After handing over the kidnappers to the guards, the four of them came out to the street together. Aer realized that Kai’s ability was in the physical realm. However, it was quite different from the physical realm awakened ones she had seen in the novel or at the academy so far.

Usually, the physical realm-awakened ones were known for their inability to control their power, often unleashing overwhelming strength.

It’s difficult to squeeze out non-existent power, but it’s even harder to control excessive power.

If Kai had handled his power like typical physical realm awakened ones, the kidnappers would no longer be of this world. However, Kai had merely knocked them unconscious.

Aer looked at Kai with newfound appreciation. And Louis looked at her like that.

He had liked not being able to read her thoughts, but for the first time, he wanted to delve into her mind.

“Um… Thank you so much.”

Kaylee bowed to Aer, Louis, and Kai in turn.

“I really thought I was going to be kidnapped without a chance…”

Speaking dejectedly, she lamented in front of those who had saved her, as if muttering to herself.

“I thought I couldn’t sink any lower… But I had to make a living, so I came out with what little I had left. They said anyone could set up a street stall… But the territorial disputes were harsh, and I kept getting pushed around… Hic.”

Kaylee thought she was pathetic. She cried again, feeling wronged and miserable about her situation.

Aer approached her and carefully embraced her.

“It’s okay now. You don’t need to be afraid anymore. They were wrong, Kaylee. You didn’t do anything wrong.”

“…Sniff, thank you.”

Kaylee stood there crying for a while. Aer was curious about how a successful accessory craftsman had ended up here but kept quiet and patted her back.

The two men stood quietly waiting. Louis roughly guessed Kaylee’s situation from the random thoughts she was having.

“…But did I tell you my name?”

Kaylee, her face flushed from crying, looked at Aer with suspicion in her eyes.

Although Aer knew from the novel, she answered naturally since Kaylee had already made a name for herself.

“Aren’t you the famous accessory maker? I recognized you because of your unique red hair.”

“…So you’ve seen me before.”

“Well… Why don’t we sit down somewhere and talk over some cool drinks?”

“You seem to be a noble… Please don’t speak so casually to me.”

Kaylee noticed Aer was a noble when she said she recognized her. Well, Latina, where the academy is, is a neighborhood with many noble children.

“No, I prefer to speak formally.”

After answering Kaylee, Aer turned to Louis and Kai who were waiting. As if on cue, Kai stepped forward.

“I’m coming along too, right? I’ve already separated from my group, so Aer, you have to take me with you.”

He was quite brazen. He didn’t seem to be like this when he was younger…

“If Louis is okay with it.”

“It’s fine with you, right Louis?”

Kai asked, putting his arm around Louis’s shoulders, and Louis slipped out from under his arm with a visibly uncomfortable expression.

He didn’t like Kai, but he didn’t want to spoil the mood.

“I’m fine with it.”

“Then, let’s go to where the street stalls are.”

The area where the guards were stationed was secluded and had no stalls. The four of them returned to a nearby street with stalls, bought some cool iced tea, and sat down in front of a nearby fountain.

“You must have been shocked, please drink up.”

“Th-thank you.”

Aer quickly drank her iced tea too. It was more bitter than the tea she usually drank, but it tasted good with just the right amount of milk and sugar added.

Thinking it was quite good quality for something sold at a street stall, she absentmindedly looked straight ahead and noticed a particularly empty spot.

There were rows of stalls, and the ones selling food, drinks, and small accessories were bustling with people.

However, like a missing tooth, there was one stall that caught her eye where not even a fly could be seen, let alone people.

Curious, Aer focused on trying to see what the yellow thing on the sales counter was.

Meanwhile, the now calmer Kaylee carefully opened the conversation.

“Then, My Lady, you must know of my reputation.”

“…Pardon?”

Having been concentrating, Aer missed what was said and asked again. Kaylee smiled bitterly and began to reveal her past.

“Lady Vivian, who is now a Duchess, particularly favored my accessories, allowing me to open a dress shop at the mere age of fifteen. Perhaps it was because I enjoyed such glory at too young an age?”

