Chương 62: Offer

Ch 62 - Offer Yeon-ah barely slept that night. It wasn't just the embarrassment of mistakenly believing Reid had invited her on a date. Evan had witnessed the entire thing, and she had no doubt he was still laughing about it on the inside. Then there was the Dragon Heart Scale and the piece of Mithril sitting inside her bag, refusing to let her relax. Her mind kept conjuring one disastrous scenario after another. What if someone broke into her house and stole them?

What if her father accidentally grabbed her bag and threw everything away? Every possibility seemed more absurd than the last, yet none of them felt impossible. She ended up clutching the bag against her chest, half-convinced it would somehow crawl out of her arms the moment she fell asleep. By the time morning arrived, dark circles had formed beneath her eyes. Fortunately, she had plenty of experience hiding the aftermath of sleepless nights.

After taking a bath, she applied makeup until the eye bags were no longer noticeable, then headed downstairs to eat breakfast with her father.

"You seem to be in quite a hurry. Is something important happening?" her father asked. Yeon-ah chewed her food a little longer as she came up with an excuse.

"Nothing. Instructor Kennedy just gave me some extra homework that I forgot to finish, so I need to get to the workshop early today." Her father's expression soured.

"Those government people should stop stressing you out so much. Have they forgotten you're an idol, not an Awakener?" Yeon-ah resisted the urge to remind him that she was still an Awakener, even without a license. She finished her meal and left the house. Taking the public bus again, she arrived at the training center, where Kennedy greeted her. The woman blinked in surprise.

"You're here earlier than usual."

"Hehe, I've got a little personal project," Yeon-ah said.

"Instructor, do you think I could rent one of the private workshops?"

"Of course. I think one is available right now. You'll just need to fill out the paperwork," Kennedy replied.

"Planning to make something special?"

"You could say that." Yeon-ah grinned and followed Kennedy to complete the paperwork. That grin vanished when she saw her account balance after paying the rental fee. She consoled herself with the thought that she'd earn the money back once she completed the commission. Assuming she actually finished it. If she ruined the precious materials Reid had entrusted to her... She shook the thought away before it could take root.

Entering the private workshop, Yeon-ah found it equipped with far more advanced tools than the ones she had used during her training under Kennedy. Her instructor briefly explained some of the unfamiliar equipment scattered throughout the room, then excused herself, leaving Yeon-ah alone. Once the door closed behind her, Yeon-ah pulled out the bag Reid had given her and set it on the table. She opened it, and the knot in her chest loosened when she sawthe Dragon Heart Scale and the piece of Mithril still inside.

"Alright, Yeon-ah, you can do this!" she said, clenching her fists.

"You're an S-rank Artificer! You can't disappoint Reid!" Yeon-ah examined each material, confirming that all of them were exceptional in quality. Now came the harder question: what should she make with them? A ring was her first thought, but she quickly dismissed it. She had made plenty of rings before, yet these materials were far too valuable to waste on something so small. One mistake could ruin the entire piece, and she wouldn't have much room to work with in the first place. She also had to consider Evan.

He was a boy, and she doubted he'd want something flashy or overly decorative. A necklace was another option, but fitting everything into a single pendant could make the design look cluttered. Earrings were out of the question. They were too small, and she simply couldn't imagine Evan wearing them. After weighing her options, she settled on a bracelet. It was something Evan could wear without looking out of place, while its larger surface gave her plenty of room to incorporate the enhancements.

More importantly, it would leave her some space to adjust the design if she made a mistake during the crafting process. Yeon-ah pulled a sheet of paper from her bag and started sketching her design. Until now, she had only followed established templates from professional Artificers during her training. But this time, it was a real commission. She had to create everything from nothing. As she sketched across the paper, she wondered if she should have worked from home instead of renting a private workshop so early.

But that idea didn't last. If her father caught her working on a new commission, he would have plenty to say about it. So she turned back to her design and kept at it, drawing on everything she'd learned during her training. She made one change after another, crossing out sections that didn't work and redrawing them until the paper wore thin and tore. Then she grabbed another sheet and started over. Knock knock!

"Eep!" Yeon-ah jumped and turned around. Standing at the entrance were Evan and Carmen.

