Chapter 13
“WELL NOW, I WONDER if they have any…”
Opening the thick, black door, Mira stepped foot inside the shop. The moment she did, a musty yet familiar scent filled her nostrils.
“Welcome,” Mira heard, being greeted by the unassuming voice of one of the staff as she looked around the shop and took a big breath. “Whoa,” she said, letting slip a small gasp of awe.
The name of the shop was “Café Kraftbell Antiques.” It was a shop that dealt with various artifacts with long histories.
As its name implied, there was also a café attached to the right side of the shop. Thanks to this café-antique shop pairing, the whole store felt as if it were straight out of a fairy tale.
They sure have a big selection.
A sweet scent wafted over from the café. Somehow, Mira managed to resist temptation and headed over to where the antiques sat lined up.
This time, she wasn’t after sweets. Rather, she was after furniture within which spirits dwelled.
Spirits often lived in items that were treasured and had long been used. With this in mind, Mira considered that she might be able to find some furniture spirits to give her Spirit Mansion a homier vibe.
Unfortunately, there weren’t any furniture spirits in residence here. So, after taking a look at a few things other than furniture, Mira gave up and got ready to leave the shop. Then all of a sudden…
“You’ve sure got a great collection here. Especially all the things you have from the Kartenov era. I think you and I would get along well.”
“Why thank you. I also feel as if this might be fate.”
Mira beheld a man who seemed as if he were the shopkeeper, and a dapper, well-mannered man walking down a staircase above which hung a sign saying, No Entry.
The well-mannered man said, “I hope to see you again soon,” before leaving the shop.
The shopkeeper must’ve been pleased with their interaction, as he returned to the sales counter with a big smile and began doing paperwork.
After having watched the two, Mira decided against leaving and turned her gaze toward the staircase. Then she recalled that phrase she’d heard earlier: the Kartenov era.
That was a period of the world’s history and something Mira had heard about. The reason she’d heard about it was thanks to her history-loving friend, Autodi Dolfin.
He’d spoken enthusiastically about the Kartenov era. Mira smiled to herself as she wondered if, given how keenly and thoroughly he’d discussed the topic, he might very well hit it off with the two men. Considering how he repeated himself even more than usual while talking about the Kartenov era, Autodi Dolfin was quite fascinated by it. And having had the knowledge of it forced upon her, Mira knew a little about the period as well.
The Kartenov era was a time when a kingdom prospered on the continent of Earth to the far west of Grimdart. The kingdom had collapsed over four hundred years ago, and historians like Dolfin felt that the cause of its downfall had occurred a hundred years before its collapse.
The name of the era which had preceded the kingdom’s collapse was the Kartenov era.
Over five hundred years ago, the kingdom’s ruler had been its twenty-third king, named Kartenov Safin Dukhaya. The Kartenov Period referred to the period in which this king ruled.
King Kartenov, who was said to have caused the kingdom to fall into ruin, had loved art above all else. It was because of this that he went a bit overboard with one of his royal proclamations. The absurd law he put forth mandated that everything from large mansions to trivial items had to be artistic in some way, so as to make the royal capital a home to the arts.
The country changed drastically, as did the role of artists. Aside from becoming a place where artists could gain fame and fortune, it also became a place where they could fully express themselves through their art. And so artists flocked to the kingdom from all over the continent during that time. The arts thrived so much that it was all art, all the time.
However, artists were treated so well that the nobility became greatly displeased. The throne passed from King Kartenov to Prince Leorolf, and he stepped away from his official duties.
It was said that King Kartenov spent the rest of his days in a far-flung estate. It was recorded in the history books that he was allowed to possess only ten treasures. These became known as Kartenov’s ten treasures, and rumors of them were well known, even among archaeologists.
Well now, I wonder if any have been found.
Dolfin had taken quite an interest in these treasures. But at that time, the search for them had come to an end with none being found. Mira smiled bitterly to herself at the thought of how she’d certainly spent a lot of time around him. Wondering where he was or what he was doing now, she opened her Friends List.
It said next to Dolfin’s name that he was online.
The Rise and Fall of the Kartenov era, eh? Thinking back fondly on her old friend, Mira approached the stairs.
