Night Market (1)

"Hmm... Isn't this a good outcome?"

The Emperor's entire plan was ultimately aimed at the Holy Kingdom. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Hadn't Abel himself said we needed to secure the Holy Kingdom's cooperation to thwart his schemes?

And didn't he mention we'd have to accumulate merits to persuade either the Pope or the Holy Kingdom?

Not only did we rescue a Saintess Candidate, but we also defeated the Oblivion Whale—a monster that held a grudge against the Holy Kingdom.

Surely that alone should be more than enough merit, shouldn't it?

In response to my question, Abel shook his head slightly before answering.

"Well, yes, it is a good outcome."

Then he let out a deep sigh.

"The problem is that it's too good."

As he spoke, Abel handed me a newspaper. When I took it, my eyes were immediately drawn to the articles filling both pages.

[Oblivion Whale That Threatened Holy Kingdom Defeated—Was an Arieh Empire Duke the Hero?]

[Saintess Candidate Rescued from Oblivion Whale—Who Is the Empire's Knight Id?]

The sensational headlines left me momentarily speechless. Perhaps reading my expression, Abel clicked his tongue and leaned back in his chair.

"That damned old man... He's stealing all the credit..."

Muttering curses under his breath, he exhaled deeply again.

"The problem is we're drawing too much attention."

Enough to occupy two full pages in the Empire's most prominent newspaper.

Only after Abel added that did I finally understand his frustration.

While securing the Holy Kingdom's cooperation was indeed our goal, making this much of a spectacle...

"The Emperor too..."

"Exactly. That's the biggest problem."

After sighing, I handed the newspaper back to him. Abel took it, irritably folded it, and tossed it carelessly onto the desk.

"I clearly issued a gag order within the Empire, but that old man..."

As he grumbled about the Pope behind his back, he picked up another stack of documents from the desk. Suddenly curious, I asked him a question.

"Does that mean I need to go too?"

"Of course. Though you'll be assuming Id's identity again."

After all, it was the Spirit Knight Id who had rescued the Saintess Candidate, Yurp.

"I see..."

So our next destination would be the Holy Kingdom, then. I'd expected to go eventually, but I hadn't thought it would be this soon.

"Then when should we leave?"

"A month from now."

A month. That was more time than I'd expected.

"So we have some breathing room?"

"I postponed it."

Abel fluttered a few sheets of paper in his hand.

"That's roughly how long it'll take for the current news to die down."

"You don't think the Emperor will make the first move?"

"I'm having Allen monitor how the plans are being adjusted. And if necessary, I have other informants too, so don't worry too much."

"I see."

"Besides, it overlaps with the festival period. They'll understand."

Come to think of it, Abel was still one of the Empire's dukes. Given that, he could reasonably postpone the date of his response to the invitation if circumstances required it.

"Oh, that ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠festival. It was called the Night Market, right?"

"Yes. Though the name hasn't been around for long."

"Who came up with it?"

I asked him about something that had piqued my curiosity ever since I'd first heard of the Night Market.

"Some wandering bard from the East named it that."

Abel answered in a casual tone, as though it wasn't particularly significant.

A gathering place for merchants and cooks called the Night Market. In a way, the name seemed fitting.

Still, I couldn't help but be slightly intrigued by this Eastern bard.

If my hypothesis was correct, he might be a Possessor like me.

Though for now, it was just speculation.

"Well, enjoy your free time while you can. Once we reach the Holy Kingdom, things will get truly hectic."

"Understood. You should get some proper rest too, Abel."

At my words, Abel rustled some papers before letting out a quiet chuckle.

"Right. I'll rest as much as I can."

As we talked, I noticed something—his demeanor had softened considerably compared to before.

Previously, it had felt awkward, as though he'd been keeping his guard up around me.

'I've also grown much more comfortable around Abel.'

Since I'd started approaching him more openly, he'd begun responding in kind.

Even the terms like "mastermind" or "villain" that I'd heard from my friend carried a certain degree of prejudice.

While it was true he could be ruthless and cold, he wasn't quite the villain or mastermind those words implied.

"I'll take my leave now."

Abel gave a slight nod in response.

Leaving him behind, I stepped out of the office—only to spot a woman with green bridge-cut hair.

Arin, the captain of the Black Crow Knights and my Spirit Arts mentor.

"Ah, Master!"

Lost in thought, she startled when I called out.

Her eyes widened as she took in my face, and then she immediately raised her voice.

"Lady Adel! Are you feeling alright?"

"Ahaha. I'm perfectly fine."

[...That's a lie, you're not...]

