Youth and Love

Egypt, Cairo, Ouroboros Bar.

In just one day, the good mood Valeria had brought with her for her Egyptian vacation had completely evaporated under the blazing sun outside.

All right.

In truth, Valeria had accompanied her friend Catherine to the International Alchemy Convention, taking the opportunity to vacation and sightsee in Egypt.

They had arrived in Egypt three days ago.

When they first arrived in Cairo, they had visited some local tourist attractions. After that, neither of them had left the Ouroboros Bar where they were staying.

"I hate Egypt. I hate this damned weather."

Valeria sipped the red drink in her glass, turned to look at the scorching sun outside the window, and complained to her companion beside her. "Staying in a place like this for too long is terrible for your skin."

"Then why did you insist on coming? Wouldn't it have been better to stay behind and watch the shop?" Catherine said without looking up as she leisurely flipped through the complimentary copy of The Daily Prophet provided by the bar.

"It's even more uncomfortable in the United States. There are so many rules that I can barely breathe." Valeria had never cared for the atmosphere of the American wizarding world. She lightly patted her chest as though trying to catch her breath, then glared at her friend and complained, "And you ran off to have fun yourself—how could you leave me behind to work at the shop?"

"Didn't you get all the profits we made during that time?"

Valeria poked at the ice in her drink with her straw and said matter-of-factly, "What do I need that money for? Wouldn't it be more comfortable to find a rich man to support me?"

"Then why did you so decisively reject Cameron last time? Isn't that guy quite