I returned to the stationery store with a sense of purpose. There were customers at the stationery store: Isaac and Mirisa.
"Isaac, Mirisa!" I greeted them warmly and entered the stationery store.
"What about Dominic?"
"Not yet." At Isaac's words, I shrugged my shoulders and nodded. When Dominic, who had welcomed me at the stationery store every day, was away, my heart felt empty.
I sat down at the table and looked around.
Come to think of it… I haven't heard from the dragon egg since.
There had been no news since it broke the egg… What were the hatching conditions? I said, involuntarily tapping the shell of the dragon egg that Isaac had set up well on the table.
"When will Dominic come out?"
"I see that the magic sword continues to glow, so I wonder if he will come out soon."
While waiting for Dominic to come out, I listed what happened at the academy today. Of course, my hands were constantly weaving each piece of parchment paper on the table. When I just finished bragging about the success story and the money I received today, Mirisa, who was full of curiosity in both eyes, chimed in.
"Sister, what are you making?"
"A notice!"
The item I made this time was a reminder that an alarm would sound at a set time. I wrote "What to do tomorrow" with a quill on the notification card, then pressed it with my hand to infuse mana. Then there was a beeping sound like an alarm clock.
Is it complete?
As I tilted my head, Mirisa asked with a grin. "The book makes a strange sound, sister!"
"Oh, this is an alarm sound. I would like to implement it so that if I don't do something, the alarm will go off… It's a bit difficult."
"Wow, you really look like a really cool wizard…"
I smiled at Mirisa, who was admiring, and tapped on the top of the notification card. "You can check it out." I handed Mirisa a notice. Mirisa looked at the notification card curiously. I felt sorry for her and looked down at her silently.
Mirisa said that she didn't want to go home because the atmosphere at home was chaotic these days, so she stayed at the stationery store until night. I also didn't want to send Mirisa to Duke Hesmann, so I tended to stay with her for a long time.
Still, it's not good if a small child wanders around without anywhere to go.
Prolonged exposure of a child to a busy and insidious atmosphere is strictly speaking child abuse. Children had to grow up properly in a good environment.
Not knowing my sadness, Mirisa smiled and continued. "If you don't do your homework, you'll be in big trouble! It's a warning sound. It's like a security force!" Mirisa smiled brightly and tapped on the notification card.
Warning sound and security…
Combining the two gave me a pretty good idea. I held Mirisa's hand tightly and continued.
"Mirisa."
"Yes?"
I continued earnestly as if warning Mirisa. "I'll make this all by the end of today and give it to you first. You have to take it with you from today, okay?"
"Yes! I'll hide it in my pocket!"
I started making special reminders for Mirisa. As I frowned and eagerly unfolded and trimmed the parchment, Isaac quietly held out his hand.
"I'll help you, Mel."
When Isaac's hand reached it, a bluish light shone on the notification card. After all, he is a capable person… Mirisa and I watched him with admiration.
"Is it all made?"
"Maybe." Mirisa bared her rabbit-like front teeth and nodded vigorously. "Wow…! Thank you, sister. And Isaac!"
I looked down at Mirisa's jewel-like purple eyes and said seriously. "Mirisa, if your brother says something suspicious, please let your sister know unconditionally. Don't believe it right away. Okay?"
"Yes, I want to be independent like my sister as soon as possible!"
I put my hands together in front of me and whispered to myself, squeezing Mirisa's hand tightly. Even if it was not realistic yet, I decided to tell a story that I had been thinking about for a long time.
"Mirisa, if you become independent, let's live with me."
I said it, but it seemed to be a powerful confession. Then the corners of Mirisa's mouth slipped up, as if I had confessed to her.
"Really? I want you to eat slush every day and take care of your homework…"
I said, pinching Mirisa's plump cheeks without hurting her. "My sister is a person who is thorough in her homework tests. Huh?"
Mirisa really wanted me to protect her. Seeing the two of us, Isaac smiled.
"The two of them are like real sisters."
"You know how to see people!" Mirisa looked at Isaac with affectionate eyes and nodded.
I smiled as I looked at Mirisa, whose cheeks were stretched to the sides with a grin. Duke Lennox Hesmann knew nothing about Mirisa. When Mirisa was happy, her purple eyes sparkled, and one of her teeth that hadn't fallen out yet, shook little by little. He didn't know this child's dreams, hopes, or justice.
"You can't leave Mirisa to someone as harmful as Lennox."
