Chapter 39, Verify (3)

Translator: Hedg

Translator: Hedge

Editor: Lizzz

 

Past the Latria Forest was the small city of Latran. While it might be classified as a small city in terms of size, it was actually quite wealthy. Their success was owned to the nearby copper mines. Perhaps because of this, large, clean buildings could be clearly seen lined up from afar.

 

Feeling as if he was looking at Astrisha Street, Kalian was gazing at the city’s panorama with slightly impressed eyes when Ian, worried that Kalian might develop a favorable impression of the Lord here, opened his mouth.

 

“Lord Hale Latran. Does that not ring a bell?”

 

“Ah,him…”

 

With the name and title attached, this person felt familiar.

 

Kalian raised his eyebrows slightly as he recalled. He was one of those who had sent a gift to him when he ‘had been hurt by Plants’s slip of the tongue’.

 

“That thirsty bat.”

 

Hearing Kalian’s brief assessment, Ian grinned.

 

“Before that, he was on Prince Randel’s side, but six years ago when there was a war between the warriors of the Great Dunes and Tansyll, he immediately switched to Prince Plants’s side.”

 

Despite there being Four Kingdoms on the continent, the reason Cyries did not have access to the sea was because the north and west were blocked by an endless desert.

 

In that barren place called the Great Dunes, there was still no properly formed country there. The people there lived a nomadic life, and they believed in their folk religion rather than Serenty, the Main Goddess.

 

Using this as a pretext, Tansyll, which was small as a country, and whose source of Divine Power was gradually declining, had once attempted to expand its territory into the northern desert. They thought it would be feasible since there was no a proper army to contest the region.

 

However, when the war broke out, the military power of the warriors who instantly gathered was unexpectedly too strong for them. Tansyll, which had gotten itself into a tight spot by doing something unnecessary, eventually had to request assistance from Cyries, emphasizing their relationship with Randel. Of course, Sillike opposed it, and thanks to that, Tansyll had to withdraw after suffering great losses.

 

“At least he knows when to bail out, that bat.”

 

[Should I take it positively that such a person had tried to carry favors with me?] Thinking this, Kalian made a brief smile.

 

While they were talking, they had already reached the city entrance.

 

Hale, who had come out to the entrance to wait for the Prince’s party, could be seen standing with an expression of welcome that seemed almost excessive.

 

Soon, Kalian increased Raven’s speed and moved to the front of the party. When they got close enough, Hale approached and greeted them.

 

“It is an honor to meet you, Prince Kalian. I am Hale Latran.”

 

“Nice to meet you.”

 

Kalian’s response was always the same. Just as they were about to head inside after exchanging greetings, Hale opened his mouth again. The words that followed were tremendously long.

 

“To think such a blessed day would come when I would personally receive Your Highness. It is an infinite honor for this humble Hale. I have been counting the days waiting for Your Highness’s arrival, and when I heard you had arrived in the vicinity, I could not sleep at all last night.”

 

At those words, Kalian briefly turned his head to look around, pretending to survey the surroundings. It was because it was quite difficult to hide his expression of disgust at such embarrassing words.

 

This road is the shortest route from Cyriesus to Siegfried Territory.

 

Hale must have said those exact same words, dripping with honey, to Plants last year as well.

 

Soon, Kalian turned his head back and smiled as he replied. Since those polite-sounding words turned out to be nothing but lip service, given when they were stopping from a tired journey, his response was not particularly pleasant.

 

“It would have been better if you had cleaned up the front yard while waiting though.”

 

He turned his head to look briefly at the man who had attacked him. Hale, who seemed to have just noticed the bloodied patient, who had been hidden behind Kalian, let out an involuntary gasp and asked.

 

“Is he part of your party? I will prepare a healer.”

 

Kalian shook his head and said.

 

“He is someone who no longer needs treatment.”

 

Hale gasped again.

 

This was because the words Kalian had just used were a kind of euphemism created by nobles to avoid harsh language, meaning a death row prisoner.

 

It was not the case where Cyries did not provide treatment for criminals. It was just death row inmates were an exception. Since they would die anyway, there was no reason to provide treatment.

 

The man had pointed his sword at Kalian, who was a Prince. Naturally, the man had become someone who no longer needed treatment for his wounds.

