Ch.4040. Was I Just as Clumsy?

“I can’t believe there’s actually treasure here… Sir Jawill Wilson, let’s hurry!”

In the distance, a rectangular box came into view.

After warning Sirine to be careful of possible traps in the area, I approached slowly.

Up close, it looked more like a worn wooden coffin than a treasure chest.

I suppose that’s to be expected after more than 20 years?

“Please step back a bit, just in case. I’ll open it.”

“Yes! Understood.”

Sirine watched the wooden box with sparkling eyes, her hands tightly clenched.

I opened it carefully, not knowing what might jump out.

And then.

“Huh…?”

“Wow!! It’s real treasure!!”

“…There really is treasure?”

I looked at Sirine jumping up and down excitedly before turning my attention back to the box.

The first thing that caught my eye was a hard leather scabbard containing a sword that emitted a blue light.

As I gripped the sword and gaped in awe, Sirine, seemingly uninterested in it, plunged her head into the box.

Then she screamed with delight.

“Oh my! This is amazing!!”

“Lady Philia, we’re the only ones here, so you can take your time looking.”

“There are so many beautiful jewels here. I’m happy just looking at them!”

“May I take the sword?”

“Of course. Let me know if you need anything else.”

Clearly, despite the imperial palace having plenty of jewels, she was excited because these were visibly antique designs.

Anyway.

Judging by the name inscribed on the scabbard, the sword was called “Raiden Sword.”

Perhaps like the “Flame Sword” that erupts with fire when Serion Breaker wields it, this one might summon lightning?

I was itching to swing it right away, but we were in a cave.

Licking my lips, I also examined the box.

‘What, what is this?’

A round egg, partially hidden by the jewels.

About the size of a human face, it didn’t appear to be from a monster or animal.

“Oh my, what kind of egg is this?”

“I’m not sure. I’ve never seen an egg like this before.”

“Could it be… a monster egg? Ugh! That’s creepy. I don’t need it, so take it if you want.”

I carefully examined the egg that somehow ended up in my palm.

If Curios’s hidden map was accurate, I wondered if an egg that hadn’t hatched in 20 years might already be dead.

Just as I was about to put it back in the box,

Thump-! Thump-!

A pulsating vibration in my palm.

Could it be that it hasn’t hatched yet?

Although the original story never mentioned an “egg”… I decided to take it with me, just in case it might be significant.

As I put the egg in my bag, Sirine tilted her head curiously.

“Sir Jawill Wilson, don’t you need anything else?”

“No, Lady Philia can take everything else. The sword and egg are enough for me.”

Sirine excitedly opened her bag and scooped up the jewels.

The box was soon empty.

Satisfied, she slung her bag over her shoulder, her smile reaching her ears.

“Shall we go now?”

“Let’s go.”

After leaving the monster hunting grounds, I was about to part ways, but Sirine insisted on going to a restaurant for a meal.

I ordered food, anxiously wondering if Luna might see us together.

“Sir Jawill Wilson, let me pay for this.”

“I won’t refuse.”

“Thank you so much for today. I was about to give up and go home…”

Was that so?

The “Raiden Sword” and the “egg” never appeared in the original story.

That means Sirine might have come to Evis with the treasure map and given up.

Or perhaps she was scammed and someone else took it.

“But you don’t seem like a hunter. Please don’t take such dangerous actions like coming to Evis alone again.”

“Oh… was it that obvious?”

“Yes, if you had encountered bad people, you might have disappeared without a trace. Evis is that dangerous.”

“I see. I should hire a mercenary next time.”

Sirine didn’t promise never to return, which made me sigh deeply.

“Hah! Mercenaries are human too. You need to consider the possibility they might be tempted by treasure.”

“…I’m quite naive about the world, aren’t I?”

“It’s good that you’re learning now.”

Sirine stared at me for a moment before smiling.

“Sir Jawill Wilson, you seem cold when you speak, but you’re actually warm-hearted.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment.”

“It is a compliment. Before meeting you, I thought people here were one of two types: either cold or warm.”

