Volume 2 Chapter 55 The Heir Of The Thorns
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
Christy, who had been listening quietly, spoke up.
”Anyway, the head magician in that basement is from more than 80 years ago. There’s no record in the registry, but I found a copy of the land survey from the previous dynasty of the Franz Kingdom that mentions someone called ‘Countess Camilla.’”
”Are you saying she might be that magician?”
”I don’t know. There’s too big of a gap. It’s from the era before the ‘Empire of Night’ even existed. But it’s highly likely she’s related to ‘Countess Camilla.’”
”When Sir Oswald defeated the monster in the basement, something like a giant thorn shot out of its chest at the end.”
”That’s another mystery.”
Oswald said this and plopped down on the sofa across from them.
After receiving the registry copies from the maid, he spread them out on the table.
”While ‘Countess Camilla’s’ family owned the place, the head magician in the basement turned the mansion and its surroundings into a different realm, creating the ‘Labyrinth of Roses.’ Then, 82 years ago, someone named ‘Judikes’ visited the mansion and, for some reason, spent a fortune to take control of the labyrinth from the kingdom and the adventurer’s guild. But there’s no record of ‘Judikes’ paying taxes afterward. Did they get killed in the labyrinth they owned, or was ‘Judikes’ a fake name, and they abandoned the mansion after finishing whatever they needed to do there?”
Oswald turned to Kian.
”Do you remember? Some books were missing from the study.”
”Yes. But wasn’t that Sir McCutchen’s research team who took them when they entered first?”
”I checked, but the research team didn’t take any books. The mansion is full of curses. They probably didn’t touch them because opening a dangerous grimoire could drive them insane.”
”If the research team didn’t take the books, then who did?”
”I don’t know. But it’s certain that this person named ‘Judikes’ holds the key. He bought the mansion with money, seeking something. That was 82 years ago. Two years later, the ‘Thorn Demon’ appeared in the northeast of Margrave’s territory.”
”‘Thorn Demon.’ Thorns…”
(In the basement of Maribel’s residence, there was a mithril golem chained with thorny vines. Beyond the golem’s defense, there was a Magic-Draining Mirror.)
Kian glanced at the ‘glasses’ tucked in his chest pocket.
She (the glasses) remained silent, not saying a word.
”Do you know the Thorn Magician, Kian? You mentioned she accompanied you in the conquest of the ‘Labyrinth of Roses,’ right?”
”Yes.”
”If possible, why not try talking to her? She’s called the Thorn Magician because she single-handedly defeated the ‘Thorn Demon’ 80 years ago.”
”Huh? The records said the Knights of the Sun burned it down.”
”That’s just a dramatized story. The Knights of the Sun only burned down the ‘Blood Servants’ of the ‘Thorn Demon.’ The Thorn Magician──Aliona Gouldrin──faced that Demon alone and successfully defeated her. …Or so our captain told me.”
”If the former captain of the Knights of the Sun said so… then it must be true.”
”He said they couldn’t admit it publicly to save face.”
Oswald shrugged.
Kian stared back at him.
”I’ll ask Ms. Aliona next time. I’m planning to go to East End anyway.”
”Please do. And if you can, share what you hear with me. I don’t know her personally, and she absolutely despises anything related to politics. If I, a politician, went to her, she’d likely get upset. And if that happens, she’d probably assume you were sent by me and never speak to you again.”
”Understood. Christy, we’ve got more business in East End now. Will you be okay with that?”
”It’s not like much will change now. After using teleportation, I just get really hungry and end up asking for more servings of stew, that’s all.”
”Having one Head Magician around must be convenient, right?”
Oswald spreads his hand, the one with the ring on it.
”I think Christy is an excellent Head Magician. I can’t believe I can move her at my own discretion.”
”Christina was the top graduate in the potions department, right? She’s the kind of talent you wouldn’t normally find in a remote place like this. But knowing her personality, it makes sense.”
”──Hey, is this supposed to be a compliment for me? It feels like there’s a subtle dig in there.”
”Hahaha.”
Oswald lets out a laugh, his face expressionless, then leans back in his chair.
He signals with his hand and receives a pen from a maid.
He writes something down on a piece of paper, whispering, “To our branch office.”
”While we prepare the money, let’s enjoy some tea. If you’re still free afterward, you can watch my practice with Lord Guillaume.”
”I appreciate the offer, but I have some items to collect and a few people to visit before the day is over.”
”Right. You mentioned earlier you were heading back to East End.”
