This is…. troubling…

When I woke up and tried to reconnect with the Aurora clone, it just didn't work.

Well, I can still connect to the clone, but I can't control it anymore. It seems like it can move independently now.

That's bad, but it's not really a bad thing for me. I really can't think of anything to do with the Aurora background.

At least I can still see its perspective…. ahem, maybe I should refer to the Aurora clone as her?

Regardless, it's not really a great loss for me. I'm just messing around with that identity after all. I'm currently doing something more important.

Like say, meeting the president of Mitsugoshi Co.

It always slips my mind, but I am actually going to give Gamma some items that are made from my magic. I really hope they sell. I need a lot of money to buy other items for my "Eminence in Shadow" collection!

There are still a lot of wines, paintings, chairs, lamps, and many more things that I need to be flexible when creating the right atmosphere.

Working normally is so lame, and I don't plan to rely on such a slow process just to acquire some money. Hunting bandits has become very unprofitable as of late. They weren't carrying as much money as they used to.

The only way is to think of some product and sell it. I'm sure objects created from magic will be interesting.

Her company is so big. With her backing, my products will easily spread all over the continent. Then I can buy everything I want and create more thematic settings for myself!

Fufufufu…. Hahahahahaha–!!

"Lady Arisa, we have arrived at our destination."

Oh right, I am currently in my family's carriage.

Honestly, I don't want to show myself at school for a while. It's been really hectic there, and it's not ideal to continue my mob operation there.

If only they just lost their interest in me, then I could continue my job as an unassuming character that works behind the scenes. I implore all of you to stop noticing me!

Anyway, here I come Gamma!

Gamma couldn't help but gulp a fresh amount of air as she gazed at the serious expression of their Lady. Today, she suddenly asked for an appointment and visited her. Her lady stated that it was very important, so she let them lead her to the deepest part of their company.

It was a shame as the others were incredibly busy after the Forest of Darkness debacle. So she was the only one who could receive their Lady's important notice and attend to it.

After taking a seat by one of the tables within this lavishly decorated office, the other female staff put a white board on request of their Lady, before leaving them alone.

She didn't know why but her lady seemed to be looking a bit distant. Or more like she had this air of cold professionalism, as if she was going to report something grave.

"First of all, for my presentation…" Her lady wrote something on the white board, causing Gamma to blink her eyes. "I would like you to check this concept and see if this will become profitable…."

The dark haired elf intently gazed at the words written by her Lady with her sharp eyes. Her mind quickly processed what she meant by it, before widening her eyes with a gasp.

"... What is this, Milady?"

Arisa seemed to tilt her head for a moment after hearing her call her "Milady", though she thought she was just imagining it as she still continues on with her "Presentation".

"The future of all jewelry!" She simply said before putting the object she was referring to.

"This is…"

Gamma widened her eyes as she looked at the purple gem. A gem that had an immense concentration of magic in it. Her eyes narrowed then after she looked at it carefully, while processing the words of her Lady.

Her Lady said it was the future of all jewelries. That meant something.

"Can you see it? The amount of profit we could get by selling this thing!" Her lady seemed eager as she said that.

Gamma could see the appeal. The gem itself was already very valuable for everyone. It could also be used as a magic battery should the bearer of it lack magical power.

Though, it was not that impressive….

"But, there are a lot of those circulating in the market…" Gamma stated while gazing at her Lady in confusion.

Just as she said, even if this crystal was so unbelievably pure that it could contend against other top tier magical jewelry, it wasn't that rare and there were other things like that circulating the market.

Even if she tried to deny it, she really couldn't help but feel a tiny bit of doubt on her Lady's claims.

"Hmph… but you see, this is just the base form. Let me show you…. the prototypes!" After saying so, Arisa took something out of her pocket, and laid it out on the table.

"!!!?" The dark haired elf gasped after seeing the objects that her lady laid on the table.

It was a glimmering dark platinum ring, with shining amethysts encrusted on it. The slightly prismatic jewel on top of it pulsed with immense power.

'An artifact!?' Gamma thought in amazement and a bit of anxiousness.

"I present to you, my very own Shade Accessories! Along with these are other types of accessories like bracelets, necklaces, crowns, hair bands, and other stuff! This is the type of jewelry that can't be seen anywhere!" Arisa exclaimed with a weird enthusiasm in her voice and expression.

"... Would you like to put it on auction?" Gamma asked.

An artifact of this level couldn't possibly be produced en masse. This meant it was actually a very unique item, and there was no price for something as precious as this one. Putting it on auction was the only reasonable solution.

"No, I want this to be sold at your shop wholesale!"

"... Mistress, we don't know how to create something like that…." Gamma winced at that as she said it.

There was no way for them to create a tremendous magical artifact that had unknown effects. And she knew there were some magical effects in that artifact. She could appraise objects somewhat due to being incredibly knowledgeable about any marketable product on this continent.

"You don't need to think about it. I will be your supplier." She simply said. "I only need your cooperation to spread this product all over the continent!"

Hearing that, Gamma finally realized something.

'So she is the one who made this!' With that thought, she quickly changed gears and bowed to her mistress. "Then, we will immediately take care of its distribution and sales. How many do you have, Milady?"

"I can at least create….. right, a thousand of each accessory type on a daily basis!"

