In the gradually brightening dawn, the city’s watchtower appeared. The thief Brienne arrived first on a low hill and looked down at the city.
“＜LEDACABLE＞. You came quickly.”
“It’s smaller than I thought. Is that city really where the empire’s largest black market is held?”
Brienne snorted when the spearman Willis said curiously.
“The city exposed above ground is small. The true nature of ＜LEDACABLE＞ is revealed in the underground city. I don’t know?”
“An underground city?”
“Because there is an urban area twice as large as the ground level below the city. The Thieves Guild is controlling security.”
“Doesn’t the proud lord know about that?”
“know. Take a bounty from the thieves guild. If the income is good enough, I’ll just leave it like that.”
It’s the biggest black market in the empire… … .
Lane also scanned the view of the city with interest. However, the city revealed on the ground did not have any special features.
“What are you going to do in a prestigious house in a place that just looks evil?”
In Lane’s mind, those who had a strange desire to collect were gloomy old men. Hirpien was young and had a bright personality.
Spearman Willis chuckled.
“You don’t know what to do when you’re young. Originally, what women with a lot of money reveal the most is collecting. You can brag about it to women from other families.”
“In most cases, that’s true, but it won’t be that simple for that young lady.”
Brienne gave a light chin to the carriage. Hirpien had been learning the geomungo from Yanar since yesterday, paying an extra fee.
I was envious of him because he grew up with music by his side since he was young, but unlike Rain, he was learning quickly.
“The Dialle family grew up through trade. Interesting rumors circulated about the family’s succession ceremony.”
“which?”
“When the head of Dial gets old, the children scatter all over the world and bring expensive treasures? It is the story that Dial, whose treasure is the most valuable, inherits the family.”
Hmm… … Is it the meritocracy unique to merchant families?
It seemed like a pretty good method. It’s probably saying that you need to have that kind of skill to get the treasure. Whether it’s conversationalism, personal connections, or wealth.
Unlike Lane, who nodded in agreement, Willis yawned in boredom.
“What do you mean by knowing that information? Nothing complicated, right? We just have to protect that lady and go back and take the money.”
When we arrived at the south gate of the city, there was a long line in front of the gate.
Most of the party had bodyguards from Sanjeonsujeon, and if you weren’t an adventurer, mercenaries wearing chain mail were escorting your wagon.
They showed the gatekeeper an invitation, and at the same time they were handing out a few pennies. When Lane looked at him incredulously, Bardwell, the captain of the escort, said.
“If you want to buy and sell things on the black market, you have to pay the lord the rights. There is nothing to be surprised about.”
“It looks like the lord is also in the same situation.”
“What a surprise. Let’s all gather now.”
Bardwell’s confidant came with a bundle of parchments and handed out one to each adventurer and family guard.
“This is a must-have item.”
It is drawn with great skill on parchment… … It was a music box.
The color and characteristics were listed, but the biggest feature was that ‘Dear Brenna’ was written at the bottom of the music box.
Hmmm, is it really a prestigious family? The music box was the only music recording device that came out with the invention of the clock, and it was an expensive and rare luxury product competing for rankings.
“Soldiers move in teams of two. If you find one, keep bargaining so that no one else buys it, and let the other one come to inform the lady.”
Hirpien smiled and concluded.
“I don’t care what the condition is, as long as the item is certain. Any price is fine, so just find it.”
Adventurers, like bodyguards, were assigned different missions.
“Brienne, you should go around and look for anyone with strange signs or intent to kill.”
“okay.”
“Yanar, you are having a hard time responding to sudden combat situations, so take a position where you can see the entire movement of the party and stand by in case of an emergency.”
“all right.”
“Willis and Lane, you are the lady’s direct bodyguards, just like me. No matter what happens, you have to protect the lady.”
no matter what… … At that time, I heard this word lightly as a cliché and passed it off. How could I have known that something like this would happen?
* * *
The underground city of ＜Reda Cavel＞ was nicknamed the ant’s nest. This is because they pass through dozens of holes in the ground to the underground city.
However, in the case of VIPs who received an invitation like Hirpien, they were able to descend from the Thieves Guild Headquarters in the center of the city on a winch.
Kigigigigigging… … Iron coo.
The musty and rotten smell of sewage… … Amidst the stench that frowned, the party dispersed from region to region.
