The cunning NPC and the heroine who misread the situation (part 6)

Despite being in the clear, Medea didn't return home – he settled in Startinton thanks to the help of his mother's most devoted patron – a crimelord, the head of one of the three most prominent criminal organizations in Wondalandor.

A favor from someone like that was very heavy and definitely couldn't be just tossed to the side.

Hence, meeting with Zorivia seemed like a faraway dream – or it would be like that if not for the most recent news.

Young lady Zorivia Rotteloss was traveling to the capital of Wondalandor after being summoned to the palace.

She insisted on stopping in Corwnhorn, where she showed interest in healing the sick cattle.

Something thah she succeded in.

It wasn't a feat that made rounds amongst all the healers, but a few most hardcore ones did hear about it - including the potion-maker Gerard, the very person whom Medea was living with as a stay-in apprentice.

It was that exact reason that brought Medea to contact Ava.

Yes. Not the other way around...

"You know about the warehouses east to the Crownhorn farm? Exactly one week from today, a special shipment will arrive there."

Ava leaned close to Medea and whispered, glancing toward the soldier in the corner.

"How special?"

|...if they are bringing poison to harm that dummy, I will personally see the entire complex burnt to the ground.|

Medea raised his brow, intrigued on the outside, while on the inside, his thoughts were a lot more... intense.

"A certain item that is not supposed to show up this early – one that will help me get closer to Theo... As long as it will conveniently disappear from the warehouse without being shipped to its final destination."

Ava responded almost triumphantly, getting Medea's attention.

|Not supposed to show up this early? So some kind of prototype? And its something that could help her get closer to that annoying brat...|

"A charm pellet...?"

"SHHH! I know that you know about it already, so don't say it out loud!"

Medea muttered with disbelief as an item like that would definitely fit both of the beforementioned criteria – and lo and behold! He was right, which caused the girl to panic and press her index finger to her lips, whispering in urgency.

"How about it? Will you and your friends help me out with it?"

"I will see what I can do."

Ava nodded up at Medea, and the black-haired boy nodded back at her with a serious expression.

"And will you not butt in on my relationship with Theo?"

Despite the conversation being seemingly over with a positive outcome for Ava, the hazel-haired girl threw a curveball and asked something unexpected without being provoked.

"As long as he won't get in my way, sure. Also..."

Medea said after a moment of consideration.

"...if that boy-toy of yours attacks me again, I am going to gut him like freshwater fish..."

"!!!"

He added with a bone-chilling seriousness and stood up from his seat while Ava remained seated, completely frozen.

Was the black-haired boy serious?

He couldn't be, could he?

That was surely just an empty threat, but why his aura alone made him appear as if he was already brandishing a knife?

Of course, Medea wasn't doing that – let alone pulling out a weapon – if he even tried to do some suspicious movement, the soldier in the corner of the room would spring into action without a moment of hesitation.

"It's a bit of a shame that we can't properly discuss the art of medicine, but I thank you nonetheless for giving me the opportunity to meet you like this. I'll be excusing myself now."

Then, as if his serious expression was just a lie, the black-haired boy smiled at the hazel-haired girl and bowed his head to her before turning to the soldier, who nodded and opened the door for him.

"See you again, Medea."

"Bye, Ava~"

The pixie-cut girl didn't want the meeting to end like this. Their time lasted far shorter than she expected, and although many questions appeared to be confirmed, there was an equal or even greater amount of unanswered ones.

The problem was that if Ava called out after the leaving black-haired boy, she would appear almost desperate, and who knows what rumors could sprout from that?

After all, the soldier standing guard in the room was silent – but even he would sometimes fancy a local bar and let his tongue be untied by the booze.

Medea left behind the girl, who could not hide how troubled she was, and walked out of the mansion.

As he walked down the main street, he greeted and was greeted by several people. After all, he had already spent almost four years in Startinton, so he was well-known amongst the locals.

Keeping up the cheerful facade despite being a naturally serious and stone-faced individual wasn't the easiest task, but it was part of his role, so the black-haired boy was doing it to the best of his ability.

Medea was returning to his master's house – it was a nicely renovated building formerly only a bit on the side – but after the influx of new settlers and the growth of the town and new buildings, it ended up on a back alley of another street.

"..."

Medea entered from the back, not saying anything to announce his presence. Instead, he went straight to the kitchen, where he sat by the small table with another bowl of the exotic fruits that he had bought the other day.

The black-haired boy grabbed one of the fruits and then kicked up his feet, placing them on the table while leaning back in the chair, tilting it until the wood let out a sound of pained protest.

Medea merely flicked his hand, and a knife slid into his palm from within his sleeve so smoothly it seemed like a magic trick, and the boy peeled the fruit and sliced it with ease.

"It was kind of a letdown. Thank's for asking."

"How was... huh...?"

As the black-haired youth stabbed one of the slices and picked it to his mouth, he spoke up, which caused the copper-haired man in his thirties entering the kitchen to flinch and gasp as he didn't have the upper hand and the element of surprise that he thought he had over the youngster.