Chapter 58: The Queen’s Request

Chapter 58: The Queen’s Request

March 3rd, 2089

I want my daughter to contract with one of the spirits at the Fairy Queens Grove. I will be arranging an expedition to escort her there. Your job will be to guide the expedition. As the Queen said that, I glanced over at Feneris, who blushed at my gaze. *Sigh* It just had to be an escort mission. I hate escort missions.

The Queen is probably trying to get Feneris a contract with a high-level spirit to shore up her claim for the throne. If she appears too weak, it could invite rebellion. Your Majesty, I am unable to fulfill this request. I have retired from mercenary work and am no longer fit for this kind of duty. I will happily provide the map I made of the Fey Wood as a gift, but I fear that I will not be able to provide any further assistance.

The Queens brow furrowed at my response and I could tell she has gotten annoyed. Nonsense. She signaled one of the Queensguard, a handsome dark elf with some masculine features in the standard-issue black half-plate armor. He stepped forward and drew a longsword and round shield out. He then promptly attacked me with a vertical chop. Elven warriors are always dangerous due to their centuries of training and combat experience. However, when there is such a massive gap in physical ability like now it means nothing. Read latest chapters at novelhall.com Only

During the very long time it took for the sword to reach me, I was pondering whether or not it would be better to take the hit and act incompetent. But then I realized that the sword would break on my skin, which would be too eye-catching. Lets play it safe. I casually leaned over while still on one knee, allowing the sword to pass by harmlessly. I simultaneously rose upward and delivered a restrained uppercut to the guard. The blow still sent him flying like he was a bird and he landed unconscious a dozen feet away from me.

You seem plenty capable to me. So it is more a matter of whether or not you wish to defy a royal command. The Queens eyes glittered dangerously as she said that. I promptly went back down to one knee Of course not, your Majesty. I so want to punch this womans face in right now. Hmph, as soon as I leave this building Ill be gone for good. Screw this mission.

The application of the Oath Mark ended up taking a while since Eriloms hands kept wandering. And no one except me was raising any objections to that. My oath was that I would guide Feneris to the Fairy Queens Grove and protect her along the way. Erilom tried to get me to put in some vague statements that would have likely forced me to provide additional service but I managed to avoid those traps. Shortly after that I was guided to the treasury and it was something impressive.

There was a sea of gold coins that one could swim in and scattered treasures lying everywhere. I wandered the treasury which was the size of football field for a long time as I tried to decide on something. Well, the treasurer was not a wizard so I was secretly loading up my dimensional storage with a variety of valuable items. But I should actually pick something out before he gets suspicious.

Bingo. I saw a pile of what looked like junk with a battered leather bound book lying on top. The only reason why this stuff was in the treasury was because all of the junk was crafted from a variety of valuable metals and materials. Other than that it was unremarkable in almost every way, but I could sense a very intricate magic in every part. Whatever wizard made these odd whimsical contraptions was a master enchanter and a genius tinkerer.

Who made this? I asked as I looked over a wire frame that was shaped like a forearm. The treasurer showing me around responded This pile of oddities was collected from an abandoned lab rumored to have belonged to the legendary Artificer Steale, an expert golemancer and craftsdwarf. The treasurer nodded toward the book We believe that to be his journal, but there is a powerful spell on it that prevents us from opening it. As a result, we are also uncertain what all these parts are for. At first we thought it was for a golem, but all the parts are too small and detailed. He might have been making a doll or something.

I nodded to the treasurer that this was my choice and he had it packed up for my departure. I left the castle with a small wagon with my treasure on it. As soon as I left their sight I placed everything in my dimensional storage and returned home.

I smiled as I sat in my room holding one of the parts left behind by Artificer Steale, a porcelain-like mask that looked like a human face. I never thought that the other world would have an automata. The value of this thing and Steales journal is damn near priceless. No matter how much of a pain this escort job turns out to be this payment will make it worthwhile. *Shudder* I think I just jinxed myself.