Elqueeness [EN]: Chapter 113

On the way to the trading post, only Kaitain and I went. April still needed stability, and I thought it best for Isana, the only one we could truly trust and rely on, to stay by her side. In case anything happened, I asked Lapis to protect them both. At first, he seemed reluctant, but he nodded obediently after I explained.

“You’re the strongest among us, after all.”

“Alright, I’ll do it.”

…In a way, he was quite easy to handle.

However, when we arrived at the trading post, we faced an unexpected setback right from the start. As soon as the gatekeeper heard what we wanted appraised, he immediately turned us away.

“Bria’s gems? Our trading post doesn’t buy those.”

“Huh? Why not?”

“We already have more than enough. Our leader has a reliable source for Bria’s gems, and they’re all of the highest quality. So, if it’s Bria’s gems, you should look somewhere else.”

“Ugh, can’t you at least take a look? I have some pretty good ones.”

“It’s no use. Besides, our trading post doesn’t have the capacity to appraise them right now. Come to think of it, your companion seems to be a priest…”

The gatekeeper’s gaze swept over Kaitain beside me with displeasure. It was obvious he was a priest from his attire, but there was a hint of hostility in his eyes.

“You don’t seem to be from the Demon God Church. Which god’s priest are you?”

“I am a priest of Punishment.”

“The God of Punishment? Ah, you’re a priest of that god that’s been making waves lately.”

The gatekeeper nodded in understanding, his expression softening slightly.

“In any case, our trading post doesn’t do business with priests. So, please leave.”

“Please, don’t be like that…”

“I said no, and I mean no.”

“Hey, what’s all the commotion?”

The gatekeeper’s shoulders stiffened at the voice.

“E, Eldran-nim! You’ve arrived?”

He bowed deeply toward a young man dressed as a typical merchant, with a long robe and a rope tied around his waist. Everyone nearby stopped what they were doing and bowed their heads. He seemed to be a very important person in this trading post.

“It’s chaotic enough around here these days, so keep the noise down. Tell me what’s going on.”

“Well, these people came to have Bria’s gems appraised. I was telling them that our trading post doesn’t handle them.”

“Bria’s gems?”

“Yes! Don’t worry about it. I’ll send them away right now.”

The gatekeeper smiled awkwardly and tried to push us away. Just as I was about to frown,

“No, wait a moment.”

The man called Eldran raised a hand to stop the gatekeeper. He made the bewildered gatekeeper step back, then approached me and slowly scanned me from head to toe. After a moment, his gaze stopped precisely on my forehead, and suddenly his eyes shone with a clear light.

“I apologize for my rudeness. You said you came to have gems appraised?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“That’s a magnificent circlet. Is the gem in the center a lapis lazuli?”

“Yes? Ah, yes, it is.”

Now that I think about it, he seems to be interested in my circlet. I belatedly remembered that this was an ancient artifact. And it was even stolen goods, probably?

Not everyone is like this, but merchants are generally very perceptive. Among them, there might be someone who could recognize the origin of the circlet. As I tensed up, his eyes narrowed as if he knew what I was thinking. He opened the door wide as if welcoming us and said,

“Please, come in. I’d like to have a detailed conversation about that circlet.”

* * *

The inside of the trading post was filled with countless wooden boxes and thick ledgers. What was unusual was that most of them were scattered haphazardly on the floor, not neatly arranged. The lids of all the boxes were open, and the contents were spilling out messily. It looked as if someone had deliberately rummaged through them.

“I apologize. The room is a bit of a mess, isn’t it? It’s like this everywhere these days.”

“Are you doing some construction or something?”

He smiled bitterly. I sensed it was a topic I shouldn’t ask about, so I quietly closed my mouth.

“This room is the most organized, at least. Please sit here and wait, and I’ll bring you some tea soon.”

“Ah, yes.”

While he was gone, Kaitain and I sat in our chairs and looked around. One thing caught my eye even in the chaotic atmosphere: butterflies with bright red embers fluttering through the air like dancing. Of course, this was a sight only I could see. The butterflies were actually lower-level fire spirits called ‘Casa’ [small, elemental beings associated with fire].

‘Why are there so many fire spirits in this winter?’

I was muttering to myself when it happened.

『El.』

“……Huh? Ellyuen?”

I was startled and gasped at the voice suddenly ringing in my head. Kaitain, who was next to me, looked at me with a surprised expression.

“Is that a revelation from Ellyuen-nim?”

I nodded calmly and said in a small voice.

“What is it, Ellyuen? What’s going on all of a sudden?”

『Do I have to have a reason to contact my son?』

“No, well, it’s not that.”

『I just wanted to see how you were doing. It feels like it’s been too long since I’ve seen your face.』

“Too long? I just saw you a little while ago.”

『So, you’re saying you’re not happy to hear from me?』

“No, no. I’m happy. Of course, I’m happy.”

『Fishing for compliments, are we?』

“No, I mean it. But is there really nothing wrong?”

『Yes.』

Even though his tone was calm, I couldn’t shake the suspicion that he was hiding something. As if sensing this, Ellyuen sighed lightly.

『……I can’t help it. It’s nothing much. It’s just that there’s someone I’m a little worried about, and it seems you might meet him.』

I knew it. There was something going on after all.

