Chapter 398 - A Search for Hobby and Romance
Dealing with important people is something most people in the world probably find bothersome.
Since Lord Nelson apparently left the Royal Family and even returned his title, is he an ordinary citizen now? However, no one would think lightly of the former King's brother and the head of the Magic Item Guild. Even if his official position has changed, the fact remains that he holds great power as a person of influence.
Moore used 'Lord' as a title, but I think that was generally a title for nobility. I wonder how that works... well, whatever.
Anyway, in a feudal society, powerful people are objects of fear for some.
Unless they desire a meeting knowing the risks, most people would want to avoid powerful people even if told they wanted to meet them—if they were told out of the blue. Ordinarily, that is.
Of course, I’m not an ordinary person, so common sense doesn't apply.
I’m used to powerful people, so I don't think they're scary, and conversely, there are unexpectedly many powerful people who find such a natural attitude pleasant.
And above all else. I’m young, beautiful, have an excellent figure, am strong in both physical force and gambling, and my earnings are in a different league compared to ordinary people. On top of that, I’m living such a flashy life that I have a bounty on my head.
While I’m hated by many to the point where they want me dead, it's only natural that an old man who is about to die would want to dote on me. In fact, someone who doesn't think that way is the one who's weird.
He wants to talk with me?
Yeah, yeah, a common reaction. From an old geezer's perspective, I must be like a cute granddaughter. I can expect him to bring some good talk as a gift even if I don't say anything.
"Speaking of which... as a side note, I want to ask while we wait for him. Is the rumor true that the Exembra branch of the guild and the Kikyo-kai are strongly connected?"
I wondered what he was going to ask, but it was just that.
"True or whatever, we're a major customer for the Magic Item Guild. How much do you think we contribute to their sales?"
"It wouldn't be just a buying and selling relationship. The information from Exembra is too mixed with truth and falsehood for me to understand, so please tell me on this occasion."
"Gathering information in a place like this? It's not something I'm hiding, but we were the ones who provided the building for that branch, and we're also its backers. It's exactly as you say; it's not just a buying and selling relationship."
The Magic Item Guild's Exembra branch is a top-performing branch that generates massive profits. That is also profit generated through many dark transactions, as befits a city of crime. For the headquarters that sucks up the profits from the branches, the Exembra branch is extremely important.
And our Kikyo-kai is the one who serves as the backer for that branch. Since they can do business freely in a city of crime thanks to us, it's natural for the guild headquarters to see us as a presence they can't ignore. It's only natural that they'd treat me, the president, well. I could even accept some entertainment from them.
"So that story was true. I thought it was strange for Lord Nelson to say he wanted to meet someone just for the magic doll matter... but if your relationship with the branch is deep, then he might have business with you on another matter."
Thinking about it, it might have been natural to team up for the new interests given our mutually beneficial relationship in Exembra.
If he has business regarding the branch, I can at least hear him out.
We continued our small talk for about five minutes, which was fine to be eavesdropped on, and then I sensed two people approaching.
After a knock, the door opened, and an old man entered along with the elderly woman I’d met first.
The old man looked poor for a former Royal. He was tall but had a lanky build, and his thin hair and bony face made him look like a typical old man. His clothes were like work clothes and didn't look expensive at all, but instead, he wore many magic items, which was typical of a Magic Item Guild official.
Among them, what caught my eye were his magic item glasses. There are various uses for glasses as a magic item specialized for seeing. I wonder what kind of magic effect they have.
"Sorry to keep you waiting. So, you are the Bramble Witch I've heard rumors of. For a girl, you look quite scary."
My clothes today are modest, but I’m wearing a rugged eyepatch and my attitude is arrogant. For an important old man, I must be an unusual person to see, sitting back on the sofa with my legs crossed.
"Nice to meet you, Lord Nelson. I carry the banner of my organization, so looking scary is part of the job."
"Watch your mouth and attitude. Even though he has returned to being a commoner, Lord Nelson's position is not something to be treated lightly."
Even if you say that. If I suddenly changed my attitude, it would actually make the other person suspicious. Since this isn't a public place, using polite language should be enough.
"It is fine. In reality, my current status is that of a commoner. It would be bothersome if you were more formal than necessary."
