Chapter 20: Winter Preparations(3)

“So, after the commission, how much is it?”
“120 gold.”

Lucy’s jaw dropped at the astronomical figure. The low-grade magic stones she used for her research typically cost one or two gold each. She had expected, at most, 30 or 40 gold.

“Thanks to you, Lucy, I’ve made an incredible deal. This has been a real step up for my career as a merchant.”
“…Glad to hear it.”
“I’ll process the payment now.”

Lucy nodded, still somewhat stunned. Gleaming gold coins poured into Lucy’s dimensional pocket.

“Could I ask you something, Elif?”
“Anything at all. I’ll answer to the best of my ability.”
“Is there any way I could find out who the buyer was?”

At Lucy’s question, Elif shook his head with a troubled look.

“I’m afraid I can’t disclose that.”
“A confidentiality agreement, perhaps?”
“Indeed. I hope you understand.”

The magic stone Lucy had brought in had been the talk of the town amongst the city’s mages and gossipmongers for weeks. Where it came from, who would acquire it, the final bidding price… With an item like this, revealing the buyer’s identity would invite unwanted attention.

“…I imagine you received a hefty sum for your silence?”
“That’s why my commission was so low.”

Elif’s nonchalant reply made sense to Lucy.

‘That explains it.’

No merchant would willingly take a loss. A higher commission might have driven Lucy to another merchant, costing Elif this opportunity. He had wisely chosen to secure a smaller cut from Lucy and a larger sum from the deep-pocketed buyer. High-ranking mages, protective of their research, would have readily agreed to Elif’s terms and the confidentiality agreement.

“How much did you receive for your silence?”
“I’m afraid I can’t disclose that either.”
“Really? I find that hard to believe.”

Confidentiality agreements were strong, but they were also convenient excuses. Discerning truth from falsehood required complex magic.

Which was why a simpler, more direct approach was favored in the back alleys.

‘Torture until they talk.’

It was likely an exaggeration, but effective nonetheless, especially if the target wasn’t a VIP. A lie would crumble quickly, and if a confidentiality agreement truly bound them, well, there was a simple solution to that.

“Alright, I’ll take your word for it.”

Lucy, having no intention of torturing Elif, her regular contact, stood up.

“Thank you for your understanding.”
“Just to be sure, you didn’t mention my involvement in acquiring the stone, did you?”
“Certainly not. You yourself could invoke a confidentiality agreement if needed—”
“I’ll pass. They’re not as foolproof as they seem.”

Lucy shook her head, remembering Bern, the demonic beast hunter from Asha Village who had provided the stone. Despite a contract heavily in her favor, unforeseen circumstances had caused her considerable headaches. She was beginning to understand all the jokes about mages who placed too much faith in contracts.

“And they’re quite expensive to implement properly.”
“After the fortune you’ve just made?”
“It’s not all mine. Anyway, I should go. See you again, Elif. May the Goddess’s grace be with you.”
“May you return even wealthier next time, Lucy.”

Invoking the Goddess’s grace was a common farewell, but among merchants, such materialistic variations were frequent. Honest, conscientious merchants rarely made fortunes.

“…I can’t believe it.”

Lucy mumbled to herself as she left the Exchange, a dazed expression on her face.

120 gold.
Enough to fund her research lavishly for three years.

Of course, she wouldn’t keep the entire sum.

‘…I get to keep 24 gold.’

Her commission for selling the magic stone was set at 20%. The remaining 80% belonged to Bern.

‘It’s practically free money, so I can’t complain…’

But the thought of returning to Asha Village filled her with dread. The children would inevitably swarm her.

That part wasn’t so bad. Despite her usual grumbling, Lucy was soft-hearted and enjoyed playing with them.

The problem was the otherworldly being amongst them. She didn’t want to stick her head in the monster’s mouth again, but if something happened while she entrusted the matter to someone else, she would be held responsible.

There was no helping it.
Lucy sighed and started walking.

In the center of the city stood a towering structure that scraped the sky.
500 years ago, during the postwar reconstruction, mages had competed to build the tallest magic towers.

There seemed to have been some magical reason for it back then, but to Lucy, it just looked like the result of an ego contest.
The fools from the Southern Magic Tower, in particular, always mocked the mages of the Eastern Magic Tower, boasting that their tower was five stories taller.

