Chapter 62
Chapter 62
The long corridor stretching between thick stone walls was slanted with the afternoon sunlight.
After inspecting the drainage construction site with Aileen, Calix returned to the lord’s castle and headed for the terrace where Raellion and Miron were.
“…Are you really going to do that? It seems like it’ll be difficult.”
“Even if it’s difficult, we have to try.”
“But I don’t think Calix will just sit still…”
The two whispered about their plan without even realizing Calix had approached.
“What exactly won’t I be sitting still about?”
“Eek!”
Only then did Raellion notice Calix and sprang to his feet with a strange cry. His chair toppled over with a loud crash.
Miron’s eyes widened in surprise as well, but he quickly composed himself and calmly set Raellion’s chair upright.
“Uh… when did you get here?”
Raellion asked cautiously, bristling like a hedgehog. Anyone could see how suspicious he looked, and Calix’s eyes narrowed.
“If you try anything strange in my territory, you won’t set foot here again.”
“Ah, don’t worry. I’ll stay quietly and leave.”
“As if.”
Calix scoffed and turned to Miron.
“The same goes for you. Don’t do anything unnecessary. Stay quietly and leave.”
Miron simply smiled in agreement.
“More importantly, when do you intend to fulfill the condition you mentioned for coming to Belheim?”
“If you permit me to visit Belheim, I will arrange for you to meet Lord Arke.”
On the day they returned from Nubiar to Belheim, Miron had made that proposal to Calix.
Arke.
The god worshiped by the elves. Calix had long wished to meet him in order to find answers to questions he had carried for years.
However, the elves—who disliked humans, and especially harbored ill feelings toward Calix—would never allow it.
So he had already given up on the idea. Naturally, when he received such an offer, he accepted it.
“You didn’t lie to me, did you?”
“Of course not. I swear on the name of Lord Arke that I will keep my promise.”
When Miron invoked the god’s name, the suspicion in Calix’s gaze softened slightly.
“I must return to the forest in order to fulfill that promise, so please wait just a little longer.”
“I hope you return quickly.”
Calix turned toward Raellion, who was awkwardly sitting down again.
“You should leave quickly too.”
“Even if you don’t rush me, I’ll stay just a little longer and then go.”
“I’d prefer it if you didn’t stay even that little and just left right now.”
Raellion grumbled that Calix was being too harsh, but Calix ignored him and left.
The next day, Raellion was dragged away by Zephyr, who had come looking for him.
Raellion struggled, insisting he would stay a few more days, but Zephyr would not allow it.
“Please remember that you are the Master of the Magic Tower and behave like one, Lord Raell!”
Zephyr even shouted as he mercilessly hauled him away.
In truth, it was Calix who had summoned Zephyr. He was uneasy that Raellion might do something strange in his territory and couldn’t just leave him alone.
For the same reason, Miron was also irritating. And Calix wanted to meet Arke as soon as possible.
To send him back, the migration project in Nubiar had to be completed first, so Calix pressed Marquis Howell Smith for progress nearly every day.
Whether that pressure worked or not, news arrived that the migration project had been completed before summer even began.
And that same day was Aileen’s birthday.
“Happy birthday, Aileen.”
As soon as I opened my eyes that morning, Tabin placed a large gift box into my arms. Inside was a leather bag for carrying tools.
“I noticed your tool bag was getting pretty worn, so I prepared this… Do you like it?”
“Yes. I really like it.”
I liked it far more than the hairpin he had given me last year.
“I’m going to carry this starting today.”
I took everything out of my old bag and moved it into the new one. Tabin watched me with a satisfied smile.
On the way to work with my new bag slung over my shoulder—
“Aileen, I heard it’s your birthday today. Congratulations.”
“Happy birthday, Aileen. Here’s a gift.”
The villagers I met on the way also congratulated me.
Even the people I met on the stagecoach going from the outer city to the inner city gave me birthday wishes and small gifts.
