BSS 122

Chapter 122

Voices change when people grow up, so that wasn’t a reliable way to tell. Appearances could be altered with magic.

If they recognized me first, that would be the clearest proof—but since identities had to be hidden during the trial, they might not acknowledge me.

Either way, finding an answer like this seemed nearly impossible. Esh wouldn’t be able to tell me either, and I couldn’t ask directly.

That would clearly violate the rules.

“Impressive…”

“It’s nothing.”

“You have quite the eye for detail.”

“Well, I’m from Dmitri, the country of knights. Just by looking at muscle development, you can tell if someone’s a strong swordsman or not. Pretty standard.”

“I’m not so sure. I don’t think you’re exactly ordinary.”

Rocks’ gaze lingered on me, deep and thoughtful.

We quietly realized that we were intellectual equals—or perhaps more.

It seemed best not to probe further, or we might be treated with suspicion.

To change the mood, I laughed and shook my glass. The crimson fruit wine rippled almost to the brim.

“I’m in a good mood after a full meal. Looks like I can finally sleep well tonight.”

“Yes…”

“So, what’s everyone planning to do tomorrow?”

Esh was still quiet, lost in thought, and Chad kept eating without pause.

Only Rocks, observing the mood, cautiously responded to me.

“There’s no urgent schedule. Our companions in another country are supposed to send a message. Once we receive it, we’ll depart. Probably within three or four days.”

“So we’ll have to go to the Wizard’s Tower?”

“Yes.”

Communication in this world was limited, making message exchanges between travelers cumbersome.

Typically, you’d designate a city with a wizard’s tower and send a message there; the other side would receive it at the correct time. It was expensive and difficult to synchronize, and if timing didn’t match, waiting several days was common.

“I happen to have business at the wizard’s tower tomorrow. Should I check it for you?”

“I’d appreciate it, but…?”

“Could you watch the kid while I do?”

“….”

“Why? Is there a downside?”

“I get that feeling.”

“It’s probably just a misconception.”

Rocks, speaking politely and formally, seemed genuinely courteous.

“Don’t tell me you’re going to drink all that and not even wipe your mouth.”

Why do you have that ‘caught in a trap’ look?

Rocks belatedly smacked Chad on the back—probably meaning he should stop eating. Yet even while being hit, Chad stubbornly kept eating, giving a thumbs-up as if saying, “Leave the kid to me.” Looks like I’ll be buying him meals again tomorrow.

Muscle-bound fools are surprisingly kind.

Back in the room, I locked the door and sat quietly beside Aini, who was asleep.

Feeling the soft bed after so long, I closed my eyes in proper posture and called out to Rai in my mind.

Hoping the message would reach sincerely.

[Rai.]

With my eyes closed, I felt myself more clearly, and my intentions became sharper.

Right now, I wanted to send my voice to my spirit.

[Can you hear my voice? Rai.]

He was probably in the stable attached to the inn, no more than 100 meters away—well within our range for communication.

We had become capable of speaking to each other and conveying intentions even from much farther than before. Anywhere within the small village, we could communicate.

But Rai didn’t respond. He seemed sulky. My closed eyes furrowed without me realizing it.

[Rai, if you don’t actually want to sleep in the stable, you’d better answer immediately.]

[Sniff! Sniff!]

[Don’t cry, speak properly.]

[You know everything! I can’t stand it! It’s so dirty here! Filthy! Master is bad! Waaah!]

The guy was ridiculous. He could endure pain but not filth.

[It’s noisy, and no one’s around, right? Transform into a snake and go up to the second floor of the inn immediately.]

[Right now?]

[Yes. Time to spy.]

Even without closing his eyes, thoughts were transmitted, but this method helped focus, allowing a clearer conversation.

[He’s sulking.]

[That’s just your one-sided opinion.]

[You’re so mean… cold! Heartless!]

[Want to be a mouse instead of a snake?]

[…That’s what this is for, isn’t it? Threatening me from the start!]

Rai hated transforming into a mouse even more than an ogre.

Well, the transformation had originally been meant for spying, but he never got to use it.

[Then hurry up.]

[Tsk, shouldn’t a sulking spirit be comforted? Do you really love me? Your affection is gone!]

[It’s rebellion. You’re the only spirit I’ve ever seen sulk.]

[Master is so cold these days! He used to be kind… no, actually, he’s always been stubborn. How can you be so consistently irritable? I respect it.]

