He, who seemed to have lost his words, soon bit his lip in frustration and muttered,
"Clearly, I got uncharacteristically worked up..."
Then he raised his head and looked at me.
His eyes had changed.
Much more cautious and serious.
"Young Rodbel, give it to me. I'll give you as much money as you want. I'll buy you a castle, a fine horse, pretty dresses and jewels, and if you want, I'll even give you Rodbel."
I wasn't interested in anything else, but the 'even give you Rodbel' part was a bit tempting.
But I shook my head immediately, without a second thought.
"I'm sorry, but I can't do that."
This wasn't something I had obtained through my own strength alone, so it needed to be used for its original purpose.
The man, who had been watching me quietly, sighed deeply and said,
"I thought you'd say that. I would have been angry if you had tried to exchange it for such materialistic things."
He turned around, walked heavily, rummaged through the cupboard, and slammed a cookie box on the table.
Then he pulled out a chair and said to me,
"Sit down. Let's talk about the commission."
"Ah."
At that, I stared at him blankly for a moment.
Then I smiled brightly and approached him.
"Yes!"
"So."
He had even brought tea, which was steaming hot, and asked me, leaning close,
"What do you want to commission? It's obviously related to that mana core, right?"
He seemed like he wouldn't leave me alone if I said it wasn't related to the mana core.
I took a sip of the tea and nodded at him.
"That's right. I want to commission you, Master Craftsman, to process this mana core."
"Oh, my god!"
He stood up abruptly and looked around, offering thanks to someone. It must be the god he believed in.
"Yes! Tell me specifically. What do you want me to do?"
He had already returned to my side and was asking, his eyes sparkling.
Clatter.
I put down the teacup and looked at him with a serious face, answering,
"I want to make a weapon."
"A weapon?"
"Yes."
I had been thinking about it constantly.
How could I best utilize this mana core?
There were endless ways to use it.
I could create a magical tool, or I could create something new using it as a raw material.
Maybe I could create something that would allow me to escape from Rodbel's eyes.
What was certain was that no matter how I used it, it would be a great help to me.
That's why it was even more difficult to decide.
But recently, I finally came to a conclusion.
'Let's make a weapon.' So that I can protect myself in any situation.
"<1 Workshop> mainly processes mana stones, but I know that you sometimes make weapons as well."
"Hmm, that's true. I made Rodbel's succession sword, 'Knox,' a long time ago."
"You made that sword too?"
I only knew he was a dwarf. My eyes widened at the unexpected truth.
But he replied with an indifferent face.
"The Rodbel family head at the time was so annoyingly persistent. I just made one and threw it at him."
"Just threw it..."
It was a story that didn't match the Nox, Rodbel's treasured sword and the current family head's favorite sword.
But that made me even more hopeful.
If he was a craftsman who could easily make a sword of that caliber, he would definitely make my weapon well too!
However, the answer that came back betrayed my expectations.
"It is possible to process this mana core so that it can act as a mana stone. But I don't think I can make a weapon for you."
"What? Why?"
"This mana core is too high-grade. The weapon must also have a grade equivalent to this. If you attach it to a weapon that doesn't match the grade, even the mana core will be destroyed."
"...! Even if it's a weapon made by you, Master Craftsman?"
"Of course my weapons are great! But I specialize in processing mana stones. You have to go to a fellow dwarf who specializes in weapons for this."
"...Where are those people?"
The man shook his head.
"I don't know either. They scattered hundreds of years ago and even cut off contact."
"...It's because of the illegal casino incident."
I squeezed my eyes shut.
I have this precious thing in my hands, but do I have to give up like this?
'There must be a way...'
But even the best craftsman in the empire has given up, so what other way is there?
I was seized with a sense of frustration that made me feel like the ground was sinking beneath my feet.
"Ah, there's one human who can do it."
"There is?"
My eyes lit up at the unexpected story.
The hope that had fallen rose again.
But the expression on the dwarf's face as he said that was very reluctant.
"Yes, he's one step above me in magic. And he has excellent technical skills... If it's him, he might be able to create a weapon that matches the grade of this mana core."
"Who is that person?"
I asked anxiously.
Instead of answering, the dwarf looked at me with a complicated expression and said solemnly.
"He's a dangerous guy. It's better not to approach him. Do you still want to know?"
I smiled without realizing it.
"If I give up because it's dangerous, I can't do anything."
Even changing the future.
The man's expression changed when he heard my answer.
He muttered in a low voice.
