Chương 30: [1.30] Merlina the Summoner (Part 2)

Angelica kind of wanted to freak out a bit. Primarily because she had been further stalked again. Secondly, because apparently the book in her home was emitting some sort of energy that could be detected. And lastly, because that thing belonged to some great powerful man who now knew she was keeping it from him. Angelica felt like she should immediately prostrate and apologize, that is what she would do… as a human. But no, she could not do that.

She was not the anxiety-addled girl who would always apologize for everything even for something not really her fault. No, she was Gelic the Imp, and she had to think about how a weak little Demon would react in such a situation.

"Ah, that book fell on me and hit me in the head!" she complained, as if it were the Summoner's fault.

"It really hurt!" She then proceeded to rub her head as if the lumps were still there, which they kind of were, somewhat able to sense her displaced intangible horns in her hands.

"I apologize for any undue pain my Disciple has caused you." Fioso genuinely lowered his head.

"Not quite two weeks ago, now, I purchased that book for him. It is the most up-to-date and fully comprehensive guide, especially for a young Summoner, and it was right off the presses. Very expensive, indeed. And what did he do, immediately went and flaunted it to some local Sect Summoners.

"Naturally, it escalated. Perhaps it was innocent enough banter at first, but eventually, they genuinely tried to steal it from him, which led to a chase across the city. My student ditched the book at some point, to keep them from getting it. And when they caught up with him, and he no longer had it, well, let's just say it did not end well for him.

"They… beat him up?" The Imp took her best guess.

"A bit further than that, but yes," the man nodded solemnly.

"The damned arrogance of Sect Summoners. Even if my Disciple was the one who instigated it, they didn't need to outright attack him without mercy. But their prejudice runs deep, taught to them whether they realize it or not." He then let out a deep sigh.

"Rogue Summoners will still need to look over their shoulders for the foreseeable future."

"So Sect Summoners really hate Rogue Summoners, then, to the point that they'll attack them?!" Angelica was starting to get a bit worried. If she had unwittingly become a Rogue, did that mean she'd put a target on her back?

"Well… it is not so bad most of the time." Fioso shook his head.

"Should neither side be provoked, it usually defaults to typical leers and jeers. More of a general rivalry than antagonism. It mostly comes from a difference of mentality. Sect Summoners believe that only those who are a part of a Sect should be allowed to summon Demons. They claim it is a matter of safety, to keep those untrained from endangering their lives or others, but it is really about control. To them, Rogue Summoners are not only a liability, but also a threat.

One they would rather stamp out before it's too late.

"Or at least, that is how many of the older Summoners think. Which is not inherently a wrong way of thinking, and could even be deemed reasonable, if Sects were not so exclusionary. Should you not meet their criteria, they won't give you a second thought. Newer Sects and generations tend to be more accepting, leaning more into the rivalry aspect. But as they get more power, they fear more from those who would oppose it, and fall back into the old trappings.

I like to hold on to the hope that eventually the gap can be bridged permanently. Yet in the meantime, it would also be advisable for you to not mention that your master is one of us, or you too may face scrutiny or ill action.

"However, we Rogue Summoners are also not so helpless that we need live in constant fear. Since we do not follow the strict teachings of Sects, it allows us to be more experimental with our magic and summonings. For that, they fear us, but they also respect that fear. I've already had a word with the Sect leader of those who attacked my Disciple, and they will be duly punished in turn. While I am not on friendly terms with her, we respect each other's positions.

"I would not say that this should put your master off of Sects entirely, however. They are just two different ways of thinking, two different paths to take. Neither is inherently better. We just have our preferences. Should Merlina wish to join a Sect, they would likely overlook any past actions as a Rogue Summoner. And the same goes for me. Even if she were to join up with a Sect, I would not turn her away should she come to me for help. As long as she does not insult my choices, I will not disrespect hers.

"And to further express that, it is why I am going to let you keep the book. My student will not need it for some time while he is recovering, and when he is better, I plan to have a serious discussion with him about his future. Should he remain under my tutelage, then I will get him a new… well, probably a used copy, then. Hopefully, Merlina will put it to good use and respect it more than he did.

"Ah, I do have a curiosity question for you, however, Gelic." That perked her ears. She was already relieved that she was in no trouble for the book, a bonus that she got to keep it, so she'd be happy to answer what she could.

"My Disciple mentioned that he had thrown the book down a back alley where no one would think of looking for it, so that he could retrieve it later. Can I ask what you were doing there? Surely your master wouldn't have asked that you skulk around in a place not immediately by your territory.

"Err, I was…" Angelica didn't want to admit it, but hopefully it would sound better coming from a Demon.

"I was digging through a dumpster for food." Fioso's face filled with pity. Maybe because she was currently presenting herself as a scrawny human, it had more of an effect.

"Poor creature. Yes, I suppose if you were separated from your master, unable to receive vitality, or return to Hell for nourishment, then the only real option left would be to hunt or forage for food. Are you still in need? We have plenty that you could take." If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

"Uhm, no, no thank you." Well, she actually wanted to say, "Hell, yeah, free food, please," but the man had already given her enough. Plus, she wasn't actually in need.

"I have some now, and Merlina gave me money to buy more."

