Chapter 261 — If (9)
Akata watched the bracelets sell with ridiculous ease for no reason other than that someone waiting for her at the lodging and the identity of their maker had been kept secret, and found herself overcome by complicated, mixed feelings. The sort that made a disbelieving snicker and a hollow laugh alternate from one moment to the next.
“Still, at least I made money…….”
If the fad had only caught on among the townspeople, she would never have made so much, but the effect of its spreading to the mages as well had been sweet indeed. It might not have reached the one million gal she had aimed for, but it was still a sum difficult for a girl her age—perhaps even for most ordinary villagers—to earn.
“You didn’t just make money. You made a ridiculous amount compared to what the products cost you.”
Akata shrugged at the words of Chelsea, her senior. Even at that very moment, her three pairs of arms were braiding thread bracelets, knitting arm warmers, and crocheting a blanket.
“And you’ve started taking custom orders too.”
“It’s only three people.”
“And all three of them are mages. Two of them even specialize in making items! That’s something you can seriously be proud of!”
At Chelsea’s exaggerated exclamation, Akata rolled her eyes.
Then she admitted it. This really was something worth taking pride in. The status of the two people Chelsea had just mentioned was practically up in the heavens right now. All the more so because the Bemurchen Magic Tower Branch, the heartland of magical tools, had been destroyed by an unprecedented disaster.
“And mages have this tendency where, once they get hooked on something, they use nothing but that for a while. If something spreads to one mage, it often spreads to other mages too. I’m sure this’ll go well.”
“You think so?”
“Yeah. Even the head of the merchant company is pushing you hard because it looks like you might really make something of this.”
Well, that much was true. Even considering how exceptionally well this merchant company treated its employees, giving her a full week off work and supplying all her materials for free went beyond simple employee benefits. It was an investment made in hopes that she would forge connections with mages.
“But even if I do make connections… I don’t think anything will suddenly change that much.”
“Well, no. But at a time like this, simply remaining on good terms with an item crafter is benefit enough in itself. Especially when you consider the position the Hudelen Magic Tower Branch is going to hold from now on.”
Within the South, the Magic Tower that supplied the greatest number of items after the Bemurchen Branch was the Hudelen Branch. Considering that Bemurchen had supplied sixty percent of its products to the North and thirty percent to the South, Hudelen might actually hold a slightly—very slightly—larger share.
It was something like forty percent of the items circulating in the South being made in Hudelen, while thirty-nine percent were made in Bemurchen.
But what mattered was not whether Hudelen had sold more or Bemurchen had sold more. The truly important point was that a supplier responsible for a volume comparable to Hudelen’s had suddenly collapsed without warning.
Then where would that thirty-nine percent of customers, who had abruptly lost their supplier, go? What would happen to item prices when demand remained the same but supply shrank? What would happen to the value of the people who made those items?
From that perspective, as Chelsea had said, establishing a connection with a crafter was meaningful in and of itself. Meaningful enough to make both their merchant company and its head—people who pursued profit as merchants while still knowing where to draw the line—this delighted.
“I suppose…….”
And the more she thought about it, the connection was not a bad thing for Akata either. If she could at least become acquainted with them like this, perhaps she could expect a little consideration later when she needed to purchase an item.
She was not even hoping for a discount or unconditional priority. Just avoiding an instant rejection because some random nobody had submitted the commission would be consideration enough.
All the more because she had a commission she needed to place as quickly as possible. Akata once again thought of the person who would be waiting at the lodging.
“Ah, done.”
“It’s done?!”
In the meantime, one of her mechanically moving arms had finished a product. The thread bracelets and arm warmers had been completed long ago and those hands were already working on new ones; what had just been completed was a blanket. It was also an item one of the mages had commissioned.
Chelsea, who had been processing paperwork in the same room as Akata to make efficient use of the space—more accurately, the paperwork room had been made to double as Akata’s workshop—slapped the desk and shot to her feet. Her excitement was obvious enough to be seen from ten li away.
“So all that’s left is delivering it, right?”
“Just a moment. Let me check it for defects first.”
