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“Boss,” an armored man whispered to the bald merchant with the goatee. The two of them were sitting at the front of a wagon, the guard holding onto a pair of reigns. “I’m not really comfortable with those five joining our caravan.”
The merchant’s already crescent-like eyes narrowed even further. “And you think I am?” he hissed back. He turned his head around, peeking beyond the goods through the opposite end of the wagon. The wagon behind him had five people sitting inside of it, their chatter able to be heard but not discerned from his position. He glared at the guard. “One of them is a skeleton, one of them has horns, another has blue hair, and one of them talks to himself all the time! The only normal-looking person is the short one, but she killed a hobgoblin in a single strike! You think I want these people traveling with our convoy? How am I supposed to refuse when my guards tremble in their boots upon confronting them? It’s your own damn fault that you’re uncomfortable!”
“Hey.”
The guard and the merchant flinched. Tafel’s voice had been transmitted behind them through the use of a portal. Her head and arm snaked through the portal, and she poked the merchant’s shoulder with the butt of her sword. “Why are you so stiff? Never mind that, how much longer is it going to take before we reach our destination?”
“We’ll enter Grand Duchess Apollonia’s lands before night falls as long as nothing gets in our way,” the merchant said, his expression stiff. “But recently, bandit activity has been at an all-time high. I’ll be counting on you to take care of them if and when the time comes.”
“Will do,” Tafel said, retreating into the portal. She waved her hand, dismissing it, and faced Vur. “Did you hear that? We’ll be there before the sun sets.”
Vur snorted. “We could’ve been there before the sun even rose if I flew,” he said. “This wagon’s too cramped, and it smells like mangoes.”
“What’s wrong with mangoes?” Alora asked.
“They don’t taste good,” Vur said, wrinkling his nose. “Why don’t we fly?”
“I already answered this,” Tafel said. “Weren’t you paying attention?”
“I want to hear a new reason because I don’t like the first one,” Vur said, making a face.
“Do mangoes really smell that bad?” Sheryl asked from Vur’s shoulder. “I wish I had a nose.”
“Did someone say wish?” a high-pitched voice asked.
“The pervert woke up!” Stella shouted, storming out of Vur’s chest. She flew into his hair, hiding behind his ear. “I couldn’t sleep in my bed for days because of him! Days!”
“There’s a bed inside of Vur?” Alice asked. “Is it an actual bed? Does he have some kind of space inside of him, or do you shrink down enough that you’re treating mana particles as furniture? I’m really curious now.”
“That’s not what’s important right now,” Stella said, glaring at Alice. She pointed a finger at Vur’s chest. “He’s coming out!”
A tiny head full of silver hair and golden horns popped out of Vur’s chest. The genie king looked around with its rainbow-colored irises before completely exiting Vur’s body. He hovered in the air, flapping a pair of wings that looked much like Stella’s. Yawning, he lifted his arms into the air and stretched, straightening his whole body. “Whew. That was a good nap. The bed smelled really nice too.”
“What are you saying, you pervert!?” Stella shouted, shaking her fist at the genie king from behind Vur’s ear. “Who gave you permission to inhale my scent?”
“Huh?” The genie king made eye contact with Stella. He stared at her for a moment, then his face flushed bright red. “H-hi. My name’s Mervin.” He flew up to Vur’s shoulder, not daring to get closer. “Who are you? Are you a genie? You’re not a man, right?”
Stella recoiled and shivered, crouching down even further behind Vur’s ear, using more of his hair to cover her face until only her eyes were showing. “I’m a fairy, stupid! What are you doing acting so flustered and enamored for? If genies are anything like fairies, you shouldn’t be falling in love!”
“But you’re so beautiful,” Mervin said, his eyes widening. He landed on Vur’s shoulder. “Let me sing you a song.” His eyes shut as he took in a deep breath, placing his hand on his chest.
“I wish you were gone!” Stella shouted.
Mervin froze as his eyes shot open. “S-sorry, I can only grant wishes to the person who found me unless they give me permission,” he said. His eyes landed on Vur’s face. “Oh, right. You’re the person who found me. Nice to meet you. Since you let me nap for so long, I’ll grant any wish you want as long as it’s not unreasonable.”
Vur tilted his head. “Any wish I want?”
“That’s right,” Mervin said. “By changing my mana into matter, I can make anything appear. I can help you get stronger by using my mana to expand your mana channels. Or I can enhance your weapons by reinforcing them with mana. But there’s a limit to everything.”
“How about a star?” Vur asked.
Mervin blinked as Stella heaved a sigh from behind Vur’s ear. “What about a star?”
“Can I wish for a star?” Vur asked.
“…Uh, you mean like the things in the sky at night?” Mervin asked, pointing at the ceiling of the wagon. He scratched his head while letting out a low hum. “Is it possible…?”
Vur nodded, and Tafel poked his side. “Why do you want a star?’ she asked.
“You don’t want a star?” Vur asked back, raising his eyebrows.
Tafel scrunched up her brow. “Why would I want a star?”
Vur blinked. “Because … you want one?”
“But I don’t?”
“You don’t?”
“I don’t think I do?”
“Think about it harder.”
Tafel lowered her head and clasped her hands together. A moment later, she sat up straight. “I thought about it, and I’m positive I don’t want a star. What would I even do with one?”
“Oh,” Vur said. He looked at his left bicep. “You were wrong, Zilphy.”
“…You’re the one who misinterpreted my words in the first place,” Zilphy said.
“So, you don’t want to wish for a star?” Mervin asked. “That’s good because it would’ve been impossible for me to make you one. What else do you want? You don’t want to become stronger?”
Vur turned towards Tafel. “Do you want anything?”
Tafel’s arm rose into the air, her hand creeping towards Vur’s face. She pressed her thumb against the nail of her middle finger and lifted her hand towards his forehead, her other fingers outstretched. Then she flicked him. “You found the genie king. It’s your wish,” she said. “I don’t want you using your wish on me, alright? If you do, I’m going to be mad. You always do so much for me, so wish for something that you want for once.”
Vur rubbed his forehead and frowned. “Something I want…,” he muttered. He glanced at Mervin, who was staring at the part of Stella that wasn’t hidden behind Vur’s hair. “Can I wish for a cake?”
“No!” Tafel, Alice, and Alora shouted at the same time, causing Mervin to fall over before he could respond.
“I’ll bake you a cake,” Tafel said. “Wish for something harder to get!”
Vur sighed. “What about bear meat? I haven’t had that in a while.”
“Don’t wish for food, Vur,” Tafel said, her eyes narrowing. “Is that really all you want?”
“Well, I’m hungry.”
Tafel reached forward and grabbed the genie king. “I’m going to hold onto him until after you finishing eating. Think about what you really want. There has to be something other than food.”