At Mistress Veronika's permission, we finally would be able to leave the Temple. We weren't used to the city yet, and I have only been here once in the past, though very recently. But that was only the case for me.

Being more familiar with the surroundings, Mistress Veronika initially wanted to escort us. Unexpectedly enough, it was Mistress Kora who came forward to do so in the end. We didn't know the reason why until he came out completely dressed like a woman.

"Why are you all dressed up, mistress?" I asked.

"Because I want to!" he said. "I feel very pretty like this. Why not?"

I chuckled. I bet many would be broken-hearted. Or perhaps it would be the total opposite.

From the beginning, Mistress Kora's voice didn't have very deep male characteristics. So even if he talked in his normal voice, it only sounded androgynous. Like he could either be a guy or girl. This impression would change depending on how he dressed or how he wanted others to perceive him.

He...was such a perfect gender-bender.

"Should we go, children?"

"Let's!" Erenol exclaimed.

We started to walk out of the Temple, greeting the monks we passed along the way.

Life in this place was really peaceful. The monks themselves held no malice, always full of understanding and sympathy. That did not mean they were pushovers either. Even if someone wanted to come forward to take advantage of them and cause trouble, they would have to bear the consequences.

"By the way, mistress. You have such perfect command of Lovardi. I don't recall you being from Lovarda though?" I asked.

"Oh." He flicked his wrist several times. "I learned it when I was younger...it was one of the reasons why I could come with you," he told us. "Naturally, we can't go to a place where we can't adapt. After all, we have to seamlessly blend with the people here!"

"Are we really, though?" I asked. "Aren't we calling a lot of attention to ourselves like this?"

"Worry not. Though your mistresses aren't together, we're all as tall and powerful as mountains!" he said. "This much is not an issue. Besides, the number of Temples around the continent are limited, so it is of no surprise that many young capable kids gather from many places to audition. It's not very strange. If you're calling attention to yourselves, others are too!"

Right. The matter with Black Flame being a young scion from a prestigious clan was a highlight—something that could not be ignored. Even if we wanted to take the spotlight from him, he stood out like a moon among the stars.

But then, there was Maun, an eclipse.

I shook my head with a sigh.

There were still many things I did not understand, but since the mistresses said not to worry about them for now, I wouldn't. It wasn't like I was capable of worrying about it at all, anyway. My strength was too lacking.

"What did you kids plan on going out for?"

"I think there's a lot of stuff to see in the bazaar," I said. "We went there last time."

"Oh...well, I might not be as good of a haggler like Veronika. So you might need to spend a bit of money!" Mistress Kora said. "I'm sure it won't be a lot of trouble for Evy since this kid is much richer than I am!"

I squinted. "You're kidding."

"How can I be? You can buy the whole bazaar and it won't make a dent!" he continued. "But you have to control your spending, so until you're of proper age, your capability to manage the funds will be limited!"

"Whooaaaa!" Eren and Maun stared at me like some holy saint that descended from the skies.

"I don't want to use it," I said. "I still plan on doing what I intended to do. I'll only take what I need and then build from that. My mistresses' funds will be used to rebuild Oblivion."

Remembering my childhood home reduced to rubble, the determination to rebuild it once again surged in my heart. I looked up with a smile to Mistress Kora and found him smiling and teary-eyed. His long and dainty fingers stretched over to my hooded hair, patting it affectionately.

"I pray you to be successful, Evy," Kora told me. "Amaren."

"Amaren," I repeated. I don't know. It was beautiful.

It was Veneryan for well-wishes, literally 'dragon's breath.' A breath from a dragon meant good fortune and favorable odds, I heard. It was a meaningful word.

We went around the block, searching for a place where I could source my oils. The supplies were quite different from what I usually got in Venerya. Oils which I found scarce before were now in abundance, and those I had grown used to having a lot of stock of soared high in prices. In general, the average cost of basic supplies cost at least thirty percent more. With how expensive oils were already in the first place, the additional thirty percent made me suck in a breath.

"Flower fields are rare in Lovarda," Kora told me. "I should know. I'm a gardener." He huffed proudly. "They have more seas than they do land, so they focus on that. Essential oils require hundreds upon hundreds of flowers for a small drop. They have to source such demanding production from somewhere else."

"Ah...no wonder my perfumes sold for such a high price back then," I muttered, scratching my head. "Turns out they're quite a luxury here. I remember Kilda from Scents and Papers. I miss him quite a bit."

Since I felt stingy with money, I decided I would go with the common scents I usually worked with. With eight bottles and the necessary preservatives, plus packaging, I would be able to make a variety of things already. It was a pity because there were more than a hundred to choose from. Having to narrow it down like this was troublesome.

"Where do you plan on selling them?" Eren asked.

"I plan to ask Mistress Veronika for suggestions...since she seems to have some relationship with the Merchant's Union or something. That should mean connections, right?"

"That'll be wise," Kora said, nodding.

I wouldn't be stubborn and start from scratch if I didn't have to. If I could make use of some connections and boosts, I would. I was just a slacker like that.

