READ NOVEL ONLINE Chapter 14
“A day in the life of apprentice Clara is busier than a one-armed paper hanger.”
In the morning, she has to check if the samples she prepped are up to snuff, and by lunchtime, she’s double-checking that the new drug in production isn’t causing catastrophic disasters.
Then in the evening, it’s a scavenger hunt for investors—sending out sponsorship requests like they’re going out of style.
And come dawn, she’s ripping open rejection letters like they’re candy wrappers.
‘Ugh, I just want to die.’
Clara clicked her tongue without even realizing it.
That was the 47th rejection already.
She scratched her head in frustration, then finally threw open the window and lit up a cigarette.
– Phew
‘Dammit, my life.’
The smoky haze drifted through her hair like a bad perfume.
Clara seriously contemplated where her life went off the rails.
Maybe it all started the moment she took a breath here.
No matter what, she’d somehow wound up in this mess.
In this twisted reality, she was bound to get involved with the biotech nonsense and end up tangled up with those damned Dimaira folks again.
‘Things are getting really dangerous. If I don’t snag an investor soon, everything’s gonna come to a screeching halt…’
She was just one step away from getting approval for the new drug.
Only that step felt like trying to lift a mountain.
It was already impossible to trouble her mentor, Felton.
He was the kind-hearted type who’d sold off his own stuff just to help his struggling disciple.
One misstep, and they might lose the hospital contract altogether.
She couldn’t bear the thought of seeing him end up on the street.
Better to transfer the rights to the new drug than to let her old teacher end up homeless.
‘Damn Dimaira bastards… If it were up to me, I’d shoot them twenty times in the head…’
– Ding-a-ling
‘…Huh? Is that the comms device?’
While she was chewing over her rage, out of nowhere, the comms started ringing.
Clara flicked the cigarette butt aside and pulled out her device.
Much to her surprise, it was her mentor Felton.
– Click
“Professor?”
– Oh Clara! Good evening. May the innocent moon deity bless you.
“And may the kind sun’s grace linger for a while. By the way, what’s going on at this hour? It’s already 3 AM!”
She fired off her question right away.
A late-night call was never a good sign.
Could something have happened to her mentor?
Clara noticed her palms getting sweaty as she held the communicator.
‘Please don’t tell me the Dimaira idiots are at it again.’
Her eyes glinted ominously.
Have they gone so low as to mess with her mentor?
‘If they really hurt him…’
She was ready to put everything on the line and go after them.
But to her bewilderment, the reply was a curveball.
– Oh Clara! You should be glad. I’ve found your investor.
“…Huh? An investor? For real?”
– Yes! A very trustworthy one at that.
Felton chuckled over the line.
Clara, caught off guard for a moment, quickly realized her mentor was a little tipsy.
“Professor? You didn’t mix up a drink and call me by mistake, did you?”
– No way! How could you doubt me? Just listen. So, the thing is…
Felton launched into an explanation.
A suspiciously rich guy.
200 billion kroh in sponsorship.
Demanding just a 20% stake.
Clara’s reaction to the whole thing was, well, simple and straightforward.
“Professor, if you’ve been drinking, it’s time to hit the hay. If you keep this up, you’re gonna regret it. No, seriously, as a doctor, what kind of nonsense are you spouting—”
– No! This is real!!
“Okay, okay– I got it. But why today of all days with the bad jokes—”
– Shut it! Stop rambling and check the documents I sent you!
‘Documents?’
Clara finally glanced at the delivery magic tool.
Among the stack of letters like a fax machine thrown up on paper, one caught her eye.
‘Is this a certificate?’
This certificate was a sort of proof.
It was the most definitive evidence that the imperial bank guarantees the customer’s identity and assets.
And it was in her hands right now.
With a rush of hope, Clara carefully handled the certificate with trembling fingers.
This texture, this material.
It was undoubtedly the real deal.
– You saw it, right? It was sent directly by the investor today. Proof that the bank confirms the assets.
“Hold on a second. Are you saying what just came through is actually legit?”
– Shut it! Do you want to make this old man mad?! Anyway, I definitely delivered the message. Now you’re on your own. Go meet the investor and speak plainly. Don’t mess things up!
– Click
With a storm of advice, the call ended.
Silence enveloped the room.
Clara, standing there in quiet solitude, pushed her hair back and lifted her head again.
