A Deal for the Origin Protection Rune
"Sis!"
Amy beamed at Estelle. It was hard to believe this was the same woman who had looked so ferocious just moments ago.
"You've been working hard watching the shop."
Estelle returned a warm smile to her sister before turning to me.
"Hello. I'm Estelle, leader of the Red Rose Merchant Guild. You've got a young customer here. Are you looking for something specific?"
She asked with a gentle smile. She looked exactly as I remembered her from long ago—youthful and fresh-faced like a newly minted adult, with a slender yet voluptuous figure.
She was always the bright type, but seeing her with her sister alive makes her glow even more than before my regression.
Anyway. It was great to see her again after so long, but showing that now would just make me look insane.
I've got to play it cool today, grab the rune, and get out.
I swallowed my excitement and replied.
"I'm here to buy a rune."
"Looking to purchase a rune? Do you have a specific one in mind?"
"An Origin Protection Rune."
"Ah..."
Her expression shifted subtly at my words.
Not many mantises seek out Origin Protection Runes.
I could guess why she looked like that.
Plus, with all the deliveries to the Shinseon butterfly clan right now, supplies must be tight.
Rune stones didn't just pop out of the ground. They were typically refined from the inner cores of Primal leaders or higher, or from essences gathered in unusual places and environments through special rituals. Occasionally, they turned up buried with ancient Primal fossils, but that was exceedingly rare.
And this is the Shinseon butterfly clan's peak era—their population must have exploded.
I recalled a time when Origin Protection Runes had become nearly impossible to find because of it. The Red Rose Merchant Guild wouldn't be exempt.
Her troubled look at my request confirmed it.
"What should we do? Demand for Origin Protection Runes has been sky-high lately. We're only selling small quantities to verified high-status buyers."
I silently pulled out my status token and showed it to her again. Shortages often meant prioritizing by rank, so it wasn't offensive.
As a mantis from Mantis Hall, I ranked among the upper echelons on the Abian Continent, even if we couldn't match the four great clans.
"Oh my! From Mantis Hall? I had no idea I was dealing with someone so distinguished. Please wait just a moment—I'll fetch an Origin Protection Rune for you. Oh, and from F-grade to C-grade, do you need a specific grade?"
I nearly frowned at her words. Only up to C-grade? Come on, sis, don't lowball me like that.
Even with shortages, that was no excuse.
"I need a B-grade or higher Origin Protection Rune. Any chance you have a B-grade available?"
"Ah... B-grades are all reserved right now..."
Liar.
I stifled a chuckle as I watched her glance away, trailing off.
She'd never been great at lying—it always showed. How she'd become the continent's top merchant later on was a mystery.
Probably her honesty and killer business instincts.
Anyway. Knowing it was a fib meant I couldn't back down. A B-grade Origin Protection Rune was essential for a stable win in the first league. It'd let me dominate even the standout juveniles.
"You really don't have any spare B-grade Origin Protection Runes?"
I stared straight into her eyes, dead serious.
She flinched, met my gaze, and then...
"...Sigh."
She let out a long breath.
"You must need it urgently."
Resigned, she opened her mouth, told me to hold on, and stepped away.
Scrrch.
She returned with a ledger and flipped through it in front of me.
"Hmm, I might be able to squeeze one out..."
"..."
"But I can't just give it away."
As expected. With her personality, she'd propose a trade. She always said even family ties needed give-and-take to stay healthy.
Had she handed one over without conditions, I'd have been disappointed. The Estelle I knew still had a ways to go...
"Of course?"
I prompted her, and she spoke calmly.
"Our guild's run into a little trouble lately."
"What kind?"
"One of our main products is black coal wood."
I knew it. A tree black from roots to leaves, one of the Abian Continent's key energy sources—like Earth's coal.
The Red Rose Merchant Guild controlled one of the few natural groves, fueling their rise to top-three status.
That vital spot's in trouble?
I eyed her curiously. What could have gone wrong there?
"Aleck, right? Have you heard of Primal soldier white ants?"
"Primal soldier white ants... Yeah."
I got it instantly.
