<Chapter 8>
“There are… too many, sir.”
“Just take them. All you need to do is follow what I tell you.”
The clerk, who had once looked terrified, now nodded seriously with tightly closed lips.
“Please alter the dress beautifully.”
“I’ll do my best.”
Without hesitation, Selina stepped out of the shop, with Mie quickly hurrying after her.
As they exited, Mie glanced back at the clerk who was bowing deeply and whispered quietly,
“What was that? Did something happen?”
“That woman… she’s going to be killed soon.”
“What?!”
Mie stared in shock at the already closed door of the store.
“You saw the future?”
“Yeah. If it were just a simple pickpocketing or robbery, I’d ignore it—but this isn’t at that level.”
“I see… I just hope she’s okay.”
“I warned her thoroughly, so she should be fine.”
Selina said it rather indifferently and pulled her hat down low over her face as she walked.
But when she felt Mie’s intense stare beside her, she frowned.
“Stop staring.”
“Hehe, that’s so like you, Selina. Kind as always.”
Mie looked at Selina with pride, like a mother admiring her daughter.
Selina felt embarrassed and awkward under her gaze.
“Quiet.”
“You’re blushing.”
The two of them ended up playfully teasing each other, laughing together like ordinary teenage girls.
In the middle of the busy marketplace, no one paid them any mind; they simply blended into the everyday scene.
✦ ✦ ✦
“Haaah… there’s still more to buy?”
Selina followed behind Mie with a tired face, her steps slow.
By now, it was already afternoon.
“We’re only halfway done! You should’ve moved around more before complaining.”
“I do exercise from time to time.”
“Then why are you already dead after walking just five hours? Oh! Look, there’s a sale!”
Mie’s eyes sparkled as she dashed toward a shop with a big SALE sign.
Selina followed after her with a look of pure despair.
“Ugh, my back hurts…”
As soon as she spotted a chair inside, Selina immediately sat down.
When she twisted her waist, a sharp cracking sound came from her spine.
She groaned, rubbing her sore back, and pulled a crumpled note from her pocket.
“Did I buy everything?”
Scanning through the shopping list she had written at home, she realized a few items were still missing.
“Oh, I need to buy jerky too.”
She thought of Luna, the grumpy black cat who always meowed for jerky, and couldn’t help but chuckle.
“Other than jerky…”
She suddenly remembered something important—she needed to replace her voice-altering magic device soon.
And it wasn’t just that—most of the magical tools she used in her shop needed servicing.
“Well, since I’m already out, I might as well drop by there too.”
Looking around, she realized she was near her regular magic tool shop.
Rather than chase after Mie any longer, it would be better to handle her own errands.
“Mie.”
“Huh? I’m busy right now!”
Without even turning her head from the sale corner, Mie replied casually.
“I’m going to stop by another place for a bit. You’ll still be here, right?”
“Yeah, yeah. Go on.”
Waving her hand dismissively, Mie continued browsing.
Selina gathered her things and headed toward the magic shop ‘Omnis.’
✦ ✦ ✦
Although the main street was full of magic shops, Selina passed them all and went into a narrow alley.
Unlike the busy streets, the alley was quiet and sparsely populated.
A few drunkards lay sprawled on the ground, and some homeless people lingered in corners.
A few of them gave her curious looks, but upon noticing the wide-brimmed hat decorated with a black feather, they quickly turned away.
Eventually, she reached a building and stopped.
A rusted gear-shaped sign swung beside the door.
Without hesitation, Selina opened the door and stepped inside.
The interior was a complete mess—hardly what one would call a “shop.”
Various objects—possibly merchandise, possibly junk—were piled haphazardly together.
If not for the small counter near the entrance, it could easily be mistaken for a warehouse.
Boom!
A loud explosion came from behind a door near the counter, followed by billowing smoke.
“Cough, cough… failed again, huh…”
A middle-aged man with a scruffy beard stumbled out, his face covered in soot.
His name was Bixter, the owner of Omnis.
Selina tapped on the table to get his attention.
Knock knock.
“Excuse me.”
“Huh? Oh! Selina!”
Recognizing her, Bixter’s face brightened, and he laughed heartily as he came over.
“It’s been a while. What brings you here?”
“My voice modifier’s losing power. And some of my other magic tools need repair too.”
“When was the last time you came by?”
“About six months ago.”
“Then it’s about time for a replacement. I’ll come by your shop soon—should I visit at night as usual?”
