Please Don’t Come To The Villainess’ Stationery Store! - Chapter 22

I tilted my head and stared at Dominique, then he spoke, “If you don’t believe me, let’s do a test run.”

With those words, Dominique put his palm up in front of me. A warm starry light began to gently rush into his hand. It was a large and round white glow.

“Can you see this light?”

“Yeah.”

When I nodded, Dominique replied haughtily, as if he knew I would be able to.

“Yeah, the yellow light means there’s mana.

I frowned and checked the magic light again.

“Yellow?”

“Yeah.”

I tilted my head sideways when I saw the white lights twinkling in front of me.

“But it’s white.”

Dominique tilted his head. (T/N: there are a lot of head tiltings)

“Not yellow?”

“Yeah. It’s white, like a wedding dress’.”

The light sphere in front of my eyes was definitely white.

Dominique mumbled quietly while looking at me.

“You…”

“…yeah?”

“I think your body has pure mana.”

“Pure mana? There’s different types of mana?”

I was an outsider when it came to magic, so I could only listen to Dominique.

“Ordinary mana, so this light looks yellow for mana to use in magic. But you said it looks white.”

“Yeah.”

“It means that your ability is a force that cannot be measured by a common mana test.”

Can’t be measured with common ways…

‘You mean I have special powers?’

I looked at the white sphere bouncing in Dominique’s hand.

‘How can I have pure mana when I’m cursed?’

Dominique continued his explanation while looking at me curiously.

“Anyone who has pure mana cannot become just a wizard.”

“Then?”

“They have the potential to become an alchemist.”

My head was full of questions. I was facing an inflection point in my life right now. What is pure mana and what do alchemists have to do with it?

Dominique explained it step by step like a teacher.

“Magic and alchemy are both mana studies. But mana has different types.”

“How are they different?”

“As you know, wizards have their own properties. Water, soil, light, wood, and metal. All wizards choose one of these five attributes.”

He continued talking, “Every wizard has different attributes, but the aspect of using mana is similar. Mana that comes from nature is used after being brought near the heart. So, the mana used by wizards is also called nature’s mana.”

“Oh, that’s cool?”

He’s saying that’s what wizards are. I decided to get to the point earnestly, “Then what about alchemists?”

“This world’s alchemists don’t use nature’s mana. They use mana from the origin of human lives to create things.”

“Origin of life…”

It’s a rather uncomfortable sentence.

“I won’t die if I run out of mana, will I?”

When I asked with suspicion, Dominique shook his head.

“Probably not? In any case, the mana used by alchemists is commonly referred to as ‘pure mana,’ and unless you’re a man of great ability, you can’t measure nor capture the existence of pure mana.”

“So the Academy can’t catch it with the common test?”

“I suppose so. Nobody knows much about alchemy in the first place. Except for a great hero like me.”

So I have the ability to become an alchemist! My blood isn’t cursed!

With a happy smile, I looked at Dominique with my arms folded.

Dominique cleared his throat and spoke sincerely, “There’s no way I can measure someone’s skills incorrectly. So you can be proud.”

Dominique had seen all kinds of talented people. The probability of him misidentifying mana was zero.

‘I didn’t think that Meldenique, a dog’s hair, has a hidden ability.’

I looked at Dominique with sparkling eyes.

‘If it’s about alchemists, I also know about them. They appear in the novel!’

Alchemists were people who created something out of nothing.

‘But of course, a beginner alchemist can’t make a bundle of gold right away.’

Come to think of it, in the novel, there was an extraversion that Lenox gained a talent for alchemy at the end. Unfortunately, Lenox was a munchkin who only picked good things.

But it’s okay now. Because I had a talent for alchemy now! My heart pounded at the thought that the road to a jackpot wasn’t far away.

‘Since I have mana I just need to learn about alchemy!’

Now it was time to take a closer look at my abilities.

“Okay, good. What exactly is alchemy?”

“Alchemists can make an infinite amount of platinum and gold. Every family desires one. They can make all kinds of things.”

Crazy.

Dominique saw my greedy gaze and smiled with great satisfaction.

I raised my fist at Dominique.

“So I can make anything? Like gold?”

“Yeah. But there are levels for alchemists too.”

“Level? What’s my level!”

Am I perhaps already the world’s most powerful…

“You’re a beginner.”

…of course I’m not.

But I didn’t lose hope and looked at him.

“Then what about my potential? I might be an amazing beginner!”

“Hm…”

I looked at Dominique with a pounding heart. Dominique put his hand where my heart is.

“…Mel.”

“Yeah!”

My eyes started to sparkle at Dominique.

Maybe…me too!

