Chapter 104

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“…Hey, Amelia.”

“Hm? What is it?”

‘Is it okay to say this?’

Will there be any problem if he tells Amelia?

Siwoo pondered for a long time.

Is it really right to talk about the incident that happened at night?

The fact that Arte took his clothes was just his speculation.

Is it right to talk about yesterday’s incident, or is it better not to?

After much deliberation, Siwoo decided not to talk about it.

It felt like something he shouldn’t tell someone.

He thought that if Arte found out he had told Amelia, who knows what might happen.

It’s still just speculation after all.

Yes, for now.

“…No, it’s nothing.”

“What? Weren’t you going to say something?”

“Well, that’s…”

But abruptly ending the conversation like this would only invite suspicion.

So, Siwoo decided to ask about the items Amelia had been preparing recently.

He needed her help with that too, anyway.

“I was wondering if what you mentioned is being prepared well.”

“You’re asking the obvious. Here, take this.”

Siwoo couldn’t believe his eyes when he saw the object in Amelia’s hand.

He couldn’t even consider the possibility that she might be playing a prank on him.

The eerie magic could still be felt slightly even though time had passed since its death.

It was the thread of a monster.

“…You really got it?”

“You should know how lucky you are. By-products of Rank 2 monsters are usually hard to obtain. You know that, right?”

While Amelia often shows unreliable aspects, she becomes a dependable ally at times like this.

He didn’t expect much When she told him she’d get some.

To be honest, when she said she would procure the materials herself, he thought it would be impossible.

Even for Amelia, it would be difficult.

But to think she really obtained it.

“You managed to get it. By-products of Rank 2’s are expensive, aren’t they? Did your father help you get this too?”

“Huh? It’s easier to get than you might think.”

“…Really?”

“Ah, you might not know.”

He thought materials from Rank 2 monsters were astronomically expensive, but she says they’re easy to obtain.

Seeing that he didn’t seem to understand properly, Amelia started explaining.

“Look, think about it. Rank 2 monsters are hard to catch, right?”

“Yeah, that’s right.”

Not all magical beasts are the same.

They are divided into four categories, from 1 to 4 in order.

Among them, Rank 2 magical beasts are the strongest of the existing magical beasts.

Unlike Rank 1, whose existence is questionable, they are the biggest obstacle threatening heroes on the frontlines.

They are the reason humanity hasn’t recovered all the land until now.

“But heroes as strong as Dad can catch them, you know. It’s not like they’re Rank 1. You even subdued a Rank 3 once. When was…the entrance ceremony day, right?

The entrance ceremony.

Come to think of it, that did happen.

It’s a story from less than a year ago but feels like a distant past.

Maybe it’s because every day since entering school has been so intense.

“But, being able to catch them doesn’t mean being able to subdue them. That’s why they’re rarely released to the market.”

“Why is that?”

“Why, you ask. To obtain by-products from magical beasts, you need to kill them as intact as possible, but there’s no luxury for that.”

Amelia explained with a smile that during fights, they might burn all the fur that boasts tremendous strength, or if it’s a magical beast with magic eyes, they might crush its eyes.

The more outstanding parts make better materials, but inevitably, those parts get damaged during the fight.

“Besides, if they remain intact, the people who caught them usually use them.”

“I see.”

“That’s why items made from high-ranking magical beast materials are expensive. They’re either in very small quantities, insufficient to use, or damaged.”

“Then what did you mean by saying it’s easy to obtain?”

Amelia’s words didn’t add up.
If it’s that difficult to obtain materials, surely what he asked for would have been hard to get too.

“If it has no commercial value, it’s easier to obtain.”

“…Commercial value?”

“Why, even with crops, if they’re torn or damaged, they can’t be sold and are thrown away, right?”

Ah.

Only then did Siwoo understand what Amelia was trying to say.

Items that can be used but are problematic for actual sale.

That’s what she meant.

“Then…”

“Dad happened to be going to catch a spider-type magical beast recently. So I asked him. If he could share some unused thread.”

Siwoo looked at the dark red thread in Amelia’s hand.

