Their steps came to a halt in front of a one-story shop with an exterior that looked rather dirty.
The walls seemed to have never been cleaned, and a lot of trash was scattered in front of the shop's yard.
Its windows were dusty and many were cracked, and if smelled, it would give off a somewhat rotten odor.
There was a small sign attached near the shop's door, it said "fortune teller."
Even though there was a sign saying fortune teller there, Norm-san felt uncertain.
Norm-san looked back at the map, thinking she had gone the wrong way and that this shop she had stopped at was not the place she was heading to.
But this place matched what was shown on the map.
Finally, feeling reluctant, Norm-san held her child's hand and began to open the shop's door.
As she opened the door and pushed it, the sound of the door scraped against the floor.
CRIIIT
The two of them had now entered this shop.
BRAK, suddenly the door closed by itself with a loud bang.
Inside the shop, everything was covered in black cloth. As if there was nothing inside here.
Dust floated through the air and often entered their noses, making them feel uncomfortable.
Even making a small sound could make your voice echo in this room.
Norm-san's child held her hand a bit tightly, perhaps feeling a little afraid of this place.
From the front, as though curtains being opened, the cloths revealed something and showed a place, and in front of that place was a chair.
Norm-san immediately stepped forward and sat on that chair.
Since there were no other chairs, Norm-san had her child sit on her lap.
"What are you doing here?" asked someone who sat in front of the two of them.
That person covered their entire face with cloth, making it impossible to see.
But from the voice, it might have been a woman.
"I want to know if in this city magic can be turned into money?" asked Norm-san.
"Oh, looking for work…" said the fortune teller.
The fortune teller placed a magic orb onto the table.
She began to direct her palm towards the orb and recited magic chants that Norm-san did not understand.
The orb glowed for a while before the light faded away.
"Maybe right now… you can only work in the library," answered the fortune teller.
Norm-san felt confused by what the fortune teller had just said.
"What does the library have to do with magic?" asked Norm-san.
"The library in this city needs someone who can use light-element magic," replied the fortune teller.
"And after seeing your magic ability, you seem to have decent control over light-element magic, don't you?" she continued.
Norm-san could only nod slightly.
"Is it really only at that library?" asked Norm-san again.
"Yes, only there… Oh, right!"
The fortune teller suddenly brought out a box.
"Maybe this will suit you," said the fortune teller.
Norm-san immediately took the box and opened it.
Inside, there was a ring adorned with a purple gem. The ring's case looked very luxurious and clean, like a brand-new item.
"This is a magic tool, isn't it?" asked Norm-san while looking at the ring.
"The ring can enhance its user's light-element magic ability… but because of an unknown side effect, no one wants to buy it from me," said the fortune teller.
"If you want it, I can give it to you," offered the fortune teller to Norm-san.
Norm-san picked up the ring from its case and looked at it more closely.
"Are you sure it's okay? This ring looks really nice, you know," said Norm-san, starting to like the ring.
"From the deepest part of my heart, I give that ring entirely to you," said the fortune teller.
Norm-san put the ring back in its case, then carried the box.
She gave a little money to the fortune teller for helping answer her question.
On the way home, as promised, Norm-san took her child to see the little jewelry shop.
Her child immediately grew excited seeing the necklaces displayed in the shop.
Almost all of them looked shiny and were shaped very luxuriously and elegantly.
Her child's gaze focused on a necklace with a small gem pendant.
Seeing her child seemingly wanting that necklace, Norm-san asked the seller about its price… but it was too expensive for her current condition.
Norm-san decided not to buy the necklace for her child.
——
The next day, Norm-san went to the city library alone.
With only a map and her magic ability, she was confident she could be accepted to work there.
After walking a little further, she finally arrived.
The library looked quite large, its height almost similar to the inn.
Its building design also looked very neat and pleasing to the eye.
The yard was spacious, tall trees planted in many places, and beneath them long benches were placed that could seat four people.
——
The inside looked very spacious.
There were two floors inside this library, plus large shelves lined up across the floor.
Upon entering, the atmosphere felt very calm and peaceful.
Norm-san went to a place shaped like a cashier counter. At that place, a young woman was waiting.
"Excuse me, is there a job opening here?" asked Norm-san.
"Ah! Miss, could it be that you can use light magic?" asked the woman.
The woman immediately turned around, then she ran out of her spot and held both of Norm-san's hands.
"Follow me!" said the woman.
She pulled Norm-san under the stairs towards the second floor, where there was a door leading to a room.
"This room belongs to Arven-san, the one who has managed this library for the last 15 years."
"If miss wants to try working here, just tell Arven-san," said the woman.
Norm-san did not move, feeling nervous because this was her first time looking for a job.
"Miss, no need to be nervous! If you're accepted here, the two of us can work together!" said the woman with a wide smile, as if to cheer Norm-san up.
Norm-san took a deep breath, then stepped into Arven-san's room.
——
This room had bookshelves that served as its walls.
And in the middle of this room, there was a table and a very luxurious chair.
"Excuse me…" said Norm-san as she sat on one of the chairs.
Someone sat in the other chair, with their back to Norm-san, seemingly focused on something.
"Excuse me, I want to ask—" before she could continue speaking, that person immediately spoke.
"You want to look for work here, don't you?" said the person.
Slowly, he turned his chair and looked at Norm-san.
That person was an old man with a very thick white beard.
His clothing resembled that of a pastor in a church.
"I can use light-element magic… though not that well," said Norm-san.
"But… why are you interested in working here?" asked the pastor.
"Because this is the only place I can go," that thought crossed Norm-san's mind.
"I want a job that's related to books," said Norm-san.
The pastor stroked his beard, seemingly interested in Norm-san's reason.
"Then, since I have light-element magic ability, I want to help in this library."
"I'm also interested in many books," continued Norm-san.
The pastor stood and approached a bookshelf behind Norm-san's chair.
He took a thick book with a red cover, then placed it on the table.
"Try holding this book," said the pastor.
Norm-san used her right hand to touch the top of the book.
CLING, a bright light shone so intensely that it blurred Norm-san's vision.
The entire room seemed to be filled with this light.
——
Norm-san finally lifted her hand from the book and looked at the pastor with a bit of confusion.
"This is a book that can test the magic ability of the one who touches it… and its reaction when you touched it…"
"Alright, you're accepted," said the pastor.
Norm-san's heart began pounding, she felt her emotions overflowing.
"R-really!?" asked Norm-san, still in disbelief.
"Yes, please come again tomorrow, I will teach you everything you need to do when working here," said the pastor.
At last, Norm-san could work for the first time.
She felt very happy and relieved, because in only two days she had managed to get a job.
——
(At the inn at night)
Norm-san told her husband what she had done today, and he immediately responded.
He hugged Norm-san very tightly and joyfully.
Norm-san also hoped her husband would soon get a steady job with a high salary so that their life as three would become more joyful and happy.