Chapter 103: Fan Gift
"Please check the contents."
Looking at the tray pushed in front of her by the Gray-Skinned Goblin, Janna swept it with her Spirit Power and quickly confird the quantity.
"The amount is correct."
"Alright, here is your Withdrawal Card———"
After retrieving the Withdrawal Card, Janna noticed the Gray-Skinned Goblin looking as if he had sothing to say.
Seeing that he remained silent, she pretended not to notice and directly emptied all the Gold Surrel on the tray into her Shell Wallet.
"Miss Janna, I’m a devoted fan of your performance—may I be so bold as to ask for your autograph?"
As expected—
Janna, who had already gained considerable fa in Turin, had encountered several similar situations over the past few days.
Not only outside the academy, but even within its grounds, clips of her performance in Bloodshadow Rose—illegally captured using Image Stones—had started to circulate.
Gradually, Janna, who was already well-known in the academy, found the attention around her intensifying significantly.
Now, no matter where she went, the scorching gazes—several tis more intense than before—followed her like a shadow.
Although Janna had ntally prepared herself in advance, the frenzy and curiosity from those around her far exceeded her expectations.
The intensity of their stares made even soone like her, who had long been used to being watched, feel slightly overwheld.
"Of course, I don’t mind."
"That's wonderful!"
Seeing Janna agree, the Gray-Skinned Goblin, who had been nervously excited, quickly pulled out a signing board from under the counter and carefully presented it to her.
"Miss Janna, please sign here."
"Alright."
After neatly signing her na and returning the board to the Gray-Skinned Goblin, Janna put back on her large wizard hood, preparing to leave.
"Miss Janna——"
Just as Janna stood up, the Gray-Skinned Goblin, who had been sitting behind the counter, hurriedly rose from his seat, pushed open the small door beside the counter, and quickly walked up to her.
"I hope you’ll accept this."
"Hmm?"
Looking at the shy and earnest Gray-Skinned Goblin holding a pink purse-shaped Interdinsional Storage Pouch, Janna’s pupils involuntarily widened.
It was an Interdinsional Storage Pouch!
"Because I noticed you’ve been using an ordinary wallet until now, which must be very inconvenient—so, this Interdinsional Storage Pouch is just a small token from . I hope you can accept it."
Her lips slightly dry, Janna paused for just two seconds. Then, taking off her wizard hood again, she quickly adjusted her slightly stiff expression into the perfect social smile—thanks to the effect of her Muscle Control talent.
"May I ask your na?"
"Ah—I—I'm Hui! Miss Janna—"
"Mr. Hui, I appreciate your kindness, but this gift is too valuable—"
"I bought it with my own money! And I did it entirely of my own will! Please, you must accept it—"
"Please let finish."
Her voice was ethereal, her gaze calm.
Looking at the mysterious witch before him—who had a different aura than Natasha—the courage Hui had mustered up suddenly faltered.
"Thank you for enjoying Bloodshadow Rose, but I hope your affection remains focused on the work itself. After all, I am Janna, not Natasha."
"I'm sorry—"
"You don’t need to apologize. It’s not your fault. However, I must tell you that I am a Wizard Apprentice. The principle of Equivalent Exchange is a rule every wizard must uphold—I hope you understand what I an."
"Y-Yes."
"Of course, I also hope I can soon deposit fifty thousand Gold Surrel at the Bauhinia Bank. That way, I might just rightfully receive an Interdinsional Storage Pouch of my own."
Upon hearing Janna’s words, Hui finally realized that the “Interdinsional Storage Pouch” she ntioned was the very gift Bauhinia Bank offered to custors who deposited fifty thousand Gold Surrel.
"I’ll be going now."
Not giving the goblin any more ti to react, Janna offered a faint smile, put her wizard hood back on, turned around, and strode out of the Bauhinia Bank. Her graceful departure left Hui dazed on the spot.
"Sigh... If I’d known, I shouldn’t have done sothing that made Miss Janna uncomfortable—"
"An Interdinsional Storage Pouch, huh——"
Quickly leaving the Bauhinia Bank, Janna tried not to think about it. But as she touched the Shell Wallet containing just over four hundred Gold Surrel, she couldn’t help but mutter.
"Who would’ve thought, that goblin is actually quite wealthy—to throw money around like this as a fan."
Janna could tolerate autograph requests. But being given a gift—especially sothing as valuable as an Interdinsional Storage Pouch—was sothing she had never anticipated since becoming an apprentice.
"Though it’s tempting, this item isn’t exactly essential right now—with my current inco, it won’t take long before I can afford it."
Moreover, Janna had now beco a true “public figure” in Turin.
Every move she made attracted attention.
Even if that goblin genuinely seed as honest as he appeared, Janna wouldn’t risk accepting his gift and then facing possible demands—or worse, rumors—afterward.
Humble, courteous, principled, exceptionally talented—these were the labels currently attached to Janna.
With her erging talents, the academy had started to pay her attention, but that attention hadn’t yet translated into real benefits.
Furthermore, as a Second Tier Wizard Apprentice, Janna couldn’t afford to discard the hard-earned positive image she had painstakingly built.
A good reputation is sotis like an invisible business card.
Whether for integrating into high-quality social circles and acquiring resources, or for boosting her popularity to strengthen her bargaining position with the Nightingale Opera Troupe in a year’s ti—
The sunk costs of these plans far outweighed a five-hundred Gold Surrel Interdinsional Storage Pouch.
"Fortunately, I stayed true to myself and didn’t fall for this sugar-coated bullet—"
Of course, if fortune ever dropped a pie from the sky—and it was sothing so irresistible and crucial to her path as a wizard—then her principles could be... reconsidered.
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