Aer, realizing her question didn’t require an answer, listened quietly. Kaylee continued after heaving a deep sigh.

“So I didn’t know how frightening people’s envy and jealousy could be. Not knowing this, I fell into arrogance and stubbornness. During that time, strange rumors spread, I lost my regular customers, and finally, I was betrayed by the lover I trusted. After losing not only my shop but everything I had designed, I couldn’t stay in the capital any longer.”

Perhaps because she had shed all her tears just moments ago, she calmly confessed to Aer as if making a confession.

“Still, a person needs to do something to make a living… But all I know how to make and sell are these things…”

As Kaylee spoke, she took something out of her pocket and showed it. Aer exclaimed in admiration at the beautifully embroidered ribbon.

It was the kind of craftsmanship and design that the original story’s female lead would have liked.

“Wow, it’s so pretty.”

“Thank you. But because of those awful men earlier, I dropped everything… If I want to buy fabric, I’ll have to take on sewing jobs again.”

Though she sighed repeatedly at the overwhelming situation, Kaylee seemed to feel somewhat lighter.

She felt immensely grateful to Aer, who not only saved her life but also listened quietly to her complaints.

“I’m grateful, but I have nothing to give you… If this is okay, may I give you this?”

“….”

Aer couldn’t respond to Kaylee’s words as something occurred to her.

She gulped down her iced tea while looking at the ribbon and then at the still-empty stall, before suddenly standing up.

Aer quickly walked to the stall.

“W-Welcome!”

It was understandable why people weren’t coming; the yellow lumps on the counter looked unappealing to anyone. Aer picked up one of the rough yellow lumps and asked.

“How much is this?”

“Th-Three copper leaves!”

“How did you make this?”

“It’s made using a traditional method from our village. Oh, it’s used in the kitchen when you need to seal something. You just put it like this on the side of the lid!”

The owner enthusiastically explained, not wanting to lose his first customer. Aer stretched the object between her fingers.

It was so elastic that her fingers naturally curled. As she did this, Aer’s eyes narrowed.

Behind her, Louis, Kai, and Kaylee approached hesitantly. Kaylee, thinking Aer had ignored her because of the unappealing gift she had offered, hung her head low.

She wanted to express her gratitude somehow, but having nothing to give, she was about to leave, feeling ashamed. Kai frowned at the yellow lump Aer was fiddling with.

“It looks a bit strange…”

“…I’ll buy all of these.”

Aer said, looking up after moving her fingers several times. The owner asked in a high-pitched voice, surprised.

“All of them?”

“Yes. Please give me everything. And please tell me your name, and where I can find you if I want to buy more of this product.”

“…My name is John, customer. Our village is in the mountains, but it’s not too far from Latina.”

“Can I cut this and use it?”

“Of course. You can use it according to the size you need.”

John excitedly started packing everything. At this point, Kaylee spoke up.

“I should be going now… Truly, I will never forget your kindness today.”

As Kaylee was about to bow her head awkwardly, Aer smiled brightly and said,

“Miss Kaylee. Would you do me a favor?”

“…Yes?”

Aer couldn’t hide her joy at the fresh idea that had just occurred to her.

She had been diligently selling healing stones. On weekends, she secretly visited that cave alone with proper mining magic tools, mined healing stones, and then delivered them to the information broker the next day.

She immediately deposited the money she earned into her newly created bank account. While she was pleased with her steadily growing wealth, Aer was still anxious.

Anyone would be anxious in the face of predetermined misfortune. There were two ways to alleviate this anxiety.

One was solid assets.

The other was a respectable status.

To obtain these two things, Aer tightly grasped Kaylee’s hand to resolve one of the concerns she had been pondering all along.

Kaylee was already a proven talent, suitable to be brought in as the first assistant to help with her business.

Moreover, Aer’s proposal would also benefit Kaylee.

“Could you make ribbons using this? I’ll give you more detailed designs later.”

Aer handed over the object she had been stretching and shrinking with her fingers to Kaylee.

The identity of what looked like a yellow lump was actually a rubber band, commonly seen in her previous life.

Of course, it looked like a lump because of its large size… but the elasticity was definitely that of rubber.