The Accademy Circles Fest: Day 3 (3)

"Where have you been? I heard from my apprentice, you were coming with this brat."

"Tsk, should I tell you every time I go out. Are you my elders?"

"Humph, I thought she was lying. I was prepared to punish her if you didn't appear."

"What?! You will punish my cute grand disciple just because of that?"

"He is my disciple. How I teach her is my business, not yours!"

They starting to arguing, at once I thought Khan was worry about his master. Turn out I am wrong, he wants to punish her disciple for lying! Also, old man, why didn't you tell me that you're his master? Isn't it much simpler if I know those from the start? The grand disciple flustered as she looks at her master and grandmaster arguing against each other. She got paler when she heard his master mentioning a punishment.

"Cough, anyway Khan you should just give him a piece of advice. We were in his debt for all those drinks after all. Just think it as repayment."

"Tsk, why don't you the one that gave him advice?"

"Because he was searching for you, not me."

Hearing that, Khan look over to me.

"Brat, did you need my advice or you need an expert opinion?"

He smiles slyly, as he said those. I understand what that smile of his meant to be.

"Of course all I want is an opinion from an expert. Since the material that crosses my mind is hard to be found. If you guys got the opinion of a better option than those on my mind, I couldn't agree more."

But unexpectedly, the old man got a thicker face than I thought he would.

"What?! I am sorry I couldn't hear you?! This old man hearing got worst by the day."

Yep, he pretends that he does not hear my words.

"Anyway, brat, just ask him your question."

"Don't listen to him, brat. I won't answer you!"

Whoa, these two dwarfs seriously childish.

"Sigh... I only wanted to know, where could I find a store that sells either mithril, blue iron, black mithril or carbalite."

"You want to make a weapon after all!"

"No, those material used in making a magic tool too. Also, Khan, it not like we didn't sell a weapon here. Of course, we make a magic tool like a burner or a magic pouch. But most of our merchandise is those magic bomb and boundaries magic tool."

Magic bomb, basically a mana stone that got magic engraved on it. It would explode in a few seconds as you activate the engraving. Sounds like the item that Yvain want to make, but it fundamentally different. As Yvain want to make a magic tool that could be used repeatedly. While the magic bomb is a one-time use item which still needed mana to activate it.

"T-that true. But..."

"What are you afraid of? It not like we choose our customers! We aren't a saint. Who knows that those customers from before used our tool to do something bad."

Now, this seems more like a teacher and student conversation. The shopkeeper could only look on the ground tho as her master and grandmaster arguing. Khan frown, as he rubbing his mustache silently.

"Fine... Brat, I don't know what you plan to make from those materials. But all I know from the traits you wanted mithril wasn't up to the job. It wasn't tough, and it's melting point is low. Although you could reinforce it with enchantment by engraving magic on it, that doesn't fit the bill. While blue iron conductivity is only 50 percent, it used mostly to make an intermediate cold weapon. So your best bet is either black mithril or carbalite. Both is a flexible material which is hard and got a good mana conductivity. But I am not sure if you could afford it. Since those materials price around 7 to 11 gold coin per hundred of grams."

Hearing his words I could only gape. F*ck that so expensive! I couldn't even afford it with my entire money before, and here I only left with 2 gold and 5 small gold coins. Also, it won't work for Yvain since it too expensive!

"I see. Thank you, Mister Khan."

When I said that, the grandmaster of the shop took a paper and write something.

"Here a map and letter of introduction from me. This shop owner was my old friend, he would help you to get those materials."

"Thank you, sir."

"Then brat, the door is on that way. I won't see you out."

With those words, Khan leaves the room and walk back to the other doors. I am sighing as I stand up, and walk away. The old dwarf which turn out as the master of Khan accompany me.

"Anyway, brat. Khan was harsh, but it because of he afraid you would make something dangerous. He was tormented by a noble as children. That why he particularly hates noble, what more those with a bad reputation as yours."

"Ah... So that why he keeps saying those words to me. Anyway, thank you, old master."

"No, problems. If you want someone to discuss that secret project of yours. You could come to me in the usual tavern. You already know my name right?"