The geezer gets it. In the first place, if you want to act important, there's no point in dropping to being a commoner.
The old man sat down on the sofa as he spoke, and the woman who accompanied him took up a position behind him.
"Now, I am sorry, but I am also busy. I would like to talk slowly, but I cannot take much time today. Let us keep it short."
"...Then to keep it short. Straight to the point, will you lend your strength for the talk about importing magic minerals earlier?"
Moore and I communicated with our eyes for a moment about who would speak, and Moore, who immediately looked away, proceeded with the talk.
He likely thought there would be some disrespect if I spoke. It's easier for me this way.
"You were talking about an interesting topic. Actually... I was getting fed up with the Magic Doll Federation's nonsense. If your talk proceeds smoothly, I can talk to the Knights."
"You'll join us, then. That's reassuring. After that, Evilbanshee, it's just a matter of you guys talking to the Kingdom of Brenerc. I'll tell you now, since we've managed to get Lord Nelson's cooperation, understand that you cannot say it didn't happen later."
It would certainly be too pathetic to say it didn't work out at this point. Moore's side naturally intends to bring it to a talk that isn't bad no matter how it turns out.
"I'm the one who brought it up. If it falls through, I'll give you an apology you'll be satisfied with."
"You understand that it won't be settled with small change?"
"Shut up. I'll think about the compensation... oh, how about something you can't get even if you pile up money? I have some rare demonic beast materials left over, though I won't say what they are now."
What came to mind was something troublesome.
"Even if I pile up money, huh. You know I won't be satisfied with something boring... do not forget those words."
"That is intriguing. Can you not talk about it here now?"
"I don't think I can't bring the talk to a good conclusion. Besides, this story would be long."
Lord Nelson isn't free, so the talk was supposed to be short.
If the worst comes to the worst, I can just give him one of the scales or golden bones left by the Wicked Dragon in the Forest of the Netherworld. Those are quite rare, so the Intelligence Department of a major nation or the Magic Item Guild would be pleased. They would likely fetch a high price if sold simply, and they could become special gear or tools if they can be processed.
Those were too precious, so we didn't have a use for them, and if I can release them, it's not bad. If they say they want more, I can sell them for a high price.
"Anyway, I intend to proceed without taking much time. Just wait for a while. So, to change the topic, what was Lord Nelson's talk? You apparently called me."
Was it about the guild branch, or the magic doll control technique, or something else?
The old man was looking at me with a poker face that didn't let me read his emotions. I wonder what it is.
"...Actually, there is something I am looking for."
"Something you're looking for?"
He brought up an unexpected topic. Naturally, my sense of caution was awakened.
"Bring that out."
The geezer told the woman behind him. Then the woman pulled out a thin booklet from somewhere she had it and handed it to the old man.
"This was specially made, could you take a look at it?"
I took the booklet offered to me and quickly scanned the cover.
It was a cover with nothing written on it. No title, no picture, just a white-colored cover. For most people in the world, that's all it would look like.
However, it looks different for someone who is extremely excellent at mana sensing. I wonder how I should react to this.
"...So you can read it. Given the rumors of the Bramble Witch's power, and that you can do so much with a second-generation magic doll, I thought you would be able to read it."
Tch, I thought I was careful with my eye movements, but I was caught.
I've seen the same kind of technique used in a book before. In fact, I have it.
Since that is a dangerous grimoire, I'm keeping it sealed so no one can touch it, but I already understood that what he's looking for is that. Oh, I see. The magic glasses the geezer is wearing must be for reading invisible characters. Since a former Royal geezer wouldn't be able to do ultra-high-level mana sensing.
"For a test of skill, you've put quite some effort into it. So, what's the point of this?"
"I am looking for a book that uses that technique."
Moore, who peered at the booklet, couldn't read it and had a face of incomprehension.
I’ll try to proceed with the talk while playing dumb.
"I see. If someone can't see it, they can't even look for it. Are you calling out to everyone who seems like they can read it? Or are you handing out those magic glasses?"
"They cannot be made easily, as only two exist including a spare. So I am calling out to those who seem able to read it. But calling out to you was not just for that. It is also because you are a person of Exembra."
"Because I'm from Exembra?"
"According to a divination, it is in that city. If you find it, I will give you whatever reward I can."
