Chapter 59
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 59
Chapter Title: The Key and the Flower (6)
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The noise from outside the alley vanished in an instant, replaced by a chilling air that prickled the skin like it was about to freeze solid.
The pounding of my heart echoed astonishingly loud in my ears.
"I don't want to hurt you, Liberic."
Even as the tip of his sword pointed unwaveringly at me, Lambert said those words.
Tasha's face was stiff, devoid of any smile.
"I don't want to hurt either of you, either."
Were they really going to attack me? With knights so nearby?
They had to know that assaulting me would bring the wrath of the Prius Knight Order down on them.
Those thoughts raced through my mind.
No way, I thought, even as I drew in my mana.
As the flow of mana began to swirl in a small circle at my feet, Tasha spoke in a cold voice.
"You think your magic will be faster than our blades?"
The two short, pointed daggers in Tasha's hands were poised to lunge at me at any moment.
I calmly met their tips with my gaze.
"Ash should be fast enough."
As if in response to my words, Ash suddenly appeared at my side.
Silver mana swelled rapidly, enlarging Ash's body.
Enveloping me completely, Ash lowered its stance and growled at the two of them.
Its eyes gleamed red, savage fangs fully bared.
"That wolf..."
Lambert and Tasha faltered, stepping back at Ash's menacing form.
This was my chance to persuade them while they were rattled.
"Lambert, Tasha. Fighting here won't do any of us any good."
I spoke quickly.
"Why don't you leave the key to me? I'll ask Teacher Luwen and Master Claus about it, then decide what to do. Until then, I'll..."
"Master Claus? You mean that 'sage,' Claus?"
"Pardon? Oh, yes."
Lambert suddenly cut in, his face twisted in a scowl.
I answered reflexively. Was there another Claus?
"You're Claus's disciple?"
"Yes...?"
Lambert stared at me with a strange look.
What?
I had no idea what was going on, but I needed to finish what I was saying.
Just as I was about to ask if I could continue, Lambert spoke again.
"Let's call it off."
With that, he sheathed his sword.
Tasha turned to him with a bewildered expression, her sword tip dipping in confusion.
"Call it off? Give up on the key?"
"She'll kick up a fuss for a while, sure, but what can that old hag do if Claus's disciple has it? At least now we know who has it, where, and why."
"...Fine, you take responsibility."
Tasha let out a long sigh and sheathed her daggers.
Only then did Lambert chuckle and nod toward me.
"Besides, robbing a fresh-faced kid and making him cry feels off."
"Who're you calling a fresh-faced kid?"
I snapped back indignantly, but I was deeply relieved that the fight was averted.
Thank goodness. I really hadn't wanted to clash with them...
After stowing my staff and the key, I stroked Ash, who was still protectively curled around me.
The growling had subsided, but it was still glaring at Lambert and Tasha.
"Ash, it's okay now."
Only then did Ash blink and look up at me.
Its eyes, once terrifying, were now a gentle red.
"...Is that wolf really safe?"
"Of course."
Even as I smiled and reassured him, Lambert couldn't hide his unease.
Ash stretched out, drawing in mana to shrink back to a smaller size.
But it still stood guard between me and them, wary of Lambert and Tasha.
"Sigh. Anyway, as I said, the knot-solving key is an extremely dangerous tool. We've chased it for months and run into all sorts—magical beasts, demons, you name it. If you're handing it to Prius, keep that in mind."
Having neatly given up on the key, Lambert offered earnest advice.
Tasha, respecting his view, said nothing more.
I headed back to the inn with them.
"It was probably worse because the key was broken."
"Broken?"
Lambert looked genuinely surprised, as if hearing it for the first time.
He hadn't known?
That struck me as odd.
"Yes... The incantation was damaged, so it was constantly draining its embedded mana and activating on its own.
It would've easily drawn in variant magical beasts like black gatras, and it probably wrecked nearby magic tools too."
"Ah, so that's why other magic tools kept breaking... Makes sense."
Lambert muttered to himself, roughly raking a hand through his hair.
"So it's fine now?"
Tasha, who had been listening quietly, asked. I nodded.
"Yes, I fixed it. On the outside, it's just an ordinary metal key now, and it doesn't emit mana anymore. So it shouldn't attract as much attention as before.
But I do have one question... Who is this original owner?"
Who could personally own such an incredible magic tool crafted by Ragot Althur?
Even my master, Claus, his disciple, had never mentioned it.
"That's hard to say. Client confidentiality."
Lambert flashed a mischievous grin.
Didn't he use a similar excuse last time?
A ridiculous sigh escaped me.
"Really? You don't seem like the type to take contracts that seriously."
"Just ask your master. If you're really Sage Claus's disciple, that is."
As I raised an eyebrow and looked up at him, he awkwardly averted his gaze.
'You said you didn't believe me either.' It was a childish, petty attitude.