Akata, on the other hand, calmly examined the finished product. With one motion of her hand, a blanket with a thoroughly exotic character unlike anything currently in fashion unfurled with a flutter. Perhaps because she had used good thread, it did not feel particularly heavy despite its thickness. At this level, even physically frail mages should be able to drape it over themselves without trouble.
“Is it good?”
“It is.”
“Great. Then I’ll go deliver it!”
“Ah. About that. Could I deliver it myself? All we have to hide is the fact that I made it, anyway.”
Besides, the Magic Tower was not the sort of place that would take offense merely because someone with eight eyes had been used as a courier. If anything, since it was an organization actively trying to cultivate good relations with the Great Forest, they would probably bend over backward to accommodate her.
“If that’s what you want, I can’t exactly stop you… but why?”
“I want to look at the magical items.”
“Well… if that’s the reason, I’ve got no reason to stop you. Go ahead.”
Good. Watching Chelsea sit back down, Akata folded the blanket neatly and placed it inside its wrapping. Wrapped in linen cloth and tied with a ribbon, the package should not be lacking in courtesy.
“Then I’ll be back.”
The girl’s almost bouncing steps carried her out of the merchant company building.
【Akata.】
【Oh. Lady Aori.】
Had the person who was supposed to be back at the lodging not been waiting in front of the merchant company, those steps would probably have carried her all the way to the Magic Tower.
【Why are you here?】
【The owner of the lodging did not seem particularly fond of our group, so I came out to look around. While I was at it, I wanted to see with my own eyes where you work, Akata.】
【Ahh.】
【More importantly, where are you headed?】
【I have something to deliver to the Magic Tower.】
【I see. What fortunate timing. I had been wanting to experience the Magic Tower for myself as well. Might I accompany you?】
【Of course.】
Akata had plenty of grievances toward the tribespeople back home, but the Great Chieftain of another tribe who had shown her so much generosity, and his priest—though apparently Aori had now been chosen as a priest of the swamp rather than a priest of the tribe—were people she could treat kindly as much as she pleased.
Akata nodded and moved one step ahead to guide the way.
【What about the others?】
【They are likely sightseeing around the city as I was. Now that we have procured food and medicinal herbs, every objective that brought us into the city has been accomplished.】
For reference, the circumstances behind those words were as follows.
Some time ago, the Great Forest had officially learned of the Bemurchen incident, and in response to that tragic catastrophe, the Great Chieftain had decided on “material aid,” both to strengthen friendly ties with the outside world and to help those who had suffered losses.
That was why Aori was now standing in Hudelen.
【…So, Akata, have you managed to find a definite place to buy from?】
【Not yet. Item crafters’ prices have gone through the roof lately…….】
【I see.】
Of course, Aori had probably not been included in this group solely because she was one of the Great Chieftain’s favored subordinates.
Or perhaps that was precisely why.
After all, the fact that the Demon Knight was still staying in the Great Forest was among the most closely guarded secrets of all, and if Aori and Akata both shared that knowledge, was that not ultimately because they possessed the Great Chieftain’s absolute trust?
The Great Chieftain had likely gone out of the way to send Aori because he wanted Aori to speak directly with Akata without having to worry about the information leaking.
【But the person I’m delivering this to is an item crafter. If things go well, I might be able to get introduced to a mage who specializes in illusion magic.】
【That is fortunate indeed. It must have been difficult to investigate, yet you have worked this hard for us. I am truly grateful, and sorry as well. If I were to move personally, there would be a high chance of catching the Tower Master’s attention…….】
【It’s okay. I’m doing this because I want to too.】
Akata did not quite understand what it meant to catch the Tower Master’s attention, but at the very least she understood that Aori was in a position where she could not personally take action.
That was enough.
Considering how much kindness Akata had received, this much legwork was nothing.
【There is one major problem, though. Like I said earlier, magical tools are extremely expensive these days…….】
【You need not worry about money.】
Aori had also brought a solution to the financial problem Akata had been worrying over.
More precisely, in the time between Akata sending a letter saying she had found a possible method and the Great Chieftain sending Aori as a courier to ask her to try that method, a solution had appeared.