Heh, divination, huh. If it's a magic-related divination, it's not something to be looked down on. The geezer seems to believe it.
"Wait. Is it a book that is so important that you would go that far, Lord Nelson?"
"What, it is just an old man's hobby. I do not even know if it truly exists."
"What kind of book is it?"
"You should at least know the name. The 'Book of Wistaria' heard in legends. Do you think it is childish to seek such a thing?"
"I've heard of it. Is it the book said to have been left by the legendary great mage, Wistaria?"
As I thought. The content of that book with ultra-technology is unconfirmed. I might be able to read it now, but it's not a grimoire I’d want to open willingly.
If I decipher it, I might get a clue to the legendary first-class magic, or I might get other ultra-technologies or knowledge. At the same time, I felt it was a book that might bring ruin, so I vaguely thought I shouldn't easily reveal its existence.
And on top of that. Even if I obtained some kind of technology or knowledge, its value would increase the more I kept it to myself. I don't have thoughts like for the sake of the world or for others, so even if I can read it, I intend to keep it a secret and monopolize it. No matter what reward the geezer prepares, there is no counter-value that matches it. Negotiation is useless.
"...By the way, what's the basis for that book using these invisible characters?"
"An old document stated that Wistaria had a book that no one could read. And over a hundred years ago, a researcher of Wistaria found a scrap of paper from the remains of an ancient ruin."
"So that was written with invisible characters. That researcher was quite observant."
"Apparently, an adventurer who accompanied them was the first to notice. Be it a precious book or a memo, it is just white paper for those who are not exceptional. Many must have been lost over the long years."
Maybe so. Its appearance is just a worn-out white book.
However, if that isn't the only book Wistaria left, I can expect that some might still be sleeping somewhere.
There are still many unexplored areas on the continent, and there are countless ancient ruins. I can expect that they might be discovered somewhere in the future. I found it at a flea market, after all.
If a book with content very similar to the one I have starts circulating, I might give it to the geezer. After the content of the book has lost its value, that is.
Alright, once I return to Exembra, I might open it for the first time in a while.
Speaking of which, I might even get a way to counter the curse. That might be too convenient.
In any case, it's a good opportunity for me to reach the next level. I’m starting to feel like challenging it.
"Evilbanshee, can you find it using the Kikyo-kai's power?"
"Lord Nelson probably knows, but it's difficult. If you can't even read it without advanced mana sensing, there's no way to find it without specific leads. If I were to do it, the only way would be to collect white books and check them one by one. Plus, if word got out that our group was looking for white books, I feel like a massive amount of plain white books would appear from people trying to sell us fakes."
"Exactly. Many fake books have already been circulating for a long time by people trying to trick researchers of Wistaria. There are likely not many books that have even reproduced the invisible magic characters. That is the only clue, so to speak."
Fakes aside, are there no copies of the real ones? Wistaria was from about a thousand years ago.
In the long, long history, I imagine there were a decent number of people who could read that book. I can imagine them writing a simplified version of the content in another book, even if they didn't copy it completely.
Maybe Wistaria's book's content has already lost its value through such means.
The geezer seems to be looking for romance rather than the content, though.
"Well, I'll keep it in mind and ask influential people for cooperation. But don't expect too much."
"That is fine. I understand that half of it is like a tall tale."
At this point, the woman behind the old man whispered in his ear.
"Is it that time already. Then let me know if there is progress."
The old man stood up as he spoke and left the room.
Moore and I didn't care to continue our small talk in a room that was being eavesdropped on either. We decided to leave early.
Phew, that was surprising. I didn't think the talk about Wistaria's book would come up.
Since I have no intention of giving it away for now, I’ll just forget about it after making a show of looking for it.
Anyway, it's great that the talk of the interests seems to be moving forward. I’ll at least be grateful for that.
A sub-quest has appeared.
The mysterious book that appeared in Chapter 128, "The Book of Wistaria," and Chapter 129, "Hit or Miss Spoils," has finally been highlighted after a very long time.
There's a sequel to the story of the book that seemed like it had something to it, yet had absolutely no news!
I plan to develop an episode related to this book eventually, but nothing is decided yet. (I haven't even decided when I'll do it...)
We were wandering off the main path for a bit, but we'll return to the main story from the next chapter.