Chapter 108

The next evening, I was cleaning the stationery store while organizing my day.

Even today, when I was selling shooting star candy that popped on the tip of the tongue, I was so busy that I couldn't even say anything when I was dealing with young customers who were smiling breathlessly, and when I was asked questions about the 'Friend in My Hand' product that was sold to the academy yesterday.

Still, after a rewarding day, I enjoyed it today.

Yesterday was really fun!

I remembered what happened with Silen yesterday. Silen, who was going to give me a gift, said to me with an earnest face.

"It's a secret now! Can I go to the stationery store tomorrow after the academy class? I'll give you a gift."

"Then, you bet! The door of the stationery store is always open. I'll look forward to it, Silen."

What is Silen's gift?

I know that the academy finishes all classes around four o'clock.

"It's almost time." I glanced at the clock and then stopped.

It's already five o'clock, isn't it?

Maybe you're coming today? Tilting my head, I sat down on a chair nearby.

Darkness was gradually rolling in outside the window. Just as I was worried that it would be night if I was any later, the door opened with a rattling sound.

Then Silen and a girl about half a foot taller than Silen came in.

"Hello, guys."

As I stood up with a happy smile, the girl next to Silen greeted me with an earnest face. "Hello, I'm Aria. Aria Minnefort! Silen's senior at the academy."

Silen and Aria entered the stationery store. Silen's hand was holding a square frame, but from the side where I was, I could only see the back of the frame, so I couldn't see the contents.

Silen squeezed past, placed the picture frame upside down on the table, and looked around. I was curious about the identity of the frame, but I tried my best to hide my suspicion and gave the children a glass of slushie.

"Did you play with 'Friends in the Hand' at the academy today?"

"Yes! Everyone likes to have cats and birds."

"The kids next to me keep coming to me to ask me how to raise them and how to use them."

After presenting the prototype that day, I distributed the product to all the children at the academy.

It's a very satisfying result.

Less than a day later, it seemed to have actually become a craze for the children of the academy.

As I watched Aria and Silen speak, I smiled broadly and asked. "Really?"

"Yes! Isn't that a good thing?"

Aria and Silen seemed to think I was smiling with joy at the news I had told them. But I was happy in a slightly different way now.

Yesterday, Silen had been covering her cheeks with her hair, but now she was not covering her cheeks with the scars of her young burns. It's as if I've forgotten the scar on my cheek for a while.

"Yes, that's a really good thing."

Of course, it's also good news that you're making good use of the "Friend in Your Hand" with security magic.

Then Aria shook Silen's arm and said: "Silen! Come on, show me the gift!"

"Yes! That… Angel! I brought you a gift."

Silen carefully flipped the frame she had placed on the table with a nervous face. My eyes widened.

"This is…"

"Originally, I was going to paint it as an oil painting, but it took a long time to dry."

Rasmus's paintings of birds, cats, and dogs were transformed into wonderful sketches.

"That's not that great!" Aria nudged Silen in the side as if to make an excuse, and continued to speak calmly. "No! Isn't it amazing? Silen is a genius. I feel like he's been blessed by the god of painting."

I touched the picture in the frame and admired it seriously. It looked like it was roughly sketched, but all the features were still vibrant. Moreover, each line had a powerful energy. I gave Silen a thumbs up and responded seriously.

"Silen, you are so cool!"

It was definitely a painting that stood out for his genius talent.

Even when I draw a cat, I hear the sound of an orc… Is this the overwhelming difference in talent?

"Cats, dogs, and birds are all so well drawn and cute."

I hung the picture frame that Silen had brought right in front of the entrance of the stationery store. "Come on, look! I hung it up for everyone to see."

Then Silen's face turned so red that she couldn't turn red anymore. It was really cute and adorable… Just a second.

"Silen."

I just thought I needed a painter to paint for me. It would be a pretty enjoyable experience to collaborate with these young kids.

"Do you want to draw with me for about an hour every day?"

"Yes? A painting?"

"Yes! I was wondering if you would like to collaborate with me. I wonder if you could draw the characters and backgrounds in 'Friends in Your Hand' yourself."

"Are you asking us? We are just ordinary members of the art department…"

Oh, and even a member of the art club! My eyes began to sparkle.

"If possible, it would be fun to join your friends. Uh, it's definitely not labor exploitation. I'll pay you fairly."

