Chapter 6
[Flora Crimsonhowl: Are you busy?]
For what reason was she contacting me?
I carefully thought it over while gulping down the carbonated drink I bought with the eggs.
“Is it something that will get annoying if I say I have time?”
Even if that were the case, sticking to avoidance wasn’t an option.
To figure out the plans and connections my father is hiding, maintaining contact with the Crimsonhowl Family is essential.
“For now.”
I politely started by apologizing for the late reply.
The position of stepbrother was an empty shell with no substance, so manners were important.
Considering Flora’s personality from the past, acting arrogant just because I became her Oppa and clinging to her while pretending to be close wouldn’t be right.
“Actually, that would be true for anyone.”
[Flora Crimsonhowl: I heard you aren’t staying with the Steiger Family, but are living independently on your own.]
A chill brushed against my skin for a moment, but the quickly following text made me relax my tension.
[Flora Crimsonhowl: Mother likes to cook, so she said she wants to deliver some side dishes at least. Would that be alright?]
Max let out a sigh of relief at the completely unexpected message.
‘Should I say it’s a relief that it’s nothing serious…’
But saying she would deliver them meant she would come in Person.
The picture was terrible just to imagine.
‘Wouldn’t it be better if I just went myself?’
The place Max was currently living in was a Studio apartment in the outskirts of Haze, without even heating.
The Refrigerator was a 40L mini Refrigerator that came as an option, so even if he received side dishes, there was no room to put them.
“In that case.”
Max continued typing a message.
He informed her of his plans to move to a new place in the near future. When he asked if he could have her visit after the move was finished, a reply came quickly.
[Flora Crimsonhowl: Understood]
A message that seemed to mark the end of the conversation.
“Phew!”
Finally able to breathe, Max hurried to prepare to return home.
Waking up in the morning, Max informed the landlord that he planned to vacate the Studio apartment.
After settling the maintenance fees in advance, he trained and trained again.
He continued to organize his thoughts while doing Meditation, and after checking the clock, he left the house.
[This station is District 38.]
‘I’m excited.’
Coming out of the subway, I put a Lollipop in my mouth.
It was lemon flavored.
Step. Step. Step.
I headed toward Mermaid’s Song along Neon Street.
I arrived exactly at 19:00.
When I went to the Counter and handed over my membership card, Joshu-ah stood up.
“Please wait a moment.”
Joshu-ah pulled down the store’s shutter to signal that business was closed.
“Let’s go inside.”
He opened the door behind the Counter and entered his personal living space.
Joshu-ah handed over the items.
Inside an incredibly clunky shopping bag were two antique white boxes.
“This is it.”
My heart pounded like a child receiving a gift.
The boxes were made of a light and sturdy material, with a Hologram seal attached to the seams.
“I would appreciate it if you checked the items.”
“I’ll look right away.”
I tore the seal and, clack!, opened the box, and cold air flowed out.
I confirmed that there were no issues with the contents either.
“Customer, I will Guard the area, so you may administer them here. I can dispose of the used ampoules for free.”
“Thank you.”
When Max rolled up his sleeves without hesitation, Joshu-ah carefully showed doubt.
“…You have no hesitation. I thought you would move to a separate location.”
“If I didn’t trust you, I wouldn’t have asked you for the job.”
There was the matter of trust, but the fact that he would dispose of the ampoules cleanly was tempting.
The less evidence, the better.
“Shall I begin?”
Explaining how solution no.1 and no.2 released by Genesis Bio were unrivaled would only be tiresome.
Despite the existence of a similar lineup using the same ingredients at its industry rival and competitor, Cheonmyeong Pharmaceuticals, even the high-ranking executives of Cheonmyeong Pharmaceuticals would fill their own and their children’s bodies with genesis solutions.
“Genesis Bio Solution no.1.”
[Prime Exclusive ─ Gold Nectar]
This sloshing golden liquid restructured the body’s composition.
It was a modern-day elixir that made muscle density more compact, elasticity to be like rubber bands, and flesh and bone to be even harder.
“Solution no.2 Black Obsidian.”
[Prime Exclusive ─ Black Obsidian]
An ampoule where brilliant stardust-like particles floated in the abyss-black liquid.
The reason Max had scraped together money urgently was this Black Obsidian.
“You are mine now.”
Administering Black Obsidian right after the Magic Circuit was formed was the standard and ideal timing, and the Scions of wealthy conglomerates injected this drug immediately on the day they reached tier 1.
The effects were unprecedented.
It increased the efficiency of the entire process of accumulating magic power in the heart.
Changes in growth speed showed a massive difference in the long run, so it was better to administer it even a day sooner.
“First, Gold Nectar.”
