Elqueeness [EN]: Chapter 90

90.

As Isana and Hewsen’s group exchanged their final farewells, I also bid farewell to Trowel. When our eyes met, he gave me his signature playful smile.

“It’s goodbye for a while.”

“I know, but that’s too much, Trowel. You knew everything from the start, didn’t you? Why didn’t you tell me beforehand that Hewsen’s group knew? You could have given me a hint, at least. I was really surprised.”

“Sorry, sorry. I thought you’d feel pressured if you knew in advance. Besides, El, your thoughts are written all over your face.”

“Ugh, well, that’s true but…”

I couldn’t really argue, so I trailed off. Honestly, even I thought that if I had known all the facts, I wouldn’t have been able to treat Hewsen’s group with the same ease and comfort. Or I might have been too careless and made the mistake of calling Isana by his real name in front of people. In that sense, Trowel knew me too well.

“Where are you going now, Trowel?”

“Well, I’ll probably head to the Mercenary Guild headquarters in the capital. I need to take the promotion exam.”

Ah, come to think of it, ‘Matthew’ said he’d be getting his gold badge after this winter, right? It wasn’t like we were parting forever, but I felt a little sad thinking I wouldn’t see him for a while. Trowel seemed to read my mood, giving me an apologetic look.

“Actually, I wanted to stay with you longer. I’m sorry I couldn’t help you until the end, El.”

“No, I’ve already received so much help. Thank you so much for everything.”

“What’s with the formalities between us? I’ll contact you from time to time. It’s good to indulge in leisure, but sometimes go back to the Spirit Realm to check around and enjoy some rest. El, you’re on such a rough game from the start, so I’m especially worried.”

“Why, am I like a fish out of water, making you anxious?”

“Huh? Why would I be worried about you, the Water Spirit King, being near water?”

“……”

His casual question left me momentarily speechless. Right, now that I think about it, I am the Water Spirit King. It wasn’t a very appropriate example. Still, I didn’t expect him to retort like that.

“That’s harsh, Trowel.”

“Haha, sorry. You were trying to gauge my feelings first, El. Isn’t it natural for me to worry? Even if you’re not exactly like a fish out of water, I have a similar feeling. So, for my sake, I hope you take better care of yourself. You know what I mean, right?”

“Yeah, I got it. I’ll be careful.”

Soon, this empire would be filled with the clouds of war. Hewsen’s group, being mercenaries, would be the first to get caught up in the turbulent days. The next time we met them might be in the middle of a battlefield. But both Trowel and I were tacitly silent about that. We didn’t want to needlessly worry about something that hadn’t happened yet.

“May good fortune be with you, El.”

“Matthew, you too.”

With those plausible farewells, we smiled at each other one last time.

Just then, I felt a damp sensation on my cheek. I looked up to see a spectacular sight unfolding in the sky. Countless water naiads [water nymphs] were dancing hand-in-hand with sylphs [air spirits]. With every flutter of their bodies, pure white ice powder drifted down on the wind.

I reached out and caught the falling ice powder. The clumped ice grains formed a distinct pattern like a flower, shimmering faintly.

It was the first snow of the year.

* * *

After parting with Hewsen’s group, we used the secret passage they had shown us to enter the inner castle directly. True to its name as a trade city, the castle was filled with people in various costumes.

The first thing that caught my eye was the sight of carts loaded with goods and the busy porters moving between them. The lively and dynamic atmosphere made the streets feel as bustling as a market.

However, despite the overall vibrant atmosphere, the faces of the people passing by were filled with wariness. It seemed to be because of the soldiers who were constantly patrolling and conducting surprise inspections.

Even at this moment, soldiers could easily be spotted watching the merchants and casting watchful glances. Fortunately, the snow that had just started to fall created an atmosphere where they were gradually withdrawing. But regardless of that, Isana welcomed the snowfall itself.

“Look, El. The first ice powder is finally falling from the spear held by the tyrannical saint. It seems his rest is really beginning now.”

…In other words, ‘Wow, it’s the first snow. It really feels like winter now.’

I chuckled as I watched him, delighted like a child. Perhaps he was excited not just because of the snow. The long journey that had lasted for the past two months was finally coming to an end. Seeing the towering main castle in the distance, my heart swelled with emotion as well.

“We’ve finally arrived.”

“Indeed.”

The companions who had been a source of support, sharing every moment, were gone, and now it was just the two of us again. Perhaps that was why. The tension that I had forgotten for a while, being caught up in a hectic schedule, suddenly felt new on my skin. Isana also had a determined expression, as if facing a decisive battle.

“Will my brother meet me?”

“What are you talking about? Of course, he has to meet you after you’ve come all this way.”

“What if he refuses?”

“Don’t worry. I’ll find a way to force him to see you then.”

Isana nodded with a bright face, as if gaining confidence from those words.

“I’m ready, El. Let’s go now.”

“Ah, wait a moment. Actually, I was thinking of stopping by the temple before going to your brother.”

“The temple? Ah, you said you had to receive the divine mark. So, we can go straight there, right?”

“Well, yes, but… Mr. Kaitain is still outside, you see.”

Only then did Isana realize the problem, and a look of dismay appeared on his face. He belatedly remembered that Kaitain was supposed to guide us to the temple.

Because we had left first, he was still in the procession outside the castle gates. We had Trowel tell him that we would be waiting inside, but since the line was so long, it was impossible to predict how much longer it would take.

“What should we do then?”

“Let’s go inside a building somewhere for now. It looks like it’s going to snow more.”

“Okay.”

I looked around for a place to go with him. I was planning to wait for Kaitain in a suitable place and discuss our future plans.

“Yo—.”

