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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Chaos
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The next day, Elena woke up, tousling her messy hair.
A smile played on her lips. She felt a flutter of excitement she hadn’t felt in a long time.
‘Should I commission something from him, too?’
Last night, Elena had been preoccupied with thoughts of Ed.
She’d visited the villagers who had commissioned items from him, examining his inventions.
Each and everything was remarkable, showcasing his creativity and engineering talent.
‘I absolutely have to bring him to the academy.’
At first, she just wanted to rectify her mistake.
To her, Edgar Fix was simply a competitor who’d lost his chance due to her arrogance.
But last night, talking with the village head, her feelings had changed.
She was moved by Ed’s generosity, his willingness to use his talent for others.
Elena admired such kindness.
Tired of superficial relationships, she longed to have someone like Edgar Fix, a genuinely good person, by her side.
“Ahhhh, good morning!”
Elena stretched, feeling refreshed.
Even the shabby inn felt cozy. The village itself felt comforting, like home.
*Growl.*
Feeling hungry, Elena went down to the dining hall.
A few men glanced at her with dazed expressions, captivated by her beauty.
She was used to such attention; it was nothing compared to the gazes of city nobles.
These men quickly looked away when she met their eyes.
‘It’s strange. Edgar Fix didn’t even flinch under my gaze.’
He hadn’t avoided her eyes.
He hadn’t been intimidated, despite knowing she was an Archmage, the Princess’s tutor, and the Chief Professor. He’d simply spoken his mind.
‘He was completely unfazed, even knowing who I was. Unusual for a commoner.’
Elena was beautiful.
Men were often mesmerized by her, but Edgar Fix hadn’t seemed to care.
He’d treated her as an equal, disregarding her status, beauty, and fame.
She couldn’t help but smile. He is really intriguing.
“Hmm…”
But even Elena had a flaw: she was broke.
Despite her high salary, she had massive debts.
Her relationship with her adoptive parents was transactional.
She’d taken their name in exchange for paying off their family debts, and they’d used their political influence to elevate her status in return.
So, even choosing breakfast was a dilemma.
She had to pick the most cost-effective option.
“One C Set, please.”
She ordered the C Set, the cheapest item on the menu.
Fifteen minutes later, Elena ate her breakfast, glancing around the inn.
People were chatting excitedly about Ed’s imminent arrival.
-“See this? Ed made it for me. It works like a charm!”
-“Heh, talking about Ed again? Well, his equipment has been a lifesaver for me, too.”
-“He’s got a bright future ahead. How does he even come up with these things?”
Everywhere she looked, people were talking about Ed.
He was starting his “custom orders” in two hours.
According to the village head, Ed took custom orders every Saturday at noon.
The entire village was excited.
‘I can finally clear up the misunderstanding.’
Elena was also excited to see Ed.
She imagined his joy when she told him he had another chance.
She smiled at the thought.
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I’d spent the last two days on a wonderful vacation, gallivanting around the city with James, all expenses generously covered by none other than me.
The purpose of the trip was to cheer him up after the competition.
We had a blast.
We sampled various fine liquors and had lively discussions about engineering approaches to equipment crafting.
And of course, there was a bit of matchmaking.
James had lost his wife ten years ago.
I playfully encouraged him to pursue a waitress he seemed to like, slipping her a note and a flower from him.
Her reaction was priceless.
She checked James’s face, then told him directly that it would have been nicer if he’d given her the flower himself, clearly expressing her interest.
James was so flustered! [T/N: lol he’s trying to get himself a new mom?]
I cheered him on and slipped away, leaving them to chat over drinks.
It didn’t quite work out, as the waitress spotted James’s wedding ring, but it was a fun memory.
‘Time to get back to work.’
It was a short but fulfilling vacation.
Now it was time to work. I hurried home; it was Saturday at noon, time for custom orders.
It was also the “easy quest” day.
‘Time to rack up some experience points.’
I called it “easy quest” day for a simple reason.
My attributed item, the Creator’s Hammer, gained skill experience the more equipment I crafted.
As my skill level increased, the hammer’s seals would gradually be released.
So, custom order days were incredibly beneficial.
The more diverse and challenging the equipment, the more experience I gained.
‘Get paid, boost my reputation, and farm experience. A win-win-win.’
Money, fame, and experience points. I hummed a tune, hurrying home.
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The peaceful village of Greta was unusually bustling.
A crowd had gathered at James’s forge, as if for a town meeting.
“He should be here any minute!”
But this wasn’t a town meeting.
They were here for Ed’s weekly Saturday custom orders, having even skipped work to be there.
Among the crowd was Elena von Iliad Rosario, Archmage, tutor to the Princess, one of the ten most powerful figures in the Empire.
She was waiting among commoners for a commoner boy.
This was a novel experience for Elena.
Usually, people made way for her out of fear, but here, all attention was on Ed.
In this remote village, only the village head and his close associates recognized her.
She’d asked him to keep her identity a secret, so the villagers saw her as just a “skilled mage” from the city, here to commission equipment.
‘This isn’t so bad, actually.’
Elena enjoyed the anonymity.
Not being constantly under scrutiny, she felt liberated, like a commoner again.
Perhaps that was why the village felt like home.
“Oh! Ed! You’re back!”
Ed finally arrived. The villagers greeted James and Ed enthusiastically.
“Hey! James! How was the evaluation?”
“He must have aced it!”
“Of course! He had Ed with him!”
“Ah… What will we do without Ed now?”
The villagers weren’t interested in James’s results; they were focused on Ed, the village prodigy. But James’s answer was unexpected.
“Haha. A bit of bad luck. I failed.”
…Failed?
The villagers murmured. Elena, sweating, slipped away from the crowd.
“What? If you weren’t chosen, then who was?”
“This is surprising.”
“Who were the judges? They must be blind!”
“Weren’t the professors judging? They brought in some hotshot Chief Professor.”
“Tsk, tsk. That Chief Professor has no eye for talent.”
“Well, it’s good for us! Hahahaha! Ed! We’re counting on you!”
Elena’s face burned.
She’d never been criticized like this. They were saying *she* lacked judgment?
‘Ugh…’
It was her own fault.
She’d disqualified Ed impulsively.
Elena pulled her hood lower, regretting her actions.
“Alright, enough about that. Time for custom orders. I’ll call out the numbers, line up.”
James began calling out numbers. Priority was based on: 1. Number of previous commissions (fewer was better), 2. Necessity of the item, and 3. Estimated crafting time (shorter was better). James had pre-arranged the order.
“Number 1, Graham. Number 2, Jackson. Number 3, Aleta. Number 4, Wilson. Number 5, Jake…”
The villagers lined up.
“Number 47, Tom.”
The line of 47 people was complete.
Elena, hooded, stood awkwardly aside.
As an outsider, she wasn’t on the list.
“You there, who are you? I’ve checked everyone…”
James asked. Elena hesitated. A middle-aged villager answered for her.
“James, this is the mage from the city. She heard about Ed and wants to commission some equipment.”
He used Elena’s cover story. James nodded, not recognizing her.
“Hmm… Outsiders are last. No reservation.”
James went inside.
A cold wind rustled Elena’s hood.
Her lips twitched.
‘I’m… last? The Archmage, last in line?’
Elena von Iliad Rosario, Archmage, tutor to the Princess, Chief Professor, was last.
She, accustomed to priority, was at the very end.
A boy said impatiently,
“What are you waiting for? Get in line.”
“Oh, right.”
She had no choice. She was an outsider here. Elena trudged to the end of the line.
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