Chapter 66: The Princess Who Awakened a Strange Attribute

[There’s a very important commission that can only be completed tonight.]

[My pet is missing. Please help me find it. There will be a generous reward once it’s done. If you’re interested, we can discuss it in person. Please come up to the third floor first…]

“Hm? Another pet?”

Liyakade looked at the puzzling letter, feeling something was off.

It mentioned a face-to-face discussion, but didn’t write the specific dormitory number—only the directions.

Still, since the letter promised a generous reward after completion, of course Liyakade had to check it out.

After all, this was inside the Academy dormitory. There couldn’t possibly be any danger, right?

So, Liyakade changed clothes and followed the letter’s instructions to the third floor.

“[After you reach the third floor, walk to the right. At the seventh statue, enter the dormitory behind it. Knock, wait a few seconds, and then come in—the door isn’t locked.]

Liyakade read the letter, head down, counting statues as she passed.

She arrived at the dormitory door.

“What the heck? Is finding a pet really such a secretive thing?”

Liyakade grew more curious about this commission and gently pushed the door open.

The room was empty.

But the arrangement of things and the atmosphere felt strangely familiar to Liyakade.

Hm?

Wait?

She seemed to remember something and wanted to step out to check the room number, but it was too late.

She suddenly felt a pair of hands slip under her arms, lifting her up.

“Got you!”

“Hey!”

Liyakade shuddered at the sudden attack from behind.

With her feet off the ground, she could only turn her head slightly.

Chestnut-colored hair fell into her view.

“What are you doing?”

No wonder the letter didn’t specify a number and only gave directions—it was to keep Liyakade from realizing whose dormitory it was.

If they’d told her outright it was Alice and the others’ room, it wouldn’t have had the same effect of surprising her.

They’d hidden behind the door as soon as they heard the knock, waiting for Liyakade to enter.

“What’s going on?”

Field grinned as she lifted Liyakade.

“The letter explained it, didn’t it? There’s a commission.”

“Find a pet? When did your dormitory get a pet? How come I never saw it?”

Liyakade questioned Field in confusion.

She’d just been here during the day, so how did they suddenly have a pet?

“We don’t have a pet, but we can still look for one.”

Field shook Liyakade.

Liyakade could feel the soft sensation pressed tightly against her back.

Field spoke with satisfaction.

“Now your commission is complete. Good job, Liyakade-san.”

“Huh?”

What do you mean complete?

I just got here!

Liyakade froze for a few seconds, then suddenly realized—

The “pet” Field was talking about was herself!?

“No way!”

Liyakade struggled, but her arms were trapped, and she couldn’t break free.

Her little shoes flailed in the air.

“Who’s a pet? I’m not a pet!”

“Eh, I never said anyone was. Why’d you admit it yourself?”

Field sniffed the Liyakade in her arms, then gently set her down.

“Why’d you come to the door all clean and tidy at night? You’re not thinking of anything indecent, are you?”

W-what indecent things!?

Liyakade landed and spun around angrily, facing Field.

“I just finished bathing, that’s all! And I’m not a pet!”

“Hmph, you’ve been eating and drinking on my tab for two months. If that’s not a pet, what is it?”

Field crossed her arms, teasing Liyakade.

Since yesterday, after Field had teased Liyakade, she felt a bit disappointed that Liyakade couldn’t call her “Mistress,” but also oddly ticklish inside.

She was so firm protecting her from the Dark Treant, so fierce saving her from Irina Zi, yet—

A few words from Field could throw her into panic.

She was a magic genius stronger than Field, blessed with exceptional talent and magic, even the Demon Bloodline beyond normal humans—

Yet, she was so timid.

This contrast deeply stirred Field, as if something had awakened inside her.

She wanted to keep teasing Liyakade, to keep seeing her flustered, to see her embarrassed, to bully her as much as possible.

Field didn’t even dare imagine how Liyakade would react if she slowly explored her garden.

Just thinking about it felt delicious.

So she had to become her “Mistress.”

Field was startled by her own thoughts, but the excitement couldn’t be extinguished.

“That doesn’t count! Two months ago… That was just a transfer fee! Besides, I make my own money now—I’m not a pet anymore!”

“See, see? You admitted it again!”

“No, I didn’t!”

“By the way.”

Alice sat on her bed, listening as Liyakade talked about earning money, and asked,

“Has Miss Liakade’s commission been completed?”

“Yes. Any commission given to me is easily done.”

Liyakade puffed out her not-so-impressive chest proudly, looking very self-satisfied.

“So, how much was the reward?”

Alice had already shared the story of finding the cat with Field after returning that night, so Field wasn’t surprised Liyakade had received a commission.

“10 Gold Coins.”

“What!?”

Field’s voice went up a pitch as she moved closer to Liyakade.

“Who commissioned you? Why only 10 Gold Coins? Take me to her!”

“Eh? Is 10 Gold Coins little? I thought it was a lot…”

“Come on. The Academy is full of nobles—there’s not a single poor person. For them, even tens of thousands of Gold Coins are nothing. Only giving you 10 Gold Coins is bullying. Take me to her to settle this.”

Field grabbed Liyakade, ready to go find the person.

It looked like those people thought Liyakade was simple and easy to push around, so they took advantage of her.

“Uh… actually, that’s not it.”

Liyakade tugged on Field’s sleeve, stopping her from intervening.

“She asked me to name a price, so I asked for 10 Gold Coins.”

“…You…idiot.”

After hearing the full story, Field was speechless.

She could only tap Liyakade’s forehead lightly.

“Ow!”

Liyakade clutched her head in pain.

“Why’d you hit me all of a sudden?”

“No reason. You’re just a bit dumb.”

“Hehe, if I’m already dumb, won’t more taps make me dumber? Besides, 10 Gold Coins is enough for me to eat for several days, right?”

Liyakade was practical.

As long as she could eat, it was fine.

Of course, that was according to the Academy dining hall’s prices.

If she went to the Royal City, it would last even longer.

“That’s different. 10 Gold Coins is enough for a while, but it’s not the standard rate in the Royal City.”

Field explained.

“There are Yorozuya in the Royal City too. Finding a cat there can cost 100 Gold Coins. You should at least charge 50, right?”

“What, seriously? They charge that much?”

Liyakade was genuinely surprised.

That was much more than she’d planned to scam.

If that was true, she really needed to adjust her view of money in this world.

“Seriously.”

Field’s tone was serious, showing she wasn’t joking.

“If there’s another commission next time, I’ll go with you and set the price.”

“Okay, sounds good.”

Liyakade nodded, feeling amazed at the difference in spending between nobles and commoners.

But with Field’s help on pricing, she wouldn’t have to worry about her rates being too different from the market anymore.