If they’re treasures from over five hundred years ago, then they’re bound to have spirits in them…
That era was more than long enough ago for spirits to take up residence. She looked up the stairs, hoping to see something, but all she could see was a wall.
Judging from what I heard them say, they must have things they’re selling up here…
Mira thought back on the exchange she’d witnessed between the shopkeeper and the customer. She remembered what the customer had said about there being a good collection. That would have to mean that the floor above had a collection of antiques from the Kartenov era, as the man had said. Perhaps they had other antiques up there as well.
Right as Mira was beginning to take an interest in the upper floor, she heard a voice.
“Dear me, can I help you with something?” the shopkeeper said to her, smiling. The suspicious way Mira was acting must’ve caught his attention.
“Ah, well…” Mira began, before cutting straight to the chase and asking him about whether or not there was any old furniture within which spirits dwelt on the second floor.
“Furniture spirits…?” Taking a moment to think, the shopkeeper looked at Mira’s face and opened his mouth as if to ask a question. “I apologize if I’m mistaken…but from the looks of you, I wonder if you might be the Spirit Queen… Am I correct?”
Word of the Spirit Queen had spread so far that even antique dealers knew about her.
“Hrmm, yes. Some people do call me that.”
There wasn’t any need to deny it. If anything, his knowing that she was a high-level adventurer might make him trust her more. Mira nodded rather exaggeratedly.
A bright smile blossomed on the shopkeeper’s face as if he had expected her.
“Ah, I might’ve known! You’re both as beautiful and lovely as they say. So my eyes weren’t deceiving me! Good heavens, it’s a tremendous honor to have someone of such fine repute visit us. Ah, please wait a moment,” he said, tramping off toward the counter.
Watching him as she waited, Mira tilted her head unconsciously. She had a feeling that something wasn’t quite right.
She felt as if his expression wasn’t the kind one would wear when engaging with a well-to-do customer who might drop some big money. Rather, it was the kind of expression one might have if they were simply excited to meet a celebrity.
The impression she got seemed to be right on the mark, as the shopkeeper can prancing back with colored paper and a pen in hand.
“My daughter is a very big fan of the Spirit Queen. Would it okay to trouble you for an autograph?” the shopkeeper said, holding out the pen and paper with a pleading look in his eyes and a radiant expression.
Did he really want an autograph for his daughter, or did he want it for himself? Either way, there wasn’t much use getting to the bottom of that mystery. Mira thought for a short moment before taking the pen and colored paper and answering, “Well, why not?”
Hrmm, an autograph, huh…? Look like it’s finally time!
Despite how happy she was, Mira stayed as calm as she could and scrawled her name with the pen as if it were something she was used to.
Mira had spent the whole trip from Grandrings to Haxthausen practicing signing her name as “Spirit Queen Mira.”
Learning that people were referring to her by names like the Spirit Queen in Grandrings, Mira figured that the practice would likely come in handy at some point. This might really make her seem full of herself. And yet, this time it came in handy. One can never know when such a thing could prove useful.
Upon handing him the autograph, the shopkeeper happily allowed her upstairs.
Overtaken by excitement, he then began saying things such as, “Why, isn’t this incredible?! Someone like me getting a chance to help the illustrious Spirit Queen with one of her important duties!”
Just what on earth was he so excited about? His enthusiasm stayed high, however. The shopkeeper continued saying things like, “To think I’m playing a role in the history of the Spirit Queen!” and “Who would’ve guessed the day would come when my work would benefit the Spirit Queen?!” as he eagerly showed her upstairs.
“Wow, this stuff…is incredible,” Mira said.
Seeing the second floor, she was rendered speechless by the scene before her.
The first floor was impressive in its own right, but Mira realized it couldn’t even hold a candle to the second floor when it came to just how full of history it was. The second floor was a single, spacious room full of all kinds of antiques. It seemed to be divided up into different sections, with each devoted to a different type of antique.
Mira didn’t know much when it came to antiques. And what she did know was either a tiny part of what she’d heard from Dolfin or was limited to equipment. But everything Mira saw in front of her looked quite special.
First, there were the antiques from the Kartenov era. They lacked the pronounced ostentation or lustrous beauty of gold and silver but instead radiated the kind of opulence that could have only been crafted by human hands. The king’s royal proclamation had been that even ordinary people who were normally unable to enjoy the arts should have art incorporated into their lives. Art could be made with a single chisel. Many such works were in the antique shop.
