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However, the most attracting factor that caught everyone’s attention is that news that she’s the discoverer of the Dragon Eye Sakazuki.
[Oi, look at that. It seems that there’s already a mercenary that has taken that woman for himself.]
[Yeah. It seems that the discoverer-dono likes that type of man.]
[I have even heard this rumor that the beauty came out of his room last night?]
[Fyuuu~♪ Not only did she discover the Dragon Eye Sakazuki, did she also discover what her taste for a man is?]
[I’m jealous of that sharp-eyed guy over there~♪]
The restaurant is filled with jeers.
Seras’ hand that held her spoon stopped.
The expression on her face is quite stiff.
Her fist was clenching her spoon really tight.
[It’s fine if they were just insulting— but if they’re insulting my benefactor, Hati-dono, then that’s something I can’t overlook.]
[If they have something to say about me, let them say it.]
I said as I brought my meal into my mouth.
[It’s just a waste of effort if you try to fight back against such people. It’s not like you could find someone like Monk among them.]
It would only be a demerit if we were to cause a fuss in here.
Well, there should be no problem if it’s just something of this level.
Seras slowly unclenched her fist.
The stiffness on her face has also disappeared.
She took a deep breath.
It’s as if she’s trying to calm herself down.
[It seems you’re quite an adult, Hati-dono.]
[It’s just I’m already used to dealing with the ill intent of others.]
Or rather than saying that I’m used to dealing with their ill intent, I guess you could say I’m used to dealing with foolish people like these.
They actually look quite cute compared to Kirihira’s gang and that f*cking goddess.
Putting aside their killing intent, I could just easily ignore the ill intent that they’ve been sending my way…
[Well, I’m thankful that you could bear with it. By the way, this is completely out of topic but… have you ever heard about forbidden curses before?]
I asked about the characters I’ve seen in the Archive of Curses before.
However, we still haven’t talked about any story about curses itself.
[Yes, I’ve heard of them before.]
So, they do exist.
Or rather than that,
[You really know everything, huh.]
[I don’t know everything. However, I used to have a hobby of scrounging through old literature back in the past.]
With a gentle smile on her face, Seras puts her hand over her chest.
[The time when I was reading was also the time when I could feel particularly calm. You could even say that it’s the most comfortable for me when I’m having my one-on-one interaction with my book.]
I don’t think I could particularly feel what she felt back then…
I could only see the characters I’m reading on as just enumeration of information.
Of course, there may be some emotions that would sprung after I read something.
And yet, I wouldn’t care about what I’ve felt after discovering this feeling once.
It seems that Seras has a habit of placing her hand over her chest sometimes while she’s speaking.
[Fuunnn, I think it’s nice that you have a hobby that could help you calm down. Anyway, can I hear about the story about the Forbidden Curses?]
[Ah, excuse me. Ordinarily, these Forbidden Curses were referred to as just “That Certain Ancient Spell”.]
[Did you know the reason why they are called “Prohibited Spells”?]
[It was said that name was bestowed upon the Goddess Vysis herself.]
[—————]
[Hati-dono?]
[…By the way, what exactly is this goddess?]
[It is said that there was a deity that was sent to this world be the Chief God of Heaven that would bring salvation and blessing upon the world. This deity is the Alion’s Goddess Vysis. When the Great Evil was on the brink of appearing into this world, the deity would summon Heroes from another world that would fight back against this Evil— and it’s only the Goddess Vysis that possess the means to summon them.]
That f*cking goddess.
[So, the one who prohibited the use of the Ancient Spells, the “Forbidden Curses” is the goddess huh…]
[Yes, that’s according to what I’ve read in the books before. That’s why, you could even say that the Goddess intended on prohibiting these spells. Well, people have questioned before whether these Forbidden Curses even exist or not.]
I feel like this information is really important…
A set of spells that the goddess has prohibited.
If you look at it from another side, you could even think that these set of spells were something that the goddess considers as dangerous.
In short—
It is likely that these Forbidden Curses were an effective countermeasure against the goddess.
This must also be the reason why the Great Sage brought the Forbidden Archives of Spells and Curses in the Disposal Ruins.
If this is the case then, the need for me to meet the Witch of Taboos has increased.
If the accuracy of the information I’ve just acquired is high…
There is also a lot of significance in searching for someone who could read the characters in the Forbidden Archives.
Seras faintly smiles.
[I’m sorry. This is all I know about it… If someone had read some other old books I have no knowledge of, then they would probably know more about it.]
[No, this much is enough.]
I look straight towards Seras’ eyes.
[Thank you.]
Seras puts down her hand above her lap while her shoulders seems to shrink.
