Field Training (2)
Field Training (2)
The interior of the shop, which I was visiting for the first time in a long while, had almost the same atmosphere as before my imprisonment.
Mana Stones, Magic Devices, and various other materials were simply piled up.
In the first place, the owner of this place needed a quiet location, so she had no particular need for wealth or fame.
Because all she wanted was to practice the magic she enjoyed.
'There's no reason for an Elf like that to welcome me so warmly.'
I couldn't figure out the ulterior motives of the Dark Elf commonly called Madam, whose exact name was Tersia.
Even among customers, even those who were especially glad to see me, it had never been to this degree.
"Did she run out of money or something…"
"In my opinion, running out of money isn't something that would happen."
Flora abruptly interjected into my absent-minded muttering, adding a remark.
While Ayla, Camilla, and Gilbert were briefly looking around, a moment for just the two of us arose.
We exchanged a few words while leaving Madam aside for the moment.
"Have there been any strange signs around here lately?"
"None at all. It's been too peaceful."
"Hmm…"
The elven race was so stubborn and difficult to predict that I genuinely couldn't tell.
Looking back, even our first meeting had happened by chance.
I met her while raising Alcyone on the Northern Region of the Continent.
It was truly fascinating to encounter an Elf, a race that had vanished from sight due to past civil wars both large and small.
In particular, seeing a Dark Elf with your own eyes—when they mainly live in small numbers or solitude—was an extremely rare occurrence.
While I was thinking that, from her perspective, she must have been curious how a human was walking around fine on land flowing with Demonic Energy, and she approached me first.
Leaving Alcyone, who was busily struggling alongside the Demons, I conversed with her.
The Dark Elf, who revealed her name was Tersia, told me that she was looking for a settlement to rest comfortably after her long travels.
So, after some deliberation, I helped her settle in the Empire by arranging a new identity and residence.
Of course, I didn't stupidly do it for free.
I valued her outstanding Mana manipulation ability highly.
Among the mages I knew, she could perceive Mana Circuits with the greatest delicacy.
Since this kind of ability was rare, it suited as an investment for the future.
I finished the deal by setting the condition that she help when needed.
After that, I spent busy days using her services whenever necessary, but…
This time, it seemed like a slightly special case.
We had looked around enough, so it was time to meet Madam.
I called Ayla, who was absorbed in the Mana Stones.
"Everyone, you've seen enough. Let's go."
"Yes!"
Starting with Ayla, Gilbert and Camilla also followed along quickly.
We passed the familiar store counter and headed toward the back.
Creeeak.
As we entered the staff-only room, a man relying on the light of a small lamp came into view.
He had been watching this way from the darkness.
"I wondered what brought so many customers…"
He was a Level 5 swordsman hired by Madam, acting as both clerk and security guard.
He sprang up from his seat and approached with a nod.
Even if he didn't look burly or threatening, being Level 5 was sufficient to guard the store.
But wasn't it a bit disappointing that his Level remained the same even though I was visiting after so long?
'I understand that going from Level 5 to 6 is difficult, but is it to that extent?'
With some effort, aiming for Level 6 before the end would be feasible, but I didn't know if he was unaware, or if he knew and was simply settling for the present.
Well, the choice was always his own.
Anyway, I relayed my business to the clerk who was faithfully dedicated to his main job, firmly blocking the entrance even on a holiday.
"I have come to see M-Madam."
"You mean Madam?"
For a moment, I almost dropped the act of the academy instructor and spoke casually.
Thankfully, I calmly steadied my breathing and finished the sentence properly.
At this, the clerk glanced at me briefly and then waved his hands in refusal.
"Teacher, even if you say you have entry rights, you shouldn't bring kids to a place like this. Please turn back before I'm forced to expel you."
A small question arose at those words.
Previously, when I entered the room, he would recognize me and get out of the way. What had changed?
I tilted my head and pondered the reason, and the main factor was whether I had the brooch or not.
This single item was a means to show who I was.
To meet Madam, I had to take out the brooch, a definitive authentication tool.
Fortunately, my face was hidden in the shadows of the lamp light, so my appearance wasn't exposed.
"Well, we came for field training."
"Excuse me? Field training?"
I fiddled with the brooch I kept carefully inside my coat.
Drawing his gaze, I subtly affixed the brooch to my chest.
Just like that, I flaunted my presence and signaled that a distinguished guest had arrived.
Seeing it, the security guard stumbled backward with a terrified expression.
"B, B, Broo…!"
"Broo?"
I subtly glared at him, silently meaning that if he mentioned my epithet, he'd be responsible for the consequences.
I tilted my head, signaling him to think of the students behind me.
"Mmph!"
Realizing his mistake, he hastily covered his mouth with both hands.
Shaking his head furiously, he emphasized it was nothing.
Surely, Flora must have been radiating tremendous killing intent by this point.
"I, I meant I will broo… brook no delay in escorting you! I committed a discourtesy."