Her suspicion has been quickly cleared with her words, though she still couldn't help but gasp in awe at the numbers. There were a lot of types of accessories, and her lady claimed that she could create each of those a thousand times everyday.

'As expected of my lady!' She thought in awe.

"Great, then I will leave everything to you."

Her lady Arisa seemed to be a lot more chirpier after hearing her confirm to take care of her products.

"... Where is Aurora?"

"I am Aurora."

"But… Aurora has golden eyes, right?"

"I assure you, I am Aurora!"

Alexia raised her eyebrows at that as she looked at the woman who sighed at her questions. Though it was understandable, as she knew that the golden eyed crazy woman had a twin.

"So… your family is cruel enough to name both of you with the same name…"

"I would prefer it if you don't diss my parents…" Aurora said with a complicated expression.

She really didn't know how to react. She just learned that this person, Alexia Midgar, is the one who invited her to this kingdom. She also wondered what she meant by the golden eyes. She always has dark colored eyes as far as she could remember.

'Maybe this has to do with that girl…' She thought, vaguely recalling the events in the Sanctuary.

The two of them arrived at the door in which Alexia knocked on. After a while it opened, revealing the people inside. A knight by the name of Marco, and by the desk working on something, her sister, Iris Midgar.

"Sis, this is the one I am talking about. I heard you already met tonight, so there is no need to introduce yourself to each other." She glanced at Aurora before continuing.

She could see Aurora now gazing around the room in wonder, and seemed to be muttering something under her breath. She looked like a child who had wandered to a new place and was curious about everything.

"This place could use some enchantments if it was up to me…." She overheard her muttering under her breath, before she returned her gaze back to her sister.

"Even if she was like this, I'm sure she would be of great help to our cause. Personally, I would like her to join the Crimson Order."

"I see… then how about you, Aurora-san?"

The witch perked up hearing her name before turning her attention to them. After that she gave them a shrug.

"Sure, I guess."

"Even the way you answer is too casual…" The second princess looked at the witch with a deadpan stare.

"It's fine. There is no need to act polite with me when we are at school." Iris stood up after saying that. "By the way, don't you have classes at this time? What are you doing here?"

"I'm touring this woman at this school because she said she was very interested. Don't worry, I got permission from my teachers!" She said.

"... Fine." Iris nodded after staring at Alexia for a while. "We're a bit busy preparing for the War God Festival, so I will put my attention there while the others continue their investigation. If Aurora-san would like, you can help us uncover more about the criminals running around the country. I heard from my sister that you might have encountered them."

Aurora tilted her head. "Hmm…. I can do that." She said before looking at the floor. "By the way, do you know about the other dimension existing beneath this academy…?"

"Ignore her, she is just spouting nonsense." Alexia rolled her eyes after hearing the witch's words.

"Right. You said she has that kind of quirk." Iris blinked her eyes for a moment, before glancing at Aurora with a bit of pity. "Well, you said she is the one who saved you in the Holy City, so I will trust that she is strong enough to help us." Iris stated.

"Of course." Alexia nodded at her. "Right…. we're just talking about the War God Festival. Why don't you join there too? I think it would be a good way to demonstrate how strong you are!" Alexia quickly turned to Aurora as she said that.

Aurora blinked her amethyst colored eyes, before slowly shaking her head. "I don't know what you meant by the War God Festival, but if it's a tournament of might, then I will have to refuse. I would like to live in peace." She said.

Alexia felt like rolling her eyes and calling her out on her words, but she decided to just nod at her awkwardly. Her mind was already whirling with confusion and denial.

'What do you mean you want to live in peace? Aren't you looking forward to fighting Shadow!? Just decide what you want already!'

As she was thinking like that, another person knocked on the door. Quickly, the only male in the room silently opens the door.

"Oh, Claire-san…" Marco exclaimed. "What do you need?"

Claire Kagenou, the girl with long obsidian colored hair and crimson eyes, simply glances around the area before locking her eyes with Iris. After that she handed the papers she was carrying to her.

"I'm doing some errands right now. Is there anything wrong?"

Iris then spoke. "I heard you are also participating. I am looking forward to facing you." Iris said with a smile.

Claire also smiled. "Likewise…." She said, before glancing at Alexia. "By the way, is your sister gonna join too?" She asked with curiosity.

Alexia raised her eyebrows at that. She could feel some sort of intent within the baron's daughter's gaze.

"Unfortunately, she didn't want to join this year's War God Festival." Iris stated with a frown. "A shame, I wanted to cross swords with her once more…"

"No way. I will quickly lose." Alexia piped up on the side. "Though, if it's next year then I might just participate…" She said, her mind becoming distant as she thought about her progress in sword training.

"Is that so?" Iris seems incredibly excited at that. "Then, I'm looking forward to it!"

As the others talked on the side, Aurora glanced at Claire. Her eyes became a bit amused as she felt a bit interested in the girl. She could feel something familiar within her, as if she was incredibly close to her like a family.

'Interesting…' She thought to herself.

Claire glances at Aurora's direction too, her eyebrows twitching in confusion as she felt her stare, before deciding to just ignore it. She thought this was just another person associated with the first princess.

A/N

I'm just setting things up for the next events that will happen later. It is definitely not because I'm having a writer's block. Nope!

Hope you have fun with this chapter!~

If you want to support me, you can go to my kofi account. Just replace the (dot) with a dot when writing it.

Ko-fi(dot)com/levelgap

See you later~