Chapter 23
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 23
Chapter Title: Needless Stubbornness Isn't Good, Sis
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"Needless stubbornness isn't good for you, Sis."
A street in the empire.
I took a deep breath in this bustling street where people had been hurrying about since morning.
"So this is the empire..."
I could feel just how stark the wealth gap was between here and Binhel Village, right down to my bones.
Unlike the shabby, crude Binhel Village, the empire's streets were lined with elegant buildings.
A pastry shop wafting sweet scents, a boutique selling clothes adorned with colorful jewels I'd never seen before. I could easily spend the whole day just wandering around.
But that wasn't an option.
I'd come here today as a merchant.
The spot where I stood was a street densely packed with small stalls partitioned off by tents.
Passersby strolled along, eyeing each stall with curious glances.
This was a street managed by the Ergon Merchant Association.
Anyone who wanted to sell could pay a stall fee and rent a small spot from them.
The space you got was just big enough for an adult man to stretch his arms out and barely touch the edges, but it was plenty for displaying goods.
The fee was 30 lunes per hour. Not cheap, but not outrageously expensive either.
If I could sell all the herbs I'd brought, I'd make a decent profit on the way home.
"Please take good care of me today, Sierra."
I bowed my head to the tall beauty standing by my side.
"The pleasure's mine, Miss."
She had snow-white short hair and bowed back with an expressionless face.
She was the personal maid Roselia had assigned to me.
The dagger strapped firmly to her waist suggested she was more than just a maid. She might even be part of some shadowy organization Roselia secretly ran.
'It was called the Black Blood Unit, right?'
A force that handled the dirty work hidden under the count family's vast shadow. A group Roselia had personally created for the archbishop's demise.
'Best not to dwell on it.'
It was a world that didn't suit me. My dreams ran counter to Roselia's path anyway.
"Heave-ho."
I hauled the sack I'd brought onto the table.
I spread a red cloth over the table and neatly arranged the bundles of herbs I'd prepared in advance.
Then I pulled out the signboard I'd made for hanging up.
The placard read that I was selling a remedy to aid deep sleep.
But I hit an unexpected snag right away. I was too short to reach the sign.
I stood on my tiptoes and stretched, but my fingertips were still far from the hook.
"I'll take care of it."
At that moment, Sierra took the placard and hung it up for me.
"Ah... thank you."
"Not at all."
Thanks to her help, I finished setting up quickly.
Finally, I hung a black cloth beside the stall. It was a sign that business was open.
I'd brought ten bundles of herbs, priced at 50 lunes each.
Once word spread and trust in the effects built up, I planned to raise the price bit by bit.
It was ten times what I'd sold for in Binhel Village, but considering that swindler merchant bought them for 50 and sold for 500, this was reasonable.
Charging 500 lunes for basic herbs with a touch of divine power would prick my conscience. For now, 50 lunes felt right.
"May I ask what that book is?"
Sierra pointed to the thick book in the corner. It was one I'd brought along separately.
"Oh, this? It's a basic book on magic."
"Magic?"
"Yeah. I borrowed it from the count family's library."
Of course, I'd paid the proper fee.
Roselia had said I could use the library freely, but accepting that kind of favor without compensation wasn't my style.
"Are you interested in magic?"
"Yes, I am."
To be honest, I still couldn't shake the romantic allure of magic.
And above all, I wanted to knock smug Camilla down a peg. She'd looked down on me.
I vowed that one day, even if I had to read every book in the count family's library, I'd make a flame dance in my hand.
Besides, selling these herb bundles would take time anyway.
This wasn't Binhel Village. It was the empire's most prosperous commercial district, a street with everything you could want.
Sleep incense like mine was probably sold everywhere, in packaging far fancier than what I had.
It'd be fierce competition.
But I was confident no one could match my herbs' effects.
I had divine power on my side, after all.
'Heh, even Roselia was impressed.'
As I waited for my first customer,
I sat down with a confident smile and opened the magic book to its first page.
※
The bright sunlight gradually faded, and as red sunset hues began dyeing the street in the dim evening twilight,
with the sun setting, the merchant street—which had been crowded all day—grew much quieter.
"...Sierra, how much time has passed?"
"Five hours, Miss."
I slowly looked at the herb bundles on the table.
I'd prepared ten. And there were still ten sitting untouched on the table.
Five hours gone, and not a single one sold.
'...Was the price too high?'
I'd started at 50 lunes, planning to raise it once word spread.
But forget 50—I was wondering if I should lower it.
I'd been so sure my effects were unmatched...
People just glanced at the herbs and walked on without interest.
'Maybe package them prettier...?'
