Chapter 45

* * *

Translated by Sylph

Read only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net.

* * *

Mana stones containing magical power were always treated as precious.

Therefore, when nobles purchased a new mana stone, they would deliberately hold a banquet to subtly boast about it.

Yet someone had sent such a thing as a gift.

Furthermore, as a gift to celebrate a child who was only seven years old entering the Gifted Center.

“If it’s a mana stone, isn’t it incredibly expensive?”

“I know. The mana stone I saw at the auction house when I followed my father not long ago was smaller than that, and the price was enormous.”

“What? Then does that brat have an incredible guardian?”

The atmosphere among the whispering people changed.

Among the people, Evi looked at the warm stone in her hand.

‘To think it’s a mana stone.’

She knew of their existence, but she didn’t know how grand they were.

In Elam City, one couldn’t even catch a glimpse of something like a mana stone.

‘It’s fascinating.’

How could a stone be this warm and even emit light?

As Evi pulled the mana stone to her chest, students from the surroundings flocked over.

“Ex, excuse me. Could I try touching that just once?”

“I’ll just look! Oh, my name is Emil. We took foreign language class together, didn’t we?”

“Hello. I’m Julia. I use the same floor as you. I’ve been wanting to greet you for a while…”

They all looked at Evi and the mana stone alternately with sparkling eyes.

There were also those who whispered from a step away.

“They say she’s Irene’s roommate?”

“I scoffed when I heard a commoner was assigned, but I guess there was a reason. Isn’t it incredible just to have a guardian who gives such a mana stone as a gift?”

At that moment, Ezriella shouted out.

“What are you all talking about? There’s no way that’s a mana stone!”

This was not the situation she wanted.

Everyone should have laughed at that commoner’s shabby gift.

Only then could she also laugh at Irene, saying her level was low for sharing a room with such a person.

But instead, people were now looking at that commoner with startled eyes and even approaching her to get close.

Furthermore, they were even whispering that there was a reason she was Irene’s roommate.

Ezriella also knew very well how precious and expensive mana stones were.

Her father had a showcase in his study where he displayed mana stones bought at auctions.

Her father didn’t even let her touch them, saying she didn’t know how precious they were.

Yet there was no way anyone would gift something larger than those mana stones to a mere commoner child.

Ezriella glared at Evi standing among the people.

That bewildered face, as if she didn’t know what was going on, looked abominable.

“Hey. Give it here again. I’ll check if it’s real or fake for you. My father has many mana stones, so I can distinguish at least that much.”

Ezriella deliberately emphasized the word ‘many’ when saying she had many mana stones.

“As you know, there are many fakes when it comes to mana stones. There are many people who sell plausible-looking stones in low-quality markets in the capital, claiming they are mana stones.”

At Ezriella’s words, the children who had flocked around slowly closed their mouths.

It was as she said.

Because mana stones were so precious, there were many who sold plausible-looking stones as mana stones to deceive others.

‘The light will disappear after a few flashes.’

It was common to cast a trivial spell on a worthless stone to commit fraud as if it were a real mana stone.

Those who were excited at the word ‘mana stone’ recalled such facts and quietly backed away.

“Now that I think about it… it certainly seems a bit different from the mana stones I know.”

“I know. Looking at it closely, it seems like the ones they sell in the market.”

Those who had been quiet until just now chimed in, thinking this was the time.

They too, like Ezriella, harbored doubts about a commoner receiving such a large mana stone.

Then, when Ezriella stepped forward and said it seemed to be a fake, they gained confirmation for their spiteful hearts.

That it was a fake.

Thinking so, the gazes looking at Evi became sharp.

“To think she’d tell such a lie when we thought she was pitiful for being young.”

“I heard she’s from an orphanage. Children from such places are obvious.”

“Last time too, she told a lie about receiving special treatment regarding His Majesty the Emperor.”

The words they spat out became sharper and sharper.

Listening to their words, Evi hugged the mana stone in her chest even tighter.

‘I don’t care even if this is a fake.’

It was a gift someone had sent for her.

Just that sentiment alone made her happy enough to bring tears to her eyes.

“What are you doing? I told you to give it here!”

Ezriella, who had strode in front of her before she knew it, reached out her hand to Evi.

She knew well from her past experiences that in times like this, it was better to hand it over without a word.

But even knowing that, Evi didn’t want to hand over the gift she had received to her.

‘This is mine.’

Evi thought of Professor Sian.

The person who was crying alone in front of a quiet grave.

Not only did he become her guardian despite having nothing to do with her, but he also sent this warm and glowing object in return for a single handkerchief.

It didn’t matter whether this was a real mana stone or not.

Evi wanted to cherish her first gift dearly.

“Won’t you give it here right now!”

When Evi didn’t obey obediently, Ezriella grabbed her thin wrist.

Evi hugged the mana stone with all her might.

To Evi, who wouldn’t let go, Ezriella snapped.

“Where did you learn such stubbornness? This is why your parents abandoned you!”

“…!”

At that moment, the strength in Evi’s hands, which had been holding on, vanished.

Ezriella didn’t miss that moment and shoved Evi away.

Just as the staggering small body was about to hit the floor, someone caught Evi from behind.

“That’s enough, Ezriella. What a disgraceful thing to do.”

It was Irene’s voice. She snatched the mana stone from the startled Ezriella’s hand and returned it to the chest of Evi, who was in front of her.

“This is a real mana stone.”

“Liar! Who would gift a mana stone of that size to a commoner!”

“You seem not to believe my words. Have you forgotten that I am a person of the Terence family?”

Of course, there was no one who didn’t know. The Terence family was a family that held the wealth of the south in its grip.

“Our family trades every item in the world. Mana stones are no different. You know at least that our family obtains and puts up most of the mana stones that appear in the Empire’s auctions, right?”

“….”

At Irene’s confident words, Ezriella bit her lip.

“So I can distinguish what is real or fake without even touching it. So, Miss Ezriella.”

Irene crossed her arms and tilted her chin up.

“Apologize for your rudeness just now.”

“Wh-what?”

“You tore someone else’s gift as you pleased and pushed them, claiming it was a fake because you ‘couldn’t even recognize’ a splendid mana stone. How lacking in discernment you must be. And what? Parents? Of all the things you could say…”

Irene paused for a moment, taking a sharp breath.

Anger was embedded in every single word.

Startled by Irene’s harsh voice, the face of the silent Ezriella flushed red.

If it had been another item, she would have at least sneered in her heart, calling her a mere merchant.

But mana stones were important enough to be in the basic classes of the Gifted Center and were also considered common sense for nobles.

That’s why they invited others to boast when they bought a new mana stone.

But not recognizing it and denouncing it as a fake eventually meant that her own discernment was low.

“Miss Irene, are you telling me to bow my head to a commoner right now?”

At Ezriella’s words, other students also nodded.

Ezriella could make a mistake. So she could apologize to Irene.

But apologizing to a commoner child?

That was something that could not happen.

Ezriella bit her lip.

Now that it had come to this, she couldn’t back down any further.

She had to see it through to the end with Irene right here.

‘Even though you’ll continue to be active in social circles from now on.’

If she pushed a noble like her in this way, there was no way she would hear good things from other students.

As she thought, the surrounding students gradually showed uncomfortable expressions while looking at Irene.

No matter what happened, it was nonsense for a noble to bow to a commoner.

So she thought Irene, who was eyeing social connections, would back down.

Irene stepped next to Evi, who was holding the mana stone, and said as if for everyone to hear.

“Whether it’s a commoner or a noble, you’d better apologize for the rudeness you committed against ‘my roommate’, Ezriella.”