"Long time no see, Yeonie!" Carmen said, flashing her a peace sign as Evan closed the door behind them.

"Ah! I didn't expect to see you here, Ms. Ruiz," Yeon-ah said.

"Didn't I tell you not to be so formal? Just call me Carmen," she replied. Yeon-ah hesitated. She still couldn't bring herself to be completely casual. This was the daughter of the Ruiz family, one of the wealthiest families in Nova Terra. What if she accidentally offended someone like that? She would be finished. However, faced with Carmen's friendly smile, Yeon-ah could only nod.

"Of course, Carmen."

"Nice!" Carmen said, turning her attention toward the desk.

"Evan told me you're working on an Artifact. Let me see... is that... um...?" She tilted her head, peering at the papers. Yeon-ah's face turned scarlet. She lunged forward, slapping her palms over the drawings.

"It's not ready yet! Don't look at it!" She knew her sketches probably appeared as meaningless scribbles to anyone else. The tangled lines and scattered notes covering the pages only made sense to her. It wasn't that she hadn't tried. She had practiced plenty, but drawing just wasn't a skill she had ever managed to develop. The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. Evan reached beneath her hands and snatched up one of her sketches.

She yelped and grabbed for it, but he held it out of reach, examining the design.

"A bracelet, right?" His finger traced one of the glyphs.

"You might want to shift this one. It'll mess with the whole enhancement array." Yeon-ah froze.

"You can understand that?" He shot her an offended glare and waved the paper.

"What? You think I can't figure this out?"

"Let me see! Let me see!" Carmen ripped the sketch out of his hands. She squinted at it, turned it sideways, then handed it back.

"Yeah, I've got nothing."

"That's because you spend more time editing videos than actually learning anything," he said.

"Hey! My videos are appreciated and loved by many people!"

"That doesn't change the fact that half the reason you haven't been kicked out yet is your father."

"Oh ho ho. How daring." Carmen leaned in.

"Why don't you say that to my father's face?" Evan didn't flinch.

"Don't make empty threats. You know who my grandfather is, right?" Sparks seemed to fly between the two teenagers. Yeon-ah couldn't tell if they were genuinely fighting or just messing around, but she didn't want to find out. What if they dragged her into it? She couldn't refuse the daughter of the Ruiz family, but she also couldn't risk upsetting Reid's little brother.

"Um... can I have my sketch back?"

"Of course, Yeonie! Here you go!" Carmen handed the paper back to her.

"Don't listen to this idiot. I'm sure you know better than him." Evan scoffed.

"I thought you both had the Outer Zone Volunteer Program today," Yeon-ah said.

"So why are you here?"

"We were." He jerked his chin toward the clock.

"You really thought we'd be out there all day? Take a look at the hour." She followed his gaze and froze. Four in the afternoon. She hadn't realized how much time had slipped by. More pressing, her stomach chose that moment to remind her she'd skipped lunch.

"Seems like someone's hungry," he said.

"You know what they say! You can't work on an empty stomach!" Carmen declared.

"Let's go get some food first!" Before Yeon-ah could respond, Carmen grabbed her hand and pulled her toward the exit.

"W-wait! My bag!" Yeon-ah protested, but Evan just picked it up and followed after them. Yeon-ah didn't know how she ended up here. One moment she was standing in the workshop, stomach growling, and the next she was sinking into the leather seat of a luxury car, watching the city roll by outside. The restaurant had ivy crawling up its stone walls, with chandeliers glowing behind tall arched windows. A valet opened the car door and gave a light bow.

"Welcome." Inside, the restaurant was warm and dimly lit, with dark wood covering the walls. A piano played somewhere in the background, mixing with the low conversation of other guests. The waiter led them through double doors into a private room with a long table and a wide window overlooking the city.

"W-what are we doing here?" Yeon-ah asked, clutching the mask she had hastily put on during the car ride.

"Eating. What else?" Evan pointed at Carmen.

"Don't worry, you're not paying. She is."

"You could at least say thank you like a civilized person," Carmen said. Observing the two teens, Yeon-ah wasn't surprised to see Carmen completely at ease, considering she was the heiress to a wealthy family. What caught her attention was Evan, whom she believed came from an ordinary background. Despite that, he showed no sign of discomfort in the luxurious restaurant, behaving as though he had been here countless times before.

