Chapter 148: The Tin Knight and The City of Scales (8)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 148: The Tin Knight and The City of Scales (8)
From Dorothea's perspective, it would have been much easier if Adelaide and Sophia had just stayed put.
Getting entangled in the power struggle between the Lion Duke's bloodline and the Kingdom of Heaven, or conversing with the Lord of Justitia, which offered no benefit in the current situation.
Both courses of action carried significant risks and could easily drag Dorothea into the mess.
In that sense, she could have held them back, telling them to stay quiet and not do anything unnecessary… but Dorothea didn't.
"If that's what they want to do, what can I say?"
That was the kind of group Dorothea's party was.
The party's main goal was to collect the eight sacred treasures, but when it came down to it, only Dorothea was truly obligated to see it through.
The Tin Knight was bound to her by a contract. Adelaide had followed her to grasp at any lifeline, as staying in her domain would have made her a mere ornament for Giselle's power. As for Sophia, she never voiced any complaints, so it wasn't obvious, but her presence in the group was due to Dorothea's own circumstances in the first place.
Since they weren't a party bound by a single purpose, the logic of "Don't do that, it's a loss for the party as a whole" didn't apply.
It might have been different back when most of them were little more than baggage, but her current companions, one way or another, were now of considerable help to Dorothea's own goals. It would be unfair not to treat them accordingly.
After all, a witch always honors her contracts.
After finishing a calculation that the Tin Knight, had he been listening, would have summed up with a single comment—"Aren't you just going soft on them because you've grown fond of them?"—Dorothea headed out into the street.
As she had no hobby of carrying around human heads, she left the necromancer's head hidden within a barrier in her room.
The first place she sought out was a consumables shop for adventurers.
The catalysts she had gathered in 'The Garden' had served their purpose in the battle against the Witch of the West, leaving her with only her staff.
Proper catalysts needed to be gathered from a forest and then individually processed, but she could make do with things adventurers used, like flint or emergency medicine. That included emergency rations like dried fruit and jerky.
The owner, watching her pick out items, spoke up.
"Eating only that stuff is bad for you. Especially with how skinny you are. You need to eat some proper food once in a while."
"...Is it really okay for a shop owner to call their own products 'that stuff'?"
At Dorothea's incredulous reply, the hearty-looking female owner let out a boisterous laugh.
"Of course! It's no problem since we sell proper food too. How about these over here?"
As she spoke, the owner pointed to a grocery store that shared the same roof.
Seeing that the clerk sitting at the counter resembled the female owner, they seemed to be either parent and child or siblings with a significant age gap.
Gazing at the meat and sausages hanging on hooks, Dorothea inwardly shook her head.
That kind of food might taste good, but it was difficult to store, making it unsuitable for carrying around while traveling.
"I don't need..."
'...Wait, now that I think about it, what happens to food stored inside the Gloves of Haider?'
Normally, one would assume it would spoil just like it would outside, but the same ingredients could last a long time or spoil in an instant depending on the storage environment.
Thinking it would make for a rather interesting experiment, Dorothea changed what she was about to say.
"Alright, give me a little."
"Excellent choice! Here, here, how about this?"
Brushing off the enthusiastic owner's suggestions, Dorothea accepted a bundle of goods and, in a blind spot away from prying eyes, stored the bundle inside her gloves.
As a bonus, she used a spell to blur her presence so no one would find it strange.
After repeating the process two or three more times, all her shopping was finished in less than thirty minutes.
Dorothea felt a slight thrill.
'This might be the most convenient thing for daily life.'
It was a level of comfort completely different from the Key of Opium, which, while powerful in function, was frustratingly ambiguous when you actually tried to use it.
It was almost a shame she would have to return them to the kingdom someday.
With all the various consumables and daily necessities acquired, there was only one errand left.
The western part of Justitia, a bustling street with an unusual number of large, ornate buildings.
Seeing a sign depicting a golden monkey with wings, Dorothea let out a dry laugh.
Pushing open a door that swung smoothly without the slightest creak, she was greeted by the sight of a luxurious marble floor and glass display cases.
Apart from the products inside the display cases, the store's interior itself was so luxurious it could be considered a work of art.
From a slightly cynical perspective, it also looked like they had just thrown a ton of money at it.
Inside the store.
A young man, dressed less like a manager or a clerk and more like someone about to attend a ball, rose to his feet.
He smiled politely and asked.
"Welcome to the Alchemists' Association. How may I help you today?"
*
Maris von Lennart's temporary residence.
In one of its many reception rooms, Adelaide was thinking.
'Oh, right. I'm a noble.'
It wasn't that she had a memory problem and had forgotten her own status.
It was just that she had so rarely been treated in a manner befitting her station lately that the awareness of being 'the one who is served' had grown incredibly faint.
