Chapter 260
Chapter 260
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 260
Chapter Title: Hatsan Goes to the Auction House #7
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Garden.
A vast, open space adorned with meticulously tended flowers and trees, a fountain, marble sculptures, and other expensive, precious items.
It felt so antique and affluent that it suited the name "garden" far better than something like a vegetable patch or yard. Luna and I arrived at this space.
Luna took one look at the massive iron gate and the thorny vines forming a colorful fence and made a comment.
"Wow, even though I came here last time, it feels totally different."
"Yeah."
The Sardiči Count's mansion was located between the east city gate and the center.
I couldn't even fathom the wealth of the Sardiči family, who owned such a massive estate and garden in a place where buying even a foot of land would be impossible for me.
Last time, I'd been invited to a nighttime event celebrating wartime merits.
Back then, things were hectic and it was dark, so I hadn't gotten a good look. Seeing it now in the daylight, it was truly splendid and impressive.
That skull baron's villa garden had been similar.
Nobles...
Spoiled brats.
I wondered what it must feel like to be born into the world and grow up in a mansion and garden like this. No way for me to know. Whatever the case, they lived in a different world from mine.
As I was lost in those thoughts, Luna pulled a scroll from the pouch at her waist and unrolled it to read.
"The alchemist guild's potion makers are to gather in the mansion's garden by 10 a.m.—Hmph, what do we do? I'm starting to get a little nervous. It's not 10 yet, right?"
"We're still a ways off. If anything, it's closer to dawn right now."
Without a wristwatch or phone, I couldn't tell the exact time. That's why we'd packed up early in the predawn hours to head to the count's garden, just in case we were late.
And the reason we were at the count's garden? It was due to the proposal from Count Hawkins Sardiči that had been delivered to select potion makers in the alchemist guild.
"Why'd they call me? Do they want to buy my secret potions?"
Luna shook her pink twin tails as if clueless about this sudden summons, but I had a rough idea.
Since the healers hadn't made any progress treating his daughter, he was probably trying potions or elixirs now.
"Hatsan, let's hurry into the garden! We can't be late!"
"Yeah. But remember, no casual speech in front of the count. It could be a big problem."
"Got it! I'm not that clueless! Hatsan, you have to help me just like I told you. I usually do it with Paranoya, but I have no idea where she's been lately."
"Alright. I'll help out."
After exchanging those brief reminders, Luna and I entered the garden. The guards I'd seen before crossed their halberds in an X to block the entrance.
"What brings you here? This is a no-peddlers zone. You know this is the private property of House Sardiči, right?"
"Here, this—!"
Luna showed them the invitation she was holding. The guards glanced at it, exchanged looks, and opened the gate.
"Sign your name and identity in the log there before entering. We'll give you a pass—wear it around your neck. It's before 10 a.m., but you came early."
"What time is it now?"
The guard checked the hourglass on his chest.
"About eight."
Two hours early. But arriving early beat being late, so I didn't feel too bad about it.
Scritch, scritch—
After properly entering our names and times in the log, Luna and I stepped into the mansion's garden. Trees and animals in vibrant hues, different from what we'd seen outside, greeted us.
That's when Luna tapped my arm.
"Hatsan, look at that! A deer!"
Just as Luna pointed, there was indeed a deer—a male, judging by the stylish antlers on its head.
"If we caught that guy, we'd get some amazing velvet antler!"
I agreed with Luna. Its antlers looked like tree branches reaching for the sky—so magnificent that hunting it would probably do wonders for one's health.
Of course, butchering a garden deer would get our heads on pikes first, so we wouldn't dream of it. The thing even had a gold nameplate around its neck—clearly a pampered pet.
"...Deer, deer—!!"
But Luna kept staring at the deer, showing an almost pathological reaction. Her breathing grew ragged; she was seriously excited.
Why the intense response to a deer? I pondered, then remembered: Luna had once been robbed by a deer—or rather, by Aktayon disguised as one—of all the money she'd scrimped and saved.
The memory of being attacked by deer and flung by antlers must still be fresh and traumatic for her.
"D-, dee—!"
"Let's go somewhere else."
I led the still-traumatized Luna to explore the garden a bit more. With two hours until the gathering time, we had plenty of time for a stroll.
"Ah, Hatsan, look at that! It's a Venus statue!"
My thinking proved right; Luna, sunk in deer trauma, quickly shifted gears and giggled at something fun.
A nearly nude woman carved in marble stood where Luna pointed—the artisan's skill was evident.
"It's well-made, but not as good as my Moai totem!"
"Yeah?"
"See? The arm's covering the front, so it looks weird. If it were me, I'd pull this arm back a bit more like—"
Luna, who had been touching the Venus statue, suddenly stopped mid-sentence.
Crack.
The reason? When she lightly touched the left arm, it shattered from the shoulder and crumbled to the ground.
Luna and I stared at each other, speechless. Luna spoke first.
"Hatsan, what do we do? Why'd it break so easily!? I, I just barely touched it!"
"Ugh, big trouble. Might as well drop the other arm too."
"Why?"
"One arm looks weird. Breaking the other should make it look balanced."
"What kind of nonsense is that!? Let's do it!"
"Yeah!"
Not only that, but calling this statue Venus felt a bit off—lacking, or perhaps overdone in spots.
