I Became the Hero While Paving a Flower Path for My Niece - Chapter 38

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Flowers Paved the Way, and a Hero Was Born – Episode 38
“Welcome!”
The innkeeper at the Blue Forest greeted Alex and Leo. While another staff member led the cart and the brown horse Max to the rear courtyard, Alex secured a second-floor room.
“Let’s have lunch here, then head to Lord’s Castle for sightseeing, Leo.”
“Yeah! Sounds good!”
[Oh! Perfect!]
Alex and Leo had lunch on the first floor.
Of course, the first thing they ordered was the house specialty.
[Delicious!]
[They really know how to use sweetness here!]
As always, Alex took the first bite and set it on Leo’s plate.
“This is really amazing, Uncle. The sauce has such a sweet flavor!”
“It really is. The sweetness is just right.”
[Getting that balance is tricky, but they nailed it.]
[And the quality of the meat is excellent!]
Perfectly roasted pork, sweet sauce, fresh salad, and soft bread—it was a combination that left no choice but to keep eating.
“Where are we going to see, Uncle?”
Leo asked through a mouthful of meat, chewing thoroughly. Alex wiped the sauce from the corner of his mouth.
“We’re going to a Magic Tool Shop first.”
[Oh! A Magic Tool Shop!]
“A Magic Tool Shop! We’re going to sell the monster fangs and bones, right?”
“That’s right. And we can look at some Magic Tools too.”
“Great! Uncle, can we see magicians there too?”
Leo was eager to meet other magicians, even though his uncle was one himself.
“Of course. The staff at the Magic Tool Shop are magicians. You know what a Mage Tower is, don’t you, Leo?”
“Yeah! It’s a tower for magicians! Where magicians study!”
“Exactly. The Mage Tower Federation sends magicians to work at Magic Tool Shops.”
“Like mercenaries?”
Alex nodded with a smile at Leo’s question.
“Right. When the Magic Tool Shop earns money, some goes back to the tower and some goes to the magician staff member. Then the magician uses that money to study hard.”
“I see!”
[Ah.]
[So they’re not particularly wealthy magicians, then. Their skill level must be lower too.]
That was true.
Skilled magicians with money didn’t do this kind of work—they shut themselves away in their affiliated tower and focused purely on research.
So mostly it was poor magicians from the 1st or 2nd Circle who worked at Magic Tool Shops scattered across the continent, earning money.
Of course, most of them couldn’t conduct proper research due to work, and simply stagnated.
[Just like my world, money is the root of all trouble here too.]
Alex continued eating with a rueful smile.
“Uncle, I’m full.”
“Me too.”
[That was good! Four stars!]
After lunch, satisfied and full.
Alex, who had only taken the fangs since the wolf monster’s bones were too large, asked the innkeeper for the location of the Magic Tool Shop.
The innkeeper helpfully provided directions, as mercenaries heading to Mid-to-Lower Rank Dungeons occasionally asked for this information.
“If you go that way, you’ll find both the Cheontap Magic Tool Shop and the Jenor Tower Magic Tool Shop—go to the Cheontap one. The Jenor Tower Magic Tool Shop… they rarely open their doors.”
[Usually the hidden places are the real deal, aren’t they?]
[It’s a classic—master craftsman tucked away somewhere!]
“Why is that?”
At Alex’s question, the innkeeper answered in a hushed tone.
Though not present, gossip about a magician required caution.
“The magician there doesn’t work. He’s supposedly incredibly talented, but complains that he was banished to some rural Magic Tool Shop.”
[…I see.]
Alex nodded as if he understood.
It was a common situation.
Magicians stationed at Magic Tool Shops far from the Mage Tower Federation often grew despondent, frustrated by inadequate research support and the fear that they might never return to their tower.
[Sounds just like an employee demoted to some backwater branch office.]
“A backwater place!”
[…Oh!]
[Did you hear that?]
Fortunately, that didn’t seem to be the case.
“Our territory is such a wonderful place! You have no idea how kindly the Count and everyone else treat us.”
“That’s right, that’s right.”
“Lately I’ve been worried because the Count doesn’t seem to be in good health.”
“Well, he’s gotten on in years—it can’t be helped. There’s even talk that he’s passing his position to his grandson, the Young Lord…”
[Wait? His grandson?]
[Not his son, but his grandson… Does that mean the Count is a grandfather?]
It did seem to be the case.
Alex, who hadn’t known much about the Count’s family relations, was caught off guard by this unexpected revelation.
“It would be wonderful if the Young Lord became the Count. I heard that last time he rescued me when I was being chased by monsters!”
