Lance shrugged, looking completely unconcerned. "I’m not short on money."
Talia fell silent again upon hearing this. A transaction was always about satisfying the needs of both parties. She was incredibly powerful, but was also a dirt-poor vagrant in human lands. Lance, on the other hand, had money coming out of his ears, but he was weak and urgently needed protection. Because of that, the two were able to meet each other's needs and strike a perfect deal.
Whereas now... Talia wanted something from Lance, but Lance naturally hoped to gain something of greater value to himself in return.
Any drowsiness that had been creeping up on him had vanished after that brief exchange. Lance stood up absentmindedly, tidying up the scattered tools and sheets of paper covered in dense handwriting as he muttered to himself, "I need to find a mentor. Relying solely on self-study won’t be enough for me to master making Tier 2 cards."
This session of obsessive card making had strengthened his spiritual power significantly. It was possible he would break through to Rank 2 soon, which was a level the old Lance had actually been close to reaching.
His next task was to "borrow" a family heirloom—the ancient relic known as the Hymn of Compassion—and use it to make a card. However, Lance lacked the confidence to successfully craft an enchanted card from such a rare material on the first try. He needed a highly skilled teacher or collaborator to do this right.
In the original storyline, Talia had actually seized it from the old Lance when she killed him. Since she was also a master card maker, she had used it for her own card making. That undoubtedly made her the best choice for the job.
"Are you asking me to teach you?" Talia glanced at Lance from the side and caught a glimpse of his emerald eyes, which seemed to shimmer faintly. Her tone was neutral, implying neither a "yes" nor a "no."
Lance’s hint just now had been a bit too obvious. Clearly, he was hoping Talia would be his mentor in exchange for a first-edition copy of Basic Etiquette.
Throughout the time they had spent together, he had frequently, whether intentionally or not, asked Talia for any insights she had. Sometimes she would answer casually; other times, she would simply ignore him. Talia didn't know how this human had realized she knew how to make cards, but she had no desire to investigate it further, nor did she wish to deny it.
She really didn’t know how he found out. Perhaps it was the boy’s unique eye for detail, his knack for deduction, or his uncanny intuition... Or perhaps she had simply once stared a bit too longingly at the crafting tools. Any of these could have clued him in. Yet, even after she tacitly acknowledged her skills, Lance had no way of knowing just how skilled she was.
"From the very moment I first laid eyes on you, I was certain you were extraordinary. In all my years here, I’ve never met anyone with your aura—someone who exudes such beauty, power, and an air of ageless immortality." Lance set aside the papers he was holding and looked earnestly into her golden eyes. "I’ve always trusted my intuition. So, I thought I’d give it a shot in the dark. What if you just happened to be a master card maker, the kind I might only encounter once in a lifetime?"
He had clearly decided to be completely open with her, letting her know that those initial two deals he had proposed hadn't been mere coincidence. He would have inevitably contacted her one way or another.
Talia listened silently. She could tell that this human wasn't just paying lip service; he was speaking with genuine sincerity. Moreover, his attitude was one of incredible reverence, as if he would willingly seek power from her, even if she were a demon.
As a final point, Lance added, "Besides, since you’ve already chosen to stay by my side and protect me, wouldn't it be a fantastic arrangement for the both of us if you taught me the art of making cards, and I shared the finished cards with you?"
Under normal circumstances, she would have never considered mentoring a talented human, preferring instead to let that person grow wild and unchecked. However, she was willing to allow one exception to that rule: if that individual posed a danger to the human race that outweighed their actual talent.
And Lance was clearly the sort of card maker with the potential to wreak that kind of havoc. In that case, if he was willing to pay a sufficient price, she would certainly consider teaching him.
It was just that... Talia had never envisioned herself taking on a student, let alone being in a situation where she, a demon, would serve as a mentor to a human.
After a moment of reflection, she replied, "I will only teach you up to Tier 2. If that is acceptable to you, then we have a deal."
Her expertise lay in card making using demonic runes, as she was basically illiterate in human runes. However, the underlying principles of magical engineering for enchanted cards were largely universal. Moreover, practical skill mattered far more than theory. Thus, she was more than capable of instructing a beginner like Lance.
Lance nodded decisively. "Understood. That works perfectly for me."
The joy that had just lit up his face faded slightly, replaced by a look of concern.
"However, I’ll likely have to head to the capital in a little over a month... Would it be too much trouble to ask you to continue protecting me while also teaching me how to make cards the entire time? Including after we arrive? I will pay you for all of this."
Talia frowned. "What are you going to the capital for?"
For years, her travels had taken her primarily along the border provinces of the various human kingdoms as she headed toward the southern reaches of the continent. Without good reason, she had no desire to venture into major human hubs like the capital of a large kingdom.
"I need to take Ikerite University’s entrance exam, and I’m worried the assassin might tail me and strike along the way... So I really need protection." Lance then recalled something and hurriedly added, "Oh, right. Since you’re my secret bodyguard, we’ll need to set up a cover identity for the journey so you don't tip off the assassin. I’ll pass you off as a member of my household staff. That way, you can protect me more effectively."
Talia raised no objections to this, so Lance flashed an even more sincere smile. He didn't come across like a smooth-talking con artist at all. After all, every word he spoke was the truth. Next, he proudly explained to Talia how he would leverage his connections with the merchant guild to craft a flawless new identity for her.
Talia had been on the brink of rejecting Lance’s proposal, but his plan stunned her. Once again, he had effortlessly proposed a transaction that was perfectly to her liking and one she found impossible to refuse. It was as if... a devil was tempting her.
The primary reason for her wretched plight was her lack of legal identity that would pass in any human kingdom. Her ability to work, trade, and travel was severely restricted. Even a temporary status, granted merely as an add-on to this deal Lance was proposing, would offer her a level of freedom and convenience she had never dared to dream of before!