Chapter 63: Diverse Friendships Part 3

When I opened the old book again, I was met with a surprise on the last page where previously only marks of tearing were evident. A [Map] had materialized there.

It was unmistakably the map I received when I lost consciousness.

The issue however was that this map bore no resemblance to any map of AOE I had laid eyes on before.

I should get Katharina's help to get the latest map.

As I made my way back to my lodging, I could already hear a flurry of activity from the second floor.

Ah, that's right, Katharina had mentioned sending over a tailor this afternoon. Had they arrived already?

I had barely stepped through the door when pieces of fluttering cloth hit me in the face.

"I refuse to wear it!"

…The voice belonged to Roshanak.

I brushed the piece of cloth from my face and cast a quick glance towards the source of the cry. There stood Roshanak who was grappling with a heap of cloth and clearly agitated.

"What's the matter?"

"It's her!"

"It's her!"

My ears were ringing. The noise of El and Roshanak yelling from either side was enough to make my head spin. I raised my hands and tried to quell the storm.

"Slow down, one at a time. Roshanak, you first."

I called on Roshanak who looked as though she was on the verge of tears. But strangely enough, she huffed and puffed with her face flushed red but seemed unable to articulate her thoughts properly.

"…It can't be helped. El, you go first."

"Yes, Master."

El cast a quick glance at Roshanak and began to speak calmly.

"It's nothing serious. It's just that this one has been being particularly picky."

"Can you explain in more detail?"

"The tailor sent by Lady Katharina was here to help us select fabrics. But this one kept choosing the most ridiculous options, so I offered some advice."

"Advice?"

"Yes. About what to wear for the banquet."

"I see…"

Given that El was a young lady of the Reinhardt family, she should be well-versed in the intricate etiquette of banquet clothing. It seemed she had intended to help Roshanak…

I subtly shifted my gaze to examine the fabrics Roshanak was clutching. There were only fabrics that were colorful and had all kinds of patterns and decorations. It was a mix that could hardly be called noble-like. I understood why El had intervened.

Roshanak noticed my gaze and hid the fabrics behind her. Her face was still flushed.

"Do you like those, Roshanak?"

"..."

"It's okay, you can tell me."

"I like them. Yes."

"Which one is your favorite?"

Hesitantly, Roshanak extended all the fabrics she held. It was impossible to use them all in a single outfit. I picked a clean sky-blue fabric that felt soft to the touch from the array Roshanak offered.

"This would suit you well, don't you think? El, what do you say?"

"…It's nice."

"She says it's good. What about you, Roshanak?"

"…I like it. Yes."

"That's a relief. Shall we go with this one then?"

Roshanak finally nodded her head and her face calmed down a bit. As for El, she would likely choose for herself, so there seemed no need to examine her choices.

"Perhaps because they were sent from Katharina Merchant Guild, they are all of good quality."

In order to attend the banquet, I also had to wear appropriate attire. What would be best? Too flashy wasn't my style, yet too dull wouldn't do either. After all, one needed to stand out just enough to forge connections.

"…Perhaps white."

It was clean and it could also be seen as a gesture of respect towards Katharina, the white cat.

Though I wouldn't be able to wear it often because it was a color that gets dirty easily, having such formal attire at hand would prove useful. Especially in formal settings.

After choosing the cleanest and most expensive-looking white fabric, I called for the tailor. According to what the tailor said, Lloyd left everything to the tailor as if he was bothered by it all? Not fussing over formalities was odd for a knight, though.

The following evening,

We made our way to Katharina's mansion.

"The guests of honor have finally arrived!"

Katharina who had been welcoming guests shouted upon seeing us enter the mansion guided by a servant. Her white tail swayed gently, indicating her good mood.

"What a splendid banquet, Katharina."

"Hehe, I did put in some effort."

She was dressed in a dazzling Egyptian-style outfit. It was so revealing that I felt compelled to shield the eyes of the children present.

Katharina immediately linked her arm with mine and whispered.

"I have many people I'd like to introduce you to."

"Is that so?"

"Feeling relaxed? But you might not feel so at ease once you know who they are."

Katharina flashed a mischievous and almost cat-like smile.

"That sounds rather scary."

"It sounds like you're looking forward to it. Now, follow me."

"Just a moment."

I couldn't just leave the children behind. Scanning the surroundings quickly, I spotted a rather lavish buffet set up on one side. I pointed to that place and whispered to El and Roshanak.

"There's plenty of exquisite food. The nobles are too concerned with appearances so they won't touch them. You two can have at it and make a dent in their supplies."

El and Roshanak nodded vigorously. I also subtly hinted at Lloyd.

"Could you keep an eye on the children, please? We wouldn't want any mishaps."

"...."

Lloyd didn't respond but soon followed El and Roshanak. He didn't touch the food or drinks at the buffet and chose instead to sip from his own flask.

