Misunderstanding
Misunderstanding
The battle that made me realize my stitching skills were improving by leaps and bounds every day came to an anticlimactic close.
After finishing the fight, I checked the surroundings with Magic Sight, and the magic that had been annoyingly tailing me had disappeared. Judging by how the flow of Mana that had stretched like a tail beyond the plains had vanished, it seemed the bastard had bolted like their tail was on fire.
Whether it was a guy or a girl, they had sharp instincts. If they'd kept spectating until I was done, I'd been planning to rush straight over and fuck them up.
The dead were just the so-called client who died from my axe strike and the two battle mages who died after getting hit by a needle while trying to cast magic. The rest were strewn about, either missing a limb or severely wounded. Among them, I grabbed the one whose limbs were intact because he seemed the most competent, and after hearing his story, it was such a cliché that there was nothing particularly surprising about the situation.
"So you guys just assume you were hired by the lord?"
"Y-yes, that's correct. On the surface, that man was the client. We've been working that way all along."
"Hmm... Bring that thing over here."
Even though I got straight to the point, the bastard quickly caught on, jumped to his feet, and came back dragging the corpse that my axe had killed.
It was a bit of a letdown that there was nothing to prove the identity on the corpse of the so-called client, but there was a heavy coin pouch that I presumed was meant to pay these guys, so I was somewhat satisfied. On top of that, I had him drag over the bodies of the two dead mages and searched them. The money and equipment were far more profitable than I'd expected.
"Nice gear. Are you guys some well-known bastards?"
"Well... they're somewhat famous in this business. Guys called Blade Wind and Sand Wind..."
"What are they, some kind of wind freaks? They work as a pair?"
"No. They worked separately. They belonged to the same Back Alley Mage Association, so I think they saw each other as rivals..."
The Back Alley Mage Association? The West has all sorts of weird shit. Anyway, I sorted through the stuff from their bags and pockets, keeping only the ones with confirmed effects I could identify, then I casually tossed two western common silver coins to the guy who was diligently playing the role of a walking encyclopedia.
"Question. When you guys go back to the city, what will happen?"
"...Two mages and the client died, and there are a lot of injured, so they won't take it lightly."
"Will they give you shit for not handling this properly?"
"Well... they'll give us shit, but they won't try to get rid of us."
"Why?"
"Because we were the best at handling the lord's dirty work."
Past tense, impressive judgment. It was satisfying intel, so I tossed him one more silver coin.
"Take everyone and go back."
"...You're letting us live?"
"I don't kill people after getting information from them. When the lord asks where I'm headed, tell him I'm going east."
"E...east?"
"Yeah. East. Seems I have to go that way to get home."
The guy's expression turned bizarre, like he couldn't tell if I was bluffing or being real, but I didn't bother to clarify. I had no loyalty to him, and whatever he made of it, it was no skin off my back.
Having finished my business, I got back on my horse, leaving them behind, and moved along the trail of Cellevian's group. Meanwhile, I spread out the fairly detailed map I'd looted from the corpses, checked my current location, and before long, I couldn't help but let out a hollow laugh.
"I fucking knew it."
Cellevian had said to go 'a little further' east and there'd be a forest, but the map showed I'd have to pass three more cities before barely reaching a forest extending north.
"These damn long-lived species..."
And based on the distance I'd traveled from the plains, it'd take at least two weeks.
I'd had a vague hunch since hearing Cellevian's story about spending his whole life with his tribe, but it looked like this was going to be a loooong journey.
◈
Ollend, the personal butler of the Empire's White Star Esmue Bistim Tel Nua, received an urgent report that had arrived while Esmue was away for an annual event only the direct imperial line could attend, and he fell into brief contemplation.
"Did you say it came from the West?"
"Yes."
Stamped on the snow-white envelope was not white seal wax, but black seal wax. Ollend knew very well what that mark meant—personally commissioned by Esmue to distinguish information about one person alone.
That was why he was puzzled and could only ponder. Why the West? Wasn't he in Itisel? Slightly disappointed in himself for slacking off on intel management lately due to being busy, Ollend asked the servant who brought the urgent report a short question.
"It's not false information, is it?"
"We've verified it through multiple informants."
At the answer without a shred of hesitation, Ollend nodded and moved his feet. As soon as the black seal wax was stamped, it had to be delivered to Esmue immediately. He had been ordered to do so unless she was in a private audience with His Majesty the Emperor.
