Episode 80: Welcome to the Magic Doll Shop “Lux”

“Fiine! A letter came, from Lord Ridwan!”
“…Again…”

She took the red envelope Yuria handed her. His letters always arrived in this envelope.

Two months had passed since Fiine became an inspector attached to the Royal Guard.
She had already been given two jobs, but they were more like errands for a handyman than anything an inspector would do.

(They order me to audit places that are short on hands, and have me help exterminate monsters while I’m at it. Is that overworking people, or what…)

She opened the envelope that had just arrived. The orders were always simple.

In one week, accompany the Magic Corps on their survey of the Montzir region, and report on how it goes.

In line with Alexander’s wishes, the Magic Corps had recently begun survey work.
It was the job of investigating monster presence before any request for help came in.
They were also coordinating with the Kingdom of Lyon, and planned to push on with research into the drugs used on monsters.

But even with orders from above, not everyone in today’s Magic Corps was diligent about their work.
That was why Fiine was being dispatched to audit them.

(…And if there are monsters, I’m the one who ends up defeating them, mostly…)

The task assigned to Fiine was to report the Magic Corps’ work to the king.
But if monsters appeared in front of her, she had no choice but to join in.

“The Montzir region… I wonder if there’s anywhere to sightsee?”
“Yuria, we’re not going there to play.”
“We can play a little while we’re at it. We’re being paid plenty.”
“…Well, that’s true.”

On top of being reimbursed for expenses incurred on the mission, she received wages for each job completed.
The first time she’d been paid, the amount was so high she had double-checked whether there’d been a mistake.

“Oh, that’s right. When I went to the orphanage earlier, I heard some happy news.”
“Happy news?”
“By His Majesty’s order, officials are going to be sent to orphanages all over the country. Personnel officers from both the civil and military departments will tour the regions to see whether there are any talented people. If a child’s talent is recognised there, they’ll get an education at the state’s expense.”

At present, orphanages couldn’t provide an adequate education, though budgets varied.
The civil service recruitment exam, which excluded the Magic Corps, was open regardless of status, but it was rare for anyone from an orphanage to pass.

(His Majesty is trying to build a system in which people with talent can receive an education…)

Sending officials to orphanages was probably part of that.
It might be a small step, but it might also be a step that changed someone’s life.

“It’s only little by little, but the world’s getting better. I feel like it is.”

Yuria smiled happily.

(Maybe working hard under His Majesty is how we make our dream come true.)

Thinking of it that way, she couldn’t complain about handyman work.

“…I’ll do my best on the next mission too.”
“Yes! Oh, Fiine, a customer!”

Ding, the bell at the entrance rang, and a young woman came into the shop.
Her brown hair, in a braid, was dishevelled, and her complexion was poor, as if she hadn’t been eating.
When their eyes met, she threw herself down in a bow, forehead to the floor.

“Please!! Please, I’m begging you… please bring my young lady back to life…”

Tears fell from her eyes and wet the floor. Her hands, pressed to the floor, were trembling.
She’d grown used to the work of the magic doll shop. But no two customers were ever the same.

(They have someone precious, and they want to see them once more, even for a single day. A “farewell” is painful, and yet they come here to redo it.)

Even now, she wasn’t good at talking to people she’d just met.
But she no longer wanted to pass it all off on Yuria, as she used to.

(Because I’m the owner of Lux.)

She took a light breath and gently placed a hand on the shoulder of the braided woman. When the woman slowly lifted her face, Fiine gave her an awkward smile.

“Welcome to the magic doll shop ‘Lux.’”

*

The magic doll shop “Lux.”
This is a shop for redoing farewells with someone precious.