Chapter 45. To see the sea (1),
it was full of the scent of butter.
It smelled like garlic and a little pepper.
As I removed the white flesh from the red ripe skin, the scent of butter became even stronger. The broccoli cooked together with crunchy onions and yellow bell peppers also had a buttery scent.
“It’s okay if you don’t use this much butter.”
Veronica’s eyes widened as she heard what she said as she put the peeled skin aside.
“Did you know what to say?”
Ayla nodded and put a piece of well-cooked lobster into her mouth. The white bead decoration of the hairpin that tied up her long hair swayed and sparkled.
“If the first thing you say in three days is that you have a lot of butter, the listener will feel discouraged. At least you should say it’s nice to meet you or introduce yourself or something like that.”
“It’s better than saying for the first time in three days that you’re being naughty.”
It’s been five days since I came to Alan’s house, and three days since I met Veronica.
So, to be precise, Veronica smiled brightly and asked Aila, who opened her mouth for the first time in five days.
“I’m sorry. Did you feel bad?”
“It’s just that I don’t have a habit, it doesn’t mean I’m in a bad mood, so I do what’s comfortable.”
Even though she was the marquis’ granddaughter, Veronica did not know that it was rude to blindly speak informally to someone who was older than her and did not know her status or title. So I asked Aila for permission to talk to her. Aila didn’t answer, and Veronica just took it as permission.
“It’s because I grew up watching my grandfather. I’m sorry.”
Actually, Alan was sharp-tongued and not short-tempered, but Veronica always gave the reason like this.
In the end, it was informal again, but anyway, what she said was right to do whatever was convenient, so Aila just nodded once more. After that, I pushed aside the white onion that wasn’t fully cooked, picked up the broccoli next to me, and ate it.
Veronica, who was watching Aila, opened her mouth.
“Why are you hiding here?”
Calian wasn’t very attentive and Alan was busy.
Thanks to this, I was unable to explain to Veronica who was at Alan’s house and why, leaving only Ayla in an empty house. To be precise, it would have been correct to say that he had not thought that Veronica would leave the house she lived with Rachel and stop by Alan’s mansion.
Neither of them would know how surprised Veronica was when she came to Alan’s house on the evening of the second day, when Aila was doing well on her own. Of course, neither they nor Veronica know that Ayla, upon encountering Veronica, quietly thrust the dagger she had hidden behind her back.
“There are circumstances.”
Aila, who couldn’t say she was a runaway bird from the next country, gave a short answer. Although these were not kind words at all, Veronica nodded and asked again.
“Are you someone who uses a sword?”
“Why do you think that?”
“I don’t think he’s a wizard.”
“I thought you would ask me first if you were Marquis Manasil’s lover, but you asked me something unusual.”
“Grandpa is not the type of person who forgets how old he is.”
“Just because you’re not a wizard doesn’t mean you’re necessarily someone who uses a sword.”
“I know. But most people who come to my grandfather’s house use one or two of them.”
Of course, the only person who used both was Prince Calian.
Ayla looked at Veronica for a moment as she answered like this, then picked up another piece of pure white lobster flesh and said.
“I use a sword. I belong to the 3rd prince.”
“I thought so too.”
Veronica, looking happy that her guess was correct, held out her hand.
“Nice to meet you. I’m Veronica. I’m a person who wants to be someone who uses medicine, not swords or magic. I have hair and speaking habits like my grandfather, and I look like my mom, so I’m trying to be like my dad for the rest.”
Ayla, who looked at Veronica for a moment, put down her fork and held her hand.
“I’ll tell you the name later. It’s nice to meet you too.”
Veronica stood up after a strange sequence of conversation that started with talking about having a lot of butter and ended with a self-introduction and a handshake.
“I have to go when mom comes. I’ll come tomorrow too. Is there anything you want to eat? I’ll make it for you.”
“… Raw oysters.”
Eating seafood seemed very natural, and what I wanted to eat was raw oysters.
“Kairisis people don’t like seafood that much, so I’m not sure if there’s a place that sells it. I’ll look for it tomorrow.”
I wondered if he was from Duke Siegfried’s family if he liked seafood and was related to Calian. Just as I was answering this question, I heard a cheerful sound far outside the door.
– Welcome to the home of Archmage Alan Manasil!
Because the encounter with the cute stone statue outside the door was so impressive, Ayla frowned for a moment, remembering the time when she almost broke the doorkeeper of someone else’s house.