I lifted the ampoule equipped with a precise mechanism and attached it to my forearm.
Pshhh! With the sound of escaping air, the injection needle pierced in. The golden liquid surged straight through.
“Oh.”
A burning sensation like lava flowing through my blood vessels swept over my entire body. Gold was flowing.
As heat seeped into my muscles, moisture evaporated from my body. My lips dried up and I felt extreme thirst.
Joshu-ah, perhaps used to this situation, handed me bottled water.
“Here is some water.”
“Thank you.”
I quenched my thirst and picked up the next ampoule.
“Black Obsidian.”
I used it on my opposite forearm.
The pitch-black liquid and starlight-like crumbs flowed in through the injection needle.
Unlike Gold Nectar, this one made me feel a chill.
Rather than seeping into the muscles like Gold Nectar, it directly interfered with the Magic Circuit.
The amount of magic power also rose immediately.
‘It’s possible now.’
Riding the progress created by Black Obsidian, I extended my senses into the circuit.
I expanded it into a form ideal for the magic I had an aptitude for.
“Huuu…”
At the end of the hazy lingering sensation, Max opened his eyes.
A strange light symbolizing change flashed in his pupils.
“Tier 2.”
I had reached the stage where I couldn’t advance simply due to a lack of magic power.
Joshu-ah, reading the change, clapped lightly.
“Congratulations.”
Max finished his short conversation with Joshu-ah, came out through the back door, and returned to his Studio apartment.
* * *
Dragon horns, tanned skin, and golden eyes full of vitality.
A Girl with a strong personality huffed in front of Flora, who was packing her bag.
“You know our record is exactly fifty-fifty right now, right? I’ll make sure to settle who’s really on top in the next match. So you had better stay tense!”
“…”
“Don’t expect any mercy next time! I’m definitely not gonna lose!”
“…”
Having finished at the Academy, Flora ignored the Cadet jumping around wildly and left the Classroom.
“Th-that Girl! Did she zip her lips shut or what? Is she leaving like that and making me look foolish?”
“…”
She left the voice ringing behind her. If she needlessly said a word, the Girl would follow her and never stop chattering.
Flora meticulously chewed over today’s match as she left the Academy building.
‘As much as I’m growing, Ellen is steadily getting stronger too.’
The Cadet who had just now been huffing in front of her was Ellen Clements.
Clements, like the Crimsonhowl Family, was a Family classified as a Magic Noble Family.
If the Crimsonhowl Family was a Wolf that swallowed fire, the Clements Family was a dragon that roared with thunder.
Ellen Clements was the only Cadet at Minerva Academy who could spar on equal footing with Flora.
“Can I win? Next time too?”
She wasn’t certain. Perhaps due to the lingering effect Ellen had left, a faint trembling remained in her fingertips.
Chewing on her agony, Flora left Minerva Academy and approached her Family’s waiting vehicle.
Whirrr──.
The backseat window rolled down smoothly.
Enri Crimsonhowl looked at Flora and smiled.
“Mother?”
“Flora, hurry and get in.”
As the mother and daughter sat together in the backseat, the vehicle slowly departed.
Enri stroked Flora’s head, telling her she worked hard today as well.
“Flora, if you aren’t busy, shall we go grocery shopping together?”
“Yes!”
Mother preferred to do the cooking herself. Even though there was a chef at home, she sometimes did it herself.
It would be safe to say that cooking was mother’s only Hobby.
Flora didn’t know much about cooking, but she liked grocery shopping with her mother.
District 2 was the place where the Crimsonhowl Family’s estate was located.
The mart in District 2 that the mother and daughter headed to was incredibly spacious. The ingredients were diverse and fresh, boasting that there was nothing they didn’t have.
It was a space where there were practically no customers other than the employees.
However, it wasn’t running at a deficit.
They were making a huge surplus by periodically supplying large quantities of food ingredients to wealthy families at high prices.
“For a man, meat side dishes would be the best, right? He had quite a bit of bulk too.”
“I think that’s probably the case.”
Enri was contemplating what side dishes to make for Max Steiger, who had become her son.
Flora couldn’t understand why Enri cared so much for Max Steiger, but she had no intention of digging deeply into it.
There must be a reason why she wasn’t living with the man who became her father after remarrying.
“Flora.”
“Yes.”
“When the side dishes are finished, will you deliver them to your Oppa, Flora? He’ll probably feel burdened if I go myself.”
“Uh…”
Wouldn’t that be the same for her as well?
Just looking at the dry messages she exchanged with Max Steiger a few days ago gave her certainty.
It was a sense of distance that went beyond awkwardness.
Even so, Flora was in a position where she couldn’t refuse her mother’s request.
“…I understand.”
Flora gave a small nod, saying she would do so.