5. Signora (4)
A small banquet was held that night. It was only natural that Lumine came back. Fiseul didn’t complain that day either, but sat down and remained silent. Of course, those eyes were extremely dissatisfied.
There was one customer today. His name was ‘Venti’, and he was a small boy with an androgynous appearance. He calls himself ‘Barbatos’, the wind god who rules over Mond, but I decided not to say anything.
Hundreds of years have already passed since God Barbatos disappeared. God Barbatos first established Mond in the barren north, and blew away the snow and ice that covered the Mond area with the wind. After that, Mond became a pleasant place to live with a mild climate, and the next time the god Barbatos appeared was when a revolution occurred in Mond.
Mond, which initially raised the banner of ‘freedom,’ gradually concentrated power in a few nobles, and dictatorship began. A time when foreigners were treated as slaves and citizens were sacrificed to evil dragons. God Barbatos appeared again and blessed a woman named ‘Vanessa’, and the citizens of Mond rose up, overthrew vested rights, and regained the true meaning of ‘freedom’. What was completed at that time and has continued to this day was the ruling system of Mond, represented by the ‘Knights of Pebonius’.
God Barbatos rarely interfered with the political situation of Mond. It was rare for God Barbatos to descend on this world, unless it was a moment so important that he had to step forward in person. But now, a little boy had appeared and was introducing himself as ‘God Barbatos’, so it was natural for me not to believe him.
Barvatos was a god with enough power to change the climate of the Mond area and overturn the solid power system of a country. The power that beings named ‘God’ could wield on the Tivat continent was just as terrifying. He is truly a being with abilities that are immeasurable to humans. If such a being had really descended, he should have resolved the Wind Demon Dragon situation first.
In the first place, the wind demon dragon was a member of the wind god. If God Barbatos had stepped forward, he wouldn’t have had to return to Lumine.
Still, a guest was a guest, so I decided to treat him with the courtesy of a host. There were a variety of dishes on the table. These were dishes that Lumine had not presented in a long time, and the main dish among them was “Height Stacking,” Made with wild boar meat from Saemmul Village. From Spring Water Village to Liyue, the taste was highly praised by everyone.
And today, apart from Venti, there was one more guest. Now the ‘guest’ was poking me in the side. When I turned my gaze, there was a woman with a dissatisfied face.
Hair resembling the night sky, and eyes the color of pale green jade. And even a conical hat reminiscent of a witch.
Her name was ‘Mona,’ and she was an excellent astrologer and was also my current employee, handling various secretarial duties.
“…… “Hey, why did you call me?”
She asked in a low voice, looking at her eyes. I answered casually.
“Well, it’s time to introduce it to you. “It’s been a while since I worked with you.”
It was natural. The reason I hired Mona was basically to ask for her help in finding Lumine’s brother. Of course, these days, there is a tendency to rely on her brain rather than her astrology, but in any case, her original purpose was, so the idea of introducing her Mona to Lumine was an extremely natural and logical conclusion.
However, Mona pointed to someone with her eyes. She was Lumine. Mona spoke in a lower voice, almost like she was growling.
“Can’t you see his eyes now? Anyone can see that they are wary of me…… !”
But to me, Lumine was just smiling. I scolded Mona for worrying about everything.
“You have a pretty smile, why are you doing this? “I’ll introduce you first, so just be quiet.”
Mona looked at me with a somewhat despairing look on her face, and eventually she sighed and straightened her body back up, which she had tilted towards me. It meant she had given up.
I cleared my throat, hmm. Somehow, I ended up being the host of this event. First of all, it was because I prepared the food and also because I was the one who rented out this inn.
After my last visit to Fissle, I realized something. Although we were using it as if we had rented it out for the Wind Demon Dragon, we had not actually rented this inn. Until then, we were lucky enough to be the only ones staying there, but later on, even if outsiders came in, we had nothing to say.
If outsiders came in, it would be difficult for them to lend the kitchen to me at any time, and there would be less time for us to gather and chat among ourselves in the restaurant. So, since I had a lot of money, I decided to spend it. After telling the owner, he rented out the inn.
