238 – Claridium (5)
Rosaline stomped her feet. The mirror curse was a serious incident that had devastated several noble families and caused quite a stir in Claridium for a while. Some people had even gotten rid of all the mirrors in their houses or hired mercenaries to stand guard in the hallway to prevent the strange phenomenon of mirrors being moved to the hallway.
But someone had secretly performed the curse ritual in the mansion of the Archmage Silveryn, and at a time when the students of Etania were visiting.
Xenia said calmly.
“Calm down, senior. It’s not like we’ll die.”
“You guys, just cover the mirror with a cloth and leave it alone. If you break a cursed artifact, you might end up taking the fall for it.”
As soon as she finished speaking, something whizzed past Rosaline with a gust of wind.
Clang!
“Ack!”
It was Damian’s doing. He had thrown his sword without a word and shattered the mirror into pieces.
Everyone looked at Damian with their mouths agape.
Damian stepped on the scattered fragments, retrieved his sword, and said.
“Could you help me clean this up?”
“…What did you do?”
Everyone could sense it. Damian had heard that he would take the fall for the curse and had decided to break it himself.
Everyone was shocked by Damian’s reckless behavior and couldn’t utter a word.
Hailey looked at Damian intently and slowly curled her lips.
“You see? I told you he’s a real troublemaker.”
“…”
Rosaline still looked half out of her mind.
Hailey whispered.
“He charmed the Grand Duchess of the Yulishia Duchy, the Chief of the Magic Division, and even Xenia like that.”
Xenia, who had been eavesdropping, retorted.
“No, I’m not like that. I prefer older men.”
Rosaline glanced at the faces of the other members.
Thanks to Damian’s impulsive actions, the members’ faces had regained their vitality. It was clear that his actions had affected their morale. Their eyes, which had been cowering like prey, were now burning with determination, as if they were ready for a showdown.
“Are you okay? I can… arrange for you to stay at a different inn.”
Hailey said.
“No, we like this house. We’ll stay here.”
“Then let’s check for any intruders first.”
***
We moved according to Rosaline’s instructions.
I checked the second floor with Xenia, and Xenia and Rosaline checked the first floor. The remaining members searched the attic and basement and waited for the carriage to arrive with our luggage.
Xenia and I opened the doors of the empty rooms one by one and looked inside.
In the midst of this, a question suddenly came to mind and I asked,
“Senior.”
“Yeah,”
“May I ask you something?”
“What is it.”
“Does that kind of curse really work?”
“Pfft, hahaha!”
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Zenia suddenly burst into laughter.
“…?”
“Hahaha. Hahaha. Oh, man.”
She laughed so hard that she couldn’t control her body and grabbed the wall to steady herself.
“Senior?”
“Puhahahaha. No, shouldn’t the order be reversed? Where’s the idiot who breaks something and asks about it later?”
“I was just curious.”
Zenia caught her breath and continued speaking.
“Of all the studies that scholars of magic have dedicated themselves to, it’s curses that they unanimously agree are the most difficult. Most of them are superstitions, but there are times when they suddenly come true without warning.”
“…So they really can come true.”
“Yes. Even if the same curse is cast, it may not work in Eternia but it might in Claridium. That’s why they’re so difficult.”
“That’s amazing.”
“Curses are also a branch of magic. If I borrow the power of the earth or myself, it’s general magic; if I borrow the power of spirits, it’s spiritualism; and if I borrow the power of local deities or spiritual beings, it’s a curse.”
I feel like I’ve heard something similar before.
“Curses are difficult to predict. Sometimes they don’t require magic power in exchange.”
“Then what do they take in exchange?”
“Everything that isn’t magic power. Heart, liver, fate, wealth, girlfriend, parents.”
“…”
“They spread all those things out like a street vendor and negotiate with evil spirits. I’ll give you this, so please kill those guys. If the unit price is right, the exchange is made.”
