Episode 30
Seeing those sparkling eyes, it felt like something terrible would happen if I didn’t show him something right now.
‘…What do I do?’
Suddenly forced into putting on a magic show I didn’t even know how to perform, I muttered anxiously.
‘My magic stat is around 110 right now…’
“……”
Surprisingly, I couldn’t do anything at all.
Then, I suddenly remembered the explanation about stat points.
Even a basic spell like Fireball—literally the foundation of all magic—could only be learned with a magic stat over 200.
I could practically feel sweat trickling down the back of my neck.
“Sorry, but I don’t have enough magic today…”
As expected, that lame excuse didn’t work. His expression hardened immediately, and he shot back firmly.
“You’re lying.”
“……”
“You liar.”
{System: Affection level with ‘Kylor Francis’ has decreased by 1.}
Hey! What the hell?
He didn’t have to drop his affection level that quickly.
A vein throbbed on my forehead as I sharply raised my head.
I could feel sparks flying in my eyes.
Getting mad after being caught in a lie… well, it stirred up a sense of defiance.
This whole situation was pure impulse.
“Fine. I’ll show you.”
With a bold expression, I pointed toward a huge mountain in the distance.
It was Mount Etfasha, completely covered in white snow.
“If you don’t believe me, follow me outside.”
I guess it was finally time to use the pickaxe magic.
Fresh air. Good weather.
“Hoo…”
Placing both hands lightly on my hips, I smiled brightly as I looked down at Kylor struggling up the hill below.
No people around. Quiet. This really was the perfect place for pickaxe work.
As I enjoyed the view, he finally climbed up to where I was and wore a puzzled expression.
“What are you even trying to do out here?”
He had a point—this place was a barren snowfield in every direction.
Not even a single blade of grass could grow here.
As he kicked around the snow at his feet and trudged over with no energy, he shot me a sharp glare.
“If this turns out to be a lie…”
I smiled serenely at his cat-like crankiness.
“Just don’t be too surprised.”
I spoke with conviction, which only made him scan me with even more suspicion.
“How far are we going, anyway? We’re up high enough, so if it’s magic or whatever, just do it already.”
Was he actually looking forward to it?
Despite all the suspicion in his eyes, a glint of curiosity had definitely begun to show.
Well, it’s not like you get to see magic every day.
But then—an unexpected problem.
To take out the pickaxe, I needed to say “Inventory.” But he was staring at me so intently, I couldn’t bring myself to say it aloud.
I needed something to distract him.
Looking around with my eyes, I rubbed my chin and thought.
‘It’s an old trick, but it works.’
I pointed behind him and shouted dramatically.
“Whoa, is that a muscular rabbit over two meters tall?!”
“…What?”
Did that ridiculous lie actually work?
His gaze immediately snapped away.
Thanks to that, I finally managed to pull out the pickaxe.
With my hair all messy from the rush, I gave him an awkward smile.
“There’s nothing the—”
But his sharp blue eyes immediately locked onto the small, pink, and undeniably cute pickaxe in my hand.
“What… is that?”
His eyelids twitched in disbelief, probably confused because just a second ago, I hadn’t been holding anything.
“A magic… ritual tool? Maybe?”
I smiled awkwardly and quickly hid the pickaxe behind my back.
Because he looked like he might try to steal it.
“……”
Thankfully, that didn’t happen.
“This spot looks good.”
Getting ready to dig, I picked the flattest patch of land and stood in front of it with a determined look.
It was an awfully serious expression for someone about to swing a pickaxe.
Just in case I got dirty, I had already rolled up the hem of my dress and sleeves.
Under the dress, I wore a thin petticoat—under that, I had shorts.
In short, I came prepared.
‘Glad I made the effort.’
Wearing a proud smile, I turned to look at him.
“Kylor, I’m ready—”
But when I turned, his face was flushed red, like it might explode at any second.
He looked just like a fully ripened tomato.
“You—how can a girl be so reckless!”
“Huh?”
I tilted my head in confusion.
“What did I do?”
His eyes wandered in the air, and the moment they met mine, he quickly looked away.
“Never mind.”
With a sigh, a blue-colored affection system window popped up above his head.
{System: Affection level with ‘Kylor Francis’ has increased by 1.}
Oddly enough, even though it was the ‘awe’ type affection, his ears were still blushing like a peach.
Soon after, a ridiculous noise echoed throughout the silent, desolate snow mountain.
Maybe because it had just snowed, the place was unusually quiet.
Good thing no one lived nearby. If this had happened in Serkalina—
‘I’d have been arrested by the guards from noise complaints.’
“There’s a lunatic swinging a pickaxe in broad daylight!”