[Ha, suddenly, I want a pet mouse. What do you think?]

[Hahaha! Snake is best for spying! You know that, Master? Heading there immediately.]

Who keeps testing my patience like that?

[You said it was a long-haired man with glasses, right?]

Esh had no distinguishing features, so we used Rocks as a reference. People wearing glasses were rare in this world.

[Found him? Should be on the second floor. Don’t know the room number.]

[Yes, I think I found him. Glasses and necklace.]

[Necklace?]

I didn’t know what he did while apart from me, but Rai was skilled at spying. As a non-living entity, he made almost no sound, making him hard to detect.

Even with a spirit inside, it was technically metal—a non-living form.

[One person is wearing an unusual necklace.]

[Brown-haired man?]

[Yes. Only two people in the room.]

I recalled whether Esh had worn a necklace.

The dark blue leather shirt suggested a sturdy build, and the black belt highlighted a firm waistline. Broad shoulders, solid physique… he definitely had a strong body.

After recalling these details, I remembered the bone necklace carved into a blade shape. Among men, wearing a necklace carved like a blade was common as a symbol of status or for luck.

[Could that necklace…]

[It’s enchanted. Probably a transformation-type magic.]

[Oh-ho.]

Our Rai was proficient in detecting magic. The odds that this was Esh increased significantly.

[Are you sure?]

[Of course! Ever since eating Dragon Heart, I’m confident detecting magical energy!]

I briefly opened my eyes to the ceiling. If Esh changed his face, it was probably magic—likely through a magic item, not a direct spell.

The guess was correct, and it wasn’t surprising.

I sat with my knees up, chin resting on them, and closed my eyes again.

[Get closer. Tell me everything you sense.]

[I’ll approach as much as possible!]

Rai had always been sensitive to magic, even more useful than me as a spirit practitioner. Reliable.

[Seems like partial polymorph.]

[Partial… right, full-body transformation is difficult for humans.]

[Only affects the face… no other magical power detected.]

Since it only affected the face, removing the necklace would reveal his true appearance. How to remove it? Even without removing it, it was almost certain—but curiosity remained.

[Are the men talking about me?]

[They’re having a serious conversation.]

[Eavesdrop and relay everything.]

[Hmm… they’re talking about a suspicious woman. One says she might be a spy… “She might have approached knowing your identity,” he just said.]

As expected, Rocks was probably a retainer of the prince—assistant and observer.

His role was to ensure the prince didn’t break rules, and that no one discovered the trial, protecting the prince’s safety.

[Was that the one with glasses speaking?]

[Yes, and the necklace adds, “Since she’s with the child, it’s probably not her”… seems like he’s defending someone. Could that be you, Master?]

[Yes, keep relaying.]

[The big guy just entered, so the conversation stopped.]

That must be Chad. He also had to keep his identity secret.

The trial’s purpose: how well a prince could recruit capable companions while concealing his identity.

The prince who assembled the strongest guardians with the most charisma would be the most successful.

Traveling the continent, gathering guardians, the prince would return to the palace. Only then could he reveal his identity.

The trial didn’t end there—the prince’s guardians would duel to prove their strength. Historically, nothing surpassed this method.

Then it was simple: the guardians who won would elevate their prince to crown prince.

[The big guy is only talking about food… and bragged about pooping…]

[Ugh, disgusting.]

[Talking about food and excrement at the same time! Impressive stomach.]

[…Enough, come back to me.]

The spying ended there. I flopped onto the bed, legs crossed, lost in thought.

No doubt remained. Every piece fit together perfectly.

The ordinary-looking man was Esh, with a retainer in tow.

“Wait, so Chad is a guardian?”

Rather than marveling at the miracle of meeting Esh, worry came first. Not like me to worry about others…

“Is that… okay?”

I didn’t know when the trial began, but companions had to be recruited within a period… and there was only one so far! Chad, no less!

Esh, can you pass the crown prince trial like this?

“Oh, you mentioned another companion would contact you. So that makes two? Excluding the retainer… how many total?”

Five?

And the deadline?

Muttering, I clutched my head, growing serious.

No good. I hadn’t studied enough, so I didn’t know much.

At dawn, I’d visit the wizard’s tower. And I’d contact Drike. The headmaster would surely know all the details.

I want to know everything about the Trial Road!