Chapter 23
Chapter 23
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 23
Chapter Title: Master of the Trading Company (4)
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Plip, plop.
Clink—.
Plip-plop!
Meb opened her eyes. It was still predawn. The raindrops falling from the sky had struck the tent, waking her with a noise that rivaled thunder. She'd never noticed it when she had a roof over her head.
Stretching like a cat, she looked around. It was Ivar's tent. The opposite of a villa with guest rooms prepared. Here, guests were ones you brought yourself and took responsibility for—and she was Ivar's guest.
At first, she'd been extremely wary of being alone with a man, a barbarian no less. But now that time had passed, it wasn't like that anymore.
Ivar was trustworthy. If anything, he often left her space so she wouldn't feel uncomfortable. Usually before breakfast when she washed, or late at night. Plenty of idiots at parties would grin cluelessly and strike up conversations in the hallway on the way to the bathroom. She couldn't fathom how a barbarian could have such consideration.
Today, when Meb woke, he wasn't in the bed. But it was just before dawn broke.
Pushing aside her puzzlement, she stepped out of the tent. Outside, Kael was sorting through his sister's belongings.
"Kael?"
"You're awake... miss."
"Couldn't sleep."
"Looks like rain soon. We'll head out shortly, so please go back inside."
The other party members were packing their gear too. They seemed ready to depart.
He was the one who'd tried to kill her once, on Alhena's orders. But the job had failed, and with Ivar holding the black dragon's power, there was no way to complete it now.
Now that they were allies, holding grudges was the worst move. Meb opened her subspatial pocket and handed Kael the items inside: a communication crystal, a mansion pass, and proof she was his guest.
"Once we reach the capital, lay low until I contact you, then head straight to the mansion."
"Should I report directly to the Minister of Finance?"
"Yes. The moment my sister tries to siphon off the treasure the Emperor bestowed, you'll tell her. Father won't let it slide."
This secured the funds that would become Ivar's. Meb felt a strange swell of pride at having helped him. She'd have to reinvest anyway to run the trading company. At that moment, the sound came again.
Clink—.
"Didn't something just fall?"
"Probably a branch in the wind and rain."
"No, it sounded like metal..."
"Who knows... Anyway, if you're ready, let's get going. I've already said goodbye to the Tribal Chief."
She'd wanted to bid farewell to Ivar before leaving, but he was nowhere to be seen. It didn't matter; she'd be back in a few days anyway. With that thought, Meb laced up her boots.
There was no send-off, but they'd mapped the route ahead. Back the way they'd come, through the canyon to the Empire's north.
The only thing was the whole party now feared the masked shaman band a little. But they could handle most magical beasts with ease, so they pressed on smoothly. Even they, however, didn't relax from the canyon entrance.
"As you know, inside here, magical beast attacks never stop. Let's pass through as quietly as possible."
"Got it. We're ready—let's go."
Tuning out the grating noise in her ears as best she could, Meb walked the damp path.
This trading trip had been exceptionally rough. Especially for her, a nobleman's daughter. If she successfully launched the company with more investment, she probably wouldn't come here in person anymore. A company head had no time to breathe. Especially if she wanted to survive against her sister.
That thought made her feet drag for some reason. Even as she forced herself not to look back. Then Lily, scouting ahead, signaled and halted.
"Something's off."
"What is it, Lily?"
"No magical beast auras at all."
"Really? There are tons of traces like something ate them... Hold on."
The others noticed the oddity one by one. Claw marks from magical beasts scarred rocks and trees everywhere. Half-eaten corpses and fresh bloodstains too. Far more than usual.
Keeping tense, the party advanced bit by bit until they reached the canyon's center.
The massive lake where the snake that once ruled here with its self-igniting scales had died. Kneeling there, catching his breath, was a familiar barbarian.