"No wonder she's from her bloodline, she has the same stubbornness."
He sighed deeply and said to me.
"Since you want it so badly, I'll tell you. But be careful when you approach him."
"Yes."
"That guy is..."
I opened my eyes wide at the unexpected identity that followed.
That person?
"Go back carefully, little Rodbel."
I bowed to the dwarf craftsman- Drakan, who had come out to see me off at the door.
"Then I'll see you next time."
"Yeah, do well."
After saying goodbye to him, I came out of the door.
I put the magic ring back on my finger. Since I could use it one more time with the remaining time, I turned back into Marin.
I immediately checked my watch. There was about 1 hour and 20 minutes left...
The sun had almost set.
Time is running out. I have to go back to the carriage quickly.
I hurried away, thinking about the conversation I had with Drakan.
To get to the point, I commissioned him to process the mana core so that it could be used as a mana stone.
The commission fee was...
'I won't take it.'
'What? But...'
'I should be grateful that you allowed me to handle such a mana core again. If you are really grateful, do your best to make the mana stone I process shine.'
'...Thank you.'
He was a rough and fierce-looking dwarf, but he was actually very kind-hearted.
By the way, the only one who can make a weapon that matches the mana core.
"...To think it was the Tower Master."
A mysterious figure with the modifier of the strongest wizard since the first family head.
Certainly, the Magic Tower produces magical tools, so it must have that much information and knowledge.
But...
'How do I meet the Tower Master?'
As the saying goes, he was a mysterious figure, he hardly ever... no, he didn't do any external activities at all.
So there were even rumors in the world that he was actually a fake person created by the Magic Tower.
Of course, I have never seen him either.
'I can't just go to the Magic Tower and meet him.'
He was one of the few people who could not be forced even by the power of Rodbel.
"Hoo."
I overcame one obstacle, but a bigger obstacle was waiting for me.
'Should I ask Bedel later?'
He is a member of the royal family, so maybe he has a connection.
Of course...
'But that's only possible in 5 years.'
I recently heard through Marin that he had gone to study abroad.
He has also begun his journey to change his destiny.
Still...
"It takes about that long to process the mana core."
Let's find a way until then.
As I was thinking about it, I was hurrying through an alley.
"Hey, you there."
An eerie voice came from inside the darkness.
When I turned my head, three men were chuckling and approaching.
"Looking at you coming out of that <1 Workshop>, you must be pretty rich?"
"We're having a hard time because we don't have any money."
"Why don't you give us some charity? Of course, you'll have to give us all the way to your entrails!"
"Ah..."
What is this again?
#147
I stared blankly at the men who suddenly appeared and said ridiculous things.
I was no stranger to such people.
'Wherever you go, there are always people like this.'
'You're young, so you'll give more food if you beg! Get out of here!'
On that ice-cold street, they mercilessly wielded violence and stole even the little I had.
"Can't you hear me? If you don't want to die, give me everything you have!"
Suddenly, I laughed at this situation.
There seems to be darkness even in a glamorous and vibrant place.
For some reason, I was relieved by that fact.
Actually, I don't want to make things bigger if possible...
'I can't help it. I don't have much time left.'
Marin will be waiting for me anxiously.
It would be a disaster if the magic wore off before I arrived.
'I'm glad I brought it just in case.'
Instead of answering, I rummaged through my bag.
Perhaps misunderstanding it, the man shouted.
"Don't choose, just throw it all!"
"I'll kill you if you do anything stupid."
It was when they were holding a knife to me.
Ah.
'This will be good.'
I took out a flower from my bag.
To be exact, it was a fake flower.
"What? Are you asking us to buy you a flower?"
"Or are you going to give us a flower and ask us to save you?"
"Puhaha, what a funny woman. Take off your hood, I'll decide after seeing your face!"
The thugs, who didn't know the identity of the flower, were just giggling and mocking me.
'That's not it.'
This is a magic tool.
It was also a pretty powerful magic tool that temporarily paralyzes the body when touched by pollen.
I was going to get out of here while the men were paralyzed and unable to move.
However, since this magic tool has a distance limit, I silently waited for the men to approach.
Thinking that I was being ignored because I didn't answer, the men approached with angry faces.
"I want to die so bad- Keuk!"
...?
The man who was approaching first with a threatening appearance suddenly screamed and fell forward.
"What, what is it!"
The second man, flustered by the sudden situation, wildly swung his weapon in the air.
What on earth is going on?
"What rat bastard! If you don't come out right now, I'll kill you-"
"A rat bastard, where is there a rat bastard as handsome as me?"
