Volume 3 Chapter 70 Oswald’s Melancholy
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
They descend the spiral staircase, where the magic stone lamps and ventilation shafts are evenly spaced.
The footing was only slightly covered with wood, but the handrails looked new, made from fresh oak and coated recently.
The wall was made of clay-like dirt from the entrance, with a musty smell like mold drifting around.
Priscilla also said that it was sad to think a man who rose from a combat slave to Ramsey’s lord was imprisoned here.
By the time they reached the bottom, the light from the magic stone lamps had turned a faint orange.
The huge waves of magic power they felt on the stairs started to hit their skin directly.
Kian and Priscilla stepped into the sparsely populated ‘Rank 1 Dangerous Person Detention Area,’ which measured 3 meters wide and 50 meters deep.
Only the last cell at the back had white magic stone lamp light spilling out, and 2 chairs provided by the guard were placed in front of the iron cage.
They thought he might be half-naked and working out like before, but when they got close to the chairs, they saw the blond man with shaved sides was sitting at a simple desk, writing something.
”────”
He dipped something like a brush into black ink, like squid ink, and slid it smoothly across a thin, soft sheet of paper.
He tapped the tip of the brush in a black ink reservoir beside the paper to shake off some of the moisture, then put down the brush and stood up from the desk.
As always, his hair was neatly styled, and his face had no stubble, looking perfectly groomed.
His outfit was a simple white work uniform, but even through the clothes, it was clear that he had a solid physique; he was not a common man.
He──Oswald──turned his golden eyes to Kian and spread his arms in a welcoming pose.
”Kian, welcome back. I haven’t seen your face in a while, so I was starting to feel lonely.”
”It’s been a while, Sir Oswald. You look well.”
”Ah. ──Your armor has changed to a new one. The Windsong Blade is fixed too. It seems you’ve had quite an adventure this past month.”
”Yes. I went to Châtillon for a bit.”
”I see. So you brought the head Witch with you. Or maybe not. Did Lady Priscilla ask you to come along, saying she didn’t want to meet Oswald alone?”
Oswald folded his hands behind his back and looked at the white-haired Witch while walking closer to the iron cage.
Kian felt Priscilla next to him swallow nervously.
Though her face showed a gentle smile, she seemed tense in front of the former Knights of the Sun.
She pinched the edge of her black dress skirt and bowed.
”It’s been a while, Lord Oswald. You know why I’m here today, right?”
”Two days ago, Maribel and Lucretia came to ask if the holy sword sheath was safe. This is related, isn’t it?”
”Yes. If you understand, we can be quick. I know touching taboo matters is serious. Due to the magic contract, your own flames will burn your skin, but I’ll take responsibility and heal you, so please, let’s work on the sheath’s manifestation.”
”I can do it, but I won’t do it for free. Frankly, I’m getting sick of this. Recently, without thinking of my situation, Maribel and that Christina, who I don’t even want to see, keep coming by to question me every day. Just when being outside for labor is a nice break, they make me stay here in this hole like a worm. To put it mildly, I’m fed up. Don’t you think they could at least respect my personal time a little?”
”So you’re saying you want to be allowed to walk outside as the price for your cooperation?”
Oswald laughed through his nose and sat on the bed in the cell.
”Does the Witch of Châtillon not know how to make small talk to please me? Before getting to the main point, there should be some foreplay, just like s*x. Does Lady Priscilla not lick each other’s genitals before getting intimate with a man? Or should I say you are just a child with no experience?”
”I am an unmarried woman.”
Priscilla’s intelligent eyes narrow slightly.
”As a noblewoman, I decide to engage in such actions only with someone I believe I can be with in the future. So, I cannot understand that kind of talk.”
”However, at 25, it’s unusual for you to be the top Witch of Châtillon. A few months ago, I heard your colleagues gossiping. They said to become the top Witch, you must have at least 2 or 3 c*cks in your mouth. I find it very amusing if your beloved brother──Guy──was one of those cocks.”
”You seem to have quite the imagination. It must be very boring in your cell.”
”For me, this place is a treasure trove of prey. By the way, in just this month, I’ve already devoured 4 men, and they all loved my foreplay. They moaned, drooling and saying, ‘Do more!’ Well, they were all men, though. Hehehe. If you don’t believe me, should I tell you the detailed stories of each one? I have plenty of time. Perfect for a high-aged virgin’s view tonight.”
”────”
Priscilla silently smiled.
