Chapter 24 – The Store’s Expansion (5)

Liv Labre was busy working at the counter:

— “Ten hippogriff feathers and a bundle of Lit-Vice exam papers. That’ll be 1 gold and 50 silver.”

— “Bread? This morning, we have sausage bread, pizza bread, and red bean bread left.”

— “I’m sorry, I’m not available this evening.”

— “I can’t make it tomorrow evening either. Nor at lunchtime.”

— “I don’t plan to join the salon. Are you going to pay?”

— “Haha… Please inquire about that at the counter during off-peak hours!”

Adela, watching her from a corner of the store, couldn’t understand Louis’s decision to hire Liv.

Why her when I’m better in every way?

Adela had done her own investigation. Liv Labre de Greenwood. Just a baroness, with no territory, no merchant guild, and no knightly order. The Greenwood name wasn’t even well-known. The Greenwood Forest was classified as a restricted area at the edge of the Lavierre Mountains, a place no one could inhabit.

There was no way she had much money. The only accessory she wore was a cheap scrunchie tying up her long hair. A student overflowing with money wouldn’t work at a store. Maybe she had another purpose, but—

“Bread, please.”

“Which kind would you like?”

“Two sausage breads on the far left.”

Up close, her face wasn’t particularly pretty. Her hands, as she bagged the bread, were smooth, and she sold the items with a composed expression. Though there were numerous letters piled next to the cash register, it didn’t matter.

Someone like her wouldn’t have many friends.

She seemed like the type to spend all day in the library.

“Liv! Are you really working here?”

“Karen, if you want to buy something, get in line.”

“Come on, join Professor Fablet’s lab with me. Working here must be tough.”

“Not really. The boss takes good care of me.”

She probably didn’t have many friends…

“Hello, Senior Liv! I watched you in the Magic Competition!”

“Thank you. What’s your name?”

“I’m Charlotte, and this is Scala! We both just started this year!”

Many friends…

“Liv Labre, fancy seeing you here. You ran off last time, which surprised me. Did you get the result you wanted?”

“Oh, Professor Glatos. Thank you for last time. If you’re talking about the Lit-Vice exam papers… I’m not sure.”

“I told you to make sure you recorded it. Even students like you make mistakes. Well, alright. Can you give me a cigarette?”

…not likely…

Standing in line at the register, Adela felt herself shrink a little.

Meanwhile, Liv, who was packaging the bread, also remembered Adela. The girl who had caused her magic to go haywire during the competition. Whether it was intentional or a mistake, it had led to the first years’ victory. Consequently, she couldn’t win the prize money and had to work at the store to avoid going broke. She didn’t mind that particularly, but—

“That’ll be 6 silver.”

“Here.”

As they exchanged money and bread, their gazes met awkwardly.

Adela was the first to speak. “Lately, it takes a long time to buy things.”

“Yes, the number of customers has increased.”

Liv answered calmly, despite the implication in Adela’s question that she might not be doing her job well.

She looked down at Adela’s floating cape and commented. “Isn’t that a lot? Two pieces of bread for one person.”

Indeed, the bread sold at the store wasn’t as fancy as those from a high-end bakery but rather from a common bakery frequented by Farencia’s commoners. They weren’t gourmet, but the portions were large enough that it was unusual for a girl to eat more than one at a time.

“I’m not eating alone.”

“Then?”

“I’m going to eat with Mr. Louis.”

At Adela’s bold response, Liv’s expression hardened slightly.

“The boss is busy. Also, it’s dangerous behind the store with all the materials piled up, so you shouldn’t go there.”

“Dangerous?”

Adela laughed lightly. Then, pointing to the Order of Merit medal on her chest, she said, “I’m a Rochear.”

She had never done this before and it was against academy rules to flaunt one’s lineage. But Adela didn’t care. What did it matter if the new part-timer was popular? The only one making her heart race was one person.

But—

“In that case, you should know better.”

Liv wasn’t fazed. Instead, she seemed almost disdainful. Everyone at the academy knew Adela Silvesta’s reputation.

“That your actions don’t befit the Rochear name.”

***

Labor is truly enjoyable.

Expanding the store was, of course, for money, but it also satisfied my personal sense of achievement. Seeing the building take shape brought a catharsis I hadn’t felt even during my days as a hero.

With this, I’m a step closer to becoming an absolute figure admired by everyone on Earth. A three-story apartment. The first floor with a store. A small cafe on the side. Lovely part-timers and a crowd of customers.

My former comrades would envy me for achieving my dream.

