Chapter 60
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 60
Chapter Title: The Key and the Flower (7)
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"It really was a stolen item, after all."
Clemence's voice came from deeper inside the first floor.
The White Guard Knight nodded with a hum.
"Looks like your hunch was right, Clemence. No need for us to get involved, but we should give the Merchant Guild a heads-up."
Clemence had consulted with the White Guard Knight about the Merchant Guild leader's remarks, and as always, he listened attentively.
I watched as the two of them discussed the next steps and headed toward the dining area.
"Ah, my stomach feels awful..."
Shuren, who had been leaning over the railing with his head tilted too far, let out a groan as his condition worsened again.
His head swayed precariously from the second-floor railing toward the first floor below.
"Wait, bro, don't puke here!"
I yanked Shuren back in surprise.
Shuren only regained his composure after Wedin was summoned.
Wedin, who had been running around all morning tending to the knights suffering from hangovers, looked utterly exhausted.
Muttering complaints about how only Prius members would even think of using holy magic for hangovers—a ridiculous luxury—he still helped Shuren drift off to sleep comfortably.
"Why'd he drink so much when he couldn't even win?"
I tucked Shuren into bed with Wedin's help and stepped out into the hallway.
Wedin opened a window and took a deep breath of fresh air. His face was pale too; he looked worn out.
"Vice Officer Erner was the worst off. He was totally out of it."
"Really?"
I asked in surprise.
Erner, always so neat and diligent, knocked senseless by a hangover?
Wasn't he sitting with Grain at the banquet last night?
"Even with Teacher Grain watching over him right now, apparently they had a drinking contest. A drinking match with a water Arbat? Is that sane?"
Wedin sounded incredulous.
"Teacher Grain drank way more than Vice Officer Erner and he's perfectly fine. Even using holy magic like usual."
"Impressive..."
"It's famous at the medical center. They say if you drink with Teacher Grain, you die and come back to life. Guess Vice Officer Erner didn't know."
"No, he was told the stories."
My father's voice echoed down the hall as he suddenly appeared.
Wedin straightened up in alarm.
Father strode in wearing a neat casual outfit of a light brown tunic and black pants.
He'd drunk quite a bit with Sir Jenard last night too, but he seemed no different from usual.
"Erner's one of the better drinkers in the Blue Guard. Must've sparked his competitive spirit. Well, it'll be a good lesson. How's Shuren?"
"He's fine now, sleeping it off."
Hearing my answer, Father glanced at Shuren's door and chuckled softly.
"Good. A valuable lesson for him too. Though he'll probably repeat the mistake next time. Wedin, could you check on him occasionally?"
"Y-yes, of course."
"Thanks. Lib, come with me for a bit."
I parted from Wedin and followed behind Father.
We left the hallway and descended to the now-quiet first-floor hall, nearly empty of people.
I sat at a table by the window, and Father placed two blank sheets of paper and a pen in front of me.
Warm sunlight streamed in through the window, dancing across the paper.
"Two knights and two workers are heading back to Prion today. We'll entrust letters to them—for Luwen and the Sage, and one for your mother."
"Got it... What about you, Father?"
Father sat across from me and pulled out his own paper and pen.
"I'll write mine too. One for the Blue Guard, one for Priscilla... Letters are truly important, Lib. Your mother looks ready to come fetch you herself."
I giggled and began writing across from Father.
First, to Teacher Luwen and Master Claus Sage.
About the journey so far, the key to untying the knot, and a few questions...
Like what shape the central pillar of a protective barrier spell for a camp should take so people don't laugh.
I couldn't find the answer in any books.
"Should we buy a gift for Mother and send it along?"
I asked Father as I started on the letter for Mother.
Father was scribbling away so fast it was hard to follow his hand, filling the page with text.
True, experience like his is unmatched.
"Good idea. But the knights are leaving straight for Prion, so no time to shop. We'll do that when sending from Elgrace."
"Okay."
"Replies won't reach us until Elgrace. Only big cities allow reliable letter exchanges like this. Have them send responses to Prius knight posts or branches."
I see.
I nodded.
Letters via people are tricky in small towns or dangerous areas.
Fortunately, major cities have Prius knight posts or branches for this level of communication.
Father's writing speed didn't falter even as he chatted with me.
He didn't even glance my way.
After finishing my letters, I briefly told Father about last night with Lambert and Tasha.
I skipped the parts that might worry him—like them drawing swords, Ash growling murderously, and me bracing for a fight.
Instead, I just said Lambert and Tasha were mercenaries hired by the key's owner, and they'd given up on it and left after I persuaded them.