"Aha."
His sense for improvisation was decent.
Having verified my identity, the path to Madam was now open.
Seeing the clerk bend at the waist in a polite, 90-degree bow, I patted him on the shoulder.
"You're working hard."
"Th, thank you!"
After quickly passing the clerk, I hurriedly stowed the brooch away lest anyone see.
Then, I returned to being an academy instructor and acted as if nothing had happened.
"I'm going ahead. If you stay still back there, I can't bring you along."
"Instructor, wait a moment!"
Turning around here would mean showing my face to the clerk, so I continued onward.
I heard the sound of them scrambling after me like ducklings from behind.
And so, the moment I entered the room where Madam was, intense golden eyes set against dark violet-black skin greeted me.
Madam was unchanged, just as she had always been.
"Karon, it's been a while."
She rested her chin in her hand, a faint smile on her lips.
For someone who had supposedly greeted me with such fervor, her eyes held considerable composure.
"What business brings you here?"
"I have a request for you, Madam."
At my words, Madam, with a sly gesture, suddenly produced a glass and placed it on the table.
"Oh my. Here for a drink after so long? If you want, I could clear my entire schedule."
In that instant, gazes poured onto my back, enough to make it sting.
Especially, Flora's glare, which I could feel even without looking, was likely the sharpest of all.
If I left things as they were, Madam would clearly spout even more nonsense, so I drew a line before any misunderstanding could arise.
"Haha, your jokes are as consistent as ever."
I sighed, as if the ground should swallow me, and took a seat.
Then, conveying rejection, I pushed the glass back toward Madam.
"The children standing behind me are students I'm in charge of at the academy. We came for field training, and I'm hoping to get some cooperation."
At that, Madam put on a surprised expression and then moved quickly to grasp the situation.
"Field training? What could you possibly do in a place like this?"
"If you could simply touch them for about one minute each, that will be enough."
"Requests are fine anytime, but what do you plan to do with that?"
Rather than giving a long explanation, I answered with action by placing a Resistance Stone on the table.
Seeing it, Madam tapped her lips irregularly and spoke.
"Your educational methods are different from back then."
"There's always a method that suits each individual."
"I agree."
As she spoke, her gaze turned toward the four people who were only watching for cues behind me.
She seemed quite interested, her eyes half-lidded as she observed them for a long while.
"Hmm."
Silence settled softly over the room.
Madam brought the glass to her lips, and with the clear sound of ice clinking, she lightly sipped her whiskey.
"Alright. I like it."
The glass that had left my hand was refilled at her fingertips.
The whiskey in the transparent glass rippled faintly.
She nudged the glass with her fingertip and pushed it back toward me.
"One glass per person, so a total of four glasses. How about it?"
Instead of paying with money as compensation, I was to be her drinking companion.
Separate from the deal to help her settle, this was the small request Madam desired of me.
That's why I'd occasionally visit and talk with her, but it seemed the three-year gap had left her feeling quite lonely.
She clearly intended to use this occasion as an excuse to enjoy whiskey, making side dishes of news about my circumstances after my release.
"So there was a reason you welcomed me from the entrance."
"Well, I did wait three years. There's also another meaning, but I'll tell you that later."
Madam wanted a place for just the two of us.
I could feel her being as cautious as possible so our conversation wouldn't leak out.
It was likely the kind of story that would cross between the underworld and the surface.
I decided to only show Madam a suitable hand of cards that wouldn't cause problems with the Empire even if revealed, and accepted her proposal.
"Where did you get liquor like this?"
"Since after you vanished? This is quite an expensive friend."
Hmm, an expensive friend, I mused.
Without hesitation, I lifted the glass and downed it in one gulp.
The strong whiskey slid down my throat.
As my insides warmed, the scent of wood belatedly reached the tip of my nose.
Clack.
I placed the empty glass lightly on the table.
"Let's get started."
Madam smoothly raised the corners of her lips into a satisfied smile.
"That glass just now was to commemorate meeting again after so long. There are still four glasses left."
She rose from her seat with a fluid motion and then pointed at Ayla, who was holding her breath behind me.
"The student there who met a good teacher, follow me."
"Huh? Yes!"
Madam, who was heading toward the inner room draped with red curtains, suddenly stopped her steps.
"Oh, right!"
As if remembering something important, Madam slowly turned back and met the frozen Ayla's eyes.
"It's nothing special, so don't be nervous. Okay?"
Madam gave her characteristic sly smile.
At that, the awkward atmosphere that had been lingering around disappeared completely.
Madam vanished beyond the curtain first, and Ayla followed behind her.
Just as the situation seemed to be settling down, Madam popped only her head back out as if she had one last thing to add and pointed at the liquor bottle.
"You can't drink all of it since it's expensive, okay?"
"What kind of Madam do you take me for… I won't."
At my reply, Madam giggled and then completely vanished from sight.
During the three years I was gone, this Dark Elf must have been terribly bored.