But then, three unfamiliar men approached us as we were about to move. They were people who looked bad at a glance.

“…Who are you?”

I asked warily, and they exchanged meaningful glances and grinned. I had a strong, unpleasant feeling.

“We saw it all earlier.”

“Pardon?”

“You guys came in through the hidden hole, right?”

“……!”

Could it be that they witnessed it?

I hardened my face at the unexpected event. I had clearly checked that there was no one around before passing through the hole. They must have been hiding and watching from a distance, waiting for someone to get caught.

“Not many people know that there’s a secret passage there. Sneaking in to avoid inspection, you guys are suspicious.”

“Come to think of it, you’re both covering your faces with dark hoods. Are you fugitives?”

“Oh my, how scary. Criminals are hiding in our territory, that’s a big problem.”

The men, chuckling, were clearly enjoying the situation. I sent Isana behind me to protect him from them as they gradually approached.

“I think there’s some misunderstanding. We just came in because we saw the hole. We’re not fugitives, and we weren’t trying to avoid inspection.”

“Hehe, you expect us to believe words that even a snot-nosed kid wouldn’t fall for?”

“It’s true, though?”

“Really? Then shall we go to the checkpoint right now? If you’re as confident as you say you are.”

“……”

Of course, there was nothing to say in response. When I closed my mouth, they seemed to think they had won, and they made even more vile expressions.

To think things would go wrong like this from the start. I couldn’t help but sigh as I thought about how to resolve this situation. It would be easy to run away from this spot right now, but if they reported us, countless soldiers would immediately chase after us. I had to finish this without making it a big deal.

“Well, what should we do? Should we call those passing soldiers over there? We don’t mind, though.”

“…What do you want?”

“Hehe, now you’re talking.”

The thugs grinned, baring their teeth. The man in the middle spread his thick hand in front of me.

“Ten silver per person, twenty silver in total.”

“Pardon?”

“If you hand over that much, we’ll turn a blind eye.”

“Are you crazy?”

I gasped at the brazen and absurd demand. That amount of money could easily support an average commoner family here for a month. No one would easily carry that much around, and even if they did, it wasn’t an amount that they would easily hand over to thugs. I thought they were just petty thugs trying to extort small change, but was that not the case? I even doubted their brain structure, wondering what they were thinking.

“We’re being very lenient, you know. Did you think you could get away without that much money?”

“You have to ask for something reasonable. Do you think we have that much money?”

“What, you really don’t have it?”

“Of course not!”

It was a lie, but I answered confidently. Even if I gave it to them willingly, it was clear that those with such a mindset would lead to other problems. Contrary to my expectation that they would get angry right away, the thugs exchanged strange glances with each other. It was as if they had been waiting for this moment.

“Well, if you really don’t have it, there’s also a way to pay with your bodies.”

“What did you say?”

At that moment, I felt a hard sensation against my side. I looked down and saw a sharply edged dagger. Next to me, another guy was holding a knife to Isana as well.

“Quietly shut your mouth and follow us obediently.”

“What…”

“Shh, do you want to be reported to the soldiers?”

When I closed my mouth at the quiet threat, they wore satisfied expressions. It was the face of someone whose plans had all gone according to plan. Just then, I heard them whispering quietly to each other.

“Hehe, we’re lucky today. To catch two of them.”

“I know, right? They look young; we can get more for them.”

“……!”

What. Could it be that these guys are involved in human trafficking?

Only then did I realize the thugs’ true purpose and was shocked. No wonder they were making such absurd demands; they had approached us with the intention of selling us from the start.

Now that I knew their intentions, I had no intention of playing along. I resisted the hand pulling me and didn’t move. The thugs’ gazes immediately turned fierce.

“What? Didn’t you hear me say to follow us obediently?”

“Are you guys human traffickers?”

“Wh-what?”

“You’re threatening us and dragging us away right now, trying to sell us somewhere, aren’t you? Isn’t that a crime?”

“You bastard, can’t you shut that mouth?”

Perhaps because they had been hit right on the mark, the thugs immediately revealed their true colors. Along with the rough grabbing, a thick palm quickly flew towards my face. They were trying to use violence.

“El!”

Isana’s terrified shout echoed from behind. Of course, I had no intention of being a punching bag either. Even if the commotion grew, I was going to punish these despicable bastards.

But at that very moment, something unexpected happened.

Thwack!

“Kuh-weh!”

The flying hand fell far away before it even reached me. Someone had kicked him.

“Wh-what!”

“Who dares…!”

The other two, greatly surprised by the sudden event, turned around in confusion. But they too were helplessly knocked down by the ensuing attack.

Thud! Crack! Crunch!

Rough sounds that made you flinch just by hearing them echoed one after another. The people who had been knocked down in an instant couldn’t even scream, and they lost consciousness as they were. It all happened in an instant.

When I came to my senses, I could see the thugs sprawled around like corpses. In front of them stood a man, indifferently. A tall height, a sleek physique, and straight legs made him a person with perfectly drawn proportions. The hair that was lightly tied down below his waist was a deep red color, and every time the wind brushed it, the places where the light touched sparkled as if sprinkled with ruby powder.

“How pathetic.”

I opened my mouth blankly at the voice I heard at that moment. It was clearly a voice I had heard somewhere before. Moreover, it was a voice that I shouldn’t be hearing in a place like this.

The man who had been standing with his back to me slowly turned towards the hardened me. Under the brilliant sunlight, the incredibly beautiful features were lightly frowned as he stared straight at me.

“What are you struggling with against these small fries?”

“La… pis?”

Lapis Lazuli, the dragon of the Red Clan.

It was an unexpected reunion with him that would shake my life to its core.