Ehre felt helpless at Fíliya's sharp critique.
She certainly knew how exceptional her grandfather was, but Fíliya's act of telling her to her face that her talent was insufficient still made her sulk a little. So, she retorted defiantly.
"What about you, Fíliya? You, with only a fifth of my mana. Are you really that confident you can beco a powerful mage in your own right?"
"Hmm? Am I not one already? An academic type like you, Ehre, I could probably take on three of you at once. Three Ehres... now that might give a little trouble."
...Ehre clenched her jaw. She just couldn't understand how this person before her could be so confident... and worse, she found herself actually believing her words a little.
In the end, all her resentnt and defiance lted into a sigh. Then, Ehre landed a firm punch on the infuriating person beside her.
"Hoh hoh, you dare to strike first, Ehre? Should I take this as a challenge? Let be clear, I quite agree with Übel's point of view. If you want to fight , I will go all out."
After taking the light punch, Fíliya's eyes suddenly widened. She swiftly adopted a threatening posture, her golden pupils transforming from their previously weary state to beco intensely aggressive.
"Please, spare ..."
Ehre imdiately begged for rcy, even pulling the blanket up a little higher as if trying to give herself a sense of security by covering half her face.
"What's this? Scared already? How boring."
Seeing this, Fíliya instantly lost interest. She had hoped Ehre would be a bit tougher, so she could properly tease the honor student.
...The conversation ca to a close. Ehre watched as Fíliya straightened up from her side-lying position, closed her eyes, and after a few minutes, began to breathe steadily.
"Fíliya?"
Ehre tested the waters with a whisper, because she had suddenly made a certain decision.
"Not asleep. I'm guessing you have a favor to ask."
Fíliya opened her eyes and looked over at her again.
Who could bla her for knowing, when the 'system' kept broadcasting reward points to her? Analyzing it from that perspective, this honor student was definitely hesitating and struggling with sothing.
"Can you... teach how to get stronger?"
Ehre bit her lip lightly, looking at Fíliya.
"Pfft... You're hilarious. You have that great master at ho to learn from, yet you co asking a Second-Class Mage for the secret to getting stronger?"
Fíliya let out a hearty laugh, kicking her blanket repeatedly as if she had heard the most incredible joke.
"Ugh... Every ti my grandfather tries to teach , he's like a riddler. I can't understand him at all."
A slight blush crept onto Ehre's face. It seed she, too, realized how embarrassing it was to ask a peer for help.
"Well... of course I can. But what will you give in return?"
After a mont of thought, Fíliya said with a light smile.
"Eh? Give you...?"
Ehre was a bit dazed, unsure what kind of paynt Fíliya was referring to.
"Of course. Did you really think I was the type of goody-two-shoes who does good deeds with no expectation of reward, Ehre? Everything has a price. A price."
...Ehre fell silent, because she realized she truly had nothing to give Fíliya.
Whether it was money, status, or grimoires... she didn't seem to have anything Fíliya would want. If she pleaded with her grandfather, she might be able to get so good things, but would they truly be worthy of Fíliya's consideration?
Then again, she had no idea what Fíliya even liked.
"Umm... In any case, if you can make stronger, Fíliya... I'll... I'll do anything."
Ehre's tone was slightly rushed, her expression carrying an air of desperation, as if she was throwing caution to the wind.
"Oh? You'll really do anything?"
Fíliya deliberately put on a wicked, nacing grin.
But Ehre seed not to notice, simply nodding and repeating her words.
"Yes... I'll do anything."
Tsk... Fíliya clicked her tongue in annoyance.
This girl is no fun. I thought I'd get to see a more embarrassed expression.
The overly normal reaction made Fíliya instantly lose interest in the matter of [Teasing Ehre].
So, she said.
"Since you're willing to do anything, then I'll teach you for free."
"Eh? Thank yo—... Eh??!"
Ehre, who had thanked her out of reflex, suddenly froze as she processed what Fíliya had said.
"For free?"
Ehre blinked in confusion.
"That's right, you heard . Sigh, everyone misunderstands . Didn't I say it from the start? I'm a kind person, beautiful inside and out. Helping a comrade improve their skills is my bounden duty, of course."
Fíliya rubbed her temples with a look of exasperation.
She wasn't lying to Ehre. To her, things like [Price] and [Reward] were the most aningless things of all. The one thing she wanted, from the very beginning, had always been the sa.
Emotional points.
Whether it was torturing others to harvest their [Despair], or helping others to harvest their [Happiness], there was no fundantal difference to her.
It's just... she had discovered sothing.
In her life experience thus far, the efficiency of gaining points by helping people was far greater than by doing bad things.
Doing bad things often only yielded one big payout, followed by endless trouble.
Compared to that, doing good deeds was much more profitable.
From a utilitarian, calculated perspective, she had arrived at the answer that she should do good deeds.
Yes, it was that kind of [Bad intentions, but good execution] developnt.
"Is that so?... Well, in any case, thank you, Fíliya."
Although she had a sliver of doubt in her heart, Ehre was still very happy and offered Fíliya a smile.
"So, what exactly should I do?"
After thanking her, Ehre imdiately followed up with an expectant tone.
"Alright, then I'll point you in a direction, Ehre."
As Fíliya spoke, she put on a deliberately mysterious expression, which, of course, successfully piqued Ehre's curiosity.
"Go learn more [Folk Magic]."
Fíliya said casually, a sentence that clearly left Ehre stunned.
"Eh?"
Ehre seed completely unable to understand how learning [Folk Magic] could help her get stronger.
"Mmm... I knew you'd make that face. Well, if I just throw a conclusion at you, you're bound to be confused... Let think how to explain it..."
Fíliya adopted a thoughtful expression, then took a deep breath as if she had figured out what to say.
She then looked at Ehre again.
"Ehre, have you ever heard of the [Golden Land]?"
____
Our community goals are currently active.
🎯 100 Powerstones = 1 additional chapter for everyone.
🚀 55 Supporters = 5 additional chapters for all stories.
🎉 Welco Offer For New mbers: The first month has a special rate.
👻 To participate, find Walnutchan on the (P) platform. You know the one. 😉
User Comments
0 comments from readers