Chapter 14
Chapter 14
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 14
Chapter Title: Fountain Pen (8)
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Fountain pens were selling like hotcakes.
I heard the news five days after sales began in the capital.
It was possible only because my engine allowed quick travel with just a bit of strain.
Normally, it would have taken two weeks.
Of course, lucking into a group transport schedule helped too.
Still, issues like monsters, dungeons, and bandits remained.
But that wasn't my concern.
"That's for the postmen—oh, right, the capital uses mercenaries or couriers. Anyway, that's their problem."
At any rate, my name must have spread through the capital once more.
For reference, sales had also started near Rlangbur.
Two days after the capital, as per Professor Herman's letter.
Probably because it was my hometown, the professor pulled some strings.
"But that's not the problem."
The real issue was that my name was now known.
Fortunately, my face hadn't been revealed yet—all thanks to the professor.
As I'd mentioned before, he'd ensured I could focus solely on research.
So he used only my name and kept my face as hidden as possible.
Esili and Pretina knew, of course.
But if my face got out too, it'd be a huge hassle.
Hmm, better stay away from the capital for the time being.
"Maybe limit outings altogether for a while."
As I pondered what to do, the pendant caught my eye.
It was the artifact I'd gotten in the capital, where the professor had half-tricked me into going.
I'd scammed the merchant by saying it was a gift for Biena.
"Honestly, how could I give her something this shady?"
So I kept it, but I still couldn't figure out what it was.
It clearly had some magic engraved on it, but I had no idea what kind.
Alright, decision made.
"Today, I'll take a closer look at this pendant."
I placed the pendant on the desk and gathered various tools.
Many weren't needed, but I'd brought the whole kit, so oh well.
"Can't fully dismantle it. Just pop the lid."
With that, I began disassembling the pendant.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Vampire, Katiranya.
She was the progenitor and ruler of all vampires.
Everyone feared her, and her kin obeyed her without question.
When vampires prospered, she even established a kingdom.
She'd granted greater power to some kin and let them rule.
But soon, she fell into profound apathy.
As a vampire, she was effectively immortal—nearly unkillable unless by the Holy Kingdom.
An near-infinite life inevitably brought repetition.
So she sealed herself away.
It was effective against the tedium of endless years.
Of course, there were side effects.
"That damned Holy Kingdom has grown even stronger than before."
These were recent words from a human she occasionally summoned and used.
Just imagining the repulsive Holy Kingdom made her furrow her delicate brow.
"Even with our influence weakened, I never expected them to rise this quickly."
"Ah, indeed. Unbelievable."
To survive, the man agreed with her words.
Katiranya glanced indifferently at him before turning away.
"Our nest must be in seclusion by now. My presence would only stir more chaos."
"Right, of course."
"So I'll head to the Empire. An emperor—such a concept didn't exist before I slumbered."
"Of course, yes... Pardon?"
The man jolted silently in shock.
His face paled as cold sweat began to pour.
Taking this monster to the Empire?
If he slipped even once, his head might roll.
Assuming the Empire recognized her as the progenitor, that is.
Katiranya gestured with her chin toward the front.
"What are you waiting for? Lead the way."
"Y-yes, understood."
Trembling, the man took the lead.
Katiranya unfurled her parasol and began walking slowly.
Having touched the earth after so long, she hummed a cheerful tune, seemingly in high spirits.
The light, airy melody oddly suited her beautiful girl's appearance.
But to the man, now half-forced to realize she was a vampire—and the progenitor—it sounded entirely different.
It felt like the reaper's scythe tightening around his neck, ready to slice at the slightest mistake.
She looked like a girl in her prime, but her years surely far exceeded double his own.
Of course, Katiranya had no intention of harming the man.
Why kill a useful servant?
Thus began the bizarre companionship between human and vampire, laced with misunderstanding.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The odd journey didn't last long.
They reached the Empire's border in just a week.
Fitting for a race that lived in darkness and drank other species' blood—they managed a grueling forced march.
The man wasn't a vampire, but Katiranya's authority enabled him to keep up as well.
"Now, be off. I'll move alone from here."
From this point, she planned to sightsee leisurely.
With the man no longer useful, she waved him off dismissively.
"Understood! Wishing you the best of luck...!"
To the man, it was pure relief.
He bowed once, then fled without looking back.
The man made one firm resolution.
Stick to safe places from now on.
No more wandering far and wide for hobbies.
Katiranya paid no heed to the man scampering away tail-between-legs.
Instead, she focused on the peculiar mana wave she'd sensed earlier.
"Someone's gotten hold of my item. Hmm, it's Albi's Tear."
She recalled the pendant from a faint corner of her memory.
"It was somewhat precious, so I had a dwarf engrave a tracking spell on it long ago. Ah, a mage has it."
Though the mana wave was faint, she instantly pinpointed its location and the owner's identity.
"Hmm, shall I make that my destination?"
Katiranya resumed humming and walking.
Twirling her parasol, she moved with light steps.
Four days later, she arrived in Rlangbur.