“Yes, that would be great.”
“Good, good. You’ve been doing well, I hope?”
“There’s nothing much to complain about.”
“Well, if you ever need help, just say so. No matter how capable you are, the absence of adults makes things hard. I owe your mother, Stella, quite a lot—I’ll always be on your side.”
Selina smiled faintly and nodded.
“Do you need anything else?”
“Hmm… oh, yes. Can I get a new disguise magic tool?”
“I’ve got one, but why? Did the old one break? Or do you need it for your work as Madame?”
“No, nothing like that. I’m going to the academy soon, and I can’t afford for this thing to malfunction there.”
She showed him the old bracelet on her wrist—a crude magical device made of rough string and a blue mana stone.
It was worn and frayed from years of use.
“The academy? You mean Perion Academy? You’re going there?”
Bixter stopped mid-motion, his hand frozen in his beard.
“Well… it just sort of happened. Not by choice. But since the tuition’s already paid, I have no choice.”
“Hah! I can guess how that happened. Well, can’t have your tool failing at the academy. That thing’s over ten years old, right?”
“Yes, it is.”
“I don’t have a new one ready, but I’ll make one and bring it when I visit your place. You just need it to change your hair color, right?”
“Yes, that’s perfect.”
“But you’ve only got two weeks until admission, right? What about your shop?”
“I’ll have to close it temporarily. There’s no helping it.”
“Ha! That Freiman really didn’t think this through.”
“Haha…”
Selina smiled awkwardly, realizing Bixter had guessed exactly whose idea the academy was.
Thump, thump!
Heavy footsteps echoed from above, then moved toward the stairs.
“Dad! Have you seen Jerry?”
A young girl’s voice called from the stairs.
It was Becky, Bixter’s daughter—cheerful, reckless, and eccentric, just like her father.
She was also one of Selina’s only three friends.
“Why are you asking me where your familiar went?”
“Because he disappeared! Oh—Selina! Long time no see!”
Spotting Selina, Becky waved energetically—but then her eyes widened at the sound of tiny squeaks.
“You little rascal!”
Crash!
Becky jumped down the stairs and grabbed a brown rat hiding under some junk.
The rat squealed in protest, trying to wriggle free.
“You’re starting academy in two weeks, and you’re still not listening! What am I going to do with you?”
Shaking Jerry lightly, she stomped back upstairs.
After the brief commotion, silence returned.
“I don’t know who she takes after,” Bixter sighed.
“A rat? I don’t remember her having one before.”
“No, she summoned that one recently. Trouble is, it’s just like her—doesn’t listen at all!”
He laughed heartily, despite his daughter’s frustration.
Then Selina blinked, realizing what he’d said earlier.
“Wait, so Becky’s going to Perion too?”
“Hmm? Yeah. Come to think of it, that means you’ll be classmates.”
“But I just heard her say she’s bringing the rat to the academy…”
“That’s right.”
He nodded as if it were nothing unusual.
“But… animals aren’t allowed in the academy.”
“Not animals. Familiars are fine. They listen to their masters and are easy to control. Of course, if they cause trouble, the owner gets punished.”
Selina’s eyes widened at this unexpected revelation.
That meant she could take Luna with her.
Familiars—magical beings bound by a master-servant contract.
Luna wasn’t really one—he was a god inhabiting a cat’s body—but since she’d always pretended he was a familiar, maybe she could continue the act and bring him along.
The thought of not having to be separated made her smile softly—but then her lips twisted into a mischievous grin.
“Hehe… I’m going to mess with him.”
Sure, she’d been anxious about leaving him behind, but how could she pass up such a perfect chance to tease a god?
✦ ✦ ✦
“Well then, I’ll be going now.”
“Alright, I’ll drop by in a week.”
After saying goodbye to Bixter, Selina stepped out of the alley.
The sky that had once been bright blue was now painted with sunset hues.
“Mie’s probably waiting for me.”
Though, knowing her, she was probably still shopping.
Selina wandered through familiar alleyways.
As evening fell, the streets grew more dangerous, and shady figures began to appear.
It wasn’t a place for a lone woman—but no one here would dare lay a finger on Selina.
“Ah! Let me go!”
“Hehe, come on, miss. Let’s have some fun.”
“You don’t even know what kind of place this is, do you?”
Selina sighed.
Even if no one bothered her, it was still a dangerous place for others.
The same old, unpleasant scene unfolded before her eyes—one she’d seen far too many times before.