Passing through splendid corridors and crossing pathways connecting buildings, he arrived at a small building located in the middle of a garden within the imperial palace.
The windowless building was surrounded by noisy guard forces, each brought by the imperial family members. It looked like they were having light chats, but every single one of them was a powerhouse impossible to ignore.
Even while conversing or resting, they never let their guard down, and as soon as they noticed Ollend's approach, they all simultaneously turned their gazes on him without needing a cue.
The sight of smiles vanishing and sharp, piercing glares showering down on him was chilling, but Ollend showed the composure to offer a greeting toward those guards.
"Excuse me, I have an urgent report to deliver to Her Highness the First Princess. You will need to withdraw for a moment."
No one objected. Hearing Ollend's request, the knights rose without a word and distanced themselves, forming a wide circle with their backs to the building they had been guarding.
But regardless, the aura they emitted grew even sharper. None of them were unfamiliar with Ollend, but it was clear that if he made a suspicious move, they'd close the distance and rush him in an instant.
Filled anew with a swelling pride at that display befitting protectors of the imperial family, Ollend quietly approached the building, knocked on the door, and knelt.
Simultaneously, countless overlapping barriers and spells activated, verifying whether Ollend was an authorized visitor and sending a signal to the soundproofed interior.
There was no way to convey a voice from outside. If Esmue disregarded his visit, he would have to either turn back or signal again to convey his intent.
Fortunately, Ollend didn't have to make a second trip. The heavy door opened surprisingly lightly, and a familiar voice came down over Ollend's bowed head.
"What is it?"
It was Esmue. Naturally, there were no attendants inside—only the imperial family. Ollend, still with his head bowed, lifted just the letter and reported.
"An urgent report concerning the Black Star."
"...Well done. Wait here while I confirm it."
In the brief moment Esmue took the letter and closed the door again, Ollend caught a glimpse through the gap and met eyes with the other imperial family members. From the Second Prince to the Sixth Princess, every one of them looked at him with cold, humorless eyes.
But as soon as they recognized him, their expressions instantly melted into smiles and they waved. The door closed quickly so he couldn't even properly return a nod, but at that bright demeanor, Ollend barely suppressed the smile that reflexively formed.
Outwardly, they had to pretend to be on such bad terms that they were even plotting assassinations, so they wore masks thoroughly. But Ollend, who had been by their side since childhood and was one of the few who knew the truth, was able to witness this side of them.
Once the door closed and all the spells reactivated, Esmue confirmed they were in place, cleared her throat once under the concentrated attention, and spoke with feigned indifference.
"Hmm, I received some urgent information regarding my beloved husband."
Even though it wasn't a direct exchange of letters but merely information, at that reaction where she couldn't control the corners of her mouth, the five siblings simultaneously erupted with explosive responses.
"The one Eselua told us about!"
"Big Bro! Please prepare more tea!"
"Aren't you guys overreacting? It's not even a letter, just intel."
The Second Prince, who was known to be in a power struggle with Esmue over the throne, excitedly prepared tea, and while the Fourth Princess Eselua gathered the refreshments the servants had set out, the Third Prince and Fifth Princess rushed to Esmue's side with cushions, swiftly settling into place.
Even the Sixth Princess, who had been pretending indifference, stealthily crept up behind Esmue and subtly peeked at the contents of the envelope as Esmue began to open it. Meanwhile, Esmue cleared her throat to get everyone's attention.
"Hmph, hmph! Just as Menelmuiera said. Anyone would think it's a love letter. It's merely a report, I tell you."
"Yeah, yeah, just read it already, big sis. The rumors about that person are absolutely absurd. Did he cause another incident this time too?"
"You little brat."
Esmue wasn't particularly bothered by any badmouthing of Eldmia, but the word 'absurd' didn't sit right with her, so she didn't hesitate to flick the Third Prince's forehead. Though she was so delicate that he reacted like it didn't even itch.
"Let's see... Ah, it seems they've finally tracked his whereabouts in the West. As Asilie predicted, it was a gate connected to the Great Grassland."
"Wow, our brother-in-law's life is really eventful, huh? He must never be bored."
As soon as the Third Prince used the term 'brother-in-law,' Esmue's lips nearly reached her ears. She forcefully suppressed her feelings and rubbed the forehead she had just flicked.
Of course, thanks to the thoroughly relaxed atmosphere, her lips danced like earthworms, inching toward her ears, and there wasn't a single one of her siblings who didn't notice how much the term 'brother-in-law' pleased her.