Chapter 19 : Daytime words are heard by birds, and nighttime words are heard by the princess

Ruben’s night felt particularly brighter than other places.

Was it because this was the place where followers of the moon goddess resided?

Even as an atheist, I couldn’t help but think that perhaps this place really was imbued with the blessing of the moon goddess. The night’s atmosphere here felt strangely different.

Uncharacteristically, I found myself drifting into contemplation as I walked through the back alleys.

I wasn’t aimlessly walking, intoxicated by the night air, though.

Earlier, I had discreetly gathered some information from the innkeeper by paying a little extra, so I was heading there.

“Excuse me.”

“Welcome. It’s rare to see a foreigner at this late hour. Quite unusual.”

Finally, as I entered a shabby building, which might or might not have been a shop, tucked away in a corner of the back alley, a man who looked to be in his late 60s to early 70s greeted me.

As in every town, there was always one information broker with the lights on all night.

Clink.

Perhaps because I was a stranger, the man had been watching me suspiciously with a wary gaze. However, as soon as I placed a bundle of gold coins on the table, he widened his eyes and began alternating his gaze between the bundle and me.

“Huh… With this much, wouldn’t it be better to seek information in a big city? This isn’t the kind of tip you should be paying for at a place like this.”

“I’m looking for information that might only be found here.”

“Such information exists? Even after more than 50 years in this business, this is the first I’ve heard of it.”

The man seemed more concerned about the money pouch on the shabby table than anything else. He kept glancing at it while nodding his head, as if to suggest I ask what I came for.

I decided not to waste time with small talk and directly began speaking about the information I needed.

“Do you know anything about a group called the Eyes of Dawn?”

“Eyes of Dawn? You’re speaking of dangerous things, young one.”

Perhaps he knew that answering could get him into trouble, so despite the pouch of gold, he seemed hesitant to speak. After all, they were the most infamous group of traitors in the empire’s history.

If he admitted knowing about them, people might suspect him of being involved. On the other hand, if he denied it, the pouch of gold would disappear. As an information broker, he was clearly in a tough spot.

Thankfully, I had already shown a considerable amount of money, so he wasn’t keeping quiet, but if I hadn’t, I’m sure he would have remained silent.

“I need as much information as possible about them. I assure you, I have no intention of turning an old man like you into a scapegoat for a traitor group, so please be honest.”

Thud.

With an air of secrecy, he cast a muffling spell to ensure no sounds would leak outside the range of the ward.

“You… you’re a mage?”

“Well, there are reasons. Now, what will you do? I’m quite busy myself.”

“Hmm, in that case, I have no choice. But they are a mysterious bunch, so even I don’t know much. Take it with a grain of salt.”

At last, he started speaking.

“According to rumors, they’re some offshoot of the Moon Goddess’ cult.”

“Yes, I’ve heard that too.”

I nodded, recalling what Alpro had told me, and the old man clicked his tongue in disapproval.

“However, last year, I heard the imperial army got wind of these rumors. They secretly arrived in Ruben and conducted a large-scale investigation.”

“The imperial army?”

“Yes. But no matter how much they searched, nothing turned up.”

“So, are you saying… that the imperial army found no information related to the Eyes of Dawn in Ruben?”

“Hmm, that’s about right. Of course, they’re good at hiding, so maybe they erased all traces. But at least from what I saw, I believe it was just a baseless rumor.”

That’s strange indeed.

If the imperial army, specially dispatched under direct orders from the emperor, couldn’t find any clues after thoroughly investigating Ruben, just erasing all traces wouldn’t explain it.

Of course, if the Eyes of Dawn had spies who could even steal royal palace secrets, then perhaps it’s possible. But that seems too simplistic.

The theory that the Moon Goddess’ cult and the Eyes of Dawn are connected is itself based on a kind of black-and-white logic.

“I see. Any other information?”

“The rest is just more baseless rumors. Some say the Drake family is secretly supporting the Eyes of Dawn. It’s all nonsense.”

“The Drake family? What’s that about?”

The old man shook his head, as if disbelieving the rumor, but I wasn’t about to let any clue slip, no matter how small. I pressed on, desperately seeking any scrap of information.

He made an expression that suggested he wasn’t too keen on sharing this, but with the pouch of gold in front of him, he seemed to relent.

“The Drake family… they’re a deeply devout family that has been part of the Sun Goddess’ cult for generations.”

“I know that. But where did this rumor about them supporting the Eyes of Dawn come from?”

“I don’t know. I heard that someone saw a man with the Drake family seal in the forest outside Ruben, handing over some enchanted stones to a man in a black robe.”

…!

At the mention of a black robe, my eyes widened instinctively.

While it’s not easy to infer much from someone’s appearance alone, if the Eyes of Dawn were wearing outfits similar to the one I encountered before my return, there’s a possibility.

“And what happened to the rumor?”

“What happened? The person who spread the rumor was a follower of the Moon Goddess, so they were immediately scolded for trying to smear the holy Sun Goddess’ followers with such baseless lies.”

“I see.”

Well, I wouldn’t be foolish enough to suspect the Drake family just based on that story.

To begin with, the claim that the Drake family stacked valuable enchanted stones on a cart and handed them over is absurd, and on top of that, no one even knows the face of the person who received them. What more can I say?

It’s clearly just idle gossip, and most people would dismiss it as such.

Anyway, I guess this can be considered a decent harvest.

Now, I just need to ask the last and most important question before I leave.

“Then, old man, one last thing. Do you know how one might join the Eyes of Dawn?”

“…Even if I knew, I couldn’t tell you.”

At his refusal to answer the most important question, I narrowed my eyes.

Was he hinting that he knew but couldn’t say, or was this just a hypothetical response?

Testing him, I pretended to reach for the pouch of gold on the table and gently shook it to see how he’d react.

“Isn’t this money precious to you?”

“Who wouldn’t find money precious? Even the emperor would surely jump out of his throne if a mountain of gold and treasures were brought to him.”

“Then why hesitate? Am I some rebel bent on ruining the country?”

“Do you think a lonely old man in a back alley has any patriotism left in him? I just feel sorry for a young man willing to throw his life away on a foolish impulse.”

“…I understand now. That was an inappropriate question.”

I let go of the pouch of gold I had been holding and gave a light bow, then turned to leave.

“You’re not taking it with you? You haven’t answered my last question.”

“The information you’ve provided so far is enough. You should rest.”

The old man called out to me as I started to walk away, but I didn’t even look back. I simply responded and crossed the alley in the opposite direction of where I had come.

I would be taking a detour back to the inn, but there was a reason for the detour.

Thud. Thud.

As I approached a fork in the road with three directions, I quickened my pace and immediately turned left at the junction.

In that instant, I could hear footsteps behind me growing louder.

So, I was being followed.

Earlier, when I was talking to the old man, I noticed a strange presence and thought maybe a passerby had simply been walking nearby. But since the presence lingered for quite some time, I realized they must have been eavesdropping on my conversation.

If this was a remnant of the Eyes of Dawn, they would likely try to extract information from me, using any means necessary, even if it meant torture. So, I prepared myself to take action.

Thud. Thud.

The presence behind me grew louder, and as it approached, I knew this was the moment.

I leapt forward and grabbed the person by the neck.

No, more precisely, I tried to grab them.

“…Princess Eleonore?”

“Y-Your Highness Lyard…”

Only when I saw the person’s face did I realize what had almost happened.

I quickly pulled my hand away and stared at the woman in front of me with a bewildered expression.

Why is Sylvia here?