TVJA 39

Chapter 39

“Young Lady, it’s an invitation from the Grand Duke’s residence.”

Munch, munch.

While I was leisurely stuffing sweets into my mouth, I blinked in confusion at the invitation thrust right in front of my nose.

“An invitation?”

『If it’s from the Grand Duke’s estate, it must be that annoying black-haired brat.』

Where did he suddenly appear from?

Clutching Sophie’s shoulder, Kim Sword made a surprise entrance, chewing with cookies in one hand and a muffin in the other.

『I figured the master must’ve forgotten me since he hadn’t sent an invitation for so long.』

“……”

『By the way, the chef’s cooking skills are getting better by the day.』

I narrowed my eyes and stared at him. How could a mere soul eat so well?

He must’ve starved to death in his past life, for sure.

A sigh slipped from me as I stared at the crumbs on the floor.

He doesn’t even need to eat.

Unlike humans who need food for nutrition, a demonic sword could absorb energy without such unnecessary processes.

Specifically, through its contractor. According to him, it was enough to feed on the leftover mana my body couldn’t fully absorb…

I wonder what it tastes like.

Strawberry? Or maybe orange?

I kind of want to taste this so-called mana lump myself.

Fortunately, Sophie’s eyes were focused on me. If she’d turned around even slightly, she might’ve screamed at the sight of cookies floating in midair.

Maybe she was suspicious of the faster-than-usual rate the snacks were disappearing. Lightly grasping my wrist, Sophie whispered quietly.

“Overeating isn’t good for your health.”

Feeling deeply wronged, I looked at her with sincere eyes.

“I haven’t eaten that much…”

Despite my pitiful expression, her face remained firm and unwavering.

“If the Lady’s health declines, I’m the one who’ll be scolded.”

“……”

“As you’ve started proper swordsmanship training, I’ve been ordered to reduce your snack intake and increase vegetables and meat.”

With her saying all that, I had nothing more to argue. Reluctantly, I put down the chocolate cookie and licked my lips with a sigh. This was all Kim Sword’s fault.

Greedy soul, can’t even digest food!

“Fine.”

“If you’ve finished eating, I’ll bring a letter opener.”

“No need.”

Too much work, I’ll just open it by hand.

Without much thought, I tore the envelope with my fingernail. But my hand slipped, and the envelope ripped diagonally.

At that, Sophie’s shoulder gave a small flinch.

What’s with her?

Her odd reaction made me briefly curious—but only briefly.

I unfolded the neatly folded letter.

Inside, the handwriting was messy and crooked.

“Saturday the 14th, 1 p.m., Rose Garden.”

Saturday the 14th—exactly a week from today.

It would take about three days to get from here to the Grand Duke’s estate…

That’s a pretty tight schedule.

“What does it say?”

Usually, she never showed any interest in my correspondence. But today, she was curiously tilting her head and stealing glances.

“It just says the time and place.”

“…Is that so.”

She murmured quietly, sounding disappointed.

“Oh wait, there’s something else written!”

Squinting at a corner of the letter, I spotted something and exclaimed brightly.

Right, even if it’s him, he wouldn’t just write the bare minimum. There’s got to be something else, right?

But as soon as I read it, my face went stiff.

Because what it said was:

“And my friend is coming this time, so don’t do anything weird like last time. If you flip your skirt again, I’m going to pretend I don’t know you.”

A ridiculous warning scrawled messily like a worm.

Did he write this with his toes?

What a fool I was for expecting anything better.

“…Sophie, can you bring me some letter paper? I need to write a reply.”

Since I’d received an invitation, I had to send a reply. Holding back my frustration, I asked Sophie for new paper.

It wasn’t until late afternoon that I finished the letter.

After sitting for hours at my desk, my shoulders were stiff, and I leaned over the table with a sigh.

“Maybe because my hands are smaller now, my writing speed’s slower too.”

Opening and closing my palms, I repeated the motion and pouted.

“If only my hands were a bit bigger, I’d be faster.”

『Now that’s a master-like thought.』

“……”

『By that logic, people with big feet must walk faster, huh.』

I knew how ridiculous I sounded.

“Do you really have to win every argument?”

Letting out a deep sigh, I blinked slowly.

Come to think of it, I’d planned to go to Belphegor to mine some gems after finishing this letter.

But the person who was supposed to deliver my letter was nowhere to be seen.

“Where did Sophie go?”

『If you’d like, I can read the flow of mana.』

Kim Sword closed his eyes and took a deep breath. A violet aura gathered around him.

It wrapped around him like a shadow and then, as he opened his eyes, seeped smoothly into his body.

『Looks like she’s in the garden.』

“The garden?”

『Probably watering the flowers. If you leave the letter on your desk, she’ll pick it up. You could go now.』

Hmm…

I was easily swayed, so I decided to take his advice.

The forest I hadn’t visited in a while was just the same. Except for the heavy panting behind me.

『You’re too fast, Master…』

Kim Sword, trailing close behind, whined as he slowed down.

“Don’t lie. I know you’re just pretending because you don’t want to go.”

The Belphegor Forest, located behind the Duchy of Benestra, was perfect for mining since it was surrounded by rocky hills.

But due to its winding, maze-like terrain, ordinary people rarely ventured here.

