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“…So, what is this Sleeping Beauty exactly?”
“Hehehe, just a moment, please.”

After leading us inside the guild and seating us at a round table, the guild staff fetched a quest form from the bulletin board on the wall.

At a glance, the quest was for a “magecraft tutor for my daughter.” However, the conditions and the reward were unusually high.

“The client is the Umravolf family, a noble family that rose to prominence through magecraft. Even a small mistake could cost you your head, literally.”
“Yikes…”
“On top of that, it’s a very detailed quest. No wonder no one wants to take it on.”

The reward was tempting, but given the earlier interaction, it was clear this wasn’t someone you’d want to deal with. The daughter in question was likely pampered, and any tutor whose teaching methods were too strict was probably dismissed immediately.

“The conditions are that the tutor must be the same gender as the daughter, possess good character, be educated, and be an excellent wizard. I’m sure Master can handle it!”
“Sorry, but I’ll pass. I don’t want to get involved in troublesome matters. Besides, it says here that you need to have a proven track record.”
“Don’t worry, the report of the Orcus incident has reached us here too! We can use that achievement to recommend you!”
“I said no! Besides, we came to this city for Momo’s treatment…”
“Oh, by the way, meals and snacks are included.”
“…However, it is a valuable opportunity to learn about modern wizards. It would be a shame to crush a young talent. I suppose I can step in just this once.”
“Master, you’re surprisingly easy to persuade.”

Alright, I’ll give Momo a good talking-to later, but for now, it’s best to act quickly. It might be difficult to start today, but if I accept the quest tomorrow, it will save on meal costs. And it’s certainly not because of the snacks.

“Oh, so little Laika likes sweets?”
“That’s right. I became Master’s apprentice thanks to those maple-flavored calorie bars…”
“Stop with the idle chatter. So, we’ll take the quest. Is the acceptance process the same as in Elnato?”
“Ah, yes, I’ll handle it right here.”

She reached into the air, and as if it had always been there, she pulled out a stamp for approving quests. It wasn’t a magic trick; she hadn’t had the stamp until that moment.

“What was that just now…?”
“Oh? Ah, it’s my homemade fourth-dimensional box. It’s convenient for storing small items.”
“Wow! That’s amazing, Miss Hoshikawa!”
“Hehehe, it’s thanks to the blessing I got…”

Feeling pleased, she displayed various women’s accessories on the table. These weren’t just ordinary decorations; they were intricately woven with traces of magic.

“Wow, they’re so cute!”
“It’s said to be the blessing of the Blacksmith God. I used to make accessories as a hobby, but now I can create magic items… Would you like one?”
“These aren’t things you should hand out so casually. Do you know how many gold coins they’d fetch on the market?”

I intercepted Momo’s covetous gaze and pushed the items back across the table. Accepting high-end goods for free was always risky, especially when we hardly knew each other. It was best not to create any debts.

“It’s not like I have any bugs hidden in them… yet…?”
“Alright, just process the quest quickly. And after that, please stay at least two meters away from me.”
“Aah… that look of disdain… Hnngh! Anyway, here you go.”

Despite her drooling, she managed not to dirty the quest form and stamped it with a clear imprint. The stamp then disappeared into thin air once more.

While I had seen magic tools for storing items, this was the first time I had witnessed one that could be used so seamlessly. It made me realize just how extraordinary Outlanders were. Were they so rampant in this world?

“Alright, the quest has been accepted. This will be a great help to the guild!”
“However, we won’t be staying in this city for long. My teaching will be brief.”
“That’s more than enough. As long as we can satisfy that lady…”

From her expression, it was clear this wasn’t the first time they’d had such an issue. She had clearly been through a lot of trouble. Taking on this task was already weighing on me. This quest had been sitting around for a long time; I wondered if the mother was truly the only problem…

“…Speaking of which, you still haven’t cleared the mystery over this Sleeping Beauty.”
“Oh, that’s right. The issue is that the daughter in question… well, she doesn’t seem interested in learning magecraft and ends up sleeping through most of the lessons.”
“Is that so? And what level of magecraft does she possess?”
“Well, no one has ever managed to get her to the point where she demonstrates any magecraft. Most of the time, the complaints or the termination of the quest happen before reaching that stage.”
“Master, is there something on your mind?”
“Yes, but it’s just a hypothesis for now. Momo, please look for accommodations. In the meantime, I’ll visit the client.”

The destination was noted on the quest form. From the sky, it wouldn’t take long to reach. If I left now and claimed to be making an introductory visit, there might be a chance to meet them. It was worth trying.

“R-right now? Little Laika, you’re really brave.”
“Nothing will be resolved without meeting them first. Also, we’ll have dinner here, so make the necessary arrangements.”
“Ah, yes! I’ll prepare a special dinner with all my skills!”
“I’ve changed my mind. If you’re involved in the cooking, we’ll dine elsewhere.”
“Why…?”

✦✧✦✧✦

“…Well, here we are.”

Flying from the guild took about five minutes, and I easily found the target mansion. Enclosed by sturdy fences, with sprawling gardens and a fountain that seemed unnecessarily large, the estate’s expansive grounds stood out prominently in the corner of town.

The tastes of the wealthy seemed unchanging over the years; maintaining just this garden must cost a fortune.

“…Excuse me, young lady, if I’m not mistaken, didn’t you just descend from the sky?”
“Hello there, keen eyes you have. As you suspected, I’m here on behalf of the guild. While the official work starts tomorrow, I thought I’d introduce myself beforehand.”
“J-Just a moment… It does indeed bear the guild’s approval stamp. Please wait a bit.”

Seeing the guild introduction as legitimate, the guard didn’t seem particularly suspicious and proceeded to inform those above. He conveyed a brief message via some device next to the gate, and after an awkward ten-minute wait, the gate slowly opened.

However, it wasn’t an invitation to enter. Standing imposingly in front of the gate, emanating an intimidating magical aura, was the same lady I had seen at the guild earlier.

“…Well, it doesn’t seem like you’re welcoming a new tutor.”
“Hmph, perceptive for your age. Very well, you seem worth the time.”

The short staff she held in one hand was an auxiliary tool used by wizards to hone their magic power.

It wasn’t something you’d bring to a casual tea party, indicating clearly what was about to transpire.

“Good grief, such an overprotective mother…”
“You better be prepared. I will personally test whether you’re suitable for my daughter, a wizard worthy of her.”