”Yes. I want to invite a friend to join the security work. They’re an excellent Wolfmen.”
”Your friend is a Wolfmen!?”
”Yeah. I told you, they’ve got a sharp nose.”
”A Wolfman warrior… Indeed, they’re incredibly useful for security work. Not to mention, they have high potential. I’ve fought them a few times myself, and they’re tough to kill.”
”……You’ve killed a Wolfman warrior before?”
Kian asks, and Oswald nods with a simple “Yeah.”
”Come to think of it, I saw a Wolfman in the ‘Catacombs’ before. During the guild exam.”
”Wait, was there one? I didn’t see them. Maybe you’re mistaken?”
”There was. I’m sure of it. She was teamed up with a woman with magic power and a civilian man with a distinctive hairstyle. Could it be…?”
”Yes, that’s right. They’re my partners.”
Kian nods, and Oswald lets out a sigh of understanding.
”Even for a lower-rank adventurer, the magic power she’s radiating is on a whole different level. Her physical balance is also impressive. If it weren’t for you, I’d say she were the most outstanding one there. It’ll take time and resources to train her, but if I have the chance, I’d like to hire her for my team. ──Kian, could you pass that along for me?”
”Understood.”
”──Oswald, is this how you always scout your subordinates?”
”What do you mean by ‘this how’, Christina? Are you talking about networking and pulling strings?”
”I mean, whenever you see a promising adventurer, you immediately try to mark them as your own.”
”Of course. What are you stating the obvious for? The Margrave family might have talented people flocking to them, but for a no-name country noble like me, I have to go out and get them myself.”
”Ah, that’s true.”
”‘That’s true,’ Christy?”
”Enough, Kian. More importantly──”
Oswald stood up, his voice icy cold.
”I’ve had too much tea and need to use the restroom. Care to join me?”
It didn’t seem like Kian could refuse.
He stood up and said, “I’ll accompany you.”
Oswald nodded and looked down at Christy.
”We’ll be back soon, so wait here.”
* * *
Following Oswald, they walked down a long hallway.
The carpet was clearly of higher quality than Maribel’s, and the walls were adorned with avant-garde paintings.
Once they were a good distance from the parlor where Christy was, Oswald naturally slowed his pace.
He spoke to Kian, who was walking beside him, in a dismissive tone.
”It’s no good. No matter how many times I talk to her, I just can’t stand that woman.”
”……”
”What’s with that tone? That attitude? Is she picking a fight with me?”
Oswald was angry, but Christy had just been acting normally.
She had simply been her usual, haughty self.
It was almost a talent how she could irritate someone just by being herself.
”…I’ll talk to Christy myself. As a friend, I’ll give her some advice.”
”Tch. I thought I’d finally have a chance to talk to you alone, but then she had to tag along. This was McCutchen’s doing, wasn’t it? Damn, what a pain!”
”────”
”…cough. Sorry, I got distracted.”
”No”
Oswald stopped and turned to Kian.
”Are you going to be Waterman’s subordinate?”
”No, he’s just hiring me temporarily.”
”That bald guy can’t make full use of you. You’re throwing pearls before swine. You won’t get paid much, so it would be wiser for you to come to me.”
”Thank you for buying me. I’m honored.”
”You speak several languages and is probably very good with numbers. You’re also a skilled swordsman. There’s nothing strange about you when we talk to each other like this… I think it would be crazy not to appreciate you.”
Oswald said, lowering his eyebrows.
He continues.
”Don’t overdo it at the ceremony. The enemies are just copycats, but the people behind them are probably dangerous. There’s a good chance your home country – Azrael – is involved.”
”────. If”
Kian’s eyes twisted.
”If that’s the case, I’m in for a great opportunity.”
”…Kian?”
”No, nothing. I’ll brush off any damage that comes my way.”
”I see. If you need any advice on security at the ceremony venue, feel free to come and ask me. I’m not allowed to let the military into the venue. I’d like to give you at least the knowledge and experience necessary for security.”
”Thank you”
Oswald touched Kian’s arm gently.
”Even if you have to protect McCutchen or Waterman, you don’t have to risk your life. Just leave the nobles to die.”
”…Does Sir Oswald hate nobles?”
”I hate it”
Oswald replied briefly.
”I’m a member of the nobility myself, but I don’t like those privileged people. There are exceptions, and some of them have deals. But to me, nobility was just a stepping stone to my own rise.”
”Is that still the case?”
When Kian asked that question, the blonde young man laughed like a snake.
”I can’t tell you that”
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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