Someone was walking towards me from across the alley.
Soon he revealed himself under the sunset.
With hair that burned like the sunset...
"Quack, do you want to die?"
"Are you the one who made the boss like that?"
"Huh? Was that guy the boss? He's too scrawny for that, isn't he? What kind of boss falls down when hit by a stone?"
As if it wasn't a lie, he bounced a stone on the palm of his hand.
"You dare...!"
The second thug burst into anger and ran towards him.
"Die!!"
"It's you who's dying."
The red-haired man smiled and pointed at the thug.
"It's you."
The man who had been rolling the stone threw it away and took a stance.
I stared blankly at the fluid movements as if water was flowing.
In the blink of an eye, the man twisted his posture and grabbed the thug's wrist and forearm.
He twisted it as it was.
"Aaaack!"
"Ugh, shut up. You should sleep a little."
And he threw it on the ground as it was!
Koong!
"Keuheok..."
The thug, who hit the ground with his whole body, coughed, vomited, and lost consciousness as it was.
While I was stunned by what happened in an instant, the man's head turned this way.
At that moment, the last remaining thug moved.
Towards me.
"D, don't move!"
The man, who suddenly bound me from behind, put a knife to my neck.
The sunset shone on the sharp blade.
"If you come closer, this woman..."
But the man couldn't continue speaking.
Thud.
The man, who suddenly collapsed, twitched his arms and legs finely.
Ah, right.
"Magic tool..."
It was activated without me knowing, paralyzing the man.
I looked at the thug who had fallen at my feet with a bewildered look, and then slowly raised my head.
Already.
"I knew it."
The red-haired man, who had come right in front of me, pushed my hood back.
He made eye contact and smiled.
"You, you know me, right?"
"..."
I couldn't even swallow.
Who on earth is this man...?
'Who is he?'
"At first, I was skeptical, but no matter how much I thought about it, you looked familiar. I came along to check it out..."
"..."
"I think I know. You were one of my students, right?"
'Student?'
The moment I heard those words, I understood and my head turned cold.
'The Underworld Guild.'
The place where Marin survived.
"You were scheduled to be disposed of, but you escaped."
"..."
"But to think I would meet you in a place like this. What an amazing coincidence. No, is it fate?"
The man was speaking as if he was glad, but I wasn't stupid enough not to know that wasn't the case.
"I found you like this, what should I do..."
He was thinking about my- Marin's fate.
Eudeuk.
For some reason, I was grinding my teeth. And at the same time, I was relieved that the person who met this man was not the real Marin, but me.
"First of all, let's take you to headquarters, euk?"
"You can't let your guard down."
I stabbed the poison needle hidden in the flower into his stomach.
Since it was such a small and thin needle, it couldn't make a deep wound, but the important thing was its effect.
Like the paralysis effect of the magic tool, it was a poison that temporarily paralyzed the limbs.
"I don't know who you're confusing me with, but you've got the wrong person."
"Eueuk. This is..."
"Thank you for helping me. But I'm a little busy right now."
I took a step back.
Fortunately, the poison worked well and the man's knees buckled.
I immediately pressed down on my hood and bowed to him.
"The paralysis will wear off in 10 minutes. There will be no aftereffects. Then goodbye."
I ran away straight past him.
Fearing that he would follow me, I ran at full speed.
I ran across the still crowded square, and climbed onto the Rodbel carriage waiting at the carriage rental office.
"Please depart quickly!"
The coachman was flustered by my urgent appearance, but soon started the carriage.
While capturing the increasingly distant appearance of the central capital in my eyes, I took a deep breath.
Still, I was a little bothered that Marin's appearance was revealed.
To think I would meet someone from the Underworld Guild in a place like that.
'As long as Marin is by my side, I won't meet him again.'
Still, I should give Marin a heads up just in case.
After calming my surprised heart to some extent, I looked inside my bag.
A very old book at a glance.
Seeing that book made me smile for no reason.
This book will create new relationships for me.
"I want to meet you soon, Cherish."
What kind of child will she be? Will she look exactly like Aen?
I imagined vaguely and closed my eyes for a moment.
As I fell into the sea of sleep, I smiled.
For some reason, I had a feeling that I would have a good dream.
I was standing on ruins.
It was land robbed of all life, like a place where disaster had passed.
Blackened earth. Collapsed buildings. People buried underneath.
In the silence where not even a breath remained, I was there, no, he was there.
"How can a child be in a place like this..."