Pii, who had suddenly popped into existence beside Arin with a poof, said those words. At that, Arin placed a hand over her chest and let out a sigh of relief.

Come to think of it, had I really lied ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠about my physical condition enough for Pii to say something like that?

I deliberately avoided Pii's sharp gaze.

[Only an idiot would lie about their physical condition... You're the only one...]

"Pii, you shouldn't say things like that!"

I hurriedly tried to hush her, but she just crossed her arms, as if she had said exactly what needed to be said.

"Ahaha... It's fine. It's not like she's wrong."

[Exactly. A fool like that is probably the only contracted one in this entire Duchy.]

Silpi, popping up beside me in agreement. I had been a little worried since he hadn't shown up after waking, but it seemed there was no need.

As if reading my thoughts, he snorted.

[Worry about yourself before worrying about me, Contractor.]

'...I get it, I get it already.'

Honestly, everywhere I went, people kept saying the same thing—it was getting a little tiresome.

Of course, it also meant I had pushed myself too hard, so I did intend to reflect on it, but...

"Anyway, Lady Adel, please take care of yourself too."

"I am reflecting..."

"Haha. I have urgent matters to attend to, so I'll take my leave first."

Arin chuckled at my response and then headed straight into Abel's office.

In the end, the fact that she never once denied Pii or Silpi's words until the very last moment stabbed deep into my heart.

[Take this chance to rest properly. We still have a whole month before we reach the Holy Kingdom, don't we?]

"You were listening?"

[Well, not intentionally.]

Silpi scratched his cheek with a finger before turning to me.

[You caused a lot of trouble and made a lot of noise... but this time, you did great, Contractor.]

"...Haha, thanks."

For some reason, hearing him say something so embarrassingly earnest made me genuinely grateful in return.

At that, Silpi immediately vanished back into the spirit realm with a poof, and I couldn't help but laugh.

§

The sun had set, and the moonlight filtered softly through the clouds in the sky. Beneath it, the lively energy of people could be felt for the first time in a while.

Voices offering samples of food mingled with the occasional haggling.

"Hey, can't you knock the price down a little more?"

"You paid the same last year too. We can't do it this time—times are tough."

"Tch, fine. I heard there was trouble at the Magic Tower—guess it's true."

"What was that?"

Of course, sometimes the excitement got too heated, leading to arguments.

But even those were quickly quelled by a passing Knight's intervention.

After all, few people dared to keep fighting when a Knight from the Duchy was right there.

The Knights of the Order seemed busy during the festival too. From what I'd heard, half were on guard duty while the other half enjoyed the festivities in shifts.

Somehow, it reminded me of how school festivals were run back in my student days, and I couldn't help but smile.

"Mom! Look over there!"

"Goodness, don't run! There's no need to rush."

Every voice was brimming with the excitement of the festival.

Beside me, Lily was bouncing around everywhere, her voice giddy with excitement as she kept gasping in awe.

"Wow! I can't even see the end of the market!"

Just as she said, even when I looked far ahead, stalls stretched endlessly.

They said the festival would run grandly for a whole week—and it seemed they meant it literally.

I thought I knew a fair bit about this world, but apparently not.

"Look, they're selling grilled squid!"

Lily pointed at one stall where skewered squid sizzled on a grill.

I chuckled and took her hand, leading her toward it.

"Alright. Let's get some."

The ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠way her eyes sparkled told me she might sulk if I didn't buy her any. And judging by the drool already gathering at the corner of her mouth, she really wanted it.

Thinking that, I asked the vendor:

"How much for one?"

"10 Copper. You can get five for 40 Copper."

Might as well get five for 40 Copper. The only problem would be if we couldn't finish them, but between my stomach and Lily's gluttony, that wasn't likely.

Even for someone like me, who eats quite a bit, Lily was surprisingly good at polishing off whatever was given to her. In fact, food had played a big part in winning her over to my side.

Not that she was naive enough to switch loyalties just because of food, of course.

But it did mean she had quite the appetite.

"Five, please."

"That'll be 40 Copper."

I handed over four coins I'd set aside for change.

The vendor, counting the coins roughly, pulled out five perfectly grilled squid skewers and packed them into a paper bag.

"Enjoy your meal."

I gave a slight nod in thanks and handed Lily one of the skewers.

"Can I really eat this?"

"Of course."

The moment I answered, she immediately stuffed the skewer into her mouth. It must've been hot, but she downed it in one go.

I chuckled and ruffled her hair.

Turning my head, I took in the bustling market scene.

The peace I felt after so long was strangely comforting.