“I don’t lack money.”

Lanchi shrugged his shoulders, saying it in an indifferent manner.

“……”

Talia fell silent again upon hearing this.

A transaction is all about satisfying both parties' needs.

Just like Talia, who possessed strength but found it difficult to use effectively and lacked money in the human kingdom; while Lanchi had more than enough money but urgently needed protection. They were able to meet each other's needs and achieve a perfect deal.

So, this time.

When Talia wanted something other than money from Lanchi, Lanchi naturally hoped to get something more valuable to him from Talia in return.

"Next, I need to find a card-making teacher. Relying on myself to research second-tier magic cards isn't working."

The brief conversation dispelled the drowsiness that was almost overwhelming Lanchi.

Absentmindedly, he stood up and began to clear the scattered card-making tools and pages filled with dense writing from the table, muttering to himself.

The immersive card-making training during this period made him feel that his mental strength seemed to be getting stronger and stronger. Perhaps before long, he would be able to break through to the second tier that his predecessor was very close to.

And, next, he also wanted to "borrow" the family's treasured ancient relic, "Hymn of Compassion," which would be taken away by Talia in the original plot, for a while to make his own magic card.

But Lanchi had no confidence that he could succeed in making a magic card with this secret treasure material in one try. He needed a highly skilled mentor and collaborator.

Then Talia, the great demon card maker who would originally obtain the "Hymn of Compassion" and turn it into a magic card, was undoubtedly the best choice.

"You want me to teach you card making?"

Talia gazed at Lanchi's vaguely visible emerald eyes from the side. Her words carried neither the meaning of "yes" nor "no."

Lanchi's hint was too direct.

Obviously, he hoped that Talia could teach him card-making knowledge in exchange for a first edition of "Basic Etiquette."

In the days Lanchi and Talia spent together, Lanchi would intentionally or unintentionally ask Talia about magic card knowledge.

Sometimes Talia would casually tell him, and sometimes she would ignore him.

Talia didn't know how this human figured out that she could make cards in the first place, but she didn't want to delve into it, nor did she want to deny it.

Perhaps it was because of his unique vision, perhaps because he was good at guessing, perhaps his intuition was very accurate, perhaps it was because she shouldn't have stared at the magic card making tools for too long, all of which were possible.

However, even if she later acquiesced that she knew how to make cards, Lanchi would never know her true level as a card maker.

"From the first moment I saw you, I was sure that you were a very powerful person. At least, in the border city-state for so many years, I have never seen anyone with your temperament, and it even gave me the feeling of being beautiful, powerful, and immortal."

Lanchi temporarily put down the pages in his hand, met Talia's eyes, and looked at her golden eyes seriously.

"I always trust my intuition. So I'm just trying, in case you really are a card-making master that I only have a chance to meet once in my life?"

He looked like he had made a decision to confess to Talia, to let her know that compared to chance, there was also a part of inevitability in the first two transactions.

“……”

Talia listened to Lanchi's words silently.

She clearly judged that this human was not being duplicitous, but was sincerely saying what he really meant.

Moreover, such an admiring attitude was like even if she were a demon, he would willingly seek power from her.

"Anyway, Talia, since you have chosen to stay by my side to protect me, then if you can also teach me card making, and I will share the cards I make with you, don't you think it would be a great choice for both of us?"

Lanchi added.

“……”

Originally, she would never have taught a talented human being and allowed them to grow wildly.

But there was an exception—

Unless this guy's harm to humans outweighed his talent.

And Lanchi was obviously the kind of card maker with extremely harmful potential.

Then if he was willing to pay a sufficient price, she could indeed consider teaching him.

It was just that Talia had never imagined that she would take students, and that a demon would be a human's teacher.

"I am only responsible for teaching you up to the second tier. If you can accept it, I will make a deal with you."

Talia replied after thinking for a moment.

Although she mastered the card-making technology of demon magic script, she didn't really know how to make cards with human magic script.

But the magic engineering principles of magic cards are more common, and more importantly than theory is practical skill. It was completely fine for her to teach Lanchi, this novice.

Hearing Talia's reply, Lanchi nodded decisively:

"Okay, I have no problem at all."

Speaking of this, the joy that had just surged on Lanchi's face disappeared by half, and turned into worry.

"But I may have to go to the royal capital in more than a month... Can you trouble me to protect me while teaching me card making on the road and after arriving at the royal capital? I will pay you the agreed upon remuneration."

"What are you doing in the royal capital?"

Talia frowned upon hearing this.

For many years, she had almost always traveled along the border provinces of various human countries towards the south of the continent.

If possible, she didn't want to go to human strongholds like the royal capital of large countries for no reason.

"I'm going to take the entrance exam for the Ikrit Academy, and I'm also worried that the assassins will follow me all the way and commit murder on the road... so I need protection even more."

After Lanchi finished saying this, he seemed to remember something and quickly added:

"By the way, since you are my privately hired secret guard, I have to prepare a disguise identity for you for long journeys, so that it will not easily arouse the vigilance of the assassins. I will package you as someone from our mansion so that you can protect me better."

Seeing that Talia did not express any doubts about these words, Lanchi showed an even more sincere smile.

There was no feeling of a big swindle at all.

After all, every word he said was true.

Next.

Lanchi proudly explained to Talia how to use the relationship of the business alliance to create a seamless new identity for Talia.

“……”

She, who was already somewhat inclined to reject Lanchi, was suddenly stunned by Lanchi's words again.

Once again.

Lanchi naturally put forward a condition that suited her heart and made her unable to refuse.

Just like... a demon's temptation.

The main reason she was so down and out was that she didn't have a legitimate human kingdom identity.

Work, transactions, and passage were subject to many restrictions.

Even if it was just a temporary identity provided as an additional condition of the transaction.

It would also be the freedom and convenience she never dared to imagine before!