Chapter 16
03. Be Careful
Near the central square of the capital, there is a famous teahouse.
It’s a three-story building, each floor showcasing different interior concepts, serving teas that match them, and it’s famous for its delicious desserts as well.
But that’s not the only reason it’s famous among the nobles. The real reason this place is famous is something else. It’s the gambling den in the basement of the building.
Even though the sun hasn’t set yet, the gambling den is filled with bustling chatter.
On one side, there’s a blackjack table, on another a dice-rolling table, and on yet another, even a roulette machine made with magic tools.
The people using them are diverse. If we classify them, half are nobles without distinction of gender, and half are wealthy tycoons.
As befits a place called a gambling den, there were those addicted to gambling, peering at cards every minute and second, but most were lightly playing games while conversing.
In other words, this place was both a gambling den and an exchange venue for sharing information.
Everyone here was obsessed with information. They had to know at least one more thing than others, and couldn’t have even one thing they didn’t know compared to others. In a way, they were addicted to something even more than gambling.
Among their conversations, the topic that occupied the highest share was naturally the recent ‘Grand Duke Household Sacred Relic Robbery Attempt Incident.’
“So, has the grand duke household figured out who the culprit is?”
“Well, those guys are keeping their mouths shut tight even under torture. They say even pulling out nails and searing flesh doesn’t make them utter a peep. How on earth did such tough bastards band together.”
“The grand duke must be pretty furious. Not just any thieves, but ones trying to steal the sacred relic, and not knowing their identities.”
What is a sacred relic?
It’s a holy item that the dragon, born from the fragments left behind when the primordial god disappeared after creating the world, personally gifted to humans.
Such sacred relics are passed down through the imperial families or families that have achieved great feats in each country, and the grand duke household almost had one of these stolen.
“By the way, this is the first time a gang has targeted a sacred relic. Aren’t they afraid of divine punishment or something.”
A noblewoman said, lightly fanning herself with her fan.
“More than that, I heard someone else exterminated the thieves who tried to steal the sacred relic?”
Before the question even finished, everyone gathered had their eyes sparkle, and those nearby started gathering bit by bit.
Because it was obvious a story even more intriguing than the ‘Grand Duke Household Sacred Relic Robbery Attempt Incident’ would come out.
“Heh heh. It seems the rumor has already spread.”
Edhert, the guild master of the Golden Chalice Guild who had been silent, stroked his beard and laughed.
“Really, everyone was told to keep their mouths shut, but I wonder where on earth it leaked from.”
“Don’t hold back, just tell us! There’s a limit to hearing through informants. I want to hear the vivid story. Right?”
Instead of answering, Edhert grinned. Then, the young man beside him poured alcohol into Edhert’s glass.
“Have a drink. It’s 30-year-old Holy Grace.”
His face wasn’t visible well because of the hood, but the hair peeking out was a bit unusual.
Because it was mixed black and white, and very long.
Who is it? Edhert paused for a moment, then became aware of the many eyes watching him and hurriedly raised his glass.
“Such precious liquor! Thank you.”
After gulping down the drink, Edhert cleared his throat with a cough and opened his mouth.
“There were no particular problems until we arrived at the Akion territory. Once we crossed the mountain path, the castle was right there, so we hurried without resting, saying let’s go quickly. Moreover, there were twenty people escorting the carriage. They were all mercenaries from the Onhol Mercenary Corps.”
“The Onhol Mercenary Corps!”
It’s a mercenary corps formed centered around Onhol mercenaries close to swordmaster level. An organization composed of people skilled enough to handle the prince’s secret escort.
“But they were taken down all at once. By thieves who suddenly appeared, that is. There were a little over ten of them, but they knocked us down in an instant.”
“My goodness. They must have been tremendously strong.”
“Yes. So I thought I was inevitably going to die without moving. But of course, more than my life, the thought of protecting the sacred relic was strong. So I was shouting to the guild members to take the sacred relic and run away. And right at that moment!”
“That moment?”
“A child appeared.”
Edhert spread both hands wide and continued speaking.
“At first, I thought it was a lost child or a runaway…. But she charged very precisely at the thieves and beat them down. With a wooden sword, swish! Swish! So spiritedly, swish! Swish!”
Recalling that time still makes his insides feel refreshed.
The expressions of the thieves tumbling after being hit by the wooden sword were quite a sight.
Edhert chuckled.
“B-But didn’t you just say the Onhol Mercenary Corps mercenaries were defeated too?”
“Yes. That’s why it’s even harder to believe! At first, I thought I was seeing things! But no! With just one small wooden sword, thrashing over ten thieves….! All of this is true! I stake my name on it, no, I stake my guild!”
If he says it to this extent and it’s not believable, then guild master Edhert must have mastered the magic of fabricating tall tales without a doubt.
Gulp.
People unconsciously swallowed dryly and exchanged glances with each other.