—Now, the potions you can’t even see from the outside! Due to the power of black magic… … .
─Look at this. A rare species of snake… … .
─An ancient cursed spear obtained from Trident Point… … .
In the anthill premises, peddlers in suspicious costumes were eager to solicit customers with their mats spread out.
Certainly, there were only rare items that could not be seen on the ground. There were also items that would set you on a heated date with the ‘golden children’ just by having them.
And beyond that commotion, I could feel the unfavorable glances looking at me.
‘The thieves’ guild only manages the ant nest, and does not intervene in disputes outside… … is it.’
For example, the guild will not intervene even if you chase after a person who looks like a lot of money or buys something you want and raid it at night.
However, inside the anthill, the story is different, and if a dispute is about to arise, the guild will immediately intervene and offer a bowl of jelly.
Spearman Willis led the way with his spear draped imposingly over his shoulder, Hirpien and Bardwell the safe middle and Lane the rear.
“Can I ask you something?”
I was looking for Tureina’s book while lightly scanning the counter, but Hirpien spoke to me with his hands behind his back.
“Why did you take this black market escort request?”
“… … know what to do.”
“I don’t think you were commissioned for money. Unlike the adventurers, her skin is incredibly fair. No matter how you look at it, it looks like a son of an aristocrat.”
It was the correct answer.
That wasn’t a part of Lane’s comfortable life in the mansion that could be disguised. I don’t know if it’s Rin.
“If I’m right, I think it’s Grain Ludwig, the first-year senior cadet for this ＜Deleiten＞?”
“… … !”
“But why did you take on this mission? Didn’t you come here because you had something you were looking for on the black market?”
I nodded my head thinking that there was no need to cheat.
“Oh~ what is it? What are you looking for? Are you curious?”
“A book about Turaina.”
“If it’s Turaina… … Ah, that famous shrine maiden?! why?”
Why… … You may have to stay up all night to answer that question sincerely.
That I am the Archmage Rin from 300 years ago, and that Tureina was the first apprentice I ever taught.
But there was no obligation to answer that sincerely. There was a moment of silence, but he naturally let go of his pretense.
“I am a wizard too. I have a lot of interest in big things like Turaina. But these days I can’t get a book.”
“Hmm.”
“So what about you? Why did you come here? Because of the family succession ceremony?”
Then Hirpien slightly widened his pupils in surprise, then shook his head with a bashful laugh.
“No, it has nothing to do with the succession ceremony.”
“Then what is that thing?”
“It’s something my grandfather lost when he was captured by pirates in the past. But it was said that it was a keepsake of my great-grandmother who passed away when I was young.”
It’s a keepsake… … .
Come to think of it, what happened to Rin’s things? The diary came to me, but what about the others? Do you still want to be with the corpse?
“He spent his whole life trying to get it back, but he couldn’t find it. Grandpa used to whistle the melody from the music box in the spring and look into the distance and cry.”
“… … .”
“Grandpa doesn’t live long. I came here with the intention of wanting to make you smile even in the end. Do you have any answers now?”
Looking at Hirpien’s bright smile, I suddenly realized something sad.
I don’t know anything.
What did Lista like the most, and what did Friede and Kies do… … And what kind of food Turaina likes best.
‘Because I didn’t want to know.’
I didn’t try to find out more about them while traveling together for 5 years. why? Didn’t you know we would break up so suddenly?
“What is it, was this a touching story that made you cry?”
I didn’t think I was crying, but hot water was running down my cheeks. He shook his head while wiping away tears.
“No, it’s because it’s underground and there’s too much dust.”
“Ah, to be shy… … . Hey, they sell books over there. Aren’t you over there?!”
Unlike the other peddlers, the place Hirpien pointed to was equipped with a counter, and an enormous amount of books were piled up like a mountain.
In an instant, there was a slight trembling in my heart. Is it a feeling of anticipation?
As I approached cautiously, the chubby-faced owner with a shaggy beard raised his head.
“now. What are you looking for, young wizard?”
“Do you have a book about Turaina?”
“Tureina, ah, of course! It’s really nice to see you! I brought three books, but two have already been sold, so there is only one left. The one in the best condition!”
Compared to other books that were not handled well, the owner brought a book that was enshrined in the corner.
『The Life and Achievements of Tureina, the Ash Shaman, a disciple of Rin and Friede.』
The dry saliva went over the temple. This is the book that Karen bought from the library and brought to her. The condition was also quite good. The problem was the price of the book.
