Volume 2 Chapter 32 Quest： Obsidian To Roses (Revisit) II
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”I see… By the way, may I ask, who will be performing the exorcism?”
”It’s you and Kian. It’s already decided. Right, Kian? You’re in too. I’ll formally request it. Of course, I’ll help as well. There shouldn’t be any problems. Once we get started, we should be able to do it in about 3 days.”
”No, but──”
”Aisha, think about it. Three days plus the maintenance of the mansion makes it 7 days. We could earn thousands of gold coins and gain some kind of rights! Haha, isn’t that amazing?”
”──I really think we need to gather information to see if there’s a real chance it will sell. As a forward investment, we might need to buy not only the land of this labyrinth but also the fishing rights of the river and the logging rights of the surrounding forest from the merchant guild. If we decide to buy the Obsidian Labyrinth, the costs will shoot up.”
”When we get back, look up the current price of obsidian. At worst, you can just give it all to that damn steward. What’s important is how to make money with the least amount of effort. Also, it’s best to sell it to a noble in the royal capital who doesn’t know a thing about the situation. Negotiate after you go on a business trip to the royal capital. ──Oh, that’s right, I need to look up the date of the auction in the royal capital, Franz. I’ll hide the fact that the mansion is a cursed property, and sell it with the tagline ‘A summer resort that’s effective against respiratory diseases, and there’s a river nearby where children can play.’ That’s it. Perfect.”
Oswald spoke rapidly up to that point, then suddenly came back to himself and looked at Esther.
Esther had a polite smile on her face, but her body was slightly withdrawn.
”──We were looking for the relics of ‘Leanan sídhe’ and building a grave, right?”
”Ah… yes.”
”Alright. Anyway, let’s get exploring. You can wander around with Aisha and check out the flower beds for a suitable spot. I’m──taking Kian inside the mansion.”
”Should I send a letter to my subordinate to check the current price of obsidian? I think Mr. Kian might be able to lend us a crow.”
”Yes, that’s fine”
”Okay. Let’s do that. Okay…. Mr. Kian, I’m sorry. Thank you. ──The market value is important. There is a lot of added value, but the volume and market value of the obsidian should probably be the base.”
’What they are doing is nothing but grave robbery…’
The exasperated voice of ‘glasses’ echoed.
Kian had been suspecting that ‘glasses’ was related to this mansion, so he had thought her reaction was going to be angry, but it was surprisingly different.
(Does this mean this guy is just a vampire unrelated to the ‘Labyrinth of Roses’…?)
For Kian, the equation ‘glasses’ = a vampire that should have perished had long been established in his mind.
Faced with the deepening mystery of ‘glasses’, Kian furrowed his brow deeply.
’Kian, if you are going to investigate the mansion, it’s better to put on this one. It will make it easier to find magic items.’
(That’s true……)
’What’s wrong?’
(Well…)
As Kian watched Oswald scratching formulas onto the ground, he pressed his lips together.
Having already committed a massacre the last time he put on ‘glasses’, he felt a hesitation.
He worried that he might do something terrible again by putting on ‘glasses’──.
(The last time was a special situation, and the ones I killed were those who had accepted their fate and guilt. They deserved to be killed. But still…)
Back then, he was clearly enjoying the battle.
he had a smile of joy as he slaughtered and was drenched in blood──.
(Is this really okay? Is that, that kind of thing, truly my true nature?)
The time spent wondering seemed to last forever.
But──.
There’s no excuse now.
He couldn’t just dismiss himself as something bad for adding ‘glasses’.
Suddenly, Friedrich’s words from the other day echoed hollowly in his mind.
he hope that this power will be used for good.
(The right thing…What is the right thing?)
Such useless thoughts and questions disappeared like ice melting in the instant he puts on the ‘glasses’.
All people have are rational judgment and their own desires.
That is, the desire to rise up.
”Phew…”
Kian put on the glasses and let out a small sigh, pushing up the bridge with his fingers.
(Now, forget about the unimportant things and look for something useful in this mansion. If possible, I want a magician’s staff or a spellbook.)
* * *
After parting with Esther and Aisha in the flower bed of the front yard, Kian entered the mansion through the front entrance with Oswald.
The entrance was a double-height space, with a red carpet laid over the marble floor.
It was a rectangular area measuring about 30 meters on each side, with a sofa, table, and fireplace set up at the front right side for visitors.
The fireplace seemed to connect to the upper floor.
Perhaps the underground bread oven and the upper floor’s fireplace used the same flue.
