Chapter 118: A Dubious Organization
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 118: A Dubious Organization
“Ugh, my back.”
“Does it hurt a lot…?”
Sera’s warm hands gently massaged my back. After receiving an early morning, unlicensed, illegal swordsmanship lesson from her father, my lower back was throbbing, and I was in pretty bad shape. Of course, if I just swapped out my muscles, the pain would vanish in an instant, but still.
“Don’t overdo it, okay…?”
“Haha… I understand.”
Sera’s voice was kind as she continued her soft strokes. As I lay there quietly, it felt as though the unpleasant thoughts cluttering my mind were drifting away along with the pain in my back.
I was lying face down on the bed in my room on the second floor, shirtless.
—Oppa! You have a letter!
Tresha’s voice called out from downstairs. I was considering getting up and walking down myself, but Sera raised her voice instead.
“Ah, Tresha! Could you bring it up here?”
—Unnie?! You were on the second floor?!
A moment later, the sound of rapid footsteps—thump-thump-thump—approached, and Tresha burst into the room with the letter. She walked straight past the already open door and stood before me. Seeing me sprawled out on the bed, she asked what was wrong.
“Oppa? Why does your back hurt?”
“Your father wanted to teach me a few things. I just pushed myself a bit for the first time in a while.”
“With Father…?”
Tresha looked like she was about to jump to some strange misunderstanding, but regardless, I took the letter. As usual, the high-quality stationery was from the Lymain family.
“Aigo… I guess the schedule for the Labyrinth has been set.”
“Are you going back to the Labyrinth again?”
“Well… I have to keep going if I want to make money. It’s not like I stay inside for that long anyway.”
In reality, compared to other explorers, I was only moving back and forth between much lower floors. While most Gold-grade explorers hunted in the 3rd Stratum with parties suited to their level, I hadn’t even reached the end of the 2nd Stratum yet.
To put it nicely, I was being safe; to put it bluntly, I was a coward who couldn't go deep.
I tore open the envelope as usual and pulled out the contents, but to my surprise, the stationery was different from the norm.
“Huh…?”
The sender was…
“Renart Lymain…”
Who was Renart Lymain? After thinking for about thirty seconds, it clicked.
‘That’s Theodora’s mother.’
Renart Lymain, the possessor of a youthful appearance that would make even the long-lived races weep. Theodora’s mother. That aside, why on earth was Theodora’s mother sending me a letter…?
“Uh… Sera, just a moment?”
“Hmm? Oh, okay.”
I set aside Sera’s hands, which were still kneading my lower back, and sat up on the bed to read the letter thoroughly. As expected of nobles, it was filled with flowery language and various inquiries about my well-being.
To get straight to the point:
‘She’s offering to send me to Roanmarie.’
She was currently in Calax for some business and would be staying for the next two days. The summary of the letter was that if I visited the workshop within that period, she would take me with her when she headed to Roanmarie.
“Yoo Eon? What’s wrong?”
“Ah, Sera. I just have something to think about.”
I was incredibly grateful for the offer from Theodora’s mother to drastically reduce the cost of using the Teleportation Gateway to Roanmarie.
The letter even mentioned she would cover the round-trip costs, so that was a definite yes. I was very thankful.
But the problem was that I didn't have the money to buy a Gargoyle even if I went to Roanmarie. In the first place, even if I brought money, there was no guarantee that an unopened, finished Gargoyle statue would even be on the market during the short time I’d be staying there.
And even if one did appear, according to Theodora, Roanmarie had a very active auction scene. If some wealthy tycoon or a research-hungry scholar showed up that day with a mountain of funding, the Gargoyle statue would be snatched away instantly.
Still, regardless of the outcome, I was grateful that Renart Lymain had personally sent a letter out of a desire to do something for me.
The letter did say I didn't have to visit if it was unnecessary, but there was such a thing as etiquette. I should go in person and say thank you, but then explain the situation—that my chances of successfully acquiring a Gargoyle were currently hovering at zero percent.
I had to explain.
“Sera, I’m going to head out for a bit.”
“Is your back okay?”
“It feels much better after you massaged it. Thank you.”
“O-Oh! Okay….”
* * *
And so, I headed straight to the Lymain family’s workshop. As always, the monsterkin and beastkin were working hard together, despite the subtle exclusion they faced from others.
“Young Master, welcome.”
“Yes. Is Lady Renart perhaps…?”
“I will prepare a carriage.”
“Is she not here?”
“The Chairwoman is currently at the Lymain Treatment Center.”
If she was at the treatment center, was she feeling unwell? She didn't seem like someone fragile enough to need my concern. When I first met her, she looked so slender that she seemed like a married woman who did a lot of postpartum recovery exercises or Pilates.
As it turned out, she was a powerhouse that Theodora couldn't even touch yet, and even I hadn't been able to land a proper attack on her.
There wasn't much difference between then and now. At most, I’d cleared out one Orc tribe and consumed a few dozen Orc warriors. I wasn't exactly in a position to be worrying about her health.
—Creeeeeak
“Please get in. Lady Theodora is also at the treatment center.”
“Yes, I understand.”
Since the workshop was where I usually went to meet Theodora, I assumed she’d called me there for convenience. Seeing how quickly the carriage was prepared to take me to the treatment center, it seemed she had anticipated everything.
Last time, Grandfather Alfred and I—when I had completely lost my mind—had unintentionally fought in the basement of Auction Lymain, and through Grandfather Alfred’s brilliant plan, we had teleported to the Lymain Treatment Center.