Yet, from that smile, a hint of anger leaked out.
Being a top Witch at a young age, she surely has a strong awareness and pride as a woman, and she must hate being teased by men even more than ordinary women do.
(This feels like a bad atmosphere. Should I buy some time until Priscilla thinks of a bargain for Oswald?)
’That’s good. Change the subject casually.’
(Got it.)
Kian nodded internally at ‘glasses’ and stepped forward.
”By the way, Sir Oswald, that paintbrush has a strange shape, doesn’t it? Is it from an Eastern craftsman?”
”Hmm? Ah, you noticed. It was sent to me by the man handling the bank’s business. As you know, I’m a vampire researcher. I contribute papers about vampires to a magazine called ‘Dark History’ that comes out regularly in the Royal Capital and some areas nearby. I planned to keep writing even in prison, but they banned me from using a quill… So, this is my substitute writing tool.”
”Is that ink… soot?”
”Yes. It’s a mix of soot, gelatin, and perfume. It takes skill to write with and is a pain to clean up, but since I can’t use quills or graphite, this strange ink is my only option. Well, it does provide a nice challenge.”
”What are you writing about? I’m very interested in vampires too.”
”It’s about the acquired mutations of vampires, and what exactly we should call a vampire. Fortunately, I have subjects like Owl and you close by, so I have some advanced material to work with. If all goes well, this draft will be published in ‘Dark History’ in 3 months. If you’re interested, you should buy it. The publishing guild is supported by core fans, so gaining more readers is very important.”
”Is it sold in Izerland?”
”It should be available if the shops weren’t destroyed during the riots. It’s the store next to the ‘Seventh Dragon’ tavern, on the left side of the merchant district. It doubles as a card shop, so if you want to boost your deck, it’s good to shop there as well.”
”Thanks for the info. I’ll check it out when I have time.”
Oswald nodded with a hum and stood up, making the bed creak.
He clasped his hands behind his back and twisted his golden eyes with a weary look.
”Speaking of Owl, it seems that barbarians are attacking Ramsey now, huh? And he’s been sent there as the commander in my and Aisha’s place.”
”You seem to know a lot. Did you hear it from Her Excellency Maribel?”
”No, I heard it from a new arrival 3 days ago.”
Oswald leaned half his bottom on the desk and continued.
”How’s the battle going? How much of my precious wheat field has been burned?”
”I’m not sure. I only just heard in the salon that the Bloodsucking Kind is rampaging in Ramsey, and the other Adventurer Guild sent a request for help.”
”What? The Bloodsucking Kind?”
”Yes.”
”In my Ramsey, they’re causing trouble?”
”Yes.”
Kian turned to the Witch who was sending a cold gaze to the golden-haired youth beside her.
”Perhaps, Ms. Priscilla would have a detailed grasp of the situation in Ramsey, wouldn’t she?”
”……I see. Is that so.”
”Yes, it seems to be the case, Lord Oswald.”
Priscilla spoke without a smile.
She continued.
”Depending on your attitude, I might be willing to share the information I know.”
”Lady Priscilla, I was wrong. Let me apologize for my rudeness earlier. If you tell me about the situation in Ramsey, I’ll happily show you the sheath.”
”I would like you to promise never to speak to me like that again. Your words were more insulting than you might think.”
”I’m sorry, that’s how it is.”
”……”
Priscilla nodded slightly, but her eyes said, “I’ll definitely kill this man if I get the chance.”
Since flying to Izerland, Kian had seen an unexpected side of Maribel, and now it seemed he could see the rare side of Priscilla as well.
He had thought of her as an enigmatic Witch, hard to read, but it seemed she could show her emotions in front of someone she didn’t get along with.
He felt a bit closer to her.
The white-haired Witch took a deep breath and began to speak fluently.
”The battle is at a standstill. The Hairkin Races have hired that ‘Storm Herd,’ and their siege tactics have improved dramatically. The forts in Ramsey are facing unprecedented struggles because of this. Two weeks ago, Lord Owl was sent to deal with the ‘Storm Herd’s’ shamans, who are teleporting soldiers in and using powerful magic to attack the castle.”
”The barbarians hired mercenaries? How foolish. Those tribal supremacists inviting external forces into their camp?”
”Seems like they’re more determined this time. They probably want to seize the fertile wheat fields while Lord Oswald is away.”
”Hah, do you really think the barbarians have the brains to run a farm?”
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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