…And yet, after taking a look around, Mira was ultimately unable to find any of the spirits that she was after.
“Humans have remarkable sensibilities. And it’s for that reason, Miss Mira, that you won’t be able to find my kin there.”
She heard the Spirit King’s impressed voice in the back of her head. He had been watching. He told her that spirits wouldn’t dwell in furniture from the Kartenov era. These objects were so incredibly artistic that they moved beyond being simple furniture and into the realm of art. It didn’t matter how much one treasured a piece of furniture—if it wasn’t lovingly used for the purpose for which it’d been created, it would not become a place where spirits would dwell.
The most essential criteria for a spirit to dwell in a piece of furniture was the intent of the craftsperson who made it, and the emotions of whoever possessed it. Should both of those align and accumulate over many years, then the furniture would become a vessel that a spirit might call home.
“I see. So whether or not it’s well-loved and how it’s used have an effect as well, huh?”
“That’s right.”
From what the Spirit King said, what decided whether or not a spirit would dwell in something wasn’t just age but intent. Furniture from the Kartenov era was required to be highly artistic. And that meant that it wasn’t the best place for spirits to dwell.
The shopkeeper next took her to see antiques from the Reverie Period, which was born from a movement attempting to revive the style of the Kartenov Era. There she found different kinds of antiques made by craftspeople who’d been captivated by the past. She could tell that the color of the antiques became richer and more vibrant as they went from the middle part to the late part of the period.
The shopkeeper said that from the middle to the late part of the period, the price of paint and dyes had dropped significantly. For that reason, many richly colored works were produced. The town where this color-forward movement had begun was known for its colorful scenery—so colorful that it seemed wrapped in rainbows. It, therefore, became known as Terra Iris.
Unfortunately, that town had been destroyed by war. There was currently a movement to recreate this town in the town of Ponetio, located in the Kingdom of Strife, and it was a must-see.
The shopkeeper thoroughly yet clearly explained all this before he finally made his way to his final stop, coming to a halt in front of the largest and most impressive painting on the floor. It sat in a large, locked showcase and was surrounded by magical devices that were used for security purposes. It must’ve been quite valuable, given how it was more protected than anything she’d seen so far.
“Wow, it’s… It really is marvelous,” Mira said in awe after looking at the painting.
The shopkeeper laughed quite cheerfully and answered, “It is, isn’t it?”
The painting was about seven and a half feet across and about six and a half feet wide. On that giant canvas was a meticulously painted townscape that was so colorful that it looked as if it’d fallen into a rainbow.
It was a painting of the town known as Terra Iris, back when it had existed. It was so striking and vivid that it would captivate even non-artists and give them pause. Even Mira found herself captivated by it.
“The first time I saw this painting, I felt as if the whole revival movement might’ve just been for the sake of seeing this created,” the shopkeeper said profoundly as he gazed at the painting. He then closed his eyes, as if contemplating something. “We call that period, two hundred years ago, the Reverie Period. It gave rise to these incredible works, which were by no means inferior to those of the Kartenov era. We do so to honor the one who began the movement, Count Blanche la Reverie.”
Having reached the end of his explanation, the shopkeeper slowly opened his eyes and quietly murmured how he would’ve liked to have seen the cityscape during the Kartenov era.
“I can’t find anything…”
There weren’t any spirits dwelling in any of the antiques from the Reverie Period.
“The rumor that spirits dwell in not only weapons but in furniture as well is known among us antique dealers. And yet, I have never seen one. I figured the discerning eye of the Spirit Queen might find one, but I suppose it is just a rumor,” the shopkeeper said, with a mournful look.
Mira then asked the Spirit King some more questions about the criteria that needed to be met for spirits to dwell in furniture before relaying the information to the shopkeeper. The furniture needed to be well-loved and kept in a peaceful environment.
“Well-loved and kept in a peaceful environment…?”
Immediately upon hearing the criteria from Mira, the shopkeeper turned his gaze to the store and mused to himself. Then he looked feverishly about the room, all the while whispering various historical terms and names of eras.
His darting glances eventually concentrated on one spot, which he walked over to as if he’d finally found an answer.