At that time, the owner seemed so moved that he even shed tears. Business hasn’t been good for a while, so they must have been grateful to let go of the lease. Of course, it was a formidable expense, but as the owner, the fact that I received a large amount of money without having to go to work was a merit.
So, this inn has been the exclusive lodging for our group for a long time. Since the leader of the group was Lumine, I thought it would be appropriate for Lumine to be the host, but it seemed like it had been decided that I would be responsible for the group’s finances.
So what should we do? I have no choice but to speak up first. Moreover, there were quite a few people here who had an awkward relationship with Lumine.
For example, Fissle. I looked at Fissle with slightly anxious eyes. Fissle had an unpleasant look on her face, but she seemed to have decided to remain calm since it was a celebration of Lumine’s return. It was a fortunate thing for me.
“Lumine, and Venti. First of all, congratulations on your safe return. And I heard that the Wind Demon Dragon incident was also resolved? “Mond is indebted to them both.”
Fisl’s eyes widened at my words. Mona’s situation was no different. This fact was scheduled to be announced after further review, but the two people in front of me right now were the protagonists of the heroic story of resolving the Wind Demon Dragon incident.
Of course, it reached my ears right away, and thanks to that, I was able to sell daily necessities today to the merchants of Mond Castle who believed that the Wind Demon Dragon incident had not yet been resolved.
I thought it would probably take a little longer until the announcement. In the meantime, I needed to act quickly based on the information I had acquired. But that also happened tomorrow.
Lumine smiled calmly at my words. And then he bowed his head slightly.
“Thank you, Siwoo. “You’ve been worried a lot all this time, right?”
“…… How?”
But the reaction came from somewhere else, not me. Fissle was looking at Lumine with her young eyes with suspicion. She seemed a little shocked to learn that Lumine had solved the Wind Demon Dragon situation.
Lumine huffed and snorted her laughter. Yet, there was something about his face that made him proud. She spoke disparagingly to Fisl.
“Well? “Want to guess what I did?”
Fisle’s face crumpled at those words. The two were still on bad terms.
“I’m not sure. I wonder if there’s more to the vixen than flirting.”
“…… I’m sorry, but I’m not that friendly with anyone other than Siwoo. I have no intention of doing that to anyone else in the future. “I don’t know what about you?”
“Ha! It reminds me of the whirlpool of fate that I had to navigate with my servant not long ago. The moon waxed and waned twice. “It looks like the vixen forgot that too?”
If I were to interpret Fissle’s words, it meant, ‘You seem to have forgotten who Siwoo was with for two months, right?’ Since he went up and down twice, he seemed to want to claim that they had been together for two months.
Lumine and Fissle began to growl. I had a headache. Before I could mediate between the two, an awkward laugh came out.
It was Venti. With an embarrassed smile, he strummed the strings of the harp he was holding. A soft voice called “Diriring” Spread out.
“hahahahaha… Won’t you stop fighting over love after the meal is over? “I’m pretty hungry right now.”
“I agree with Gakseol, I’m really hungry right now too!”
That soft and clear tone had the magical power to calm people’s nerves. With Paimon’s cute grumbling added to it, Lumine and Fissle couldn’t hold on any longer. Lumine and Fissle glared at each other for a while, and then, without anyone saying anything first, they turned their heads and looked away from each other.
It was a sight that made me feel sick to my stomach. Still, I had to say something, so I opened my mouth in a sighing voice.
“…… And Lumine, this is Mona. “He’s helping me with my work now, but he’s an excellent astrologer, so he’ll be a great help on our trip.”
“Hmm. Hello, my name is ‘Astrologist · Mona · Megistos’. It means ‘Mona, the great astrologer.’ Please take care of me in the future.”
Lumine looked at Mona calmly, then smiled again. Her expression was the same as when she looked at Mona just now.
“You’re Siwoo’s ‘friend’, right?”
“…… Well, then! I am Siwoo’s ‘friend’, yes. “Of course.”
