TWRM 11

Chapter 11

[……Therefore, it would be best not to think about starting any new ventures for the time being. If you let go of your greed and endure patiently, you will gain far better results.]
“I see. Thank you once again for your wise advice.”

Back as the Madam again, Selina listened to Devotio’s worries, who had come to her after a long time.
The plump middle-aged man sitting across from her laughed heartily and expressed his gratitude.

Clink.
With a heavy jingle, a pouch full of coins was placed on the table.

Thanks to Selina’s help, Devotio had managed to grow his small trading business into a large merchant guild. And as always, he generously placed a large sum of money before her.

Selina didn’t refuse it.

“Ah, come to think of it, I heard you’ll be closing the shop for quite a while starting tomorrow. Is something going on?”
[I won’t be around here for a while. Due to personal circumstances, I probably won’t be able to return before summer.]
“Oh dear… Sounds like you’re going on a trip?”
[You could call it that. But I’m uneasy about leaving the shop empty for too long, so I’ll try to open at least once a month if possible.]
“I see. But that’s not set in stone yet, right?”
[It’s not something I can decide freely… But I’ll do my best—for my customers’ sake.]
“Hahaha, that’s good enough for me. Thanks to you, a lowly commoner like me has come this far!”

Devotio laughed heartily again, rummaging through his inner pocket before handing her something.

“Please accept this.”
[This is…?]
“It’s a nameplate only our VVIPs possess. If you ever visit our guild with this, we will serve you with the utmost sincerity.”
[That seems too generous a gift…]
“Oh no, not at all! It’s something I should’ve given you long ago. The Seravi Trading Company will always be open to you, Madam.”

Ding.

After her regular customer left, Selina was alone in the shop once more. She rolled the nameplate he had given her in her hand.

The golden, diamond-encrusted plaque gleamed even in the dim light. She looked at the small round nameplate before placing it inside a nearby box.

The box was already filled with other items—every one of them luxurious and expensive-looking.

“You sure are popular, meow.”

Luna, who had just woken from a nap, stretched lazily and approached Selina. She peeked into the box holding the plaque.

After Selina announced a temporary closure of her shop “Moonlight in Secret” due to her upcoming academy enrollment, her loyal patrons and prominent clients—grateful for her past help—had all sent bribes begging her to return soon.

From rare books that even nobles couldn’t easily obtain, to fine gloves, hats, and fountain pens—every one of them was a priceless gift.
Some were so valuable they couldn’t even be measured in money.

“That was our last customer for today. Should we close up now?”
“Go ahead, nya~”

She locked the front door and gave the place an extra-thorough cleaning that night—dusting every nook and cranny and covering the furniture with white sheets from the storage room.

She’d be gone for a while, so it was best to keep everything protected from dust.

After finishing up, she took the gifts from her customers and finally headed home, exhausted.

When she arrived, the house lights were already on.

“I’m home.”
“Welcome back.”

The scene before her felt like déjà vu from two weeks ago—Fraymon was once again wearing an apron and cooking.

The sight made her smile every time she saw it.

“You’re home late today.”
“It was the shop’s last day of business, so I stayed behind to clean. I can’t let dust pile up while I’m gone.”
“I see. And that box you’re holding?”

Fraymon’s eyes fell on the box in Selina’s arms.

“Oh, these are gifts from my customers. They’re all nagging me to come back soon.”

Smiling pleasantly, Selina set the box down in the living room and returned to the kitchen, where a table full of delicious food awaited her.

“You must be hungry. Let’s eat.”

As Selina sat down, Fraymon said a short prayer before the meal. While he murmured, Selina snuck a glance at Luna.

The prayer was directed to her, after all—but Luna wasn’t listening at all, her eyes fixed on the food instead. Selina barely held back a laugh.

“Let’s eat.”

The clinking of dishes filled the room as they began their meal, chatting casually.

