~CHAPTER 23~
‘If it’s just about meeting them to request something, I could introduce you. But… I wouldn’t recommend it. They’re extremely expensive and dangerous….’
As he told me the location, Jahar spoke with such a caution.
But if I went as a mere customer through Jahar’s introduction, I would never reach what I wanted.
Only the lowest ranks would handle simple customers.
‘If someone stole something like a spirit egg and sold it as a monster egg, the lower ranks probably wouldn’t even know who actually took it.’
To find that out, I would have to meet the upper management, not the lower ranks.
Those who could casually view the client list of transactions.
Thinking this far, I first decided to gather more information from Jahar about the upper management.
Since Jahar, a mage who casts magic to finalize secrecy contracts, would have to be present, he should know at least something.
“Jahar, have you ever met the guild master of that guild?”
“I’ve met him, but I don’t really know him. He just sits there when he comes, doesn’t say a word… always wrapped up in layers.”
“I see….”
Well, I expected that.
How could one easily discover the identity of such a large guild master?
‘In the end, I’ll have to find out myself.’
Realistically, I, with no power at the moment, meeting the guild master of such a large group is almost impossible.
‘It would have been different if I had a contract with Latia.’
How could I, not even a high-ranking spirit handler, appear as an appealing source of information to them?
“Ah, now that I think about it.”
“……?”
Jahar’s voice reached my ears as I pondered.
It sounded as if he had just remembered something.
“Red eyes?”
“Yeah. I saw them once when the veil was lifted.”
Red eyes…
For some reason, my gaze went to Latia.
Even though she had just hatched from an egg, it made no sense.
Yet my eyes kept returning to Latia. I didn’t know why. It was instinct; nothing else.
“What’s wrong?”
Latia asked, probably finding my intense gaze strange.
“It’s nothing.”
I smiled lightly and shook my head to brush it off.
***
Sian returned from the orphanage around sunset.
Though he must have been tired from dealing with the children all day, he appeared in front of us looking perfectly refreshed.
After hearing some explanation, his first words were:
“So… it’s a spirit?”
“Yes!”
I had lost count of how many times this question had been asked, and Latia didn’t seem tired of it either.
When Latia flicked her hand playfully, sparks flew from her fingertips.
“Really. Not a monster egg, not a regular egg… a spirit egg…”
Sian’s surprised tone lengthened as his gaze shifted toward Jahar.
“Isn’t this a big problem?”
“Well…” Jahar trailed off, apparently considering that it could become a major issue.
But it seemed his research enthusiasm outweighed his caution.
‘If this had caused a problem in previous rounds, he wouldn’t have reached the rank of archmage.’
Since I met Jahar for the first time this 12th round, I wasn’t sure about previous rounds.
Did Jahar get a spirit egg for the first time this round, or not?
‘…Who knows.’
No one could answer me.
Even asking Jahar directly wouldn’t help.
‘This is so frustrating.’
The sense of monotony I had briefly forgotten began creeping back. Facing this tiresome reality made me feel nauseous.
I squeezed my eyes shut and opened them again. Jahar’s voice came at that moment.
“So, Jerena. Are you going yourself? To that shop?”
His question pulled me out of my thoughts and I composed myself.
“Yes. I have to go myself.”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea…”
Jahar trailed off but clearly wanted to stop me.
I wasn’t planning to be deterred.
Sian also shared Jahar’s concern, his expression dark.
“I’ll go with you.”
“Yes?”
“I can’t let you go alone to a place that might be dangerous.”
He was firm, as if he wouldn’t listen to any argument.
I recalled Sian’s combat skills from the ant nest.
Even against a demon acting as dungeon manager, he was not overwhelmed, and even weakened, he could use holy power strong enough to knock out me, the demon lord.
‘Certainly… with Sian, I could be safe.’
But as a paladin, his presence might make those I want to meet hide even more.
These people, quick to react to leaks, capable of finding even an unknown Jahar and making a contract, were sensitive about their information.
How could I meet them…?
‘Illay…’
What would Illay have done in such a situation?
Cunning, able to manipulate others, the most ‘demonic’ among demons…
“I’m hungry!”
The single shout from Latia neatly organized my increasingly chaotic thoughts.
“Hungry?”
“Yes! I ate bread earlier and couldn’t eat anything else!”
“Ah…”
Now that I thought about it, neither Sian nor I had eaten properly, and probably Jahar hadn’t either.
“Me too!”
He nodded vigorously in agreement.
“Alright, let’s eat first then.”
“Great! Should I go buy the ingredients?”
“No?”
“……?”
Jahar looked at me, eyes wide, clearly puzzled.
‘I have nothing to eat at home!’ I wanted to say.
“Why buy ingredients? Let’s just go eat.”
“Huh…? Where?”
“Perfect timing.”
Unlike his confusion, my answer was clear.
“Let’s all just go to that shop.”
“That shop…? Jerena, you don’t mean…”
“Yes.”
Seeing Jahar seemed to realize what I meant, I smiled widely.
“Leaf’s Kitchen.”
The shop used as the base of the Information Guild. I spoke its name aloud.
“No! Absolutely not! What if they catch me? I’ll be in big trouble!”
“Worried about harm? With Sian there, that’s unnecessary…”
Ah… so that was his concern.
I ignored Jahar’s worry and turned away.
“Sian, you’ll be fine?”
“As long as I go with you, I don’t care if it’s today or tomorrow.”
“Latia too?”
“It’s delicious there!”
Everyone agreed except Jahar.
Originally, I had planned to go alone tomorrow morning, but now the plan changed.
Having eaten there yesterday, pretending to be a customer today would not seem awkward.
Of course, we would actually have a proper meal too.
‘If someone can steal a spirit egg, they’ll recognize Latia as a spirit immediately.’
By pretending to be an ordinary customer, I could naturally show Latia to the staff.
Meeting the guild master would be great, but I didn’t expect that.
It being the guild’s base, at least one person might notice Latia.
Even if not, there’s no loss.
We would eat, and I could investigate further tomorrow.
Thus, we left the house. Or tried to.
“Before going to Leaf’s Kitchen, we have something to do.”
Sian stopped us at the door, speaking with a serious face.
“Huh? What is it?”
“We need to buy clothes for Latia.”
Clothes?
Our gaze turned to Latia at Sian’s unexpected words.
…And I realized I hadn’t noticed this until Sian mentioned it.
