Talia Never Expected to Take on a Student

"I don't lack money."

Lanchi shrugged, speaking as if it made no difference to him.

"..."

Talia fell silent again at his words.

A deal had always been about fulfilling both parties' needs.

Just as Talia possessed strength that was difficult to put to use in human lands but lacked money, while Lanchi had more than enough money yet urgently needed protection. They could fulfill each other's needs and strike a perfect deal.

So this time—

When Talia wanted something from Lanchi other than money, Lanchi naturally hoped to obtain something from Talia that held greater value to him.

"Next, I need to find a Card Making teacher. I can't really study Tier 2 Magic Cards by myself anymore."

Their brief conversation had dispelled the drowsiness that had nearly crept into Lanchi's mind.

He absentmindedly rose to his feet and began clearing away the scattered card-making tools and sheets covered in dense writing across the table, muttering to himself.

The period of wholly absorbed card-making practice had made him feel as though his spiritual power was steadily growing stronger. Perhaps before long, he would break through to Tier 2, a level his original body had already been close to reaching.

Also, he wanted to borrow the Poem of Compassion, the ancient relic treasured by his family that Talia would take away in the original storyline, and turn it into one of his own Magic Cards.

But Lanchi had no confidence that he could successfully create a Magic Card from such a precious material in one attempt. He needed a highly skilled mentor and collaborator.

Then Talia, the great demon Card Making Master who would originally obtain the Poem of Compassion and turn it into a Magic Card, was undoubtedly the best choice.

"Do you want me to teach you card making?"

Talia watched Lanchi's faintly visible emerald-green eyes from the side. Her words carried neither an implication of "yes" nor one of "no."

Lanchi's hint just now had been far too obvious.

Clearly, he hoped Talia would teach him card-making knowledge in exchange for an early edition of Basic Etiquette.

During the days Lanchi and Talia had spent together, he would intentionally or unintentionally ask Talia about Magic Cards.

Sometimes Talia would casually answer him, while at other times she would ignore him.

Talia did not know how this human had seen from the start that she knew how to make cards, but she did not want to investigate it or deny it.

Perhaps it was because of his unusual discernment. Perhaps he was good at guessing. Perhaps his intuition was accurate. Or perhaps she should not have stared blankly at card-making tools for so long. Any of those was possible.

Still, even though she had later tacitly admitted that she understood card making, Lanchi had no way of knowing her true level as a Card Maker.

"From the moment I first saw you, I was certain that you were someone extraordinary. At the very least, in all my years in the Border City-State, I've never seen anyone with your kind of presence. You even gave me the feeling of someone beautiful, powerful, ageless, and immortal."

Lanchi temporarily set down the papers in his hands, met Talia's gaze, and looked earnestly into her Golden Eyes.

"I've always trusted my intuition. So I was only giving it a try. What if you really are a Card Making Master I would only have the chance to meet once in my lifetime?"

He looked as though he had decided to be honest with Talia, to let her know that compared to coincidence, there had also been a degree of inevitability in those first two deals.

"..."

Talia silently listened to Lanchi's words.

She could clearly tell that this human was not paying lip service, but sincerely speaking from the heart.

Moreover, his reverent attitude made it seem as though, even if she were a demon, he would willingly seek power from her.

"Anyway, Tata, since you've already chosen to stay by my side and protect me, wouldn't it be an excellent choice for both of us if you taught me card making at the same time, and I shared the cards I made with you?"

Lanchi added.

"..."

Originally, no matter what, she could not possibly teach a talented human and allow him to grow unchecked.

But there was one exception—

Unless this person posed greater harm to humanity than his talent was worth.

And Lanchi clearly belonged to the category of Card Makers with enormous potential to cause trouble.

Then, if he was willing to pay a sufficient price, teaching him could indeed be considered.

It was just that Talia had never imagined she would take on a student, much less that a demon would become a human's teacher.

"I'll only teach you up to Tier 2. If you can accept that, then I'll make this deal with you."

After pondering for a moment, Talia replied.

Although the card-making techniques she had mastered used Demon Magic Text, and she was not particularly skilled at making cards with human magic text—

The principles of Magical Engineering behind Magic Cards were largely universal. And compared with theory, practical skill was more important. Teaching a beginner like Lanchi would not be a problem for her at all.

Upon hearing Talia's answer, Lanchi decisively nodded.

"Alright. I have no problem with that."

At this point, the joy that had just appeared on Lanchi's face faded somewhat, turning into concern.

"But in a little over a month, I may have to leave for the royal capital... Could I trouble you to continue teaching me card making and protecting me along the way and after we arrive there? I'll pay you the compensation we originally agreed on."

"What are you going to the royal capital for?"

Talia frowned upon hearing this.

For many years, she had traveled south across the continent, almost always following the border provinces of various human nations.

If possible, she did not want to venture without reason into a human stronghold like the royal capital of a major nation.

"I'm going to take the Iketerite Academy Entrance Examination, and I'm also worried that assassins may follow me all the way there and attack me on the road... So I need protection even more."

After saying that, Lanchi seemed to remember something and hurriedly added,

"Oh, right. Since you're the secret guard I hired privately, I'll need to prepare an identity for you that makes it easier to disguise yourself during the journey. That way, it won't be as easy to alert the assassins. I'll present you as one of our household staff so you can protect me better."

Seeing that Talia did not raise any doubts about his words, Lanchi revealed an even more sincere smile.

There was not the slightest air of a swindler about him.

After all, every word he had said was true.

Next—

Lanchi proudly explained to Talia how he could use the merchant guild's connections to create a flawless new identity for her.

"..."

She had originally been leaning toward rejecting Lanchi, but his words suddenly left her stunned.

Once again—

Lanchi had naturally offered a condition that suited her perfectly, one she could not refuse.

Like... a demon's temptation.

The main reason she had fallen into such dire straits was that she lacked a legal identity in human lands.

Work, trade, and travel were all subject to countless restrictions.

Even if it was only a temporary identity provided as an additional condition of their deal—

It would grant her a degree of freedom and convenience she had never dared to imagine before!