91 – Deeds
“So…”
Rose asked me, looking at Malik with her wary eyes.
“Are you saying that that skull gourd is actually a person under a terrible curse, an acquaintance of your teacher, and the person who will teach me swordsmanship and magic?”
“Yes.”
“Oh, by the way, my name is Malik, not Skull…”
“I really hate it!”
Did I hate it that much? Rose expressed her refusal with tears in her eyes, and Malik hung his head, probably because she was so hurt.
When I saw that, I couldn’t help but feel sympathy for Malik.
Malik is a being who has lived alone and unable to die for over 1,000 years.
Even during those long years, Malik said he never had a single conversation with another person until he met his Master again.
It was a pity. Still, he was really looking forward to having a conversation with a stranger, especially a woman, for the first time in a long time.
Not only did that stranger cut off his own head with a sharp sword, but he was not just displeased, he was showing signs of genuine disgust.
“Rose.”
I was about to say something to Rose, unable to hold back my sadness.
“I understand.”
Malik put on the hood attached to his robe and began to speak in a sullen voice.
“I haven’t looked in the mirror for a long time because I don’t want to see my face, but I can’t even imagine how ugly I must have looked in Lady’s eyes. I’m sorry. “It wasn’t enough for her to only look at pretty things, so she put something disgusting in those beautiful eyes….”
“Uh… That wasn’t my intention…”
“It’s okay. Actually, I think I would have done the same if it were me. But Miss Rose was kind enough to talk to this abomination that had lived alone for 1,000 years. So thank you. “For the first time in a long time, I was able to recall the time when I was human.”
Is it because I keep my head down?
Or maybe it was because I felt old emotions in Malik’s bitter voice that I couldn’t express in words.
I felt like my heart was being touched and my eyes were turning red for no reason.
“I… I’m sorry. “I think I was so shocked that I was rude.”
Did he feel guilty like I did? Rose fidgeted, offering her apple to Malik, who shook her head and continued his bitter monologue.
“There is no need to apologize. “If an apology has to be made, it should be from this ugly old man who was excited to meet Miss Rose, who was much prettier than Daphne and even younger.”
“Malik will never fail… Wait, what did you say?”
I don’t know what triggered it, but Rose’s eyes suddenly changed as she was feeling helpless during Malik’s monologue.
“If I have to apologize, it’s this old man…”
“No, other than that, what about me? “What better than Daphne?”
“She is much prettier and even younger…”
“Yeah, right?”
After hearing Malik’s answer, Rose seemed to feel better, and the corner of her mouth twitched, and she asked Malik again.
‘Well, Rose hated her teacher.’
I don’t know why, but Rose has been like that for a long time. He hated his teacher, and most enjoyed being complimented that he was prettier than him.
Has he even figured this out? Malik, who had been lowering his head, raised the corner of his mouth secretly and began rattling his jawbone in earnest.
“Isn’t it obvious? Miss Rose, an old woman who is as pretty as a flower at her age. Ugh, honestly, I think the comparison itself is very disrespectful to Ms. Rose.”
I nodded vigorously at the part about being an old woman.
“Hmm, but it’s true that Daphne is pretty even though she’s aged. “Honestly, you have good skills.”
“Miss Rose. I assure you that if given a choice between Miss Rose and Daphne, any man would choose Miss Rose. There is quite a gap between the two. “Isn’t that right?”
Malik, who was rattling his jaw incessantly, looked in my direction, and Rose, who saw that, also looked at me with an expression full of anticipation.
I nodded and said yes. Otherwise, I have an ominous feeling that my life will be in immediate danger.
Did he like my answer?
Rose smiled happily and started talking to Malik again.
“Huh, huh. Yeah, right? But my swordsmanship and magic skills…”
“It is true that Daphne’s skills are outstanding, but that’s just it. Her charm as a woman is incomparably greater than that of Miss Rose. And wouldn’t it be okay to learn swordsmanship and magic from me?”
“Oh? Still, better than Daphne…”
“Of course it will be that difficult, but I can promise you this one thing. “If Miss Rose learns from me, by the time she graduates, she will be able to become a person within the Empire.”
“But is that really possible?”
“Of course. To be honest, I didn’t plan on showing you this side of me, but I’ll show you something special.”
-Crash.
Malik grabbed Gao and fired, and soon white cracks began to appear in the air.
