「Y-you can't.」
She shakes her head slightly, blinking in confusion.
「Yes I can. De-register me.」
「No, I mean you literally can't. There is no mechanism to de-register.」
「What? What if being a part of mages' guild becomes a social suicide? Have you thought about that? Do you really think wearing pointy hats and calling yourselves wizards is a good idea in the long run!?」
He spreads his arms as he shouts.
「Please calm down. I'm sure you'll be happy to be a grand mage. That title carries a lot of weight.」
「What makes you think I'll become one?」
「…The fact you broke the resistor crystal, which means your mana is-」
Straf clicks his tongue multiple times and waves his outstretched index finger side to side as he slowly shakes his head.
「No, no, no. What makes you think I'll become one?」
「I- I don't understand?」
Straf leans in with a smirk, and the startled guild girl leans back.
「The harder the parents push a child to be someone big and important, the more likely the child will end up as a worthless NEET with a stained shirt. Meaning…」
He straightens out and shrugs his arms with a smug smile.
「I'm going to be a total fuck up, just so you don't get grants for representation of minorities with too much power!」
「You mean you'll intentionally hide your power!?」
「Yup! Maybe if you were honest with me from the start that it was all about money, I'd consider it, you shitty four-eyes.」
「Wha- Did you not even notice I'm not wearing my glasses!?」
「Huh. Now that you mention it… Doesn't matter. I like women who are honest.」
The guild girl's jaw drops, she clutches at her robes again…
「I'm done with this place. How about you join my harem, Emilia? Being a mage, you're a perfect fit!」
Straf looks behind himself at Emilia. Both her and Cycelia look confused and a little unnerved observing the back and forth that occurred.
《Really? Learning magic was it? I take a quick glance at you, and you're doing this?》
Athea's displeased voice echoes in Straf's mind, her crossed arms and scowling face almost palpable.
「...What's a harem?」
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Emilia asks with a tilted head, her hat almost flies off her head.
「Ah, it's a…」
《Now, how do I present this to a girl who can't even look people in the eyes?》
「Basically, you'll follow me around and do as I say. Everything.」
「Ah, you mean a party… I'd love to, but I can't. This guild has only one competen- Experienced alchemist, so… I can't just up and leave.」
Straf clicks his tongue and sighs.
「Well, I'm not enough of a scumbag to force you.」
She chuckles gently, smiling.
「It's a shame, especially now that I'm missing my glasses, alchemy is going to get hard.」
「How hard, exactly?」
「Ah, well… I could blow myself up if I mess up and such.」
「Why don't you get a new pair, then?」
「Glasses are really expensive. My last pair was 8 silvers. A decent fitted pair goes for about 5… I can't afford it with the guild salary as it is right now.」
Straf groans, then clicks his tongue again. He opens his [Portable Storage] and reaches for something.
「Wha-?! Is that-?!」
The guild girl can't believe her eyes as she squints. Emilia squints as well, but can't get a sharp enough picture of what Straf is doing. He takes her hand and puts a gold coin in it. Cycelia screams internally.
「Here. Take this. I don't want something to happen to you.」
《Because of me, at least. I owe you for the spells.》
「What is th- Ah! No! I can't take this! It's way too much!」
The flustered Emilia shouts at Straf as she sees the coin glimmer from the candelabra hanging above, he turns around and heads for the door, motioning Cycelia to follow him with his head. She sighs with relief heavily.
《Ah, so it really is just a kind and caring heart after all. I need to stop overthinking things…》
「Straf! I can't take this!」
Straf pauses only to look over his shoulder at Emilia…
「…It's an apology.」
《If I knew her vision is this bad I wouldn't have done that…》
「Straf! Wait! How did you do that!?」
Straf turns his head back towards the door after leaving Emilia with a cryptic apology. The guild girl calls out towards him, but he ignores her.
His hand almost touches the door, but he stops himself, stands aside and presents it to Cycelia instead.
「Ladies first.」
「Ah, you're supposed to… Pull the door open. But that's fine! You're learning the local culture still! It's the thought that counts, Straf!」
Cycelia says as she opens the door and walks through, Straf following after her. The guild girl clicks her tongue.
「Tsk. That bastard… How dare he toy with me like this!」