Volume 2 Chapter 51 Quest： The Mirror That Sucks Magic II
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
The underground pantry seemed to connect not only to the courtyard but also to the kitchen.
The basement was very spacious, with lamps and other lighting installed all over the walls.
The stored items included wine, cheese, spices, and grains.
Among them, the wine cellar was securely locked and inaccessible.
”To the west of the fortress, there is a vineyard exclusive to the Danofen family, and supplies are regularly brought to this pantry from there,”
Maribel explained as she was illuminated by a soft orange light.
She removed her white gloves and touched the barbed wire wrapped around the iron gate.
The barbed wire unraveled on its own, coiling like a snake on the table where the nearby lamp rested.
”Is it magic?”
”Rather, it’s something similar to a golem. I call it ‘Mr. Thorn Snake No. 3’.”
”Where are No. 1 and No. 2?”
”That’s a secret♡”
Putting her gloves back on, Maribel placed her slender finger on her lips.
She opened the entrance to the wine cellar and stepped inside.
Kian followed behind, and the smell of oak barrels mixed with the scent of earth tickled his nose.
”Isn’t it hard to walk?”
”No. As you can see, this white dress has minimal decoration. I can walk and play outside. After all, I am still a child.”
”I’m not very familiar with the lives of the upper class in this country, but do the noble children of Franz play in the fields?”
”Not as much as I do, but I hear that everyone goes outside.”
”Your Excellency goes out too much.”
The guard following at the back interjected.
Thinking that a spear would be a hindrance in the basement, he had left his weapon at the entrance of the pantry.
Without a spear, it was clear that his physique was still underdeveloped.
He was supposed to be a regular close guard, but had he not received any training?
’If he were a noble, he would surely care about the status of those around him. He would not flaunt maids like a nouveau riche merchant or hire bodyguards from adventurers.’
(Does this mean that this guard is likely some noble’s son?)
Kian thought that nobles from the border regions would train in martial skills to deal with skirmishes with neighboring countries or to fend off bandits, but it seems there are exceptions.
However, the use of force is not limited to just those legitimate purposes.
For example, there’s plundering.
They could raid a village or ambush passing caravans on nearby trade routes.
This would weaken the neighboring country and provide a temporary source of income.
It’s a win-win situation.
(I used to think that riding out to abduct women from villages in neighboring countries was a privilege of border nobles.)
’What if you are from the rural nobility of Franz?’
(I’m not fond of hypothetical scenarios, but I would probably raid every village with beautiful women in other countries and bring them back to build a harem. Of course, I would kill any husbands.)
Without hesitation, I answered, and the ‘glasses’ fell silent.
This ‘glasses’ should generally be a scoundrel, yet occasionally her conscience seems to return when it comes to women.
Is she fickle?
Or is she serious when it comes to women and marriage?
Perhaps it relates to her roots.
Kian’s thoughts began to drift, but he poured a small amount of magic power into the ‘glasses’ to confirm the location of the treasure.
”Your Excellency, please wait.”
”Is something the matter?”
”The wall behind that wine barrel is likely hollow.”
”Is that so?”
”──It just looks like an ordinary wall.”
The guard stepped up next to Maribel and squinted to peer behind the wine barrel.
As Kian noticed both of their attention turning towards the wall, he took out the Tengu mask from his pocket and threw it.
(Come forth)
’────’
In the shadow cast by the orange light of the lamp, a black mass rose up from Kian’s feet.
The mask, which he had thrown to the ground, clung to the rising shadow and formed a face.
In less than a second, a Night Wraith wearing the Tengu mask appeared.
The air suddenly grew cold, and Maribel, sensing the change, turned to look this way.
However, before that, the Tengu slithered through the shadows, disappearing smoothly into the wall behind the wine barrel next to Maribel.
”Eek!?”
”Your Excellency!” “Huh…?”
”T-thank you, Kian. I suddenly felt something cold brush against my feet.”
”Something cold…?”
The guard looked around the wine cellar, glancing nervously.
”I don’t see anything.”
”…It seems it was just my imagination.”
”Your Excellency, are you sure you haven’t twisted your ankle?”
”I’m fine. …Um, since I’m unmarried, could you please step back?”
”My apologies.”
Releasing his grip from her slender waist wrapped in a white dress, Kian nodded with a serious expression.
Since it wasn’t out of malice, Maribel seemed unable to say anything about being touched.
Before anyone could say anything else, a loud noise echoed from behind the wine barrel.
The surrounding earthen walls trembled in response.
The sound of dirt crumbling and falling onto the wooden shelves echoed from various places.
”It’s an earthquake!”
”Your Excellency!”
”Both of you, please stay calm. ──That over there.”
He had the Tengu he released earlier slip through the wall, operating it to open a hidden door from the inside.
It seemed that the switch for the hidden door could also be activated by a wraith.
Or rather, it was likely a mechanism that opened when infused with magic power.
”W-What is this…?”
”What on earth is happening…?”
The guard and Maribel stared wide-eyed as the wall beyond the wine barrel began to open inward.
A dusty breeze flowed into the cellar, and the blonde young princess coughed adorably.
The guard leaned over the shelf where the wine barrels were placed, peering into the dark opening of the wall.
”It’s a staircase! It leads underground!”
”Oh my, what a surprise. To think there would be a hidden staircase beneath this mansion… I wonder how old it is? The records say that the foundation of this mansion was built by my grandfather, before the previous Margrave family came.”
”──I’m down here. Your Excellency and the guard should return to the surface.”
”Wait! I want to go too!”
”No, Your Excellency! Leave the dangerous underground exploration to the adventurers!”
”He’s right, Your Excellency.”
Kian pushed up the bridge of his glasses and stared at the guard.
”Take care of Her Excellency.”
”I don’t need you to tell me that.”
”What! This is boring──no, it’s too irresponsible to send Kian down there alone!”
”Should I call for backup?”
”If I’m not back in 3 hours, then do it.”
”Understood.”
”Are you guys even listening?”
Maribel puffed out her cheeks and stepped between Kian and the guard.
She straightened her small chest and declared firmly.
”I’ll change and join you! After that, I’ll accompany Kian! This is my residence! I’ll supervise closely to ensure the underground isn’t blasted or broken!”
”If it’s blasted or broken, I’ll be buried alive, so don’t worry. But if something happens to Your Excellency the underground, I’ll never forgive myself.”
”Liam, call the guard. I, Maribel, will support Kian with all my might!”
”You’re really going, Your Excellency?”
The guard already seemed resigned.
This must have happened many times before.
(I knew it, but she’s quite the tomboy.)
’A lord needs this kind of recklessness and forcefulness. Staying meek won’t help in this world.’
(That’s why lord nobles are easily assassinated or captured in battle and turned into slaves.)
Unrelated, but for a moment, he imagined Maribel with a collar and wearing revealing pierced clothing.
The idea of her being restrained in a dress and violated was tempting, but the thought of her falling into slavery and being raped was also quite irresistible.
’What a terrible brain…’
”Kian, please wait here. I will be back shortly.”
Maribel said with a huff, then hurriedly left the wine cellar with the guard in tow.
After hearing the sounds of their departure, Kian summoned a fox-faced wraith and instructed it to lead the way down the underground stairs.
* * *
Please bookmark this series and rate ☆☆☆☆☆ on here!
Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
Leave a Reply