Chapter 41
“W‑Wow. Wow… it’s amazing. Thank you so much, Mom and Dad. But… how much money did this cost…?”
My hands trembled as I held the doll.
When I checked it, I could feel condensed magic power inside the teddy bear. That meant it was moving through the magic circle drawn inside, powered by a mana stone…
And when the mana stone runs out, you have to buy a new one and replace it!
Of course, I have plenty of money myself—cash, land deeds, and more—but this was too much. Setting aside the fact that an astronomical amount of money was used just to cast magic on a doll, giving such an expensive gift was a huge burden!
And the worst part? This magic wasn’t even difficult for me. By my standards, it was a very simple spell. Spending so much money on something like this felt wasteful, and if it ever broke by accident… I wouldn’t be able to sleep at night, thinking about all that money.
“It didn’t cost much. Don’t worry about it, my daughter. Today is a happy day.”
“Y‑Yes…”
It is a happy day, but isn’t this a bit too much? Or is it just me? Is it really just me? Sob.
Mom and Dad were smiling warmly. Since it was the first gift they were giving me in person in five years, they looked genuinely happy.
Ah. Did they pour all those five years into this gift?
That actually made sense.
Still, even so, giving something like this to a thirteen‑year‑old for her birthday was excessive. If I didn’t have memories of my past life, my nose would have been so high in the air that I’d be drunk on myself.
Ah. Is that why the original Shuri became a villainess? Is this some hidden Easter egg even the author didn’t know about?
While I was drowning in pointless but oddly plausible thoughts, I came back to my senses and looked around.
Everyone looked happy and satisfied. I checked Header’s expression as my last hope, but she looked the same as everyone else.
So… no one here was on my side.
“Mom, Dad. I’m really thankful that you celebrated my birthday like this, but I still think a small party in the garden with just family would be better. Gifts are nice, but this is too expensive… I don’t want you two to work so hard. Next time, can’t we make it smaller? Please?”
I lowered my gaze and deliberately made my eyes look like I was about to cry. The lively atmosphere, loud enough to call for music, instantly sank.
“Our daughter… was that bothering you? First of all, you don’t need to worry about money. This gift is a successful product that came after many trials, made through a product contract with the Duke Richard family and another joint business. We wanted you to have it first, my daughter.”
Mom came over and hugged me. Feeling her warm embrace, I let out a relieved sigh.
Okay… so money isn’t an issue. Still, the Duke Richard family usually doesn’t do much business. They’re more known for investing—and for swordsmanship.
“Mom, Mom! But my history teacher said the Duke Richard family doesn’t really do business, and they’re famous for swords!”
This doll should clearly be classified as magic. It’s not like it’s going to pull out a sword and fight.
“Ah. There’s a very talented mage in the Duke Richard family. But that person is a bit… hopeless—no, unique. The Duke wanted to give them work, so this business happened.”
I already heard the word hopeless, you know?
She was being careful because I was a child.
Her slip of the tongue was cute, so I giggled. Hearing my laugh, Mom shot me a look and lightly pinched my cheek.
“Ow…”
“Anyway, the magic side is theirs, so what are we doing?”
I rubbed my pinched cheek.
Maybe I’ve been trained because of Ventus… ah, right—the contract! Aah! At this rate, I won’t lose my hair from magic, but from stress.
“Our count family works in many fields and produces various goods, so we know a lot about tailoring. That’s why we joined this project too.”
I listened to Mom’s explanation with one ear while my thoughts were completely focused on Ventus’ contract.
Why did Ventus make such a ridiculous contract and torture me like this?! A contract I can’t even cancel—what am I supposed to do with it?!
“By the way, did you meet the young master of the Richard family?”
“Huh?”
Why is Kiel suddenly coming up here?! Aah! Kiel was here too! How am I supposed to face him?!
My face instantly heated up. Why was I remembering what happened earlier? If Rel were here, I would have been teased 100%.
“Oh my. So you did meet him! What happened?”
“D‑Daughter… no! Daddy can’t approve yet…!”
Their reactions were complete opposites. Mom looked curious and urged me to talk, while Dad looked like he was about to cry.
Mom, you’re like a friend digging for love stories on a school trip…
“Nothing happened. We just met by chance!”
“Don’t lie. Is it something you can’t tell Mom? Are you dating?”
“M‑Mom! No! It was just by. chance. that we met!”
Oh Lord. What is wrong with her today? We’re nothing—nothing at all…! Then why does Kiel’s face keep popping up?! Go away!
Shaking my head hard, I stepped back awkwardly. Mom smiled slyly at my reaction.
I said I don’t like him! I don’t! Go away, evil thoughts—come back, conscience!
“They say if coincidences happen many times, it’s fate. From what I see… this wasn’t just once, was it?”
Mom’s smile looked like it was about to reach heaven. She was clearly enjoying my reaction.
I puffed out my lips and hid behind Dad.
“Shuri, are you sulking?”
“I’m not!”
“Really? Your lips look like a duck’s.”
Mom suddenly appeared in front of me and poked my protruding lips with her finger, laughing brightly. Her cheerful laughter made everything seem brighter, and I quickly pulled my lips back in.
I was a very biased person when it came to family, so I calmed down quickly. If it had been Ventus or someone else, I would’ve already hit them.
“Shuri. Should Mom take this back?”
She pointed at the doll in my arms, thinking I was still sulking.
“N‑No. I’m not sulking. My mom is the best!”
Mom has always been the best. She gave birth to me, raised me, and even my money comes from her! Mom is the best! My sponsor! Cha‑ching!
“Hahaha. Shuri.”
“Yeees…”
At Mom’s call, I dragged out my reply. The gift was expensive, but I did like it, so I felt a little embarrassed about my unfiltered thoughts.
