Published at 14th of November 2020 08:02:27 PM
Chapter 223
Chapter 223 – Paula’s Part-time Job
Translator: Kell Editor: Weasalopes
Paula’s Part-time Job
「Where’d you get that dragon stone?!」Katy asked, leaning forward .
「I saw that question coming . Anyway, no comment . 」
「Hmph . 」She looked disappointed, but seemed to have expected the answer . 「Can you give it to me, then?」
「Do you have a use for it?」
「A lot! You can refine a dragon stone to make Spirit Magic stones . It should be enough to power Scholarzard’s magic streetlights for years . 」
「Wow… Really?」
「Yup, really . 」
Most magic streetlights—even magic lamps—used Spirit magic stones as source of power . When dusk came, the lamplighter would light the streetlights one by one and turn them off in the morning . On Earth, back when electricity was still undeveloped, lamplighters turned gas lights on and off too .
「I’ve actually been thinking a lot about using huge Spirit magic stones to operate magic streetlights all at once . Just turn them on and off from one spot and watch them all light up and go dim . Wouldn’t that be quite the spectacular view?!」
「Uh, yes . 」
Katy was practically spraying the words out . Hikaru leaned back a little, pulling his teacup away . She thought the idea was revolutionary, but it was a familiar sight in Japan .
「Is there any other way to use the dragon stone? Like turning it into a weapon or something?」
「A weapon?! Hmm…」
Katy cocked her head, wracking her brain . She didn’t expect Hikaru to be thinking about making a weapon out of it .
「It’s too big for a weapon . 」
「What do you mean?」
「If you want it on a staff that amplifies magical power, then you’re out of luck . A rod that can support that kind of stone does not exist . Embedding it into swords to make Magic Swords is not an option either . There’s no metal that can support a stone that big . 」
「Can you explain more specifically what you mean by “can’t support”?」
「The materials will probably melt the moment you activate spells with it . 」
「Oh…」
It would end up being a single-use weapon .
「But using it for magic streetlights is fine?」
「It’s not like we’ll use it to fight . It should be possible to stabilize it by releasing just the right amount of power . 」
「I see…」
Magic items sure are complex, Hikaru thought . Roland’s knowledge was quite profound as well, but it had completely different applications than that of Katy’s .
「One thing!」Katy exclaimed, slamming her hand on the table . 「You can’t just leave it out in the open like that . Just a little bit of mana can cause the power contained in the stone to go berserk and burn everything in the immediate vicinity . 」
「You could’ve said that earlier . 」
A chill ran down Hikaru’s spine . All this time, he’d been keeping a bomb in his bedroom .
Hmm… I guess if there’s no other options, I can feed it to Drake .
He could just give it to Katy so she could study it, but people might ask her where she got it . Eventually, she’d give in and expose Hikaru . All his effort in secretly killing the Earth Dragon back in Un el Portan would be for nothing .
Then again, I only did that so people wouldn’t find out about Lavia . But now that no one’s after her anymore, I guess it’s okay… What would happen if the public found out I killed the dragon?
The whole continent reeked of war . Some country might have their eye on him and force him to join battles .
No way in hell . Laying low is definitely the best option .
「Hikaru . You have a lot of magic rocks too . What are you gonna do with those?」
「You can have them if you want . Having a few magic rocks shouldn’t be that strange . 」
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「Really?! Thank you!」
Giving her the magic rocks they gathered back at the underground dungeon was a small price to pay for the bullets she created for the revolver .
Katy was happy as magic rocks were frequently used in alchemic experiments . Apparently, procuring materials during winter was difficult, since adventurers didn’t work and stores only had few stocks .
「Oh, that’s right . There’s something I want to tell you two . 」Katy said, her expression dead-serious . 「Have you heard the words Uniter and Separatist?」
Hikaru and Lavia exchanged glances .
「Nope . Never heard of it . 」
「I see… Apparently there’s something strange going on within the Allied Nations . I received word from Kotobi’s king that there’s a faction bent on ruining the mass wedding this spring . 」
As always, the store’s door was a little dirty . She could hear the clamor from beyond it . Drake wrapped around her neck, Paula opened the door .
「Hahaha! I win again!」
「Damn it! You probably cheated, didn’t you?」
「It’s hard to run a business when it’s this cold . 」
「You moron . Business my ass . You’ve been drinking since morning . 」
Voices of drunk men filled the establishment . The smell of alcohol drifted in the air .
「Hmm? Just come in if you want to . It’s too cold with the door open . 」
「Ah, o-okay . 」
Paula closed the door behind her and strolled across the tavern . The men didn’t pay her any attention as she headed straight for the counter and talked to the owner .
「E-Excuse me!」
「Hmm? Oh, if I remember correctly, you’re Hikaru’s friend . 」
The master knew Paula . No wonder of course, as this was where Hikaru frequently came for lunch—Three Cheers for Booze .
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「Can I get a job here?!」Paula said, bowing her head .
The master looked at her, blinking incessantly .
「Sure . 」
「Wha?!」
「You can start right away . Take this food to the corner table over there . 」
「What?!」
She didn’t expect an answer right away, much less starting immediately .
「Come on, now . Before the food gets cold . 」
「Y-Yes, Sir!」
Paula took the plate of pasta to the customer .
And so, Paula got her job right away . She left Drake and her coat in the waiting room . A bandana and an apron and the tavern got itself a new waitress .
All right . Let’s do this . I gotta make money without relying on Hikaru-sama!
Paula returned back outside all fired up .
「Paula, can you clean that table?」
「O-Okay!」
「Paula, take the order please!」
「Y-Yes, Sir!」
「Paula, give these sausages to that red-faced man . 」
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「R-Right away! Uh… who?」
Every men’s face in the tavern were red from drinking .
「Oh, that’s mine!」
「No, it’s not, you idiot! It’s mine!」
「Hell no! I’ve been waiting for those sausages for two hours!」
「Actually, sausage is not included in today’s menu . 」the master said .
The men erupted into laughter .
「Uhh…」
「Take it easy, Paula . You can get back to work after eating that . 」
The master noticed that she was putting too much effort into her job . She greatly appreciated the concern . The men started demanding sausages too, so it was added to the menu in a rush .
As she ate in the waiting room with Drake, she could feel energy welling up inside her .
「So, where’s Hikaru?」the master asked as Paula returned back outside .
「He’s back in Scholarzard . 」
「I see . Can you tell him to drop by?」
「I will . 」
He wants to see Hikaru too . Paula’s mouth curved into a smile .
「I’m glad this place is open . 」a voice said .
The door to the tavern opened and two girls came in, both wearing hooded cloaks of fine quality . They clearly didn’t belong in a place like this . One of them removed her hood and Paula quickly recognized who she was .
「Let’s have something warm to drink . What do you want, Luka?」Catherine asked .
Luka shook her head, a glum look on her face .