(Even in the Franz Kingdom, this area tends to be warmer thanks to the ocean currents, but it still gets quite cold in winter. Naturally, the fireplace is often placed in the center of the room and can be used not only for warmth but also as a simple cooking space. However──this mansion does not resemble any architectural style that I knew. It is… extremely sophisticated, or perhaps futuristic.)
Speaking of which, Robert, who was trapped in this mansion by Leanan sídhe, also said that the interior of the building was ‘very sophisticated.’
Although he likely had no knowledge of architectural styles, its layout intuitively gave a sense of ‘advancement’ even to a layperson.
In front, there was a white staircase leading to a symmetrical double-height space on the second floor.
A large landscape painting hung on the wall facing the entrance.
The white interior appears to have been chosen to reflect sunlight coming from the pointed tower at the top of the entrance’s double height.
The interior was dim, but just the right amount of light seeped in, making it seem passable during the day even without additional illumination.
”Hmm…, I guess I’ll try going up the stairs for now.”
Oswald moved ahead quickly.
Kian followed him, the ‘glasses’ of his equipped item glowing behind him.
”Sir Oswald”
”What? Oh, I forgot to mention the glasses. You look good in them too. No, no. Sexy? Yes, sexy.”
”I was wondering, you didn’t bring the golden sword I saw at the parade ground before. You’re just wearing a military long sword on your belt.”
”Ah… that’s called the Holy Sword of the Sun. It’s not officially mine yet. Once I take on the title of ‘Knights of the Sun,’ it will belong to me. Until then, I return it to the current ‘Knights of the Sun’ during events.”
While touching the railing of the stairs, he said that.
Oswald continued.
”I defeated the ‘Knights of the Sun’ without that holy sword. My greatest weapon is my own skill with the sword. Kian, that should be the same for you, right?”
”────”
”However, that holy sword is powerful. The difference in firepower is like night and day when using it versus not using it. Indeed, if one were to look at me objectively, they might say I have weakened.”
Upon reaching the second floor, Oswald leaned on the railing and winked.
It was completely unclear why he winked.
When Kian silently reached the second floor, Oswald stepped away from the railing and walked toward the enormous landscape painting at the back.
It was probably a hill in front of Izerland Castle at night.
The landscape was somewhat different from what he remembered, and the full moon depicted was excessively large.
It might be due to the painting technique, but for Kian, who only knew Azrael’s art, it was incomprehensible.
”This is the ancient Izerland hills. There are signs of repairs in various parts of the painting. This painting might have been created truly in ancient times. After all, this place could have been the castle of the vampires.”
”Who is the artist? There is no signature anywhere. Perhaps it’s on the back of the painting?”
”That’s quite possible, but we can’t risk damaging it by tampering with it.”
”You’ll buy this from the steward and put it up for auction, right?”
”Of course. But how do you convince McCutchen? Do you know that piece of shit?”
”If you proceed to the point where you’re happy with the purchase of the mansion, and then suddenly remember, ‘I need the cursed furniture removed right away,’ there’s a good chance she’ll sell it along with the mansion. This painting is too big.”
”Hahaha”
Oswald moves away from the painting and points to the right of the stairwell.
Let’s see it from the other side.
The atrium was relatively bright, but the corridor further inside was narrow and dark.
”Aisha and Esther are out making a grave, huh?”
”Yeah.”
”So now it’s just you and me in this mansion.”
”Yes.”
”And I’m without proper armament, while you have the powerful magic sword made by Renaud.”
”────.”
Kian felt uneasy hearing the voice of the young man with the low, blonde buzz cut.
He moved toward the darkness without hesitation.
He thought he was being lured in, but feeling emboldened by the ‘glasses’ he was wearing, he decided to accept the invitation.
After turning completely away from Kian, Oswald quickly glanced back this way.
”Aren’t you going to attack me?”
”…I don’t quite understand what you mean.”
”Don’t play dumb. You’re aiming for me, aren’t you?”
The blonde young man hastily approached Kian, grabbed his arm, and thrust him against the white wall with a thud.
It was a sudden transformation.
Kian and Oswald.
Their height was roughly the same.
Oswald slammed his palm against the wall next to Kian’s left ear.
He distorted his handsome face in excitement, baring his animalistic side and showing his white teeth.
”Why don’t you attack me?”
”────”
Kian, cornered against the wall, looked down with cold eyes at the excited blond young man.
He approaches and whispers quickly.
”You came from Azrael to try to kill me, didn’t you?”
Oswald leapt at Kian without even blinking.
There is an atmosphere that lies are not tolerated.
”That dismemberment method. That sword technique. Aren’t you the ‘Azrael’s Death Sword User’?”
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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