[I- I’m glad that I can be of use…]
Hmm?
[Do you have to be that startled that much even though I’m just saying my thanks?]
[It’s just that it was the first time I have seen Hati-dono directly saying your “Thank you”, so… I feel a bit embarrassed.]
I see.
It seems that my moderate attitude towards her is quite effective.
I promptly changed the topic.
[Anyway, what are your plans for today? I think we ought to leave Mills before the sun sets but…]
[Let’s see, my plan shortly after this was—]
Seras began listing out the things she planned on her schedule.
As far as I heard from her, it seems that she would be finished with the Marquis’ hospitality in this morning.
By the way, Pigimaru is waiting in my room right now.
Last night, after pouring the Enhancer on Pigimaru, I was observing the progress of his enhancement until I slept.
I felt that the color on his squishy skin was slightly shinier than before.
However, there was no particular change regarding his appearance.
Well, it can be said that it’s just as described in the “Second Experiment”.
It wouldn’t be the appearance that would change.
It would be another aspect of him.
Let’s see…
I guess we should try it out later after we meet up with Seras later.
We’ve finally finished our breakfast.
Pulling away her supple chair, Seras stands up.
[At around 1 pm, I should be able to come back after receiving the reward from the Marquis. They seemed to be busy too, so I told them that we should be able to finish the process before noon.]
It seems that it’s a bit troublesome to turn the Azure Dragon Stone into money.
On the other hand though, gold is a currency that could be used immediately.
As I thought, she should
still get the rewards for the Dragon Eye Sakazuki.
It seems that it was how she has judged things.
Just as we have talked yesterday, you wouldn’t be as troubled about things as long as you have lots of money.
[Well then, Hati-dono. See you later.]
[Yeah. I’ll see you later at around afternoon in front of this inn.]
[I understand.]
And like that, Seras left the inn and went towards the Marquis’ mansion.
* * *
After parting ways with Seras, I returned to my room.
I would still be occupying this room until afternoon today.
At around 10 o’clock, I decided to test out the strength of Pigimaru after he was strengthened.
After deciding so, I left the inn and looked for a place hidden from the eyes of others.
I entered the path behind the inn.
It seems that there’s quite a grove growing out on the back.
After walking for some time, I could see an abandoned building in the center of the grove.
It’s just as how the innkeeper told me.
He said that it used to be his inn back then.
Now, he had moved inside Mills and did his business at the inn where I’m staying at.
In short, you could say that this is the predecessor of that inn.
[This is quite a nice place.]
I came here because I wanted a slightly larger space where Pigimaru could try out his new capabilities.
I was searching for a place that might be hidden from the eyes of others.
That’s when I found such a good place that was pretty hidden.
This area is also certaily larger than my room in the inn.
[Well then, let’s start Pigimaru.]
[Pigii~!]
Thus, Pigimaru and I conducted some trials in order to check the effects of the Enhacer until it’s around noon.
After finishing the trials, I went back to the inn and had my lunch.
At this point, the time right now should be around 12:30 pm.
The time of our appointment will be in about 30 minutes.
If they had finished early, they may have already done with their talks.
[Are you finally heading out?]
I finished the preparations for my departure and went down towards the ground floor.
I then talked to the innkeeper.
[I’ve been in your care for the past few days.]
[Oh~, Hati-sama! When you were to visit Mills again, please come back and stay in this inn again!]
[Yes, I would definitely stay here if I ever get to visit Mills again.]
It would be easier and more flexible in here as long as you give some tip.
I thanked the innkeeper and went out of the inn.
Seras have yet to appear.
Together with Pigimaru under my robe, I waited for Seras to arrive.
[…………]
3 pm has already passed, but Seras still didn’t appear.
Chapter 71
The Failed Gamble
I waited for a while in the hopes that she would arrive late.
However, there was no sign of Seras appearing at all.
The time right now is about nearly 3:30 pm.
She said before that she would return at around 1pm at the latest.
[………]
I feel like she’s rather too late if she would still arrive right now.
Last night, Seras visited my room at the perfect time just as we had arranged.
She looks to be someone that’s strict with her own time management.
I talk with Pigimaru under my robe.
[What do you think?]
[Piii… Pyuuuu~…]
Pigimaru quietly cries out.
[Do you think she broke our promise and left without telling me?]
[Pyiii~]
His color turned into red.
The color of denial.
However, it’s color is quite faint.
It seems that he really grew attached with her.
[Well, it would be too early for me to decide whether she really has broken our promise before we even made sure of the current situation.]
[…Pii?]
[As long as I haven’t seen her—]
Or Seras’ body…
[Something may have happened.]
I should confirm what really happened.
