Chapter 489 – Exclusive Jobs

Chapter 489 – Exclusive Jobs

Fortunately, she had ordered dishes made with ingredients that were easy to prepare and didn’t require many spices for seasoning.

The food at Little Daisy Restaurant was just like Silver Globe Flower Inn’s—equally stingy with spices, using salt more than anything else.

But since Mo Lan had ordered dishes that didn’t need many spices to begin with, the food tasted considerably better than what Silver Globe Flower Inn served.

It couldn’t be called delicious, but it wasn’t inedible either.

Lena and Jenny, on the other hand, were eating with much more enjoyment.

“Yummy~”

“The restaurants for mages really are different from what we usually eat!”

……

Over the past two days of interaction, Lilith and the others had already grown very fond of these two clever, adorable little human girls.

Unable to help themselves, they asked, “How old are you two? Have you taken the aptitude test yet?”

“Lady Lilith, we’re both seven!” Lena and Jenny said. “But we haven’t taken the aptitude test yet. The annual enrollment test for the mage introductory school doesn’t happen until after the Mage Tower finishes its own admissions. In a few more months, we’ll be able to go take the test!”

Both little girls were full of anticipation when talking about this.

“You’re so young, yet you’re running around the city working as guides. Aren’t your families worried?” Sylph asked.

Even she felt uneasy just watching them.

Young witches didn’t leave their witch mothers’ protection to attend school until they were thirteen! It was one thing for human children to take the aptitude test at seven and go off to mage introductory school, but why were children even younger than that already out working in the streets?

“Don’t worry! The city’s public safety is very good, especially for us. The Marquis said that children are the future of the nation, and anyone who harms a child under ten without cause will receive the harshest punishment. When children leave the city, the guards will also inquire and check the identification documents of whoever is accompanying them!” Jenny said.

“The guide job is something the Duke specifically created for us children who haven’t taken the aptitude test yet, just in the past couple of years. Apparently, some mage scholar from the Mage Empire discovered that before the age of seven, when psychic power is at its most active, being exposed to complex environments, learning different kinds of knowledge, and doing things that require thinking all help train psychic power. Once trained psychic power stabilizes, the initial psychic power level ends up a bit higher than those who haven’t trained. There are lots of jobs like this, but I like being a guide the most—I get to hear gossip from all sorts of different places!” Lena said.

“Is that so?” Sylph quickly covered for herself. “I’ve been stuck in one place for the past few years without moving, so I had no idea about any of this!”

“Actually, I’ve heard from people who’ve been to the Empire that this discovery wasn’t made by any famous scholar, and hardly anyone in the Empire believes it. I think the real reason the Duke does this is to give children like us from ordinary families a chance to earn money and improve our lives, so we can afford to attend literacy classes… Merchants from other places all say that children in the Duchy of Lance are the happiest. If I can become a mage someday, I definitely want to join the Duke’s mage corps, to protect the Grand Duke and protect the Duchy!”

Lena said, her eyes full of hope.

“I want to become a Governing Mage and help the Duke manage the country, so all commoners can live happy lives!” Jenny added.

Looking at Lena and Jenny’s smiling faces, Mo Lan and her three companions finally gained a real sense of the Duchy of Lance’s prosperity and stability.

Only a place like this could produce children so full of hope for the future.

Though Mo Lan and the others hadn’t had much of an appetite for this meal, by the time they finished, they had developed a fondness for Lance City and found themselves looking forward to their temporary stay here.

The carriage drove back to 21 Apprentice Lane.

Jenny and Lena hopped off the carriage and knocked on the door of the courtyard next door—number 22. A young maid came out. “You two are back again?”

“Sister Bemi! The ladies have decided to rent your mistress’s house!” Jenny said.

Mo Lan, Lilith, Vasida, and Sylph all got off the carriage as well. Lilith handed over the prepared rent money.

This household required tenants to be female mages, and the full year’s rent had to be paid upfront.

Bemi curtsied to each of the four of them in turn:

“Welcome to number 21! Once my mistress returns from the Mage Tower, I will certainly report this good news to her! Here are the keys to number 21. If you need anything, you can come find me at number 22—I’m usually home.”

Her mistress was a Beginner mage currently studying at the Mage Tower.

The magic carriage was parked in the small courtyard outside the building at number 21, which officially became their temporary residence in Lance City.

Lena and Jenny, having completed their commission, left happily with their generous payment.

Once the door was closed, the four of them immediately transformed back from mages to Sorceresses and gathered around the dining table for a proper meal.

“Starting today, I’ve lost all interest in any dish in Lance City—no, in the entire Mage Empire—that costs less than one gold coin!” Lilith declared.

“Let’s just eat out less from now on!” Sylph said. “It’s not even as cost-effective as ordering finished Food Cards from the Card Shop!”

“No wonder they say Culinary Witches are popular not only on the Dragon islands but in human countries too! I think if we opened a hotpot restaurant here, we could sell a single pot of broth for at least three gold coins!” Vasida said.

“Don’t even think about it! Hotpot is too distinctive. Once the Dawn Society has more members later, one look and they’d know you’re a Society member,” Mo Lan said.

This meal was their real lunch.

After eating, they went upstairs and each chose a room.

The building had three floors.

The first floor had a dining room, kitchen, living room, storage room, and two servants’ quarters.

The Second Floor and Third Floor each had three rooms.

In addition, there was an attic and a basement.

Mo Lan chose the sunny bedroom on the Third Floor.

The other two rooms on the Third Floor were set up as studies.

Lilith, Vasida, and Sylph all settled on the Second Floor.

With the existing furniture already in place, they only needed to add a few personal touches and swap out the bedding before moving right in.

After getting the house in order, and feeling the time was about right, they set off back to Oak Inn to collect their “luggage” for appearances’ sake, and then checked out.

Of course, the more important purpose was to check on Aramir’s situation. Lilith also needed to spend some more time building her relationship with Greta.

Once they moved out, it would likely be quite a while before they’d have a chance to meet again.

“Actually, couldn’t I just go by myself? It makes perfect sense for an Apprentice to help her Instructor move luggage!” Lilith looked at the fully packed carriage and raised her question.

“…” Mo Lan asked with a straight face, “Are you the Instructor, or am I the Instructor?”

She would absolutely never admit that the reason she tagged along was because she wanted to join in the fun! Being an Advanced mage with the status of Instructor was great and all, but she couldn’t be too down-to-earth about it. Otherwise, when it came to the act of deepening their connection with Greta and getting her to invite them into the Dawn Society—would it even be Lilith’s role to play?