Episode 333 – Did You Happen to Hear That?
As Italus, the head of the Lenon family, personally spread the rumor, news about Everfell circulated throughout all of Aintrier within a single day.
World Tree leaf.
Kunta’s Soul-Binding Doll.
These two phrases echoed everywhere in Aintrier, and people began to speak of the Everfell family’s resurgence and its next great leap.
“A World Tree leaf, seriously? Isn’t that sothing even Lord Azonne struggles to get his hands on?”
“Could Everfell be backed by the World Tree Union?”
“They’re a major trading company dealing in non-human slaves—so say they traded non-humans to obtain the leaves.”
“Anyway, they’ve got a large supply of the leaves. I heard that with the current auction over exclusive distribution rights, the leaves that just hit the market can’t be bought with money.”
“There’s even a rumor they used the leaf to acquire Kunta’s Soul-Binding Doll.”
“That one hit the highest bid at auction, didn’t it? The leaf must be incredibly valuable.”
Thanks to the spreading rumors, the value of the leaf was even more inflated.
Word was that sharp rchants were already making moves to get in line with the Everfell Company.
I skimd through the latest external intelligence letters and let out a dry chuckle, sinking back into the sofa.
“As expected of rchants—quick on their feet.”
Truly a city of rchants.
Of course, whether siding with Everfell now would turn out to be winning the lottery or boarding a one-way train to ruin was still unknown.
If it were …
“I’d break both their legs to stop them.”
Those who hold coveted treasures must prove they’re worthy.
Especially when the treasure becos exposed—they must prove it more decisively.
From what I saw, Everfell lacked the strength to protect it.
If they had no qualification, they would have to give it up or hand it to soone else. I was curious to see what choice Henry, the head of Everfell, would make.
Knock, knock.
“Yes?”
I answered the presence outside the door, looking up from the letters.
A mont later, the door cracked open, and a cute little girl peeked in.
It was Märchen, Italus’s granddaughter.
She lingered in the doorway for a mont, shyly fidgeting, before stepping into the room and placing a bowl on the table in front of .
Freshly baked cookies sat inside.
The appealing look and warm, fragrant sll whetted my appetite. I smiled and picked up a cookie.
“These… did the cute little lady make them herself?”
At my question, Märchen’s cheeks turned red. She nodded slightly, and I took a bite, letting out a short exclamation.
“Oh! These are really good! Thank you, little miss.”
At my exaggerated response, Märchen bead.
Dealing with Lily must’ve made better at handling kids. Exaggerated expressions like that felt awkward for , but girls around Lily’s age always responded well.
As expected, the awkward tension quickly vanished, and she sat across from , chattering happily.
Mostly about cookies, but seeing her well-baked batch made think of Lily.
‘That girl… is she holding down the inn properly like I told her?’
Lately, I’d been running around nonstop and had left the inn unattended. I wondered if Lily was doing alright on her own.
I always felt uneasy when she was out of sight.
Once today’s business was done, I decided I’d stop by the inn.
As I munched on another cookie, I heard a familiar voice beyond the door.
“I’m glad. I was worried they might not suit your taste.”
“You told Märchen to bring these cookies?”
“No. She wanted to give you a gift for curing her illness, so I taught her how to bake them.”
It was Antonio, the deputy head of the company.
He gave his daughter a gentle look and patted her head, then sat on the nearby sofa.
“The cookies are really good, aren’t they?”
“Yes. They’re delicious.”
“I had no idea Märchen had a talent for cooking.”
Do all fathers with daughters make that face?
He was the textbook doting dad.
Watching the two of them, the atmosphere radiated happiness.
“Sir Alex, I’ll never forget this debt.”
Antonio’s sudden statent made blink and look at him.
He had deep shadows under his eyes—likely from staying up late investigating others afflicted by the curse. He looked exhausted, but his eyes were full of life.
It seed the word hope was sustaining him now.
His daughter, who had been dying from the curse, was now perfectly healthy.
For Antonio, just seeing Märchen smile was enough to make each day worthwhile.
“Sir Alex, do you have a daughter?”
“No.”
I did have a little witch who was like a daughter, but it wasn’t the sa kind of feeling Antonio had for Märchen.
“If you ever need the support of the Lenon family, just say the word. I’m even prepared to give my life.”
“That’s not necessary, so don’t feel burdened. As long as we’re working with the World Tree Union, our relationship will remain strong.”
We’d been through quite a lot together while treating Märchen’s curse. And through that, a deep bond had ford between us.
That sa bond would likely form with others who would be cured of curses from now on.
“Italus should be eting the others about now.”
“Yes. If it’s Father, I’m sure he can convince them all.”
Italus was currently in contact with the other cursed families in Aintrier, whose symptoms resembled Märchen’s.
The price was the World Tree leaf—capable of curing the curse.
Given the current rumors, those families would know just how valuable that leaf was.
Italus had likely foreseen all this and deliberately inflated the leaf’s value through those rumors.
rchants are used to give-and-take.
And the more skilled the rchant, the more thoroughly they abided by it.
In exchange for the leaf, these companies would be in deep debt to the Lenon Company.
“If Lord Azonne finds out, he won’t stay quiet.”