【In the currency used here… we are currently able to provide up to three million gal.】
【Th-three million?】
Naturally, those three million gal had not fallen from the sky. They had come from the Black Thunder Snake’s purse.
More precisely, it was money he had given them in addition to everything else.
【It may be somewhat excessive, but is investing this much in one of our own who has left the tribe and is surviving alone in the outside world not entirely reasonable?】
He had probably intended the money to pay for the wig… but as it turned out, they had purchased that wig without spending a single coin.
After long consideration, the Great Chieftain and Aori had decided what to do with those three million gal. Trying to return it to the knight would most likely fail, so they had decided it would be better simply to use it to obtain something else.
【If the money proves insufficient, then…….】
【I don’t think it will. Probably.】
【That is a relief, but just in case, I will speak to the merchant company. We will repay it, so borrow however much more you need.】
【Mm, okay. But if there’s money left over, what should I do with it?】
【If anything remains, then you may keep it, Akata. It was given under the name of aid funds in the first place, so we cannot take it back.】
And because that was how it would be used, the money would be handed over to Akata in full.
To outsiders, it would be aid money.
In reality, it would be funds for acquiring the tools they needed.
【And the five hundred thousand gal I am about to give you is not merely nominal aid. It truly is money meant for you, Akata. You do not need to spend it on the magical tool. If the other money is insufficient, borrow the difference from the merchant company. Use this solely for yourself.】
【Is that really okay?】
【They are things we should have provided for you long ago. Please do not refuse.】
Of course, exploiting the label of aid while committing the wickedness of giving no actual aid was not one of the Great Chieftain’s virtues, so Aori handed Akata a separate sum the Great Chieftain had prepared from his own personal funds.
It felt as though the knot that had remained in one corner of Aori’s heart ever since sending Akata away was finally coming loose.
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* * *
Today, the Lord of Bemurchen suddenly died.
The cause was probably death from overwork.
Fortunately, the lord’s sudden death did not cause any great chaos. Aid from other cities had been arriving one after another—to the point that even reinforcements dispatched from Münmunt in the northeast had reached this place—the situation had greatly improved, and the city’s reconstruction had only just begun to settle onto the right track.
That was what made it possible.
“Why are you so sad? All that happened is that a bastard who always put the nobles first died…….”
“Shut up. If it weren’t for the lord, we would’ve all been dead ages ago.”
“Tch…….”
But that did not mean the lord had departed without leaving any impact.
Even the residents who had been furious because food was distributed to the soldiers first, and even the priests who had been offended by the lord’s words opposing the Temple, mourned and observed a moment of silence.
Perhaps it was because, in the lord’s own way, the person had spent an entire life serving and devoting everything to the office.
Once death came, opinions like, “Still, the lord was a decent person,” began spreading everywhere.
Or perhaps the shock of death had diluted the anger that had accumulated layer upon layer.
Things might have been different a few weeks ago, when food had been scarce, but the situation was stable now.
“Idiots.”
That still did nothing to erase the impression that they were foolish and stupid, though.
Meister suddenly wondered whether there was any reason to remain in this city.
Wanting to become like Grandfather, and wanting to prevent comrades who had died in vain from ever appearing in this world again, Meister had devoted that purpose to research meant for the weak.
Yet even Meister could not hide the disappointment brought about by this incident.
“I’m seriously disgusted…….”
Of course, Meister was not going to abandon the goal of improving convenience for all humanity just because of a few pieces of human garbage.
That objective had been born from an ideal loftier and more important than contempt for humanity.
But at the very least, was there truly any need to keep serving the people who had caused such disappointment?
Did wanting to act for everyone necessarily mean having to protect every last minority among them as well?
“…….”
Meister followed that train of thought that far, then remembered Grandfather and let out a long, deep sigh.
Seriously, what a damnable old geezer.
* * *
Sangun seemed to have developed a taste for shaking people down for lunchboxes while claiming they were for himself, because he came to see me with food nearly every day.
Thanks to that, I no longer had to fill my stomach with tasteless things or skip meals because eating felt like too much trouble… but wasn’t I getting a little too comfortable here?
