Chapter 213 - 213. The Leafclout Family and a New Enemy
It was a room decorated with flamboyant decorations. Not only the furnishings in the room, but even the pillars were adorned with intricate carvings. It seemed more expensive than the Starunion family's. Even though sunlight poured in from the large windows, the Leafclout family's impression made it feel like there wasn't enough light. I, Myra, Marmie, and Melanie were sitting on chairs with inlaid work, but despite their supreme comfort, I couldn't settle down. I had left Mizuki, Fam, and Hyakka behind. If we barged in with everyone, they would either be wary or feel pressured. I felt uneasy when the door quietly opened. A man in a black robe entered silently and noiselessly. Long black hair swayed smoothly, revealing distinctive long ears. The same characteristics as Clovis. Marmie said he was over 400 years old, but elves still looked much younger than me. His almond-shaped eyes and high-bridged nose were reminiscent of gods in mythology. His features had a medieval beauty. He briefly adjusted his hair with his fingertips and quietly sat down in the chair opposite us, separated by the desk.
"I am Zeno Leafclout, the head of this house."
His voice was cold, almost mechanical, as if he had completely eliminated all emotions. This was Marmie's fiancé, a powerful mage alongside Marina, and a man who was researching immortality. He looked at Marmie for a moment. She was quietly sitting in her chair as always, but she was gripping her hands tightly, as if she was more nervous than usual.
"I'm Mash. On my left is Myra. And..."
Just as I was about to introduce Marmie and the others, he raised his hand.
"I know about the two of you. I was told that the Starunion family's daughter and the head of the Wanland family were coming, so I have responded accordingly. But you say you have business with Clovis, but unfortunately my uncle is not in the residence."
"I want you to give me the opportunity to apologize for last night."
"I have already told you that is unnecessary."
"However..."
"I understand that it was an accident."
There was no fluctuation in his expression at all. There was no room to set foot.
"There should be a dog-eared girl named Sam-Aim. She lived in a dog-eared village, but she is now in her current state due to unjust looting. I want to take her in and return her to her former life."
"That dog-eared girl used to work as a servant, but Clovis took her. I don't know where she is now."
"And another thing, there's a transfer student among Clovis's companions, right? I want you to arrange a meeting."
"Is that all demands? I have accepted the apology of the Hero-sama. I have no requests. Please go home."
He extended his hand to lead us to the door. Indeed, I had just been making demands one-sidedly. I should have drawn out conditions that would be advantageous to him, but I couldn't even do that, and just wasted time.
"Please wait. At least, can you teach me the conditions for taking in Sam-Aim? She is an important figure to the dog-eared race."
Melanie leaned forward as if she felt my impatience. Her face was red as she spoke.
"Then does that mean that if it were any other dog-eared girl, it would be fine? As for conditions, she is already not in my hands. Her current master is an adventurer named Yuuki. There is no need to go through me. I want you to negotiate with them."
"Where is that Yuuki?"
"Who knows? It's not a place I know."
I could no longer feel any emotional fluctuations from his tone. Coupled with the atmosphere of this room, it was a dark and chilling thing. At that moment, Myra coughed quietly.
"Zeno-sama, you are the head of the noble family of this city, as well as a researcher of magic, right?"
"There is no need to confirm it. You should have heard of such things from the Starunion family member who is there."
He slightly twisted his face and looked at Marmie. Marmie also quietly returned Zeno's gaze. They were once engaged, but the two suppressed each other's feelings and only collided silently.
"Zeno-sama, in that case, we can give you what you desire."
Myra smiled faintly and looked at me. She was trying to suggest that I offer what he wanted from the magic researcher that I possessed. I took out a magic seed from my storage and placed it on the desk. But Zeno snorted as if he wasn't interested. I took out another magic seed from my storage again. I repeated that action slowly.
"Are there 'Great Merchants' in the Hero-sama's party?"
Zeno opened his mouth after I had taken out ten magic seeds.
"I don't know? I only have that much. I can mobilize more if I collect them from the other members."
The 'Great Merchant' he was referring to was probably his job. He probably had the ability to easily gather rare items with some kind of skill. Magic seeds could be obtained from any monster, but the probability was low, and there were adventurers who only obtained one in their lifetime. Even if you had money, it was extremely difficult to collect this many.
Hearing my words, Marmie placed two more on the desk, followed by Myra with five more.
"I sell them to the Mateo Trading Company, so I can gather them from them too. However, it would be the case that they are bought, but you may be able to occupy them if I speak to them."
He was a noble. He probably wouldn't mind buying magic seeds. Melanie nodded next to her, as if understanding that.
"Well, the Wanland family and acquaintances dwarf blacksmiths will buy them, so they won't flow into the market in the future."
