Blue-Haired Knight (3)
I read the letter again.
This Agnes wanted to give you time. To extend your time by as much as the time we've been apart, so that one day we might spend a long while together.
No matter how you gauged this Agnes's feelings, you sent just the right thing at the perfect moment—truly fateful.
I've mixed the basilisk eye you sent with my reagents and ground it into powder medicine. Take one pill made into a lozenge every morning, or a spoonful of the powder.
It won't be dangerous or addictive, but it might feel stimulating at first, so best to start when you have a few days to spare.
Don't worry one bit. As if this Agnes would ever harm you?
Ashushikara, that girl by your side—if she's still with you even after your adventures, she must be a fated companion.
If so, give her some too.
Women should take one spoonful a week. Be careful.
Kirgil, this pathetic Agnes even misses the pain of you pinching her thigh. I've read your letter over and over, and just reading it makes my heart race.
To cool the heat last night, I opened a book, and suddenly it was morning. I started making medicine, and suddenly it was the next day.
Sorry. Reading what I've written so far, it seems this Agnes has lost her composure. I crumpled up the letter several times right before this, but since you're honest in your writing, this Agnes thought she should be honest too.
It may be embarrassing to see myself like this, but please don't hate this Agnes. I wrote it thinking of you so much that I wanted to bare this embarrassment.
Reshi just arrived—morning already. I'll end here.
Agnes, who awaits your return.
"Mm..."
A groan slipped out unbidden.
Was it worry? Longing? Pleasure? Heartwarming? Pity?
I had no idea how to describe this feeling toward someone so far away—it was a first for me.
Not surprising, really.
In my home world, phones were a given, so I'd never felt anything like this.
A quick call would probably make it vanish. But this world didn't allow for that.
I'd tried venting it by writing letters, but with my body out of sorts, even preparing was a chore.
No, better to start with the medicine Agnes prepared. At least I had the strength for that much.
The explanation was oddly metaphorical and hard to parse, but it seemed like some kind of health supplement from this world. The village chief's house had always been stocked with good stuff like that.
There was a thumb-sized lozenge and some powder. The lozenge was probably for carrying on adventures.
Since I was indoors, I'd take a mouthful of powder.
Mm... bitter and cloying.
Later, I'd have to ask her to tweak the flavor a bit.
Reshi's letter was short and simple, jotting down whatever came to mind—like an elementary school kid's picture diary without pictures, or a lengthy internet comment.
[Feed keeps growing. Eats a ton, shits a ton. Got annoyed and called him Poopy Dog, now he's moping. From now on, shit in the woods. Feed the Toto-Cat]
Childish, but pure Reshi. What made it no laughing matter was that this was written in ancient language. Reshi's grasp of it now rivaled a decent mage's.
[Kirgil oppa! Village chief's gone nuts, big trouble! She was moping before your letter, then after reading it she started grinding stuff like she's furious! No sleep! Keeps making stuff! Medicine. Says I gotta eat it too. Ewww gross!
Village chief's smiling. Eyes red. Scary.]
Agnes must've pushed herself hard to make all this medicine in such a short time. I'd never have known without Reshi telling me.
[Me making medicine too. Round and round. Village chief cries sometimes. Cuz of Kirgil oppa! Ate her medicine and feel weird. Lying down but keep thinking of Kirgil oppa. Hot. Rode Feed at night.]
[Taking Erba's letter soon. Last note. Kirgil oppa come safe! Village chief asleep. I carried her to bed. Sweet dreams?
Write lots! More! She reads every day! Oh right. New house for Kirgil oppa. Ferio in charge. More but no time]
Scribbled all over the place, yet I could follow it perfectly. She must've run out of time at the end, even though she wanted to write more.
Time to reply to Reshi with some ancient language spelling corrections.
I meant to read Ferio's and Lirisa's letters too, but my throat was parched, so I grabbed the water pitcher from the table.