Perhaps he had simply grown accustomed to interacting with wealthy students at the academy. Before she could dwell on it any further, the first course arrived, drawing her attention to the food. The delicious aroma made her mouth water, but Yeon-ah forced herself to maintain her composure. She didn't dare act too casually in a place like this, taking small bites despite the urge to devour everything on the table. The food was incredible.

The Blue Prawns hit her first, sweet and soft, with the pike roe bursting against her tongue in little pockets of salt that balanced the herb bouillon perfectly. The Iberico pork came next, so tender she barely had to chew, the fat melting into the meat while the seared crust gave it just enough bite. Like many luxurious meals she'd eaten, she wanted to gobble down more, but the portions were, as always, frustratingly small. She wasn't hungry anymore, but she could have easily eaten double.

She put down her utensils and smiled across the table.

"Thank you for the meal, Carmen."

"No worries," Carmen said.

"I'm not being generous for nothing. If all it takes to get on your good side is a meal like this, then it's money well spent."

"Ah..." Yeon-ah hesitated.

"If you want me to perform at an event, it would be better to speak with my manager first." Carmen shook her head.

"I have no interest in your idol career, Yeon-ah. I'm more interested in your other skill set." She leaned back.

"Tell me, what do you think about entering a contract with the Ruiz Group?" Yeon-ah blinked.

"Pardon?"

"We're already deeply involved in magic and Artifact research, but talent like yours is rare. That's why I'm here."

"I…"

"We wouldn't force you into some ridiculous lifetime contract," Carmen said.

"That would be absurd. But we would like the opportunity to collaborate with you for several years. In exchange, we can provide funding, access to our facilities, and a workshop equipped with the latest technology to help you develop your skills as an Artificer." Yeon-ah stared at Carmen. The cheerful smile and playful demeanor suddenly seemed like a small part of who she really was. The girl sitting across from her was not simply a carefree heiress.

She was the Ruiz heir, raised from birth to one day take over one of the most powerful families in Nova Terra.

"Thank you for the offer, but..." Yeon-ah's fingers tightened around her glass. She studied the condensation dripping down the side.

"I don't think I can accept it. I'm fine with being an idol. I have no plans of becoming a licensed Awakener." Carmen let out a dramatic sigh.

"That's a shame to hear, but alright. I know how to accept rejection." The meal eventually came to an end. Carmen offered to drive Yeon-ah back to the Outskirts, and after a moment of hesitation, Yeon-ah accepted. Evan had barely said a word throughout the meal. He sat there in silence, watching the two of them. As Yeon-ah stepped out of the car, she glanced back as the vehicle drove away toward the Outer Zone Security Post where the two students were staying.

Walking along the sidewalk, she stopped in front of the massive billboards covering the surrounding buildings. One featured a member of the Luxie girl group flashing a radiant smile as she promoted a popular tea brand. The advertisement loomed above her, impossible to overlook. How long had it been since she'd done something like that? Not long, really, yet the time away had made it feel like she had stepped into another world. Did she miss it? She wasn't sure.

She hated the exhausting schedules and the fans who crossed the line. But she missed the stage and the warmth of the crowd cheering for her. Those moments had meant something, and she couldn't pretend otherwise. Standing beneath the billboard, Yeon-ah couldn't ignore the strange divide between the life above her and the one she was building herself. The glamorous world of an idol filled the screen, while her bag held the drawings and materials she had poured herself into as an Artificer.

She had spent years chasing one path, yet another was beginning to take shape. Carmen's offer was tempting. It promised opportunities her idol career never could. But accepting it wasn't simple, not with her situation and definitely not without her father's blessing. She let out a breath and started walking again. For now, there was nothing to do except keep being an idol. By the time she reached her room, exhaustion had settled deep in her bones.

Her head was still spinning from hours of designing, and tomorrow she would have to do it all over again if she wanted to finish on time. Ring! Her phone buzzed, and with a tired groan, she picked it up. The caller ID showed her manager's name.

"Ms. Morgan?" Yeon-ah sat up straight.

"Yeon-ah, tell me, what do you think about making a comeback performance soon?" Morgan asked.