Chapter 59………………………………………
“…Eeek!”
“?”
Lin looked in confusion at Pain, who was moving farther away.
Even though she hadn’t done anything, Pain suddenly trembled as if he had seen something horrifying and ran out.
Lin, treated like a monster before her eyes, stared blankly at the spot Pain had left.
“Pain. Where are you going?”
“Huh? You… eek.”
The group of beast children, who had been watching Pain leave with curiosity, noticed Lin’s gaze and casually opened their mouths before closing them again.
The beast children standing behind Lin instinctively curled their tails when their eyes met Kaidan’s.
‘Hmm. Maybe they were just being cautious because there are kids from other families here.’
Lin interpreted Pain’s unusual behavior—coming without picking a fight—as something reasonable and nodded to herself.
“Lin. Is there anyone you’re curious about? If you tell me, I’ll tell you everything.”
“Huh? Turis, you know all the friends here?”
Lin looked around the other children in the banquet hall, and Turis shrugged confidently.
“Of course. What’s our family? We’re the Katta of the salon where all the rumors gather.”
The Katta family, patrons of the arts, owned several famous salons.
They gave artists opportunities to exhibit and perform, and offered visitors the joy of enjoying art. Katta salons were always popular, attracting many nobles.
“I also know the social gossip. I won’t tell you everything since you’re still young… but Lin, if you’re curious about something, I’ll find out for you!”
Turis showcased his abilities, telling Lin to ask anything.
Lin, who happened to be curious, brightened and asked eagerly.
“Wow. Then you know adults too, not just the kids here?”
“Which adults?”
“Someone named Atina Elepha. She’s the young lady of this family.”
“Atina… Ah! I got it. She’s the eldest of the Elepha family, right?”
“Yeah! Can you introduce me?”
“Introduce?”
Turis looked momentarily puzzled, then confirmed with Lin.
“You want to meet her, right?”
“Yes. That’s right.”
The tea party was attended only by children Lin’s age.
There were no near-adult-aged people in the banquet hall.
“If it’s someone older than us, they’re probably at the adults’ dining hall.”
“Dining hall… can we go there too?”
“Hmm. Well… normally, you shouldn’t wander into gatherings you weren’t invited to…”
“Not allowed?”
Seeing Lin’s disappointed face, Turis spread his hands dramatically.
“What’s something you can’t do in this world?”
“…Isn’t there?”
“Well, whatever. I’ve never seen an adult follow all those rules anyway.”
Could she really do that?
Lin, a good child who usually listened to Uncle Theo, mentally stored this new information.
“That’s really good to know.”
“Hmph. Were you going to stop Lin from doing it?”
“….”
Lin glared coldly at Turis’ cheeky teasing, but Kaidan didn’t stop her from acting within the bounds of childish reasoning.
The three of them left the banquet hall.
“Eh? Kaidan, where are you going?”
“I have something to take care of. I’ll find my way back when I’m done, so no need to wait.”
Lin glanced at Kaidan, who seemed to be intentionally taking a different corridor, and continued walking.
‘No need to worry about Kaidan.’
He’s a benefactor destined to become a hero.
Maybe he has something heroic to do.
With firm trust in the hero, Lin pushed aside her thoughts and headed toward the dining hall.
When the two arrived, the guard outside gave them a troubled look.
“You want to come in here?”
‘As expected, not allowed.’
Just as Lin turned away disappointedly, Turis stepped forward.
“Is Lady Atina in? Please deliver a message.”
He handed over a handkerchief embroidered with the Katta family crest.
“Tira’s younger sibling wishes to see her.”
“I’ll pass along your message. But Lady Atina is busy and may not be able to come out.”
Lin looked at Turis, who seemed straight out of a spy novel, with curiosity.
“Tira is your older sister?”
“That’s right. Tira Katta. Last year, she held a recital at the salon and became friends with the eldest daughter here.”
Turis proudly explained that no one was unknown to the Katta family, even after a few intermediaries.
“Oh. But is it okay to do this without telling your sister?”
“Hmph. She’s always bothered me, so I might as well use it now.”
Turis raised his chin arrogantly, like a cheeky cat.
Soon, the dining hall doors opened.
Contrary to the guard’s warning, a tall young lady, presumably Atina Elepha, stepped out confidently.
An elephant beastkin, she had gray hair and scholar’s glasses, bowing to meet the children’s eyes as she greeted them.
“Hello. I’m Atina Elepha.”
“Hello.”
“Ah, who’s the youngest of Tira’s family?”
Atina looked alternately at Lin and Turis as they bowed.
“If it’s the eldest daughter’s sibling, then yes, that’s correct.”
“Cheeky little one. Just as Tira said. So why did you come to see me?”
Atina laughed, adjusting her glasses.
Turis looked aside as if saying, “Not me.”
Atina followed Turis’ gaze and noticed Lin, her mouth forming an ‘oh’ shape.
“Wait. Don’t say anything. I think I already know.”
Hmm.
Her scholar-like curiosity turned toward Lin.
Sway.
Lin’s startled nod made her hair shimmer with colored light for a moment.
“…As expected! That hair color. You’re a Pegasus young lady, right?”
“That’s right. I’m Lin Pegasus.”
Lin slightly bent her knees as she introduced herself formally.
Atina waved her hands warmly, signaling it wasn’t necessary to be so formal.
“No need to be so stiff. We’ve exchanged letters, haven’t we?”
She seemed genuinely pleasant.
Encouraged by Atina’s friendly attitude despite meeting her for the first time, Lin spoke up.
“I was happy that you liked our Moxetail so much.”
“You liked it? More than that! Did my letter not convey it well enough?”
“No! I read a lot of expressions!”
Lin quickly corrected Atina, who tilted her head in confusion.
She didn’t want to read more long, dense expressions that would require interpretation study.
“About the Moxetail…”
“Yes! Say anything. I can’t hold back my help from someone who provided precious life water.”
“Hmm. I’ve seen that Moxetail is popular, but I didn’t know how much people from other territories like it.”
“Huh? Oh dear. Our desire didn’t reach that far? What a pity!”
“Ah, so… I wanted to ask because Lady Elepha knows scholars from various territories.”
At the Elepha family’s luncheon, which was practically a gathering of scholars, researchers even from the ends of the continent would attend.
Lin, who wanted to collect reactions from other territories about Moxetail, had come to the right place.
“I can show you the answer to that.”
Atina stretched her long arm, pointing to the dining hall door, and smiled.
“Shall we go inside?”
“!”
Lin’s eyes widened, and she quickly followed Atina’s gesture.
The Elepha family’s dining hall had a similar atmosphere to the children’s tea party hall.
The difference was that it was larger, and the furniture was sized for adults.
“Oh. Atina, where have you been? Just now we had an interesting topic… huh? Who are they?”
“Haha. Wait a moment. Let’s listen to them first.”
Atina, bypassing people who tried to speak to her, shushed Lin with a finger to her lips.
She whispered softly.
“Come here and listen.”
Following her gesture, Lin cupped her hands to her ear and listened to the voices hidden behind a pillar.
From behind the pillar, it sounded like people were secretly meeting and talking.
