She Professed Herself The Pupil Of The Wiseman (LN) - Volume 2 - Chapter 19

Chapter 19

THE CONVERSATION STARTED with Emella and Mira’s first encounter, and from there, the story continued on. By the time the food arrived, the retelling had progressed as far as the Ancient Temple.

Zef waxed on about how Alfina was just his type, while Emella lamented that her borrowed spirit blade had barely seen any action. Meanwhile, Asval joked that the gap between Mira’s appearance and her actual abilities was better described as a canyon. Whenever she could, Flicker tried to scooch closer to Mira in hopes of getting another hug.

Mira watched them enjoy themselves, feeling a little envious at how obviously they adored Cyril.

Occasionally, they’d entreat her for some backup to whatever story they were telling with a “Right?” or a “Don’t you think?” and she’d always reply with an absentminded “Indeed.” The only thing she rebuffed were Flicker’s advances.

Given the madness of the past few weeks, she found herself enjoying their company. There was something peaceful and mundane about listening to their happy conversation, periodically wiping food from Tact’s face, and ordering more drinks.

As the post-adventure party wound down, the attention turned from the food to the drink, and the conversation turned from the temple to the zombies.

“A shocking way to get welcomed home, that’s for sure.” Zef chuckled around a mouthful of fries as he thought back to just a few hours earlier.

“It surprised me as well,” said Cyril, who had been coordinating defense. “I have no idea what caused it. But what was a bigger shock was the sudden appearance of those seven Valkyries.”

He cast an interested gaze toward Mira.

“Wasn’t that great? I tell you, I’d take summoning over necromancy any day.” No one was sure if Zef was talking about the battle applications or the potential of having an ideal harem on call.

After an awkward pause, the conversation continued on for a while before returning to the subject of what to do with the loot. The Mobility Stones were easy enough to divvy up equally; the Mobility Crystal less so. After some talk about selling it and splitting the profit, Emella proposed just giving the gem to Mira. The rest of the party readily agreed to the idea, and the matter was settled.

That left the matter of the demon parts, and Zef thankfully had the good sense not to pile them on the tabletop in a public tavern. They quietly agreed to figure out what to do with those items a little later.

As the party continued, the sound of the bell above the door pulled Asval’s attention and he found himself looking at a familiar face.

“Oh, if it isn’t Kilic! Perfect timing!”

Wearing dull black armor and an expressionless face, Kilic was a tough person for Mira to get a read on. But as Asval called his name, the ghost of a smile flickered across his face. The difference in expression was so slight, it would be impossible to tell without comparing photographs, but Asval immediately recognized that Kilic was in a good mood.

“What are you up to, Asval?” he asked in a monotone voice. “Perfect timing for what?”

“We’ve got a little present for you.” Asval grinned, then shot a glance to Mira as if to ask, “You’re certain you want to do this?”

Mira began to nod in assent, before Kilic caught sight of her and recoiled.

“Adorable…” he muttered too quietly for anyone to hear.

Realizing that she was the subject of his gaze, she panicked briefly before covering it with a cough that caused her to choke on her bite of tart.

“You must be the dark knight they mentioned,” she said after the coughing fit subsided. She tried to regain a dignified tone, but that was undone by some cream stuck to the corner of her mouth.

“That is correct, I am a dark knight… Asval, what’s going on?”

“You’re a lucky man, that’s what.” The big warrior waggled his finger and rose to his feet to clap Kilic on the shoulder. Then he gestured to Cyril, and the guild captain rose and presented Kilic with the scythe.

“What?! I can feel a great flame hidden within…but what’s the meaning of this?” The normally stoic dark knight struggled to keep his composure while inspecting the unique weapon.

“Little miss here says she doesn’t need it, so she asked us to give it to someone who could use it. You’re the only one in our guild who could wield it—so it’s yours. Go on, give it a heft. Think you can use it?”

Kilic repressed a shudder as he felt the energy flowing through the scythe. He took a step back and grasped the handle of the weapon in both hands.

“There’s a wild power inside…but I think I can tame it,” he answered as he slowly felt the scythe grow familiar in his hands.

“Oho, it looks good on you,” Mira said, smiling in satisfaction.

Asval nodded. “What do you think, little miss? I’ll vouch for his character. He may look gloomy, but he donates to orphanages and delivers meals to the elderly.”

“How do you know about that?!” Kilic nearly dropped the scythe in panic. He had not been as sneaky as he believed.

“Come on, everyone knows about it,” Zef teased with a smile. The other guild members present all nodded in agreement.

“Very well,” Mira interjected, trying to take some of the pressure off the dark knight. “You…Kilic, was it? I’m entrusting you with the scythe. Be diligent, and always act in the service of good.”

His expressionless mask crumpled as he blushed, further convincing Mira that he was the right choice.

“See, Kilic? Doesn’t it feel nice to be recognized?” Emella asked sweetly.

“Hmph… I can tell just by holding it that this is no ordinary scythe. Are you sure I can have this?”

“Use it for the benefit of the world and for others—that’s all I ask.” Mira looked him straight in the eyes as she replied.

“I assure you I won’t do anything to put me at odds with that. Thank you.” Then Kilic bowed deeply to the seated party…and didn’t rise.

“Ahem! Hrmm. You’re…welcome?” Mira mumbled, then nibbled at her tart to cover her embarrassment. She was greatly relieved when he took that as a cue to stand back up.

“It feels wrong to just accept something like this. Is there anything I can do for you in return?” he asked with a serious expression after carefully depositing the scythe into his Item Box.