“They’re probably just pretending to be warm. No one in this place is genuinely warm to strangers.”

“There you go again!”

What should I do with this kind and innocent princess?

Well, I don’t need to worry too much.

She lived happily enough in the original story.

Besides.

Unlike Serion Breaker, I’m not the protagonist of this novel.

After stopping the monster wave at Lake Territory a year from now and saying goodbye to Luna and Rio Sergang, I can live without worries.

That means I’ll never encounter the princess again.

I put food in my mouth and smiled gently.

“Whatever happens, living happily is what matters.”

“See! Now you admit it!”

“Lady Philia doesn’t need to worry about citizens’ happiness like the princess does.”

“…Y-yes, that’s right.”

If she runs away again because she found treasure with my help, it would be troublesome.

I was just trying to get things back on track with the original story.

As expected, Sirine pouted and shook her head.

“Tsk… isn’t the princess a person too?”

“Pardon?”

“Nothing. By the way, Sir Jawill Wilson, what do you do normally?”

“Why do you ask?”

“You don’t seem like a professional hunter… you’re skilled with a sword and can use magic too, so I’m curious about your profession.”

“I’m a knight. And I only know very basic magic.”

Sirine opened her eyes wide and asked again.

“A knight who works as a hunter?”

“I’m on leave, but I need information about new monsters.”

“Wow!! The head of the Alphonse family must be pleased.”

“Of course… Wait! W-what did you just say?”

“You’re from the Alphonse family, aren’t you?”

“…How did you know that?”

“Sir Jawill Wilson, there’s a crest on your scabbard.”

Haha…

Was I just as careless?

Until meeting Sirine, I only tried to hide my noble status, not my family name.

That’s why I openly carried my sword…

I was too accustomed to it and forgot.

Besides, as a princess, she would recognize all the crests of Eastern Continent families.

I felt like a complete fool.

‘Sigh…’

My head throbbed, but I nodded, pretending to be fine.

“That’s correct. But how do you know about the Alphonse family?”

“I know a little bit.”

“…I see.”

“If it’s not rude, may I ask one question? I can’t help being curious.”

“Go ahead.”

Sirine looked around despite no one watching us.

Then, she leaned toward me and whispered quietly.

“Is it true that the youngest son of the Alphonse family is a good-for-nothing?”

“Kuh, kuhk!!”

“Oh my, did you choke?! Here’s some water!”

I quickly took the water Sirine handed me, gulped it down, and took a deep breath.

“Th-thank you. I survived. A good-for-nothing… that might be accurate in some ways.”

“Oh? That’s unexpected. I thought you’d avoid my question since you’re a knight of the Alphonse family.”

“Haha, well, rumors are usually exaggerated.”

“So you’re saying the rumor that he has no talent for swordsmanship despite his father being a knight and visits pleasure quarters daily is exaggerated?”

Would Sirine ever realize she was speaking ill of someone right to their face?

The situation was so absurd that I couldn’t help but laugh.

“…Something like that.”

“So who do you serve? I heard the Alphonse family has many brothers.”

“I serve the fifth young master.”

“The fifth would be…?”

“Yes, the good-for-nothing young master you just mentioned.”

For a moment, the air turned awkward, but the situation was so funny that we both burst into laughter.

After a while, Sirine calmed down and spoke with a reddened face.

“I’m sorry for asking unnecessary questions.”

“It’s fine. I could have avoided answering, but I chose to respond.”

“I think you’re right that rumors are exaggerated. If the youngest son of the Alphonse family were truly a good-for-nothing, you wouldn’t have answered like this.”

As we laughed and chatted, dinner was coming to an end.

Then, a familiar sensation made my body go cold.

‘T-this is…’

I placed my palm on the wooden table and quickly turned my head.

Fortunately, contrary to my expectations, the restaurant atmosphere remained peaceful.

Just as I was about to sigh in relief.

“…Brother, what are you doing?”

*Ding* ♪

━Luna’s Affection Deficiency

= 10 → 90 changed [↑ 80 increase]