episode_0091

Episode 91 Contact (2)

“I wish we had never contacted each other.”

I knew I would be contacted in the near future, if not immediately. Of course, I don’t welcome it.

[You’ve become cold in the meantime. That’s why they say you should contact each other occasionally. Out of sight, out of mind….]

“Stop with the small talk and get to the point.”

I cut him off and urged him to get to the point. The longer I talked to the God, the worse I felt.

[I wanted to talk a little longer…. I guess we can talk anytime, right?]

Immediately after, the World Tree explained the reason.

[I recently sent some of my children out. I have something to ask of them.]

“You must be busy because of ‘Black’ anyway.”

The reason why the World Tree hadn’t contacted me recently and why the exchange meeting was canceled was because of that.

[…Where does that information come from? Even within the Holy Kingdom, only a very few people know about it.]

“You’ll have to pay the price if you want to know.”

[What are we to each other? You can tell me a little bit, right?]

“What are we? A thorough business relationship.”

A relationship formed by nothing more or less than a transaction. That’s all.

[Where did that cute and adorable child go? Are you upset about this?]

The World Tree said, burying her disappointment. But I never fall for it. The god is a being whose inner thoughts are insidious.

“So what do you want to say?”

[My children were kidnapped. Fortunately, most of them returned safely. Except for one child. Currently, I can barely contact her.]

“Where is she?”

[She’s being held in the free city of the Great Desert.]

After hearing those words, I checked today’s date.

“I need to save her quickly. There are only two weeks left until the auction starts.”

It’s hard to find her once she’s sold. So I have to save her before the auction ends.

[If it’s Kyle, you can do it easily, right?]

“Yeah, I can rescue her without difficulty. But you know….”

I slowly started to speak.

“This is a ‘favor’, right?”

[…….]

The World Tree was silent for a moment.

[Do you have to be so calculating, Kyle?]

“You need to get your words straight. Who acted calculating first?”

If the World Tree had helped me unconditionally during the corruption incident, I would have been willing to help without asking for anything in return. Green is a god who is friendly to humans.

[…It’s too precious of an opportunity to use for something like this.]

“Then give up on the elf.”

The World Tree was silent, but I could hear her agonizing even from here. She can never abandon the life that was born from her hands.

‘Well, let’s stop playing around here.’

It’s certainly good to erase the opportunity for a favor, but there was no need to get rid of it right away.

I could guess what favor the World Tree would ask later, and it was a much better choice to make her indebted to me on this occasion.

I might be able to get an elixir if I do well.

“Or we can do this. Let’s make a deal like last time. In exchange for saving the elf, you agree to listen to my request later.”

[It’s not a very appealing offer.]

“Then don’t do it. I don’t care either way.”

No matter what choice the World Tree made, I had nothing to lose. Well, it’s more beneficial for me to choose the latter if possible.

She seemed to be contemplating for a moment before making a decision.

[Okay, let’s do it as a deal. However, I will hold you responsible if she gets hurt or anything.]

“Don’t worry about that. I’ll send her back in perfect condition.”

At that moment, the pattern on the back of my hand glowed. The contents of the oath were updated. This gave each other one more chance to ask for a favor.

“Then I’ll contact you when I rescue her.”

[I’ll let the child know in advance.]

“Okay.”

Immediately after, I ended the conversation and thought as I moved.

“It’s fast, but it’ll be okay.”

Originally, the [Elf Rescue] episode takes place a week later. However, it happened earlier than that, and I can fully anticipate the reason.

It’s because I have a relationship with the World Tree.

In the original novel, the [Corruption] episode of Lana awaits after the black magician’s attack episode. And there, Evan saves Lana, and the World Tree, who had been watching Evan, contacts him through Lana.

But I got in between and skipped the whole process. So the request is directed at me.

Well, I can tolerate this much deviation. It was something I had predicted since I got involved.

In the meantime, I returned to the dormitory. Lana was already awake and playing with her summon in the bench.

“Kyle, good morning!”

“Good morning. More than that, you should have called me when you woke up.”

“I was quiet because you looked busy. I did a good job, right?”

I couldn’t help but laugh at those words.

