—2—

Years had passed in a blink, the land that was once flooded with chaos and destruction, now slowly flourished with life and joy. Clair walked upon the smiling faces that were once rarely seen. Yet the laughter around her didn’t bother her at all. The woman was cold and stoic as if the sweetness of the world never touched her heart.

Indeed, how could she? As time passed, the wounds of the war could heal. However, what was lost never came back again. The day she lost her Sun was the day that this world lost its color. And yet, never once in these past years had she forgotten her purpose. The woman stopped and looked at the tall tower piercing the sky. The Clock Tower, where the High Court of Magicians governed the world.

With just one more step, steadily... and slowly, she could finally have her revenge.

However…

“Please, get in line!” a pixie shouted at the long lines of Daemons.

In front of a two-story shop, tails were gathered with anxious anticipation. Their eyes radiated hope as they gazed at the shop sign that read "Bunga Lentera," which was painted cutely with sweet flowers along the edges.

Clair’s shop was always crowded, but not to this extent. She wondered, what the hell happened?

“Wait… Isn’t that, Ma Dame Clair?!” shouted a rhinoceros daemon, pointing at Clair. Immediately, all the tails there stood up, their ears perked, and they swarmed around her.

"Oh, Ma Dame Clair, do you still have the remedy for the million diseases called Mutterbeweisen? Please, sell me one, my child is very ill!" said a mother elephant, tears streaming down her face. Not only her, but other daemons also asked for Clair's help.

Clair raised her eyebrow, confused, “P-pardon, Miss? Since when did my shop become a clinic?"

"B-But people say that Ma Dame sells Mutterbeweisen, don't they?”

"H-Ha? Who said that?" Clair asked in confusion.

"Everyone did," said the Daemon, followed by nodding from everyone in the vicinity.

Clair took a deep breath and clasped her head. There could only be one answer. It must be that money-hungry opportunist!

From a distance, a small black-haired girl ran towards Clair. Tears were flowing from her eyes and nose, displaying a seemingly meek face, yet Clair knew this little devil hid something beneath her “innocence”.

The girl was Luciel Diamanda, her mischievous daughter. In a panic, the girl said, “M-Mom, please, d-don’t get mad!”

“My sweet Luciel, I only ask you to tend the shop while I’m gone on a business trip, right? Then how the hell did it become a clinic, huh?” Clair asked her nicely.

Recognizing the wrath behind her mother's smile, Luciel gulped and answered, "D-Dearest Mom, I-I could explain."

Clair crossed her arms, “Feel free to disappoint me, Luciel.”

Fidgetty, the girl leaned closer to Clair and whispered, “I-it just...I-I made millions, selling Mutterbeweisen!”

Clair's eyes widened, “Y-Y-Y-You what? O-Oh, girlie you-!”

The woman took her daughter’s hand and rushed with her to the shop. At the basement where our lab resided, Clair confronted her daughter. “M-Millions, by selling a quack’s potion? Dammit, girlie, I told you, business starts from trust. I know your Alchemy level is not enough to make a drug, let alone Mutterbeweisen! Don’t let your greed violate that one sacred principle,” Clair scolded her daughter.

Clair's stern voice echoed in the dimly lit basement, where various alchemical equipment and ingredients were neatly organized. Luciel, with her wide eyes and trembling lips, looked at her mother with a mix of guilt and fear. "I-I know, Mom, but I... I couldn't resist the temptation to make some money,” Luciel stammered, but then her spirit came back instantly.

“But the thing is the potion works! I got the recipe from a doctor in Nameless District.”

“Y-You’ve met The Black Death?”

Luciel nodded, “Yup, he is amazing! There is nothing he couldn’t cure,” she pushed her mother gently, “As long as it works and we made a killing then, there is no problem, right Mom?”

“B-B-But—“

“Geez, Mommy! You are such a worrywart. Relax!” Luciel smiled.

Suddenly, a pixie timidly interrupted the Mother and Daughter, “P-Pardon Mistress, b-but the customers are already waiting.”

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

Brimming with a bright smile, Luciel answered, “Gotcha! You’ve come to the right, Mom? Or, perhaps you want to retire already? Ohoho be my guess, but this business empire shall be mine!”

G-Geez. Clair let out a sigh, “What a snotty brat. Let me in."

— + —

It was in the afternoon when the last customer left with a satisfied smile. Sitting down next to the full cash register, Clair looked at her hands. Red lines had appeared, circling her body like a spiderweb, caused by the intensive contact with Superadicals. Such poisoning was common for alchemists due to their constant meddling with magical substances.

"Well, it's the price we pay for knowledge and coin, I guess," Clair chuckled softly, her gaze drifting to the organized shop set up by her daughter, Luciel.

On neatly arranged shelves, an array of glass bottles gleamed, each containing a vibrant assortment of magical concoctions. Some of these compounds took the form of crystals, their cores aglow with minuscule sparkling particles, while others resembled ornate snail-shell abodes filled with captivating ornaments. It was a feast for the eyes, making Clair feel as if she were trapped within a fairy tale.

Suddenly, Luciel tapped Clair’s head with the handle of a broom, saying, “Mom, stop daydreaming. You haven't written today's sales in the ledger yet." She said before tidying up the store.

Clair brushed her head and said, "Hey, since when did you become the boss? This is my store, young lady," she shrugged as she quickly counted the coins in the cash register.