“It’s just a longer climb.”

Lucy entered the tower and sighed as she began her ascent up the stairs.

Even for a young mage like her, reaching the fourth floor was tiring, so she understood why the elderly Tower Masters rarely left. If the white-haired elders had to go up and down a tower with over 20 floors, their joints would probably give out.

‘Besides, most mages, including myself, are out of shape.’

Lucy arrived at the fourth floor, sweating profusely.
Several young mages chatting in the central hall noticed her, but none acknowledged her.
Or rather, being ignored would have been a blessing. Some of them even openly sneered and mocked her.

It was a familiar experience.

Unlike the scions of mage families with centuries of history, Lucy was just a toddler taking her first steps. It was only natural that no one wanted to associate with her, someone who was unlikely to reach the upper levels of the tower.

Lucy’s earlier excitement evaporated.

She would store the dimensional pocket in her lab’s safe, buy the materials for her next experiment, and then get a nice dinner. That would surely make her feel better.

Thinking this, she opened the door to her lab—

“Hey, Lucy.”

—and a handsome, blond man with a cheerful expression was waiting for her. He greeted her with a bright smile that would make most girls swoon.

“What brings you out today? You already visited that village. Don’t tell me you went on a date with another guy, leaving me behind?”
“I have neither the reason nor the obligation to report my every move to you, Gish.”

Lucy pushed Gish away curtly as he closed the distance between them.

“Ah, you’re the only mage on the fourth floor who’s so cold to me, Lucy.”
“Well, everyone else is a few years below us. You and I are in the same class.”

The mages in Lucy’s class had all secured positions on the sixth floor or higher.
Among them, the exceptionally talented Gish was rumored to be moving up to the 10th floor soon.
They had been quite close as apprentice mages, but now, Lucy intentionally kept her distance.

“What, are you here to mock the dropout again?”
“Lucy, you’re too hard on yourself. You never know what life might bring. The world is vast, and the possibilities are endless!”

Gish encouraged Lucy with a bright smile. She usually found his constant optimism nauseating, almost as if he were deliberately trying to annoy her with his fake friendliness.

“…Perhaps.”

But having encountered a being that defied common sense just two weeks ago, Lucy couldn’t dismiss Gish’s words outright.

“Oh! You’re being unusually positive today, Lucy. Did something happen?”
“Nothing much. Just a change of heart.”

Lucy said so and sat down on the old single bed in a corner of her lab.

“So, what is it? If you’re just here to spout nonsense, get lost.”
“No, it’s not that. I have something to tell you.”

Despite Lucy’s sharp tone, Gish maintained his friendly smile and stated his business.

“Professor Clear Pel is looking for assistants. It’s short-term, and the pay is good. It might be a bit dangerous, but everyone knows Professor Pel’s skills, right? A dungeon exploration will be a piece of cake for him.”
“…I’ll pass.”
“Isn’t your financial situation getting a bit precarious?”

It seemed this kind-hearted, blond classmate had come to find her a suitable job.
Normally, Lucy would have snapped at him, telling him not to pity her.

“I recently completed a job, so I’m fine for a while.”
“Really? That’s great.”

Despite his wasted trip, Gish smiled brightly and continued.

“I’ll leave the notice here just in case. You can never have too many friends or too much money.”
“…Whatever.”

Gish remained unfazed by Lucy’s curt reply.

“Then I’ll be going. Make sure you eat properly.”
“Don’t worry about me.”

Gish flung open the lab door and stepped out. Several younger female mages were waiting for him, their faces flushed.

She heard them talking about baked cookies and returning favors. Some of them shot Lucy jealous glances through the gap in the door while Gish was talking to another girl.

‘…It’s not like that.’

Lucy clicked her tongue, stood up, and shoved Gish, who had stopped in the doorway. She then slammed the door shut and locked it.

The girls’ clamor could be heard from outside, but Lucy ignored them, returned to her safe, deposited the dimensional pocket, and lay back down on the bed.

“…Should I leave tomorrow?”

She had longed for this place while she was away, but now that she was back, she felt a strange sense of loneliness.

She felt more at peace in Asha Village—

“No.”

The moment Avalli’s face came to mind, Lucy shook her head, rejecting the thought.

“…I really don’t want to go.”

But she had to.
That’s how life was.