“Ah, you must be hungry. Shall we go to the student cafeteria? Or should I make it for you?”

“Let’s eat later and go somewhere together.”

“Where?”

“To see Professor Latral.”

There were a few things to prepare before leaving for the Free City.

***

“I was about to call you anyway, so it’s a good thing you came.”

Latral greeted us happily. But contrary to his tone, his complexion was not good.

“Grandpa, didn’t you sleep?”

“With the situation as it is, I haven’t had time to sleep. Lana, did you sleep well?”

“I slept well at Kyle’s dormitory.”

At his granddaughter’s words, he glanced at me.

“Yeah, nothing happened?”

“I slept well thanks to Kyle!”

This time, he laughed heartily at those words.

“How about moving your dormitory on this occasion? It would be better to be with someone you’re comfortable with.”

“Uh, uhm? I like being with Kyle, but….”

Lana, rarely flustered, glanced at me. I quickly cut off the conversation between the grandfather and granddaughter.

“More than that, what is the reason you are looking for us.”

“Hehe, you’re making a fuss even though I’m helping you. You openly advertised it at the banquet. The matter has already spread widely beyond professors and students to the staff. So living together….”

“Please stop before you move to the dormitory.”

“…….”

Latral closed his mouth at my dismissal. If I go to the department dormitory, men and women are separated, so I can’t be with her like now.

“Ahem, the reason I called you is about yesterday’s incident. When I investigated the place you moved to….”

“You saw it.”

“I saw it. The traces of the devil.”

He looked at my eyes for a moment.

“It was consideration. The reason you didn’t say it on the spot.”

“There’s no need to add confusion to confusion.”

“I’m grateful for that. If I had revealed that fact as you said, the situation would have become more complicated.”

Latral nodded as if he understood.

“What was the rank?”

“It was a count. There’s no need to investigate the reason for his appearance. He came out purely to kill me.”

“Arden has a deep connection with demons.”

He moved on without me having to explain anything.

Latral Heitald is a person who has witnessed and grasped my skills to some extent. He has kept the secret well so far, so it doesn’t matter much if I reveal it about demons.

After asking a few more simple questions, Latral said.

“But what brings you here? Even before I called you.”

“I came because I have a favor to ask.”

The two rewards that Latral had promised to grant after saving Lana in the past. I came to use them.

“It’s been several months. You’re coming early.”

“I’ve been busy.”

“That’s what the rumors say. So, what is the favor?”

“That’s….”

“Kyle wants to participate in the Free City auction!”

Lana intervened and said at that time.

“I can give you an invitation to the Free City auction. I wasn’t planning on participating this year anyway.”

“I already have an invitation.”

“You managed to get it. Then you’re asking for time? That’s no problem. I decided to take a two-week break for investigation and recovery from yesterday’s incident.”

It is a known fact. Trianis will be closed for two weeks due to the black magician.

“It’s not that, I’d like you to get me a train ticket. In a special seat.”

“Personally, I think it’s a weak request, but….”

“The value of a reward is different for each person.”

“That’s true.”

Someone may think this wish is a waste, but I don’t. It is more precious than anything else to me, who knows the information in this novel.

“Is Lana going too?”

“Yes. Ah, my junior is going with me, so please get him a ticket too.”

“Okay.”

Then Lana said in surprise.

“I’m going too?”

“Then weren’t you thinking of going?”

“Of course I’m going! But Evan’s junior too?”

“He’s a helpful guy.”

Not only that, Evan was absolutely necessary in some way.

“How long do you have to prepare?”

“I’m planning to leave tomorrow or the day after.”

“Okay. I’ll book three special seats.”

“Thank you.”

After having a brief conversation, we left the room.

“Shall we go eat now?”

“I have more people to meet, so later.”

“Ugh, I’m hungry….”

I coaxed Lana and headed to the next place. The person I’m meeting this time is Senior Ruina.

***

The senior I met in a day was still holed up in the workshop making commissioned goods today.

Of course, she stopped working when we arrived, but with a blank face at Lana’s company, she looked at me and pointed at Lana with her finger.

“Why did you come again….”

“Hehe, I came to see Senior Ruina!”

