CH 137

I shake the glass with fruit wine I’m holding.

I have my back to the wall, and I’m trying to erase my presence as much as possible. It’s strange, the gaudy world in front of me looks like a painting to me.

When Kalin arrived, I wanted to leave everything to her and go home, but those plans were splendidly crushed.

I take a sip of fruit wine.

According to Kalin, this party is an especially important one.

She called it a white mask party. As the name implies, all attendants have to cover the upper half of their face with a white mask. It’s just that kind of party I guess.

The mood in here feels special, with the luxurious furnishings and subdued lighting.

All the lighting magic items are top of the line too. As for the works of art I see here and there, I have no idea how much they’re actually worth.

As I’m standing here observing the magic items in the room, someone talks to me.

“Is it all right if I stand here?”

It’s a high-pitched voice for a man. This person is dressed like a man, but seems pretty androgynous. Actually, the mouth I can see below the mask looks pretty feminine, and so do the center of gravity and overall movements.

I engage in polite conversation.

“Of course. To our kingdom.”

I say while raising my glass a bit. Kalin told me that lately this has become a popular greeting.

“To our kingdom, and its savior.”

Says the beauty dressed like a man while also raising the glass.

It’s hard to tell who’s who with these masks. I have no idea who this person might be.

But one thing’s for sure, whoever is attending this party has to be a noble or higher. Judging by the way this person moves, I’d say it’s someone related to the military or a royal guard.

I think while looking at this person. Kalin told me this party looked like fun and that we could do what we want, because the kingdom owes us such a big debt and all sorts of things could be forgiven.

I look around to see where she is, and see her far away having an intense back and forth with someone that looks important.

Ahri is near her, looking nervous. I feel sorry for her.

I know I can’t take Kalin’s jokes at face value, but I figure while I’m here I should sprinkle some bait too.

“Speaking of that savior, did you know that he is apparently looking for a certain shaman?”

I bring up the shaman, whose track we’ve completely lost.

Obviously I have Taula in mind too, but it looks like that shaman is set on going after Seilook, so I have a stake in this too.

“Hou. That is very interesting. Shaman, you say? There was something like this in the myth of creation. There is a dove in the magpie nest, it says.”

I wait to hear the rest, but apparently that’s it.

This person simply smiles and takes a sip.

I don’t get it at all. What do doves and magpies have to do with the shaman? Is that some sort of expression only nobles use? I guess I should respond. Hum, magpies are like crows, right? So they’re like, eating doves in their nest? They’re pretty smart.

“Some say a magpie’s intelligence is wonderful.”

I say. I’m sure they are.

The part of the face of the beauty dressed like a man that I can actually see turns red all of a sudden.

“I lose. I should have expected this from the man people call the number one alchemist. Here.”

This person gets close all of a sudden and with sharp steps. I can sense a flowery smell.

The beauty dressed like a man then slips something into my hand, and leaves.

All I can do is look on, having understood nothing.

“Getting pretty close with the Sword Princess, are we?”

It’s Kalin’s voice.

I turn around, and see she’s done arguing with that important person, and came here with Ahri.

She looks up at me, and I can see she looks happy.

I guess negotiations must’ve gone well.

“Sword Princess? Was that the second princess, Princess Lily?”

I’ve only heard her name, but the fact that I was talking to a princess makes me feel uneasy.

But I might as well ask Kalin if she knows what she meant.

For some reason, she covers her mouth halfway through. She looks like she’s trying to not burst out laughing.

Now I’m feeling even more uneasy.

Ahri looks confused. I guess she understands this about as well as I do.

“Lady Kalin?”

“Sorry. You really are funny, Rust. Too funny.”

“Nevermind that. So what does it mean?”

“The dove being in the magpie nest basically means someone taking accomplishments or a position from someone else. Basically what the shaman does. She’s hinting that the royal family has information about the shaman.”

“…How was I supposed to know?”

I unconsciously frown at Kalin’s explanation. Myths and legends are outside of my field of expertise.

“And your answer was accidentally sarcastic. Magpie intelligence basically means that one only cares about the dangers ahead, and misses the dangers nearby.”

“Ah…”

I’m starting to understand what she means.

“Everyone in the capital was infected by those parasitic mushrooms, right? That includes her. It came across like you were telling her that despite her acting like she knows a lot, you were the one who destroyed those mushrooms.”

“That’s… Bad isn’t it? What they call lese-majesty?”

“No, it’s not like you said it directly. You were just talking about the magpie. Don’t worry. And what is that in your hand?”

Kalin’s sharp eyes spot what I was given just now.

I slowly open my hand.