Upon reaching Rlangbur, she looked around the territory with curiosity.
"It's developed more than I expected. Mana-powered carriages and such. Some things feel familiar, but that's inevitable."
She strolled lightly.
She leisurely toured the streets for a bit.
Sniffing the aroma at a bakery or staring blankly at the fountain.
Then she spotted a line of people queued up in front of a bookstore.
"What's going on there to draw such a crowd?"
Curious, she grabbed a passerby.
"Hey, what the—? Oh. Ahem, what can I do for you?"
The man, initially annoyed at being grabbed, turned and saw her.
In that instant, he smiled politely.
His cheeks flushed, and unmistakable desire filled his eyes.
Had she not been a stranger with such a youthful appearance, things might have gone poorly.
For the man, that is.
Ignoring his reaction entirely, Katiranya pointed at the bookstore.
"What's all the fuss about there?"
"Ah, it's because of Sherlock Holmes."
At the familiar name, Katiranya's eyes widened slightly.
It was a book she'd found somewhat entertaining recently.
"Sherlock Holmes? Did you just say Sherlock Holmes?"
"Yes, yes. Do you like Sherlock Holmes too, miss?"
The man was delighted at the shared interest.
As he grinned, eager to continue the conversation—
Katiranya was already gone.
She'd slipped into the bookstore, taken a book, and hidden away.
Of course, she'd paid properly.
She'd merely planted a subtle suggestion on the owner.
"No complaints there. But to think I'd find the next volume here."
Katiranya had taken a liking to Sherlock Holmes more than expected.
She wouldn't call it a masterpiece, but it was undeniably better than others.
For someone of her vast age to say as much meant she quite enjoyed it.
Though she'd insist she didn't judge lightly.
Her enemies were the Holy Kingdom and time.
Time offered no hope of victory, so to kill it, she needed distractions.
And she'd chosen Sherlock Holmes as one.
"Let's see what story this one holds."
She sat on a bench by the fountain, reading under her parasol.
Numerous gazes fixed on her, but she ignored them completely.
In about thirty minutes, she finished and gave a small, satisfied smile.
"Gasp...!"
The surrounding men inhaled sharply at that alone.
What had she seen to smile so beautifully?
Inadvertently, this boosted Sherlock Holmes' popularity.
Oblivious to her influence, Katiranya peacefully mulled over the content.
"Unlike the previous work, there's romance this time. Does the author crave love, perhaps?"
If Edn had heard, he'd demand what she was thinking.
Romance in a book doesn't mean the author wants it—that's ridiculous.
Unfortunately, Edn wasn't there.
So no one to argue with.
"Hmm, Prometheus, eh. First the pendant, then track down this author."
Katiranya rose from the bench and began walking lightly.
Her path led straight to Edn's house.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Argh, what the hell is this thing."
Damn artifact.
Frustrated, I chucked the tool in my hand.
It clattered across the desk alongside the pendant.
I stared at it for a moment, then sighed.
From morning until evening now, I'd been wrestling with the pendant.
Half-disassembled and wrecked, it showed just how hard I'd fought.
But I'd learned nothing.
Well, one vague thing: it emitted a strange mana wave when infused with mana.
That was it. Nothing more.
Of course, I'd expected as much.
As I'd said before, I was a half-baked mage without an Inner Realm.
Honestly, I was more an engineer using magic than a true mage.
"Whew. That's enough."
I tidied the tools and patched up the pendant as best I could.
Not back to original, but presentable.
As I headed downstairs to the dining hall for dinner—
"Leaving already? Why? It was just getting fun—stay a bit longer."
"In this state, there's no way to—"
What? Who?
The sweet, tickling voice made me surge with mana and whip around.
There sat a beautiful girl.
Perched on the windowsill, chin propped on her hand.
She gazed at me with an amused smile.
"A mage after all. Makes sense—you kept pouring mana into the pendant."
Her silver hair shimmered in the sunset glow, and her blood-red eyes felt faintly chilling.
Yet with that smile, she was like a painting come to life.
Cute enough to think so unconsciously.
"Shit."
I rapidly circulated the mana I'd raised.
Chantless, it turned to white particles in an instant, sweeping away the inexplicable haze around me.
"Crazy. Who the hell are you?"
I'd nearly been enchanted.
Not just her looks—some temptation magic or whatever.
A force disrupting my mind.
Good thing the dispel worked, but no room for carelessness.
More importantly, sneaking into my room silently was dangerous from the start.
As I edged backward stealthily, the girl let out a soft, amused laugh.
"What a fun one. No Inner Realm, yet chantless magic. Even in the old days, your type was rare."
"No idea what you're talking about. Care to explain?"
The moment my hand reached back for the door handle—
"Don't run. I have questions."
Darkness suddenly enveloped the handle.
I flinched, and she laughed softly, hopping down from the sill.
"I'll ask: are you the author of Sherlock Holmes, Prometheus?"
"Pardon?"
Sherlock Holmes? Why?
The utterly unexpected words left my mind blank for a moment.
Meanwhile, the girl just tilted her head with a smile.