“Hah… At least someone recognizes my efforts.”
She wiped away the tears welling in her eyes.
Nothing had been going her way since getting tangled up with those Dimaira fools.
Everywhere she turned, she was met with rejection, and she and her colleagues were slowly wearing down.
Yet now, salvation had arrived.
Plus, the stakes weren’t even that high.
With this deal, Clara could keep the new drug priced reasonably, just like she wanted.
This could mean diseases related to memory might finally get wiped out in this world.
“Enoch… so this guy is my investor?”
Clara checked the name on the certificate.
Enoch.
A name she’d never heard before.
Yet from this day onward, it would be a name she could never forget.
With that thought, Clara opened the door and descended the stairs to her colleagues.
“Hey, guys.”
– Sis…? What are you doing alone? Not checking the samples?”
– Strange? Why are you off messing around by yourself?
– This is odd, huh?
Her colleagues muttered with a suspicious eye.
With it being an everyday occurrence, Clara just said what she had to say.
“Hey, I’m heading to Magnus soon.”
– Huh…? Why?”
– Are you seriously going to visit for fun? By yourself?
– Sis… You really want to get on our bad side…?”
“Hold on, listen to what I have to say. First, check this out.”
Clara dramatically unfolded the certificate she was holding.
Her colleagues stared blankly at the certificate before gasping in shock.
“You get it? Our investor has arrived.”
“……”
“Everyone, start catching on. If you have any cream or cosmetics stashed, share the wealth this time.”
Clara said with a grin.
Though her colleagues hesitated for a moment, they eventually rummaged through their pockets.
To them, Clara was nothing short of a hero.
And heroes deserve their offerings.
@
It had been a day since Lackrina fainted and was released from the hospital, and Enoch’s sponsorship was decided.
Today, unlike yesterday, there were no separate training sessions.
They figured that pushing her too hard wouldn’t be good for her growth.
‘It’s not like it’s a lie. Rest is important too, as much as training. Especially during growth periods.’
Enoch spent the day lounging in the pub as per usual.
A pleasant silence was soon broken.
“Professor?”
“What?”
“I saw some mail outside?”
“Mail?”
As Lackrina spoke, Enoch turned his head.
She entered the pub holding an envelope.
“Here! Oh, would you like a letter knife with that?”
“Nah, I’ll tear it open with my hands.”
– Rip
Enoch quickly tore open the letter and scanned its contents.
Almost instantly, he frowned.
It wasn’t the best news.
– Hearing rumors about you, I was prompted to contact you directly…
‘Great. Things just got complicated.’
“Professor?”
Did she sense something was off?
Observing him, Lackrina asked with a worried tone.
Sensing this, Enoch eased his expression and shook his head nonchalantly.
“Nothing to worry about. Just don’t stress over it.”
“Uh… okay…”
Lackrina agreed, albeit with an uncertain expression.
She didn’t truly believe that it was no big deal.
But she showed respect for Enoch’s words.
‘Did I get her worried for no reason?’
Enoch gently patted Lackrina’s head as if to reassure her.
As her silvery hair got tousled a bit, her expression relaxed slightly.
Enoch returned his gaze to the letter after a moment.
The sender was none other than the Imperial Mage Guild.
[Hearing your rumors, I am reaching out directly.]
[We’ve received reports that you have been practicing magic illegally without a license. Moreover, there are indications that the Ice Tower’s master deliberately concealed this fact.]
[The laws of the Empire, blessed by the gods and overseen by the Emperor, strictly enforce punishment against unlicensed mages.]
[Normally, we would have to apprehend you. However, due to the complaints of the Ice Tower Master Noldila, we have not pursued action.]
[Therefore, you must come to us.]
[The location is the Mage Association headquarters in the capital. The deadline is by the 31st, four days away.]
[Please do not refuse our goodwill.]
[Mage Guild Master, Logita Mantera.]
‘What a load of crap.’
Enoch quietly folded the letter.
Then he crumpled it in his fist.
‘Of all days to send this nonsense on my day off.’
Sure, they invited him directly, so he’d obviously have to pay a visit.
If it was what they wanted, he could easily accommodate.
Enoch quietly rolled his neck.
The atmosphere turned so tense that even Lackrina, sitting next to him, instinctively gripped a sword.
For the record, it was a butter knife.