Chapter 16
Theodor Salkar, a High Merchant?
N-no way. Could it be that Theodor from The Oternen Saga?
…The moment I heard the name, I couldn’t hide my surprise. I knew the name Theodor Salkar very well. Wasn’t he the main character of The Oternen Saga?
The Oternen Saga was a story based on events from thirty years ago, where the young Duke Salkar defeated the private armies of powerful regional lords with just three thousand troops to protect the then-Crown Prince—now the current Emperor—during a war. Even with bare fists, supposedly. It was a favorite performance often shown as a free street play by traveling theater troupes. For poor and insignificant kids like us from the back alleys, those free plays were the only form of entertainment. Whenever The Oternen Saga was performed, I would wander the streets to catch it.
Some people disliked it, calling it overly propagandistic for the Salkar family, but truthfully, I loved the story. Theodor’s tale stirred something fiery in those who heard it.
And now he was standing right in front of me.
Well, it made sense. I had heard that The Oternen Saga was based on real events from the early reign of the current Emperor. Some claimed it was fiction, but… seeing that physique… it didn’t feel like a lie.
“……”
I blinked blankly. This was unbelievable. I remembered how Anna had gone wild once about a famously handsome actor coming to the capital. I had teased her for overreacting… but now I think I might finally understand how she felt. Honestly, even my own foolish attempt to throw punches had probably been inspired by the heat I felt after hearing his story.
While I was frozen and unable to react, Horne added gently,
“Sweetheart, this is Grandpa Theodor. Of course, he wouldn’t remember you. He only met you once, long before you could form memories.”
“……”
“It’s natural you’d be shy, darling. You’ve been through so much, haven’t you?”
Theodor, furrowing his brows, spoke up. Oh, right. It seemed Theodor wasn’t currently living in the duke’s mansion. But why? Just as I gave a small nod, Theodor opened his arms to me and said:
“Would you give your old grandpa a hug?”
“Of course she should!”
“Wai… what?”
I was going to say no, though?
Before I could respond, Horne answered on my behalf with a smile. Then, with her arms still around me, she grabbed Theodor’s hand and mine, linking us together and swiftly handed me over to the so-called grandfather. The moment I felt like I was lying stiff on a hard bed, I froze.
“By the way, Grand General. Even the Emperor keeps calling me ‘High Merchant’—I’m tired of it. It’s too grand a title. Just call me the former duke, or better yet, an old man.”
“But Father, you call me Grand General too. So how was your trip? It’s been three whole years. Did you find any clues about the Comet?”
Huh?
At the sudden mention of a familiar name, my eyes widened.
“Ah, no luck. It’s like looking for a needle in the desert. The Comet was lost long ago… who knows where to even begin searching… Maybe it’s not even in this country anymore. I had thought about visiting Dolden next, but the situation at home forced me to postpone it.”
“The Comet?”
I raised my voice without thinking. Both Theodor and Horne turned their gazes toward me. Oops. I had blurted out without meaning to. Flustered, I quickly covered my mouth with both hands while still in Horne’s arms.
“Well, well, even our little darling knows about the Comet.”
“Of course. Anyone from our house would know about the Comet. Our lost family heirloom.”
“True. It’s even depicted in the mural at the main house.”
I wasn’t sure about the mural… I darted my eyes around, then quietly asked:
“Um, the black gauntlet with a ruby?”
“Yes, that gauntlet.”
As soon as I asked, Theodor nodded.
“It’s a family treasure passed down from our ancestor who served a god without a home. That god used the gauntlet as a sacred vessel and gifted our family with the eternal blue flame.”
A family treasure?
— Ah, I didn’t expect to be found out so soon.
Suddenly, Comet spoke up. The voice sounded a bit sulky.
My mouth dropped open. What on earth?
Comet was related to the Salkar family? Well… I guess it made sense. Didn’t Saldir recognize the Salkar flame right away? He must have known about this power all along… But why didn’t Comet ever tell me?
— I mean… there wasn’t really a need to mention it. Plus, you know… fire resonates with fire and all…
“But it’s gone now. Lost.”
As Comet tried to explain, Theodor also spoke, unable to hide the sorrow on his face.
“Yes, it was lost. About fifty years ago, during a time of chaos and rampant thievery, our estate was also robbed, and the heirloom disappeared. We searched for years, gathering information about the gauntlet. Now that I’m able to travel again, I’ve been going around checking rumors and searching for it. That’s my final mission.”
While Theodor solemnly finished speaking, I lowered my head and stared at my right hand. I wasn’t even wearing Comet at the moment, but my gaze naturally went there. Wait… it was originally the Salkar family’s heirloom? And now it’s back with me?
— Hmm. I guess you could say that. But being trapped inside the Comet is the same no matter where it is, so I tried to forget about it.
Comet muttered, then immediately switched to a cheeky tone like it had never been sulky.
Liar. That’s a total lie.
I frowned for a second. No matter how I looked at it, there was clearly a complicated backstory here…
I had caught on to something suspicious. The timing of Comet’s response felt off. It had butted in just as I was remembering the “conditions” Comet had mentioned when we made the contract. And honestly, its explanations had sounded like excuses from the beginning.
…Come to think of it, how did I find Comet?
Before that man told me to “try channeling power into the gauntlet” as I was dying, the gauntlet was just a rusty, ordinary piece of junk I used. The appearance was different too. The ruby on the back of the hand wasn’t visible, and it was covered in smooth iron plating.
Let me think. I furrowed my brow. Where did I get that gauntlet again…?
From a junk shop, right?
I blinked in disbelief. The heirloom that the former Duke of Salkar had been searching for all this time… was just lying around in a junk shop in Otern? Then I happened to pick it up, used it like an iron glove for ages, and only when I was dying did it awaken as Comet?
This sounds like a ridiculous plot twist from a novel. Could it really be just a coincidence? I tilted my head in confusion when—
“Are you worried about the hardships your old grandpa has to go through? Why so quiet, my granddaughter?”
It was Theodor. He chuckled as he asked. He must have misunderstood my serious expression as concern.
“To be able to wield fire… so this tiny one is truly a Salkar, after all.”
He looked at me kindly for a moment. It was the gaze of someone looking at something they truly cherished. The moment I met that gaze, I suddenly felt incredibly embarrassed.
Right. I had never really experienced affection from someone older than me. I’d only ever been beaten or cursed at.
