Chapter 190
Chapter 190
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 190
Chapter Title: Corin's Shadow (6)
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“Master, are you really going to take that guy with us…?”
“Yeah, El. We’re bringing him along. He says he’ll help us out. By the way, you know this is the sixth time you’ve asked, right?”
“But…”
“Enough.”
“…”
El shut her mouth with a sullen expression. Well, I could understand her reaction. Not enough time had passed to forget what happened in Lüset or the elves we’d met there. And Callisto’s first impression hadn’t been great either.
But considering what lay ahead, we weren’t in a position to be picky about whether it was a cat’s paw or a dog’s paw helping us.
“All of Corin’s mercenaries are currently signed up for Daud’s orc extermination job.”
Daud was sharp. He’d offered generous upfront payments but included penalty clauses to prevent the mercenaries from backing out at will. On the surface, it looked like a great deal for them. That’s probably why so many had flocked to Corin.
“So Callisto is our only option. Even a regular mercenary would be a godsend, but he’s an exceptional one… This is a huge stroke of luck for us.”
That’s right. Callisto’s mercenary badge was the highest grade, reserved only for top-tier mercenaries. Even mid-to-high grade would’ve been exciting, but an elf who’d already earned the top badge? He could handle the work of dozens on his own. Meeting him in this situation was nothing short of divine intervention.
“Now that they know we helped Lüset, they won’t be rude to us anymore. So don’t worry about that part.”
“He won’t be rude only to you, Master. He’s still ignoring me.”
“…He must be shy around strangers.”
I placated El as best I could, then stepped out of the inn. As I wandered near the grapevines, Callisto appeared soon after. He traveled light, carrying just a single simply packed bag.
“Theodor, sir. Have you been waiting?”
“No…”
“I’m sorry. I tried to hurry…”
“No, no. I was just getting some fresh air.”
Callisto was so excessively polite and friendly it was hard to believe he was the same elf we’d first met. Like he was attending to a dear friend… No, not a friend—more like an elder he respected deeply…
‘This is awkward.’
Who knew the Elf Queen Diantha’s words carried this much weight? I’d thought it was just polite flattery… Well, it was helpful in this crucial moment. This is why you should live kindly—you never know when your good deeds will come back to you.
“Still, you don’t have much luggage.”
“Yes. I have no interest in possessions. Wandering from place to place, this lifestyle suits me better.”
No interest in possessions, huh. I liked the attitude, but then why was he so greedy for money? Did he have some backstory?
‘Asking now would be too soon, probably.’
I suppressed my curiosity and led him inside the inn.
“I’ve already spoken to the innkeeper. I asked to be notified as soon as a room opens up. They said one should be available in three days, so you can take that one. Of course, I’ll cover the cost.”
“No, Theodor, sir. I’m the one staying, so I should…”
“No need to refuse, Callisto. I’m the one benefiting from your help.”
“…”
Callisto hesitated for a moment before nodding.
“Theodor, sir.”
Then he called my name again, his voice quite serious. Was he going to refuse after all?
“What is it?”
“…”
“Speak freely.”
“…Cal.”
“Pardon?”
“Please call me Cal.”
“Cal?”
“Yes. My mother and sister called me that.”
…Uh, but I’m not your family? It felt awkward to point that out with how earnest and grave his face was. It seemed like he was making some huge resolution… Refusing over a nickname felt petty.
“…”
“…”
An awkward silence hung in the air. I nodded as naturally as I could.
“Got it, Cal. You can call me Theo too.”
“I couldn’t do that. You’re Lüset’s ‘hero,’ Theodor, sir.”
“…”
“Please, speak comfortably as well.”
He was more straitlaced than he appeared. He reminded me of Darion somehow. Though this one felt much sharper and more capable…
“…Alright, Cal.”
Once I answered—awkwardly—he finally relaxed, nodding with a relieved expression. Fine, you’re an elf, probably way older than me anyway. Let’s just overlook that. I opened the door.
“We’ll share this room for now. You take that bed. Lloyd—the guy using it now—is out on another mission.”
“Understood. I’ll be as unobtrusive as possible in your living space, Theodor, sir.”
“No, no… Just relax. Make yourself at home.”