The thread, surrounded by an ominous magical power, was neatly tied.

“Thread of this length isn’t long enough to make clothes, and no one can use this as a weapon, right? This can’t be used for anything.”

“…I see.”

“But this is enough for you, right? You can just take all of it. How about that? Impressed by my skills?”

Amelia, smiling proudly, suddenly looked amazing.

If it weren’t for her, he would have used ordinary thread.

He would have had to pay an astronomical amount if he had tried to buy such expensive items.

Siwoo received the thread from Amelia with a slight smile, conveying his gratitude.

He knew that if he expressed his thanks out loud, she would wave it off and ask why he was being so creepy.

Sure enough, Amelia asked him without even considering the potential rudeness of him not giving a verbal thanks.

“So? Have you still not decided what to make?”

“I’m thinking of making a bracelet.”

“A bracelet? Hmm, that’s good. Safe choice.”

Amelia nodded, saying it was perfect for a gift.

He thought she would start saying he’s no good at this again.

“By the way, what about Dorothy? What’s she doing over there?”

“She says she has a headache because of you.”

“Me?”

“Yes, you. Do you have any experience making accessories or anything?”

“No.”

“Right. That’s why she’s going around like that, trying hard so you don’t ruin your gift. You really were born lucky.”

Numerous papers were spread out at Dorothy’s head, who was lying face down on the desk.

Amelia explained that all those papers were designs for various accessories.

“Dorothy, wake up. He’s decided. It’s a bracelet.”

“…Ugh, a, a bracelet? Here it is… No, not that one…where was it… Check the one on the floor…”

“…Found it. Get some rest.”

“Good night…”

Dorothy’s eyes were hollow as she woke up at Amelia’s urging.

She looked like a dying person, like someone who had been up for nights.

“I told her to take it easy.”

“…Is she okay? She looks really tired.”

“Leave her be. She got excited, saying it was perfect timing as she had nothing to do and was bored, so she’s like that from researching. She didn’t need to stay up all night though.”

“Well, Dorothy doesn’t really train much.”

“It’s not efficient for her.”

Dorothy’s ability is Wizard.

Though the name was misleading, it was an enhancement-type ability.

This was quite widely known within the academy.

Because it was a very rare ability.

“It’s not like she’s given up completely. She’s doing enough to protect herself, so it should be fine.”

Usually, abilities benefit oneself.

Like strengthening the body, breathing fire, or making the body harder.

Some abilities weaken other beings, but most don’t.

In that sense, Dorothy could be seen as quite unusual.

She can’t do anything alone, but her ability manifests when she has companions.

“She’s just going to be like a backdrop in actual battles anyway, so it’s good that she’s at least training a bit, right?”

“That’s true.”

That’s why Dorothy’s training is inefficient.

She can’t even cultivate her ability in the first place.

Other students train their bodies while also honing their abilities, but Dorothy can’t do that.

It’s unavoidable since she needs to use her ability on others.

The two helped her occasionally, but they couldn’t always help.

“Let’s talk about Dorothy later. Which one do you like best here?”

“… There’s a lot. Very detailed.”

“I told you. She has done a lot.”

The materials Dorothy handed over were neat and plentiful.

Detailed explanations on how to make them, along with photos of the finished products.

It was such a clear instruction manual that even Siwoo, who had never made such things before, felt he could make them.

“Let’s go with this one.”

“This? It’s quite simple.”

“Arte wasn’t the type to like decorating much. It seems better to go with something plain.”

“You’ve really gotten better, considering the person you’re giving the gift to. Having something she can use daily is probably the best.”

Amelia praised him, saying it was a good choice not to pick something flashy.

While wondering if this was really worthy of praise, he felt a bit better after receiving the compliment.

It felt like his taste was being recognized.

“I hope this improves that symptom you mentioned a bit.”

“…Yeah.”

At Amelia’s subdued voice, his mood sank a little too.

If Arte doesn’t get better with this, how should he help her?

It was an action he started vaguely, but he felt a bit resentful of himself for being unable to think of any other method besides this.