Mona answered Lumine’s question with something of her disgust. Only then did Lumine take a deep breath and formally greeted me.
“My name is Lumine. “He is also Siwoo’s ‘first’ colleague.”
“Yeah, right…” Nice to meet you, let’s get along well in the future.”
Mona gave me a glance as she received Lumine’s greeting. It was a look in his eyes that meant ‘he’s scared.’ But I just shrugged my shoulders.
Rumine may be a little sensitive to outsiders, but she will soon get used to it and she will treat you in a friendly manner. Because Lumine was a good person by nature.
“Okay, then Venti was introduced this morning. Should we start eating soon?”
“I was just waiting for you to say that! Now, what should we eat first? ….”
As soon as I left my words, Venti said that and started looking around on the table. In the end, Venti’s first choice was “Building High.” It was also the main menu of the day, so it was an obvious choice. Venti used the prepared tongs to remove a layer of steak, potatoes, and cheese onto his plate.
Paimon was not one to sit still. Paimon had already put some food on his plate. Only in this case was the speed as fast as a ghost.
“Hey, it’s been a while since I’ve had Siwoo’s cooking!”
Paimon then began to inhale food until his cheeks became puffy. A faint feeling of happiness flashed across Paimon’s face. It was an appetite that was always surprising. How can so much food fit into such a small body?
Lumine and Fissle were also slowly moving their forks and knives. At that time, Venti was cutting his first dot with a knife.
Cook with a knife, and as soon as you cut it, the juice bursts out. Venti opened her eyes wide. This was a natural reaction since meat this fresh is not normally distributed. This was because freshness inevitably decreased during the distribution process. I don’t know where it originated, but it was certain that it was of a quality that was difficult to find even in the Mond surname.
Venti let out a voice filled with admiration and immediately took a piece of meat to his mouth. And he opened his eyes again. The rich flavor of cheese, the fluffy flavor of potatoes, and the moist and soft taste of meat. The food that was always missing was “Height Pile” Made with wild boar meat from Saemmul Village. It wasn’t my confident work for nothing.
Venti let out an exclamation. He looked at me as if he was surprised.
“Hey… It’s been a while since I’ve had a dish this good? “I don’t know if this is too much of a treat for a wandering bard.”
I smiled faintly at those words. I was glad that I was satisfied. I also answered with a joke as I placed one layer of “Stacking High” On a plate.
“What do you mean, just now you said you were the god ‘Barvatos’? “If it is an offering to the god who rules over Mond and the wind element, it must be done with sincerity.”
Venti smiled slightly at those words. It was a suspicious smile with no clue.
“…… Okay? Well, since you say it that way, it seems like that.”
At the same time, Venti muttered, “Ah,” In a tone of longing for something.
“Ah, I don’t think it could be better than a glass of dandelion wine… ….”
“It will never happen.”
Venti hummed and snorted at my firm tone.
“Look, you don’t believe it, do you?”
I answered by shrugging my shoulders. However, the expressions on Lumine and Paimon’s faces as they looked at that scene were subtle.
Lumine aside, I was surprised that even Paimon had stopped eating and was paying attention to the conversation between me and Venti. I asked with a questioning voice.
“? “What’s wrong, both of you?”
“Oh, no. Nothing. Ahahahaha… ….”
“Yes, yes! Nothing. “Let’s eat quickly!”
At the same time, Lumine and Paimon avoided my gaze with awkward smiles. The reaction was as if Venti was the real God Barbatos.
It’s not a poem, but I was engrossed in my meal while smiling and laughing. We were in the middle of chatting.
Lumine and Fissle were quiet, and although they didn’t talk to each other, they often helped others talk. Mona, surprisingly, seemed to like this place. The meal was excellent, and the atmosphere was mild as long as Lumine and Fissle’s buttons were not pressed. There was no way I wouldn’t like it.
After the tension was relieved, Mona and I chatted and flirted as usual. Since the two of us are of the same age, there were things we couldn’t tell Lumine or Fissle about.
But Venti, who was watching us whispering and flirting together, looked like he was thinking of some kind of naughty prank. He spoke as if he were passing by.
