“Just a little magical service.”
Zervanie called for an elf delivery service to avoid lugging the pot around while shopping.
Felyn watched several winged elf girls flying in a neat row, chanting cheerfully while flapping their wings and dragging the pot toward the inn.
“There sure are a lot of different types of elves, huh?”
Felyn remembered that elf girl, Mirian, who worked at Karine the Witch’s cake shop. She didn’t have wings and looked almost human.
“There are many kinds of elves,” Zervanie explained, pointing at the group that had just flown off. “Those were Wind Elves and Light Elves. They’re about 30 to 50 centimeters tall and handle most of the guiding, messaging, and delivery work in the Royal Capital. Elves like Water Elves or Forest Elves are around the same size as us. The Royal Capital gathers the most outstanding students from all over the world. Rich students with money to burn bring in a ton of business. So elves who can’t make a living elsewhere come here to survive. Besides, the Siveshus Empire is neutral and built over the land where the Demon King sleeps. They’re more accepting of magical beasts and elves than most places.”
“Can students work part-time here?” Felyn asked, thinking ahead. If he got accepted into the capital, he’d need a job too. But he didn’t want to return to his old trade.
In Seiwa, if things went wrong with a noble client, he could just move towns.
But here in the capital, even housing was managed by the Empire—you couldn’t just up and run.
“You don’t have to worry too much about money,” Zervanie assured him. “If your Divine Affinity is high and you join a Church early, they’ll give you a monthly stipend. But that’s only for Siveshus citizens.”
The Siveshus Empire was unique. It didn’t belong to any one divine district, so citizens were free to choose their faith once they reached adulthood.
“Come to think of it, Felyn, you haven’t tested your Divine Affinity yet, have you?”
“Nope. I don’t think there’s anywhere to test it in the other parts of Seiwa.”
“That’s right. Only the Royal Capital has that setup. Since you’re here, why don’t we try it?”
Felyn raised an eyebrow. “Wait, let me guess. You touch some kind of crystal ball, and it magically tells you your affinity? Then what, it says you’re born with full magic?”
Zervanie blinked at him, puzzled. “No… Never heard of that. There’s no crystal ball. You receive a Divine Summoning inside a Church. The god who appears is the one you have most affinity with.”
Felyn nodded. That actually sounded interesting. He decided to give it a try.
Viloti, naturally, had no objections. Whatever Felyn decided, she would follow.
So the three of them turned and made their way toward the Saint Andros Communion Grand Cathedral.
A triangle might be the most stable shape, but the relationship between three people was anything but stable.
Two beautiful girls walked side by side with Felyn, one on each side, keeping a perfectly balanced distance.
But the sun was shining from Viloti’s side.
Zervanie noticed her rival subtly trying to shield Felyn from the sunlight.
But Viloti was shorter than Felyn. Even on her tiptoes, she couldn’t block the sun.
Still, that clumsy effort to do something nice, but failing anyway was ridiculously effective at making boys’ hearts melt!
Zervanie felt an intense sense of crisis.
Viloti might be her strongest rival in the future.
As for Adeline?
Heh. No comment.
“Excuse me, I’ll be right back. Just heading to the restroom.”
As soon as the core of the trio left, the triangle collapsed.
Zervanie noticed how Viloti didn’t even try to hide it—her eyes stayed glued to Felyn’s back until he disappeared into the bathroom. Only then did she finally turn away and stare off into the distance.
Zervanie couldn’t help but feel a twinge of envy.
She couldn’t openly show her care or affection like that. She could only sneak around, doing things for Felyn, trying to catch his attention.
When will I be able to like him as openly and confidently as Viloti does?
Zervanie sighed softly. Envy aside, she still needed intel. Just how far had things gone between Viloti and Felyn?
“Lovely weather today, isn’t it, Viloti?”
“Mm.”
“Did you put on sunscreen? Is it any good?”
“Yeah. It works.”
Zervanie was internally screaming. She couldn’t hold a conversation with this girl at all! Why was Viloti so cold to everyone who wasn’t Felyn?
What she didn’t know was that Viloti was only talking to her because Zervanie had invited her to come along earlier. Otherwise, Viloti usually ignored strangers outright.
“What’s your relationship with Felyn?”
Zervanie gave up trying to steer the conversation subtly. Time to ask directly.
“Friends.”
“Just friends?”
“Probably.”
‘Probably’?! What kind of answer is that?!
“I… I’m Felyn’s friend too.”
Zervanie clung to her newly gained ‘friend’ status and flashed a proud smile.
“Mm.”
Viloti’s face didn’t change one bit.
She had a cute face but an ice-cold expression. That contrast was her unique charm.
Zervanie was hoping to see some reaction, jealousy, surprise, anything.
But Viloti didn’t even blink.
You’ve got to be kidding me!
Zervanie felt her pride being challenged all over again.
She was the Empire’s most beloved pop star—how could anyone, other than Felyn, ignore her like this?!
…
Felyn looked into the bathroom mirror and felt a bit nervous.
He was about to test his Divine Affinity.
He told himself he didn’t have expectations, but honestly, everyone secretly hoped they were special.
But reality often slapped you with the truth: you’re just a regular person.
Felyn had once dreamed that maybe, just maybe, being an outsider to this world would make him some kind of prodigy.
But the longer he lived here, the more that fantasy faded.
Now he just hoped that one of the gods would recognize him. That would be enough.
When he stepped out of the bathroom, the sunlight made him squint.
He spotted Zervanie babbling non-stop to Viloti.
“Viloti, have you seen Polcorsla’s concert? I absolutely loved it…”
For a moment, Felyn saw something strange. Zervanie and Viloti chatting casually, almost like friends.
Friends. That word carried a heavy weight between all three of them.
Felyn smiled faintly, quietly watching the two girls.
Viloti… made a friend?
That’s a good thing. With a friend, she won’t feel so lonely anymore.
Wait… why do I suddenly feel like a proud old dad?
As soon as she spotted him, Viloti’s amber eyes lit up like a beacon.
Her frozen expression melted into pure joy as she ran toward him, her pink hair fluttering behind her.
She grabbed the edge of his jacket, then slipped behind his back, peeking out with just half her face toward Zervanie.
Felyn’s warm, fatherly smile instantly shattered.
“Viloti, are you hiding behind me because you think Zervanie talks too much and is annoying?”
He turned to the girl half-hidden behind him.
“Mm-hmm!”
(End of Chapter)