"... I assume you're Hun on those planks."

"Correct, as expected you're a smart guy."

"Then until we meet again, Mister Hun."

"Sure."

With that, I bow my head slightly like a proper noble before leaving the shop. I walk back to my family mansion with no results. Damn, I would get killed by that couple for sure. Even though I am already improved since two days ago, I am not quite sure to fight against her. That girl is yandere after all! Also, it seems impossible from how Khan said about it. Material aside, even right now, I don't know how should I engrave the magic to drain mana from the air.

As I walk to the west district, I bump into someone unexpected.

"Kyaa..."

"Look whe—"

When I look at the figure my arrogant facade fall of right away. I catch the figure right away.

"I am sorry."

It her.. Alyson Pakenhope... Her body trembling in my arms as she apologizing until she looks over to me.

"I-I should be the one that apologizing. I am sorry, I was lost in thought."

"A-ah.. se-senior Dageraad. I-it fine. I am fine, I also didn't see what in front of me before."

"O-oh, you must be nervous... Walking alone in a crowd like this."

"N-no, I am with my handmaid..."

She then looks around... She got paler as she keeps looking around. She starting to sweat and stare at me blankly.

"O-or so I was..."

Right... She losing the sight of her maid. That as expected tho, since she must be looking on the ground as she walks along the road.

"The-then should I escort you?"

"N-no, no, no... I don't want to bother you, senior. You must have some business since you're out here."

"You aren't bothering me. I already did my business, so I am free right now. I was walking back before we bump with each other."

"A-are you sure?"

"Of course."

"Then, it is my pleasure to be escorted by you, senior."

I took her hand as we start walking side by side. Her nervousness fade when I lead her by hand.

"So where are you going, junior Pakenhope?"

I called her that to reign on my feeling, I am not sure what would I do if I started to call her by her name. I questioned her since here is the second zone of the west district. Her family manors should be on the south second zone. Baron Pakenhope family was a rich merchant before they got a noble title. Their ancestor was helping the crown prince of that time from bandit assault. That how they earn the baron title. Although they still a baron even after 4 generations but it because they didn't try to raise their rank. They care about their families business even more than the court politics. Pakenhope family wealth definitely rivaling Earl house. Comparing to my family, they got more liquidity asset for sure.

Our family was focusing on military and security of our territory after all. As a Mangrove our territory is located on the border, so it pretty normal that we were focused on it. One of the reasons why most of the Marquis family is chivalric, loyal and honest. Because of the kingdom first line of defense is on their shoulder. That is why the king always appointing their most loyal retainers as a Marquis. Then it passed down from each generation to the next one as a tradition. Like how my grandfather passed his title to my father as the old king passed away. Now he wasn't a Marquis, but he serves the kingdom as general.

"Ah... I was shopping with my maid... But it seems like, I lost my sight of her."

She answers right away with an awkward smile.

"So which shop did you plan to visit today?"

"Hmmm... I was planning to purchase some material for enchantment since my family business mostly sold a magic tool. It the only job I could do to help my parents and elder sister."

Huh? This is the first time I heard it. Although I know they're coming from a merchant family, but honestly, I don't know what Pakenhope family business is. Maybe this is a chance!

"So where is this shop?"

"The material shop near the west-north conjunction. Ahh..."

She exclaiming suddenly, as she seems to remember something.

"What's wrong?"

"I just remembered... That, the purchasing list was with my maid. Uhhh... Why did I lose my sight on Fanny at a time like this? She usually sticking to me anywhere."

"Then should we look fo—"

At that time a parchment suddenly blew away by a wind right to my face and covering my vision entirely. When I pick it off my face and read it, I could see that this must be the purchase list that Alyson was talking about. How did I know? It pretty obvious with its title and the Pakenhope seal stamped on its edge. Her handmaid must be watching us closely!