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“…… “You two seem to get along well?”
At those words, there was silence in the restaurant for a moment. It was an unusual atmosphere. Mona, who had been flirting with her upper body tilted towards me, stiffened her body and returned to her original position as if she had been electrocuted by an electric current.
“Woah, what are we two doing…?” “Isn’t it natural between friends?”
“No, I just meant that you two get along well. Are you of similar age? And Mona’s gaze was a bit strange for her to be just a friend… Oh my, this is delicious. “Hmm, it was the right decision to stay here today.”
Venti passed without incident, but Lumine and Fissle did not. Their eyes met. This was the first time this had happened since the meal began.
It didn’t feel good. I glanced at Venti, and she was looking at me and Mona with her wicked smile on her face.
I was disappointed because they didn’t give me dandelion wine. Only then did I understand what was going on.
“…… Come to think of it, during my last journey, the astrologer who could spy on fate was quite attached to my servant. “I heard the two of you talked all night on top of the guest house?”
“Aha, really? “Is this your first time hearing this, Siwoo?”
Fisle spoke indifferently, but her words were not ‘Fisle’. In other words, it meant that someone who did not understand ‘Pisl language’ was saying this so that he could immediately understand the situation.
And perhaps by coincidence, Lumine received those words right away. This was also the first time since the meal began. Lumine and Fissle were having a conversation.
Mona started to sweat. She hesitated, then answered.
“Well, back then…… ! Nothing happened. Should I say it was just consultation, or should I say we talked about the future…….”
Hmm, around the time when Lumine and Fissul were looking at Mona with suspicious eyes. Venti asked a question again in passing.
“I’m curious about the ‘future story’?”
At the same time, Venti casually cut a piece of meat and put it in his mouth. Of course, the reaction was, “Umm,” And it was uninteresting.
“Well, that’s…” ….”
Mona began to hesitate again in response to her Venti’s question. She seemed embarrassed. Soon her gaze was directed towards me. The ‘future story’ we shared then was probably a story about ‘reality’.
I sighed deeply. It meant that you can do whatever you want. Even if I spoke now, there was nothing I could do about it. Because Mona was in a misunderstanding situation.
However, Mona looked worried despite my reaction. She thought and thought, and eventually she closed her eyes and said.
“No, I can’t say it…” “The conversation between the astrologer and the counselor is confidential.”
At those words, Lumine and Fissle’s gaze became noticeably colder. I had no choice but to sigh and wash my face dry.
Yes, I am grateful for your loyalty. Mona. I should also repay your loyalty.
I gave Paimon an intense look. Paimon was still looking at me with a pitiful expression on his face.
“Now that I think about it, Paymon, is there anything else you’d like to eat?”
In response to my subtle temptation, Paymon eventually crossed his arms and shook his head as if he had no choice.
“…… “Prepare something delicious.”
The night was able to end in a somewhat gentle atmosphere thanks to Paimon’s intervention. According to Paymon, ‘Adults have their own concerns, and if secrecy is part of professional ethics, it is against manners to ask about them.’ Nevertheless, when Lumine and Fissle seemed dissatisfied, Paimon added in a meaningful voice.
“…… And even if Siwoo hates me, I don’t know?”
Lumine and Fisle, who were offended by those words, immediately calmed down the atmosphere, perhaps embarrassed. Still, I was glad that they both liked me. They were friends I was always thankful for. Especially today, Paymon.
After cleaning up, it’s late at night when everyone goes up and gets a good night’s sleep.
I suddenly opened my eyes. This was because a beautiful harp sound was heard. It was still night, so it was against etiquette.
But surprisingly, I didn’t feel unpleasant. I stood up, as if it should happen naturally.
Where is the sound coming from? I put on a suitable coat and went down the stairs. The sound of the harp was coming from the back yard.
I opened the door to the backyard as if fascinated. There was an empty lot where moonlight poured in. And the strings of the harp meekly accepted the moonlight, and the slender fingers that played them, yes, there was a bard with dark blue hair.