 

“I deeply apologize, Your Highness.”

 

Hale bowed his head after learning that the man had attacked Kalian. Since Kalian had mentioned the ‘front yard’, the incident must have occurred within Latran Territory.

 

It must have felt like the sky was falling, as Hale himself might not be able to avoid responsibility.

 

Just as he was about to respond, a drop of water fell from the sky and wet Kalian’s hand. Soon, another drop fell. And then another.

 

Raven made a small snort. It seemed he had been hit by water on the bridge of his nose.

 

Thus, it began to rain, little by little.

 

Ian hurriedly approached to hold an umbrella. Kalian gestured that he was fine since it was only a drizzle and said to Hale.

 

“A roof seems more necessary than an apology at the moment.”

 

By the time they arrived at the Lord’s castle, after passing through the inner city, the rainfall had become quite heavy. The air around quickly became humid with the rain falling in the middle of August.

 

Watching the pitter-patter of the rain, Kalian spoke to Yuran.

 

“For now, hand him over to the castle soldiers and don’t give any other explanations.”

 

“Yes, Your Highness. I will do so.”

 

Since they had gotten quite wet on the way to the castle, Kalian first washed up after going to the room Hale had provided him. He soon opened the room’s window wide, and the sound of rain filled the room.

 

Looking at the sky, it seemed they would have to be trapped in the rain until tomorrow.

 

He had not wanted to get involved with the earlier incident because he did not want to be delayed on this long journey. However, the rain just had to come. He ended up being delayed anyway.

 

“For now…”

 

*Knock knock.*

 

With the sound of knocking, Ian entered. He was holding the cold iced mint tea that Kalian had requested.

 

“Thank you.”

 

Through the open door, Yuran could be seen.

 

When Kalian looked at him with eyes curious about what was going on, Ian relayed the answer.

 

“They say they found something on the person captured today, should we hand it over to Count Latran?”

 

He was asking because of what had been said earlier – about leaving the rest of the investigation to Hale on the way here.

 

Kalian shook his head and replied.

 

“I’ll check what it is first. Tell him to come in.”

 

At those words, Ian called Yuran into the room and briefly went out, then came back in with mint tea for Yuran.

 

Because of this, a scene that could not help but be amusing unfolded as Yuran sprang up from his seat, bowed deeply, and received the mint tea with both hands before sitting back down respectfully.

 

After Ian, who had been flustered, went back outside, Yuran took out something wrapped in a handkerchief and placed it in front of Kalian.

 

“The soldiers delivered this saying it was hidden in that man’s shoe. Ah, the handkerchief is mine. Please don’t worry, it’s not dirty.”

 

Kalian smiled at his words, explaining it for fear the cloth might be considered dirty.

 

With the sound of rain outside, feeling refreshed after just washing up, and taking a sip of the cold mint tea, a smile naturally formed. After savoring that small moment of comfort, Kalian put down his cup and unfolded the handkerchief.

 

The smile that had spread across Kalian’s face gradually disappeared.

 

Due to Kalian’s mood changing so dramatically, Yuran sat with his mouth closed, forgetting that he needed to explain about it.

 

After staring at what was in the handkerchief for a while, Kalian quietly asked.

 

“He had this on him?”

 

Although Yuran did not know the details, for Kalian, this item was something that had given him an unforgettable experience.

 

Looking at Kalian frowning, Yuran became puzzled. He was wondering how Kalian had recognized it immediately.

 

While looking what seemed like sugar, Kalian asked.

 

“Do you know about this?”

 

“Long ago, when I was part of the law enforcement, I saw it while arresting black market merchants in Liberen. They said it was a poison that makes one appear dead for a short while. But. May I ask how Your Highness knows about it?”

 

[How could I not know?]

 

Kalian smiled strangely as he looked at the poison that had made him sick in bed for a week, but in return had granted him freedom.

 

The sound of rain outside was heavy.

 

Unfortunately, they were stuck because of the rain. On top of that, something appeared that was too critical to miss. How could he continue to avoid this point of interest and just go on his way?

 

“A guy, who couldn’t even control his own killing intent, had this poison on him?”

 

Kalian muttered while scratching his cheek. At the word ‘killing intent’, Yuran looked at Kalian.

 

“Your swordsmanship is excellent.”