Soon, someone came in with the sound of the door opening and closing. Then he slightly bowed his head to Veronica, who was waving her hand.
Hair similar to Aila’s eyes, but lighter in color.
It was Kirie.
“Please wake up.”
Kirie looked at Eila for a moment with a face whose meaning was difficult to understand, then opened her mouth.
“The prince is looking for you.”
And it was said that there would be no need to eat raw oysters like this for a while.
* * *
The aftermath of Evan’s death has subsided to some extent.
Measures against those who should be punished and other urgent cases were completed, and there were large-scale personnel changes.
So isn’t it now time to give an award?
The Balkan wizards, who had been on high alert for the safety of the royal palace and had spent nearly a month in suspense, were given a vacation. Of course, we couldn’t let everyone rest at once, so we took turns resting for 15 days each.
That was the starting point.
“I am the president of the association.”
If there was nothing to do, they could just sleep, but the wizards who had forgotten how to rest came out of the house and gathered around. As I was sipping carbonated water and discussing how Arsene could break the sword, I saw Arsene coming home from work after a day of work as his vacation date had not yet arrived.
Arsene was happy to meet his subordinate wizards, whom he thought he would not see for a few days, so they sat together. He refused the carbonated water everyone was drinking and ordered a beer for himself. And while drinking just two beers, he explained how he broke the sword and then stood up cleanly.
As I was walking towards the house again, I saw a nice purple head.
– kid. Great.
– What’s going on?
– uh. I wanted to see Marquis Manasil for a gift from Riverne, but he seemed busy. I have something to say about Prince Calian, so let’s talk about it when we have some time.
– yes. All right.
For that reason, the two sat down on the bar terrace, which was perfect for conversation. I activated Silence to prevent others from listening and made Arsene drink only two glasses of beer to prevent him from getting drunk.
“Prince Kallian said that he will soon allow you to no longer have to be the boss of the intelligence organization. I think the association wizards who were wasted will now be able to do other things.”
“yes.”
“And Rivern sent me a magic item made of a thick crystal plate, and it seems to be used for communication. It’s my first time seeing it, so it’s not accurate, but the description is correct. So, Marquis Manasil, if you have time, please tell me I’ll come visit you.”
“Ah…”
But Arsene’s reaction was quite strange.
I looked at him, wondering if the alcohol had weakened him further, and Arsene opened his mouth with a grin.
“It’s me, President. Actually, I was on my way after having two drinks earlier. It’s been a while since I had one, so I thought it would be okay, President.”
“…… shit.”
Euria, who was busy protecting French fries from Arsene, who was having a conversation, passing words, and drinking four glasses of beer, said some harsh words.
“But what about the chicks? Commander Zeia said it would take about 20 days for the chicks to hatch, President of the Association.”
“Uh. I guess he died. I didn’t wake up. I’m just going to make some fries tomorrow.”
“The president of our association is too kind. It would be sad to hear that you made chickens and then ate them, president of the association.”
After saying this, Arsene tapped the table.
Suddenly, a line of ice stretched out and touched the plate of French fries that had been placed far away.
I finally froze.
“…… no.”
Eurya picked up a frozen potato in her hand and put it back down and took a swig of a glass of very good quality Basilica. Then he said as he placed the egg, which had both warming magic and shock-relieving magic on it, on the table from the bag.
“I guess I should just eat now. That would be better.”
Arsene said as he quickly took the egg away, wondering how he understood this.
“No, Mr. Association President. I feel sorry for the egg.”
“I pity those fries and the four beers in your stomach more.”
They were bickering and arguing about whether or not they wanted to eat it now, taking eggs back and forth from each other.
– Pojik!
And the pure white egg made me incontinent.
For an instant, the two wizards stopped moving.
– Pop, pop, pop!
One way or another, another crack appeared.
Arsene raised his eyes and looked at Euria.
“no way.”
It was around this time that the words lingered in Euria’s mouth as she wondered if she would really wake up.
– Squeaky!
The sound was a little louder.
Then, before long, something small popped out of the eggshell.
Jet black eyes, still wet but fluffy yellow fur.
And a blunt beak.
“hmm.”
…Blubby beak?
“duck?”
“Beep!”
A cute little duckling was looking at Arsene.