It was a picturesque sight. A faint light green halo was floating around Venti. As if they were an audience watching the performance.
“…… “You’re here, Siwoo.”
Venti spoke in an even voice, as if she knew it would happen. Her eyes were closed and he, who was playing the harp, opened them. He was sitting on a stone block and looking at me.
Those light green eyes, the thought that I had seen them somewhere suddenly penetrated my mind.
“I called you because I wanted to say thank you. “The sword you gave the traveler as a gift is the ‘Sword of the Sky,’ right?”
I took a breath. How does he know, did Lumine tell him? But it seemed like that wasn’t the only thing Venti knew.
Venti slowly opened his mouth. It was a tone that flowed softly, like a song.
“A long time ago, when the god Barbatos came down to the land of Mond. He loved Mond, but more than that, he loved ‘freedom.’ He was worried that the existence of God would prevent Mond from being free, so he decided to fall into a long sleep.”
The harp began to sound in keeping with the song. In that clear and clear tone, clusters of bluish-green lights gathered together and formed a shape in the air.
Mond Castle in the distant past, and a boy. There was a dragon floating above it.
“But the wind god could not sleep. While I was asleep, I was worried that someone might threaten Mond. So the wind god decided to leave a favor to one of his friends.”
Once again, a cluster of bluish-green lights stirred. It was clear now. It was in the shape of a boy and a dragon. When I saw the shape of the dragon, I immediately remembered the one thing that terrified Mond.
“…… “Feng Demon Dragon.”
“It’s ‘Dvalin’ to be exact. And at that time, the promise that the wind god made with Dvalin was divided into five arms and remained as a token of the oath.”
At the same time, Venti strummed the strings like nothing happened. At that moment, the wind blew out. The light green wind elements naturally responded to the call.
I then remembered the color of Venti’s eyes. The faint green light emitted by the Celestial Sword remained in Venti’s eyes. And it was also the color of the wind element.
The wind was blowing. It wasn’t a harsh wind, but Venti’s body repeatedly floated up and down in the wind. It looked as if it was swimming in the wind.
“One of them is the ‘Sword of the Sky’, one of the few weapons that contains the power of a god. Siu, thanks to the sword you gave the traveler, Dvalin and I were able to reminisce about our old promise for the first time in a long time.”
I was silent for a moment. Then, I managed to squeeze out a question.
“…… Are you really ‘Barvatos’?”
“hahahahaha, are you still doubting?”
At that moment, my body came to mind. Ugh, while I was doing that, my body was swimming in the sky. Venti looked at me in a daze and smiled.
“That is ‘the wind of a thousand years.’ Originally, it should have wings of the wind, but that height shouldn’t be a problem. Would you like to fly sometime?”
I was silent. I could tell without having to fly. Because Venti’s confident voice proved that those words were not lies.
It was a small feat to be considered a ‘god’. At most, one person can fly in the sky. But it was also something that could not be done with any elemental power. It is a feat that only the element ‘wind’ and someone who can manipulate it freely can perform.
At this point, I couldn’t help but ask one question. I asked Venti, my voice still filled with suspicion.
“…… “What do you want from me?”
Then Venti burst out laughing. As always, it was a playful face and voice.
“Ahahahahaha! “If a god calls you because he wants to express his gratitude, shouldn’t he usually ask the opposite?”
Then Venti held out her hand. Something began to swirl in front of him. The bluish-green wind element was condensing.
“Is there anything you wish for? For example… ….”
The wind element that was swirling fiercely and condensing burst out with a whooshing sound. And within it, there was a jewel containing the essence of turquoise.
I knew the name. There was no way that people living on the continent of Tivat would not know.
A miracle granted only to those chosen by God. An external magic organ that allows humans with no powers to manipulate elemental power.
“…… ‘Eyes of God’ or something like that?”
I swallowed dry saliva. Venti and I met eyes in the air.
Although it was a playful face, Venti’s eyes were so sunken that the depth of them could not be determined. Only then did I realize.
Now, the god of the Tivat continent is asking a question to a worthless human.