Heavenly Spirit Tree's Ascension Day (3)

The market in Skyflower Haven was not much different from a market in a human city. There were slight differences in the items being sold, but for the most part, it was more or less the same.

However, while a typical market would have alleyways spreading out like cobwebs in all directions, Skyflower Haven had thin stems extending vertically and horizontally.

As one entered the market, there were rows of elf weavers selling handmade blankets and clothes, and on the opposite side, there was a food alley selling snacks like rice cakes and fish cakes.

Grace Steele, the deputy commander of Division 13, didn't particularly enjoy this market scene.

"Ugh, it's hot and humid. Commander, can we just leave?"

"..."

"Why are you so fascinated by the fish market? What's so interesting?"

Her complaints shot through the roof as if piercing the sky, but whether she said it or not, Commander Kaen just quietly watched the fish swimming.

"Ugh..."

Helpless, Grace raised her hands to her waist and looked around. If the commander got absorbed in something, it would take a while to snap him out of it.

"This neighborhood is so annoying, seriously."

She disliked elves.

More precisely, she disliked all the pointy-eared fairy folk.

So, this moment of taking a breath here was both agonizing and disgusting to her, but she had no choice when it came to her duty.

"Why did Manwol Tower send me here when it's not even certain that Professor Maizen is here?"

The mission she received this time was to monitor Maizen Tyren, who was suspected of being corrupted by the dark magic, as he was staying in Skyflower Haven, where first-year students were conducting field experiences.

However, Professor Maizen had suspended all activities and was currently in a state of seclusion, following orders received from Stella.

External activities must have been blocked, so how did Maizen Tyren manage to come all the way here?

"I just can't understand it."

Leaving Kaen, who was absentmindedly observing the fish behind, Grace walked through the market streets alone.

There was nothing to see or buy, but she was bored.

"Huh? That child is..."

While leisurely strolling through the streets, she unexpectedly came across a familiar face.

It was the student from Stella who had appeared as a co-author when they presented the Delta Augmented Formula a few days ago.

"Hmm, was his name Baek Yu-Seol?" It wasn't that she remembered him because of the formula; she just found him cute and memorable.

If he were an ordinary student from Stella, she would have come to Skyflower Haven to tour around or visit the high-end tourist section, but Baek Yu-Seol was wandering around the market in an unusual manner.

"Oh my, student. Look at this once and go."

As he was thinking, an old woman wearing worn-out clothes grabbed the hem of Baek Yu-Seol's coat.

She was a poor woman who sold vegetables and greens on a mat laid out on the ground, without even a proper stall.

There was a little girl next to the old woman, with a noticeably gaunt face, as if she had been starving for a long time.

"That's right, I guess."

He sat down on the spot and slowly looked around the mat.

Deep down, Grace, who had thought Baek Yu-Seol would ignore the old woman and pass by, widened her eyes in surprise.

Whether it was a commoner or a noble, the moment they became a student of Stella, their arrogance pierced the sky.

Only teenagers with the noblest talents in the world gather under the name of "Stella," but how ironic.

'Well, not all students are arrogant bastards, I suppose~'

However, Grace had not graduated from the academy, and her unfavorable image was created due to the arrogance displayed by academy-trained mages who boasted excessively about their talents.

"Hm..."

She approached Baek Yu-Seol's side and looked around at the vegetables.

Even if they were elven vegetables, they ultimately lacked rarity and consisted of such items.

In human society, it was akin to selling on the roadside.

There seemed to be quite a lot left.

It seemed like business hadn't been going well today.

And then, she noticed something. "Huh, is that...?"

Grace discovered something that made her doubt her own eyes. Among the seemingly useless vegetables, there was a mixture of "Fairy Spinach," which could be called a weed.

"Why is it here...?"

The name might have been haphazardly given, but unlike such a common name, it was truly a rare herb. It was comparable to the hundred-year-old wild ginseng that used to be popular among humans... No, it could even rival the five-hundred-year-old wild ginseng.

'I have to buy it.'

Grace gulped her saliva and waited.

It couldn't be helped because Baek Yu-Seol was holding the fairy spinach, examining it from different angles.

But it was fine.

Even most scholars couldn't easily distinguish fairy spinach. It required a special discernment for sensing mana and exceptional observational skills, as well as extensive knowledge of plants.

