The man looked at with a flustered expression.
“If I’m sharing what I bought, shouldn’t you ask politely?”
I smiled sweetly, and he gritted his teeth.
“I’ll pay a fair price!”
“Then 400 gold per root.”
Han Ji-hyeok flinched.
Even after sweeping up all those tricolor plants and paying just 1 gold, I still had change overflowing in both hands.
Han Ji-hyeok looked at as if I were the scamr, despite being one himself.
The shop owner was startled, and the man’s mouth dropped open.
“You... What nonsense are you saying...!”
“Then maybe you shouldn’t buy them?”
I shrugged with an innocent look, and the man glared at , utterly annoyed.
Han Ji-hyeok whispered as if wanting to applaud.
“You’re a genius at making people mad.”
I looked at the man unfazed.
He ground his teeth.
“You should say ‘yes’ when an adult speaks, not talk back!”
“Yes.”
“This is really...!”
“I said ‘yes’ because you told to, but if you don’t like that ‘yes’, maybe it’s because you’re petty.”
“The ‘yes’ I ant was...! But didn’t you just say ‘you’ to ?”
I shrugged.
He looked around as if to see if anyone else heard that rude tone.
Han Ji-hyeok and the apothecary owner blinked, stunned.
The man glared at , frustrated.
“Anyway, it’s not right to take all the goods like that. Reflect and put them back.”
I looked at the apothecary owner and asked,
“Is that so? Then I’ll put them back.”
The owner frowned fiercely.
“What nonsense! They hadn’t sold a single one for over a month and were about to throw them out, but you finally bought them all!”
“But what about other custors...!”
“Am I running a charity, not a business?!”
“Business ethics...!”
“Shut up—!!”
I leisurely watched the fight unfold.
Usually, it’s best to leave fights to others.
Also, the loudest usually wins.
“Why ruin soone else’s business—!!”
The apothecary owner’s voice was trendous.
The man, flustered, said,
“What...!”
“If you feel wronged, report it! Report it! Is it illegal to sell everything to the buyer?! Huh?!”
It’s not illegal.
The empire has no laws to prevent hoarding.
The central tower officials who make the laws are the ones who profit from hoarding; would they make laws against themselves?
‘Of course, there’s business ethics.’
The man was overwheld by the owner shouting at him.
Almost about to be chased out, I said to him,
“Seven roots are enough?”
“...What?”
“One.”
I signaled, and Han Ji-hyeok handed the man seven tricolor roots.
“...Why give them?”
“Because I agree there should be ethics.”
“...”
“Tricolor plants aren’t for serious illnesses, so I didn’t think anyone would want them. If you needed them, I would have gladly given them.”
“...”
“So apologize. For ntioning my parents.”
The man accepted the roots and cleared his throat.
“I suppose I was unpleasant. But I don’t need pity.”
He shoved the tricolor plants back at Han Ji-hyeok.
‘Pride, anyway.’
I made Han Ji-hyeok give the roots to the man.
The man frowned.
“I said I don’t need pity!”
“It’s not pity, it’s interference.”
“Don’t interfere either!”
“It’s funny to tell soone who ddles in others’ family upbringing not to ddle in their own affairs, isn’t it?”
Seeing him jump like this, he must really need the tricolor plants badly.
‘I admit I was sowhat thoughtless.’
It wasn’t an imdiate need for , but I did prevent soone who needed it from buying it.
The man stared at the tricolor plants in his hand.
Then glanced at and muttered,
“...Well, if you’re giving them, I’ll take them gratefully.”
He rummaged through his money and handed it to Han Ji-hyeok.
“I’ll pay the price.”
“Do as you please.”
He hesitated and then spoke with difficulty.
“A-about my parents...”
At that mont,
Jingle.
With another tinkling bell, Alexis entered.
He looked around the apothecary and approached .
“Did you find what you were looking for?”
“Not yet...”
Seeing his expression as if surprised I was here, Alexis tapped the window fra with his knuckle.
‘I guess he saw outside.’
I nodded, and he said,
“Then let’s go.”
“Ah.”
While talking, I looked at the man.
“Sorry. What did you say?”
“...Are you a noble?”
The man seed to realize Alexis looked like a noble who had co for .
