~Chapter 01~
The gaunt woman’s hair was a beautiful platinum blonde, yet it was as coarse and dry as a broom.
She had braided it long down her back—not for decoration, but to keep it from getting in the way of daily life. Because she had done it herself, the braid was uneven, with stray strands sticking out here and there.
“Damn it! Those herb dealers—choking on soup and snorting it out their noses would serve them right! The moment their stuff sells a little, they jack up the prices whenever they feel like it!”
Late at night, the woman threw down her pen in irritation while recording the cost of the magical ingredients she had received that day.
She was Lorienne, the owner of the small shop Loftis Magical Potion Shop, located in a village just outside Astum Castle.
Knock, knock.
At the sound coming from outside, Lorienne hurriedly grabbed the thick glasses beside her and put them on with both hands. Then she opened the small eye-level hatch built into the door.
“Who is it?”
“Are you the owner? I’d like to buy some potions…”
Lorienne narrowed her eyes and leaned back slightly as she looked at the man standing outside.
“Step back a little, please.”
The man took a step back with a reluctant expression.
He wore a rather expensive velvet jacket, but the front of his leather shoes was worn down and faded. After a moment of consideration, Lorienne opened the door.
He doesn’t look completely shabby, but he doesn’t seem high-status either. Still, some people like this always pay properly… can’t help it.
Most people who came this late at night were nobles—those who wanted to secretly purchase potions away from prying eyes.
The only way Lorienne could roughly judge a customer’s status was by their clothing. Letting in someone poorly dressed at this hour often led to trouble—more than once, such visitors had turned into robbers in an instant.
But those who looked ambiguous like this usually haggled over prices, rather than resorting to violence.
“Have a seat.”
The man entered and sat at the small table, openly scanning Lorienne from head to toe.
His demeanor was subtly different from when he had asked her to open the door.
…I don’t think he’s here for potions.
Leaving him seated, Lorienne moved behind the counter where rows of potions were displayed. A long bar used for crafting potions stood between them, creating a safe distance from the man’s prying gaze.
“What kind of potion are you here for?”
“Hm, I heard you’re not even from Astum. Quite an arrogant attitude you’ve got.”
“Then I suppose you don’t need my potions? My tone tends to vary depending on the person.”
Despite facing a man far larger than herself, Lorienne showed not a trace of fear or hesitation as she met his eyes.
“It’s late at night… and right now, it’s just you and me here.”
The man grinned, revealing his lecherous intent.
Having dealt with situations like this countless times, Lorienne let out a short sigh. Resting her chin on one hand atop the counter, she spoke lazily.
“Why don’t you take a look at the door behind you?”
She pointed absentmindedly at the closed door with her free hand.
The man turned his head. From the outside, it had looked perfectly normal—but the inside was covered in countless dents, as though something had been driven into it repeatedly.
When he turned back to her—
Clatter—
The sound of metal clashing rang out near Lorienne, and suddenly, more than two hundred spearheads floated up into the air.
Startled, the man leapt to his feet.
I thought the rumors about chasing spearheads were exaggerated… but it’s real?!
“Seems you didn’t hear the rumors properly about what kind of mage I am.”
With a small twirl of her finger, the spearheads moved, shaping themselves around the man’s figure.
With another flick, they trembled in the air, as if ready to shoot toward him at any moment.
“S-Sorry! I—I didn’t mean any harm!”
“Yeah, right.”
Still resting her chin on one hand, Lorienne raised the other slightly.
“W–Wait—!”
The man screamed and bolted for the door, flinging it open. As if afraid the spearheads would chase him, he quickly shut it behind him before fleeing.
The moment the door closed, a rapid clattering sound echoed—as if the spearheads had embedded themselves into it.
Imagining those spikes piercing his body instead, the man would likely never return to Loftis again.
“Ah… I’m so tired…”
Yet inside the shop, there were no spearheads—neither floating in the air nor embedded in the door.
“Good thing I learned illusion magic… though it really drains me every time.”
Lorienne slumped over the counter, resting her head on her arms.
Fatigue was nothing new to her, but today felt especially exhausting. Letting greed push her into risky situations like this… it could have gone badly.
Still, she couldn’t give up money.
“Will Coco not come today? I hope Coco comes…”
Thinking of Coco—the only visitor she didn’t have to be wary of—Lorienne’s lips curved into a smile.
Coco was a stray dog who often visited her late at night.
Just then—
Scratch, scratch!
Lorienne sprang upright.
The sound of scratching at the door—her favorite sound.
“Coco!”
Without even checking through the hatch, she flung the door open.
Standing there was a large golden retriever, its fluffy golden tail swaying gently.
As if saying, You’ve been waiting for me, haven’t you?, the dog looked up at her and barked loudly.
“Woof! Woof!”
“Coco! You’re here!”
Without a trace of caution, the retriever trotted inside. Then, as if eager to show off, it immediately began spinning in circles, chasing its own tail.
Ever since some time ago, greeting Lorienne with a series of tricks had become its routine.
After spinning, it sat down neatly and raised a paw, panting happily.
Lorienne quickly knelt and extended her hand.
“Shake!”
At her command, the dog placed its paw firmly in her hand.
Laughing aloud at how well it understood her, Lorienne shook it a couple of times before pulling the dog into her arms.
Its body was warm.
“My clever Coco. I was just thinking I wanted to see you—how did you know to come?”
She rubbed her face against its thick fur.
The dog’s tail wagged wildly, and it soon placed its paws on her shoulders, licking her face enthusiastically.
Giggling, Lorienne stroked its side.
“Alright, alright—calm down, Coco.”
“Woof!”
“Ah, you might be the only one in this world who likes me this much.”
Coco didn’t test her magic, didn’t argue over potion prices—just being with him made her happy.
The gloomy mood from earlier vanished completely.
The large dog wiggled its body excitedly, bumping into her. As Lorienne stood up, the dog rose onto its hind legs, hopping lightly as it moved its paws.
Its panting tongue betrayed its excitement.
Grabbing its front paws, Lorienne bounced along with it.
Her bright laughter filled the shop once more.
“Coco, you have no idea how happy you make me.”
With dimples forming on her cheeks, Lorienne hugged the dog tightly.
The once-energetic dog settled quietly in her arms, as if waiting for her to finish breathing in and out with her eyes closed.
A dog that understood words, was intelligent, and full of affection.
Never—not even for a moment—did Lorienne imagine that this large, beautiful golden-furred dog…
…was actually Kair Astum, the future Emperor of Astum.