A mere seventeen-year-old student like him wouldn't know about it.

No, no one in this place would know.

So it would be left neglected in this rundown spot.

'If I buy it at a low price and sell it at a high price...!'

As Grace's mind was filled with a bundle of swirling fantasies, at that moment... "Grandmother, where did you dig this up?"

"Oh, I found it in the plot. It looked unique, so I bought it."

"Please never sell this."

"Hmm?"

"It's an incredibly valuable herb. You would need an appraiser to determine its true worth, but..."

Baek Yu-Seol took out a piece of paper from his pocket, signed it, and placed it next to the fairy spinach.

Upon seeing that, Grace's pupils couldn't help but dilate.

'What, what is this? Could it be...?'

Confirming Grace's anticipation, Baek Yu-Seol took out a magic stamp from his pocket and stamped it.

"This is a certificate of alchemical quality assurance. If you go to the Alchemical Skyflower Branch that should be on top, you can have them evaluate the price. You probably won't have to worry about meals for a while."

"Oh my... Is that so?"

"Yes."

Then he took out a candy from his pocket and handed it to the little girl along with the fairy spinach.

"Kid, no matter who asks for it, you must never give it away. Soon, alchemists will come looking for it, and if you sell it to them, you can buy as many toys as you want."

"Really? Can I even eat rice?"

"Huh? Yeah... You can eat rice too."

"Wow..."

"Enjoy the candy."

"Okay."

"I'll buy some other vegetables."

With that, Baek Yu-Seol picked up a few vegetables that he wouldn't use, put them in a bag, paid a few coins, and disappeared.

From behind, Grace looked at him with a bewildered expression.

'What's with him...?'

A quality assurance certificate.

There was no way it would be attached to ordinary spinach, so Baek Yu-Sell must have recognized it as fairy spinach without a doubt.

'But how?'

Of course, if a student had a keen interest in herbs, they might have heard of fairy spinach.

However, even exceptional herb discerners would find it impossible to identify it without special tools.

Was the existence of a magical herb identification office born for no reason?

Unless one possessed special abilities like Grace and had all the knowledge, it was impossible to discern it just by looking at it with the naked eye.

'That... He turned out to be even more peculiar than I thought, right?'

Ever since he mentioned being a co-author of the paper on the Delta Augmentation Formula, she knew there was something extraordinary about him, but she thought that was all.

However, with that child, she felt that there was something else hidden, something she didn't know.

But still... wasn't it too foolish? Just giving it away like that?

The child knew nothing, so even if she just bought fairy spinach for a cheap price, she could earn a tremendous amount of money.

'Hmph, I can buy it before they go to the alchemy guild anyway.'

As Baek Yu-Seol disappeared into the distance, Grace sat down in front of the child with a cheerful smile with the intention of buying fairy spinach at a low price...

However, her hand gesture stopped upon hearing the conversation.

"Grandma, can we have rice today?"

"Huhuh, of course. This grandma will definitely buy it for you."

"Wow, really?"

"Of course, of course."

She overheard the conversation between the child and the old woman.

While she would have been oblivious before, the fact that they could enjoy rice so innocently... It was a bit... no, quite...

'Damn it!'

Why did that damn Stella's kid have to say something like that?

It would have been better if Baek Yu-Seol deceived the child and bought it himself. She could have even forcefully snatched it from him.

"Ugh..."

"What's the matter?"

"Huh? Oh, no! There's nothing wrong. Cabbage leaves are really fine! Maybe it's because I've been taking good care of my skin!"

"Huhuh."

In the end, without even touching the fairy spinach, Grace ended up buying useless cabbage.

"Ugh... I'm really unlucky!"

Holding a black bag close to her chest, Grace was walking in deep thought when Kaen approached her and spoke.

"Grace, what's that?"

"Oh, it's a souvenir."

"A souvenir? Your taste has become unique. We're moving immediately. I sensed a disturbance nearby."

"Huh? A disturbance?" Kaen stiffened his expression and pulled out his wand.

"It's a mission."

In response, Grace also took out her staff with a serious expression.

Although she was partly enjoying her outing, once a mission arose, she had to take it seriously. She carefully placed the cabbage bag in a corner and grasped her staff.

Suddenly, a shimmering staircase appeared in the air, lifting Kaen and Grace high up into the sky.