Meanwhile, I had my face buried in the ground, swinging the pickaxe like someone possessed.
He let out a sigh as he watched.
He really didn’t seem to approve of anything I did.
“What do you expect to do with that pathetic excuse for a pickaxe…”
To shut him up, I quickly pulled my face out of the dirt and beamed.
“Ta-da~ So many! This place is a gold mine!”
“A g-gold mine? What even is that?”
Judging by his hopeless expression, I could tell my face must have been covered in dirt and snow.
But who cared about that?
‘The yield is even better than the forest near our mansion!’
Wiping the cold sweat off my forehead with the back of my hand, I looked at the floating notification window with satisfaction.
{System: Current funds: 20,500 cash.}
{Total gems mined: 16.}
‘10,000 cash is probably from Noah’s quest, so the rest must be from selling gems?’
That means each gem is worth around 600 to 700 cash.
‘It’d be nice to know the exact price.’
Well, I’ll look into it more later.
Then came a red warning window.
{Pickaxe durability is low.}
{Current durability: 10/50.}
Since my dad repaired it, the pickaxe’s durability seemed much better.
Before, it would’ve been falling apart by now.
‘This isn’t bad at all.’
Sure, 10,000 cash wasn’t much, but if I kept digging every day, by the time I cleared the game, I might be a millionaire.
‘They said virtual currency gets converted to real money at a 100:1 rate, after all.’
“…?”
As I laughed idiotically, he tensed up at what I did next.
Because when I swung the pickaxe, colorful gems spilled out from the ground—right where there hadn’t even been a single leaf a moment ago.
Clatter.
His jaw dropped open as he watched in disbelief.
“What on earth is happening…”
I responded proudly, “Told you—I’m a magician.”
With my cover story secure, I looked at Kylor smugly.
“Want me to share a little?”
As I held out my hands generously, he stepped back cautiously.
“……”
He stared at the gems for a moment, then shook his head.
“I’m good.”
“Really?”
I picked up a handful and waved them temptingly.
“There’s so many, though.”
‘I even saved these just for you, you know.’
So just raise your affection already.
‘I know you’re broke.’
Whether he understood my desperate inner thoughts or not, his eyebrows twitched.
But strangely, his eyes weren’t on the gems. They were fixed on my face.
And not just a glance—he was staring intensely.
“…Forget the gems. But.”
He hesitated for a while before mumbling softly.
“Come back here again next time.”
He cleared his throat in embarrassment—it was clearly the first time he’d ever asked for something like that.
“No real reason. Just… your magic was interesting.”
The moment he mentioned an invitation, my face lit up.
If he gave me an invitation, even my father wouldn’t object.
“Deal!”
I smiled brightly and placed my hand over his.
Plenty of gems. A great location.
And maybe I could keep racking up affection points, too.
‘Only problem is the travel time…’
It takes three whole days—maybe I should just stay over?
Suddenly, a brilliant idea flashed through my mind.
‘If I crash here for a week, won’t his affection skyrocket?’
As I started plotting this devious plan, he suddenly snapped irritably.
“How long are you gonna hold my hand? You’re getting dirt all over me.”
His face red, Kylor pulled his hand away and pouted like a duck.
“No sense of caution, really.”
He grumbled, cheeks flushed.
Seeing that youthful tantrum, my lips curled up in a fond smile.
So this was the icy Northern Duke as a kid? Not so scary now.
“Oops, sorry, sorry.”
I casually grabbed the hem of my dress.
“Want me to wipe it off?”
The dirt was already there—might as well.
But then he exploded again like a boiling kettle.
“You—you really are something else!”
‘Is that really something to get mad about?’
Frozen mid-action, holding up my skirt, I looked close to tears.
I really meant well this time…
“Anyway, I have nothing more to say. I’ll see you next time.”
“……”
“I—I can’t even stand the sight of you right now!”
He turned sharply and sprinted down the hill at full speed.
So fast, I couldn’t even see the path he took.
“W-Wait! I’m coming too!”
Hey!
Where are you going without me?
“Kylor Francis!”
I reached out helplessly toward his retreating figure—just in time to see a pop-up appear above his head.
He was already far away, so I couldn’t make out the color, but one thing was clear—his affection had gone up.
{System: Affection level with ‘Kylor Francis’ has increased by 2. Current affection level: 2.}
And judging by that bulging pocket of his pants—
He definitely stole a few gems when I wasn’t looking.
‘Geez, you could’ve just asked your big sis for one.’
Guess he was too prideful to say it aloud.
‘As I thought. Everyone loves shiny gems—even if they pretend they don’t.’
I watched with satisfaction as he disappeared into the distance, shrinking to a dot.