“Well—”
“You’re just tempting bad luck.”
The man roughly pulled up his hood, slamd the door, and left.
The shop owner shook his head.
“That guy’s temper never seems to improve.”
Then Han Ji-hyeok asked,
“Do you know him?”
“He’s a regular. Always looking for weird herbs. How the heck would our shop carry expensive herbs like mandrake... geez.”
“Ah.”
“Looks like that temper causes fights with the busy district apothecary, so he cos to our place...”
Listening to the owner, I paused.
Then I looked out the window at the man striding away.
A man who hates nobles, needs mandrake, and suspiciously covers himself.
Ha!
Taking a breath, I quickly kicked open the door and rushed out.
From behind , I heard Han Ji-hyeok’s voice.
“What? E... no, Rilu!”
I hurriedly ran and grabbed the man’s collar.
“Hey!”
“...What?”
“Don’t you need more tricolor plants?”
Breathless from running, I held my knees and gasped.
Through his ssy hair, I saw his squinting eyes.
“No need.”
“You never know. If experints fail, you might need more.”
“...What?”
He looked at as if to ask how I knew that.
I sighed deeply.
“Do you know who I found? ...Hans Bender.”
“...!”
“No, the Wild Mage.”
It took three days after arriving in Euroseg domain, but I finally found him.
My dad’s old friend and the Wild Mage... Cainrod Madillo.
Cainrod stomped his feet as he walked.
I followed closely behind, saying,
“...So I was about to give up after circling the alleys three tis because I couldn’t find him anywhere. But I happened to find him at the apothecary.”
“......”
“Maybe that’s what you call fate.”
“......”
“Right, uncle?”
“...Who said I’m your uncle?”
Cainrod, who had been silent all along, suddenly glared at .
“He’s your uncle because he’s your dad’s friend, right? Or do you prefer ‘mister’?”
“Go away. I hate nobles terribly.”
‘That’s why I disguised myself as a commoner.’
The plan was ruined.
I ended up revealing I was the daughter of Daymond Astra.
All this effort for nothing.
I shook my head inwardly.
‘No, it’s a huge relief.’
If the Veil learns that ‘Erilot Astra’ found the Wild Mage, who knows how they’d interfere.
I chuckled softly, resting my chin in my hands.
“Oh, uncle, you were a noble too.”
Cainrod frowned with a scowl.
“Can’t you keep your mouth shut?”
“Hmm.”
Cainrod snapped,
“Listen when I say go!”
“......”
“Are you ignoring now?”
“No, you told not to speak.”
“...!”
His expression was like he was about to explode.
Han Ji-hyeok whispered in my ear,
“If you want to get on his nerves, you’re succeeding.”
I smiled as innocently as I could.
“If you hate it so ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) much, I’ll leave.”
Han Ji-hyeok and Alexis looked at wide-eyed like “Really?”
I added casually,
“Yes! I’ll co back tomorrow!”
Then I bowed.
I waved my hand gently as I turned, and behind I heard a voice, angry to the point of bursting.
“Don’t co! I said don’t co!”
“See you tomorrow!”
“I said don’t co!”
The voice faded away.
Han Ji-hyeok and Alexis hurried to catch up to .
Han Ji-hyeok asked,
“You’re really going?”
“Yeah. I don’t think we’ll get anywhere today.”
“Do you think he’ll talk tomorrow?”
“If not tomorrow, then the day after, and if not then, the next day.”
When I was Yuhye-min, I had put that much effort in—up to 293 days.
Han Ji-hyeok shook his head.
“You really have the best persistence in the world.”
Alexis chuckled.
And so began the operation to recruit Cainrod.
‘Looks like I won’t be leaving Euroseg domain anyti soon.’
The next day.
“Hello, uncle!”
“You...!”
Cainrod, coming out of the alley, stiffened and looked at .
“How do you know I’m here?”
“I was waiting for you to pass by! Oh, and since you don’t like ‘uncle,’ how about ‘mister’?”
I giggled, and Cainrod’s mouth fell open.
I followed closely behind him.
“Do you have ti today? If you don’t mind, I’d like to talk.”
“No. Go!”
“Yes!”
I quickly bowed, and as I turned, I heard a laugh of disbelief behind .
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