Dominic would come out, and if everything went well, I must live with Mirisa. I smiled as I carefully put the notification card in Mirisa's pocket.
Four days later, dawn.
I yawned for a long time and cleaned the stationery store and sat down in front of the counter.
"Dominic still hasn't come."
The demon sword only blinked, and there was no sign that Dominic would come out. I was worried and tried to send a signal, but Dominic said in an excited voice, "It's almost over!" He just chanted.
"I wonder if there is some big secret in the Holy Sword."
In the meantime, the agreement between the academy and the stationery store had effectively become a fait accompli. Today, I was writing a statement announcing the strategic agreement between Malton Academy and Mel's Stationery. Next to me, Isaac, who seemed to have gone on strike, was guarding me.
A few days ago, I was worried about Isaac, so I said something.
"Hey… Isaac. Don't you work as a mage?" It meant that I could continue to be at the stationery store.
But Isaac replied indifferently. "But when I see Mel working every day, I'm worried that she'll collapse. I've been doing my job properly since then, so let me be by my side."
"I'm completely strong after taking that medicine…"
"There are no Dominics."
So he decided to stay by my side until Dominic returned.
When is Dominic coming out?
I didn't feel comfortable because I was afraid that it would hurt Isaac.
Of course, it's reassuring to be by my side…
But at that time.
Basil, who had briefly parted ways in front of the academy not long ago, came into the stationery store with a white face. He bowed down before me with a face full of words.
"Meldenik, something big happened!"
"…What's so big?"
I asked, puzzled, and Basil stomped his feet with saliva on his lips.
"Church, the Pope has moved! We all look like we're going to die! Look at this note!" Basil trembled and handed me a note.
"Who sent this?"
"One of my family's blood relatives… It's a definite story."
I listened to him and checked the note. This morning, the Pope sent a short statement to the Empire.
'The Holy Sword sent to Sheria Babyloa Young-ae was a mistake. However, holy relics and holy water are real. I, as the Pope, guarantee it.'
I turned to Basil and asked. "What exactly is the content of the statement? Are you going to be in the newspaper?"
"Yes, there will be a breaking news in the morning newspaper today, as stated in that note."
"Hmm… That's right, this is it."
"Duke Hesmann and Duke Babyloa. I think we're going to hold a ball. But now it's a hot topic in Chang'an, a hot topic!"
I nodded. From today onwards, it was a head-to-head battle in terms of business. Now, there would be a debate between those who believed in the words of the Pope and those who believed in the words of the hero, Dominic.
I thought the Pope might step forward.
In fact, it was predicted. With this Holy Sword destruction incident, I also challenged the authority of the Pope. In fact, people used to talk about the Pope secretly under the water. In fact, the Pope's divine power had been exhausted.
It seems very scary that my authority will collapse, even the Pope's.
I looked down at the cursive written at the bottom of the note. The Pope was said to be visiting the Empire on a mission in a month. This would also be published in today's morning newspaper.
Basil was shaking like a rattling washing machine. The things that Basil had been afraid of all this time were embodied, so he could have done so. The Pope had declared that he would visit the Empire in an unusual way. I don't know about others, but it was a declaration of war by the Pope. A declaration of war with the intention of selling suspicious relics to the Empire and a willingness to properly deal with Kinnoa's blood relatives who had been blessed by different races.
But I playfully tapped Basil and asked. "Why are you dropping so much?"
"Why? If the Pope comes, we may all die! I told you last time. The priests under the Pope are coming to kill our blood relatives."
I shrugged at Basil. "No, we're not going to die."
"No, I don't. I'm really in a hurry. According to reliable sources, holy water and holy relics are entering the buildings made by Babyloa and Hesmann. They also said they would start selling it within this week!"
"Okay. If you wait and see, things will start tomorrow, right?"
"Of course, there are people who are reluctant to believe it, saying it's scary… Still, it's a big deal. The Pope is in this current situation. So suddenly."
I smiled and nodded. "No. In fact, it went well. Will things be fun? I'll assure you."
Basil, who was anxiously peeling off the skin of my lips, looked at me and was displeased.
"No, Meldenik, why are you smiling… Are you tired of fear…"
Isaac, who had been observing the situation the whole time, smiled languidly, his chin down.
"I know what Mel is thinking. I don't think Basil knows."
I made eye contact with Isaac. Seeing that his eyes were full of playfulness, he seemed to have noticed.