Surprised, I turned to where the voice came from.
A familiar voice...
'...Aen?'
Aen, wearing blood-stained armor, was walking towards me blankly.
Soon he knelt down in front of me.
Tears were flowing as he looked at me, no, at something in front of him.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I'm sorry..."
"..."
"Will you go with me?"
He reaches out his hand.
I blankly looked at the direction Aen's hand was pointing.
And there-
"Heoeok!"
"Oops."
When I opened my eyes wide, there was a surprised coachman.
Heoeok, heok...
As I gasped for breath and stared blankly, he said urgently.
"Ah, you seemed to be having a nightmare so I was going to wake you up...!"
A nightmare? Was it a nightmare?
'It was a similar but different feeling...'
What was that dream just now?
It was too intense, and it was a strange dream.
Aen was crying, and he was reaching out his hand to someone.
Who was that...?
The thought didn't continue.
First of all, I came back to reality.
I looked out the window and asked.
"Have we arrived?"
"Yes, we just arrived."
"Thank you."
I hurriedly got out of the carriage.
And I immediately ran inside.
I was about to go straight to my room, but I stood in front of the window glass and neatly arranged my clothes.
Then I returned to my room.
After greeting the knights nonchalantly, I knocked on the door.
"Miss, it's me. Marin."
"C, come in."
I heard a voice from inside.
I opened the door naturally and went inside.
The moment the door closed and the knights' eyes were blocked.
"Miss...!!"
Marin, who looked like me, jumped out of bed.
#148
"Marin."
I also approached her immediately.
I reflexively hugged Marin, who was hugging me.
'Small...'
The body of mine that I was hugging was too small, so it felt very strange. It was hard to give strength.
Marin cried, hugging me in my arms.
"You didn't come back, so I was worried that something had happened. Did anything happen?"
Something...did happen.
Meeting someone from the Underworld Guild who knew Marin.
Paralyzing him and running away.
Because of that, the time was further delayed and I came back in a hurry.
It was then.
Crack.
With the sound of breaking, the ring on my finger broke.
At the same time, the magic that burst out from inside surrounded me and Marin.
When I came to my senses, I was being held in Marin's arms.
'I've returned to my original form...'
The shrunken body felt unfamiliar for some reason, so I clenched and unfolded my palm, then looked up at Marin and said.
"Oh right, Commander Rixus came earlier. I couldn't check what he wanted because I was pretending to sleep."
"The commander..."
I felt like I knew what he wanted.
It must be about the outing.
'Did it succeed or fail.'
The possibility of failure was dominant, but I couldn't help but expect it.
"Oh, and Marin..."
I told Marin the story of meeting someone from the Underworld Guild outside.
Marin's expression darkened when she heard the story. She muttered.
"It's probably Kane."
"Kane?"
"He's a high-ranking figure even within the Underworld Guild. He mainly carries out dangerous or secret requests, and he's also given the qualifications to meet with the Guild Master."
"Ah..."
"At the same time, he also teaches apprentices. If you compare it to Rodbel, it's like Head Butler Ligrin Peddler."
I opened my eyes wide at Marin's explanation.
'He was that dangerous?'
He was unusual, but I never imagined he would be such a high-ranking figure.
...Is it okay?
I became sullen and said.
"I'm sorry, Marin. I just exposed Marin's existence because of me."
I thought it would be okay because that person didn't know that Marin was Rodbel's maid, and even if he found out, he couldn't invade this place.
But after hearing Marin's words, I became worried. If he's such a great person, he might do anything to harm Marin.
Then Marin laughed loudly and hugged me tightly.
"Ma, Marin?!"
"Our cute Miss. You don't have to worry about that. That man is too busy, and he doesn't have a strong sense of duty to go around looking for discarded items."
"...I'm glad if that's the case."
"More than that, you're more amazing for giving that man a hard time and coming back safely! As expected of our Miss. But the outside is really dangerous. Next time, you must go out with me."
"Okay. Let's do that."
I nodded obediently.
Certainly, the bustling downtown of the central capital that I went out to for the first time was a very splendid and wonderful place.
There was also excitement as if I was traveling to an unknown world.
But...
'I was a little lonely.'
I couldn't tell Marin, but I felt a strange loneliness as I wandered through the gap alone.
It would be better if there was someone who could watch and feel what I saw and felt together.
I thought of Marin, I thought of Aen, and I thought of Ligrin a little.
"Let's go out together next time."
I whispered that in Marin's arms. Marin smiled quietly and stroked my hair.
