Chapter 382: Fox Girl Charloie, Seeking a Patron
Chapter 382: Chapter 382: Fox Girl Charloie, Seeking a Patron
While this small reward was nothing compared to those worth tens of thousands, it was a pleasant surprise for Lance.
This also meant that for anyone connected to him, he could proactively observe their impending misfortune and, through his own insignificant actions, alter its course—like shearing a sheep, endlessly farming wool from the river of destiny!
Little by little, a little becomes a lot. Grains of sand pile up to become a pagoda.
Lance suddenly felt that the Profession of Jhin, the Virtuoso, seemed tailor-made to counter people like Molok, who used prophetic abilities.
That old schemer would lay down all sorts of prophecies, creating new branches in the destinies of others.
And he could follow behind, pruning them all away, ruining the other’s plans while shearing their wool. It couldn’t be more satisfying.
Lance exited his Destiny Vision, took a step forward, and picked up the brass device. "Since the part is broken, I happen to be going to the Seven Rings Area tomorrow anyway. I can take it to a workshop for you to get it repaired. You just stay home and get some rest."
Necros smiled and didn’t say much. "Alright. I’ll have to trouble you to make the trip then."
...
「The next morning.」
In a small Enchantment Room in the annex of 13 Black Mercury Lane, Copper Green District, along the Seventh Ring Line in Ostrara.
The Fox Girl, Charloie, was still wearing the same youthful-looking school uniform she’d had on the light rail yesterday. At the moment, though, her fluffy fox ears were pressed down by a Wind Hat, and her face was mostly hidden behind a pair of thick, protective goggles.
She was holding an engraving knife, carefully embedding a faintly glowing Miniature Elemental Bottle into a recess in the heel of a heavy, metal Combat Boot.
After confirming it was securely installed, Charloie let out a sigh of relief and held out her right hand.
Guided by her Ethereal Magic Power, a small, blue-glowing Alchemy Array slowly materialized on the surface of the combat boot.
Next, she picked up a Potion in a black bottle from the table. She then poured the viscous, blue Demon-Guiding Liquid into the engraving knife’s liquid reservoir, preparing to begin the work of etching the Technique Circuits.
Although civilian Alchemy in Ostrara seemed quite advanced and widely available,
when it came to combat equipment capable of destruction—those with a Star Realm-adjudicated damage rating—there was an ironclad rule in this world they all had to follow.
And that was...
They had to be certified by the Star Realm and bound to a user before their power could be unleashed.
With the exception of a few rare Treasures, almost all Alchemy Creations with combat functions had to be bound before they could be used.
This included the Steam Alchemy Machinery that had progressed with the times; they too were bound by this law.
Otherwise, the very nature of warfare across the world might be rewritten.
The heavy combat boot Charloie was currently working on was an order from the Ostran Adventurer’s Association, destined for the Truth Academy.
She had only managed to snatch this job from a crowd of upperclassmen thanks to her excellent grades.
If she could successfully complete the Enchantment and deliver this piece of equipment, after deducting the cost of the demon-guiding materials, she could still earn two Gold Coins!
’Then I’ll have money for my research!’ Charloie thought happily.
But, as the saying goes, extreme joy begets sorrow.
Just as she finished engraving a section of the Technique Circuits and was about to pour more Demon-Guiding Liquid to connect the next section, she suddenly realized the bottle was completely empty.
She stared blankly for a few minutes before it hit her: she had used up most of the Demon-Guiding Liquid a few days ago while practicing the Secret Inheritance Engraving Magic her teacher had taught her.
’I’m screwed!’
Staring at the empty bottle, Charloie’s fox tail, which had been wagging happily just a moment ago, drooped limply. A wave of despair washed over her.
If she missed the delivery deadline, according to the Guild’s rules, not only would she not get paid, but the money she had fronted for the Miniature Elemental Bottle materials would also go down the drain.
She silently counted on her fingers. Since she began studying Alchemy with her teacher, she had racked up over 100 Gold Coins in loans to buy various materials, and her living expenses for the month were about to run out.
Waaaaah...
’Some Mechanical Witch I am.’
’Why did no one tell me studying Alchemy would burn through so much money?’
’Compared to other Witches, I’m a total small fry!’
She remembered what her seven equally beautiful sisters had told her when she left home to study in Ostrara.
For girls of the Fox Species on this continent, the best choice after coming of age was to find a powerful human noble family or a strong Professional and depend on them.
Then, they were to use the innate beauty and social charm of the Fox Species to trade for a life of luxury.
Almost every Ordinary Fox Species family taught their children this, and Charloie’s was no exception.
Although her useless older sisters had been picky and still hadn’t found a "meal ticket" to their liking, that didn’t stop them from pinning all their hopes of revitalizing the family and living a life of luxury on her, the most beautiful of all the sisters.
But...
Charloie curled up in her chair. The mere thought of having to talk to a strange man was enough to trigger her social anxiety.
Forget about using her feminine charm; she didn’t even dare to make eye contact with them.
If she really had to find a sugar daddy, just thinking about it was enough to make her shrink into a corner and tremble in fear.
’I’ll just stick to eating black bread while I learn Alchemy.’
Just as Charloie was losing heart and worrying about how to make a living...
DING DONG~ DING DONG~
The magitech doorbell outside the annex’s main door rang.
This made Charloie jump.
She instinctively glanced at the door to the other, larger magitech room.
Her teacher was currently shut inside, researching a new Alchemy project.
Knowing her teacher’s habits, once he was engrossed in his research, he definitely wouldn’t be coming out to open the door anytime soon.
’Looks like I’ll have to get the door.’
Charloie gripped the hem of her uniform tightly, as if trying to give herself courage.
Then she swallowed hard and, as if walking to her own execution, shuffled toward the annex’s front door.
She didn’t open the door right away. Instead, she spoke through the wood, her voice low and timid. "P-Please... can I help you?"
There was a second of silence from outside, followed by a young man’s voice. "Uh, sorry to bother you, but is this Mr. Baldwin’s residence? Mr. Selas wrote me a letter of recommendation to come here and study Alchemy under Mr. Baldwin."
Hearing the reason for his visit, Charloie thought to herself, ’Oh, so he’s a prospective student with a letter of recommendation.’
’In that case, I can’t just lie and say the teacher isn’t here to get rid of him. I’d definitely get an earful if he found out.’
Charloie bit her lower lip. After a fierce internal struggle, she mustered her courage, unlocked the door, and pulled it open just a crack—only about three fingers wide.
She peered nervously through the gap.
Standing below the steps outside was a tall, dark-haired youth.
The moment she saw his face, Charloie’s beautiful fox-like eyes went wide.
’Isn’t that the pervert from the light rail yesterday, the one who kept staring at my legs?!’