“Hmm, if that really worked, it would be impossible to live while holding grudges and feeling bitter. Reality isn’t always like that….”
“That’s right, there are too many variables. Even scholars have different arguments. I think they just lump together all the magic that’s difficult to explain academically and call it a curse.”
“Senior, do you think the mirror is really related to a real curse?”
“Well, it seems closer to superstition than a curse. Like, someone who put a mirror like that there met with misfortune… like a serial killer’s mark. There have been cases, so that’s probably why your senior reacted that way?”
“…”
I think similarly. I have a curse-prevention artifact on my wrist that Erzsebet personally enchanted. When I broke the mirror, the artifact didn’t react at all, so it’s probably just superstition. Curses aren’t scary. The human who carries out that act with malicious intent is the real dangerous element.
We had almost finished inspecting the second floor and opened the door to the master bedroom, the last remaining space.
“Hmm?”
“A magic circle?”
In the master bedroom, there was a single, large bed, and a strange magic circle was drawn in the center of the floor. And on the outside of the magic circle, a black dagger was embedded.
We went closer to check it out.
“It looks like ancient magic… It doesn’t feel good. Who did this?”
“It’s okay. I think the professor drew this.”
“Huh? How do you know?”
“This mansion on the Eternia side also has the exact same magic circle. I’ve seen you draw the same thing yourself.”
“Really? What’s it used for?”
“It was used to drive out the rats in the mansion. But I don’t know about this dagger.”
“Is this sword made of Mithril? It’s probably used to disrupt the flow of magic power in the magic circle. Even if the magic circle is cut off, if the magic is still in effect, something like this is used to block it. Did you leave this when you left the mansion? It’s really expensive.”
“Should I take it out?”
“Let’s do it.”
I pulled out the dagger. As if the magic circle had regained its power, the chandelier suddenly lit up, brightening the room.
Soon, the ceiling and walls echoed with the sound of scurrying rats.
THUMP, THUMP, THUMP. SQUEAK! SQUEAK! THUMP, THUMP, THUMP.
“Wow, it’s real. I’ve never seen such magic.”
When I left the room, I saw that the hallway was also lit up, and it felt warm. It seemed that every part of the mansion was lit up.
When I went down to the first floor, it was chaotic.
Even the students of Eternia, who deal with demons, were stuck to the wall, unable to move. They were in shock as they watched the horde of rats with their tails on fire fleeing out the front door.
***
Rosaline handed out passes to her subordinates, allowing them to move freely throughout all areas of the city.
“This pass was issued with the guarantee of Professor Erzsebet, so don’t cause any trouble in the administrative district. And just in case, at least two people per floor. It would be best if a total of four people took turns keeping watch. The Guardians patrol this area even at dawn… but don’t rely on them completely. When doing outside activities, move in groups of three or four. When you go out, write down where you’re going in this log. That way, we can respond if anything happens.”
I was called by Rosaline separately and told about the curse.
“There is a superstition that the owner of a place where the mirrors are moved like that one day disappears or dies. Such rumors have been circulating for several years, and at some point, it became taboo. Some say that even if you don’t die, you’ll go crazy. If the mirror is placed in the hallway, it might end as an accident once, but if it happens two or three times, then you really have to be careful. If that happens, we will immediately send you back to Eternia, regardless of the field trip. I plan to catch and interrogate any suspicious maids or laborers. You should be as careful as possible until the culprit is found. Manage your subordinates well.”
Rosaline left after giving her orders.
I was assigned a solitary room. It was the second-floor master bedroom where Silveryn was presumed to have stayed.
I unpacked my bags and lay down on the bed. Then I tried to catch my breath and calm my mind for a moment. For some reason, my nerves had been on edge ever since I set foot in Claridium.
My heart was beating a little faster than usual, and my digestion wasn’t working well. Priscilla, who had been quiet while I was on the ship, had become extremely sensitive since coming here.
Someone knocked on my door.
“Come in.”
Lillith opened the door and appeared. The little girl from the accident scene was with her.