I'd only seen Venus through spirit possession in Priestess Hersy's body, but even so, it seemed this sculpture fell short in capturing her aura; it needed some rough edges.
So I grabbed the right arm and yanked it off. Now I was an accomplice too.
But since I'd forced it, unlike the left arm that cleanly snapped at the shoulder, the right forearm awkwardly sheared off below the elbow.
It had its own charm that way.
Crack.
Maybe that sound did it.
A furious roar erupted from somewhere.
"Damn it—! What the hell are you doing!?"
Crap, busted.
"To dare smash this masterpiece of Milo, the Venus statue! You barbaric fools! All you know is destruction! Do you even understand art!?"
The sculptor was a dwarf with stylishly braided brown beard. Seeing him waving his hammer and chisel in rage was intimidating as hell.
"Damn, I spent nights agonizing over this! Just a bit more and it'd have been done... It was like inspiration struck, the goddess whispering in my head—"
The raging man soon slumped, shoulders drooping as if about to sob. Of course he'd be pissed and drained.
"Uh, sorry about that."
"Hah—. It's fine. I can fix this much. After all, I, Milo, am a genius. But... do you remember what the original arm pose was like?"
At the dwarf sculptor's question, Luna and I exchanged glances. Strangely, neither of us could recall the arm's original shape.
The sculptor seemed the same. After pondering various poses, he suddenly spoke as if struck by great realization.
"No, no—I was wrong. This is it: armless is the completion. I was one step away, but now I get why it wasn't done. It was too much. This... this incomplete form is the most beautiful."
"Is that so."
"Sometimes the most primal and violent becomes art. Thanks to you, I've had this epiphany! Sorry for mocking you as barbarians."
"Uh, no problem."
"Yeah! It's cool!"
I had no clue what he was on about, but Luna and I nodded vigorously. We had nothing to say anyway.
Time passed as we toured the garden, and soon it was 10 a.m.
"Alchemist guild potion makers, I am the butler Jin. I'll guide you to the apothecary room, so please follow me."
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Following the middle-aged-to-elderly butler named Jin, we entered a space equipped for boiling and cooling beakers and various chemicals.
It reminded me of the workshops in the alchemist guild or the school science labs I'd visited once or twice as a middle or high schooler. Probably no different.
Look at that—mana centrifuge.
Ultra-low temp cooler too. Enchanted with cooling magic?
I knew the count's family was wealthy, but I hadn't imagined such a lavish workshop inside the mansion.
The many alchemists and potion makers following the butler with Luna all flashed gleaming eyes behind their glasses. Even I could tell the facilities were top-notch.
Then the butler spoke.
"Feel free to use everything here today to brew your potions."
Faces lit up everywhere, lips curling into smiles. Luna slapped my arm excitedly next to me. Ow.
Someone asked then.
"So, if we do well, you'll pay as promised?"
"Indeed. As the count's proxy, Butler Head Jin guarantees it. You are renowned potion masters from the alchemist guild. The count and lady have great expectations. Please live up to them."
Pay.
The word "pay" sent the already heated mood soaring. Some even bounced around immaturely.
But it was understandable. The invitation had listed compensation for this job—a hefty sum, making it hard to stay calm.
『Compensation ? 100 gold coins & exclusive sponsorship contract with House Sardiči.』
100 gold coins.
But what really thrilled the alchemists was likely the exclusive contract with the count's house afterward.
Long-term, nothing beat that over 100 gold. Many artists and craftsmen struggled to catch House Sardiči's eye, right?
No famous person wants to stay obscure, so their excitement made sense.
For me, though, those 100 gold coins were the real temptation. Securing that would solve most of my problems.
As I daydreamed about the gold pouch, someone asked.
"So, can we see the patient? The lady."
"Yes. You may have an audience with her: one minute per person, under strict guard and maid supervision."
Sighs of "Ahh—" rose here and there.
One minute? How were they supposed to diagnose in that?
Noble's daughter—figures it's not easy.
If you're not confident, scram. The pay's mine anyway.
Reactions varied wildly. Watching them, I turned to Luna rummaging in her backpack beside me.
"Luna, you confident?"
"Of course! I'll show off the ultimate technique I polished this time. The pinnacle of skill!"
"Ultimate technique?"
Did Luna have an ultimate move? I imagined her swinging her silence totem at the lady's lower half.
Then pictured our heads on pikes in the market square, frowning as I snapped out of it.
"What ultimate technique? Since when could you do something like that?"
"Learned it from Nemea! They'll all be shocked! If I nail it, it might shake up the whole potion market in Sodmora!"
Luna's overconfidence wasn't rare, but today she brimmed with even more.
"What are you even planning to make?"
To my question, Luna rummaged through her bag and whispered quietly yet clearly.
"Origin Pearl."
[Author's Note] Side note, but I wanted Hatsan and Elfride to represent that lingering ex-couple vibe... Emotions run high when together, they hurt each other with words they don't mean, leading to rash outbursts...!!
But now I'm kinda regretting shoving that realistic relationship cancer into a webnovel... I thought it'd be fun...!!
But that's not the point...!! This cute idiot was lugging around a cross too heavy for her station, grunting away...!!
If Elfride had been legal instead of illegal, the whole city would've cooled off nicely...!!!