Why tomorrow?
Or rather—
Why is Serie so eager to have the childlike Flamme by her side?
Agusheed didn't know the answer, nor did he ask an unwise question.
He simply walked calmly down the Empire's grand avenue, adorned with colorful flags,
Quietly following behind the master and disciple duo as they browsed the streets, paying and carrying their bags.
Of course, no one recognized them.
The shopkeepers only accepted their money because, in their eyes, the three of them were ordinary folk.
That was thanks to Serie.
Because Agusheed and Flamme were simply too well-known in the Imperial Capital—
To avoid being recognized during the Eiseberg festival,
She used a spell—one even Agusheed didn't recognize—to obscure all three of them.
And then, hand-in-hand with "Little Flamme", she wandered aimlessly through the human streets.
At a modest little antique stall in the festival market—Serie stopped.
"Welcome! These are all relics unearthed from the southern region. See anything you like?"
"This necklace…"
"Ah, you have quite the eye, miss! Among all my antiques, that's easily the best piece—you picked it out right away—"
"How much?"
"Since you're clearly knowledgeable, how about five Lassil gold coins? That's already a very fair price."
"Too expensive. How about this much?"
"Two coins… you drive a hard bargain… but at that price, I'd take a big loss."
"Add one more coin, then?"
"...Well… you do know your stuff. Fine, I'll let it go. But let me tell you, this piece—"
Agusheed stood nearby—
Quietly listening to the haggling between the shopkeeper and Flamme, coached by Serie.
He had no interest in shopping or bargaining, so he never took part in this kind of thing.
Only when it came time to pay would he be needed.
It had always been this way.
As for why all the household finances were under his management…
That would be because of all the "treasures" Flamme had purchased at high prices—now collecting dust in his study and bedroom.
"Agusheed, come here."
Flamme's voice pulled him from his thoughts.
She waved at him from the antique stall, signaling him to come over.
Then she turned back to keep bargaining under Serie's guidance.
"Interesting…"
Agusheed watched the two of them, both smiling as they haggled, and found himself mildly intrigued.
Would an archmage who had survived since the Mythic Era really be interested in antiques?
Curious… Could it be a divine relic from the God Age, or perhaps from the early days of the Unified Empire?
Most likely the latter—Serie probably had a keen eye.
She wouldn't bother with common trinkets.
Or maybe not—
Artifacts from those eras were exceedingly rare.
Most were locked away in ancient ruins or labyrinths.
Finding one here seemed unlikely…
Still, if they truly found something even from just a few centuries ago—
That would be impressive.
A piece from the last few hundred years that could catch Serie's interest—
Could it be a relic of the only Elven Empress in the Unified Empire's 300-year history?
Unlikely, but what else could it be?
As he approached, Agusheed shook off the speculation.
With a rare flicker of anticipation, he reached to examine the antique Serie had selected.
Wait—
When Agusheed reached them and picked up the necklace they had chosen—
The strongest demon in 500 years;
A witness to the evolution of imperial art and culture since three centuries ago—
Fell silent.
Utterly, dead silent.
His gaze shifted from the still-haggling Flamme,
To Serie, who was exuding the smug air of someone certain she'd struck a great deal.
"It's a fake."
Agusheed paused, then delivered the cold truth.
He lowered his gaze to the necklace in his palm.
His fingers traced the uneven, poorly gold-plated surface, noting the cold, gritty touch of faint corrosion.
"It's likely a replica based on Unified Empire antiques from about four centuries ago."
Turning his head slightly, he looked past Flamme and fixed his eyes on Serie's raised chin.
"And it's even worse than that fake vase Flamme once bought and placed in my study."
He cast a spell so that only the three of them could hear his voice.
"How annoying… You think your judgment is more accurate than mine?"
Serie glanced at Agusheed with a blank expression.
Her brow twitched almost imperceptibly, but she didn't turn her head.
A lock of golden hair fluttered slightly with the contempt in her nostrils.
"A mere 500-year-old demon brat dares question me… laughable."
But Agusheed didn't waver.
In fact, he became even more convinced.
And really, he should've known—Serie's whole lineage had no sense of discernment.
Looking at her brazen confidence,
Agusheed recalled how Flamme had once acted the same way—
When she proudly barged into his study waving around a so-called "200-year-old vase"…
Only for it to later be revealed as a casual creation by one of her students.
Agusheed rubbed his temple and closed his eyes.
And then, a long sigh echoed in the ears of Serie and Flamme.
"I once thought, as a revered sage of the Mythic Age, you'd have insightful opinions on Unified Empire antiques and culture—"
Agusheed lifted the necklace into the morning light.
The dull gray of cheap iron peeking through the flaking gold caught Flamme's eye.
"Or at the very least, that you could distinguish early Unified Empire gilding techniques…"
Looking directly at Serie, Agusheed did not hide his disappointment and disdain:
"But I never expected you to pick out something that doesn't even qualify as trash—"
"From what angle, exactly, did you think this could be considered an 'antique'?"
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