Chapter 145 – Scheme – 3
“I won’t do it.”
“Huh? Why?”
The woman jumped up in surprise, clearly not expecting to be refused. Her chest, wrapped in bandages, remained sturdy and didn’t shake at all.
The reason I declined that request was simple.
It was a delivery quest. I knew it all too well; I had been through it countless times every time I started a new game.
I had to go quite a distance for this, and the reward was just one free use of the forge, which was overwhelmingly small compared to the hassle involved.
In-game, it’s great for the early struggles when you can’t afford to enhance your weapons, or during attribute assignments that cost a fortune. But right now, I didn’t really have to worry about money.
‘It might be useful to do it just to have it done, but do I really need to?’
Of course, it wasn’t as torturous as delivering holy water with absurd conditions. It was like any other quest; just put the items in the inventory and teleport back, and it’s done.
It was just annoying to skip since I couldn’t use the statue.
“And, isn’t this the first time you’re seeing me today?”
“Well, yes.”
“Why are you suggesting such a deal to someone you just met?”
To accept that quest in the game, you had to have used the forge at least five times, so I was puzzled about what made her think I could take on her request just because I was here today.
“Huh?”
The woman tilted her head.
“Aren’t you that… what was it? Anyway, aren’t you the Knight Commander here?”
“That’s correct.”
“Someone of your rank wouldn’t be cheating anyone, right? I mean, I’ve heard there are those who get cocky thinking they’re skilled and have connections, but if you were that type, rumors wouldn’t have spread about you.”
I totally understood. After all, I wasn’t just any newbie knight; I was the Knight Commander of this organization, so my identity was guaranteed. Even if it was our first encounter today—
‘Wait a minute. Did I just hear something strange?’
Rumors spread?
“What do you mean by rumors?”
“Well, your guys came out to spend money yesterday, right? I heard then. They were saying you’re the Knight Commander who did something really impressive at the Imperial Palace. They were all praising you, so I wanted to see your face.”
“……”
That’s probably why people were staring at me strangely when I came here.
“Could you tell me what kind of rumors you heard?”
“There’s a lot of stuff, but the most notable would be that you caught a dragon?”
“……”
The rumor about catching that damn dragon was everywhere. I might actually have to catch one later.
When I eventually meet the Creature that Devours the World, it needs to be somewhat of a conversation, not just me getting hammered with thoughts. For that, catching at least one dragon is essential.
Plus, I need to collect the proof of the subjugation, so I might as well slice off a tail or two.
“I appreciate your answer, but I really can’t accept the request.”
I refused the request and pulled out a pouch of gold coins, placing the amount she mentioned on the counter.
With an expression that said ‘it can’t be helped,’ she took the money and went into the inner forge with her wingless nightmare. She didn’t look disheartened at all, just a bit disappointed.
In the game, as soon as you selected a weapon from the UI and paid the fee, the enhancement would take place immediately. But here, it seemed I’d have to interact directly with the weapon.
Of course, there wasn’t any such thing as enhancement failure in Brightest Darkness 4.
“Let’s sit and wait, Aurora.”
“Ah, okay.”
I sat on a chair lined up next to the shop. Aurora hurriedly followed and perched herself next to me.
As I sat down, my upper and lower body bent at right angles, causing the hem of Aurora’s shirt to roll up a bit, revealing the already precarious area around her groin.
Just moving the wrong way would expose what was in between. I discreetly turned my gaze away.
Aurora had been fanning herself nonstop. With her hat pulled down and a mask covering her face, it seemed she was quite hot.
“If it’s too hot, just take it off for a bit, Lord? I’ll pretend I haven’t seen it.”
Aurora, no, Aurora, paused for a moment before she decided not to refuse, taking off her hat and mask. I clicked my tongue internally at her shamelessness.
“Ah, I feel a bit better now. I thought I was going to die from the heat.”
“What’s all this racket about since morning?”
“Why? It’s fun, stuff like this. I’ve always wanted to do it at least once — wandering around the territory in disguise. I never had the chance before.”
Turning from the mysterious woman Aurora back into the audacious Lord Aurora, she held her hat in one hand and spun the strap of her mask around her finger with the other.
“It wasn’t entertaining from my standpoint. Didn’t you see how shocked my guys were?”
“But I’m the one paying, so who cares? Sometimes you can pull off some pranks. If you didn’t like it, just say so. I’ll double your next paycheck.”
“You really are brazen, Lord.”
“I can be like that at times.”
Aurora, with a mischievous grin, suddenly flinched and quickly put her hat and mask back on. I was curious about what happened. A woman with a wingless nightmare was walking out from a distance.
The woman thudded her weapon down on the shelf with a thud. With a spin, the handle turned toward me. I thought it was finished and approached the counter.
“Is it done?”
“Yep. It’s such a good weapon that I didn’t really have to do anything with it. A few touches, and it was all ready. However…”
Her narrowed eyes scanned Aurora and me in turn.
“Is the one next to you your lover?”
“No.”