“The wedding gifts over here sound like they’d be just what you’re looking for!”
As soon as the words had left the shopkeeper’s mouth, he dashed to the section farthest from them and looked around for a moment. The way he did all this made him look almost like a loyal hound. Then he turned and called out, “Over here!”
“Hrmm, all right.”
They were pretty specific criteria, yet he’d found something that met them. Mira began walking over to where the shopkeeper waited as if expecting her to tell him he’d been a very good boy.
“Here we have a collection of marriage gifts from the Grolli-Krolli Kingdom, over four hundred fifty years ago,” the shopkeeper prefaced as Mira looked toward the section. “These were all gifts known as marriage offerings…” he continued, going into the details.
Marriage offerings were celebratory gifts given to married couples from the Kingdom of Grolli-Krolli. While it seemed like things must’ve been going pretty well for the state to send wedding gifts, there was a reason behind it.
It had to do with a very extreme law that made adultery a crime instantly punishable by death, as decreed by the kingdom’s overly prudish king. Thanks to this law, marriage rates and birth rates began to plummet. When it became clear that there weren’t enough children being born, the kingdom hastily instituted a set of policies known collectively as the Marriage Project to entice couples to get married and have children.
The shopkeeper went on to mention that one of these policies was marriage offerings. By letting the state know that they were getting married, a couple would then be given furniture and other things that they might need in the future.
“The items gifted by the state were all crafted by master craftspeople. As you can see, despite being made over four hundred years ago, they have not faded in color. They’re simply designed and made for ordinary families, crafted with practicality in mind. Most importantly, the Kingdom of Grolli-Krolli was a peaceful one without war.”
Having explained all this at length, the shopkeeper turned to Mira and, with his eyes full of anticipation, said, “So, what do you think?”
“Hrmm, it certainly sounds like they’d fit the bill.”
Judging by their historical background, there was a chance that spirits dwelled in them. Even so, the Spirit King said it wasn’t often that a piece of furniture was used lovingly for long enough that a spirit would dwell in it. It would certainly be nice if there was a piece here that did.
Just how well-loved was this furniture? Clinging to the faint hope that she’d find something, Mira began checking all the marriage offerings.
“It’s not looking good…” she said, looking over everything once more after having finished checking them once. She couldn’t find even one furniture-dwelling spirit among the marriage gifts, which seemed to meet all the necessary criteria.
Just how long would it take her to furnish her spirit mansion? Dreaming about her perfectly complete abode, Mira suddenly felt depressed about just how far away she was from completing it.
Seemingly understanding the situation from Mira’s mood, the shopkeeper also felt disappointed and let down. Even in a shop as big as his, they couldn’t find any furniture in which a spirit resided. It was about time to throw in the towel.
“Sir, I’ve already taken up much of your…” Mira began to say, turning to thank the shopkeeper for his assistance and understanding of just how rare such furniture was. Suddenly, out of the corner of her eye, she spotted a sofa.
Without thinking, she cried out, “Huh? Is that…?”
It looked as if it’d been pushed into the corner.
Mira cocked her head and wondered how, despite having looked over each and every one of the marriage gifts, she hadn’t seen that particular sofa.
The sofa sat in the corner of the section for marriage gifts. It was quite inconspicuous, placed in a secluded nook apart from the rest of the wonderful furniture which filled the section. More than secluded… The sofa looked completely unrelated to the section it was in. But since it was in that section, the sofa had to be a marriage offering as well.
Thinking this, Mira walked over to it with a look that said she’d give it one final shot.
“Ah, that’s…” the shopkeeper called after Mira, looking dismayed after noticing what Mira had found and where she was going.
However, pinning her last hopes on the sofa, Mira didn’t hear him and continued walking toward the corner.
It was a beautiful, olive-colored sofa. An exceptional piece that was well-upholstered and simply designed. It was so soft and overstuffed that you could tell it was comfortable just by looking at it, but that wasn’t all. It also gave off a certain sense of comfort and safety.
“Oh ho, I see. So this is what he meant.”
As soon as Mira laid her eyes on the sofa, she immediately sensed that a spirit dwelled within it. At the same time, she also understood exactly what kind of furniture spirits liked to reside in.
And yet, she was curious. Why was that sofa tucked away from the rest of the furniture?
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