119th Episode
Clemens, the head of a trading company from the Tarannis Family, arrived at the port of Osiris Countdom.
After briefly gazing at his barely moving right arm, Clemens awkwardly stepped off the ship.
“Hmph…”
A sigh escaped him involuntarily.
Clemens didn’t particularly want to be associated with the Tarannis Family.
Thus, when running his trading business, he avoided using the family’s influence and instead grew it through self-reliance.
However, now the Tarannis Family was one of the influential families in the kingdom, and for Clemens, going against his family’s wishes was no longer an easy task.
‘I’d rather not get involved in unnecessary matters.’
Muttering to himself, Clemens looked at the person who had come to greet him.
Florya Osiris.
The youngest daughter of the Count of Osiris, whom he had met recently, had unexpectedly come to welcome him.
Originally, Clemens wasn’t someone who deserved such treatment due to either high birth or leadership of a massive trading company.
Clemens hesitated, trying to hide his discomfort.
Did they smell something about the deal he was conducting with the Duke’s family?
Or was this simply a gesture to build rapport for business-related reasons by sending the youngest daughter?
‘I hope it’s the latter.’
Clemens and Florya walked together to the Manor, both concealing their true intentions.
Florya subtly brought up the subject during their conversation.
“By any chance… have you heard rumors? About how I suffered a lot due to spirits when I was young?”
*
The day after Clemens arrived at the Manor,
Florya met Ray with a slightly troubled look on her face.
“I suggested it, but he declined. I tried persuading him a few more times, but it seems his resolve is firm.”
Clemens, the head of the trading company from the Tarannis Family.
After having a conversation with Clemens, Florya started by revealing her own past struggles regarding spirits.
She openly admitted that she had endured hardships due to complications while contracting with a spirit.
Rumors about Florya were already widespread near the Osiris Countdom.
They claimed she had gone insane due to a failed spirit contract or couldn’t leave home because of issues related to her spirit contract, among other things.
Despite these rumors, Florya appeared perfectly fine as she welcomed Clemens.
Florya assumed Clemens would naturally show interest in her situation.
With Clemens possessing clues to solving the issue with her spirit contract right before her eyes, it was hard not to feel impatient.
However, Clemens responded to Florya’s story politely but did not delve deeply into it.
Eventually, Florya had no choice but to ask directly.
“There’s someone who helped me solve the problem I faced with my spirit contract over a long time. This person is currently visiting the Osiris Countdom. Would your help be needed?”
“If I can arrange the meeting, please let me know if you need assistance.”
Clemens repeatedly declined Florya’s straightforward proposal.
Even after Florya risked being rude and suggested a few more times, Clemens gently refused, saying he’d seek help if he really needed it.
Listening to Florya’s explanation, Ray nodded quietly.
There wasn’t just one way to meet Clemens, the head of the trading company, so there was no need to feel disheartened even if the formal meeting didn’t work out.
Slightly uneasy upon seeing Ray’s expression, Florya continued.
“If you want to meet Clemens, why don’t you check around the port?”
“The port?”
“There’s a place near the port where traders display goods and conduct transactions.”
These weren’t small-time merchants looking to make quick money; their main goal was to expand their clientele. Often, wealthy patrons would visit these displays around the port area, leading to new trade contracts.
Recalling something, Florya added,
“Clemens will be managing his trading company by traveling between the Manor and the port during his stay here. His next schedule is in two days… I’ll let you know the time, so you can go to the port then.”
“Thank you for your help.”
Ray bowed his head slightly.
If they could pretend to browse items and scout Clemens, there was no reason to decline.
Two days later, Ray headed to the port with Johanna.
Hamus and Viktor accompanied them.
Hamus and Viktor were guiding them at Florya’s request, but upon hearing this, the Count of Osiris secretly instructed Hamus.
“To see if it’s possible to persuade Johanna…?”
Hamus chuckled.
In Hamus’ view, persuading Johanna meant persuading Ray first, but even if they succeeded in bringing that dark guy to the territory, it seemed like nothing but headaches would follow.
Shaking his head alone, Hamus drew a frown from Ray.
“Have you been getting beaten up lately?”
Hamus, whose face was bruised in several places, looked uncomfortable moving his body.
Grinding his teeth, Hamus tried to calm down his boiling anger.
Since he had caused a commotion in the training ground full of guests, it was fortunate that he only ended up with a few bruises from the senior knights.
“Do you know who made me look like this…?”
“Oh, it was because of me?”
Chuckling, Ray offered to buy Hamus a meal.
As they walked toward the port, they saw merchants setting up stalls selling various items.
Most of them were peddlers or salespeople from small trading companies.
Occasionally, blacksmith shops and food vendors could also be seen.
The market stretched long towards the port, and its scale was quite large.
Stopping in front of a stall displaying armor, Ray paused.
The displayed armor was cheap stuff mixed with scrap iron. It was rare to find quality items in this part of the market.
Still, Ray felt the need to purchase armor and fell into thought for a moment.
“Johanna.”
“Yeah?”
“Shouldn’t we get you some plate armor soon?”
“Suddenly?”
Knights who have reached the Expert level almost always possess plate armor.
While martial artists capable of wielding sword auras can cut through most materials, their defensive capabilities aren’t outstanding.
Wearing plate armor allows for stable handling of various emergencies.
However, the Phillip’s County hadn’t commissioned armor for Johanna for years because she was still in her growth phase.
