“Hahaha, a test? I’ll have you know I am a strict person, getting my approval will be rather difficult.” Within the tremendous room, Crazy’s laughter echoed everywhere.

Jerry’s heart immediately grew lax when he heard her words. There was a chance!

“My modest family has some savings put aside, would that suffice?” Jerry tested the waters, his fore and middle finger twisted behind his back.

“Gold?” Crazy cocked her head with a finger to her cheek for a moment before nodding. “That is a sufficient demonstration. Convenient and straightforward.”

Seeing the one-two strike Jerry had made, Kite and Elric could only stare at each other in disbelief.

As things appeared at the moment, the powerful magus right in front of them was potentially a magus that could put Victor to shame in morality. Not only did she lack even a shred of dignity seen in a magus, but she was lacking in societal morality as well. With things progressing at this rate, an unhealthy magus was on the verge of being formed. Whether this was the biggest failure of the trial remained to be seen however.

Kite could only sigh. His master most likely never expected an outcome such as this.

Seeing the pair of morally deficit magus haggle over a price, Elric had taken a leaf out from Kite’s page and shook his head in disbelief.

Crazy looked as if she was one that respected the virtues of the merchant ethics and had allowed Jerry to haggle over the price to such a degree that everyone couldn't believe their ears.

Ultimately, Jerry had managed to bring the price down to twenty five thousand gold pieces to earn Crazy’s approval.

It took a final signature between Jerry and Crazy on a piece of parchment for the negotiations to be settled. With this approval, Jerry would be able to return home so that his family could immediately deposit the sum into her account.

“Then, what about me?” After being struck by lightning, Belladonna was interested in what magic Crazy knew. But she worried that she wouldn’t have as much money like Jerry had.

“Ah! I happen to have something you can do.” Crazy had long since planned what Belladonna would do for her trial.

“Make my meals for a single month and do all my laundry. I’ll accept you if you do well.” Crazy stipulated.

Happily, Belladonna gave an excited leap when she heard what she would be delegated to. On the other hand, Jerry had a mournful expression filled with regret.

“Come with me, I’ll show you where you’ll be working.” Crazy motioned before standing up to leave.

Walking to the door, she gave a single motion of her arm to open it. Beyond the doors was yet another room that was filled with kitchenware. But aside from the display, the room still felt rather empty.

“This is the kitchen.” Crazy didn’t even bother to turn her head before walking away.

Stopping right in front of the room to the side, she did not move to open the door.

Instead, she opened up the latch that covered the window to the room. From there, the group could see the group of thorn dragons she captured last night.

“These are fodder for my experiments, take care of them well.”

Ignoring the frightful tint of whiteness on Belladonna’s face, Crazy led the group to yet another room.

A pungent scent had hit the noses of everyone when the doors opened. All that could be seen was a room filled with underwear, shirts, underpants, coats, skirts and robes strewn about the place.

“And these are the clothes you’ll be washing. I’ve never done the laundry by myself, so if you’ll please do them in my stead.” Crazy spoke carefreely before walking out. From behind, a heavy thud could be heard dropping onto the ground.

Jerry couldn’t help but feel pity for Belladonna when he saw the state the room was in.

Kite and Elric on the other hand, resolved themselves to try and tough out whatever this terrifying witch would give them.

Seated once more on her chair, Crazy stared hard at the two apprentices in front of her.

Anxiously waiting for the reply from Crazy, Elric and Kite had both felt that being on the receiving side of her glare was a very different experience.

Kite felt as if he was under the observant glare of a swordmaster. Each and every inch of his body being observed by Crazy felt as if a sharp blade was being pressed against it.

Elric was equally anxious and felt as if he was back at his family’s grocery store with an excessively picky traveler who wished for a specific item. But the unfortunate matter in this situation was that he was not the salesperson and was instead a good to be purchased. And as things stood now, he was next on the imaginary shopping list in Crazy’s hand.

When Crazy listened to the request of Kite and Elric, she had already made several notes on the both of them.

“The big one seems to have potential. A disciple of Collins, is he? I’ll throw him into my experiments and see how long it’ll take for him to come crying to me for help. Maybe something unexpected will happen? The other kid, though, he’s unsuited to learning magic. What stupid bastard chose him? Ridiculous—but at least he has a nice physique. He looks like he’s no stranger to being thrown around here and there, I’ll use him in my experiments then.” Crazy’s mind began to make precise assessments for the two youth in front of her. It had been unfortunate that Kite and Elric were not privy to her thoughts and were clueless together like the two thorn dragons caged up behind them.

“You there, Kite or whatever! I don’t know if you’ll train well under me or how strong you are, but I’ll give you the benefit of doubt since you’re Collin’s underling, for a price.” Crazy spoke with a soft voice, but laced in her voice was a firm tone meant to entice him.

“I—yes, master Crazy. I wish to study magic under your guidance. Any price paid will be a price well deserved.” Kite stuttered. He had no idea that he was being led into a trap.

“I’ve got him now, here comes the request!” Crazy crowed in her mind.

“Excellent! You’ll be tested then and thrown out if I ever deem you unfit. Am I understood?” The crafty woman spoke.

“As for you,” she turned her attention to Elric at last, “I admit, I’m rather interested in your situation. But prepare yourself, there is always danger in experiments.”

“Y-ye-yes! Understood!” Elric had cried out in pure relief; he, like Kite, didn’t know he was walking into a trap either.

The lunch they ate had been prepared for by Belladonna. She had been pitiful enough to have Crazy summon some ice water to splash her awake. (In the future, Elric and the others would learn the initial magic of hydromancy. In doing so, they would become as proficient as her.). With Crazy ordering Belladonna to do this and that, the other three couldn’t help but feel sorry for their fourth companion. When they were young, each one of them had heard fairy tales where a young woman would often be locked up in a castle by a mean old witch and forced to do hard labor.

And so it seemed that even fairy tales had their own basis in reality.