Dominique, who was looking at me, turned his gaze towards the side and spoke quietly, “You’ve got enough mana.”

Enough?

‘He said enough!’

I thought I had no mana, so it wasn’t bad to have some, whether it was enough or not. I asked, holding onto the rope of hope.

“Anyway, I have mana, right?”

“Yeah, that’s for sure. I think it’s still being filled… Well, it’s certain that you don’t have a lot.”

At this moment, I was filled with utmost enthusiasm. Like the first day of a new semester in March. (The new school year in Korea starts in March)

“Once I have enough mana, I can summon the winter moon devil I met before.”

“You need to have mana powerful enough to summon the devil. The mana you were born with is little. About three seconds… is the amount of time you could summon him for service.”

Wasn’t calling him for three seconds the same as not calling him? He’ll go back right after calling him.

The plan to make slushies was called off.

Dominique, who received my despairing gaze, spoke some hopeful words.

“Don’t be too frustrated. You can also learn to create pure mana.”

I nodded in wonder.

It was very difficult to make a new bowl when there was no bowl at all.

But making a small bowl a larger bowl would be easier than creating something out of nothing. Pure mana seemed to have a similar concept.

“Then tell me how to create it!”

“I don’t know alchemy very well. I only know the basics.”

“Basics…”

In the novel, there were few alchemists with pure mana.

‘The only person who had pure mana and could use alchemy skillfully was Issac, the tower owner, probably.’

But it’s also unclear where the man was and whether he was alive or not.

Furthermore, there was no contact between Meldenique and Issac in the novel. Since he suddenly disappeared while attacking Lenox, the probability of meeting him was also zero.

‘I can’t get an alive tower master just anywhere.’

But it’s a waste to give up after discovering my chances.

“I, I want to make more mana somehow and sharpen my skills, Dominique! I’ll be the best!”

I clenched my fist as I shouted.

Dominique put his hand to his mouth when he heard that I would be the best.

The way I spoke seemed to be like an old man who lived for a long time, but when a handsome man smiled brightly, it felt like the surroundings brighten up.

“As I thought… I’ll believe you. I will teach you hard from now on. Let’s start with making the strongest sword-.”

“Let’s make the beer candy!”

Dominique’s expression became as if he had been chewed out.

“That…?”

His eyes touched the oak cask.

I answered with a nod.

“Yeah, you said you couldn’t make it! Then I’ll make the beer candy! I’m also going to make a really cute dish that’s shaped as a character and sell it! Like a character tonkatsu!” (T/N: Tonkatsu is fried pork cutlet.)

I want to make a pikachu tonkatsu.

I swallowed my saliva with a greedy face.

“Other than that…is there anything else?” Dominique asked with a quaint voice.

I put my finger on my chin and thought of a plan in my head.

Ah, come to think of it, there was something else I wanted to do.

“If I increase my mana… I will catch, no, summon the winter moon devil and create an unlimited amount of slushies!” (T/N: She’s really treating the devils as her pokemon.)

“…you must’ve forgotten, but there’s no summoning.”

Dominique spoke while shaking his head.

“Ah right.”

I scratched my neck.

“But Dominique, you’ve experienced sealing before. Do you remember what you did back then? I think we can find a technique that works for devils.”

“Okay.”

I was convinced by Dominique’s calm words.

It’s a good thing I brought this hero. It was the best choice I had made this year.

“I’ll make you a mountain of gold.”

“Yeah.”

“I’ll make you a fountain full of money.”

Suddenly, Dominique’s eyes twinkled.

“I’m really looking forward to it, Mel.”

It was hard to believe that such an innocent man saved the Empire with a sword, but…

Anyway, if Dominique finds the way to summon!

It would cost a lot of money to make ice, but it’s 0 bekrels with the winter moon devil.

‘It’s crazy.’

I clenched my fists and patted my toes on the floor with the desire to be filled.

“Slushies belong in stationary stores, don’t they?”

Pineapple flavor, orange flavor, and grape flavor. This trident was the best.

It’s really good if you mix two flavors. You could call them drugs for kids.

Dominique grabbed his head as if he was frustrated from listening to me.

“I’m a powerful knight who will survive till the last day of the world, the god of knights, I’m that great of a hero…but how could I have gotten in such a fraudulent contract…”

Either way, I made a plan in my head.

There’s the perfect Dominique next to me!

So I will learn magic and even alchemy…

“I’ll be the best stationary owner.”

I clenched my fist.

I will be the owner of a stationary owner every child looks forward to coming to.

Looking at me like that, Dominique drooped his shoulders.

I could hear him say ‘It’s too simple of a wish…’ but I only listened to it roughly.