His body drenched in blood like he'd been dipped in it, even Kael and the others who knew him hesitated to approach. When Meb bravely took a step forward, a ringing came with a burst of blue flame. Bigo's axe swing, without looking back, had been blocked by the protective magic on her earring.
Clang—.
"Miss!"
"I'm fine. Bigo, what happened?"
It had been a reflexive strike. No real intent to attack. Calming Kael, Meb circled halfway around, keeping distance, and stood before him. Then she asked.
"This is Bailish Tribe territory—you shouldn't barge in, Bigo. Here for the Purity Horn again? Or..."
"Half..."
"What?"
"I only made it halfway. Even following the bastard."
Following him? She glanced back the way the party had come, but no one was there. Though faintly... staring into the distance, the terrain seemed subtly altered.
Bigo pointed across the lake with his bloodied hand. Toward the Empire—the direction they needed to go.
"Go."
"You okay? You're hurt bad..."
"Ivar's waiting."
"Ivar is?"
Ivar waiting for them. She understood the meaning soon after passing the lake. Every ten steps, so many beast corpses littered the ground they crunched underfoot. Most torn by blades, brute force, or external impacts.
A roar echoed from afar. Like rocks shattering. They'd only heard he was a Great Warlord—no one had seen him fight. This was the first time. Kael, skin prickling in the charged air, shivered first.
No way, you're joking— The words came from a gold-rank adventurer, one of fewer than two hundred across the Empire.
"Ah, miss!"
"Don't go ahead—it's dangerous!"
Meb lengthened her strides. Her aching legs pushed forward on their own. Shattered earring fragments littered the dirt. The ringing grew worse.
Her mind was filled only with thoughts of Ivar. She hadn't seen him since yesterday's morning meeting. How much time had passed? Half a day? No, eighteen hours? Maybe more?
She couldn't tell. But one thing was clear: Ivar was clearing the canyon not for anything else, but purely for her sake. That thought moved her legs of its own accord.
"Hah, hah... ha."
How far had she run? At last, she reached the exit. A few more steps to the Empire-bound path. Right there stood Ivar.
He wasn't unscathed. Barely recognizable. Mostly beast blood and flesh, probably. But if that were all, he wouldn't be heaving so raggedly.
He turned. And spoke not to Meb, but to Kael following behind.
"Faster than I thought. Figured you'd leave a day later."
"Didn't want to run into those water witches again. But you—what the hell..."
Ivar gave no answer, just stepped aside. Pointing to the exit with a swollen finger, as if saying go through.
Their eyes met. Every moment of her life—even when death loomed—her silver tongue had flowed smoothly. Now it broke like a fool's.
"Uh, um...!"
"Hm? Safe travels."
"Ah, th-that..."
"What? You are coming back, right? Not planning to vanish?"
No. She would come back. Not just this time, but after. Not for business—for his face sometimes too—
Clink—!
As she tried to answer, the sound rang again. This time, she clearly recognized what it was.
Infinitely light in hand, but world-moving when released. A treasure beyond what Goldline valued over life itself. Money.
Dawn, campfire, lakeside grass scent. Harald snoring after saying his piece and rolling over. Kara mumbling in her sleep with tears. The Heaven's Shield adventurers breathing steadily, eavesdropping.
Surrounded by it all, the first conversation she'd had alone with Ivar flashed through Meb's mind like a panorama.
—What if someone who truly loves you appears?
—That'd be a win. High bidder, always hoping for it.
—Even if you fall for them instead?
Yes. That was the topic they'd discussed. What overflowed now was something she'd thought impossible for her. An emotion she'd seen only as a commodity to price and sell.
—Merchants don't move on feelings. Might vary a bit, but won't discount much.
—Three gold coins? That's generous.
Clink, clink—.
Clink, clink, clink—!
Chingchichiching!!
Too late, Meb realized the meaning of the sound pouring like rain—not in her ears, but her heart.
Not three gold coins—but because of the feelings blooming for Ivar.
Everything she had had gone to him in an instant.