Being like this...
'I'm sleepy...'
Perhaps it's because I've been running around all day and experienced so many things.
My arms and legs were drooping like weights.
'I have to wash and sleep...'
It was at that moment.
Knock knock.
Someone knocked on the door.
Who is it?
'Did Aen come again?'
It was at that moment that I thought.
"Lucia Rodbel, are you in there?"
I froze as soon as I heard the voice.
It wasn't Aen.
The visitor was...
After finishing his afternoon work, the Duke turned away instead of returning to his room.
It was because of the strange feeling he had felt from Lucia's maid he had seen at lunch, and he was worried about Lucia for some reason.
Standing in front of the door, the Duke stood still for a moment.
The knight, who was embarrassed by the Duke's appearance, said.
"Lord, I will inform the Miss of your visit."
The moment the knight was about to step forward.
Knock knock.
The Duke knocked on the door. And he said quietly.
"Lucia Rodbel."
The name he put in his mouth was still unfamiliar, so he closed it.
"Are you in there?"
There was no answer. The inside was so quiet that it was strangely quiet as if they were holding their breath.
The moment the Duke's hand was about to reach for the doorknob.
Click.
The door opened slightly. The Duke's gaze gradually went down.
"Duke...?"
Lucia was looking up at him with surprised eyes.
The Duke stared at her intently.
It's Lucia, that's right.
"What's the matter... Ah, come inside first."
Lucia, who hurriedly opened the door, stepped aside.
The Duke stared at Lucia for a moment, then slowly went inside.
Lucia's maid inside was tidying the table and bringing out refreshments.
When Lucia and the Duke sat face to face, the maid politely put her hands together and stepped back.
The Duke quietly looked at the maid.
He compared it to when he saw it from a distance around lunchtime.
It was clear that it was the same person, but something felt different.
But he no longer looked at the maid.
He turned his head and looked at Lucia across from him.
He said abruptly.
"You're disheveled."
"Yes?"
At his words, Lucia's eyes widened as if surprised, and then she hurriedly arranged her hair with her hands and said.
"I'm sorry. I got up in a hurry..."
"Got up in a hurry?"
"Yes."
Then she slightly avoided his gaze and answered.
"It's the Duke. I wanted to open the door for you myself."
"..."
At the unexpected words, the Duke quietly looked at Lucia before picking up the teacup.
The tea that the maid made wasn't bad. The warm energy soothed his cold inside.
He said.
"Do you know why I visited?"
At his question, Lucia hesitated and answered carefully.
"Is it because of the outing?"
As a smart child, Lucia immediately grasped the reason for his visit.
"Yes. Commander Rixus wants to go out with you. So."
He stopped speaking for a moment and stared at Lucia intently.
Suddenly, this situation felt unfamiliar. He never thought that the day would come when he would sit face to face with this child and drink tea.
"I came to hear your thoughts."
"..."
At his words, the red eyes stared at him intently for a moment.
Soon Lucia opened her mouth.
"I..."
'Why is he asking this question?'
I didn't know the Duke's intention in asking such a question.
But I know a similar situation.
'When I wanted to learn swordsmanship from Aen.'
At that time, the Duke called me and sat facing me like this and asked me what I thought.
I resolutely hoped to become Aen's disciple, and what came back was a trial.
Will I go through the same procedure this time?
If so, the answer is...
"Yes."
There was no reason to hesitate.
"I want to go out with the Commander."
So, what are you going to do this time?
The Duke, who heard my firm answer, looked down at the teacup for a moment.
Then he took another sip, put down the cup, and said.
"I understand."
"......?"
"I have approved the outing request, so you should know that and prepare."
"Yes?"
What did I just hear?
He approved the outing? That easily?
'He's not the type to do that?'
I didn't know how to react, so I looked at him with a dumbfounded face, and the Duke stood up.
As if that was all he wanted, I hurriedly chased after him as he tried to leave.
And I said.
"Th, thank you."
Honestly, I don't know what his intentions are at all.
There's no good reason for him to approve my outing.
Even if I can't figure out his intentions at all, I couldn't help but thank him because he readily accepted my request.
The Duke stared at me intently like this, then suddenly said.
"Come to me when you come back."
"Yes?"
"I have something to give you."
"......?"
After saying only those words, the Duke left the room.
......What?
"What is he giving me?"
I tilted my head and thought, but I thought about what was more important first.
Right now......
"Marin, help me!"
It's preparing for tomorrow's outing!
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