This Life, I Will Be the Protagonist-Chapter 778: Divine Game: Card Swap 27
"Will Moonlight Marsh be able to detect this skill of mine?"
Even though Rita had already guessed the answer from how the academy had reacted, she still wanted to confirm it.
"No. As long as it’s not part of your divine gift, no method can uncover it. But if you use the skill, that’s a different story. There are plenty of ways to trace it back. My advice: don’t use that skill inside Moonlight Marsh. If it causes any serious incident, the instructors there won’t hesitate to investigate no matter the cost."
Rita had the feeling that "serious" was implying something.
Kind of like when Lightchaser had once told her that "most won’t be allowed to stay and study at the academy."
Was I Just Want to Improve So Badly serious?
Maybe not once or twice, but too many times?
Yeah... then it would be serious.
Still seeking clarity, Rita pressed further. "What counts as serious? Like, killing someone?" 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦
She didn’t add multiple examples or try to sneak in "theft."
That was a trick she’d learned at Burrowbug Tavern: if you don’t want people to notice something, don’t say it out loud in any form—not even in suggestion.
Whether or not Lightchaser caught on to her tactic, she didn’t call it out.
She just answered plainly: "Murder, theft, stripping someone of their rights or abilities—that’s all a no-go. But fraud? Fraud is fine. The academy actually likes fraud-based talents. Says it’s good for toughening up the cubs."
She finished with a blunt summary.
"In short, anything cubs can’t handle—Moonlight Marsh won’t allow in the early years."
Rita caught onto something important. "So the later years of Moonlight Marsh will accept them? Like other academies?"
Lightchaser: "Yeah. Starting in fourth year, Moonlight Marsh takes transfer students. They believe that by then, you’re no longer a cub. You should be learning to face these things. Don’t worry, though—those transfers will sign strict contracts. They’re not allowed to harm lower-year students."
After fielding her student’s questions, Lightchaser asked one herself.
"So how did you awaken a skill during divine gift awakening? I’ve never heard of that happening."
Rita replied, "Right?"
"You only ate one of those awakening fruits?"
"Yep."
This was her auto-reply mode.
Rita didn’t mention that, in addition to her divine gift, she had awakened three skills.
She didn’t want to grow distant from Lightchaser—but she also couldn’t bring herself to share everything.
No one in her life had ever been this complicated.
Walking beside her tall elven mentor, Rita looked up at her.
Sunlight glinted off the long sword strapped across Lightchaser’s back, the reflected rays stinging her eyes.
Still, she couldn’t stop herself from staring.
Lightchaser didn’t look down, just kept walking. "What is it?"
"I was thinking... if the world didn’t have so many emotions, it’d be easier. If there were only love and hate, I wouldn’t be this confused."
Lightchaser didn’t answer her childish musing.
Even when she handed Rita off to today’s new teacher, she remained silent.
Rita figured she just didn’t want to entertain her nonsense.
That was fine. She hadn’t said it to get an answer anyway.
Today’s instructor was the green-skinned owner of the weapon shop on Trash Street.
"What do you want to learn?" he asked.
"I want to know all the ways someone can trace a skill user. And how to avoid being tracked."
The shop owner grinned. "Oh, that’s a good one."
"Can I really learn that?"
"Sure, sure. That’ll be 800 gold for the basics. Don’t worry—I promise I’ll tell you stuff even she doesn’t know."
He threw a sideways glance at Lightchaser, who was staring out the window, seemingly lost in thought.
...
When they left Trash Street, Lightchaser finally seemed to return to her usual self.
As they paused at the end of the alley, Rita gave her a puzzled look.
Lightchaser pointed at a candy shop right next to the alleyway entrance.
"You want to buy some sweets to bring to school?"
Rita turned to look.
The shop, named Rock Locust, was bustling with business. Every time they passed by, it was packed with at least a dozen customers picking out candy.
The sweets inside were like nothing Rita had ever seen.
She couldn’t even imagine what they’d taste like.
And she really didn’t want to blow her hard-earned gold coins on something like this...
She shook her head. "No, I..."
"I’m paying."
Rita stared at her in alarm, taking a step back and pulling out a dagger.
"Who are you, and what did you do to Lightchaser?!"
The real reason Lightchaser had suggested it was because, back when she was preparing to enroll in school, Wail had bought her a massive bag of candy. She just... had a sudden nostalgic impulse to do the same for her apprentice.
Lightchaser let out a sharp puff of air, blowing the bangs out of her face in annoyance.
But before she could speak, a small hand grabbed hers and started tugging her toward the candy shop.
Unfortunately, the cub’s strength was no match for her.
Even with wings flapping frantically behind her, Rita stayed stuck in place, flying in midair like a cartoon character.
"Come on, teacher! You promised! Candy! You can’t back out now!"
Lightchaser stayed still, watching the ridiculous sight for a few seconds before finally relenting and walking in the direction of the candy shop.
Half an hour later.
Rita stumbled out of Rock Locust carrying twelve massive gift boxes.
If she’d known, she would’ve brought her new spatial backpack from Moonlight Marsh.
Her old 4-slot pouch was bursting at the seams.
To keep the candy boxes from dragging on the ground, she had to fly slightly higher than Lightchaser.
The little cub had a lollipop stuck in her mouth, eyes narrowed into joyful crescents.
She was already muttering to herself.
"August box... September box... This one’s for home snacks..."
That whole day after class ended was dedicated to candy logistics.
But the very next day, Rita got busy buying all sorts of pumpkins and gathering seasonal ingredients.
The school-issued spatial backpack was high quality—you could stack items inside.
Pumpkins, however, came in all shapes and sizes, so she had to buy same-sized containers just to keep everything organized.
She had already tested Spring Pumpkin—the skill worked regardless of pumpkin size.
Once the pumpkin landed on the target’s head, it auto-adjusted to fit.
Winter snow wasn’t too hard to find either.
Asaein didn’t have snow, but there was always some city where it was snowing.
Transport wasn’t a problem in a magical world.
She even managed to buy a little from Burrowbug Tavern. It wasn’t cheap, but she used it to make three Summer Snowmen—one for Lightchaser, one for herself, and one for Mistblade.
Unfortunately, the snowmen looked like lopsided melons.
You could tell just by looking—they only had one use each, maybe two if she was lucky.
There was no rush to buy more snow just yet.
She planned to wait until school started and use Moonlight Marsh’s marketplace.
That way, she could gather intel, trade snowmen for gold or useful materials, and most importantly—stay safe.
As for seasonal ingredients, those were easy.
Many industries used them, so they were abundant on the market.
The day she brought back the pumpkins, she brewed her first three glasses of Wrong Season.
One restored HP.
One gave a temporary charm boost.
And the last one... added a random stat point.
The moment Rita saw that third drink, she took off running.
"Lightchaser! Lightchaser~ Lightchaser—!"
She banged on the door loudly.
Inside, Lightchaser had just laid down for a nap.
Staring at the ceiling, she sighed.
She remembered back in her day—how she’d done the exact same thing, running around shouting Wail’s name after awakening her divine gift.
How had Wail not just thrown her out?
With a flicker of magic, she teleported to the door and yanked it open.
The elf stood there in a silk nightrobe, still radiating an overwhelming presence.
She glanced at the drink in Rita’s hand.
Wrong Season: A mysterious liquor. Grants one free attribute point upon drinking.