"Hmm, the original owner, huh. It'd be nice if Luwen or the Sage knew something."
"Or we could seal it away in the seal vault together. I don't want a dangerous key like this floating around unchecked."
That was my only wish.
Reducing unexpected variables.
If carrying it myself is risky, better to lock it in the vault.
Father understood.
"Got it. Do as you wish. If it's going to the vault, report it to the Silver Guard."
"Yes, I will."
With that, Father went to hand his letters to the knights returning to Prion.
I relaxed at the inn for a bit, then around lunchtime, I headed out with Wedin—who was desperate to escape the hungover knights—to explore Beldaine's streets.
Most of Beldaine's buildings were made of gray and white bricks, topping out at three stories high.
Colorful cloths strung between buildings fluttered noisily in the wind.
The streets bustled with travelers, mercenaries, and merchants.
From merchants chattering in hard-to-understand dialects to Loran with their unique features, all sorts roamed about.
Lesion was a Denan kingdom, but border town Beldaine still had plenty of other races.
Probably because Prion was nearby.
Street stalls and shops sold mostly foodstuffs, crafts, and travel goods.
Occasionally, merchant caravans unloaded exotic items rare around here onto their displays.
In the midst of sightseeing, we spotted Clemence emerging from the Merchant Guild hall with the White Guard Knight.
They'd just reported about the Hof Merchant Group.
We hadn't seen the Hof leader and his crew since they fled in a panic; the Guild would handle it from here.
"They say people like that pop up more these days. Dealing with other races for goods, then spouting ridiculous insults—or even stealing..."
Clemence approached and whispered quietly.
The White Guard Knight cheerfully allowed her to spend the remaining time with us and even assigned an escort knight.
With Clemence joining, we headed off in a different direction through the shopping district.
"So, how will they handle it?"
"First, confirm the facts. If they're really fencing stolen goods, they'll notify their trade partners. That'll make it hard for them to do business around here."
We'd done all we could. A bit worrying that types like the Hof leader were increasing, but...
We soon forgot the unpleasant talk while browsing the shops.
Street stalls sold all sorts of new snacks I'd never seen.
Wedin nagged about stomachaches, so I couldn't buy everything, but I grabbed bags of crispy fried sweet pastries and fruit jam candies.
Our last stop before heading back was a fairly large general store.
Shelves on the first and second floors overflowed with all kinds of goods.
Universal cloaks and thin cloth clothes for travelers, sleeping bags, lamps, dried bread, smelly cheese, old books, antique brooches.
Literally everything. Even basic magic supplies and tools mixed in.
"This one produces light."
I pointed to fist-sized glass orbs on the shelf.
"Doesn't it need mana injected?"
Clemence peered at it curiously.
Wedin had already lost interest, grumbled not to buy useless junk, and headed downstairs.
"No. There's a touch rune on the back..."
I lightly touched behind the stand, and the orb lit up with a yellow glow.
"Whoa, let me try."
Clemence touched the one next to it, adding another bright light to the shelf.
Her eyes widened and sparkled in the glow.
"Hey! Don't touch the magic tools!"
The shopkeeper bellowed from downstairs.
His nerves had been frayed since three kids piled into his empty shop, and with a burly knight standing guard outside, he'd held his tongue until now.
"S-sorry."
Wedin and I quickly turned off the orbs.
Clemence didn't know how, so I demonstrated by touching the rune again to dim it.
"There's a tiny ecronium inside. It consumes mana each time it's used."
I whispered to Clemence, too quiet for the shopkeeper to hear.
She nodded but kept staring at the orb.
"I see. No smell, pretty color. Should I buy one?"
"No."
Wedin's gruff voice cut in abruptly.
He'd come back up halfway and was listening to our whispers.
He stared at us pityingly.
"Those last a week at best. Uses ecronium, so the price is insane. Don't forget I have the wallet."
"Then let me hold the wallet."
Clemence pleaded with an innocent face, but Wedin waved her off dismissively.
"No way, Clemence. Why do you think Mia gave me the wallet? So you wouldn't buy every shiny new thing that catches your eye."
Something like that happened at Legros market, apparently.
Clemence grew up without want in Prion, so it made sense. Wedin, son of a merchant, couldn't stand by and watch.
"I can make you something similar."
I chuckled and told Clemence.
"Really?"
Her eyes went wide with surprise.
"Yeah. With materials, I can make one even more efficient. Though with ecronium, it won't last forever."
"Mages are so convenient."
Wedin spoke in a gruff tone that showed little interest, but he seemed relieved Clemence lost hers.
"Not every mage can..."
"No, you can't."
The shopkeeper's booming voice intruded again.
We looked down toward the first floor.