The cool water soothed my burning insides.
"Huh...
I'm standing right now!?"
Until moments ago, I'd been struggling in bed, but now I stared at my legs in shock—like a parent whose kid just took their first steps.
Could it be Agnes's medicine?
Whatever it was, it seemed to replenish whatever Killgent's Oath had drained from me.
It wasn't just anemia keeping me down. Dizziness lingered as proof, but I felt way more energetic than before.
Even my sponge down there was perking up healthy...
I finished the letters and prepared to head out.
This high-end inn had great service—you could even borrow clothes. Apparently, adventurers often returned with gear and outfits in tatters.
Why the hell did Ashu dress me in a skirt, though?
Anyway, sitting still made the heat rise, so rehab plus cooling off. Plus, I had business.
First stop: pick up the commissioned accessories. I brought one basilisk eye as promised.
The moment I opened the door to Jasgiria's monster-processing workshop...
"You're here!! Get over here now!!"
Still a powerhouse of an old man. He barely acknowledged anyone but me.
A female customer who'd just entered promptly left.
But hey, Grandpa—your complexion looks better since last time.
"You. What's your name? Never called you by it before."
"You were only interested in the basilisk stuff, huh. Kirgil."
"Right. Kirgil. Just learned it now. The materials you brought were such a shock—how could I care about anything else? Hahaha!"
A straight shooter, this old man. That's why I'd trusted him with precious materials without thinking.
"Anyway, check these out."
Jasgiria laid out two necklaces and a bracelet before me.
The necklaces for Rada and Suu, the bracelet for Lirisa.
"Need two more, but ran out of stock to carve, so take these for now."
At that, I pulled out the basilisk eye I'd brought.
"With this for the rest, and..."
"Kirgil, you bastard!"
Gah! Scared me! Grandpa's hugging me out of nowhere?
A real hot-blooded craftsman. Bet he starred in some youth drama back in the day.
"Didn't think you'd bring more for real. Hand it over! Starting work now!"
"Hang on... order one more accessory too. I need it."
I spoke up, and he suddenly calmed, face serious.
Jasgiria packed his pipe, lit it.
The hot-blooded drama flipped to detective mystery vibe.
Puffing smoke, he said,
"A greenhorn pup who don't even know the ancient tongue comin' 'round so bold demandin' a magic tool?"
⟨ Sigh... Disappointing ⟩
"Tell me about it. Hearing ancient from someone who barely knows it leaves me all mixed up."
"Pfft! Cough! Cough! What the—!? Kirgil, you a mage too!?"
"Not a mage, but I could teach one."
"Wait, wait! Sorry. My bad. Didn't catch that. Say it again!"
"Too lazy, let's skip it. You get the point now."
"Anyway, can I place the order?"
"Hey! You little—! Fine... Should've guessed when you mentioned Agnes.
Tell me the functions you need."
"Sudden attitude shift's confusing."
"Brat! I'm a magic tool craftsman too! Why say no to someone worthy takin' my work? It's the talentless beggin' that pisses me off most! If you were one, I'd gouge you for cash in a huff!"
"Magic tool artisans all mood swings like you, huh."
"Damn right. Every bastard makin' magic jewelry, armor, weapons—they're all like that! If the vibe's off, the heart ain't in it! No heart, no work!
Why you think armor looks so damn stupid? Maker's personal tastes snuck in! Like will in magic, magic tools need intent to form!"
My snarky mood swing jab landed as plain fact to magic tool smiths—no mockery there.
Aha, so that's why some magic armor's needlessly revealing or flashy beyond function.
Someday, I'll meet those armor smiths for a deep design meeting. Might score some skimpy gear straight out of games.
Least pass on my subculture knowledge to spark inspiration.
Then folks with strong faith makin' magic weapons could birth stuff like Killgent's Oath.
Mm, this world's magic gets more profound the more I learn. Kinda fun too.