kscans

Chapter 213 - The Leafkraut Family and a New Enemy

The room was adorned with ornate decorations. Not just the furnishings, but even the pillars were covered in elaborate carvings. It looked even more lavish than the Star Union family's home. Sunlight streamed in through a large window, yet for some reason, the room felt lacking in light. Perhaps it was the impression given off by the Leafkraut family itself. Myself, Myra, Marmi, and Maryanne were seated in chairs embellished with inlay work, but despite the supreme comfort, I couldn't relax. Mizuki, Famu, and Hyakka's group had stayed behind. If we all showed up, it would surely be seen as a sign of警戒, or perhaps an attempt at intimidation. Just as I was feeling uneasy, the door opened silently. A man cloaked in a black robe entered, his footsteps making no sound. His long, black hair swayed gently, revealing characteristically long ears. The same feature as Clovis. Marmi had said he was over four hundred years old, but as expected of an elf, he looked far younger than I did. His slender eyes and high, straight nose were reminiscent of a mythological god. He had an androgynous beauty. He smoothed his hair with his fingertips for a moment before quietly taking a seat in the chair across the desk from us.

"I am Zeno Leafkraut, the head of this house."

His voice was as cold as a machine, a resonance that seemed utterly devoid of emotion. So this was the man who was Marmi's fiancé, a magic user on par with Marina, and a researcher of immortality. I glanced briefly at Marmi. She was sitting quietly in her chair as usual, but her hands were clenched tightly, betraying more tension than normal.

"I'm Mash. To my left is Myra. And-"

Just as I started to introduce Marmi and the others, he raised a hand.

"I know of them both. I am dealing with you personally because a daughter of the Star Union family and the head of the One-Land family have come. However, you said you had business with Clovis. Unfortunately, my uncle is not in the mansion."

"I want to be given a chance to apologize for what happened last night."

"I believe I already told you that would be unnecessary."

"But..."

"I understand it was an accident."

His expression was completely unmoving. He was completely unapproachable.

"There should be a dog-eared girl here named Sameim. She used to live in a dog-eared village, but she was unjustly abducted and ended up in her current situation. I wish to take her in and return her to her old life."

"That dog-eared girl was working here as a maid, but Clovis took her with him. Her whereabouts are no longer my concern."

"One more thing. There's an Otherworlder among Clovis's companions, right? I want to meet them."

"You do nothing but make demands. I have accepted the hero's apology. I have no demands of my own. I must ask you to leave."

He gestured towards the door, inviting us out. It was true, I had done nothing but make one-sided demands. I should have offered him terms that would be to his advantage, but I couldn't even manage that, and had simply wasted time.

"Please wait. At the very least, could you tell us the conditions for taking in Sameim? She is an important person to the dog-eared race,"

Maryanne said, leaning forward as if sensing my desperation.

"Then would any other dog-eared person suffice? You speak of conditions, but she is no longer in my possession. Her current master is an adventurer named Yuuki. There is no need to go through me. I suggest you negotiate with him."

"And where might we find this Yuuki-dono?"

"Who knows. It is not my concern."

As always, not a flicker of emotion could be heard in his tone. Combined with the atmosphere of the room, it was dark and endlessly cold. Just then, Myra gave a small cough.

"Zeno-sama, I hear that in addition to being the head of a prominent family in this city, you are also a man who researches magic?"

"There is no need to confirm something so obvious. You should have heard as much from the member of the Star Union family present."

He twisted his face slightly and looked at Marmi. Marmi, in turn, met Zeno's gaze silently. They were once engaged, but now they merely clashed in silence, each suppressing their own emotions.

"Zeno-sama, in that case, we can offer you something you desire."

Myra gave a faint smile and looked at me. She was quick-wittedly trying to initiate a trade. She was urging me to offer something a magic researcher would covet. I took a single Mana Seed from my storage and placed it on the desk. However, Zeno just snorted with disinterest. I took out another Mana Seed from my storage, slowly repeating the motion.

"Does the hero's party include a 'Great Merchant'?"

Zeno finally spoke after I'd placed ten Mana Seeds on the table.

"Who knows. This is all I have on me. If I gather what the other members have, I might be able to spare some more."

The 'Great Merchant' he mentioned must be a profession. It probably had some skill that made it easier to collect rare items. Mana Seeds could be obtained from any monster, but the drop rate was so low that some adventurers went their whole lives without finding one. No matter how much money one had, gathering this many was next to impossible. Hearing my words, Marmi placed two more on the desk, and Myra added five.

"I supply them to the Mateo Trading Company, so I can get more from them. Of course, you'd have to buy those, but if I put in a word, I might be able to secure them exclusively for you."

He was a noble. Buying Mana Seeds would be nothing to him.

"Well, a dwarf blacksmith I know through the One-Land family buys them up, so they probably won't be hitting the market anytime soon anyway."

I added, saying whatever came to mind to fan the flames of his acquisitive spirit. Maryanne seemed to understand, nodding beside me. Zeno watched this unfold, then lowered his gaze as if in thought, remaining silent.