It seemed the Chairwoman, who had been watching, had handled things somehow. Wait, was the reason I was bedridden for two days not a side effect of using the Dragon Heart, but because I’d been thrashed by her?
Either way, my mistake was clear, so I couldn't really complain.
—Young Master! We have arrived!
“Oh, we’re here already.”
I stepped out of the carriage and looked around. It was unmistakably the same treatment center I’d seen before.
The once-shattered vacant lot had been cleared without a trace and was now covered in a neat layer of lush green grass. It had definitely been dirt before; perhaps that was just because winter had only recently ended?
Since I had suddenly woken up in a hospital room last time, I wasn't quite sure which opening in this massive building was the actual entrance.
“Hmm.”
Scratching the back of my head, I walked further into the lot and saw quite a few people. There were things that looked like wheelchairs… no, if it’s a chair with wheels, it is a wheelchair.
Anyway, there were various people who seemed unwell scattered about. Quite a few had IVs in their arms. When I saw this place last time, there was definitely no one here. Why were there suddenly so many people?
I saw a rabbit beastkin nurse in the distance; it seemed best to ask her.
“Excuse me?”
“Hmm? What is it? Do you need help?”
“Was the Lymain Treatment Center always open to the general public?”
“Ah, it was recently reopened. About a month ago, I think…? I don’t know the specific details, though.”
The Lymain Treatment Center, which until a month ago had been reserved for VIPs of the Lymain family or those with recommendations, had opened to the public again after six months.
The nurse didn't seem to know the reason why.
“Then, do you happen to know where Theodora or Lady Renart are?”
“…I-Information regarding the Chairwoman and the Young Lady is, of course, confidential! What is your purpose for being here!?”
“No, it’s not like that. I have business with the two of them.”
The nurse was startled and began to shriek, drawing the attention of those nearby.
—What’s going on? What happened?
—Probably another guy hitting on a nurse.
—Hey, shouldn't we call someone?
As expected of a wealthy hospital, highly skilled security guards came running immediately.
“Halt right there! What is this commotion!”
“No, wait a second. Please listen to me.”
What on earth was happening? Just because I asked for Theodora and her mother at the Lymain Treatment Center…
“Hmm, I see how this could be misunderstood.”
It would look strange for an unidentified person to suddenly ask for the top brass.
—You there! He’s my guest, so bring him over!!
A sharp, familiar voice rang out from a distance.
“Dora…! Save me!!”
—I told you not to call me Dora in front of people!!
* * *
“Our apologies. We didn't realize you were the Young Lady’s guest….”
“No, it’s fine. I’m the one who made it easy to misunderstand.”
For now, I had successfully met Theodora. Apparently, her mother was in a meeting with some high-ranking officials, and it wasn't like I could just barge in and rip up the Roanmarie gateway ticket.
My purpose for coming here was to politely convey, ‘Thank you, but I’ll pass.’
“So, where is your mother?”
“In the 4th-floor conference room. Are you going to wait for her?”
“Well, I thought that might be best.”
“Hmm, the meeting should be ending soon. Want to go together?”
“Sure, sounds good.”
And so, I headed to the 4th floor of the Lymain Treatment Center with Theodora. It wasn't a very high floor, but since the place was full of patients with mobility issues, there was naturally an elevator. It seemed expensive buildings always had one.
“She should be talking in the small conference room over there.”
“But if it’s Lymain family business, shouldn't you be in there too?”
Wasn't Theodora also in charge of managing the workshop, which was a pillar of the Lymain family? Why wouldn't she be included in a conversation with high-ranking officials?
Moreover, seeing as they were holding the meeting in Calax, it likely concerned the city. As expected of an expensive building, the soundproofing was excellent; I couldn't hear a thing.
The fact that it was a public hospital with plenty of other ambient noise also helped.
“Well… I wasn't here when the meeting started. I’m not even sure who’s in there right now.”
“Aren't you curious?”
“Not really. It’s not like Mom only has meetings once or twice. I have a few guesses as to who it might be, though….”
At that moment, the door to the small conference room opened, and the sound of people walking out reached us.
—Creeeeeak
There were about five or six heavy, solid footsteps, and two sets of light, clicking heels.
—It was a very productive conversation. I am quite pleased.
—Is that so? I hope we can have more time like this in the future.
A woman’s voice spoke, and Renart answered. I stood up from the sofa and walked toward the conference room, catching a glimpse of the person she had been talking to.
But, hmm…
‘Wait. I feel like I’ve seen her somewhere before.’
Accompanied by two guards in black suits, a woman walked down the hallway from the opposite direction with her hands clasped in front of her and quiet steps.
She had rare pink hair and even her eyes were pink. She was small in stature with pale skin.
‘It’s that person from the hotel. Was her name Terry?’
I remembered her surprisingly well. But why was she here? And having a private conversation with Theodora’s mother, no less. Was she someone incredibly important?
“I figured as much.”
Theodora, watching from beside me, clicked her tongue lightly as Terry passed by.
“What’s wrong, Dora? Who is that?”
“Ah… I guess you wouldn't know.”
Theodora stood still, watching Terry’s back for a while. Only after confirming she had taken the elevator down did she speak.
“Most people call her… the leader of the ‘Antonio Brotherhood Above the Surface.’ She’s the head of that dubious organization.”
“What…?”
That person….
“She told me I was handsome.”
“What?!”