I added suitable words in continuation to fuel his ambition more. Zeno silently lowered his eyes as if groping while listening to that state. Melanie had understood it.
"I see. The Hero-sama's request is a meeting with Clovis, the adoption of the dog-eared daughter..."
"And the formal annulment of the engagement with Marmie Mume Moe Starunion. If possible, I'd like to get along with the Leafclout family."
"Get along..." Zeno lowered his gaze and stroked his chin. "Well, I shall. However, the only thing I can do is annulling the engagement and setting up the meeting with Clovis."
As he said, it would be impossible to ask for more than that. We could gain Marmie's freedom and a foothold toward Clovis, whose whereabouts were unknown. Myra nodded next to me. I stood up.
"About the magic seeds here, I'll have you take them for 200 large gold coins."
I had the sly thought of leaving only about five behind to take back, but if they paid, then that was fine. I felt strongly that we would clash over Yuuki and Sam-Aim later, but by handing these over, we would be conveying the message that we had no intention of fighting.
"...Mash, you're giving away too many magic seeds."
After leaving the Leafclout house, we were heading towards the place where the wandering people were setting up tents outside the city, where we would meet up with Fam and Hyakka.
"I guess so?"
Marmie nodded at my words.
"...It will be very troublesome if we become enemies."
"Well, if you think that it's the end of her relationship with that guy, then that's fine."
She stopped. She turned around and started walking again, but her cheeks were slightly red.
"...Do you really like me? Is it not just sexual interest?"
"Huh? What are you talking about now? Did you already forget about the lake we went to?"
"...I don't forget."
Marmie took my hand. We walked hand in hand.
"Are you sure you're okay with me? I imagined Zeno Leafclout as a more sinister old man. But he's incredibly..."
Handsome, I wanted to say, but I stopped myself bitterly. She said that she wouldn't be herself because she was being manipulated, but in the first place, she wouldn't be manipulated if Marmie liked him.
"...Elves are all like that. I like someone like Mash."
She whispered and gripped my hand tightly. Myra and Melanie, who had been watching us, bumped shoulders as they came over.
"Muuu! I tried hard too, but why are you two flirting?!"
"W-we tried hard too, but..."
They pressed in on both sides as we walked. At that moment, people who were standing in our way appeared.
The two in front were dressed in black. There was chain mail visible underneath. There was a slight curvature around the chest and lower body. Their faces were hidden except for their eyes, hidden by hoods, but there was no mistaking it. They were women. Behind them was a lightly armored man who looked like an adventurer, behind him were a man and woman who looked like mages, and finally a priest in the back. The four in the back covered their mouths with white triangular cloths, perhaps to conceal their identities.
"You're Mash, right?"
It was a woman's voice after all.
"Too bad. I'm a humble adventurer named Mish."
Myra sighed slightly next to me. She was asking"Are you going to do that again?"without saying it. The two in black extended their hands to their swords on their backs as if to be able to draw them at any time. Seeing that, Myra also raised her mace next to me. Melanie stepped forward to protect me. She was already holding the hilt of the sword at her waist.
"Wait!"
I called out, trying to stop her, who was getting excited, but on the contrary, she stretched out her arm as if to stop me.
"I am Marianne Wanland, the head of the Wanland family. What do you think you are doing by blocking our path?"
The two in black looked at each other and nodded at her words.
"So, that man is Mash?"
The two put their hands on the swords on their backs. At that signal, those who were behind them also lowered their waists and held their weapons. I had no choice but to stand behind Marmie, hiding her from view.
"Myra, I'm counting on you for the rear guard and Mo."
"But..."
Myra's words got stuck. I knew her concerns without her saying it. Even after hearing Melanie's name, they didn't back down. They must be people who wouldn't be troubled even if they couldn't stay in the city. And since they were attacking me by name, they must be transfer students with a high probability. People who could use special skills. On the other hand, I had used the only high-powered Divine Summoning last night. On top of that, it was four against six. We were also at a disadvantage in terms of numbers.
"Try to find an opening and escape with Mo. Starunion will be the closest from here."
I whispered to Myra.
"What are you talking about?"
"I'll escape with Melanie if I see an opening."
"Do you really think that's possible?"
The two in black and the man who looked like an adventurer held their weapons, closing the distance. Melanie, who was in front of us, drew the hilt of her sword, put her right hand on the hilt of her sword, and slightly lowered her stance.
"I will judge you as a threat to the safety of the city of Migul for not revealing your identity after hearing my name. If you advance one step further from that place, I will behead you."
Her quiet words stopped the movements of the three people completely. At that moment, two more people came running from behind us.
"What are you doing in the middle of the city?!"
That voice was nostalgic even though it had only been ten days. And it was a reassuring voice.
"Cecily, Myra!"
They were standing with their weapons drawn.