Last year, only Tabin and the neighbors had congratulated me. Receiving so much from so many people left me bewildered.
“The star of the day has arrived!”
The birthday celebration continued even after I arrived at the Urban Development Department office.
My desk was piled high with cake, bouquets, and gift boxes.
“What is all this?”
“What do you mean what? Birthday presents. Come on, bring it here.”
When Anton Brown gestured, an employee lit the candles on the cake and carried it over.
“Happy birthday.”
The employees clapped and sang the birthday song. Not only the Urban Development Department staff were there—employees from other departments had gathered as well.
Just last year these same people openly ignored me, so seeing them celebrate my birthday now felt strange.
While we blew out the candles and shared the cake, Miron came to visit.
“Is it your birthday today?”
Miron asked after seeing the bouquets and gifts piled on my desk.
“Is that man an elf?”
“His ears are pointed, so he must be.”
The employees murmured as they saw the rare elf.
In an instant it felt as if I had become a monkey in a zoo cage, but Miron seemed unbothered.
“Let’s talk outside.”
I felt self-conscious, so I brought him outside.
“Today really is your birthday, right?”
When we reached the end of a quiet corridor, Miron asked again.
“Yes, it is.”
“Why didn’t you tell me earlier? I would have prepared a birthday present.”
“It’s alright. I’m grateful just for the congratulations.”
It wasn’t like I was desperate to receive a present, and we weren’t close enough to exchange gifts anyway.
Even though I said it was fine, Miron still looked regretful. After thinking for a moment, he removed something from around his neck and placed it around mine.
“It’s modest, but please take this at least.”
At the end of the leather cord necklace hung something that looked like an animal tooth.
“It’s an ornament made from the tooth of an Iron Tusk. It’s stronger than most swords, so it should be useful for self-defense.”
So it wasn’t an animal tooth, but a monster tooth.
I didn’t know what kind of monster an Iron Tusk was, but from the description alone it sounded terrifying.
“I’m not sure if I should accept something this valuable.”
“It’s nothing really. And I think you’ll be able to make better use of it than I would. I guarantee it’ll be more helpful than that collar.”
At those words, I reflexively grabbed the metal ring around my arm.
“Thank you, Miron.”
“Miron?”
A sharp voice suddenly cut in, making me flinch and turn around.
“Since when did you two become close enough to call each other by name?”
Calix Krauvel was leaning crookedly against the wall. His expression looked extremely displeased.
“Using formal titles with names is a human custom. We elves don’t do that.”
Unlike me, who didn’t know what to say, Miron answered with a smile.
“So we decided to call each other comfortably by name. If you wish, Archduke, I could address you by name as well.”
“…No thanks.”
Just the thought seemed to irritate him. He frowned deeply as he replied.
“Stop loitering around and go pack your things. You heard the news that the migration project was completed yesterday, didn’t you?”
Oh, so the migration work was finally finished.
“I heard. That’s why I came to say goodbye to Aileen.”
I had wondered why he suddenly came to the office. That was the reason.
“I’m glad I could at least give her a birthday present before leaving.”
“Birthday?”
Calix Krauvel turned toward me.
“Is it your birthday today?”
“Ah, yes.”
“Why didn’t you say anything?”
“Was I supposed to?”
Do employees here have to report their birthdays to their superiors too?
Apparently not, because Calix Krauvel said nothing.
“The magic portal will open soon, so hurry up and pack.”
Instead, he barked at Miron. Even though he had reason to be offended, Miron still smiled and said he would do so.
“See you again next time, Aileen.”
After saying goodbye to me, Miron bowed to Calix Krauvel as well before leaving.
“Don’t get friendly with elves.”
As soon as Miron left, Calix Krauvel said that to me.
“There’s nothing good that comes from getting close to people like that. Keep your distance if possible.”
“What exactly is bad about them?”
“The way they talk and the way they act are annoying. They act like they’re so lofty and superior.”
…That’s rich coming from you.
I clicked my tongue inwardly but still answered that I understood.