Question is, how did she do that?! I can't detect her at all, I didn't feel any mana disturbance in the air which means it wasn't delivered by magic. So how the hell did she delivered this paper right on to my face? Is it a coincidence? That's impossible! Also doesn't it mean she is way stronger than me? Or at least her skill in hiding her presence is top notch! Seeing me being dumbfounded as I pick off the paper, Alyson looks at the parchment curiously.

"What is that senior?"

"Here.. take a look by yourself."

I give her the parchment whilst sighing, seriously what a handmaid could do this? Well... Those butlers also mysterious, but at least I could feel their presence and tell any disturbance in mana when they do something magical.

"Oh, it's the list of materials that I should buy. Fanny must be careless as usual."

"As usual?"

"Nnn... She is kinda clumsy, one time she left an important note of a client on my room. Or sometimes she left a file about underhanded transaction of one of our family clerk. Of course, I tell father about it at once, but when I told father that it Fanny that carelessly left it in my room, she denied it and said to father that I was the one that ordered her. I never told her to do those tho. She is really an airhead. There also that one time, she almost pours hot water to a guest. Fortunately, I was near her and able to catch it. The guess was pale, but somehow he gives his gratitude to me when we meet once again after my family doctor mends my burned hand. He must feel sorry when he looks at my hand."

"..."

That deliberate act! I am sure she deliberately left it on your room, also she definitely threatened that guest for sure! What kind of guest would giving their gratitude when they almost got poured with hot water. That impossible, if there someone that happy about it, they must be crazy!

"What's wrong, senior? You look bewildered."

"No, I just wondering how did you meet your handmaid's."

"Eh? When I meet Fanny, she was laying on the side of the road to the capital. Her breathing was rough and her complexion is really bad. It was summer 10 years ago if I am correct. She is starving since she was running away from a bandit. She told me that, she used up all of her energy to got away from 20 or so bandit that surround her. Then when she successfully got away from them, she found that her ration which she hiding got eaten by a beast. In dire strait, she eats anything in the forest along the road, which ends up poisoning her. That why she is pale."

... Why do I feel that this bandit wasn't so simple? A person that could completely hide her presence from me, got beaten by 20 or so bandit? Is that bandit stronger than C rank adventurer? What kind of bandit group was that, and 10 years already pass by, wasn't it mean those bandits would be stronger than before.

How did I never heard such a strong bandit group? If they're real, their name must be infamous, then the adventurer guild, mercenary guild, and the capital garrison would send a joint force to capture them. Since they're a dangerous force! There is no way a bandit group making a camp near the capital. It's suicide.

That just ridiculous! Her ration got eaten by a beast? She just never bring any ration for sure! With her strength that could hide from me, buying a storage pouch is easy for sure. I am confident in my awareness, and if she could hide from me, she could hunt C-rank monster for sure. With C-Rank monster materials, she could earn 5 gold coin at least. As we walk slowly side by side, someone calls me in the distance.

"Zei...in??"

It was Fransisca. My heart beat accelerate at once as I saw her confused face. While the girl beside me, which got no clue about our relationship exclaiming when she saw her.

"Ah, senior. What a coincidence."

"Aaah.. wha-what a coincidence indeed, junior. This is a rare sight to see someone being so close with Zein."

She looks at me meaningfully, as if asking me why are you walking hand in hand with her? I release my hand off Alyson reflexively.

"Zein? Ah, senior Dageraad. Well, I met him coincidentally too. I was shopping with my handmaid until we bump against each other. Then as I lost my sight from my maid, Senior Dageraad offering himself to escort me shopping materials for our family business."

"Oh, it seems like it wasn't your first time to walk around with him."

"Yes, it was senior Dageraad and that walk me around the festival before!"

Before I could explain anything, the snowball already rolling down the hill. Hearing those words Fransisca frown, I could see a dangerous glint in her eyes as she faces me.

"Interesting, I never knew you escorted her before Zein?"

"Huh? What do yo— Ahh... That...."

Her eyes go sharper as she heard my response. Looking at our gesture it was Alyson turn to be bewildered.

"*Cough* anyway Alyson, even tho it seems like that both of you already knew each other. I would still like to introduce Fransisca to you. This is Fransisca Grey, my childhood friend, and fiancee."