Of course, I hadn't expected them to fly off the shelves like in Binhel.
But zero sales? I hadn't seen that coming.
The stall fee alone today was 150 lunes. For someone as strapped as me, it was a painful loss.
"We should head back now, Miss."
It stung to give up like this, but with sunset, I couldn't push my luck.
"Yeah... let's go."
I listlessly started gathering the herb bundles from the table.
As I did, Sierra, who was helping pack, glanced naturally at the magic book on the board.
"...You only read two pages in six hours?"
Startled by her words, I hurriedly closed the book and shoved it into my bag.
"I thought you were really focused."
Sierra's face was calm, but mine flushed red.
"Wh-what can I do? It's hard to understand..."
"Shall I ask Madam Countess to assign you a magic tutor?"
"N-no! I want to do it alone. And I'm not that serious about magic anyway."
"You seemed pretty into it, though."
"Ahaha... Oh, right!"
I quickly changed the subject, pulling some lunes from my inner pocket and offering them to Sierra.
"Here's your pay for today. Thanks for your hard work."
"Pardon?"
Sierra stared blankly at the money I'd handed her.
"You guarded me all day. Please take it."
"I was just doing my job. The family already compensates me for that."
"Still, I owe you personally. Take it, please."
"It's fine."
"Please...?"
Sierra looked flustered.
We quietly bickered over the money for a while.
In the end, worn down by my persistence, she sighed and held out her hand.
"...Haa, thank you."
"Thank you. Looking forward to tomorrow."
If she'd refused to the end, I'd have felt uneasy all day.
"In return, I'll answer any questions you have about magic."
Her unexpected offer made my eyes widen as I stared at her.
"Sierra, you can use magic?"
"To some extent, yes."
"Th-then... can you make fire in your hand?"
Sierra nodded quietly and held out her palm to me.
Faint smoke rose, and soon a small flame flickered to life in her hand.
"Wow... how'd you do that?"
"Anyone at the beginner level of mana and elemental control can manage this."
"Can... I do it too?"
I dreaded the answer but clung to a sliver of hope.
"Even someone with average mana could do this much."
Her positive reply blew away my disappointment over zero sales in an instant.
"Yes. Could you hold out your hand for a moment?"
"Ah, are you... going to touch it?"
"Yes. I'll give you a tip on mana flow."
I hesitated at her cautious response.
Her intentions were clearly to help, but direct contact still felt daunting.
Yet this could be my chance to get closer to magic.
[Needless stubbornness isn't good for you, Sis.]
Camilla's voice flashed in my mind, and I bit my lip.
"...Here."
I tentatively balled my fist and offered it to her.
"Then, pardon me."
Sierra's palm gently covered my hand.
My nerves stood on end, and nausea slowly built in my gut.
"Ugh..."
Breathlessness made my breathing ragged.
My body began to tremble.
"Are you alright, Miss?"
She sounded worried, noticing my state.
"I-I'm fine... just hurry..."
Sierra closed her eyes, focusing deeply.
A tickle started at my fingertips, then a violent surge flipped my insides.
I couldn't bear it and yanked my hand away on reflex.
Startled by my sudden move, Sierra opened her eyes and looked at me quietly.
"Sorry... it just felt weird all of a sudden..."
She said nothing.
Was it my imagination? Her gaze seemed a bit dimmer.
"How was it?"
The awkward silence dragged, making me uneasy.
Sierra, lips pursed, finally spoke.
"You should give up on magic."
"What?"
"I tried drawing out your mana naturally, but it was like hitting a wall. No response."
"What does that mean?"
"You have a congenital condition blocking mana discharge. It's not uncommon, so don't worry too much, but..."
Sierra continued as calmly as she could.
"It's best if you give up on magic..."
But a flicker of pity lingered in her eyes.
It couldn't be helped.
If I couldn't discharge mana, no amount of effort would summon a single spark.
Camilla had been right.
She'd known all along.
"Aw, too bad. I wanted to try magic at least once."
I forced a bright smile, closed the magic book, and tucked it into my bag.
Then I fished a few more lunes from my pocket and handed them to Sierra.
"Thanks so much for telling me. It's not much, but please take it as thanks."
"Pardon? No, Miss, it's fine."
Sierra paled and waved her hands.
"Please take it."
I insisted, pushing the money into her hands.
Finally, she accepted the pouch with a bewildered look.
Offering her this small token eased the tightness in my chest a little.
Only then could I leave the little stall behind.
"No sales today, but tomorrow I'll sell every last one."
"I'll be by your side."
"Hehe, thanks."
Fingering the magic book in my bag,
I turned my steps back toward the Rahel Tani estate.