Seriously… calling her my sponsor. If I’d said that out loud… ugh. I didn’t even want to imagine it.
“Happy birthday. I’m so happy you were born.”
“Dad feels the same.”
Dad quietly added on. It felt so natural that I couldn’t help smiling.
“Yes. Thank you for giving birth to me, Mom and Dad.”
I smiled brightly as I replied.
A lot happened, but my birthday ended happily.
…Or so I thought.
If only that sudden mage hadn’t appeared.
“Hi! Are you Shureer Clamback?”
And she came holding a bottle of alcohol.
With alcohol!
To a thirteen‑year‑old!
“Hmmm. Good! Become my disciple!”
“No. I won’t. I’m not buying. I’m not selling.”
A perfect three‑stage rejection came out automatically. She tried to give alcohol to a thirteen‑year‑old as a gift, and now she wanted me as her disciple? On top of that, her attitude felt like she was looking down on me.
“Huh? Why?”
“Because I don’t like it.”
“Why don’t you like it?”
Are you a question machine or what…?
“I just met you and don’t even know your name. How am I supposed to like someone I don’t know, you trespasser? It looks like you came by teleportation, so please go back.”
I was on guard. Judging by her mana waves, she was a very high‑level mage—around the absolute top, maybe an 11th circle.
I didn’t know her purpose, but I needed to kick her out. A mage at that level wouldn’t come to see me for no reason.
“My name is Rachel! You can call me Richel.”
“Please leave.”
“Why? I told you my name. I’m Rachel, you’re Shureer. Aren’t we acquaintances now?”
“Not at all.”
My blood pressure was rising. With her around, low blood pressure wouldn’t be a problem—high blood pressure would.
She tilted her head innocently, asking if we weren’t acquaintances. I let out a deep sigh. I had just settled things down, and now another incident popped up.
“Why?”
“Rachel, do you think knowing just someone’s name makes you acquaintances? Without knowing their personality, what they do—just the name?”
“What’s wrong with that? You know it anyway. I’m Rachel, you’re Shureer.”
I was speechless. No—actually, I had a lot to say, but I didn’t know where to start.
“…Fine. Let’s assume we’re acquaintances.”
“Why assume? We are.”
“Aaah!”
Breathe. I’m fine. I’m sane. She’s the strange one.
After repeating that to myself, I calmed down. Talking to her felt like talking to a wall.
“Okay. Let’s say we’re acquaintances. But we’re not close. And even if we were, trespassing isn’t allowed.”
“Hm. Then how do I become close to you?”
“…What?”
I don’t want to be close to you at all. Where did my opinion go?
“Tell me. How do I get close to you? Are there levels?”
“…Rachel. You don’t have any friends, do you?”
“Huh? I have lots. Clarier, Eric, Lotte, Kiel… oh, and I recently became friends with Heliara and Kairos too.”
Wait. Why are my mom and dad’s names there? And Kiel, and Lotte, and even the Duchess—d‑don’t tell me…
“The mage living in the Duke Richard family—”
“Ah! That’s me!”
She answered so cheerfully that my shock turned into disbelief.
So this is the hopeless person Mom mentioned… Yeah. I get it now.
A question machine with zero awareness. And bad for blood pressure.
“So, Shuri. Aren’t you going to answer?”
“Listen. How do you know me?”
This mage named Rachel was abnormal. Her mana felt like an 11th‑circle grand mage, but also strangely blocked and unnatural.
And I never created a character like her. I was already suffering because of dark magic that didn’t even exist in the novel, and now this was added.
Oh Lord. Have you truly abandoned me?
“I heard Lotte and Kiel talking. They said you’re good at magic.”
As her excitement rose, my energy dropped. I was already tired, and she suddenly appeared and drained me like a mosquito.
“…Haa.”
Since I knew where she came from, I snapped my fingers, thinking whatever.
Just before she was sent away, her eyes didn’t widen in surprise—she smiled happily. I got goosebumps all over.
I sent her back because I was tired, but I had a bad feeling she’d bring even more trouble later.
Shivering once, I lay down on my bed and pulled the blanket over me.
Between the party and staying up late for two days, my body couldn’t handle it. My head throbbed from the appearance of someone who wasn’t in the novel.
Someone that noticeable and stress‑inducing couldn’t possibly be a background character. I never even used the name Rachel—where did she come from…?
“Yawn…”
I yawned. My eyes slowly closed, and I gave in to the fatigue.
In other words, I fell asleep.
“Uh, Mom… who is that…?”
Two hours after waking up, I met Rachel again—before even half a day had passed.
“She’s the Duke family’s mage—no, the hopeless—ah, I mean, the Duke family’s mage.”
Rachel winked at me. Of course my face immediately stiffened.
After last night, she has the nerve to wink?
“Then, what brings you here today?”
“Oh. I came to see Shuri for a bit. Heliara, we’re friends, so speak casually.”
Mom’s expression twisted worse than mine. There was probably no one else who talked to Mom like that—or whom Mom treated like that.
—Wow. She’s impressive. She can really annoy people.
You’re not much better.
Clenching my fist, I swallowed my words.
“That wouldn’t be appropriate. Even between friends, manners are important.”
Mom was clearly criticizing her indirectly—both for coming without notice and for speaking casually.
The problem was that someone as clueless as Rachel would never understand.
“But all the friends I know speak casually. Using polite speech with friends is too stiff, don’t you think?”
Rachel smiled lazily. Mom pressed her temple. Caught between them, I felt like dying.
If only she would just leave.
While staring at Rachel, our eyes met. She mouthed words at me.
‘Le. gal.’
So because I said trespassing wasn’t allowed, she proudly came through the front gate this time?
I grabbed the back of my head just like Mom.
I’m going crazy. Really.
