Chapter 275: The Bargaining (Uriel + Timothy)

The Headmaster and the Professors didn't dine with the Lady of the Crowel House in person—especially when they realized what the real reason was for the Lady's visit. They tasked only a few Professors to watch over the Lady whilst the Headmaster and his wife talked with their grandson.

Swordsman Uriel was eating heartily at the dining hall when the trouble around Lady Crowel and Han occurred. His fellow Professor spoke up, "Ah, do you think we should intervene with that?" The Wizard Lavelda asked and fidgeted with her spectacles.

He eyed the boy and the Lady with one look and shrugged, "Probably some family quarrel, we don't have to intervene unless you want to cause more trouble."

"Right, the Thistlethorn Hunters." Professor Lavelda sighed, "I don't think it was wise for only the two of us to be left here and watch over the banquet in order."

"Are you saying that I wouldn't be able to handle those men?"

"I understand that you're supposed to be almost a famed Adventurer, but the number is enough to make me queasy…"

"Lavelda, we're in a room full of upcoming Mages and Warriors—are you seriously going to be that worried?" He chuckled. "If a fight breaks out, that's a learning experience."

A horrified look filled her face, "You're willing to have the children get hurt!"

"Kids?" He scrunched up his face, "Most are adults already. Quit treating them like children. Now that's just babying them."

She frowned at him, "I am not—"

"Hold that thought." The Swordsman's Danger Sense Skill picked something up, and he glanced over towards the door and watched the scene unfold before his eyes. The Lady of Crowel House nearly getting slammed into the ground. He whistled and then received a bonk on the head from Lavelda's rod. "What?"

"Who… who is that?" she asked. The Wizard stood up and gripped her staff. "I don't like him, he looks scary."

Uriel blinked, "Do you have problems with bulky men?"

"He's even bigger than you."

The Swordsman rolled his eyes and stood up. He picked up his great sword, "Size doesn't matter—" The Wizard was already making her way towards the crowd of Hunters and Lady. He grunted and followed her, casting some looks at the higher-leveled Students. If anything were to break out, he entrusted the safety protocols to them.

He walked past Han, who was stuffing coins into his pocket.

Uriel rolled his eyes—and considered the combinations between a Thief and Rogue Class. Until he stood up and finally noticed another Student confronting the Lady, it was Lavelda's Student. The golden boy she'd been praising about in the classroom. He would have snickered but watched the situation play out first.

—

"Please hand back that over." Timothy knew it was a stupid idea to confront an already pissed off Lady, but that was his and he made a note to give Han a punch for giving it away. He didn't have an idea on why the Lady was here, but she wasn't going anywhere without it.

"Huh," The Lady held his mother's necklace in her hands.

"Are you sure that's yours?" Donovan mouthed to him from the other side of the hall. The guy was elbowed by Sir Leon who gave him a look, a questioning one, but he also cleared his throat.

"Ah, may I give my greetings to Lady Crowel?" He bowed slightly. "There seems to be a minor confusion over the item that you have in your hands, it's understandable that you are in a rush. However, we would be grateful if we could ask for another minute to discuss it?"

Lady Crowel glanced a moment at Harrington and managed a tight smile, "There is no need to interfere over this matter, Lord Harrington." She swept back to him and then held the necklace up, "This is yours, you say? Why was it in the possession of the other boy… you pawned it off?"

"Yes." He didn't need to go over the details.

She smiled, "Well, I already purchased this from him—so whether it was originally yours doesn't matter anymore. I legally own this now and I believe this settles the matter."

… he tightened his fist. "That is correct, but…" That was his mother's! He should have taken it from Han when the boy offered it to him before. How much exactly did Han sell it for? That bastard didn't understand why it was important to him, did he? This was the problem for someone who never knew what it was like to lose someone.

Lady Crowel continued, "But what?"