"I see. The hero's requests are a meeting with Clovis, and taking custody of the dog-eared girl..."

"And the official dissolution of Marmi Mume Mo Star Union's engagement. If possible, I'd like to be on friendly terms with the Leafkraut family."

"Friendly terms... you say?"

Zeno lowered his gaze and stroked his chin. "Very well. However, all I can do is dissolve the engagement and act as an intermediary with Clovis."

He was right; asking for more would be impossible. With this, I could secure Marmi's freedom and get a lead on the elusive Clovis. Myra nodded beside me. I stood up.

"As for the Mana Seeds here, I will take them off your hands for twenty large gold coins."

I'd had the clever idea of taking back all but five, but if he was going to pay, that was fine. I had a strong feeling we would later clash over Yuuki and Sameim, but giving him these would serve as a message that we had no intention of fighting.

"...Mash, you gave him too many of those Mana Seeds."

After leaving the Leafkraut estate, we headed for the area outside the city where the nomads had pitched their tents. We were scheduled to meet up with Famu, Hyakka, and the others there.

"You think so?"

Marmi gave a small nod at my words.

"...It'll be very troublesome if he becomes an enemy."

"Well, if you think of it as the price for completely severing your ties with him, it was cheap."

She stopped walking. When I turned back, she immediately started walking again, but her cheeks were slightly flushed.

"...Mash, do you really like me? It's not just a physical interest?"

"Huh? What are you talking about now? Have you already forgotten about the lake we went to together?"

"...I haven't forgotten."

Marmi took my hand. We walked on, hand in hand.

"What about you? Are you sure you're okay with me? I imagined Zeno Leafkraut to be some kind of sinister old geezer. But he's ridiculously..."

Handsome, I was about to say, but I bit my tongue in frustration. She had said he would manipulate her mind until she wasn't herself anymore, but if Marmi had simply fallen in love with him, none of that would have been necessary.

"...All elves look something like that. I prefer someone like Mash."

"There's something about the way you said that! I'm a little hurt!"

"...That's not what I meant. I thought today would only be about Famu and Mizuki. I like you, Mash,"

Marmi murmured, squeezing my hand tightly. Myra and Maryanne, who had been watching us, bumped their shoulders against mine.

"Hmph! I worked hard too, so why are you two being all lovey-dovey?!"

"W-Well, I wasn't able to do much, but me too!"

I walked on, with them pressing against me from both sides. Just then, a group of figures appeared, blocking our path.

At the forefront was a pair dressed in black. I could see chainmail beneath their clothes. There were slight, gentle curves at their chests and from their waists down. Hoods covered their faces, hiding everything but their eyes, but there was no mistaking it. They were both women. Behind them stood a man in light adventurer's gear, and behind him, a man and a woman who looked like mages. Further back was what looked to be a priest. The four in the rear had their mouths covered with white triangular cloths, presumably to hide their identities.

"You're Mash, aren't you?"

It was, indeed, a woman's voice.

"Close. I'm Mish, a humble adventurer."

Beside me, Myra let out a soft sigh. 'Again?' she seemed to ask without saying a word. The two in black reached for the swords on their backs, ready to draw them at any moment. Seeing this, Myra also raised her mace at my side. Maryanne stepped in front of me protectively, her hand already on the hilt of her sword.

"Wait!"

I called out to stop her as she rushed forward, but she extended an arm to hold me back instead.

"I am Maryanne One-Land, head of the One-Land family. What is the meaning of this? Why do you bar our path?"

Hearing her words, the two in black exchanged a look and nodded to each other.

"So, that man really is Mash, then?"

The pair put their hands on the hilts of their swords. At their signal, the figures waiting behind them also lowered their stances and readied their weapons. With no other choice, I moved Marmi behind me to shield her.

"Myra, I'm counting on you to handle the rear guard and Mo."

"But..."

Myra's words trailed off. I understood her concerns without her having to say them. They didn't back down even after hearing Maryanne's name. These were people who wouldn't care if they were exiled from the city. And since they were calling me out by name, there was a high chance they were Otherworlders—people who could use special skills. Against them, I had already used my only high-powered attack, Goddess Summon, last night. On top of that, it was four against six. We were at a numerical disadvantage.

"When you see an opening, take Mo and run. The Star Union family's estate is the closest from here,"

I whispered to Myra.

"What are you saying?"

"I'll find an opening and escape with Maryanne."

"Do you really think that's possible?"

The two in black and the adventurer-like man crept closer, closing the distance as they held their weapons at the ready. Maryanne, in front of us, slid her katana slightly from its scabbard, her right hand resting on its hilt as she lowered her body just a bit.

"To hear my name and yet refuse to offer your own, and to take such a stance... I shall judge you as a threat to the city of Miglutt. Take one more step forward, and I will take your heads."

The three of them froze at her quietly spoken words. Just then, a new pair came running up from behind us.

"What do you think you're doing in the middle of the city?!"

It hadn't even been ten days, but the voice was nostalgic. And reassuring.

"Cecily! Myra!"

They stood there, weapons at the ready.