There’s also some kind of significance in judging the truth with my own eyes.
[What decision did you bet has she chosen?]
[Pii?]
[If you think that she has just silently disappeared, cry out twice. If you think that it’s something other than that, then cry out once.]
[Pii.]
I haven’t heard a second cry from Pigimaru.
[It seems that you and I have been standing in a place that has quite a lot of people all this time. Let’s go.]
We started walking.
[I feel like I would lose this bet.]
* * *
There were some other questions that still boggles my mind.
At this point, I feel like Seras doesn’t have that much of a motive to just suddenly deceive us and disappear.
If she’s really not willing to accompany me, she should just have refused my offer for her to guard me right from the start.
Would she really mind about her identity after she knew that her true identity was already revealed?
If she really was that afraid of the trouble that might come from my knowledge of her identity, she should have just left Mills just earlier than what’s on her schedule.
She shouldn’t have troubled dealing with me, but…
Or did she plan to disappear after getting her hands on the 300 gold coins?
I still have some doubts about this.
There’s also the Azure Dragon Stone that I’ve handed over to Seras last night.
She had also said something about how something like that jewel was distributed in the market.
“I don’t think the Azure Dragon Stone is something that could be distributed in the open market.”
In other words, you could say that Seras knows the existence of some kind of black market.
She knows of a possible route that could turn the stone into money.
If she wants to get away from Mills as soon as possible while hiding her real identity…
Then, she can leave Mills either at night or early in the morning with the Azure Dragon Stone in her hand.
It may even be possible that the money she’s earning weren’t really for the travelling expenses she needed to go to Jonato.
However, she should still be going towards a big city so that she could exchange her money at the bank.
If she can reach the capital of Urza, she may be able to cash them out.
Most of all…
[If she were planning to deceive me right from the start, she made too many unnecessary actions.]
From the eyes of someone who had been acting all his life, Seras’ acting at that time was the worst.
You could see a large gap remaining through their eyes, even to the most natural of the actresses but…
Anyway, I want to confirm if something had indeed happened.
I envisioned the location of the Marquis’ mansion to the hearsay I’ve heard from others.
[I’m certain that it’s a bit separated from Mills…]
…………
My brain couldn’t properly map out the area with just the information from the hearsay from others.
My knowledge around this area is severely lacking.
There isn’t anything that could also serve as a landmark.
[Do I have to buy a detailed map of the area around Mills?]
It was when I was about to step my foot and head towards the main street to buy a map of this area…
[Oi, have you heard!? The story about that woman who h
as found that aforementioned Dragon Eye Sakazuki!]
My feet stops.
There was a crowd that gathered in the plaza along the main street.
I feel like there’s some sudden news that has suddenly sprung up.
[I’ve heard about it too! Who would have thought that she was actually the escaping Princess Knight that was mentioned back in the guild!?]
[————]
Don’t tell me… It was exposed?
Her true identity.
[…………]
What in the world happened?
I perked my ears and listened.
And, one man began telling the others who has just joined the crowd.
Some find it enjoyable talking to those who don’t know about the latest scoop.
Or perhaps, it’s just engraved in human’s mentality to do something like that.
[Want to know what happened? It seems that Seras Ashrain visited the Marquis’ mansion to receive her reward for the Dragon Eye Sakazuki, but there’s a magician under the marquis’ employment who’s famous for having the ability to break Illusion Techniques in there. And, her disguise through her Illusion Technique was broken!]
[To have the ability to break Illusion Techniques… what a guy! It seems that her face looked exactly like in that portrait of the former leader of the Holy Knights-sama that’s been circulating among the guild!]
[Heee…!? So, elves could use Illusion Techniques that can change the shape of her face!?]
[What the heck! That woman really is that Holy Knight!]
The conversing people seems to have included a mercenary that was present at the briefing session near the ruins.
[From the rumors that I’ve heard, she seems to escaped in the direction of the Dark Forest!]
[Oioi, wait a second! Doesn’t this mean that we would be able to get that large amount of rewards if we were able to catch that woman!?]
[Yeeeaaaahhhh! Then, let’s head to the dark forest immediately! It’s the hunt for the Holy Knight!]
It was around that time.
[Stop right there!]
The one who raised his voice is that mercenary who was present at the the briefing session.
The other mercenary who has lost his momentum lunges at him in dissatisfaction.
[Hah? What the f*ck are you talking about, bastard…? That woman has taken the Dragon Eye Sakazuki that was from the ruins raid! I have to at least seize the reward for the Dragon Eye Sakazuki for myself!]
[I said you all should f*cking stop! There’s still more about that story and yet, you’re all in a f*cking hurry to rush!]
