

The name of this wicked-looking man is Carl. He’s been following me steadily ever since I helped him revive his failing business. What’s interesting is that my face was covered by my robe but Carl managed to recognize me. I nodded quietly at his statement. What he said was about the contents of the magic video tool that I recovered yesterday. They asked to retrieve the video footage that someone intentionally damaged and to retrieve information about the person who damaged it.

“We’re done with the recovery, and we’ve copied all the logs down. If you’re free after work, I can show you around.”

People secretly post requests because there’s no other alternative. Since this isn’t a popular job, there are often cases where clients have the audacity to accept only the results and not pay up, and in case of that, we make a copy log in advance. Of course, if the deal is completed successfully, it will be erased.

“Oh, I’m so comfortable with this clean-up job. I don’t have to worry about the fact that the client was in a high position and was difficult to deal with. Haha.”

“Didn’t you say there was a problem with the building’s protection system? Do you want me to take a look?”

“No, I wouldn’t dare ask Charibalen to do that. That’s what kids do.”

His eyes carried respect and loyalty. It was a little bit burdensome, but I nodded and trusted that they would take care of themselves.

“By the way, I want to see Charibalen at the big top this time. There’s something I want to ask for in person.”

I was hurrying to the weapons shop when his words stopped me in my tracks.

“I think you should consider it.”

I thought for a moment and nodded.

“I’ll contact you later.”

When I gave a positive answer, I could feel Carl loosen up his expression. Looking at the knife that greeted me, I fell deep in thought. What would his reaction be when he finds out that his boss was a 13-year-old girl? I searched my robes for extra money. I left the room with the thought that I should be more careful in the future, because if I get caught, I’ll be stuck in a difficult situation.

* * *

I ran straight to the weapons shop. It’s difficult to obtain the sword even if you try to get it through the dark path of the dwarves. I should’ve been in school for a while now, but I wanted to get a good sword. I ran with all my energy towards the shop.

“I’ll give you whatever price you want, just say it.”

“Gosh, mister, aren’t you the person from a few months ago? The person I’m selling this to is a regular, and the amount you promised before wasn’t even good enough.”

“I’ll give you three times that. ”

While I had been away for a while, something extraordinary seemed to be happening. I heard someone was trying to steal my sword. I ran towards the shop, swallowing the rage that was bubbling in my heart.

* * *

Weapon shops were typically located on the street in the heart of the capital, where it’s always crowded with people. But in the morning, it’s quiet, so I got up earlier than any other day on purpose. In my previous life, I had a habit of arriving at a place earlier than anyone else when the product I wanted was on sale. I think it’s been awhile since I’ve had to do that here, and I’m a little bit rusty. I should have bought the sword first and then gone to deal with the requests. It was the root of the fire that I headed there first because I had a client close to the weapons shop.

A boy who wanted to take the sword I wanted had long eyelashes and was also wearing a hood like me. He looked about 14 years old at most. It’s the boy I ran into earlier. I caught him when he ran into me, and this is how he pays me back. I began to approach him with a fierce look. I can’t let this go.

“How about 20 gold? You can’t sell it at a higher price than this.”

“Huh…… this is very difficult.”

The weapon uncle was bargaining with the boy that seemed to be my age. 20 gold for a weapon, of course he would be tempted. He stroked his short moustache and fell into distress. Because of the high price he was just offered, he must have forgot that he promised to give me the sword first. That was the impression I got. I quickly squeezed through the crowd to get to them.

“I’m sorry, but that’s the item I’ve wanted to buy from a week ago, and I won’t give it up.”

I almost cursed, but I changed my tone into an amiable one because my opponent was just a little boy. When I stepped in, the weapon shop uncle froze. It was evident that he was caught red-handed trying to sell the sword to the boy. He looked at me with a cool smile.

“Sir, this is the customer that offered to buy it first. I’m sorry, but if I get a better sword next time, I’ll give it to you. ”

I saw the boy’s protruding mouth through the hood. It seemed as if he knew the true value of the rare dwarf sword, the Missril Sword, or that he just hated losing. The boy pointed his finger at me without letting go of the sword.

“I’ll give you three times the amount she offered.”

“What?”

This was no laughing matter.

That’s brazen! I looked at the armory uncle in discontent, but he had no choice. Money matters more rather than loyalty.

“I’m sorry for your loss, but as a profit-seeking merchant, I’ll sell it to the one who pays more.”

My face automatically crumpled up. If he was a profitable merchant, he should have chosen trust. It’ll make a bigger profit in the long run.

I was tempted to call him out for it, but I managed to swallow in my anger. While staring at the two with clenched teeth, the boy moved quickly.

“That’s a wise choice.”

With a sneer, the boy threw a pocket full of gold coins into the arms of the dealer. At first glance, 20 gold coins seemed like an overpowering amount. The red eyes seen from the hood gazed at me with derision. The boy was pleased to see my expression of loss, and began to walk away with the sword.

T/N: lol this was super clunky,,, but i hope you enjoyed anyways

the kid who took the sword seems to be this dude..?

i think…. i mean red eyes haha.. what do you guys think???