"Lady Maris is currently with another guest. She asked that you wait in this room for a short while. Please, if there is anything you require, do not hesitate to ask."
The servants managing the mansion were all impeccably groomed, and their movements exuded an air of dignity.
They radiated the distinct aura of professionals who had served under a specific noble family for at least several years, not hastily hired amateurs.
They were exceedingly polite to Adelaide, taking the utmost care to ensure she felt no discomfort.
Even the guards protecting the mansion and the knights who managed them were the same.
Adelaide was struck by a strange feeling.
While traveling with the Tin Knight's party, she had done all sorts of things herself—building fires, fetching water, hunting, and butchering. Here, it felt like the staff would have a seizure if she so much as made a move to pour her own water.
Of course, it wasn't that Adelaide found her life with the Tin Knight's party uncomfortable or considered her treatment unfair.
She was simply recalling her past, thinking, So this is how I used to live.
Adelaide leaned back against the sofa.
Her two-handed sword, which always floated a certain distance behind her back, had been entrusted to the mansion's servants.
She remembered how, during their last meeting, she had spoken with Maris while fully armed, causing the guards and servants to watch her every move with extreme tension.
She had been taught not to carelessly disarm herself in a foreign land, but she felt she should show this much courtesy if they were to work together.
Besides, even without her sword in hand, as long as she had the Belt of Amaryllis, Adelaide was unlikely to be easily neutralized.
It wouldn't have the same destructive power as when the Kalidahs used it, but even now, Adelaide could tear a wooden table apart with her bare hands. A human body wouldn't be much different.
'I wonder when Miss Maris will be here. I don't mind waiting, but if I'm late bringing back news, the witch will give me that scary glare.'
She could have asked the servants, but it felt like she would be rushing them, and the thought didn't sit well with her.
Lady Maris. I implore you to reconsider. To retreat from this land now would be to drag the honor of our Lion Duke's bloodline through the mud.
And if we don't retreat, we'll sink into an even deeper, filthier mire. Besides, how do you propose to cover the costs? We can't even take in new disciples, and the existing ones are already fleeing.
At the sudden voices echoing through the room, Adelaide instinctively turned her head.
The sound wasn't coming from within her room.
'The next room?'
If honor can be protected with money, then it is right to protect it. It would be one thing if this were my personal matter, but the prestige of our bloodline is at stake!
Isn't the reason I came all this way because we can't protect it even if we spend the money? No matter how many of our challengers we kill, new ones just keep popping up like cockroaches.
That is because not enough blood was shed! If we crush them more brutally, more cruelly, how could those worthless rabble overcome such terror?
If we kill and kill until our infamy spreads across the continent—or at least throughout the Federation—then perhaps things would turn out as you say, Representative Instructor. But the funds required to reach that point would be so immense as to make our losses so far seem like dust. Besides, building that kind of notoriety doesn't help our bloodline.
Adelaide tilted her head.
It seemed Maris and her guest were conversing in the next room, but their voices were uncannily clear.
It would have been one thing if it had been like this from the start, but to go from complete silence to this was clearly unnatural.
Adelaide looked around. The servants must have been hearing this conversation as well, yet they showed no reaction.
In other words.
'Is Miss Maris doing this on purpose?'
Hmph, very well. I shall concede that retreating is unavoidable. But in that case, at least grant me permission to track down the ones who started this.
I believe I've told you several times that it's impossible. It might be different if they were a major merchant company that travels between continents, but our opponents were rookies on their first continental expedition when they caused this incident. Unless they're foolish enough to cross over to this continent again, it's impossible for us to track them. Are you suggesting we build a base on another continent just for a revenge plot?
This is not a matter of whether it is easy or difficult! If I give up now, who will appease the souls of my dead disciples!
Judging what is 'easy or difficult' is my role as an inspector. In any case, there will be no change in plans. You would do well to remember that.
Hah...
The 'guest' continued trying to persuade Maris, but she remained adamant.
The other person finally seemed to resign himself, letting out a sigh-laced remark.
I understand. I will follow your will. However, is our strength sufficient? According to your plan, our allies must be skilled enough to cut down the targets precisely, while also being able to escape without cutting down the guards or being captured by them. Slaying the targets is one thing, but there can't be many who possess the skill to hold back against the city guard.
Well. I am in the process of recruiting someone, but I haven't received an answer yet, so I can't give you a definitive reply. We'll make do if we have to, but I do think having at least one more person would make for a more spectacular revenge drama.
Adelaide gave a wry smile.
She had a vague idea of why Maris had orchestrated this situation.
There was a single door between the two reception rooms.
It was designed so one could move between them without going through the hallway.
Standing before the doorknob, Adelaide glanced at the servant.
They did not stop her.
Adelaide opened the door.
"—Miss Maris. You have a helper right here."