“Dominic! I’m taking on the challenge!”
I extended my palm forward like Dominic did and spread it out.
Then, although it didn’t float up with as much magical power as his, a very small magical circle hovered roundly above my hand.
Good. Children, wait up! I’ll play with all my might!
“It’s not just about receiving goods, but the fact that I can actually make something truly unique!”
I became happy at the thought of honing my talent.
“Now, we’re going to do what we can do.”
“What we can do now?”
“Yes! Let’s quickly try making beer candy!”
Dominic sighed as if the ground was sinking and said.
“Stretch out your hand.”
I quickly extended my hand forward.
“And then imagine making a round sphere above it.”
“A round sphere…”
I stretched out my hand forward and closed my eyes tightly.
What did beer candy look like again…
“Listen carefully. I’ll only say this once.”
Dominic opened his mouth to briefly explain the basics of beginner’s alchemy.
First, obtain the basic ingredients needed to make beer candy. The ingredients must not be in their original form.
For example, you cannot take barley before it is fermented into alcohol to make beer candy.
Second, vividly imagine the design or outline of the beer candy in your mind.
He said that as alchemists, unlike magicians, they don’t need to go through the process of using complicated magical formulas.
Three, feeling the soft white light in my hand, I shoot mana towards the ingredients.
“Alright, I can do it!”
Several hours later.
I stared straight ahead. A cup of fresh beer from an ork barrel, 300cc, with sugar and syrup. With such limited ingredients, a novice magician wouldn’t be able to make candy.
But an alchemist, by definition, is someone who can create something new by adding mana to insufficient ingredients.
Following Dominic’s teachings, I diligently made beer candy…
“All the little bit of mana you had has been depleted.”
The mana was all gone.
“It will take some time for it to replenish, about a day.”
There were ten candies neatly arranged in front of me. Bright yellow candies stuck on sugarcane stalks, topped with soft, fluffy, white jelly.
Seeing the candies made exactly as I envisioned filled me, even without eating them.
But after making just ten, I was drained of mana and felt utterly weak.
So this is what it feels like to have your mana depleted.
“It’s exhausting…”
I muttered, completely melted down.
“I wonder how they taste.”
Then, Dominic naturally picked up one of the candies in front of him and started to crunch on it, responding with a healthy smile.
“The texture is crunchy…”
However, as I quietly listened to Dominic’s critique, I found myself momentarily perplexed.
His voice had become strangely sharp, as if he had inhaled helium gas.
“…You, why does your voice sound like that?”
We stared at each other with wide eyes.
“Ahem, ahem!”
After clearing his throat a few times, Dominic opened his mouth with a realization dawning on his face.
“Earlier, while you were practicing and I was bored, I casually enchanted some candy with whatever magic… Ah, my voice really lacks coolness, doesn’t it?”
I couldn’t help but burst into laughter at Dominic’s squeaky voice.
“To think that I, an adult well over hundreds of years, would fall for a prank meant for kids.”
His long eyes drooped downwards.
I patted him on the back and whispered.
“Hurry up and undo the magic, Dominic.”
I was about to put away the candy when I hesitated.
“Wait, what did you say earlier?”
“Earlier? Did I say I’m great?”
…This guy.
“You said it was a prank kids would like, right?”
Yes… So, kids like this kind of thing, right? Playful, cute, and somewhat childish but something that allows us to have fun together.
I locked eyes with Dominic and whispered seriously.
“Hey, what do you think about selling candies enchanted with simple magic?”
“Simple magic?”
“Yeah, something like a life magic that alters the voice for about a minute. Something simple you can do.”
Three seconds.
It was the moment our gazes crashed into each other. Then, Dominic and I, without any distinctions, jumped up and gave each other a high five.
“How did we do it, are we geniuses?”
“I’ll admit to that.”
Holding two precious beer candies in my hand, I continued talking vigorously.
“Then, I’ll ask Lesa!”
“She’s definitely going to like it.”
I got up vigorously.
Dominic snickered then patted my head as if he were my real brother.
“Be careful out there. If it’s urgent, just call my name in your mind. We’re connected in emergency situations.”
It’s a cool thing to say… but with his high voice, it somehow feels strange.
However, excited about the new idea, I energetically nodded.
“Okay!”
I left our stationery store’s guardian behind and slipped outside.
I need to get confirmation from Lesa quickly, and draft the contract!
***
At that time, Tower Master Isaac was near Meldenik’s stationery shop and the academy.
He stood under the academy’s massive wall with the little magician Henry whom he had brought along.
Officially, they were there to catch a suspect of theft, but to be precise, he was curious about Meldenik. The problem is…
“Finally, it’s my, my first external mission!”
The issue was that a young pimple had sprouted.
Henry’s chubby cheeks swelled up big and then went back in.
Isaac gently rubbed the small forehead of Henry and asked.
“Are you nervous?”
“No! Master Rasmus said so. Just to find out what kind of person it is!”
‘I intended to come alone.’
But Rasmus was strongly opposed.
He thought of Meldenik as a theft suspect, but he was more afraid of what Isaac might do to Meldenik.
Officially, if a Tower Master, belonging to the royal palace, kills a high noble, it could greatly harm the Tower.
‘I have no intention of killing, so such suspicion is a bit unfair.’
Isaac slowly narrowed his eyes and smiled thoughtfully.
“It’s exciting to be out of the tower.”
“Yes, it’s exciting!”
Well, playing with Henry isn’t too bad.
He stood at a distance and stared at the yellow building. Seeing that the sign was also firmly hung, it seemed that they really intended to do business.
According to Rasmus, Meldenik came in front of the academy because he wanted to be friendly with the children.
‘It’s a bit… strange.’
Isaac affectionately stroked the little one’s brown curly hair and replied gently.
“Just have a few words with me.”
You can generally tell what kind of person she is by the way she treats a child who is alone.
Henry, unaware of Isaac’s feelings, pouted his chubby, roe-like lips forward.
“Yes, seducing aged humans is quite an easy task for me.”
At the age of five, famous as a genius and a bookworm, his language development was somewhat slow compared to that.
There were more than a few who underestimated Henry and were put in their place. Among the young wizards of the Mage Tower, he was undeniably one of the top talents.
“Just watch me. Surely, that human won’t be able to resist me.”
Henry’s tiny hand pointed in the distance.
“There it comes. I’ll be on my way.”
“Have a moderate amount of fun.”
“No! Rasmus has strictly told me to investigate thoroughly.”
Isaac tilted his head slightly and chuckled.
“Alright, but don’t harass them.”
Henry nodded repeatedly and then walked away with a determined stride.
Isaac leaned against the wall and watched Henry go.
He operates on curiosity. And Meldenik herself provokes his curiosity just by existing.
The most important thing is the strangely intertwined flow of mana within her.
What could be the limit of the power you possess? Why are you here of all places? And finally…
‘What happened with the Duke of Hesman?’
Recalling the dumbfounded expression of Duke Hessman after being kicked brought a smile through his teeth again.
In fact, he had no intention of intensely exploring or investigating Meldenik.
“It’s just too obvious at a glance…”
Isaac hummed a tune as he looked towards Meldenik, who was walking slowly, thinking.
“…It looks so obviously harmless. The outside and the inside seem just too alike.”
He watched Henry race off with his short legs and then hid the rest of himself in the shadow.