I felt like I’d actually put on weight from eating and resting so well. Was this really okay?
I spent day after day wavering between, I shouldn’t be doing this, and, I can’t believe I’m getting away with this.
And on the day that made it exactly fourteen days, I closed my Inventory with an indescribable feeling.
The Inventory was packed with food I had steadily harvested from the farming plot Sangun had made for me and several varieties of medicinal herbs I had gathered with Sangun’s advice.
It was time to leave.
“Black Thunder Snake.”
Just as I was about to leave the hideout, I ran into Sangun and the Great Chieftain.
I wondered whether they had come to stop me again.
“Before you leave, would you accept these?”
But this time, I would not give in even if they clung to me crying and begging.
I was about to open my mouth to make that determination clear when, as if mocking my resolve, the Great Chieftain spoke first.
So he wasn’t trying to keep me here?
That thought lasted only a moment.
On the boy’s outstretched palm rested a pair of round, silver-rimmed glasses and a single jewel that looked like some kind of accessory.
“These glasses overlay an illusion upon your eyes as long as they remain in contact with your body, causing the color of your irises to appear different. For reference, I wondered which color to choose before hearing that green eyes are common outside the forest, so I settled on that. Even if they are not to your taste, I ask that you overlook it in consideration of the thought behind them.”
“…What.”
Wait, what did he say?
They overlay an illusion on what?
“And this is an ornament worn upon the ear. I am told that while you wear it, the scars around your mouth will be concealed. It should prove useful on your journey.”
And what was with that accessory?
It would hide the scars around my mouth?
And that would help on my journey?
…Well, of course changing my eye color and hiding the scars would help, but how the hell did they know?
“…Why are you giving these to me?”
It was true that I had been trying to alter my appearance in case anyone came after me.
But no matter how hard I searched, I had found no way to do it and had been on the verge of giving up… so how had the Great Chieftain known exactly what I needed and gone out to get it?
And was it really okay for me to simply accept something like this?
Rather than taking the glasses and ornament, I suppressed my voice against the tightness in my throat.
The constricted sound emerged like a growl.
“I am not quite certain of the intent behind your question. In what sense do you ask?”
“I’m asking why you’re going this far for me.”
“Ah.”
Their letting me stay here was, still, still, something I could understand.
There was enough room to make excuses for that, and the amount of money they had spent on me approached zero—I did not count the purchases I had asked them to make on my behalf, since I had paid for those myself.
But this…
This was…….
“It is something I have thought many times before, Benefactor, but you do not seem accustomed to receiving goodwill. You ask similar questions every time.”
I don’t know.
Rather than being someone who had never been accustomed to goodwill, wasn’t I closer to someone who had become unaccustomed to it?
And there were limits to how much unconditional kindness anyone could comfortably accept. Anyone would feel burdened by receiving something this expensive.
Right.
Magical tools were simply too costly to accept for free.
I might not know their exact market value, but I knew enough to know I could not just take these without paying.
“However, Benefactor, these are not gifts from me or from this forest. They are gifts from Akata.”
But the moment that name came out, I could no longer voice a single word of refusal.
I remembered the thread bracelet that had burned away before I could do anything, and the other thread bracelet I had handed over to someone else with my own hands.
“Do you remember Akata?”
As if I could have forgotten that kid.
“If you remember her, she will be pleased to hear it.”
But, but why would she?
What money did that kid have, and what affection did she have for me that she would…….
“Why would she…….”
“Aori tells me that Akata has adapted splendidly to the outside world. So well that she has begun to wish to repay the kindness she received.”
“This is too much.”
“Perhaps. But it will surely be of use to you in the days ahead. Akata will be satisfied by that fact alone.”
“I cannot accept—”
“Do not refuse. Refusal is not what that child would want.”
I tried to say something.
But the words died before the items that had been all but forced into my palm.
The child’s raised hand carefully removed my eyepatch.
“Green eyes suit you as well.”
Damn brats.
Words I could not bring myself to say lodged in my throat and scraped painfully at the inside of me.