"I didn't think so! I know he's not that kind of person."

I held both hands of Aria and Silen, who looked surprised. The two of them had wide eyes.

"That's right…"

Is there any reason for hesitation? After all, it may be difficult to combine it with your studies. Of course, even if I was rejected, I was willing to humbly accept the children's opinions.

I saw that Silen's face was as red as the color of her hair, and I decided to wait for her next words.

"Can I do such a wonderful thing? I'm not even a formal painter. I'm just a student…"

Of course, it didn't matter. The characters in the product were drawn by Rasmus, an amateur wizard.

"Yes, I think I would be happy if you guys could draw a picture. Of course, on the premise that you want to do it."

I never wanted to be a vicious boss. I don't know about the demons, but I want to be a kind stationery owner to my children.

"If our art department can help, I will definitely do it! I'll also convey it to the children."

Aria replied seriously. Silen nodded from the side.

I reached out to the children and asked them to shake their hands. "Yes, let's do it together!"

How much would Dominic like this if he found out about this? Dominic, I was wondering!

Come to think of it, why is Dominic so late? I can't even reach him by phone.

It's time to come.

At that time, Dominic was playing an exciting card game with the three demons he had been with for the past thousand years. Inside the sword stood the mansion of a great nobleman for a thousand years, and Dominic was leaning on the luxurious cushions to choose poker cards.

Of course, there were those who worked. The Demon of Discernment was sighing heavily next to the demons in the game and touching the holy sword. He was in the process of summoning the vengeful soul that had been sealed in the holy sword.

At that moment, a strange sound echoed from the holy sword. The Demon of Discernment opened his mouth and tapped his sword. He swallowed his saliva, eager for it to come out now.

However, then I heard a loud noise from the demons playing poker.

"Oh!"

"No, no, you lost again?!"

"I won this time too."

"These rascals! Leave the labor to me and they will argue?"

The Demon of Discernment, who was in charge of discriminating between the Holy Sword and the Original Soul, widened his eyes. But it's also true that I'm interested. He opened his eyes and began to watch the poker game as it was played.

Dominic vs. the Four Demons. Surprisingly, the result was Dominic's winning streak.

The Winter Moon Demon poured out complaints. "You seem to be even worse than this demon! It's just like Meldenik."

Dominic shook his head and put the card down on the floor. "No. Meldenik is better than me."

"That's right…" The two demons, who had not yet met Meldenik for sure, exchanged fearful glances. I heard the sound of gulping, swallowing.

The Demon of Discernment, who was staring at the sword, groped and muttered to himself, his belly swollen. "How dangerous are you?"

Then, the Summer Demon, who was sitting next to him with a gloomy face, scratched his head. "I'm really curious."

Dominic asked, staring at the demon scratching his head. "Oh, but what is your alternative ability? I thought the Summer Demon would shine like the sun, but you seem a bit gloomy."

The words without malice were stabbed into the heart of the Summer Demon. "I've been with him for so long, and I don't even know what a supernatural ability is."

"That…! That's a secret." The Summer Demon screamed with a pale face.

Dominic scratched both cheeks and nodded. Well, I didn't even want to ask about the secret. To be honest, it wasn't that I wasn't curious, but I was sure that Meldenik would take care of it later and pressure the demon to reveal his abilities.

As if reading Dominic's mind, the Winter Moon Demon whispered. "Anyway, I'm going to find out about that sword's contractor, Meldenik."

Then the Summer Demon opened its mouth. "How can this be…"

"Wait." Dominic's eyes widened slightly. He sensed a strange flow from the holy sword placed near the Demon of Discernment. "It looks like a vengeful soul is about to appear."

The Demon of Discernment who heard Dominic's words widened his eyes eagerly. "Oh, that's right. Check it out! It's starting to come out."

The Demon of Discernment, distracted by their words, hurriedly fiddled with his sword. "I had a hard time because there was a disgusting ideology sealed within it. He was a repulsive guy who wouldn't be accepted even in our demon world, but in the end, this body was able to discern the pure human form of the vengeful soul contained within it, and succeeded in summoning it."

As soon as the demon finished speaking, Pop! I heard a small popping sound. Soon, the demon sword rose into the air with a sizzling sound.

The pounding gazes of all five turned towards the Holy Sword.