The man who called himself a genie sighed as though Lina were the one making his life difficult. Judging by his appearance, however, she found it hard to believe he was a genie at all. He had none of the mystical charm she associated with the creatures in fairy tales, and if someone added a tail and two horns to his head, he would look far more like a demon who had somehow found his way into the human world.
"I never promised to grant you three wishes," he said patiently. "Besides, I'm not an ordinary genie. I won't encourage the bad habit of expecting everything to fall into your lap without making any effort. If you want to achieve something, you must work for it yourself. That's how you grow, isn't it?"