What was I, the Elf Queen? I waved it off and pointed to Lloyd’s neatly made bed.
“Put your stuff near the bed. A room will open up soon, so keep it simple… Oh, you already travel light. Anyway, get comfortable.”
But Callisto unpacked like a fresh recruit at boot camp—rigid, tense, aligning everything perfectly at sharp angles.
‘Sigh…’
Of course, this was a hundred—no, a thousand times better than the rude elf we’d met before… But this had its own burdens. The road ahead worried me.
* * *
-Snip, snip, snip…
I trimmed the new sprouts sprouting from Blackie’s leg with small scissors, shaping the branch carefully. I even scratched the surface lightly to mimic the wrinkles unique to a fresh leg. It looked perfect now.
-Cawwww.
“Good job enduring that.”
I stroked Blackie’s head—he’d stayed still throughout—then fed him the fruits I’d made with [Forest’s Blessing], one by one.
-Cawwww.
After devouring them happily, Blackie spread his wings wide at the open window and flapped a couple times. The night breeze ruffled his feathers. Somehow, tonight felt good.
“Leave this here for now.”
-Caw.
I removed the green necklace from Blackie’s neck. Starting today, he’d be patrolling crow routes to intercept their messages, so he couldn’t afford anything that might make him stand out.
“If it gets dangerous, flee to the forest.”
-Caw.
Returning to the inn would be riskier. The Crows couldn’t detect our presence. It was safer to evade them in the forest and move again once the pursuit died down—for us and for Blackie.
Blackie had two missions.
Steal the letters.
Deliver fake ones.
If he delivered a letter, they’d break one of his legs again—but it didn’t matter. His “leg” was just a branch that moved without feeling pain, and it would regrow if broken.
A body optimized for fooling the Crows.
“Be careful out there, Blackie.”
-Cawwww.
He let out a long cry, glanced at me once, then soared into the night sky. I watched his rising silhouette for a while before closing the window.
“You handle animals well, Theodor, sir.”
“…Druid thing, I guess.”
I shrugged it off casually. Callisto shook his head slowly, his expression serious.
“That’s not what I meant. My word choice was poor. What I wanted to say is that you take excellent ‘care’ of them.”
“Oh, that…”
“I could feel the care you put into it.”
“R-Really?”
“You don’t lavish that kind of attention on a mere messenger bird.”
“…”
“Especially not remaking its leg in ‘that’ way.”
Elves gonna elf. Callisto had noticed Blackie’s leg wasn’t ordinary. He gazed at me, clearly impressed.
“As expected, you’re different from ordinary ‘humans.’”
“…No way. I’m just a regular human, Callisto.”
“You said you’d call me Cal.”
“R-Right. Cal. Slipped my mind.”
I pulled up a chair and sat at the table, gesturing to the seat across from me.
“Enough flattery. Let’s talk business.”
“Yes, Theodor, sir. Anything.”
Callisto sat opposite me. I pulled out a sheet of paper, placed it on the table, and began sketching a simple map.
“Is that a dog?”
“…”
Was this guy mocking me?
“A cat?”
“It’s a map, a map. Of Corin.”
“…Ah, now that I look closely, yes.”
I shot Callisto a slight glare, finished the map, and highlighted Corin’s castle and Sequoia Forest.
“Everything I’m about to say stays between us. It can’t leak anywhere.”
“Of course, Theodor, sir. I swear on Lüset’s honor to guard this secret even unto death.”
Wow, why was everything he said so dramatic? Was he related to Darion? Nah, probably not… He was just Callisto, no family name.
Anyway.
Good. Even if sensitive info slipped, he wouldn’t blab.
I lowered my voice and explained Corin’s situation as Lewis had told it to me. Callisto didn’t hide his contempt for humans the whole time. When our eyes met, he’d mask it with a neutral expression, but I’d dealt with enough elves in Lüset to see through it.
‘And it’s contempt well-earned.’
I didn’t tell Callisto about the Crows. I framed it as an ‘external force’ trying to topple Corin. Because… Callisto was a mercenary who’d leave once the job was done.
But.
“Theodor, sir.”
“Yeah?”
“Don’t you trust me?”
“What do you…”
“There are gaps in your story.”
“…!”
He’d noticed even the parts I hadn’t mentioned.