Getting anything useful out of them would be tough.
"...Fine. I'll keep the key safe, so just pass that on to your 'original owner'."
"We'll handle that."
Lambert and Tasha stopped walking.
We were in front of the garden behind the building hosting the banquet.
The music from the hall had stopped.
But chatter and laughter still drifted out occasionally. Everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves still.
Lambert glanced toward the hall, then turned back to me with a serious expression.
"Even if it draws less attention now, stay cautious. Magical beasts or demons might still come after you."
"That's nothing new. You'd be surprised how used to it I am. Don't worry."
Lambert and Tasha offered complicated handshakes.
"We'll meet again, little mage."
"Liberic."
"...Right, Liberic."
Lambert grinned and corrected himself. I shook Tasha's hand too.
"Take care. See you next time."
"You too, Tasha. You're leaving already?"
I thought the inn was in the same building.
"Thanks to you, the contract's blown, so I need something strong to sleep tonight."
Lambert waved as he sauntered into the dark alley.
"Don't worry! If I change my mind and try sneaking up on you while you sleep, I'll block it as best I can."
Tasha giggled and followed him into the shadows.
That parting shot left a lingering unease.
Ash watched their retreating figures intently.
'I'll keep watch.'
"Thanks, Ash. It'll probably be fine..."
I stroked Ash's fur, forcing myself to calm down.
The next morning, I woke from a tense sleep feeling anything but refreshed.
I trusted Lambert and Tasha, but not completely—an awkward halfway trust.
Fortunately, nothing happened overnight, and Ash didn't wake me.
Anyway, the two had left Beldaine at dawn... And the one who told me was, surprisingly, Merchant Lord Hopf.
Merchant Lord Hopf was bellowing in the first-floor hall from morning.
"Those monsters took my money and ran! What are the knights doing? Shouldn't you hunt down scum like that?!"
"Gonna die, for real."
Shuren was draped over the second-floor railing, looking half-dead.
After the banquet dragged on late, he'd been found passed out drunk on the first-floor stage.
I'd tried dragging him to his room but gave up and hung him over the railing. Now he groaned about his head splitting from the merchant's yells.
I handed him some warm fruit tea, said to help hangovers. He gulped it down hot.
It was from the inn's kitchen.
They were brewing tons for hungover guests, filling the hall with sweet fruit scent.
"Oh, my money— isn't there a knight here to deliver justice?"
The merchant's pleas drew surprisingly little attention.
Even from those well enough for breakfast on the first floor.
His poor reputation had spread through the delegation.
"Tell me what happened."
As expected, only the White Guard Knight came to the rescue.
Appearing crisp and clean, he led the merchant near the stairs and asked indulgently.
To avoid disturbing diners and those needing rest.
From the second-floor railing with Shuren, their conversation carried clearly.
"Hm, Lambert and Tasha? They took the advance and bolted without fulfilling the contract."
"Exactly! Does that make sense? This happening in a knight-order inn?"
"The knight order doesn't meddle in mercenary contracts. Visit the request office..."
"They said the request office doesn't punish mercenaries! Aren't Prius knights supposed to slay monsters and uphold justice?!"
No.
Especially not if his "monsters" meant Arbat.
I thought to myself.
This merchant had some serious misconceptions about the Prius Knight Order.
"Man, his nonsense is starting to get funny."
Shuren muttered, somewhat recovered after chugging tea.
Unlike us spectators, the White Guard Knight pondered how to handle him.
"Let me ask one thing. As I recall, the contract was for escort until Beldaine. Wasn't it over once you arrived?"
"W-Well, yes, but..."
"What kind of contract involves an advance? If you made a new one, tell me the terms. I'll send an official to the request office to check how such cases are handled."
I watched the merchant's face change colors with fascination.
I could guess the calculations racing through his head.
"Merchant Lord Hopf? What's wrong? We need details to help."
"I... commissioned them to find caravan goods..."
"Caravan goods? What goods? Or show me the contract. That'd be quickest."
The White Guard Knight's objective, logical approach left the merchant dazed, like he'd been slapped.
"C-Contract? It was verbal, in a rush... We do those at the request office."
"Ah, that's tricky. Can you prove the advance? Or give details on the item."
The knot-solving key.
Insanely expensive, dangerous stolen goods that attracted beasts and demons.
Unable to speak of it, Merchant Lord Hopf clamped his mouth shut like a mute.
The White Guard Knight addressed the silent merchant.
"Merchant Lord, in that case, our knights will help recover the item.
Without a contract, the request office won't rule fairly, so we'll retrieve it. It's natural to want your 'legitimate property' back."
"N-No need. Really."
The merchant backed away hastily.
The White Guard Knight was puzzled by the sudden shift.
"Why not?"
"On second thought, I'll handle it myself. Don't worry about it."
Rejecting further talk, the merchant fled outside with quick steps.
His movement could only be described as a run.