Soldier white ants. Subspecies of white ants with high combat prowess—practically captains of the white ant world. Bigger, thicker, harder heads than their bodies; their noggins alone rivaled enhanced stag beetle types.
They've infested the black coal wood grove.
I clicked my tongue inwardly. As white ants, they devoured wood. The damage from them munching black coal wood had to be catastrophic.
"Those pests have taken over our managed black coal wood grove. Help us exterminate them, and I'll sell you a B-grade Origin Protection Rune."
"Deal."
I accepted without hesitation.
Estelle's eyes widened in surprise.
"You... You don't know what Primal soldier white ants are like, do you?"
She figured my quick agreement meant I was clueless about their threat. Fair enough—even in my Infant Stage, they were no joke.
So why offer it to me?
The answer came quick. She was banking on my Mantis Hall connections.
Mantises neared tier-one on the continent. Our martial might dwarfed ants', so a few warriors from Mantis Hall could handle it.
No adults then. At most, reserve Primal soldiers as the top threats.
That explained the offer. Fully mature ones past five molts would demand an army.
Classic Estelle.
I grinned inwardly. She'd played reluctant, but really aimed to call in warriors—clear the pests and network with Mantis Hall.
She could handle it solo, but this nets bigger gains?
I read her perfectly.
"Even without adults, don't underestimate them just because you're mantis folk. You'll need several Mantis Hall warriors to drive them out."
There it was—nudging me to fetch warriors.
I swallowed a laugh at her cute ploy.
"Who says we need warriors? Tell me the location first."
Her eyes twitched. She thought I hadn't grasped it—brash kid energy from a young mantis.
"...I'll show you myself. Too late today—come back tomorrow at this time?"
"Perfect. I've got prep to do anyway. See you then."
"Sis."
As soon as the young mantis left the shop, Amy called out.
"You said this was important. We really entrusting it to a kid like that?"
Estelle recalled the exchange.
'Who says we need warriors?'
She'd chalked it up to youthful bravado. She'd nearly called off the deal then.
But...
Unshakable, resolute eyes.
She hadn't seen such conviction in ages. Even her rational mind wavered.
Her instincts screamed to trust the boy.
"We've got time. Who knows? He might actually help clear them out."
"Sigh, I dunno. He spotted your disguise instantly, so sharp eyes, sure—but soldier white ants are another story..."
Estelle stared at her sister in shock.
"He saw through the disguise right away?"
"Yeah, freaked me out too."
"He didn't figure out who we are?"
"Nah, just knew I used disguise tools. Mantis thing maybe? Anyway, he asked for recommendations on that hot camouflage cream."
"Hmm..."
Estelle pondered.
Doesn't seem like he knows our identities... but that perception.
She wondered if their disguises needed upgrading. They'd fooled all but the sharpest eyes.
But a young mantis spotting traces unnerved her.
What she didn't know: Few on the continent matched Aleck's eye.
A tracker? Nah... too clumsy for their approach.
Her mind raced—maybe an army ant scout? But no, too amateur. They'd strike, not probe via random mantis kid.
Odd one.
Ruling out ties, his actions stood out objectively: spotting the disguise, boldly demanding B-grade, unflinching at soldier ants.
Extraordinary.
What's he want the Origin Protection Rune for?
Mantises rarely sought them—mostly ether-heavy shaman clans like Shinseon butterflies.
Wonder what he's scheming.
Estelle smiled quietly. Best case, Mantis Hall warriors. But if he helped solo, it'd save time and coin.
Proves he's exceptional—worth building ties either way.
No loss for her. Her smile deepened.
"Sis, why the grin? Crushing on that pretty boy's face already...?"
"No! What are you on about? He's way younger."
Estelle snapped, glaring at Amy's nonsense.
Amy stuck out her tongue playfully, as always.
Sigh.
Estelle shook her head with a chuckle.
Still... he is handsome.
A delightfully pretty boy. Imagining him grown was fun.
The next day, I grabbed my prepped items and headed to the Red Rose Merchant Guild on time.
"Welcome."
"Hi."
Estelle greeted me right away today. With the market over, she wore comfortable training garb instead of yesterday's outfit.
She smiled, then eyed the bundles in my hands curiously.
"What's that...?"