A Lucky Day
“…It’s not that I don’t trust you two—it’s just that I can’t believe it.”
The Alchemy Guild alchemist waved his hands awkwardly at Veronica and my master. His flustered gaze soon turned to me. I shrugged, and his face shifted to one that said, Is that right…? He cleared his throat with a loud ahem and finally spoke.
“Since there’s no precedent for this… could you wait just a bit longer? For now, we’ll hold off on revoking your qualifications.”
So that means I’ll have to come back here someday. It also meant sticking around the capital until it was officially recognized. A total pain in every way.
“Isn’t there some other way?”
“As I just said, this is the first case like this…”
“Just say she drank a beastkin transformation potion and grew a tail and ears—problem solved.”
“Do you really think that’s the same thing?”
“What’s the difference?”
The man clutched his temple like his head was throbbing and muttered under his breath.
“It kinda… does make sense…”
“What was that?”
“…Nothing.”
My back-and-forth with the guild alchemist—who clearly hated the hassle as much as I did—was dragging on interminably. But it fizzled out anticlimactically thanks to an unexpected interloper.
“Then… what if I vouched for her?”
I turned at the familiar voice. There stood Claire, her chestnut hair swaying gently, dressed in neat yet strangely provocative attire that stirred something primal.
Veronica muttered in a daze.
“…Claire?”
Claire gave a faint smile and waved lightly at Veronica.
“Long time no see.”
After a quick greeting with Veronica, Claire slipped behind me and gripped my shoulders.
“Wearing such a… nostalgic outfit?”
She murmured that, then addressed the guild alchemist.
“I’ll vouch that this girl is Astarote Asha.”
“…You’re serious?”
“Of course. She and I… well, her now, I suppose… go way back. And I met her recently—confirmed it myself.”
With that, the matter wrapped up in an instant. Who would argue when a saintess—not just any priestess—was putting her name on the line?
“I’ll contact you soon.”
Claire whispered that, then vanished as abruptly as she’d appeared, claiming she had business elsewhere.
Who knew that last encounter would pay off like this. I had no idea why she was at the guild, but good was good. Her promise to reach out soon gave me slight pause, but recalling our day at the temple, it probably wouldn’t be anything major.
“…Well, it worked out somehow.”
“Yeah.”
Master puffed on her spirit grass with a dissatisfied frown. I kept quiet, sensing it’d be unwise to poke the bear.
“…I’m off to check on the old fogeys for a bit.”
“Take care.”
Once I saw off the grumpy master, Veronica and I were alone. I’d left Cecil back at the workshop with Claudia, just in case.
So, now what? Maybe go buy some clothes? I couldn’t keep wandering around like this.
“While Master’s talking, wanna grab some clothes…?”
I muttered, but Veronica replied,
“Why not browse the guild archives while we’re here?”
“…We could buy clothes first. Now that I can come and go freely.”
“No need to go back and forth—it’s a hassle. …Not wrong, but… it’s kinda embarrassing.”
Veronica was being stubbornly persistent. Fine, we’d check the materials and go.
“Alright. Let’s do that.”
“Good.”
My legs ached in these ill-fitting shoes, but enduring just for today would end it. I followed Veronica to the guild’s reading room, packed with books and documents.
The familiar scent of old paper. Money smelled better, but this wasn’t bad now and then.
We split up to browse. Amid the rustling pages, a commotion stirred. Frowning, I peeked over— a group in academy uniforms. All girls, by chance. Observing closely, they seemed to be alchemy department students, looking distressed over some snag.
Come to think of it, academy students could use this place too? My memory was fuzzy. Probably? Graduating the alchemy department basically meant joining the guild anyway.
I watched my unfamiliar juniors fondly for a moment until our eyes met. I gave an awkward smile; she tilted her head and approached. A striking girl with honey-gold blonde hair.
“Don’t recognize you…?”
Obviously. I might as well not have existed.And believe it or not, I’m your senior. Formerly a guy? …Couldn’t say that outright.
She stared, then grabbed my hand and dragged me to her group.
“H-Hey, wait a sec.”
“Come help quick—we’re screwed on this assignment otherwise.”
“Actually, I’m…”
I hemmed and hawed, but got swept into their midst. A sweet fragrance wafted. Despite it, the girls—dark circles under their eyes—were deep in serious debate, papers strewn everywhere.
Sandwiched awkwardly among them, I glanced at the materials. Familiar stuff. Yep, alchemy department for sure. Digging deeper, memories surfaced. A notoriously tough professor’s group project. Around my second year?
I found myself scribbling solutions from recollection. Snapping to, every girl was staring. I flinched, trembling under their gazes. The blonde who’d dragged me slung an arm around me, bouncing excitedly. Soft flesh jiggled against my cheek.
“You’re smart! Why didn’t you say so sooner?!”
Well… I’d basically soloed it back then since no one cooperated, so it stuck. No time to explain amid their cheers—the assignment was done. The librarian shooed them out. His weary face suggested this wasn’t the first rodeo; he eyed them warily.
As they gathered their things and trudged out, he turned to me.
“…Why haven’t you left?”
“…Huh?”
I got booted too. Outside, the exiled students waited, grinning and tugging my hand.
“Perfect timing—we were heading out anyway. Let’s hit the café.”
“…Café?”
Café? Like, with coffee? When did that pop up? …Not the point.
“W-Wait, someone’s waiting for me…”
“No prob! It’s right nearby—just a quick stop!”
“Yeah, our treat.”
Their treat? Hmm… maybe tag along briefly. Not because it was free. Pure curiosity. With Korean restaurants around, a café wasn’t far-fetched. Weird it hadn’t shown up sooner.
With mild intrigue, I let them lead me into the café just across from the guild. Welcoming coffee aroma hit first. Cozy interior, nothing fancy. The rowdy group ordered haphazardly and pulled me to a window seat.
“Picked for you—cool?”
“Uh… yeah.”
As I scanned the place, coffee and slice cake arrived. Sipping, I sensed an odd vibe. The initiating blonde seemed the group’s core. Her elegant coffee hold screamed noble—rough around the edges. A few others too; the rest commoners, maybe.
Not foolproof from coffee etiquette, but experience shows. Rare sight even at the academy, where nobles and commoners usually didn’t mix—like oil and water. Credit to the blonde leader for bridging that.
Rare, but not impossible. I sipped my delicious coffee, watching them chatter happily.
The blonde grinned sheepishly and addressed me.
“We’ve been hogging the convo, huh?”
“…It’s fine.”
No words from me anyway.
“But seriously, who are you? Never seen pink hair like that in class—so pretty.”
“…Hm.”
How to answer? Active student? Nah, grad. Ex-guy, body changed, borrowing uniform sans clothes? Dragged here by chance… Tricky.
“Doesn’t matter who—just glad you saved our assignment.”
“True.”
Suddenly, all eyes on me.
“Your hair’s so silky—what’s your secret?”
“Hands are insanely soft!”
A bit much.
Then, a fancy carriage halted outside. A blonde woman disembarked. My neighboring blonde shot up, waving from the railing.
“Sis!”
“Step back—it’s dangerous.”
Familiar voice sparked dread. Our eyes met. Blue irises fixed on me, gleaming oddly.