Is he an alcoholic?

It was troubling, yet there were immediate tasks at hand.

Just like Katharina had mentioned, this gathering was teeming with influential figures from the Echaits Union.

The buzz was inevitable given that the so fearsome deep-sea dungeon had been conquered not by some veteran mercenaries but by some newcomers.

While everyone had their motives, the majority were keen on keeping a watchful eye on me and hoping to claim me for their own.

Using the excuse that I had been brought here by Katharina's hand, I planned to move freely among these giants while secretly observing their cards.

I might even stumble upon a clue for the Origin God quest.

I saw familiar NPC faces all over the banquet hall. Unlike humans, other races such as elves and dwarves were easier to recognize because their appearance hardly changed. So they looked similar to the characters in my memory.

Since it was a time when important people from various countries visited Echaits for the month of the harvest deer, there were quite a few people from the mainland as well.

"How do you find it?"

"It's impressive."

I was genuinely surprised. The caliber of individuals Katharina had managed to assemble was a testament to her exceptional resourcefulness.

"Just a word of caution."

"I'm all ears."

"I know what you're after."

Katharina came closer and lowered her voice to a whisper.

"The crows."

"..."

"You are a wise person."

"That's high praise."

"So you already know what I'm about to warn you about."

Matching her tone, I too lowered my voice and responded.

"You mean not to dig into the crows in this setting?"

"Exactly. There are many watchful eyes here. So…"

"There must surely be the eyes of the crows among them."

Katharina nodded her head in agreement.

"It's not just that."

"Then what?"

"The crows have many friends, as well as enemies."

"I see."

Trying to uncover information about the crows would inevitably make me some enemies in one way or another. I gave her a nod to indicate that I understood what she meant and then smiled lightly.

"I'll be careful then."

"I do hope so. I wouldn't want to ruin such a long-awaited banquet."

"Hahaha. Since it's such a splendid banquet, I'll be sure to take care not to spoil it."

"Shh. Here comes Bardan, the dwarf from Ergin."

Ergin known for its iron mines nestled below was a dwarven nation. The dwarves of Ergin were infamous for burrowing furiously into the earth, day and night, in their iron mines. The elves often mocked them by calling them "moles".

"Seeing someone from Ergin here, he must be quite resourceful."

"You've got that right. Sometimes, he doesn't seem like a dwarf at all."

Soon, a dwarf whose facial features were almost entirely obscured by his grey beard, save for his nose, approached us. He grabbed Katharina's hand and greeted her warmly.

"Katharina! What a wonderful banquet."

"Thank you, Bardan. It's all thanks to our trade with Ergin."

Katharina skillfully praised the dwarf. Standing by her side, I found myself wondering, 'Where exactly are this dwarf's eyes?' Fortunately, or unfortunately, my contemplation didn't last long.

"Is this the druid you were talking about?"

Because Badan looked at me with his eyes sparkling, I politely bent down and shook his hand.

"Pleased to meet you. I am Theodore."

A dwarf with the ability to navigate between Echaits and Ergin could prove to be a valuable connection. I met his gaze with a friendly smile spread across my face. Those shiny little things, those must be his eyes, right?

"I've heard a lot about it. Never would I have dreamt that a nameless druid would resolve the troublesome deep-sea dungeon."

"It wasn't a solo effort. Above all, Katharina's help was invaluable."

I subtly passed the credit to Katharina and gave her a slight wink. Building connections today was important, and what better way to score points than here, with her help?

"But you're not affiliated with the Katharina merchant guild, are you?"

In an instant, Bardan's bead-like eyes sparkled. This fellow, straight to the point, huh? Quite typical of a dwarf.

"Hahaha. I'm just a wandering mercenary. My skills aren't quite… suited for any specific affiliation."

"Stop right there! Don't be so humble. We dwarves dislike humility as much as we do bragging. It's just as bad a habit."

"I see."

"But we do like skilled individuals. So, let's speak plainly. Have you considered working for Ergin? We're preparing to purge the cursed lands beyond the iron mountains, and we need talents like yours. We can provide gold aplenty! You'd be well worth it."

"Well…"

"Is that all? We'll tailor all the equipment specifically for you. Have you ever worn adamant armor?"

"Ah, well, you see, I'm a druid, so metal armor…"

Druids don't get along with metal, you know. I couldn't help but sweat as I watched Bardan who was already getting ahead of himself.

"You said honesty is best, right?"

"Indeed. Honesty is the true virtue."

"… I don't want to."

"...."

"...."

Silence fell, and Katharina opened her mouth as if she wanted to scream, but she made no sound.

"You, you don't want to…?"

Bardan's eyes which were as small as beans seemed like they might pop out. I answered again with a smile.

"Yes!"