Lana immediately ran to her senior. The surprised senior quickly took refuge behind me.

“…Don’t come. I warned you. If you come….”

At that time, Lana took out a packaged box hidden behind her back.

A box with the [Dessert Kingdom] brand in fancy packaging. The contents are of course her favorite cake.

However, it’s not just any cake. This is a very, very special dessert.

The senior, whose staple food is cake, noticed it.

“That’s, special chocolate cake….”

“That’s right!”

This was the special dessert sold by [Dessert Kingdom] once a month, with no set sales time.

“How did you get it?”

“I was lucky! They were selling it when I just went.”

Lana slowly unwrapped the package and took out the cake.

It’s an ordinary cake on the outside. But the smell wasn’t. A scent that was too fragrant to be called chocolate spread around.

I could hear the sound of swallowing saliva. Senior Ruina couldn’t take her eyes off the cake.

“Iyat!”

Lana moved the cake stand. Her senior’s eyes followed it.

She moves it once more. This time, the motion is large. Her senior moved her neck as she followed.

“Don’t play with food….”

“Hehe.”

Lana smiled brightly, as if the reaction was fun. After that, she cut the cake, showed the cross section, and said.

“Don’t you want to eat it? I’ll give you everything if you come next to me!”

Lana tempts her senior with a cake, as if luring a wild animal with food. She brought the layers of cream, cake, and chocolate closer.

Senior Ruina closed her eyes tightly so as not to give in to the temptation, but at some point, she opened her eyes wide and swallowed saliva while looking straight at the cake.

“Really, are you going to give me everything?”

“Yes! I bought it for my senior!”

“Okay, uh….”

In the end, the senior gave in to the cake. She sat down in front of Lana herself and soon munched on the cake.

“It’s delicious…!”

“Hehe, it’s soft.”

Lana stroked Senior Ruina, who was exclaiming, and filled her desires.

In some ways, I was dumbfounded by the scene.

“Why, Kyle?”

“Just funny.”

Lana said, realizing the meaning of the words.

“People like Senior Ruina are very wary, so you have to approach them slowly like this. Otherwise, it’s easy to be hated.”

I just smiled silently. Looking back, I think I fell for that method a little bit too.

Whether we were having such a conversation or not, the senior was focused on the cake. For a while, we watched Senior Ruina munch on the cake.

Finally, after eating the whole piece, the senior opened her mouth.

“So, why did you come?”

“I have a favor to ask.”

“What is it.”

Still in Lana’s arms, I took out a dark red jewel from the subspace and showed it to her. The energy of black magic overflowed around her.

“Ugh… don’t bring that dirty thing to my workshop.”

With a disgusted face, the senior said clearly. I hid it behind me, fearing that she would break it if I showed it more.

“What are you going to do with that….”

“I was going to ask you to make a magic tool. I’m going to the auction house in the Free City….”

“Auction house?”

At that moment, the senior’s eyes lit up and she showed interest in the auction house.

“Are you going there…?”

“Yes. I have something to do.”

“I want to go too. Let’s go together.”

The senior suddenly grabbed my sleeve and said so. I didn’t expect her to say she was going.

“Uh… do you want to go?”

“Yes. I’ve never been to an auction house.”

The senior, who is always in the workshop, doesn’t go out often.

But she’s going to a distant city? That’s something that can’t happen to her.

In the first place, she didn’t accompany us in this episode in the novel.

“Are you okay?”

“It’s okay.”

The senior nodded as if there was no problem. I pondered for a moment at those words, and soon came to a conclusion.

‘Hmm, I think it’ll be okay.’

It would be a great help to take an alchemist like her with me.

“Then Senior Ruina is going with us too?”

At Lana’s words, the senior stared blankly at me. Although it wasn’t expressed in her expression, she looked shocked.

Senior Ruina, who returned to reality, asked slowly.

“……Is she going too?”

“Yes. And my junior is going with me too. That guy you saw last time.”

Her face changes expressionlessly at my answer. Annoyance and dislike are written all over her face.

Then she looked at Lana and me alternately.

“Let’s leave these two and go with me.”

She said something that made people feel uncomfortable.