Chapter 651

Where Is the Old Lady Who Taught Me Magic Embroidery Now?
The next morning, after eating the breakfast the chef prepared, we headed to visit the granny who had taught me magic embroidery the last time I came to Catastie.
I felt a little bad showing up with an even larger group than before, but I hoped buying plenty of her goods would make up for it.

Relying on my memory, I made my way to a corner of the shopping street the locals frequented.
But when I arrived… it was a restaurant.

If my memory wasn’t wrong, this *should* have been the old lady’s shop.
I’d better ask someone.

“Excuse me, may I ask you something?”

“Sure, what is it?”

“Wasn’t this place a clothing shop some years ago? Do you know what happened to the old lady who owned it?”

“Oh, her? The old shopkeeper retired and now lives in a residential district. She shut the shop down and sold it.”

Good, so she hadn’t passed away.
But it seemed the current owner didn’t know exactly where she lived.
He suggested the head of the neighborhood association might know, so we went there next.

“So the old lady closed her shop… Well, she *was* quite elderly. I suppose it couldn’t be helped?”

“Aye, I’d say it’s only natural. Running a shop is a heavy burden, even if it’s just a hobby.”

That seemed to be the case.

The association head looked suspicious at first, but once I showed my identification, he gave me the information immediately.
A Platinum-rank merchant’s ID was powerful even in a place like this.

Apparently, the old lady had moved to a district for middle-class residents.
It wasn’t far, and we had plenty of time to return to the inn for lunch.
We didn’t want to cause trouble by returning late.

And so, we arrived in the residential district.
Truly a residential district—there were tall apartment buildings here and there, but most were small, detached houses, likely meant for single residents or households without children.

Now then, according to the address he gave us… this should be it.

“Excuse me.”

“Yes, yes, who is it?”

Relief, she answered herself.
Even though she had closed her shop, it didn’t seem due to illness.

“My name is Lily. About four years ago, you taught me about magic embroidery.”

“Lily… Oh! That girl from back then. Have you been using embroidery properly?”

“Of course. Thanks to you, I can easily apply enchantments that would be difficult to convey with enchantment alone.”

“That’s good to hear. Though you certainly brought a big group with you. What’s the occasion?”

“Oh—ah, well. I became a Platinum-rank merchant now, so I can’t go out without guards anymore.”

“Platinum-rank merchant… I’ve heard the title, but I can’t imagine how impressive that really is.”

The old lady chuckled heartily.
Honestly, I didn’t fully understand it either.
Just how impressive *was* it?

“In any case, I’m glad you’ve kept up with magic embroidery. My own children showed no interest in the clothing trade. Once they sold my shop and used part of the money to settle me here, they never contacted me again.”

Oof… that was a bit heartless.
They were her actual children, after all.
You’d think they could be a little kinder.

“So, you’re a Platinum-rank merchant now. Does that mean you won’t work with clothes anymore?”

“No. I still work in that field separately. I only take commissions for high-end noble dresses now, but I also run a project where I teach magic sewing to children I’ve taken in from the orphanage.”

“Oh? Magic sewing, is it?”

“Yes. It’s tough until they start seeing results, but once they do, the progress becomes very clear. They love it.”

“Say, young lady. Why don’t you add magic embroidery to that as well?”

“… Huh?”

“I can teach you. I may be getting on in years, but it’s far too early for me to die. And what better joy could there be than passing on the skills I’ve cultivated to the next generation?”

Oh wow—
I had come only to greet her, and now it turned into recruiting a new instructor.
I definitely needed to accept.

Since she would need time to arrange her move and other formalities, we agreed she would contact me later.
I told her she could simply go to the Trade Guild and say she wanted to contact Lily of the Saltas Company.
I’d also inform the Trade Guild staff ahead of time.
And with the scarf bearing my name, made from Talat’s cloth, she would have a clear identifier.

Well, I certainly hadn’t expected talent to appear from such an unexpected place.
With her help, our newcomers’ skills could rise to yet another level.

What do you think about this chapter?