"Welp, you said you were on a business trip until tomorrow sooo... technically I am still the boss by your decree," the snotty brat pulled out the golden contract which bound the two witches. A contract said that until the passing moon on the third month of the year, the business was entrusted in the safe hand of Luciel.

Clair laughed and brushed her daughter's hair until she got annoyed, "Huh, what am I going to do with you, Petite Boss."

Although looking like a normal girl, Luciel was Clair’s masterpiece. Acting and conversing just like a sentient being, no one would suspect that Luciel is merely a machine beneath its skin. Yet its body remains cold and devoid of a pulse because its heart, housed in its chest, is crafted from Magicite—an enchanting energy stone intricately linked to a sophisticated magic system known as Noctis Labyrinthus. This system, in turn, bestows upon her sentience, just like humans and demons.

Luciel’s Magicite, Diamondtears, was crafted with a thousand souls, giving her a tremendous amount of mana, rivaling those of The High Court. Clair had originally planned to use Luciel to infiltrate The Mage Association, but she made a critical mistake by raising Luciel like her own daughter.

When Luciel was just four years old, the girl had asked what the strongest magic in the world was. To her most regrettable memory, Clair had answered foolishly, "Money."

That answer triggered Luciel's inner greed, causing her to grow into an opportunist, a clever girl who was always searching for ways to make the most money.

Clair still remembered when she asked Luciel to enroll at the Magic Academy; the girl had smiled innocently, saying, "No way, Mom. I'd rather be filthy rich than a dirt-poor sage!”

That single mistake had disrupted Clair's plan, making her rack her brain night and day to find a way to infiltrate the High Court. Looking back, she had even considered resetting Luciel. However, she ultimately couldn't do it, mainly because when she saw Luciel's smile, her heart felt a warmth that she couldn't explain. It was a strange feeling indeed.

“Dear Mom, why do you always laugh when you see me? Am I looking funny or something?" Luciel noticed her mother chuckling.

"No, no, it's just that you've grown into a fine girl, and I'm proud of you," Clair smiled.

Luciel blushed and pushed Clair gently, "G-Geez, Mom! Don't say embarrassing things like that!"

Yes, her initial plan had failed, but that didn't mean there was no other way. The truth was, without Luciel by her side, she wouldn't have been able to become the youngest millionaire and gain The High Court's notice. Perhaps, that failure was a blessing in disguise? Clair laughed.

Suddenly, the bell rang, and a tall man entered the shop. He had pale golden hair and piercing eyes, which he directed fondly at Luciel.

Luciel smiled widely, "Mister Arthur, you've come!" The girl then took the man's hand and led him to her mother. With a bright smile, Luciel introduced the man to her mother.

"Mom, this is Doctor Arthur from the Nameless District. He was the one who taught me how to make Mutterbeweisen!”

Clair's lips trembled, and her eyes widened. She recognized the rancid smell, one that she despised, no matter how many years had passed. That man… he was a human!

Luciel chuckled, "Aw, c'mon, Mom. I know Arthur is handsome. But please, he's mine.”

"Pardon...?" Clair replied.

Playfully, Luciel clung to Arthur's arm, "I said he's my boyfriend, Mom!”

“B-b-b-boyfrieend?!!!” Clair shouted in panic. No way, this must be a bad joke, right? Her daughter w-with a despicable human?

However, Luciel nodded enthusiastically, even tightening her grip on the man's arm. "Yes, we're even planning to get married this year!"

“H-Haaa…," Clair was shocked beyond her imagination. Her pitiful soul seemed to have flown away from her body, taking her ambition and dreams with it. But then she snapped back to reality. “No, I won’t approve it!” Clair stood her ground.

Luciel pouted, releasing Arthur's arm. "Mom, you're just jealous because he's so dreamy! Keep it up, and you'll be alone for life.”

“M-M-Me, jealous?” Clair rolled her eyes, “If I want, I could date a man a thousand times better than him,” she taunted Luciel.

Luciel smirked, “Says someone who is still single to this day. Mom, you’re saying that because you don’t know Arthur yet. If you knew him well, I’m sure you would approve of our relationship.”

Clair squinted her eyes, "Oh yeah? Then prove it now," she said, looking at Arthur with disdain and skepticism, "Arthur, right? You know you're going to take the daughter of the most proficient alchemist in the world, right? That means, once you two are married, you'll inherit my business."

Arthur just listened patiently, but actually, he was nearly overwhelmed by two formidable ladies upon him.

Clair gave him an incredulous look. “First question! Can you even pronounce ‘Microspectrophotofluorometry'?"

Arthur's eyes widened. "Uh... Well, no. But I can pronounce 'I love your daughter' very well!”

Luciel burst into giggles at the exchange, “Aw, Arthur. you’re so sweet!”

Clair's jaw dropped. Really? Forget about being human, her daughter had fallen for a man who only knew how to whisper sweet nothings about love. This was ridiculous! She wouldn't let that man have her daughter's hand!

But just as she was about to object, an owl swooped into the shop. It carried with it a golden scroll marked with The Magic Association's sign. Opening the scroll and scanning through it, Clair sighed and looked at the two lovebirds before her.

“Luciel, you are one lucky brat.”

Arthur smiled, thinking that he had just passed the unexpected test. "Thank you, Mrs. Clair. I promise to cherish your daughter forever!”

“No, you’re not!”