Chapter 31: A New Job

“Why are you here?”

Facing the old man, Nolan felt an odd embarrassment.

“I run a magic shop in Romern, so I’m here to pick up goods,” the silver-haired elder said calmly.

“But you—what’re you doing?”

Nolan looked at him, recalling that day in the Upper District’s “Magic Goods” shop.

He’d sold his grandfather’s sword to this man for seven gold coins.

“I… looking for work?”

“Work… I see.”

The elder frowned, eyeing Nolan, then moved past with his case.

Nolan thought the chat was over, but the man stopped, turned, took a deep breath, and spoke sharply.

“We settled our deal, so I shouldn’t meddle—but as you are a knight’s heir, I’ve got some harsh advice.”

“What… advice?”

Nolan asked cautiously.

“You’re seeking work, but that money—from selling your heirloom—whether for land, living, or squandering, it’d last a year or two. How’d you fall so low so fast, scraping for rough jobs?

Have you spent it all? Drunk it away? Gambled it? I’ve seen plenty of fallen nobles, with legacies to last a lifetime, but vices make them worse than gutter beggars.”

Nolan gave a bitter laugh, realizing the man meant well.

“You’ve got it wrong. That money’s saved for something important, so I need to earn my keep.”

“Something important?”

The elder, about to leave, paused and looked back.

“My mistake, then.”

“No… thanks for caring,” Nolan said, shaking his head.

Seeing the man’s goodwill, he added.

“I’ve been searching days but can’t find work.”

“Can’t find?”

The elder glanced at the docks, puzzled.

“Aren’t labor jobs here open to anyone willing?”

“Well… I injured my arm… it won’t heal soon,” Nolan stammered.

“Injured arm? Not surprising,” the elder nodded, staring thoughtfully.

“Something else?”

Nolan grew uneasy.

“If not, I’ll go…”

“Hold on—”

The elder cut in.

“If you’re looking for work, I’ve got a short-term job needing hands. Interested?”

“But… you run a magic shop. I know nothing about magic—what could I do?”

Nolan hesitated, intrigued but wary, wanting details.

“Nothing to do with magic,” the elder waved dismissively.

“If you can read and write, you can do it.”

He looked at Nolan, noticing a flicker of doubt.

“No way—you’re a knight’s heir. Even if fallen, you’d have learned the basics, right?”

The elder sounded shocked.

“I did learn…”

Nolan opened his mouth.

“But just the basics.”

The elder squinted, studied him, then pulled a small notebook from his coat.

“Take this.”

Nolan took it, puzzled, finding a thin pen unlike a quill tucked into the leather cover.

“This is a mana-stone pencil—no ink needed. I’ll say some words, you write. If you can, you’re hired.”

“Okay…”

Nolan gripped the notebook and pencil, listening closely.

The elder cleared his throat and began.

“Concept.”

“Proof.”

“Divine will.”

“Commission.”

“Proof.”

“Combat.”

After a dozen words, the elder stopped, took back the notebook, and checked it, shaking his head.

“See, I knew I—”

Nolan started, grimacing.

“Three mistakes,” the elder snapped the notebook shut.

“But your writing’s neat enough—you pass.”

“I… passed?”

Nolan blinked, stunned.

The elder nodded.

“If you’re willing, come to my shop to talk.”

***

Once again, Nolan reached Romern’s Upper District, this time led by the old man.

On the way, they exchanged names.

Nolan learned the elder was Leyak, running a magic shop in Romern for ten years.

The Upper District’s scenery differed starkly from the Lower District.

Main roads were paved with neat gray stone bricks.

Buildings, made of brick and wood, sported ornate carvings, with metal wind chimes dangling from shop eaves.

Leyak reached his modest shop, dwarfed by lavish neighbors, and pressed his hand to the door’s copper ring.

Nolan saw the ring turn on its own, the door springing inward.

“Come in,” Leyak said, entering first.

The shop was rectangular.

Leyak sat behind the counter in a leather-backed chair, looking at Nolan.

“The job’s simple. I’ll give you a notebook and a mana-stone pencil, then tell you a place. It’s a hidden spot called the Adventurers’ Guild. You might not know it, but there’s a bulletin board with notices.”

“I understand. Then what?”

Nolan asked.

“Go there daily, copy every notice into the notebook. Note what’s new, what’s gone, or what’s changed—added or removed words. Copy any unfamiliar words by their letters. My eyes are bad, so write clearly, got it?”

“I get it—so, start today?”

Nolan asked, grasping the task.

“If you’re up for it,” Leyak replied.

***

Inside the Marlin Tavern, there really was a massive marlin.

I slipped in, spotting the five-foot-long fish mounted beside the counter, its preserved, hollow eyes staring at me.

I gave the name “Air” to the plainly dressed receptionist, then waited by the door.

No idea when Darryl would show—if it’s too long, I can’t wait.

“Ah—”

The receptionist, noticing my impatience, smiled.

“I’ve sent word to her, but her schedule’s unpredictable. I don’t know when she’ll come.”

Ugh… time to go.

I left Kritiya a note explaining this trip’s purpose, but I worried she’d struggle with Darryl’s overbold personality.

Then again—Kritiya handled the monastery fine, didn’t she?

I’d expected her to panic and get kicked out by the nuns.

Just then, the half-elf warrior’s hearty voice rang out.

“Yo—little sister, finally decided to seek my help?”

I turned to Darryl.

Maybe to blend in, she wasn’t in her full armor from our first meeting but wore a plain dress and a brown headscarf, hiding her slightly pointed ears.

“Can we talk somewhere private?”

I cut to the chase.

Darryl’s relaxed demeanor shifted, her face growing serious at my tone.

“Miss Beth, open a private room,” she told the receptionist.

“Upstairs, turn right.”

In the private room, Darryl shut the door, turned, and faced me.

“No one’ll hear us here. What’s up?”

I took a deep breath—knowing what I’d say next carried risks.

Darryl’s upright nature from the novel suggested no mortal danger if I spoke carefully, but other consequences… who knows?

“I know—you took the ancient scroll from the Ballast Gang, the one from the Mercury Workshop.”

Bang!

Darryl loomed over me, her strong arm brushing my shoulder, pinning me against the wall, her eyes flashing coldly.

“Little girl—who told you to say that to me?”

“I’m saying it myself,” I said, meeting her gaze, refusing to flinch.

“Don’t treat me like a clueless kid.”

I deliberately released a trace of magical aura, showing I wasn’t powerless.

“Is this what nobles do… sending kids this young to the battlefield?”

“No one forced me here. It’s my choice.”

Darryl felt the magic’s ripple, went silent, then stepped back, leaning against the room’s chair.

“If you’re here for that scroll, go home.”