There was no way a busy god like Ellyuen would contact me just to check in. Besides, he even sounded a little anxious, which was unlike his usual self.

“Meet me? Who is it? Do I know them?”

『You wouldn’t understand even if I explained it to you now. But if you see someone who looks stupid at first glance, be wary of them no matter what. It won’t be much help, but it’s better than being completely off guard.』

“……Isn’t that a little too vague?”

『You’ll probably know what I mean when you see them. If the person you suddenly meet reveals an unexpected identity, curse them out. Your father allows it.』

“Huh? Why would I do that?”

『Anyway, I’ve made myself clear. Do you understand me?』

“Uh-huh, a, alright.”

I didn’t understand at all, actually. What am I supposed to do when you tell me to be careful of someone whose identity I don’t even know? Just then, Eldran was returning, so I asked for his understanding and quickly ended the communication. Eldran tilted his head and asked, perhaps finding my flustered state strange.

“Is something wrong?”

“Ahaha, it’s nothing. By the way, is there a fire spirit user in this trading post?”

“……How did you know that?”

Eldran looked at me with a slightly wary expression at my question, which I had asked simply to change the subject. Uh oh? Did I make a mistake? I answered in a flustered manner.

“Yes? Ah, it’s just that there are a lot of Casa around…”

“Casa?”

“Ah, no! It’s not that, it’s just that the temperature inside the building seems high even though there’s no fireplace.”

Even though they were natural spirits, such a large number would definitely have an effect. At this temperature, humans would definitely feel warm enough to wear thin clothes.

Kaitain nodded in agreement. However, Eldran didn’t let his guard down, as if he wasn’t satisfied with the answer.

“Can you really tell the existence of a spirit user just from that?”

“Ah, well, I felt the energy, you could say?”

“Energy?”

“Actually, I’m a spirit user too.”

Eldran’s eyes widened slightly at those words.

“A spirit user……? You are?”

“Yes, I’m a water spirit user. Here, look.”

I hurriedly grabbed a Naias [water spirit] that was wandering nearby and forcibly materialized it. Of course, I borrowed Lapis’s mana. Only then did the wariness in Eldran’s eyes disappear, and his expression softened.

“I can’t believe it. You really are a spirit user. Spirit users are so rare… It’s an honor to meet you like this.”

“Ahaha……”

‘I’m doomed.’

That was the first thought that came to my mind, rather than relief. Now that I think about it, the reason I came here was because of the circlet. In other words, there was a very high possibility that he would ask me to take it off and show it to him. I wouldn’t mind handing it over, but the problem was the divine mark on my forehead.

Of course, it’s not like I’ve committed a crime, so there’s no reason why I shouldn’t be able to show it off in front of others. The Pope was just a figurehead, and he didn’t have that much power. In fact, until I came here, I was thinking lightly about that part.

But now that I’ve revealed that I’m a spirit user, I can’t show the mark in front of this person, even by accident. That’s because a priest’s divine power cannot be mixed with any other ability. By summoning a spirit in front of him now, I’ve essentially advertised that the divine mark I have is fake. At the very least, it’s blasphemy, and if I’m unlucky, I could be charged with impersonating the Pope and be subjected to a religious trial on the spot.

‘I’m going crazy. What am I going to do?’

Kaitain couldn’t possibly not know my desperate feelings. I could feel his pitiful gaze, while Eldran was the only one looking at me with a friendly gaze, completely unaware.

“Actually, Ikana-nim, the leader of our trading post, knows how to handle fire spirits a little.”

“Oh, really?”

“Since ancient times, fire spirits have symbolized great power and wealth. That’s why many merchants worship fire spirits. The leader learned spirit magic in that sense. She can only summon lower-level spirits, but our trading post people are very proud of that fact. Thanks to that, we can stay warm even in winter, so it’s a very grateful thing.”

So many natural Casa gather for a spirit user who is only a lower level? I was suspicious, but instead of asking in detail, I just nodded.

“Then let’s get straight to the point. Excuse me, but may I take a closer look at that circlet?”

“……”

The moment I feared the most had finally arrived. Eldran looked puzzled as I hesitated.

“What’s wrong? Don’t you want to show it to me?”

“Ah, no. It’s not that……”

“Don’t worry. I’ll take a careful look.”

“……”

I was frantically trying to figure out how to get through this crisis. But then, an unexpected helping hand came down.

“Eldran, are you there?”

It was a beautiful woman’s voice coming from afar. Eldran’s face changed in an instant, and he quickly got up from his seat.

“Yes! I’m here!”

“Can you come here for a moment?”

“Yes! I understand! Guests, I’m sorry, but could you wait a moment? I’ll be right back.”

After hurriedly asking for understanding, he disappeared somewhere in a hurry. It was a momentary event that happened before I could even react. Kaitain and I stared blankly at each other in a situation we couldn’t understand. But after a while, Eldran, who had disappeared, reappeared quickly. He had a strange expression that was hard to explain.

“Why, why are you doing that?”

“Well, it’s hard to explain, but would you mind moving with me?”

“Yes?”

I looked at him again, wondering what he was talking about. Eldran said with a troubled expression, as if he couldn’t even understand it himself.

“Ikana-nim wants to see you all.”