Unless it was one of the rare artifacts, armor would need to be remade if the wearer grew larger. The Phillip’s County wasn’t affluent enough to commission new armor for Johanna every few months.
Measuring Johanna’s height, Ray said,
“You seem to have grown enough… And it doesn’t look like you’ll grow much bigger…”
Ray’s eyes scanned Johanna’s figure.
Feeling unnecessarily embarrassed, Johanna shot back,
“Are you getting armor too? You’ve finished growing, haven’t you?”
“…”
Ray’s expression stiffened momentarily.
“N-no, I’m still in my growth phase.”
Johanna grinned at Ray’s furrowed brow.
It was endlessly amusing whenever the seemingly confident Ray got upset occasionally.
“You won’t grow anymore, will you? You haven’t grown much since last year.”
“…”
“At least it’s good news. You’re slightly taller than Karen, right? I thought you’d stay a kid forever.”
“…Just look around for armor here. If you find a shoulder guard or something you like, pick it out. I’ll buy you one.”
“Really?”
Johanna asked, watching Ray walk away somewhere.
“But where are you going?”
“I’ll stop by a jewelry shop to find earrings or something as a gift for Karen.”
“…”
This time, Johanna’s expression stiffened.
Clamping her lips shut, Johanna kicked Ray’s shin, who was rambling about sets and accessories.
Faking pain as he fell, Ray watched Johanna storm off.
Calling out to her retreating figure, Ray shouted,
“Hey, are you still mad? It was just a joke! Hey, Johanna! Where are you going?!”
Watching this scene, Hamus and Viktor alternated sighs.
Grabbing Ray by the collar and pulling him up, Hamus asked,
“Why are you so restless with her? Why do you act so immature? Can’t you just give in a little? Why don’t you act your age?”
“I’m the same age as her?”
“…”
Losing words at Ray’s conscienceless comment, Hamus wiped his face while Viktor shook his head.
“My goodness…”
From Viktor’s perspective, Johanna acting childish was largely Ray’s fault.
Even though Viktor had only observed Ray and Johanna for a few days, Ray often treated and handled Johanna like a child.
It was no surprise that Johanna reacted neurotically to match that perception.
“Just treat her better, man.”
“Where can you find someone who treats her as well as I do?”
“Don’t treat her like a kid.”
Ray shrugged.
While he hadn’t entirely missed Viktor’s point, dealing with the distance between him and children like Johanna was indeed a challenging aspect for Ray.
Regardless, as they chatted animatedly and chased after Johanna, they noticed two children loitering at the edge of the main road.
Judging by their appearance, they seemed to be growing up in a very poor environment, engrossed in observing the market from a distance.
It was a dangerous scene.
The spot where the children stood was a road frequented by carriages, making it highly likely they could get run over.
Hamus and Viktor naturally moved closer to chase the children off the road.
However, Ray, who had been following behind, grabbed their shoulders.
“Ah, hold on a sec.”
Ray’s finger pointed to the end of the main road.
A carriage was approaching at considerable speed.
If left alone, the children were bound to get run over by the wheels.
“Does that carriage belong to any family?”
“It’s hard to say for sure, but it looks like the emblem of the Tarannis Family is carved on it.”
Ray nodded.
He had heard from Florya that the trading company owner Clemens would return to the port today, and it seemed the timing matched.
“Perfect. Let’s save those kids a bit later.”
Thinking Ray was talking nonsense, Hamus and Viktor narrowed their eyes.
Adding to his explanation, Ray said,
“If we rescue the kids at the last possible moment, wouldn’t the carriage owner stop the carriage and say something?”
Starting with “You brats, are you crazy?” followed by all sorts of curses.
“That’s when we leave our mark.”
Apologizing, receiving apologies, introducing ourselves, and leaving an impression—all of which would make narrowing the gap easier.
Coldness crept into the eyes of Hamus and Viktor after hearing Ray’s plan.
“What? Are you looking at me like that because I suggested letting the kids get run over by the carriage?”
“…Fine, do as you wish.”
Shaking their heads, Hamus and Viktor stepped back.
Ray prepared to leap at the right moment.
The carriage driver seemed to have spotted the children and shouted, but the children, startled, froze and collapsed onto the road.
Even if the driver tried to stop the carriage abruptly, the momentum was such that the horses’ hooves might still trample them—a perilous situation.
Of course, Ray had no intention of standing idly by as the children got run over.
The moment Ray took a step toward the children, Johanna dashed ahead of him.
Ray stopped awkwardly after taking a few steps forward, watching Johanna.
Given Johanna’s skills, rescuing the children before the slowing carriage reached them wouldn’t be difficult at all.
Indeed, Johanna swiftly grabbed the children and moved them out of the carriage’s path.
However, Ray had overlooked one thing.
Johanna possessed an innate sense of spatial awareness.
Johanna retreated just far enough to avoid being hit by the carriage, stopping exactly at the minimum safe distance.
That minimum distance was only a few centimeters.
Most onlookers believed Johanna and the children were about to be run over by the carriage.
Likewise, the carriage driver perceived the same scenario.
Whoosh!!
Fortunately, the carriage passed by Johanna and the children by just a few centimeters, as Johanna had anticipated.
As everyone breathed a sigh of relief,
The carriage driver, after stopping further down the road, muttered before exploding with emotion.
“Hey, you damn brats!!!”
(To be continued)