Even the most experienced employees who knew the geography sometimes lost their way.

And at night, monsters roamed—so if you got lost…

Gulp.

Just imagining it was terrifying.

But it was afternoon now, with the sun high in the sky, so none of that concerned me.

Plus, I had my somewhat useless but still dependable demonic sword. He could protect me well enough.

Heave-ho.

『Need a hand?』

Kim Sword reached down from the ridge, offering a hand.

“Thanks.”

Grabbing it, I barely managed to pull myself up.

『Good thing we brought warm clothes.』

As we reached flat ground, he sidled up and clung to my arm, muttering.

He was shivering. Guess he was sensitive to cold.

A demonic sword… feeling cold?

I was a little surprised but let it go.

“I told you it’d be cold.”

It was still early March, and Serkalana—being in the northeast—had bigger temperature swings than other regions.

A light T-shirt was enough during the day, but at night, you needed a thick coat.

That’s why I’d come prepared—with a lamp and warm clothes.

After walking for a while hunched over, the entrance to the mine appeared.

『Are you sure this is the place, Master?』

Placing my pickaxe on a large rock, I tied up my hair with a rope I brought.

“Yes. I’m sure.”

As I tied my hair, a chilly breeze touched the back of my neck.

『But it’s so dark…』

Kim Sword stomped his feet, looking pale.

“You don’t know anything. This kind of place is prime.”

『I don’t think so…』

I ignored his complaints, crouched low, and carefully placed the lamp deeper into the cave to shield it from the wind.

I needed it to stay lit for a long mining session.

“Alright, let’s get started.”

Squatting on the ground, I ran my fingernails across the rock.

Scratch…

Fine powder clung to my fingertips.

“Good.”

Soft enough—perfect for mining.

Ready, I swung the pickaxe at the rock without hesitation.

Clang! The sound echoed through the cave.

『Too aggressive, Master.』

“So what? It’s not like anyone’s listening.”

Kim Sword plugged his ears with a pale face.

『Still…』

Suddenly, a new notification popped up before me.

{system: You’ve obtained a new mineral. Emerald Ore Lv. 3.}

Oh?

I’d mined level 1 or 2 gems before, but never a level 3.

Even in Etfasha, level 2 was the highest.

…So how much was a level 3 worth?

Muttering “Check balance,” a screen popped up.

{Current balance: 21,700 cash. Cash converts at 100x real money.}

21,700?

Last time it was 20,500.

Which meant this gem was worth around 1,200 cash.

That’s… 120,000 won.

120,000 won in less than a minute?!

What a sweet side hustle.

I froze in place, eyes wide.

Maybe Kim Sword thought something was wrong.

『Master?』

He waved his hand in front of my face.

『Something wrong?』

I shook my head.

“No.”

Nothing was wrong. In fact, everything was going great.

A satisfied smile spread across my lips. Seeing it, he asked curiously,

『I’ve always wondered something.』

“What?”

I was in too good a mood to be suspicious.

『Why do you work so hard mining gems?』

“Huh?”

『You have parents who’ll buy you anything, and your house is full of gems. Your family’s well-off, not lacking.』

I paused my mining and stared at him.

“Because the money I earn here, I can take back to my original world.”

『The gems?』

“Not the gems themselves. The money I get from selling them.”

『I see.』

He muttered with a bitter tone and nodded.

『Sometimes, you seem like you’re trying too hard.』

“I do?”

He smiled softly.

『Yes.』

“If I don’t try, I’ll be stuck forever.”

And then I’d never beat the game.

Just like he said, my family in the real world might forget me.

At my sharp tone, he bit his lip.

『Do you know the story of the Little Star?』

Little star?

“Out of nowhere?”

『You might not know, since you’re from another world. But it’s famous here… Once upon a time, there was a small gray star who longed for the sky…』

He told the story of a star too small and dim, who burned itself to shine—becoming a shooting star.

『So when a shooting star falls, people make wishes.』

“……”

『They wish for the little star to be happy.』

He stretched out his arms as if shaking off fatigue.

“So, do you think I’m chasing an illusion, like that little star?”

He turned to me with a faint smile.

『No.』

“Then what?”

When I pressed for an answer, he chuckled.

『I just want my master to be happy.』

“I am pretty happy.”

He gently placed his large hand on my head.

『…I know.』

His touch was as delicate as handling fragile glass.

『Even if you don’t say it, I know.』

His quiet words struck a chord deep in my heart.

『You don’t need to hide it when things are hard.』

“……”

『Even the toughest gem will shatter.』

He picked up the biggest gem from the floor and murmured softly.

『What doesn’t break under a hammer isn’t hardness or sharpness, but gentleness that embraces all.』

“Gentleness…”

I repeated the word vaguely.

I’d always chased after material things and validation like someone being chased.

I never imagined living with leisure.

Because I thought the moment I let go, I’d fall behind.

I’d already failed once because of Noah.

And this world didn’t allow failure.

『So Master, it’s okay to fail.』

As his warm embrace enveloped me, I suddenly saw a familiar and comforting face superimposed over his.

[So Jia, it’s okay to be weak.]

My mother’s voice, waiting for me somewhere.

『Oops, didn’t mean to make you cry.』

It rang softly in my ears like a distant echo.