Chapter 21 : Snow White (3)

Long green hair fluttered beneath the peach tree.

Green eyes, identical to the color of the hair, were staring at me.

The gaze was like that of someone looking at a curious animal.

I swam through the hot spring and approached the woman, saying,

“To look at my face with such a gaze… Even I, of all people, have never experienced such humiliation before.”

“You’re a fire-elemental magic user, aren’t you?”

“Can you tell just by looking at me?”

It’s easy to guess someone is a magician by the traces of magical power they give off, but it’s hard to know their exact level or elemental affinity without actually seeing them perform magic.

How did she know?

Even I specialize in hiding my magical power, so it should have been difficult to tell just by looking.

Huff.

The woman, who had been sucking on her pipe, shook her head with a look of disgust.

“There’s a famous saying in the wizard community.”

“I know it too. Magic is cool and lovable, right?”

“Wizards are all mentally unstable, but especially fire-elemental magic users who have scorched their faces—be careful with them. Have you heard of it?”

“Me?”

“No, this is the first time I’ve heard it.”

“It means, be cautious of those who are so obsessed with mastering magic that they fearlessly embrace death. They are a whole different level of mentally unstable.”

I stared at her in disbelief.

What nonsense is this?

“I’m terrified of death more than anything in the world. I can’t die until I’ve tried all forms of magic.”

“That’s what makes you mentally unstable. You mad wizard.”

“My master said I was normal.”

“It seems your teacher really loved you, to only say good things.”

What?

She’s praising Kelton?

This woman can’t be all bad, then.

She even smokes like Kelton.

She can’t be a bad person.

Feeling a little better, I tried introducing myself.

“My name is Ruina.”

“Flora.”

“Are you a magician too, Flora?”

Flora seemed skilled at hiding her magical power, as there were no traces of it, but the tall tree behind her, which didn’t match the season, was a clear indication that she was a magician.

“So?”

“That magic that grows the peach tree—can you give it to me? I’m willing to pay for it.”

“Are you asking me to teach you magic? Do you not know why ‘unique’ magic is called ‘unique’ magic?”

“No, I’m not asking for a lesson. I’m asking if you can give it to me in exchange for something.”

“…Give it to you?”

Flora’s expression became strange.

She spoke as if she were a high-ranking wizard, above level 5, yet even Flora seemed unfamiliar with the concept of trading magic.

Her gaze lingered on my face, chest, stomach, and thighs, then slowly moved to my left hand.

Flora spoke.

“You must have inherited some absurd legacy from your master.”

“My master is a very great magician. His name is Kelton, so remember it.”

“Yeah. He’s a really absurd magician. Truly.”

Flora’s focus drifted, as if she were looking far away.

She seemed to be deep in thought, so I waited for 5 seconds before urging her.

“So, will you trade the magic with me? I’m open to any conditions, as long as I can do it.”

“Anything?”

“As long as I can do it.”

Flora stared at me intently.

I met her gaze.

After a brief moment, Flora slowly opened her mouth.

“Can you offer immortality?”

“I told you, anything I can do is fine. I’m also looking for the Holy Grail right now, so if I find it, I can offer it. Would you wait for me until then?”

“The Holy Grail? You mean the cup made from the bones of the Avatar who journeyed with the first emperor?”

“Yes.”

“Do you have any accurate information about it?”

“No.”

“H.”

Flora chuckled, then took a long drag on her pipe.

She muttered quietly.

“If it were that easy to find, I would’ve found it already.”

“Is that so?”

“Unless it’s immortality, I’m not interested. I’m not giving away my magic to anyone.”

“That’s too bad.”

The deal fell through.

I sighed and dipped my body into the hot spring.

Then, suddenly, an idea came to me, and I spoke up.

“Since I made the first offer, you can’t give the magic to someone else, right? I’ll definitely find the Holy Grail.”

“You think there’s anyone other than you who can trade magic?”

“You never know.”

“Ruina, I’ve got a brilliant idea. Let’s take the hot spring water, bottle it, and sell it somewhere else. What do you think?”

“You really only think about making a huge profit, don’t you?”

“That’s considered praise in the merchant world.”

“You actually meant it as a compliment?”

Selling hot spring water sounds like a pretty good idea.

Water doesn’t spoil easily, so it would be easy to transport.