“So, that child….”
“Yes. It’s that person.”
Edhert raised his glass and shouted loudly.
“Lady Daphne Akion! It was that person who saved me!”
He hurriedly added words toward the clamoring crowd.
“But that’s not the end here. As you all know, Lady Daphne has a weak body, doesn’t she?”
“Yes, that’s right. Just recently, they almost held her funeral for real.”
“Then does that mean she’s recovered her health now?”
“I thought so too….”
Edhert deliberately made a bitter expression.
“No. As soon as the situation was sorted, she vomited blood and fainted. The elf doctor who came with us said it seemed like she overdid it.”
“She stepped forward to save the merchant group despite her body being ill?”
“Yes, exactly that.”
The murmuring grows louder.
Whispers like ‘That rascal?’, ‘Isn’t it a mistake?’, ‘Who would impersonate the Akion grand duke household?’ spread and spread.
Then, it eventually converges to one opinion.
“I’m really curious.”
“Yes. Curious. How that rascal young lady has changed, and if she changed, what the reason is….!”
“And about how she could move despite her body being that ill too!”
It’s rare for that Daphne Akion, whom the grand duke household has even put out there, to become the center of topics. So we must find out even more, right? The eyes of everyone gathered sparkled.
At that time, the man who had poured the drink for Edhert quietly slipped away from his seat and exited the basement.
No one noticed he had disappeared, and no one figured out who he was.
The man who left the gambling den took off the hood he was wearing. Long hair softly cascaded down to his waist.
From the crown to the shoulders it’s black, but the hair turning white below that was unusual and beautiful enough to catch the eye even from afar.
“You really don’t disappoint expectations.”
The man muttered, leaving behind the gazes slyly directed at him.
“Lord Sellus.”
***
Ugh, I’m dying.
Even though the sun is high in the midday sky, Daphne, still lying in bed, punched her shoulders and arms with her fists and let out a sigh.
After taking the medicine a few days ago and swinging the wooden sword, Daphne suffered from terrible aftereffects.
Namely, muscle pain.
Her whole body ached so much she didn’t have the strength to twitch even a finger, so Daphne had no choice but to lie in bed the whole time.
‘I need to train.’
When she beat down the thieves, the sensation in her hands wasn’t bad.
Meaning, even with her body in this state, since her mind remembers swordsmanship, she can move.
So if only her stamina supports it, all the things she plans will come to fruition.
‘As soon as possible….!’
She has to get strong and beat down that hero bastard.
While muttering that, Daphne tried to pretend not to notice the white lion’s lamp entering her view.
Then, without her realizing, she recalled the day the hero, Heros, had visited.
-What I was going to give you, you obtained yourself, so no need to say you worked hard. The farewell is done. Rest.
In other words, this white lion’s lamp was a gift for her.
She doesn’t know well, but sacred relics seem like quite amazing things, and to give something like this as a gift….
‘What scheme is it?’
It’s not like a gift because she was pretty, so there must be some other intention.
“Hmm.”
Daphne pursed her lips and then stopped thinking with whatever.
“I know less about this body than I thought.”
Except for the name, age, that it’s a cursed terminal illness body, and that it’s so weak she wouldn’t be surprised if she died soon, she knows nothing else.
“I need to find out somehow, but there’s no suitable method.”
She doesn’t even expect to find out from that Arius guy. Isn’t his head full of flowers? She might die of frustration getting an answer from him.
So she needs to obtain information from someone other than Arius….
‘Who could there be.’
Thinking she should look into it soon, Daphne turned her head toward the door that burst open.
“Lady! Lady!”
It was Anne, who had left her seat saying she’d go to the butler. She came running in fussing, and in her hand was a pink letter.
Anne handled it carefully as if it were a precious treasure and held it out to Daphne.
“Here, an invitation to a ball came! From the Pinch Marquis household! Hurry! Hurry and open it!”
Daphne tilted her head. Because she couldn’t understand Anne’s fussing well.
“A ball? What’s so great about that to make such a commotion?”
“Whaaat?!”
This time, Anne couldn’t understand Daphne.
“You can’t say it like that! It’s a big deal! It’s an invitation received after exactly half a year!”
“Half a year?”
“Yes. Last year, you overturned the tea time at Count Adel’s and came out, right? There were over ten kids you hit at that time, right? Young master Adel had his nasal bone broken. So the master had to make a public apology. Ah, just thinking about that time still makes my legs tremble. Anyway, after that, invitations dried up completely…. Ah, why are you doing that?”
Why, you ask.
Disposition: [Scoundrel][Rascal][Little Devil][Rude]
It’s because she’s newly thinking that this disposition is truly shitty.
The road is long, indeed.
☆▪︎▪︎▪︎☆▪︎▪︎▪︎☆▪︎▪︎▪︎☆
By Anna 💓