 

At those words, Kalian smiled slightly and opened his mouth.

 

“That man.”

 

It was an obvious changing of topic. In fact, this just made it all the more curious. However, Yuran knew he was not allowed to ask further. Thus, Yuran temporarily set aside the memory of Kalian deflecting a longsword with just a small knife and replied.

 

“Yes, Your Highness.”

 

“I’ll go meet him now.”

 

Yuran asked in surprise.

 

“You mean personally?”

 

Instead of answering, Kalian tapped his glass beaded with water droplets. It probably meant he did not want to repeat himself.

 

Having roughly figured out Kalian’s personality, Yuran spoke again.

 

“Yes, I understand.”

 

…

 

Fire magic burns wounds. Ice magic freezes wounds.

 

Wind magic tears wounds apart.

 

His shoulder was penetrated by the power of swirling and penetrating wind. To say penetrated was being generous; the point where the attack had landed had been torn to shreds. The hand, which had not received proper blood flow due to the wound that had been neglected with just rough bandaging, was swollen and had turned deep purple.

 

Kalian did not frown at this sight. Instead, he just directly asked.

 

“Where are you from?”

 

The man lifted his head to look at Kalian. Then he smirked. Though Yuran grimaced, Kalian just nodded as if to let it be as the mad stated.

 

“I thought you were from some noble house.”

 

“I’m from a far more noble family than you think.”

 

There was no particular emotion in Kalian’s eyes as he surveyed the man’s wounds. It was difficult to find any trace of sympathy or concern for the man on his face.

 

Of course, Yuran did not think Kalian should feel indebted to that man either. It was just that Yuran felt the face if this fifteen-year-old boy was too composed. After all, he was speaking to someone he had hurt with his own hands.

 

“I’m a security guard at the copper mine. Those guys came and said they’d reward me if I helped them find someone, so I just helped them.”

 

“This sugar-like thing on you, how did you come to possess it?”

 

“They each took one. I just pocketed it, thinking it was something good.”

 

Kalian nodded. He decided to believe this much was true.

 

“What were they looking for?”

 

“Don’t know.”

 

“Do you know who they were?”

 

“They didn’t even use their real names and I couldn’t see their faces because of the masks.”

 

“Anything else you remember?”

 

“No.”

 

Kalian put his interlocked hands on the table as he examined the man. The discharge had soaked through the bandages heavily, and his face was red as if he had a fever.

 

Even though it was a wound from magic, rot would have already started to fester in this hot and humid place.

 

“I’ll treat you.”

 

The man looked at Kalian.

 

Kalian, who knew most accurately in this entire city how much pain the man was in, spoke with a still composed face.

 

“If it seems untreatable, I’ll at least cut it off for you. In exchange, give me something useful. If not, then we will both lose out in the end.”

 

The man did not speak for a while, and Kalian did not rush him.

 

After a long time, the man moved his lips several times before speaking.

 

“I have a Wife in Hessen Village. They know about her too.”

 

It seemed they had threatened him in case he revealed the truth. Kalian nodded as if to say, ‘not to worry’.

 

“The thing they lost. What was it?”

 

“… Something like a transparent bead about the size of a fingernail. I heard it would need to be verified by a Priest from Tansyll to know exactly what it is.”

 

[Seems like they have been carrying a Divine Artifact. It makes sense that they would make such a fuss if they had lost it, since Tansyll, which is collecting Divine Artifacts indiscriminately, would buy it at a high price. Moreover, if it really is a Divine Artifact, it also made sense why an Elf could sense its energy.]

 

Kalian asked his next question.

 

“Where can they be found?”

 

“They didn’t seem to be staying in this area. But, there was a white-haired Elf. They probably chased after this other Elf.”

 

“Their identities?”

 

“As I said before, I couldn’t see their faces and don’t know their real names.”

 

Kalian’s ears caught the man’s tone, as he was feeling slightly disappointed at the fact that he did not know any more important information.

 

“But I did hear them call out for their apparent leader.”

 

Kalian made a gesture with his chin as if to continue. The man slightly frowned as he recalled the memory and said.

 

“Blue Warbler. That’s what they called him.”

 

“… Blue Warbler.”

 

[Ha… Father. Why has your birds flown all the way here?]

 

Kalian’s face hardened.