Weapon seller in the world of magic

Meanwhile, Callista watched her quietly, her eyes soft yet observant, studying every small shift in Kiara’s expression, every pause, every flicker of thought that crossed her face, while Serestia, standing beside her, assumed something entirely different, believing that Kiara was simply surprised by her bloodline, by the rarity, by the contrast between ice and flame.

”Kiara,” Callista spoke gently, her voice pulling Kiara out of her thoughts, ”you seemed lost for a moment.”

Kiara blinked once, then let out a faint breath as if shaking away something unimportant, her lips curling into a polite smile that hid everything beneath it.

”It’s nothing, Queen Consort Callista,” she replied calmly, her tone smooth, almost casual, as if the previous moment had no weight at all. ”It has just been a while since I last heard of that beast’s name, and it brought back something my master once told me.”

She paused slightly, letting the words settle, her gaze drifting briefly toward Serestia before returning to Callista.

”He said that Frost Dragon and Phoenix are natural enemies,” she continued, her voice steady, ”and that even now, both bloodlines seek dominance over the other, which often leads to unstable offspring or, in many cases, a child born without ether despite having powerful parents.”

Her eyes softened just a fraction, though the emotion behind them was carefully crafted.

”I suppose your daughter is blessed,” she added, her tone carrying a quiet admiration. ”Not only born into royalty but also awakened with such talent. Reaching the 6-star rank at her age is not something many can achieve.”

A small pause followed.

Then, her voice lowered slightly.

”People like me...” she said, her gaze drifting downward for a moment, ”born in some forgotten corner of a village, without status, without backing, have no such fortune. Every step forward is a struggle, every day is uncertain, and all we can do is hope that the heavens will look our way at least once.”

Her fingers curled faintly against the counter, her shoulders lowering just enough to suggest weariness.

”But the nobles...” she continued, her tone carrying a trace of bitterness that felt real, even if it was carefully placed, ”they rarely offer such chances. More often, they crush those beneath them, so that their own position remains unquestioned.”

She let out a quiet sigh at the end, not too heavy, not too dramatic, just enough to complete the image she was painting.

And it worked.

Callista’s expression softened, a flicker of guilt passing through her eyes as she listened, her thoughts drifting and wondering, for just a brief moment, what kind of path her daughter had walked, what kind of price she had paid to stand here now, smiling like nothing had ever been taken from her.

Serestia, on the other hand, interpreted it differently.

To her, Kiara was someone shaped by resentment, someone who had suffered under nobles and now stood against them, someone whose actions made sense when seen through that lens, and though she did not like her, she could not completely deny that possibility.

Silence lingered for a moment.

Then Kiara spoke again.

”So,” she said, her tone returning to business, ”may I know the reason for your visit, Queen Consort Callista?”

Callista glanced around the store, her eyes briefly scanning the surroundings, the customers, the assistant units, the subtle watchfulness in the air, before she turned to her daughter.

”Take it out,” she said simply.

Serestia nodded, though her expression did not improve, and with a slight movement of her hand, she retrieved the Chimera SGM from her storage ring, the weapon appearing in her grip with a faint shimmer, its metallic surface catching the light as she held it forward.

Callista gestured toward it.

”My daughter wishes to master this weapon,” she said, her tone calm yet direct. ”Do you have the time to teach her? You will, of course, be compensated.”

Realization dawned slowly in Kiara’s eyes.

”So, that’s the reason...”

A faint sense of relief passed through her, though it surprised her for a moment, because she had not expected to feel anything at all regarding their intentions, yet the simplicity of the request contrasted sharply with the possibilities she had imagined.

She straightened slightly.

”I don’t require a teaching fee,” she said, her voice steady, ”but the cost of ammunition must be covered.”

”Of course,” Serestia replied immediately, a hint of impatience in her tone as she folded her arms slightly. ”That goes without saying.”

Kiara’s gaze flicked toward her briefly, then returned to Callista.

”I do have one condition,” she continued, her voice firming just enough to draw attention. ”If the princess is to train under me, then during training hours, she cannot be expected to be treated as a princess.”

Serestia’s expression tightened instantly.

Kiara did not pause.

”She will be a student,” she said. ”That means I will correct her mistakes, and if necessary, I will scold her or assign punishments during training. The schedule can be decided by you, but the rules will be mine. And if she throws her weight, I won’t hesitate to teach her a lesson too.”

A quiet pause followed.

”If that is acceptable, I will teach her. Otherwise, if you only wish to learn basic operation, you may stay until lunchtime for a demonstration, although I am currently short-staffed and may not be able to assist immediately.”

Serestia’s face darkened, her jaw tightening slightly as she heard the conditions, her fingers gripping the weapon just a little tighter, because she already knew what was coming next.

And she was not wrong.

Callista spoke. ”I have not been completely honest with you, Miss Kiara.”

Kiara looked at her, her expression unchanged, though her attention sharpened.

”A while ago,” Callista continued, her tone steady but carrying weight, ”my daughter made a serious mistake in a dungeon, one that cost the lives of her subordinates.”

Serestia’s gaze dropped for a fraction of a second.

”As punishment,” Callista went on, ”she has been stripped of her privileged status for the next four weeks. During that time, she will not only learn to use this weapon but also work here as an ordinary employee.”

The words settled heavily in the air.

”You do not need to treat her as royalty,” Callista added. ”Handle her as you would any of your staff. If she makes mistakes, you may discipline her as you see fit. There will be no consequences for you.”

A slight pause.

”As long as it does not cross into abuse.”

Kiara did not respond immediately.

Her thoughts moved quietly beneath the surface.

”Four weeks... in my store...”

A punishment.

Or surveillance.

The Emperor was not careless.

Nothing about this felt random.

”Is this truly about discipline...” she wondered, ”or is this about watching me?”

Her mind drifted briefly toward the Desmont bandits, toward the weapons already delivered, toward the timeline that had already begun moving beyond recall, and a faint, almost amused thought crossed her mind.

”If it is surveillance... they are already late.”

Then came the other side.

Opportunity.

A steady demand for ammunition.

A skilled user learning an advanced weapon.

Profit.

Influence.

Leverage.

After weighing it all, Kiara gave a small nod.

”Four weeks is more than enough,” she said. ”By the end of it, she will not only handle the Chimera SGM but any firearm.”

Her gaze shifted briefly toward Serestia.

”And if she is diligent, I can also teach her how to operate the attack helicopter.”

Callista’s eyes flickered with approval.

”Good.”

Then she added, almost casually, though the request carried intent.

”In that case, can I observe your training methods first?”

The air stilled slightly.

The request was simple.

But the meaning behind it was not.