“…I’ve heard that at least ten times already.”
“You’ll hear it a hundred more times!”
The other patrons and mercenaries nearby were soon drawn into the conversation.
“Still, I’ve heard that sometimes they take commissions from the Count’s household.”
“Well, I suppose they think selling goods to us and accepting a commission from the Count are on different levels.”
One of the mercenaries, heading to a mid-to-lower rank dungeon to buy scrolls beforehand, spoke curtly.
“Wasn’t the mage from Jenor Tower only stationed here for two years?”
“That’s right.”
“But Adela’s been here for two years already.”
“She works hard at the shop and studies hard too…”
The mercenaries sighed with sympathy at that.
“Who is Adela?”
At Leo’s question, one of the mercenaries answered with a smile.
“She’s a clerk at the Cheontap Magic Tool Shop. She’s a decent person for a mage.”
“Her scrolls are pretty good too.”
“They’re a bit slow to activate, but for something made by a Second Circle mage, they’re decent enough.”
[So this mage Adela is Second Circle.]
Having gathered this information about the magic tool shop, Alex thanked them politely and left the inn with Leo.
The magic tool shop was located away from the bustling marketplace.
“Uncle, why is the magic tool shop in such a quiet area? It doesn’t seem like there would be many customers.”
Leo asked, observing the quieter street compared to other areas.
“Magic tools are expensive, so ordinary people don’t usually buy them. Only the mercenaries and nobles we saw at the inn do. And mages don’t like noisy places.”
“I see!”
Soon two magic tool shops came into view.
The Jenor Tower Magic Tool Shop and the Cheontap Magic Tool Shop.
“Jen…or…tower! Ma…gic…”
“Tool.”
“Magic tool shop! There it is, Uncle!”
“Well done, Leo.”
[He’s reading signs now.]
Leo grinned widely at his newfound ability to read the sign, and Alex chuckled in return, reaching over to ruffle the boy’s hair.
In the ‘future,’ someone else had taught Leo to read, but being the one to teach him now filled Alex with a quiet joy.
“By the way, Uncle, is Jenor a person’s name?”
[That’s what I wanted to know too.]
“Yes. Some mage towers are named after colors, like Cheontap, while others are named after the Tower Master.”
“Which kind is Jenor Tower?”
Alex paused a moment, thinking.
“It was supposedly the largest mage tower in the past.”
“Not anymore?”
“Now Cheontap is the largest. It’s also the representative of the Mage Tower Federation.”
As Alex explained, Leo’s eyes sparkled with curiosity.
“Is the Mage Tower Federation a country for mages?”
“Exactly. It’s a country formed by several mage towers coming together. Think of it as a country without a king—only lords.”
[Interesting.]
[So who’s the representative?]
“No king?”
Leo, who had been born and raised in a kingdom with a king, tilted his head in confusion. Alex explained slowly.
“Whichever mage tower has the most influence and power becomes the representative. The Tower Master—the master of that tower—plays the role of a king.”
“So the master of Cheontap is like the king of all mages?”
Well, it was a bit different from that, but.
It wasn’t wrong to say that the Tower Master of Cheontap was the strongest mage in both the present and the future.
“Well, that’s true enough.”
“That’s amazing! The King of Mages!”
[Wow.]
[That’s incredible! He must be incredibly strong!]
[I want to meet him!]
Alex examined the two magic tool shops.
The Jenor Tower Magic Tool Shop, which he’d heard about at the inn, appeared filthy and neglected, as if it hadn’t been maintained at all.
By contrast, the Cheontap Magic Tool Shop was clean, its interior visible even from the window.
Out of curiosity, he tried to open the door of the Jenor Tower Magic Tool Shop, but it was firmly shut.
“Uncle, they’re not open today, it seems.”
“Looks like it.”
Peering through the grimy window, the interior appeared dusty with almost no goods to speak of.
[I’d catch something if I went in there.]
Alex agreed and headed instead for the Cheontap Magic Tool Shop that people had recommended.
“It’s so clean!”
Leo was right—it looked far cleaner and more elegant.
The door chimed softly—
as it swung open.
But there was no greeting of “Welcome.”
[It’s quiet.]
“Uncle, there’s nobody here.”
Alex, who had experienced situations like this with “the Hero Leo” in the “future,” spoke with a wry smile.
“Let’s wait a moment.”
In the meantime, Leo and I Baek browsed the shop.
“Wow! This is magnificent!”
[It looks like something out of a movie—a real magic shop.]
Inside the shop, not a speck of dust.