Antonio gave a bitter smile at my words.
“If we sit quietly, we’ll be eaten. In the end, we have to grow larger—then even Lord Azonne won’t act so rashly.”
“I hope so… but I can’t help worrying.”
The companies that would join the Lenon Company today were military supply companies Lord Azonne had long set his sights on.
And now Lenon was sweeping them up.
From Azonne’s perspective, it must feel like having fish snatched away just as he was about to land them.
Azonne was a master of covert operations. It was safest to prepare in advance.
“By the way, how’s the transfer of the elves going?”
At Antonio’s question, I nodded.
Henry, who had visited Lord Azonne’s estate last night, had begun transferring the elves to our side early this morning.
He had sent carriages not only from his own estate but also from three other families—and said he would complete all transfers today.
Antonio tilted his head in slight surprise.
“That quickly? I thought he’d try to drag it out...”
“It’s probably because of the leaf.”
“The leaf?”
“Only once the deal is completely done can he trade the leaf cleanly. I think he made so kind of transaction involving the leaf with Lord Azonne. Judging by his response, I’d say he got more than he expected.”
“Is it okay for the leaf to fall into Lord Azonne’s hands?”
“It doesn’t matter. No—in fact, it’s better for if it does.”
The leaf is real, but the energy in it is fake.
I don’t know what purpose Azonne has for obsessively collecting the leaves, but he won’t get anything better than what he has now.
Not with so few of them, anyway.
The more samples he has, the more I’ll benefit when the exclusive rights to the real thing are up for negotiation.
I was just about to stand and wrap up our conversation when a problem popped into my mind.
By now, hundreds of elves were probably arriving at the inn.
I’d rented out the entire building, so there was enough space, but secretly moving them to the Grade-1 warehouse with a portal was a real challenge.
Thankfully, I had the best support in Aintrier.
“Antonio, I need your help.”
“What do you need?”
“I think we’ll need to head to the inn together. Do you have ti?”
“I’ll make ti.”
At my words, Antonio gave a firm nod.
We stepped out of the estate and were about to board the carriage when I spotted a familiar silhouette in the distance.
Just before getting into the waiting carriage, I asked Antonio for a mont and followed the figure.
Soon, the dark silhouette stopped beside the estate.
I called out.
“Lochter, how’s the training going?”
He was covered in dust.
Despite being a distinguished guest, he looked a complete ss from intense training—proof that this appearance had been made today.
“It’s harder than I expected.”
I never thought I’d hear “hard” co from Lochter.
He’d always lived by the principle of “If you do it, it works.”
But from what he was saying, this wasn’t just physical training.
“Is it hard to grasp the sensation?”
“Sensation? Is the hint related to feeling sothing new?”
“The hint itself is simple. But executing it is the hard part.”
“Can you tell what the hint is?”
In response, Lochter lightly swung his sword.
A clean, efficient slash tore through the air.
He recalled the hint Kristman had dropped in passing.
[You too can beco a sword.]
“They say I too can beco a sword.”
I stared at Lochter in silence, then quietly returned to the carriage.
It was a single line—but an extrely abstract one.
Since I wasn’t a swordsman, I couldn’t help him in this, so I withdrew without a word, and Lochter didn’t stop .
Clunk—
As the carriage rolled out of the estate, Lochter returned to the training ground and closed his eyes.
Monts later, twin red blades flickered through the air.
“...Huh?”
We arrived at the large building I had rented as the inn, but the surroundings were far too quiet.
That couldn’t be right.
I’d imagined hundreds of elves clustered in front of the building, but the place was eerily empty.
I’d been told all the elves would be transferred today.
Expecting a noisy scene, I was t with a building as silent as death.
Worried sothing had happened, I quickly stepped down from the carriage and approached the building.
Antonio followed, a hint of concern on his face.
He was probably wondering if sothing had happened at the World Tree Union’s lodging.
Then suddenly—
“Ah? Sir Alex?!”
Antonio called out to .
I turned, and saw him looking around, clearly unable to see .
He was right in front of , calling my na while searching the area in confusion.
He couldn’t see ?
I waved my hand in front of him, but Antonio remained flustered, pacing in place and anxiously calling for .
That was when it hit —a barrier.
Of course.
[You’re here?]
“Lily.”
Her voice echoed in my mind.
“What’s going on?”
[The elves all ca flooding in, and everyone’s eyes turned this way.]
Well, of course. With hundreds of elves arriving, the entire city would take notice.
To block those stares, Lily had cast a barrier over the entire building.
I’d worried she might cause trouble, but she was doing better than expected. I felt proud.
“Remove the barrier.”
[I can’t right now. I’ll tell you the passphrase. Say it, and you can co right in.]
“What’s the passphrase?”
[Lovely Lady Lily, please open the door.]
...Is she serious?
I looked around—thankfully, no one was watching—then sighed and recited the passphrase.
“Lovely Lady Lily, please open the door.”
As I spoke the words, a white light wrapped around .
And when I opened my eyes, a cute Shiba dog greeted .
“…Ah.”
Hundreds of elves stared at with wide eyes.
I looked at Keros and asked,
“Did you… hear that by any chance?”
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