Ch#55
* * *
I picked the room at the very end of the second floor. It was a bit smaller than my room at the Duke's Castle, but still cozy and to my liking.
Best of all, the bed was the fluffiest!
"Hot spring."
I lay on it, staring at the ceiling and imagining.
"Hot spring!"
The one I'd seen on TV in my previous life!
Everyone who went in had this melted, blissful look on their faces. It had stuck with me.
"I wanna go sooo bad, but I can't!"
Even if it was the Jebeurt family's hot spring, that made it even more nerve-wracking. Who knew when Dad or Grandfather or Void might barge in!
I flailed my arms and legs, and a curt reply came from beside me.
"I'll keep watch at the right time."
It was Khalid, sitting there polishing his sword. True to his stray puppy nature, he'd rushed to me the moment he unpacked at the knight barracks.
I bolted upright.
"For real?!"
"Why tense up?"
Whoa, as expected of the Part 2 male lead.
"Khaaaal."
I grabbed Khalid's arm and dangled off the bed like dough.
"......Acting cute again."
"Huh?"
"The Jebeurt folks are annoying. Won't even let you have a hot spring in peace."
Tell me about it.
Khalid hid his slightly reddened ears and sheathed his sharp sword.
"More importantly, you're really gonna meet that outpost mage? You know her?"
I sat up straight on the bed.
"Yeah! Asha Drukan."
She wasn't someone I knew from the original story. Like Khalid, I'd met her by chance on the battlefield, and she was Bamilion's eastern outpost mage.
"Drukan...... Descendant of the dwarves?"
Khalid stared into space, pondering, then realized.
"Blueprints. To bewitch the blacksmith."
"Exactly."
To shake off Maddox, I needed increasingly stimulating...... no, more intricate blueprints.
Realizing my intent, Khalid furrowed his brows deeply.
"I told you not to worry about that."
"Yeah, I know, but having a mage makes it less suspicious to have a barrier in Zelox."
The barrier I was making was a double-edged sword for me.
It protected me from the Magic Kingdom, but it also advertised that there was a mage here.
'In short, I need a decoy mage.'
Of course, the method to create a barrier magical artifact using barrier stones was my secret technique. And no one knew I knew it.
'Which means, even if someone finds out, it won't seem strange.'
Asha Drukan was a descendant of ancient magical weapon artisans. Her family had fallen into ruin, but still.
Anyway, the script where this descendant studies northern magic stones obsessively and develops a new defensive weapon was a bit rough, but not impossible.
"I'll point out two things coldly."
Khalid crossed his arms tightly and spoke.
"Don't be too cold......"
"First. What's your basis for thinking you can win Asha Drukan to your side?"
Thud. I collapsed onto the floor.
"Second. Will Duke Jebeurt readily allow a mage into his territory?"
Thump. My upper body fully merged with the floor.
"What're you doing?"
Khalid pulled me up with a disapproving face.
"My bones broke."
"Where?"
"Just a figure of speech."
I giggled and counted on my fingers.
"First off...... Asha Drukan owes me a favor, so she'll repay me."
"Oh?"
"I saved her little brother on the battlefield."
"......"
Khalid made a subtle expression.
"No way...... Among the mages you saved at Kanalan Gorge, was Asha Drukan's brother there?"
"Yeah. Pretty much."
In the heavy silence, I counted my last finger.
"And second, Riam Jebeurt will handle it."
"Riam Jebeurt?"
I thought of the boy obsessed with monster studies. And Asha had a personal interest in monster studies too. It'd be an irresistible temptation for Riam.
'Of course, if Dad says no, nothing to be done......'
In the original, Riam had once had a mage as a monster studies tutor. It wasn't specified who.
I was just trying to advance that timeline.
"Don't worry. If the second fails, we just get blueprints from Asha."
Either way, it's a win!
As I grinned, Khalid let out a faint sigh.
"How could I not worry......"
At the same time, a clinking sound rang out.
"Gasp, that sweet sound effect!"
I jumped up. Unclasping his bracelet, Khal held out his hand to me.
I hooked my pinky lightly, and the boy's large hand enveloped my wrist.
"Mana density's lower than Zelox. Don't overdo it."
I nodded, feeling the rush of refreshing energy. Of course, of course. Who do you think I am!
"When do we go? I'm dying to know. Hot spring!"
"Call when ready."
Khalid replied curtly and focused on channeling mana. Feeling great, I leaned in secretively and whispered.
"If I were really a boy, we'd go together. Hehe. Too bad, right?"
"Wha......!"
"Huh? Why stop?"
I looked regretfully at the abruptly cut mana. Khalid rubbed his ear, begging me not to say weird stuff, then took my hand again.
"Why? Close friends bathe together, right? Best friends? No, not that. What was it...... A term only boys use......"
I glared at the ceiling, searching my memory. Oh, right!
"Yeah! Bro......"
Eep. A large hand shot out and covered my mouth.
"Please."
The boy's dark crown of hair drooped low.
"Let me live......"
The surging mana roiled turbulently.
* * *
Noble carriages arrived one after another in Ipson, host of the New Green Festival. The city, welcoming spring, buzzed with joy and excitement all day.
Once the Emperor's party arrived from the capital, they'd pray to the gods for a peaceful year, and the main festival would begin. Noble banquets too.
'Arriving early feels like vacation.'
I'd toured Ipson's streets in the morning with Void and Grandfather. It was crowded and hectic, not as fun as outings in Zelox.
So afternoon was back to villa life.
"Does the Duke have to work even here? So sad......"
I teased Dad at his desk while rolling on the sofa. The man, signing papers with a weary face, looked up.
Crunch, crunch. His tired gaze fixed on the big fruit candy in my hand.
"Give me a bite and I won't eat you."
"Hmm......"
"That's what's troubling you."
I giggled and sat up to offer the candy when a knock sounded.
"Your Grace, Count Camellan has arrived."
"Bring him here."
Butler Adolph hesitated slightly before adding,
"Well...... He brought his young lady along."
Dad, pushing aside papers, looked up. He stood with a resigned air, plucked me up, and headed over.
"To the reception room. Prepare snacks."
"Waaah."
It was a sea of tears there.
"Waaah. Sniff. Hic."
"Oh dear, Titi. It's okay. It's okay."
The count's daughter with fluffy sky-blue hair, Sortie Camellan, burst into wails the moment she saw Leviathan.
"Scaryyy! Zap zap zapppy!"
Count Camellan awkwardly held his daughter, but the child, already spooked, wouldn't calm down.
Come to think of it, yeah.
Leviathan groaned softly, rubbing his forehead. Lately I'd forgotten, but kids usually reacted to him like this.
"Later then......"
Then, a familiar silver head popped up.
"Um, miss. My da...... Dad's not scary."
Rubian had somehow gone to the opposite sofa and spoke to the girl in the count's arms.
Fidgeting awkwardly with his index finger, he looked awkward having stepped up, but didn't stop.
"See, even now."
Whoosh, Rubian turned and pointed to Leviathan at the sofa's edge.
"He's sitting farthest away so he won't scare you."
His round eyes curved softly.
Sortie's cries gradually subsided.