"..." The Lady's words were correct and all he could do was blame Han for this loss. He shouldn't be making any concessions and yet he raised his head and met her gaze, "If possible, I would like to purchase it again."

A small laugh left her lips, "Really? Do you know how much I paid for this? I doubt you can pay for it. Even when you graduate and immediately get a mission… this kind of amount is not easily obtained."

"I will," He said. Timothy knew it was stupid, it was just a necklace… his mother didn't even like wearing it at all. And yet he wanted to hold on to it, no matter the cost. "Even if it takes some time, I'll pay  for it—you can even add interest." He wanted to put his foot into his mouth, this was a bad idea, and yet a calmness swept over him.

He was serious.

Maybe his mother would say to let it go. This kind of thing didn't matter.

"Interesting," Lady Crowel said. "I would say that it's quite foolish for you to pawn it off in the first place, however, I suppose it comes along with your dire circumstances... but the desire to recover what you see as yours even when it's impossible to obtain? That is remarkable."

Timothy wanted to say that it was normal—anybody else would do something like this. And yet he let her talk, hoping for something… Pity? Ridicule? Mocking? The man wasn't sure. He would take it all if it meant the chance to get the necklace back.

"Someone else might not even complain, keep their heads down and accept this situation as it is." She smiled at him and clutched the necklace tighter. "Perhaps you could get half of the coins that the person over there sold it for. And yet you insist so thoroughly on recovering this necklace."

"It's because some things are worth more than wealth, Lady Crowel."

She swept her bangs back, revealing both of her eyes for a moment. "Indeed, I suppose you could say that. A little idealism hurts no one, but the reality of things is far harsher, boy. You could think of this situation as me humoring you, but I can also get away without trouble for taking this and my men can trample you without question if you dare attack me to seize this back."

"I… I wouldn't go that far." Attacking a Lady? Even he knew that was stupid.

"Ah, so your determination only goes so far to trying to purchase this?" Lady Crowel hummed slightly. "Interesting."

"That doesn't mean I'm giving up for it," he said. "I am serious about buying it." Timothy felt like they were only going around in circles, but he didn't dare complain now. Maybe he could convince the Lady—

"Well, er, if he can't pay for it—I can pay for it," Someone spoke up.

Timothy glanced at the Beast Tamer that initially wanted him dead, but Becky was now beside the man. He didn't even remember meeting this guy back in the village while he was little… Was this really Becky's father? He could only distinctly remember Becky's mom, but not this guy.

"Do you have two hundred fifty gold pieces with you, right now?" The Lady smiled sweetly at him. "I'll consider it if you can give it to me now."

The Beast Tamer's eyes bulged and others made their own surprised sounds. Timothy wanted to strangle Han even more now—that guy! He barely convinced Grandma Moe to sell the necklace at a little over twenty gold pieces, and the old woman said she gave more than what the necklace was worth. He had traded it for two hundred fifty gold coins?!

That amount would have made him live happily for maybe a year or two at their village! Possibly even more…

"Hah, it seems impossible, doesn't it?" Her gaze returned to him. "I believe it is time for you to give up."

Timothy balled his fists together, "I… If you can give me some time. I understand that some interest is not enough to make you interested, Lady Crowel. But what if I can give you something else?" How long was he going to work for this? What kind of work did he need to do?

"Something to give?"

"... I can work for you for a certain duration after I graduate?" It sounded little. He had nothing of worth except for the… tome. The magical tome wasn't a property of the Academy, at least not exactly since he found it in the libraries that other Students didn't exactly go to.

"That look in your eyes says that you have something else to give, boy. Is there?"

If Timothy gave the tome away, then that was the end of it—he wouldn't be able to find another of its caliber. Not that the other books he had were useless, but it was still different in terms of its impartation of knowledge and even the explanation of the writer. He compared the Spell books in the library and that of the Spectre's personal stash. There was truth in the Spectre's words of him coming from a far older time than even the current Academy.

Would he really give it up for the necklace?

His mother's necklace.