-Chaaa!
Then, a quiet sound was heard and the entire log house collapsed.
‘You crazy bastard!’
Why are you using spatial baldo here?
“Wow…”
“If Miss Rose will let you, I can teach you even more than what I just showed you.”
“Why are you doing this to me?”
“I didn’t have anyone to teach me swordsmanship and magic anyway. It wasn’t scheduled to happen in the future. But then Miss Rose appeared to me. So, I have no choice but to want to teach you everything. Well, if you still don’t like it, there’s nothing we can do…”
“S, I will call you Master!”
“Are you coming?”
That’s how Rose and Malik became priests.
“Senior.”
I approached Malik on this auspicious day and whispered quietly to him.
“I didn’t miss a single thing about your brilliant words.”
Then Malik tilted his head, and I waved an artifact at Malik and scolded him.
“It is an artifact enchanted with recording magic.”
Malik sat down in his place, clutching his skull with both hands.
****
The name of the largest trading guild on the continent and the one with the most branches on the continent.
-Armad.
Count Armad, the owner of this name, has been analyzing financial flows across the continent for decades for the glory and wealth of his family.
As a result, the Armad family became one of the wealthiest families on the continent, and the count was able to become the best reader of money flows on the continent.
“I asked what was going on…”
Living up to his reputation, Count Armad, who was also analyzing hundreds of ledgers in his office today, quietly pondered.
“Is that what it was?”
A conclusion close to certainty is reached. The basis is the continent’s capital flow, which has been stable for ten years but is suddenly fluctuating.
Somewhere prices are skyrocketing, interest rates are rising,
Somewhere, large sums of money are being collected or disappearing.
A certain kingdom is suddenly focusing its efforts on military projects.
A certain kingdom is sucking the blood of its people by murderously raising taxes and interest rates.
Count Armad has experienced this strange flow of funds only once in his entire life, 20 years ago.
“It’s war…”
Count Armad was depressed and recalled the situation from 20 years ago.
A war that started as a minor dispute between weak countries but ended up staining the entire continent with blood.
In fact, the war was planned by those who worshiped evil gods, and humanity faced an unprecedented crisis.
At that time, it was the hero Mort, his party members, and many heroes who helped humanity escape the crisis.
“Now…”
Count Armad fell asleep again.
It was worth it. Unlike back then, there is no complete warrior party now, and most of the heroes at that time have been put to rest.
Count Armad had no choice but to come to another conclusion.
If a war on a similar scale as 20 years ago breaks out, humanity will not be able to escape the crisis like before.
While Count Armad was picturing a hopeless situation in his head, a knock rang in his office.
-Knock knock.
“Count, this is Arel. “I have something to report to you urgently.”
“Come in.”
-Ratly.
Count Armad, who was lost in thought, frowned as he saw Arel coming in with a thoughtful expression.
“Arel, I think you said that a merchant’s attitude is to maintain composure no matter how urgent the task is.”
From Noble mtl dot com
“I’m sorry. “Because something big happened at the company…”
“···Tell me.”
“As a woman walks through our branch, she is asking for the identity and transaction details of customers doing business with our company.”
“···Arel.”
The Count, who was dumbfounded after hearing Arel’s words, had a hard time holding back the urge to make a loud noise and let out a subdued voice.
“Do you really think this is something worth reporting to me urgently?”
“Well, if it were just that, of course I wouldn’t have reported it to the Count! But now seven locations have been hit.”
“You got hit?”
“All guards at seven points were attacked by that woman.”
“What?!”
In the end, the Count had no choice but to scream.
It was worth it. The guards of the Armad Company were elites that the Count had invested a huge amount of money into over a long period of time to grow his power.
“Is everyone okay?”
“There are no deaths, but all of the injured are on sick leave, and we are only losing wages and medical expenses.”
“What on earth is this woman doing? No, that’s right, what she wants is the personal information of our company’s customers?”
“Yes, your name is Camel and currently…”
The Count pondered over the name Carmel. It’s a name I’ve definitely heard of her somewhere.
In any case, that wasn’t what was important right now, so the Count tried to calm his mind and asked Arel.
“She, that woman, where is she now?”
“She has been nowhere to be seen since she declared that if you do not give her what she wants, she will come to this mansion in person.”
The Count jumped up from his seat, feeling his hair and brain turn white at the same time.