Chapter: 24
Wendy whispered behind me to Philip.
“Why on earth does that baron freak out over such simple questions?”
“Ah.”
Philip answered cautiously.
“He’s always been a bit unpredictable. He was like that even during the dinner.”
“Oh… I see… such a backstory…”
Wendy sighed.
For her, the word unpredictable was clearly no longer something to say lightly.
I was surprised too, but I kept my expression neutral and instead answered the question honestly.
“To get the wheat.”
Usually, children of noble families spoke casually to each other when they were young, even if they reverted to formal speech as adults. Since we were classmates at the academy, our conversation was naturally relaxed.
Just then, the knights I had sent returned, carrying sacks full of wheat along with the intruders.
“…Wheat?”
Leopold seemed taken aback by my answer.
I calmly explained.
“The black mages were exchanging wheat for people. They didn’t want to give up people but wanted the wheat, so I just came to cheat them.”
Leopold chuckled lightly.
“Seems like you’ve found a very creative career path after graduation, Brisa. Scamming black mages, huh?”
He looked at me and smirked.
“How about giving a lecture to academy juniors on this new profession?”
“I had even written a lecture script, but I’ll probably have to scrap it tonight.”
I raised my eyebrows and replied.
“You’ve just put a damper on this job by dumping all the black mages into the sea. I guess I’ll have to find another way to make a living.”
Meanwhile, the ship carrying the black mages kept sinking steadily into the ocean.
It was a skill in itself to attack the enemies precisely while carrying on a calm conversation.
I shrugged.
“Anyway, my purpose here is complete, so I should go before the warp’s active time runs out.”
I had roughly analyzed the ritual while using the illegal warp.
It looked similar to the warp set up at the mage tower, except a lot of forbidden experimental substances had been added…
“And this wheat isn’t from the West.”
The West was a granary region, so it was odd that the wheat wasn’t something easily obtainable nearby.
“I think it’s southern wheat, but investigate it anyway.”
“Hm?”
“Just as a reference, it’s mentioned in the 3rd edition of Characteristics of Wheat by Region, authored by Asirius Wellborn. Or a review paper on southern wheat could also be useful.”
“Review paper?”
“Features and Considerations of Southern Wheat Varieties. That’s the only paper dealing solely with southern wheat. Also…”
I pointed my toe at the black mage sprawled on the floor.
Then, leaning slightly toward Leopold, I whispered.
“He mistook me for Dahlia Harwin and said to me, ‘Bring Brisa Sears and get 50 sacks of wheat.’”
Leopold pressed the black mage’s back elegantly with his boot, exuding a chilling presence, yet his voice to me remained calm.
“Twelve-year-old girl worth 50 sacks of wheat?”
“No, not even half a sack.”
“Then what’s the value of the remaining forty-nine and a half sacks, unique to you?”
“That’s exactly what I want you to find out.”
I asked Leopold for a favor.
“Since this criminal was caught in your territory, you should conduct the interrogation.”
I could guess the reason, but words from a criminal still held some value.
Leopold seemed to understand my intention and spoke slowly.
“So basically, your safety is at risk.”
He pressed harder on the black mage with his boot.
“Because of the Sebon lot and the black mages.”
“Probably.”
I tried to stay calm, but deep down I was shaking.
I thought I just needed to survive these three months without going hungry.
But apparently, that wasn’t enough. There were people deliberately targeting me.
At any rate, these were criminals captured in the West. The final authority for interrogation belonged to the Nozen family.
All I could do was ask a favor.
“Let me know the results of the interrogation. I need to know who’s targeting me and how.”
Leopold’s face looked complicated, but he answered clearly.
“If the Sebon criminals dare harm the Sears bloodline, the Nozen family, as the heads of the five founding houses, will never stand by. I swear on my honor that all information will be shared.”
I looked at him skeptically. He had far too much even without honor.
“Not enough.”
“I’ll stake my face on it.”
If it was a masterpiece of the century, I felt reassured.
I was satisfied.
“I’ll trust you completely.”
I had come for wheat, but I had suddenly learned that my life was in danger. Staying here among all these black mages felt unpleasant.
Since my business was finished, I quickly stepped back and prepared to leave.
“Well, we’ll be off then.”
“Wait.”
Leopold took a step forward.
“I can’t just let you go. You safely returned my grandfather to the West, after all.”
“Of course, I can’t just leave empty-handed.”
I nodded seriously.
“It’s not polite to send a guest from the West away empty-handed.”
“Though you don’t seem empty-handed already.”
Leopold looked at the knights carrying the wheat sacks and spoke with amusement.
“Anyway, I can’t hold you longer because of the warp’s timing. Here, take this.”
He handed me a tracking incense.
“In case the warp goes wrong and you get lost in the West, use this.”
Was I even allowed to accept this?
Apparently, only very important people in the West had this. Using it would put me under the absolute protection of the nearby Western knights.
I hesitated at such a precious gift, and Leopold waved it off casually.
“Don’t feel burdened. It’s entirely for me.”
He handed the tracking incense again and continued calmly.
“You got caught up in a crime scene in the West, met the heir of the Nozen family, and if you later complained about being in danger, it would tarnish my reputation.”
“Complaining? Don’t be ridiculous. That wouldn’t be enough.”
Eventually, I accepted the tracking incense and said:
“You don’t know me? If that happens, I’ll sue you for aiding and abetting murder.”
“I’ll prepare the empire’s best lawyer,” Leopold replied leisurely.
“I know you.”
Wendy, who had been listening behind us, muttered.
“Wow, I’ve never seen anyone out-argue our lady before.”
Philip grumpily interjected.
“That’s how nobles are. Got it?”
It was a generalization that might upset other nobles.
Leopold surveyed the knights I had brought and spoke quietly.
“They aren’t your knights, are they?”
He seemed to be questioning if they were trustworthy.
I shrugged and replied.
“They’re my brother’s knights.”
“I heard about it recently.”
He seemed to be implying: Do they really owe loyalty to you now, as the brother’s master?
I decided to show him directly.
“Watch closely.”
Leopold nodded.
I slowly turned, looked at the people I had brought, cleared my throat, and said loudly:
“Everyone, attention.”
The busy knights straightened up and faced me.
I declared solemnly:
“Tonight’s supper…”
I had rehearsed the line for a long time, but I was nervous saying it aloud.
My heart beat faster without realizing it.
“…is bread.”
The knights, including the intruders, screamed in excitement.
“Waaaaah!”
“Long live the lady!”
I once again solemnly addressed those holding sacks of flour.
“Now, let’s go back and divide our spoils.”
Although Leopold’s knights had done all the fighting, these were our spoils nonetheless.
I turned back to Leopold and raised an eyebrow.
He confirmed the knights’ loyalty toward me.
“You’ve got a strong voice.”
I responded proudly.
“They’ve been well-fed.”
It was my peak moment of showing off.