I immediately denied it. If I stammered over my answer here, a new rumor would surely spread like wildfire. This woman, she clearly looked like she had a loose tongue.
Aurora squeezed my sleeve repeatedly from the side. Although her eyes were hidden behind a mask, I could tell her golden pupils had turned sulky.
“She doesn’t look like someone who wields a weapon. Why did you bring someone like that here? Must be a love that’s dwindling.”
“I originally intended to come alone.”
“Ah, so she fell for you first? Well, I can see why from her face.”
‘Does she not know that the person in front of her is a Lord?’
That was highly possible. If she hadn’t met Aurora during the settling process, it was natural that she wouldn’t know who was right before her.
Whether it was possible to settle here without meeting the Lord was a separate issue. How would I know the ins and outs of moving in medieval times?
“Come again!”
I heard the woman’s farewell as I exited the forge. After paying the enhancement fee properly, she didn’t mention the delivery quest anymore.
It was just a private request born out of curiosity. It’s not like the forge would go under if she didn’t get that mineral immediately; she simply wanted it brought out of curiosity.
If there was some pressing matter, I might have considered it, but since there wasn’t, I had no reason to comply.
‘If I ever pass by the area, maybe I’ll drop by and grab it.’
“Where are you going now?”
Aurora, who had been beside me, looked up at me. The vacant gaze she showed in the forge was nowhere to be seen; her eyes sparkled with anticipation.
She seemed to have completely given up on the Aurora persona, using an informal tone now. I contemplated whether to point it out or let it slide.
I paused, caught in thought. Since such an event was unanticipated, I hadn’t really considered anywhere to wander around.
Moreover, given that look, it would feel a bit wrong to send her back. Little by little, thoughts about Aurora’s feelings towards me began to surface, even raising potential complexities that made my head hurt.
“Should we head to a clothing store first?”
“A clothing store?”
“Yeah.”
I thought there might be at least a normal piece or two of clothing at a place selling clothes. A shirt unbuttoned all the way down without any underwear? Nah.
At this point, wouldn’t a combination of a white sleeveless top and dolphin shorts be a sight for angels? Sure, she might not be wearing underwear, but at least it wasn’t an outfit that exposed her genitalia.
“Is Delta buying it for you?”
“Of course! It’s not like it’s my money anyway.”
“You really are brazen, Knight Commander.”
Aurora echoed my previous words, nudging my side with her elbow. Despite the words, she didn’t seem displeased.
“……So, who is she?”
Laksia looked at the woman before her with a puzzled expression.
The woman’s hair was a mix of green and purple, and her shorts barely covered her hips, which were accentuated by two big holes, as if they didn’t have enough fabric when made. The shirt looked like it was missing material as well.
‘Her outfit doesn’t look that weird, though?’
Generally speaking, people with mental issues tend to have strange outfits. But that woman’s clothing seemed fine. If you just looked at her attire, she looked perfectly normal.
“Nix, it’s Nix.”
The woman introduced herself as Nix, nervously wiggling her fingers in front of an absurdly large chest while giving a strange smile.
Then, as if she were looking for someone’s reaction, she started glancing around. Laksia’s doubts deepened. She questioned her with suspicion still evident in her eyes.
“So, you’re saying you know our Commander?”
“Hihihihi. That’s right! We’re acquainted.”
Nix grinned again and nodded her head vigorously, which was shaking her chest at a shocking speed.
This was troublesome. Very troublesome. Just having recently entered Delta’s ranks, there was no way for her to judge whether Nix’s words were true.
Laksia wouldn’t know whether the Commander was acquaintances with this woman, especially after only a few days, since she just learned about the Lord‘s relationship with Delta today.
That being said, it wasn’t easy to just kick out someone claiming to be an acquaintance of the Commander. After all, it was difficult to completely dismiss the possibility that her words were true.
“Umm…”
While Laksia was deep in thought, Nix was rolling her eyes around nervously, giggling jovially while observing her surroundings.
As she watched Nix, questions began to arise in Laksia’s mind about whether she should believe her. The clothing seemed normal, but her behavior was definitely off.
“Understood.”
“So, you’re taking me with you…?”
“I didn’t mention this earlier, but Commander is currently out. If you wish to wait at the castle, I can provide you with a room. However, there will be surveillance.”
Sending someone to bring her back wouldn’t be an issue, but Laksia didn’t want to disturb the two of them when they got some time alone together. Warnings could wait until she returned later.
It was possible she might not return today, either.
“Out… out? Yes, got it.”
Despite having been tense a moment ago, she slumped as she stood up. Laksia could hear someone’s conversation in her ear as she wrapped her head in pain.
“Now what? Should we go look for her?”
“Hihihihihi… Are you stupid? You want to come all this way and then go back?”
“We came yesterday, so coming back today in itself is a mistake!”
“Is it a mistake to agree to come again when you didn’t shut your mouth?”
It was the voice of Nix leaving the room. Laksia watched her gradually disappearing figure and was convinced.
‘She really is strange.’
It was obvious now; she really was strange.
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