Miss Witch, even if we're poor, we can't sell ourselves!

Reminal remained silent for a long time.

Miya huddled in the corner, her back pressed against the cold wall, the crooked ears of her rabbit slippers rubbing against the floor.

Her brain was working at top speed, trying to find even the slightest chance of survival in this desperate situation.

Then she saw Reminal put down the takeout bag in her hand, move her fingers, and her bones made a slight clicking sound.

and many more.

And so on and so forth.

This gesture, this finger-pinching gesture...

Give me a reasonable explanation.

Reminal's voice was as calm as the sea before a storm.

Miya opened her mouth.

Explanation?

How do you explain that?

I'm sorry I lied to you. Actually, I'm not handsome, I'm just short, but I really need money, so could you please forgive me?

"Um, miss, please don't get agitated, let's talk this out—"

Then Reminal completely ignored her, took a step forward, and completely cornered Miya against the wall.

? !

No, no, no, she can't die yet!

She had finally managed to be reborn into this world, and although her start was miserable, she was dirt poor, and she worried about her next meal every day, she still didn't want to die!

Miya's survival instinct finally overcame her last bit of shame.

"sorry--!!"

She lunged forward, sprang up from the corner, and grabbed Reminal's legs tightly with both hands.

"I'm so sorry, so sorry, so sorry! I really didn't mean to lie to you! I really had no other choice! Please listen to me, please listen to me, please, miss!"

Reminal froze.

She looked down at the frog hanging on her leg. Her pajamas were crumpled, her jellyfish-shaped hair was even more disheveled, and her light-colored eyes were filled with tears, looking like they were about to burst at any moment.

Mi Ye didn't give her time to react.

"My parents disappeared when I was born. I only studied at the magic academy for a year before I couldn't afford the tuition and had to drop out. Do you know what it feels like to have only enough money left to buy a loaf of bread, standing on the street watching others fly around but not knowing where your next meal will come from?"

Tears fell down.

It was an act she put on, though some parts were true, though exaggerated a bit.

"Miss, I just want to survive, what else can I do!"

Miya buried her face in Reminal's legs, her voice muffled, but every word was crystal clear.

"Of course I know I'm useless. I don't have any magic power or any fighting talent. In this world, I'm at the very bottom."

"But I really just want to survive! I didn't really want to scam you out of your money! I just... I just..."

Her voice choked.

"I just don't want to go hungry anymore..."

After saying this, Miya hugged Reminal's leg and burst into tears.

She cried so hard that snot and tears covered her face, the hood of her frog pajamas slipped off her head, and she was trembling all over.

Reminal looked down at the creature clinging to her leg, sobbing uncontrollably, and suddenly felt something explode in her mind.

She should be angry, throw this liar off her lap, and then—

And then what?

Beat her up?

Looking at the little one crying so hard she was almost out of breath, Reminal suddenly realized that if she really took action, she would probably have nightmares for the rest of her life.

She took a deep breath.

Forget it.

Let's find out more about this little swindler first.

Reminal channeled her magic, a faint pink glow emanating from her fingertips. This was a basic skill every witch could perform, allowing her to probe the opponent's basic attribute values.

[Divine Sense Detection]

Miya's attribute panel unfolded before her eyes.

Name: Miya

[Race]: Witch

[Physical Constitution]: 1

[Agility]: 1

[Intelligence]: 9

Reminal scanned the appalling data with a blank expression.

This panel, well, how should I put it.

You could just grab any slime off the street and its stats would probably be better than this.

No wonder she said she had accomplished nothing; she wasn't just being modest.

Reminal's gaze continued downwards, then she stopped.

【Charm】: 99

Reminal blinked.

and many more.

99?

She checked again to make sure she wasn't mistaken.

What does this mean?

The base charm value of an ordinary witch is 60, while a well-educated noble lady can reach 70 or more. Reminal herself, as the only daughter of the Reminal family, who received the best education and training from childhood, only has a charm value of 80.

But a score of 80 was enough for her to be praised as naturally beautiful in aristocratic social circles.

The little guy in front of me, crying with snot bubbling from his nose, wearing frog pajamas, and with hair as messy as a jellyfish spirit, has a charm value of 99.

ha?

Reminal took a closer look at Miya, who was still sobbing and hanging on her lap.

A round face, a nose reddened from crying, wet eyelashes, and light-colored eyes that looked exceptionally clear because they were filled with tears.

...It seems quite cute.

wrong.

Reminal shook her head violently, trying to shake off the pink hearts that had inexplicably popped into her mind.

What do you mean by cute or not!

This guy cheated her! He cheated her out of tens of thousands of Loren!

What she should do now is get the money back and take this swindler to court!

"Feed".

Reminal spoke up.

Miya's crying paused for a moment, but did not stop; instead, she cried even louder.

"I really know I was wrong, sob sob... but I really don't have any money to pay you back... I already told you I'm broke... even if you sold me, I wouldn't be worth much..."

Reminal felt a vein throb on her forehead.

"...Get off my lap first."

"No! If I get down, you'll hit me!"

I won't hit you.

"You're lying! You clearly tried to hit me just now! I saw you crack your knuckles!"

Reminal took a deep breath.

Calm down, calm down.

You are the eldest daughter of the Larant family, you have received the best education, you cannot stoop to the level of a little guy wearing frog pajamas.

"...I won't hit you, get down first."

Miya finally let go.

She sat on the ground, looking up at Reminal, her eyes red, her eyelashes still wet with tears, and the tip of her nose bright red, looking like a kitten drenched in rain.

Reminal immediately looked away.

That charm rating of 99 is definitely real, otherwise why would she have the urge to pick up this little guy and wipe away his tears?

"...I'm giving you two choices now."

Reminal tried to make her voice sound as soft as possible.

"First, return all the money I've given you in tips over the past few days. Second—"

Remi Nailton paused. She had originally intended to say, "Send you to jail," but looking at Miya's expression as if she were about to die, she changed the subject for some reason.

"...Secondly, come with me."

Miya blinked.

"...Go with you? Where to?"

Do you want to make her a slave, or lock her up and keep her as a pet?

Reminal read these jumbled thoughts into her expression, and her lips twitched.

"It's nothing strange. You owe me money, so pay it back with your work."

"labor?"

"...Isn't that just working for you?"

"Do you have a problem with that?"

"No, no, no!"

Mi Ye shook her head frantically.

Just kidding, working is better than getting beaten up and ending up in the hospital.

"Um... could you give me a little time?"

Miya clasped her hands together, making a pitiful expression.

"Just, just pack my things... at least let me change my clothes or something..."

Reminal looked at her eyes, still glistening with tears, and for some reason, couldn't bring herself to say no.

"...at most half an hour."

Reminal heard herself say that.

"I'll pick you up in half an hour."

After saying that, she turned and walked towards the door, bent down to pick up the takeout bag that had been forgotten on the floor, and then walked out without looking back.

The door closed behind her.

Miya remained kneeling on the ground, listening to the footsteps fading away in the corridor, until she was sure Reminal was really far away, before she let out a long breath.