“But there are two problems. First, is there even anyone who would buy it? Second, even if there is a buyer, would they really believe that the water you brought is from the hot spring?”

“That’s a technical matter, Ruina. As the one who’s preparing for it, I’ll handle that part.”

With that, Chris extended his hand.

I tilted my head.

What does this mean?

Well, when in doubt, just do whatever feels right.

I placed my index and middle fingers on Chris’s hand.

Then, I crawled.

Chris blinked.

“Ruina? What are you doing?”

“I’m crawling like an ant.”

“That’s a big ant.”

“The feeling is like an ant.”

“Really? I think so… No, that’s not it. Luina, we need to invest. Stop playing like an ant.”

Investment.

I considered the reality of the business Chris had set up.

Hmm…

“It seems like it would be difficult?”

“Why?”

“Even if people are interested in hot spring water, it’s hard to believe it’s real. They might think it’s a scam, and no one would buy it, right?”

“That’s where technology comes in.”

“Here’s the deal. Try to sell me the hot spring water right now. If I’m convinced, I’ll invest.”

Chris’s plan completely relied on his technology.

So, if he wanted investment, he had to prove how exceptional that technology was.

At my words, Chris suddenly changed his expression and picked up a glass of honey wine.

“This is hot spring water from a resort town. It’s famous for its healing springs, so you know it without me saying.”

“Is it the hot spring water from Belmont Winterhaven?”

“Yes.”

“How can I believe it’s real?”

“This is the hot spring ingredient certificate from the Alchemy Guild in Belmont Winterhaven. Isn’t it funny not to bring the hot spring water after going all the way there?”

“I’ll invest.”

“Excellent choice, Luina.”

I handed Chris 150 gold coins, my spare money.

Chris grinned and reviewed the business plan.

“Don’t approach this long-term. It’s easy to copy, so the trend will fade quickly.”

“I guess we need to invest in equipment with the minimum amount of money.”

“No. We should invest properly first, then sell the equipment along with the idea’s price to the latecomers.”

“Really, it’s a devilish plan that would make even the god of money run away in fear.”

“That’s not exactly a compliment in the merchant world, Luina.”

“It’s not a compliment this time.”

Who am I working with?

I felt a bit scared.

“You’ll be busy preparing everything, starting with the ingredient certificate. What will you do, Luina?”

“I’ll continue the research.”

“Are you going to enjoy a hot spring bath?”

“For us, that’s research.”

I picked up the honey wine glass that Chris had set down and drank.

The sweetness soaked into my body.

“Alright. I’ll go prepare.”

“Please let me know the progress.”

Chris left the inn and went outside.

I put a pipe in my mouth and then spoke to Leon, who had been quiet until now.

“Leon.”

There was no response.

He seemed lost in deep thought.

I tapped the desk and spoke again.

“Leon?”

“Yes? What is it?”

“What are you thinking so deeply about? Is it about the mission assigned to you again?”

“…I was thinking about the next destination.”

“Already?”

When I asked in surprise, Leon nodded.

“I think this might be another wasted trip.”

“We’ve only been here for a day.”

“Even so, don’t you feel something?”

Indeed.

For a holy grail to be buried in Winterhaven, the effects of the hot spring were too insignificant.

To be honest, I felt nothing.

“If the holy grail was really buried here, the hot spring would have turned into a recovery potion, right?”

“If even half of the holy grail legend is true, it should be like that.”

“It’s highly unlikely.”

I fiddled with my fingers.

The burn scars from the fire brushed against my fingertips.

Should I switch to Chris Coin, not Leon Coin?

Given his momentum, I feel like he’ll cover medical expenses within half a year, right?

No, I shouldn’t get complacent.

The other party is Chris, the gambling addict.

I never know when I might be left with nothing.

I recalled the old saying, “Don’t put all your eggs in one basket,” and I mumbled to myself.

“But still, it’s only been one day. We haven’t even experienced all the hot springs in Belmont Winterhaven.”

“What do you mean?”

“Let’s investigate all the other hot springs, too. Who knows?”

Anyway, we had to stay in Winterhaven until Chris finished preparing the business.

It wouldn’t be a bad idea to investigate all the hot springs in the meantime.

“Oh, by the way, the hot springs outside this inn are public outdoor baths. What do you think? Do you want to investigate together?”

“……Let’s divide the areas and investigate separately.”

“That does seem more efficient.”