Chapter 478 - 477: Then It Will Be Worthy

Chapter 478: Chapter 477: Then It Will Be Worthy

This time, it produced a small cloth pouch containing a slip of paper.

Seraphina Sinclair took it and glanced at the list. She recognized several of the materials—all were required for making Ebony Rune Parchment.

Little Mushroom scratched its cap, seeming too shy to speak.

Seraphina Sinclair understood at once. "Come back in a few days. I’ll have these materials ready."

Little Mushroom’s eyes instantly brightened. It gazed at Seraphina Sinclair with pure adoration and nodded vigorously.

’It was so hard for it to ask for things. People like Ma’am, who understood without it even needing to speak, were just so rare. This thought only made it want to do more for her.’

Little Mushroom hesitated for a moment, peeking at Seraphina Sinclair with its small eyes. She was still staring at the list. Unable to help itself, it raised a hand, gently poked her knee, and asked in a low voice:

"Ma’am, is there anything new you need me to research? It won’t delay the work on the Ebony Rune Parchment."

Seraphina Sinclair pulled her attention away from the list and looked into Little Mushroom’s small eyes. She smiled. "As it happens, yes."

She took out the piece of Star Meteorite Iron and the matching Starlight Body Tempering Liquid, placing them on the stone table with a hint of solemnity.

Little Mushroom looked at the two materials and subconsciously reached out, wanting to take them in its hands for a closer look. But then, realizing their value, it snatched its hand back as if it had touched something scalding hot.

But its small eyes were glued to them.

It stared intently at the Star Meteorite Iron, at the auspicious cloud-like patterns that seemed to flow slowly across its surface, and at its dark, silvery metallic sheen.

Then its gaze shifted to the bottle of Starlight Body Tempering Liquid, to the countless fine specks of light floating within, to a brilliance that seemed to hold an entire river of stars.

Little Mushroom gulped, and then gulped again.

Seraphina Sinclair spoke up. "What is it? Do you have reservations?"

"I do!"

Surprisingly, Little Mushroom’s answer was swift, as if it had been preparing its words for some time.

It glanced at Seraphina Sinclair. Seeing no particular expression on her face, it finally spoke. "Ma’am... this... are you sure you want to give it to me?"

Seraphina Sinclair arched an eyebrow. "Who else? Is there a third craftsman here?"

Little Mushroom’s gaze darted from Luna Jacobs, to the dozing Gloom Hatchling in her arms, and even to the Sunflower standing off to the side, before finally returning to Seraphina Sinclair.

Its short little hands twisted together. It fidgeted for a long moment before finally forcing out, "But... but these are A-level materials! And... and whatever is made from them is meant to be with you for a lifetime! Are you really going to entrust this to me, Ma’am?"

Seraphina Sinclair watched Little Mushroom’s face scrunch up in turmoil and suddenly smiled. "What’s the matter? You don’t think you can do it well?"

Little Mushroom shook its head frantically, then nodded, then shook its head again. In the end, the little creature just froze, unsure what gesture could possibly convey its complicated emotions.

Its short little finger pointed at the Star Meteorite Iron, its voice as quiet as a buzzing mosquito. "This... I’ve never worked with this before..."

Then it pointed to the Starlight Body Tempering Liquid. "And this... I’ve only ever read about it in books..."

Finally, it pointed to itself, its eyes welling up with tears. "What if... what if I ruin it? What if I waste the materials? What if what I make isn’t worthy of you, Ma’am?"

"Then it will be."

Seraphina Sinclair’s reply was swift, yet her tone wasn’t forceful. She said the four words casually, as if making small talk.

She wasn’t trying to force the issue, nor was she trying to give Little Mushroom a hollow pep talk.

It was because she saw Little Mushroom’s potential with perfect clarity.

The four words were spoken so lightly, without a hint of solemnity. They didn’t even carry the same weight of affirmation as the "Well done" Little Mushroom had received earlier.

And yet, it was precisely these casually spoken words that made Little Mushroom’s entire heart tremble.

It opened its mouth to speak, but found its throat choked, unable to force out a single word.

It understood what those words meant:

Ma’am trusted it. She was willing to entrust this task to it.

Little Mushroom took a deep breath, and then another. Finally, it raised its hands and gingerly lifted the Star Meteorite Iron.

It was very light, much lighter than it had imagined.

’This was just as the books described: the higher the grade of the material, the more weightless it felt, as if it had truly just fallen from the heavens.’

"Ma’am." Its voice was still quiet, but it was steadier than before. "This... I will need time."

"How long?"

Little Mushroom thought for a moment, then shook its head. "A long time," it said simply.

When Seraphina Sinclair arched an eyebrow, it hurriedly promised, "But it will be worthy of you. I guarantee it."

Seraphina Sinclair looked into Little Mushroom’s small eyes, which were so earnest they almost seemed to shine, and the curve of her lips deepened. "Then I’m leaving it in your hands."

Little Mushroom’s grip on the Star Meteorite Iron tightened.

It nodded forcefully, the feelers on its cap bobbing with the movement. Tears still glistened in its eyes, but the terror that had been there was gone.

"Ma’am," Little Mushroom suddenly spoke again, its voice quiet. "Can... can I ask you a question?"

Seraphina Sinclair leaned back in her chair. "Go ahead."

Little Mushroom lowered its head to gaze at the Star Meteorite Iron in its arms. After several seconds of silence, it asked softly, "Why do you trust me?"

It didn’t look up, its voice muffled. "I... I’m just a mushroom. I’m not very capable, and I’m timid. I get scared around strangers, and I’m slow... There are so many craftsmen out there who are better than me. You could have picked anyone, and they’d be stronger than me..."

Its voice dropped to a whisper. "But you... you’ve never looked down on me, not from the very start."

Seraphina Sinclair remained silent.

Little Mushroom kept its head lowered, as if speaking to itself. "881 said you were someone of very high status, so I’ve been nervous the whole time. But you’re so nice, Ma’am, even nicer than I imagined. You’re the best client I’ve ever had!"

Seraphina Sinclair began to ponder the question herself.

After a moment, she arrived at a conclusion:

’It was probably because she had seen too many people.’

’The ones who said, "You can count on me," would turn around and vanish without a trace. The ones who beat their chests and promised, "Absolutely no problem," would be the first to run when trouble actually struck. The ones who said, "Don’t you worry," with the most earnest faces were the ones hatching schemes behind your back.’

’But Little Mushroom was different.’

’It never made a promise it wasn’t sure it could keep; it didn’t even dare to acknowledge its own talent. It was so afraid of failing that whatever it did promise, it was certain to accomplish.’

’Little Mushroom had said researching the Ebony Rune Parchment would take thirty days, yet here it was, delivering the results far ahead of schedule.’

’That alone was a testament to Little Mushroom’s ability.’

’Seraphina Sinclair’s trust was not given lightly.’

When Little Mushroom left, its eyes were swimming with tears, a sight that left all the other creatures in the mobile cottage speechless. Even the Sunflower and the Gloom Hatchling, who couldn’t speak, wore expressions of disdain.