“Teacher~”

Adela approached me as I was busy with construction. We hadn’t had much interaction since the Magic Competition, but she still called me teacher. I had no intention of being her teacher.

Using Magic Pressure a few times didn’t improve Adela’s fundamental magic skills, and besides, I had almost killed her by accident when her magic went haywire and she collapsed from water exposure.

One mistake was enough. Most people, especially students at the academy, weren’t as tough as my comrades. A fact I must never forget.

“What’s up?”

“Do you want some bread? It’s almost lunchtime, aren’t you hungry?”

Did she even remember the incident? Whether she did or not, she kept coming to see me.

Come to think of it, it was almost noon. From 12 o’clock, things would get busy. Both Liv and I needed to eat before then. Even on Earth, a part-timer at a convenience store would at least get a proper meal.

I couldn’t allow Liv to make do with bread from the store. Given her personality, even if I gave her a food allowance, she’d probably save it rather than buy meals. So, I decided to make some simple food upstairs and bring it down for her.

“I’m fine. You bought it, so you eat it.”

“But…”

“You paid for it, right? If you steal again, I’ll hunt you down to the ends of the continent.”

I dusted off my hands and patted Adela’s head lightly.

As I was about to leave, she grabbed my sleeve. “Teacher…”

“Yeah?”

“Do you… prefer smart people?”

Generally speaking, yes. The kind of person I wanted to support was clear, as I’d mentioned before. Someone who studies hard or fights diligently.

Looking back, it wasn’t just about being smart or not. People who work hard at whatever they do shine on their own. At the academy, this often manifests in magic or swordsmanship.

“Well, it’s preferable.”

That didn’t mean I thought less of Adela. Everyone’s ideal type is different. Adela has her own lively charm. Personally, I thought if she wore a refined dress at a social gathering, she’d get a flood of marriage proposals.

A little more modesty would be perfect. Sitting with hands folded, looking at me quietly like now—

“Anyway, it’s dangerous here, so come back later. You could get hurt.”

Feeling a strange mix of pity and protective instinct, I quickly left. I scratched the back of my head as I walked away.

***

Adela watched from the window as Louis gestured to the second floor, signaling to Liv.

Baroness Liv, her face reddening, eventually placed an “Out of Office” sign on the counter and went inside.

A nauseating feeling churned in Adela’s stomach. She gripped the bread bag tightly, almost tearing it.

She knew it. No one would ever like a foolish person like her. She knew she hadn’t lived up to the Rochear name. But all those things were her choices.

Walking unsteadily, Adela bumped into someone.

“Oh, I’m sorry…”

“Hey.”

She looked up to see Ansen, his face twisted in anger, glaring at her. Without a word, he dragged her to a secluded spot.

Thud!

A kick without warning.

As Adela fell, Ansen stomped on her repeatedly.

“You bitch, you screwed me over!? Do you want to die!?”

“……”

Ansen’s violence didn’t hurt at all. The only pain was in her heart, which kept throbbing.

Thud!

“Guh…”

As she rolled on the dirty ground, not making a single sound of pain, Ansen sensed something was wrong. Had he hit a dangerous spot?

Pulling back her blue hair, Ansen saw her lifeless eyes and felt a twinge of fear. She seemed like a different person than the half-wit he thought she was.

“Damn. Did you lose your mind?”

“……”

“Whatever, brace yourself. I don’t know what trick you used, but I’ll destroy you and that store owner. Got it?”

Spitting one last time, Ansen left.

After he was gone, Adela slowly got up. Touching the bruised and pressed spots, a sharp pain shot through her. A bit more, and she might have needed hospitalization.

“Ow…”

Adela took a deep breath and looked at the sky, reflecting on her life up to this point.

The smile of her elder sister, always warm, had disappeared the moment she inherited the unique magic of Rochear. In its place was a cold, piercing gaze that could strike fear into anyone.

Young Adela had thought, seeing her sister become that way, that someday her heart might be torn out as well if she continued down the same path.

Tap, tap, tap.

Footsteps approached, not the sound of the mandated uniform shoes or boots, but of worn slippers.

Adela hastily stood up. She couldn’t be discovered like this. No matter how much her heart ached, she had to hide it. She had to marry a noble of at least a count’s rank and escape Rochear.

Dusting off her hat and straightening the Order of Merit medal on her chest, Adela turned to face Louis.

“There you are. I made some pasta; want to eat… What happened to you?”

“Hehe, I tripped while walking.”

Purely saying it like an idiot.