“Give me seven gold coins.”
“Seven gold coins? Are you kidding me? If it’s the first edition, you don’t have to offer a price that makes sense!”
“hahahaha! You paid for this too, young man!”
“Seven gold coins are cheap?”
“okay! These days, if the ‘golden children’ are related to Turaina, they’ll be looking for them with their eyes open. If it were known that he sold this on the black market, he would be burned at the stake!”
that much? It is increasingly unknown. What the hell did Turaina do now… … .
“That’s why I am selling this at the cost of my own life. If you’re not going to buy it, go away! Whoa! Even if it’s not you, there are plenty of people who will live.”
It was a disaster.
Five rewards for hunting the Rat-Spider Queen and two rewards from the Alliance… … .
It would have been enough if he brought all of them, but the trouble was that he bought the lord with one coin. I thought that even three gold coins would be enough.
Then, a golden light flashed at the edge of my vision. The corner of the merchant’s mouth, where the golden light was reflected in his pupils, was torn into a smile.
“Seven coins here. Please give me that book.”
that… … It was Hirpien. Even though he spent a huge amount of money, he just smiled single-single.
“Of course, of course! here it is!”
As soon as he received the book from the owner, he flipped it over to check its condition and nodded.
“No problem. Is this the book you were looking for?”
And I wanted to hand it over to Lane willingly, but… … I reached out my hand and tried to grab it, but I felt a strange wariness.
“Why… … ?”
“My grandfather said that I have a good reputation. I have no choice but to. Ever since I was young, I could smell luck whenever I dated someone.”
“The smell of luck?”
From noble mtl dot com
“To be precise, should I call it intuition? I don’t know how to explain it, but… … .”
Hirpien, who muttered that and placed the book in Lane’s arms, winked.
“This is an investment in personal connections. For some reason, if I make a good relationship with you, it seems like great luck will come.”
Amid bewildered joy, Lane held on to the ‘disciple’s life’ held in her arms.
It’s a vague intuition… … While giving that gift, Hirpien would never have known.
That the person to whom he gave the gift of goodwill was the reincarnation of the great wizard of the warrior party 300 years ago. That you are indebted to such a person.
“… … That intuition seems to fit really well.”
* * *
Anthill, 11th hole.
A member of the Thieves Guild frowned as he was checking passers-by while leaning against a wall dampened by wastewater.
“What are these again?”
It was a pair of men and women wearing dark blue robes. The tall man was expressionless, and the short woman was shaking her feet as if she was very itchy.
“Are these people out of their minds, why are they wearing such costumes? Could it be a black magician? I’m so dumbfounded.”
If the thief had an understanding of magic, he would have sensed the magic wriggling madly inside her and would have retreated… … .
The thief, unable to detect the magical killing force, put his hand on her shoulder as if pushing her away… … At that moment, starting with the hands, the arms, upper body, face, and legs bulged up and exploded spraying fresh blood in all directions.
The explosion was contagious through the medium of blood, and the dozen or so thieves standing next to them were scattered into pieces of bone, brains, blood, and flesh.
In the midst of that feast of death, the woman covered in blood red giggled.
“Hey, how did you know?! I’m a black witch.”
“Liveni-sama, we haven’t received approval yet.”
“why? this is justification Did that guy find out who we are? Is it normal to have to separate the flesh from the bones?”
“Oh, you’re being forced again.”
Thieves guild members who had been watching the situation blankly ran away, and passers-by who were waiting to be checked behind them screamed and ran away.
Then a crow appeared out of nowhere. It was not a living crow, but a condensed magical power in the form of a crow. Like Lyn’s Ludyen.
As the crow landed on the man’s shoulder, the fluttering feathers turned into dark blue strings in front of his eyes.
“It’s from Tureina-sama.”
“From mom?! What, what are you saying?!”
“You do whatever you want to do.”
For an instant, an eerie, terrifying smile crept across Liveni’s lips.
Then, a dark blue liquid gurgled out of the palm, and soon it formed the shape of a huge scythe.
The moment he swung the huge scythe, ignoring all landmarks, the bodies of those who fled met the same fate as the thieves.
“Ahahahahaha! The smell of blood really makes me feel cold every time I smell it! I’ll just kill 5,000 people lightly today! Yep!”