Chapter 23 – The Store’s Expansion (4)

Lina, Adela’s roommate, immediately noticed that something was off with her again.

Until yesterday, Adela had been rolling around on her bed like a madwoman just before falling asleep. Today, however, she sat quietly, lost in thought after returning to the dormitory.

Just ignore her. It’s probably another problem that a sane person couldn’t understand.

Despite her attempts to ignore Adela, she had been giving Lina a forlorn look for several minutes.

“…Sigh. What is it this time, Adela?”

In the end, Lina stepped in, diving into the incomprehensible world of Adela’s mind, as enigmatic as a fifth-tier spatial magic spell.

As expected, Adela had trivial worries, like wishing bread would disappear or her hiccups wouldn’t stop—

“It hurts.”

“Huh?”

“My heart, it hurts.”

At the unexpectedly serious tone, Lina started to genuinely worry about her. She threw off her blanket and approached Adela.

“Really? Did you get hurt?”

“Yes. During the last Magic Competition…”

“Is your wound infected?”

“They said it was healed.”

“Let me see. Come here.”

Lina started unbuttoning Adela’s shirt near the collar. As girls, there was no significant discomfort.

Actually—

Why is there such a difference even though we’re both girls?

Compared to herself, Adela’s chest was significantly larger, causing Lina to sigh deeply from somewhere in her heart.

In any case, even after lifting her blue undergarment slightly, there were no visible injuries. No bruises or wounds.

“It seems fine on the surface… Did something happen today?”

“Yes. Another part-timer started working at the convenience store.”

Please, Adela. The conversation isn’t progressing.

“It was someone I met during the last Magic Competition. A second-year student.”

“Oh~ Senior Liv?”

Come to think of it, Lina vaguely remembered hearing the boys talking about her in the classroom. Top of the year, Baroness Greenwood. Pretty face, and the dispel she showed during the competition was amazing.

“It’s surprising. With her academic excellence, many places must be calling for her, so why is she working at the store?”

“That’s what I’m saying…”

“Anyway, the store owner must be overjoyed.”

“Huh? Why?”

“What do you mean, why…”

Lina looked at Adela as if asking why she was stating the obvious.

“She’s incredibly pretty.”

“……”

“Clearly, he hired her because of her looks. Do you think he’s planning to do something behind the scenes? Ugh…”

At those words, Adela recalled what she had seen earlier that day.

Liv, with her pale face blushing red as she came out to the counter, reminded Adela of herself in the past. It was the same feeling she had after learning a lot of magic.

Her breathing became rough, her legs wobbled, her lower abdomen tickled, and her nose tingled as if she were about to cry.

She had said she hadn’t taught it to anyone else.

Could it be that the teacher…

— Throb!

“Adela? Are you okay!!?”

Clutching her chest, Adela crawled under the blanket as her heart throbbed with pain again. Lina’s concern sounded like a distant echo.

Her heart hurt. It hurt as if it were about to burst.

Her father had said it was something that Rochear should not possess.

Her sister had said that she wanted her to be as sharp as the tip of a spear.

Magic is about assessing the incomprehensible world of higher-order equations with a biased perspective. To achieve the ultimate form of magic, one must cut away all other distractions.

“Ah, uh… haa, haa…”

With her mouth slightly open, gasping for breath, Adela eventually couldn’t sleep. The image of Baroness Liv and Louis reading the same book and smiling at the counter lingered in her mind.

***

There was an early morning visitor.

It was Mark, a member of the Farencia Academy’s security team.

“Louis, did you order all this?”

He pointed to the numerous pieces of lumber and furniture behind him. Seeing the materials filling up three wagons, I felt overwhelmed by the task of organizing them all.

“Yeah. They’re materials for expanding the store.”

“Phew, it’s going to be a lot of work inspecting all these. We have to unload everything.”

“You don’t have to. These are from the Ruhillen Guild.”

“Really? Can you unload all this by yourself?”

I shrugged to indicate that I didn’t need help.

Mark, seemingly finding the prospect of inspecting everything for dangerous items too bothersome, handed me a few documents.

“Check if all the items are here and sign. Did you get permission for the construction from the academy?”

“This is my land.”

“Oh, right. Well, good luck.”

After he left, I carefully began stacking the materials behind the store. Starting with the wood for the pillars and floor, then the teapots, shelves, faucets, tables, and chairs, the quantity was substantial.

I just need to assemble all this bit by bit.

The attached papers had the blueprints and design plans.