The blue-haired wizard, who couldn’t tell the difference between a duck egg and an egg, smiled at the purple-haired wizard who couldn’t tell the difference between a duck egg and an egg, and opened his mouth in a cool voice.
“This is a duck from me, Mr. President.”
Then he hit his head on the table and fell asleep.
* * *
Peas said no.
I’m glad it wasn’t, but he laughed.
‘I didn’t mean that, so you don’t have to worry…’
Moreover, even the words were blurry.
He can’t lie.
‘I’ll tell you when it gets bigger. ‘Stop wondering.’
So no matter how many times I ask what my name means, they keep saying the same thing. I don’t know if he’ll tell me how much older he gets, but he just won’t say anything.
Then I remembered that I was his older brother.
So I was annoyed.
“thought.”
A small voice was heard from behind.
– Ride! Kaang!
Planz quickly turned around and caught the two swords coming at him at the end of his voice.
“Thoughts should not enter the sword.”
“…… know.”
Plantz, who had been thinking about random things without realizing it, grabbed his sword again.
Should I sneak down there and steal that ring when that guy is washing up after sparring? So I was thinking about asking the guy with purple eyes who likes birds what his name means.
Knowing that you shouldn’t think doesn’t mean you won’t think.
– Kaga River!
Soon, two swords rushed in front of Plantz’s eyes once again. Planz raised the sword in both hands to block the attack, then pulled out the sword in his right hand and stabbed him.
– Kaang!
Of course, a strong hitting sound rang out from the blocked sword. Plantz, who had heard the sound of sharp blades, frowned slightly.
Now that I think about it, what was it?
What made a guy who told me not to think like that have to recuperate for almost a month.
– Kaaaang!
My left hand, which blocked the swing of the sword, felt numb.
Without even having time to feel it, he stretched out the sword in his right hand again and blocked the attack coming from above.
Soon the sword in Planz’s left hand was aimed at Calian’s neck. After striking it down, Calian’s other sword headed toward Plantz at the speed of light.
– Kaga River!
“…… older brother.”
Calian, who was looking at Planz, who had struck down the sword that was right in front of him, quietly stopped moving.
“I told you that if you think too much, you’ll die.”
“So you are.”
“I’m not dead. I am.”
Calian, who gave a vague answer to Plantz, who was curious about what he had overlooked during the fight with Evan, was bitten.
“I haven’t received an opinion from King Secretia yet. I don’t know what he’s planning, but Crown Prince Chase can’t find another move. Anyway, if you’re going to think of something else, please do so. It’s not just my job. I have a question. “If you are, you are curious about my brother’s work, not me.”
The dark red sword in both of Calian’s hands disappeared.
“Oh, don’t tell me what your name means. I won’t tell you until you’re older.”
“Bark.”
Calian smiled brightly at Plantz’s words and looked out the window of the training center for a moment. The dim moonlight shone in the sky, which had suddenly become dark.
“The bird I found a few days ago will be here soon. For the time being, I will be in charge of finding and sending out sacred items. If I get a clue about Zeon, I will have you act as my eyes and ears instead of the Association President. The Marquis of Briesen will be quiet for the time being, but I will probably contact Brother Randel. “He will try to do it, so you have to keep an eye on him. He knows that his position will not be strong as long as he is there.”
Plantz, who was listening, frowned slightly.
Either way, Calian’s words continued.
“You can practice the swordsmanship I told you through Kiri, and I asked the teacher for magic, but if you are busy, you can practice it through Lord Hertz.”
“you.”
“yes.”
Plantz, who looked into Calian’s eyes for a moment, nodded and said. This was because I noticed what he was thinking when he asked me to do something later.
“When are you going?”
“Maybe tomorrow.”
“When are you coming?”
“If you look at it for about 10 days, it will take about 15 days. It looks like you have to go to the Duchy of Siegfried and have to go three or four more days to reach the elf village. I think I will need that much time to meet the Mother Tree and make threats.”
Since I was feeling reasonably well, I was thinking of going to where the elves were and making a deal. To let go of the hand I was holding with Devlan and to find a link to Xeon if I could.
“I didn’t tell your Majesty, so please tell me about it appropriately. Brother Randel probably won’t be interested anyway, but if you ask, brother Randel too.”
Plantz looked at Calian for a while again and nodded obediently.
“okay.”
I was wondering what I should pack for a full-day outing and whether it would be a good idea to leave Lucy and Anne behind.