“What’s wrong?”
“The child wants to go home.”
“…She has a home?”
“Yeah. It seems like someone was taking care of her. But it’s dangerous for her to go alone because it’s on the outskirts of the city, so Senior Hayley told her to go with you.”
“Do you know where it is?”
“Yeah. I’ve already called a carriage.”
It’s almost dark, so I can’t just send a young, pretty girl and a child to an unfamiliar place. It’s a hassle, but it’s right to do as Hayley says.
I got out of bed, grabbed my sword, and checked out the window. A carriage was waiting at the front door of the mansion.
I approached the little girl.
“Why didn’t you say you had a home?”
“……My grandmother always knows when I’m coming.”
“You’re a little troublemaker. Your grandmother must be worried.”
Lillith and I took the child out of the house and headed for the carriage.
When we got into the carriage, Lillith handed the coachman a map that had been prepared in advance. Without asking any questions, he immediately shook the reins.
The carriage passed through the administrative district, the heart of the city, and gradually moved towards the outskirts.
Like Lilith, I quietly enjoyed the city’s scenery.
Then, as we passed by a wide, bustling intersection, Lilith spoke.
“I think this is Progress Plaza.”
“…Is it a famous place?”
“Yes. I heard it has all kinds of rare items from all over the continent. Artifacts, food, clothes. Every building you see is a store. Tourists spend the most money here. Senior Jeniya Haley wanted to come here first too.”
“…I happen to need something, so let’s come back tomorrow.”
Lilith turns to me.
“Do you want to go together?”
“Sure.”
“R, really!”
Lilith’s eyes widen.
Cecil, Luna, Trisha, weren’t all of them noble young ladies? With my sensibilities of an orphan from a slum, it’s impossible for me to choose a gift that would satisfy them. This is when I need the help of a noble young lady of a similar rank.
A little kid tugs on Lilith’s clothes with tiny hands.
“My grandma says that Grandpa Westwood is the best.”
“…Huh?”
“In Progress Plaza.”
“Oh, really?”
Lilith didn’t listen. Her face was flushed for no reason, and she pursed her lips a few times as if she were nervous, and kept running her fingers through her hair.
I asked for Lilith.
“What does that grandpa do?”
“He’s the one who’s lived the longest.”
“Oh?”
“…No, he’s the one who’s done it the longest.”
The little kid’s speech is faltering.
“What?”
“This and that.”
“Hmm.”
“And she said that Uncle Gepetto is pitiful.”
“Who’s that?”
“Over there.”
The child points to someone outside the window. There, a middle-aged man dressed like a beggar was standing alone on an apple crate, giving a speech. No one listens to his passionate speech and just passes by.
It was a typical madman that you always see in any square.
The carriage left the square and headed for the outskirts of the city. After about thirty minutes, the sun was almost down and it was getting dark.
As we left the central area completely, we occasionally saw dilapidated buildings. The pedestrians are also dressed in a way that their standard of living seems to be somewhat lower.
After about five more minutes, we entered a run-down slum and stopped in the street.
“Carriages cannot enter here.”
We had no choice but to get out of the carriage and walk. The little kid took my and Lilith’s hands and guided us.
The place we arrived at was in front of a small wooden house resembling a small hut.
There was an old, slightly tilted sign attached to it.
[House of Love]
We stood there blankly for a moment, our minds racing to grasp the implications. A shadow passed over Lilith’s face.
“Is it what I think it is?”
“What do you think it is?”
“A… place for children.”
“What?”
“A place to make… love… children?”
“…?”
“As far as I know, these kinds of places are usually for people trying to…”
Just as Lilith was speaking, someone detected our presence and flung open the door.
“Pipis here!”
“Yay!”
Children with hair and eye colors of all varieties came rushing out.
“Who’s that with you?”
“They smell good!”
A dozen or so children of various races. Lilith looked at me with a knowing expression. I nodded.
This was an orphanage.