“Three more days until your entrance ceremony. Are you fully prepared?”
“Of course. All that’s left is packing.”
“Good. If you need anything, just say the word—I’ll help however I can.”
“It’s fine. You’ve already covered my tuition, uniform, bag, and shoes. You even enchanted my robe…”
“That’s because I want only the best for you. If Stella were still alive, she would’ve done the same.”
“True. Oh, that reminds me—about Luna.”
“Luna?”

Fraymon looked at Luna, who raised her head with milk still on her lips.

“The academy doesn’t allow animals, but familiars are permitted. I can take Luna with me, right?”
“Of course you can. She’s your familiar, after all.”

Chomp.

Fraymon replied casually, chewing as if it were nothing.

“I was just worried… in case they didn’t allow her.”

Since Luna wasn’t a real familiar, Selina had been anxious about whether she’d be allowed to bring her along.

“Hmm… true, if Luna couldn’t go, there’d be no one to take care of her.”

Seeing Selina’s small, drooping shoulders, Fraymon gently placed a hand on Luna’s back and stroked her.

As he did, divine power flowed into her body.

Selina and Luna both looked at him in surprise, but he just smiled warmly.

“You’ve got nothing to worry about. Luna’s filled with divine energy.”
“Th-that’s true, I suppose?”

Well, she was a god—of course she had divine power.

“You’re still young, so you might not know exactly what a familiar is.”

She nodded silently.

“A familiar is a being bound to its master by a soul contract. They obey only their master and share a resonance with them.”
“A soul… contract?”
“Yes. That’s why they’re seen as one entity. Do you know why I could sense Luna’s divine power?”

Selina shook her head.

“Because a familiar can use its master’s power. A magician’s familiar can use magic; a priest’s familiar can use divine power. That’s why only magicians and priests can have familiars.”
“I didn’t know that.”
“Of course you didn’t—most people don’t. Even among magicians and priests, familiars are rare. I’ve only met four people who had one.”
“Really? You have?”

It was surprising that someone of his high rank—a cardinal in the Temple of the Moon—had seen so few.

“Usually, familiars appear through a desperate call or a summoning ritual. But in your case, it was different—you lost your memories, opened your spiritual eyes, and then Luna appeared out of nowhere.”
“H-ha ha.”

Selina smiled awkwardly. Her awakening of spiritual sight was a sign that she could sense divine power—some old texts said those with great divine energy could glimpse the future.

But in truth, Selina could only see people’s fates, not control divine power directly. She could sense it, but manipulating it was another matter.

Fraymon knew that, which was why he never forced her to serve at the temple.

“Luna should be fine. She has more divine power than most animals and listens well. That’ll be enough.”
“That’s a relief.”

She finally felt at ease. With the entrance ceremony just around the corner, she could finally sleep soundly tonight.

“Do well at the academy. Make friends, experience many things, and have fun.”

Seeing Fraymon’s warm, almost parental smile, Selina couldn’t help but smile back.

“Yes!”

And so, the two talked and laughed together late into the night, until the moon shone high in the sky.

“Phew… finally, tomorrow’s the day.”

Wiping the sweat off her forehead, Selina put her hands on her hips. The entrance hall was filled with luggage for the academy.

The house was spotless—after two days of intense cleaning, she had scrubbed and tidied every corner in preparation for her long absence.

By the time she finished packing, evening had already fallen. Tomorrow was the big day—her entrance ceremony.

“Good work, meow.”

Luna lay sprawled lazily on the bed she had just cleaned. Already, it was covered in black fur again.

Selina glared at her playfully, then suddenly leapt onto the bed.

“Nyaaah!”

Startled, Luna flailed beneath her.

“You! I just cleaned this blanket!”
“L-let me go, nya!”

Selina tickled her mercilessly, and Luna kicked and squealed before finally escaping, panting. Her eyes narrowed sharply in mock anger—but since she looked like a cat, it wasn’t scary at all.