"Hmm, sending an Imp to buy food." That made the man scratch his chin once more.

"Don't get me wrong, Summoners send Demons on errands all the time. I'd be lost without Diamen handling most of my affairs for me. But to send one so underdeveloped and expect them to have such a functional understanding of human society to be able to buy things with our currency. You are a special one, Gelic, and your master has intrigued me even more. Can you cook, too, or is it all pre-made?"

"No, I can cook!" The Imp sounded genuinely prideful for a moment but then remembered.

"Except I accidentally got the Poison Chef skill…"

"Ah yes, that would be a problem." This amused the High Summoner.

"I was about to say your job was in danger, Diamen, but that would be a problem, indeed. While I've never actually heard of that Skill, it's self-explanatory. Hopefully you know not to eat anything poisonous that you make, since I doubt you have any sort of resistances from your race."

"I spent my first Growth Point on Poison Eater!" She was happy to share.

"Master gave me permission to accept other summons so that I could get it."

"Hmm, yes, makes sense," Fioso nodded along.

"Risky business, though, if you were summoned by someone more powerful than her. The bind resistances we provide to our Bounds only go so far. Hopefully you at least have Divining Ear so you know what you're getting yourself into." Angelica definitely didn't, and she didn't say as much, but did make a mental note to absolutely look into it later. Hopefully, it was on the Skill Weave. And she also learned from his concern that apparently other types of circles provided additional Bind Resistance, not just Soulbound.

However, she ended up steering the conversation in an entirely different direction. There was something she wanted to inquire about that she may not get another chance to do so with someone so knowledgeable and willing to help. Also, if she tried searching it herself, it could possibly lead to some government agent beating on her door.

"I do have a question." She was still hesitant to ask it, and it showed in her voice.

"Well, something Merlina would like to know."

"Go on then," the High Summoner encouraged her.

"How do… other Summoners handle money? Not like… how to get it." No, Angelica had figured that part out pretty easily. Every Summoner she'd come across now was well-off, and she quickly connected the dots as to why. They used their Demons to do things normal humans could not, exchanging that for power, favors, wealth, whatever they wanted. She wouldn't be surprised if they were secretly running most of the world. What she was more interested in now was how they kept it secret.

"I mean, like, how do they store it, move it, keep it… unnoticed. Since… Summoner money is not always… proper money."

"Yes, you need not explain further." The man looked serious again for a moment, a little annoyed actually.

"And I am berating myself for not considering that it would be an obstacle she'd be facing. I still remember the troubles I had in that regard during my early days. Fortunately, the solution is a lot simpler now. Hold on a moment." He dug through his many letters, diverting to a pile off to the side, before finally looking in the trash can next to his desk. After a bit of rifling, he pulled out a flier, and handed it to her.

"That is the preferred bank of Rogue Summoners, and even some Sects have started to use them." Coterie Trust. Huh, I've actually heard of them before. She had seen their pop-up ads and commercials. They always felt really tacky, like they were trying way too hard to make people think they were getting some sort of exclusive service by signing up with them. Maybe there was actually some truth to that.

"So would I, err, would master just set up an account with them?"

"Yes, it's really that simple," the helpful man confirmed.

"Well, just make sure that when she signs up, for a referral, she needs to put the name of a Rogue Summoner. Mine… Fioso, will do, of course." He took the flyer back for a moment and wrote it out, apparently not expecting the Imp to know how to spell it.

"There will be no questions asked about anything, no transactions, no deposits, no further referrals. It is run by an acquaintance of mine, so hopefully you can trust my word. And while I'd do it in person, I believe she'd even be able to make an account through a computer these days, if she's having trouble moving around."

"Thank you, very helpful!" Now Angelica had really gotten more out of this than she ever could have asked for. And yet… the greedy side of her hungered for more. There was another question she wanted to ask, but it felt far riskier. Screw it, trust the Pact!

"One more thing with money. How would my master sell something that, erm, shouldn't be sold?"

"What sort of thing?" Fioso raised an eyebrow.

"I can understand the desire to stay secretive if the item presents issues, but I have to assume you're talking about fencing something. However, while I know many, not every fence deals in every type of good, so I would need to narrow it down."

"Erm, jewelry," Gelic was honest.

"Expensive, fancy jewelry."

"Okay, we're getting somewhere." The man nodded along.

"But I'll still need more than that. Jewelry is a wide net. Is it an antique, or an heirloom, something passed down to Merlina, perhaps? Or is it something more modern? These are two very different categories." Frankly, Angelica had no idea. She was definitely never the type to focus too much on jewelry or fashion, more interested in fantasy outfits than real ones. If she had to guess, it'd be on the modern side, but she didn't want to get it wrong.

So she described it the only way she knew how, hoping that it wouldn't prove problematic.

"…famous jewelry?" This made Fioso lean back in his chair.

"Famous, huh? Don't tell me…" He dug through his letters once more, this time grabbing one that was close to the top of the step.

"I received a letter just this morning.

'The Migrore Museum was robbed yesterday. The guard reported that the culprit was an Imp with no alias. All that was stolen was the Quilllaced Tiara.' It then goes on to ask my thoughts, but I'll save you that. Was that you, Gelic?"