Soon after, an old woman came out, leaning on a cane. She quickly ushered the children back inside.
“Now, now, go inside. The porridge is getting cold.”
Once the children were all inside, the old woman turned to us.
I could see now that her eyes were clouded over, her gaze focused on the empty air. She was blind.
“Such distinguished guests to visit us. How fortunate we are. Such esteemed visitors. I would offer you porridge, but would you care to come inside?”
Lilith declined.
“Oh, no, we should be going.”
“Well, wait a moment, then.”
The old woman went inside and came back with something wrapped in paper, which she handed to each of us. Despite her apparent blindness, her movements were as practiced as those of a person with perfect vision.
Inside the paper was a warm cookie.
“Thank you. We should be going now. You should go inside too.”
We bowed our heads and turned to leave.
Seeing the orphanage had dampened my spirits somewhat. It reminded me of my own difficult childhood, and I was lost in thought for a while.
Lilith stared at the cookie in her hand, her expression slightly twisted.
“What’s wrong?”
“Hmm….”
I looked closer and saw that Lilith’s cookie had a piece of wood chip baked into it.
“Give it to me.”
“Huh…?”
I took her cookie and popped it into my mouth. It tasted like… exactly what you would expect dough to taste like.
“…!”
She just stared at me, wide-eyed. Her expression said, How can you eat that?
Unfortunately, I have a sickness that prevents me from throwing food away.
The sun was setting, and the atmosphere on this rundown street we were walking down was rather eerie.
Suddenly, a carriage swishes by us. It’s a first-class carriage that looks out of place in the slums. For some reason, the carriage suddenly stops in its tracks. As we pass by, the coachman casually says,
“Would you like a ride?”
He must have offered because he was worried about us walking in the night. But there’s no way we’re getting in a first-class carriage. Rosalyn had warned me that first-class carriages are a huge waste of money.
“No. There’s already a carriage waiting for us up ahead.”
“The Claridium nights are cold.”
“We’ll be fine. Oh, can I ask you something?”
“Of course.”
“Since you travel all over the city, you must know everything. Can you tell me the name of the best restaurant near the plaza?”
“There’s no place that makes beef stew as good as Jenny and Finny’s. It’s next to Roland’s Lumber Yard. I had lunch there yesterday.”
“Thank you for the information.”
The carriage continues on its way.
“Jenny and Finny’s. Remember that.”
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“Y-yeah.”
Lilit brushes her hair out of her face, her cheeks still flushed.
***
Upon returning to our lodgings, I quickly went to bed. The fatigue from several days of sailing and the rapid depletion of my magic hit me all at once, and I fell into a deep sleep the moment my head hit the pillow.
How much time had passed?
“aagh!”
I jolted awake to the sound of an earsplitting scream.
It came from the hallway. Most likely, it was the night guard.
I grabbed Priscilla, who was lying next to me, and kicked the door open.
In the hallway, a female guard in her nightgown was huddled on the floor, trembling.
Awoken by the scream, the others came rushing up the stairs.
Hayley, wearing only her underwear and a shirt, shouted as she approached,
“What’s going on?!”
The night guard pointed out the window.
“Over there. Over there. Something outside the wall… Something was watching us.”
“Since when?!”
“At first, it was too dark, so I thought it was just a shadow from the trees But when I looked closer, it was the shape of a person. S-sob. It kept clinging to the wall, watching our lodgings.”
“How long was it there?”
“U-until just now.”
Hayley signals to me.
“Newbie!”
I know what she means. Without hesitation, I open the window and jump down. I look up to see Hayley trying to swing her leg over the windowsill, barefoot and in her underwear.
“Newbie! Catch me!”
“I’ll go. Don’t come out!”
I step outside the wall and scan the dark street.
It’s too late. The street is empty. There’s no sign of anything, but there’s something strange.
“Why does it smell like this…?”
There’s no sign of a fire anywhere, but the smell of burning irritates my nose.
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