Items were displayed one by one on elegant wooden shelves, and various Magic Scrolls were arranged neatly with descriptive placards.
[There are prices listed too!]
“One, two, three… These are incredibly expensive!”
The prices were displayed for customers’ convenience.
[Is it just this location? Or are all Cheontap Magic Tool Shops like this?]
“Isn’t it something? All the Cheontap shops are like this. That’s why they’re so popular.”
“I see.”
As they waited, browsing, a clattering sound came from the back, and a woman with her hair tied tightly burst out with a cry of “Oof!” as if propelled.
[She’s here! The otherworld mage!!]
[But that’s an unusual entrance.]
Alex and Leo watched with curiosity.
“Oh! Welcome!”
When the woman spotted Alex and Leo and greeted them, items came pouring out of the open doorway behind her in a cascade.
“Oh! Just a moment! I’ll clean this up right away! I’m afraid I have quite a lot of inventory.”
The woman hurriedly tossed the items from the floor back inside the door.
[“Quite a lot” seems like an understatement.]
“There’s a ton of it….”
Leo muttered with wide eyes.
Having roughly shoved the visible items through the doorway, the woman pushed hard and struggled to close the door.
“Hnngh!”
[This is like watching a packed rush-hour subway.]
I Baek chuckled and spoke to Alex.
[Alex, activate your Mana Detection.]
Then Alex felt the shopkeeper’s Circle.
[Second Circle mage. Hit their limit.]
A higher cultivation than Alex, who was mid-Second Circle.
[But who knows in actual combat.]
[Your Magic efficiency is remarkable.]
I Baek added.
[Still, she has decent potential. She’s stuck now, but with just a small catalyst, she’ll reach Third Circle.]
The shopkeeper spoke with an apologetic expression.
“I’m so sorry! Have you been waiting long? I was working in the back and didn’t notice you coming in.”
‘So there are Mana Traces—she must have been researching magic.’
Near Adela’s hands, the marks of magic use remained visible: faint traces of Mana.
In a way, it was only natural.
For any mage, self-improvement was the most essential pursuit.
‘The proper bearing of a true mage!’
‘Of course—any real mage would think the same way.’
Just look at it.
Even I Baek, once a mage and now a lich, wouldn’t think differently.
A true mage, indeed.
Alex laughed softly, thinking of all the countless mages throughout history who had risked their very lives in pursuit of greater power.
“That’s quite all right.”
“Hello there!”
Leo greeted her with his usual bright energy.
The shopkeeper, startled by the young voice, glanced down.
Fluffy golden hair like a chick’s down, eyes the color of a clear sky, cheeks that looked soft and plump—
Her resistance seemed to melt away of its own accord.
“Hi! I’m Adela. What’s your name?”
“I’m Leo. And this is my uncle Alex. He’s a mage too!”
“Really?”
Adela looked at Alex with surprise in her eyes.
His mercenary garb had fooled her—she would never have guessed he was a mage.
‘He doesn’t wear a Mage Tower brooch or robes with the Tower’s insignia, so he probably isn’t affiliated with any of the official towers….’
The mention of the towers brought her own circumstances crashing back into mind.
‘When will I finally reach the Third Circle and return to Cheontap?’
It had already been two years since she arrived in Brodelle Territory. And it had been five years since she hit the wall.
A sigh threatened to escape at the bleakness of it all, but Adela clenched her fists tight.
It was better to sell Magic Tools and raise research funds than waste time in despair.
“Potions and Magic Scrolls are on the right, and Magic Tools are on the left! If you need anything else, we have a catalog here—just pick what you’d like. If you’re not sure what you need, just ask me and I’ll find something suitable for you.”
Adela, brimming with enthusiasm for making a sale, let her eyes sparkle behind her glasses.
“What would you like to start with?”
“…May we browse for a moment?”
“Of course! If you need any help, just call for me.”
‘I’ve heard that line somewhere before.’
Alex and Leo looked over the Magic Scrolls together.
“This is called a Magic Scroll—when you want to cast magic, you just tear it and the spell activates.”
“Even me? But I’m not a mage?”
“Right, they’re made so anyone can use them.”
Wow!
It was just paper with pictures drawn in shimmering blue ink, yet it could cast magic.
Leo’s eyes shone with wonder.
“That’s incredible! Who makes them? Could you make these someday, Uncle?”
At Leo’s question, Alex flinched.
“…Not yet. I still can’t.”
I Baek laughed heartily inside his mind.
‘Because I never taught you!’
Alex’s heart ached all the more.
He wanted to be an uncle who could do anything well.
He would have to learn how to make scrolls—absolutely had to.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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