Chapter 13
Lucas left with the Captain like that.
After they left, Simon and I also stood up to return to the shop.
The return trip was quiet. Mostly because I, who usually talked a lot, was lost in thought.
As the rattling carriage moved on with silence continuing inside, Simon spoke to me first.
“What are you thinking about so deeply?”
Hearing his voice, I turned my gaze away from the window and met Simon’s eyes as he stared at me.
It might have been my imagination, but it felt as if he was asking whether I felt he was bad for doubting such a young child.
‘There’s no way Simon would care about something like that.’
But if by any chance my feeling was correct…
“I thought it was amazing how everyone carried on doing what they had to do without being swayed by emotions.”
“You don’t have to say polite lies.”
Simon said in a drained voice at my precise answer.
Did he think I was just telling a pleasant lie?
“It’s true. The Captain and you both treated that child as humanely as possible even though the situation was unstable. I didn’t know Lucas would notice that and get hurt by it either.”
One of Simon’s eyebrows twitched.
“Then are you still making that face because you’re worrying about that kid?”
“I feel proud of him, feel sorry for him, and feel sorry that there was nothing I could do for him.”
“If you keep pouring your emotions out like that, you’ll be the first to break down before anyone else.”
Simon advised me with a cold face.
But I could only laugh absentmindedly.
“What can I do? I’m just the type of person who can’t become cold-hearted. I guess I’m someone who can’t stay detached.”
As I laughed loudly, Simon shook his head as if he had lost words.
“Still, I won’t meddle any further than this. It should be enough just to wish for him to live well.”
Since the Captain personally took him, I probably didn’t need to worry anymore.
It would be even better if we could meet again someday in a healthy state.
“You really are carefree, and that’s good.”
“This level of carefree attitude is good for mental health too.”
“…I see.”
And so the conversation ended.
Simon did not ask further, even though he could have asked why I trusted Lucas without reason or whether I knew how to doubt.
Perhaps he respected my thoughts.
Thanks to that, both Simon and I were able to return to the shop with slightly more relaxed expressions.
Not everything had been perfectly resolved, but my role in this mission was finished.
The work after this would be handled by Simon and the other members.
For the time being, I returned to guarding the shop as Simon’s assistant and went back to the daily routine of dismantling magic on artifacts.
And today was the long-awaited first payday!
“Is it really okay for me to receive such a large amount of money?”
The remittance confirmation form Simon handed me had more zeroes than I had ever seen in my life.
With this amount, I could pay Matthias’s one-year tuition fee in a single payment!
My hands trembling, I held the confirmation slip, and Simon revealed a sinister smile.
“If you voluntarily return your salary, I would welcome it.”
“I will work hard from now on!”
I smiled brightly and bowed deeply.
Thinking about it again, it was definitely a salary appropriate for my labor.
‘Hehehe…’
Indeed, choosing to work beside Simon without revealing my abilities to the world was a good decision.
I might have gained fame, but being tossed around and suffering under higher authorities would be far worse than secretly earning a lot of money like this.
“Oh, this is a bonus.”
To my secretly smiling face, Simon handed me a small pouch.
“What is this?”
“Payment for the infiltration into the auction house.”
When I untied the pouch and checked inside, shiny gold coins greeted me this time.
“Eeeek!”
I couldn’t even look directly at the dazzling light and made a fuss, and Simon stared at me silently.
He didn’t open his mouth, but I could clearly feel the aura that if I kept acting more ridiculous, he would snatch the pouch from my hand.
“Cough cough…”
Honestly, he never played along even once.
Feeling embarrassed, I cleared my throat awkwardly and carefully stored the pouch.
‘Come to think of it, today was a holiday.’
Since I remembered, it would be good to send a letter and money to Matthias.
“Since today is a holiday, is it okay if I go out?”
Simon answered while keeping his eyes fixed on the newspaper.
“Do as you wish.”
Having received permission, I immediately went upstairs to write a letter to Matthias.
‘It’s probably better not to talk about Utis.’
After writing about what had happened so far, I ended the letter by vaguely telling him not to worry about me or the money and to focus on studying.
‘This should reassure him, right?’
After sealing the letter and changing clothes, I went downstairs and briefly greeted Simon.
“Well then, I’m off!”
Once I stepped out of the door, a warm breeze brushed past my face. Looking up, I saw a clear blue sky.
‘Come to think of it, the festival period is coming soon.’
The warmth of late spring made a smile appear on my lips.
‘Why does the world look so beautiful today? Must be because it’s payday.’
I hugged my wallet tightly and headed toward the main street with light steps.
First, I planned to go to the bank to check my account, then mail the letter to Matthias, and finally buy a gift for that annoying Simon.
I almost stopped when I saw him waving his hand while only staring at the newspaper…
‘Because I’m kind, I’ll buy it! I’ll buy it!’
Clenching my fist holding the wallet, I quickened my pace.
After visiting the bank as planned and handing the letter to the postman, I headed to the shopping district to buy Simon’s gift.
As I wandered around the streets, I remembered the day when I had been abandoned by the young lady and wandered the streets, begging for work.
‘Back then I was just carrying a single bag and wandering around.’
Thinking about it made me laugh softly.
Even those difficult and exhausting days had become memories after passing.
‘I’m really glad I met Simon.’
No matter how annoying he was, I should buy him a gift he would like.
As I 고민ed about what Simon would like, I recalled his usual appearance.
Then all sorts of expensive clothing floated in my mind.
‘…This is bad.’
Yes. Simon, who was practically obsessed with money, had a lot of it befitting his reputation, and therefore everything he wore was extremely expensive.
They didn’t look flashy at first glance, but to my eyes, which had worked in noble households for three years, it was obvious.
The sturdy fabric and delicate stitching of those seemingly simple clothes.
‘There’s a saying that the simpler and cleaner something looks, the more expensive it is to the point your eyes pop out.’
I slowly opened the wallet in my hand.
‘Money is probably… not a problem?’
Simon wearing expensive clothes was not the problem. The problem was…
That I had never bought anything that expensive before!
Aside from making clothes, inheriting them, or buying ready-made commoner clothes from mass stores with great resolve, shopping in the world of the rich was an unknown world to me.
‘Should I go to a tailor like when I measured the young lady’s dresses? What if they chase me away for being a beggar?’
Good heavens. Who would have thought buying a single gift for my benefactor would be this difficult?
For the first time, I resented my poverty.
In the end, I sat down on a bench with a blank, despairing face.
‘I have no idea what to buy!’
While I was like that, a long shadow fell in front of me.
“Are you in some kind of trouble?”
When I looked up, a stranger was standing there.
It was a tall man with long silver-gray hair tied back and wearing glasses.
‘Handsome…!’
Embarrassingly, that was the first word that reflexively came to mind.
While I was staring blankly at him in admiration for a moment, the man pointed toward one side of the park.
“I saw someone looking at you while holding your wallet, and it looked like they were trying to pickpocket you.”
Following his finger, I turned my gaze and saw someone who had been watching me carefully and then hurriedly moved away.
Now that I think about it, I had been fiddling with my wallet all this time…
“Thank you very much! I just came from the countryside, so I’m a little careless.”
I said, laughing in embarrassment, and he smiled gently after me.
“I see. If you don’t mind, would you like me to show you around the nearby area?”