"Mistress, I'll go over there to take a look at things!" Erenol said, pointing to the next stall.

Maun came back just as she left, holding a candied fruit on a stick. He promptly began to gnaw away on the treat as he observed us.

I unwittingly made a troubled face as I looked at the pile of oils in my arms. I had not considered many things...like how was I supposed to work when I lacked a desk and storage?

"Why don't you consider buying a shop?" Mistress Kora suggested, seeming to have heard my thoughts.

I looked up, lips thinning as I ruminated. "Buying a shop?" I tilted my head to the side questioningly.

"That's right. A place which can regularly help you supply oils and materials for crafting perfume, also a workplace where you can comfortably work in. With this, you may bargain prices for oils. You also require a lot of space for stocking these oils—and you can't just store them haphazardly. That would ruin them. We had that problem back in Oblivion," he told me.

I nodded thoughtfully.

"Also, even if you bring those oils back in the Temple, where and how will you begin to make them at all? Our living conditions are not exactly suitable for this kind of thing, and with how thick the smell is, the attention you'll receive will be many."

"I...didn't think this through," I said.

"I think you were excited, so you didn't consider a lot of things," Mistress Kora told me with a chuckle.

"Will it really be okay?" I asked. I didn't want to touch the money. I was already cautioned by Mistress Veronika.

"You aren't splurging," Mistress Kora gently reminded. "Instead, you're using it as capital. It'll be really okay. In fact, it's much better."

Though I was thirteen biologically, I was a middle-aged woman inside. Which felt weird. So, I should have no problems managing it...just where would I find the time to on top of all the training in the Temple was the question.

Either way, it was a good idea.

I would be studying in the Temple so it was expected that I would stay in here for quite a while. Since I still had my mistresses' support, it shouldn't be much trouble.

"Stop worrying. Your Mistress Veronika and I will naturally help you," he told me.

"Mm. Okay." I nodded, feeling pleasant.

Maun continued absentmindedly sucking on the candied treat he had bought before blankly weaving in front of the same store to buy another one. I watched as he wordlessly held out a hand bearing bills then pointed to the candied fruits skewered on a stick from the side.

The vendor laughed, then handed him two instead of just one. "Here, have an extra."

Maun was adorable. It seemed I wasn't the only one who thought that.

Erenol came back with a box of chocolate-covered strawberries as well as some candied strawberries. She happily shoved them one by one in her mouth, savoring each bite with great enthusiasm. She skipped over to me and popped one into my mouth.

I bit down. The crisp sugar crystals were shattered by my teeth, raining sweetness in my mouth. The acidity of the strawberry swiftly followed and I savored the dancing tartness and caramel sweetness on my tongue.

"Mm."

Maun came back with the extra candied fruit stick and handed it to me. I looked at him questioningly but accepted in the end. This was much like the candied strawberry, but it was another kind of fruit. I think it was citrus?

Erenol shot a glance at him and busied herself with her strawberries. "Strawberries are better," she said, sticking her tongue out at him. "Right, Evy?"

I looked between Evy and Maun's expecting gazes. I had a feeling that if I agreed or disagreed, one of these two would be dejected. However, if I didn't express an opinion, they would be dissatisfied.

"The strawberries are fresh and I think the citrus were soaked," I said, biting down on the candied citrus. "They're very different. I'd like this one for snacks, and the strawberries for dessert."

Mistress Kora chuckled, perhaps finding my attempt to appease the two muffins amusing.

I think I have decided.

Erenol was the strawberry muffin, since she loved them so much. And Maun was the blueberry one. He didn't like blueberries as far as I knew, but with his silvery purple hair and matching eyes, I had unconsciously began thinking he looked like it—at least when it became a frosting.

Ah, and with Erenol's plum-orange hair, a shade of red, she did look like a strawberry too.

"Ha, how cute," I found myself saying out loud.

"Which one? Me or him?" Erenol demanded.

I put both my hands on their heads. "Both!"

I didn't even understand why these two were competing. But it was cute, so whatever.

"You're the cute one, Evy. You're the youngest," Kora said.

"This is not just about age!" I exclaimed.

"Indeed." He pulled my head further down my face. "Don't go showing yourself to people frequently. Who knows who might steal you away?"

I frowned and harrumphed indignantly. Who would want to steal me away?

"Mm." Maun nodded fervently, then began furiously signing. "I'll beat them up!"

"You should really think of yourself first," I said.

"I'm very strong though," he said.

"Not strong enough yet," I told him. "Don't get too carried away and become arrogant. There's always a mountain behind a hill."

"Let's go and look around for a shop. What do you think?" Mistress Kora suggested.

I nodded. "Let's go!"

I was pretty excited about the prospects of owning a business at such a young age. This would also be a challenge for me. I should be able to put to use what I learned in my past life.

Finally.

After all, I was a woman with modern and Earthian sensibilities. Capitalism had been ingrained into my blood and bones!

I update at least twice a month. I know it's not much but it's something lol.