Each pillar was three times my height, so it was nothing like assembling simple toys, but given my strength, it wasn’t too difficult. Actually, assembling toys might be harder.

I didn’t need tools.

I pressed nails into the pre-cut outer panels with my thumb and began the work.

Bill must have really paid attention to the materials; each piece was top-notch. Ebony and sandalwood from near Bahran. Even cherry wood with its beautiful reddish hue, all of which were quite expensive.

The money I paid wouldn’t have been enough.

If Darling comes to have tea, I won’t be able to turn her away. It was indeed intricate work, but thinking about the upscale new space the store would have, it seemed worth it.

Thunk! Thud!

The work that started in the morning continued until noon. After roughly assembling the pieces, I erected the main pillars, causing a small boom.

If I worked quickly, I could finish this week. It would take a bit more time before it could start operating normally…

“Boss.”

Engrossed in work, I turned at the sound of someone calling me.

Liv was standing there, holding water and a towel.

“Take a break.”

Is it time for her to start work already?

The store was busiest during lunch and dinner times, so I couldn’t leave it to Liv alone.

Come to think of it, I was getting hungry too.

I got up and took the water she offered.

“Thanks, Baroness.”

“Please, drop the title…”

Drop it, huh. Certainly, Baroness Liv, who doesn’t use… No, who is very shy.

Though she still asked me to stop calling her by her title, her small smile indicated that she didn’t dislike it.

As I wiped my sweat with the towel she gave me, the noon bell rang.

Dong~! Dong~! Dong~!

White doves soared from the clock tower, and a gentle breeze blew.

The flowing robes of students approaching from the opposite building came into view. It would get busy soon, so I needed to wrap up my work.

After finishing a quick wash and wiping the water from my mouth, I told Liv to go ahead and prepare for the upcoming rush.

“It’s going to be busy today. I’ll clean up here and be right in, so go ahead.”

“…”

“Baroness Liv?”

“… Yes!?”

She seemed lost in thought, staring at my face, then startled and nodded quickly.

“Yes, yes. I’ll do that!”

“Please take care of things. As for the towel…”

“I’ll take it.”

“No, I’ll wash it upstairs and return it…”

“I’ll take it.”

Liv, unusually hurried, stepped closer until she was right in front of me.

From the top of her head, I could smell a sweet, woody fragrance of blackberries and cedarwood.

Her black shoes and stockings highlighted her apron tied tightly around her waist, showing off a figure so slender it seemed one hand could wrap around it.

“I-I’ll go first.”

While I was distracted, she took the towel from around my neck and quickly disappeared into the store before I could stop her.

I guess she didn’t want to leave her belongings with me.

I hadn’t finished wiping yet.

***

In the two largest countries on the continent, the Kingdom of Pennheim and the Holy Kingdom of Monark, the worship of Hela, the God of Light, was widespread.

Expanding to the southern Duchy of Bahran and the eastern Sachel Confederacy, many other religions existed, but none were as powerful.

Thus, even in Pennheim, often at diplomatic odds with Monark, temples of the God of Light were scattered throughout the capital and other cities.

The role of the clerics there was to treat patients who came to the temples.

Among them, priests were known for primarily handling <Healing Spells> and <Holy Magic>, the most representative of White Magic.

At the Temple of Light located north of Farencia, Ansen opened his eyes.

What he sensed was the white marble floor, the smell of disinfectant, and the overwhelming pain that had driven him to the brink of death.

“Ugh, aaagh!!!”

Ansen screamed, and priests gathered around him. Healing spells and potions from their hands covered his entire body, allowing him to catch his breath and look around.

A young deacon approached and sprinkled holy water on him.

“Are you alright?”

“Ugh, wheeze… Where am I…”

“This is the Farencia branch of the Temple of Light. You were brought here about a month ago in an unconscious state.”

A month? It felt like just yesterday he attended the entrance ceremony, but suddenly a month had passed?

Ansen struggled to remember what had happened to him, but only horrifying darkness occupied his mind.

As if he never wanted to recall it again.

No, no. I definitely…

He struggled with his memories until he finally recalled a scene just before losing consciousness.

He had ordered Adela Silvesta to steal bread.

He had drawn his sword behind the school building.

“Damn it…”

Right. His last memory was meeting that bitch Adela.

Surely she had used black magic on him when he let his guard down.

“Move. I’m going back to the academy.”

“You need more rest.”

“I said get out of my way!!!”

Staggering, Ansen got out of bed, gritting his teeth.

Then he headed to Farencia Academy to seek revenge.