“A favor, eh?” Mira pondered the offer. She’d expected nothing—but she couldn’t deny that her task list kept growing longer by the day.

“That’s right. As the captain of the guild, I would like to offer my thanks. You’ve done us several good turns in short order.”

“Hrmm,” Mira placed a finger to her chin to find the dollop of cream stuck there. Wiping it away, she continued, “Well, if you’re going to insist, there is something I might ask of you.”

“Of course, leave it to us.” Cyril nodded immediately.

“Perhaps you’ll live to regret that offer.” Mira smiled wryly as she withdrew the envelope from her Item Box. “You asked for adventure, and I have nothing but paperwork to offer! I have a few dates here, and I’d like you to investigate to see if there were any incidents—accidents or unusual goings-on—on those days or the weeks that followed them. What do you think? Can you do it?”

“Information gathering, is it? We do have a few members skilled in espionage, so that shouldn’t be an issue.” Cyril pulled out a pen and notepad from his pocket and copied the dates as Mira repeated the numbers.

“That’s it. I don’t care how trivial the events may seem. If it’s out of the ordinary, then I want to know about it.” She slipped the paper back into its envelope and returned it to her Item Box.

Closing his notebook and then doing likewise, Cyril replied, “Our guild members are the best in the business. I’ll get them on the case. I don’t know why these dates are significant, but I promise to keep whatever we find confidential.”

“That would be appreciated.”

Solomon might not have intended for her to outsource any of the tasks included in her mission. But when he had asked her to locate the rest of the Wise Men within a year, he should have known that she couldn’t do it all on her own. Besides, having a private guild do some of the work was still more discreet than having the Alcaitian Army or other state agents running around the countryside in search of the missing mages.

With that issue concluded, the talk returned to light chatter until the tavern’s clock struck nine. As she listened to the gentle tolling of the bell, Mira checked her own watch.

“Already this late? Tact, what time did you tell your grandfather you’d be returning?”

“It’s fine,” Emella said. “We were going to spend the night in the Ancient Temple. His grandad’s not expecting him back until tomorrow. Right, Tact?”

Despite her words, Tact seemed fidgety. Up until that point, he’d been enjoying himself, but now he refused to meet anyone’s gaze.

“Tact,” Mira said slowly, “you did tell him that you were going to the Ancient Temple, right?”

The boy jolted and his face turned red.

Mira sighed and then looked Tact in the eyes. “Tact, my boy—you weren’t the only one hurt by the news of your parents’ apparent death. Your grandfather must have grieved just as much.”

“I know…”

“Do you want him to worry about you as well? Are you trying to trouble your grandfather?” As she lectured him, Tact silently shook his head side to side. “Of course not. But from now on, you need to tell him where you’re going when you go out. Promise me, all right?”

“All right.” He nodded as Mira hugged him.

“That’s a good boy,” she said, and he was reminded of his mother’s warmth, which had seemed a distant memory.

“Mira is so adorable when she’s big-sisterly…”

“Don’t ruin this,” Emella growled as her free hand lashed out to restrain Flicker, whose gaze had turned hungry.

Zephard narrowed his eyes and murmured, “I don’t want to sound like Flicker, but Mira seems to be older than she looks at times…”

“Oho, is that going to be your excuse?” Asval laughed. “And here I thought the Valkyrie sisters were more of your type.”

“Whoa! Not cool, man!”

The commotion attracted Cyril’s attention. “Do I need to hear more about this?”

“Zef, I thought you preferred the more full-figured types?” asked Kilic earnestly.

Trying to take some of the heat off of Zephard, Mira rose and took Tact’s hand. “Well, seeing as I’m the one who decided to take Tact into a dungeon, I’ll be responsible for seeing him home.”

“Little miss, there’s still the rest of the loot to divvy out,” Asval said with a knowing wink. “What should we do with it?”

Realizing he was referring to the remnants of the demon, Mira said, “Very well. I suppose I could return after delivering Tact.”

“In that case, why don’t I escort the boy?” Cyril countered. Mira suspected that he’d been briefed on the incident and he was well aware of their need for confidentiality.

“No, but…” It was a generous offer, but Mira really wanted an excuse to say her goodbyes for the evening and get back to her plush hotel room.

Just as she was about to refuse, Kilic stood as well. “I too shall accompany them. It is the least I can do after the gift I’ve received this evening. The child’s safety is guaranteed.”

There was no arguing it. With the two of them as escorts, Tact would be safe even if the zombies invaded for a second time that evening. Still, she was reluctant to agree.

“If Mira saw him home, she might get picked up by the Knight Patrol again,” Emella teased.

Mira was mortified. Her head drooped to her chest, and she conceded to their offer with a resigned wave.

“Miss Mira, Miss Emella, Master Asval, Miss Flicker, Mr. Zef. Thank you all so much! I’ll pay you back someday!” Tact stood up straight and tall and bowed deeply. When he straightened, his face was filled with gratitude and deep admiration. A marked difference from the weeping child whom Mira had bumped into the day before.

“See you around, Tact,” Asval said with a wave and a smile.

“When you become an adventurer, give me a holler. I’ll teach you a thing or two.”

“And if you choose to be a sorcerer, I might be able to teach you something as well,” Flicker added. “Feel free to ask anytime.”

“Master…huh?”

The rest of the group gathered around and patted Tact on the head. The well-pampered boy could only squeeze out another “All right!” with a boyish smile.

“Hmm, well, now… Make sure to let your grandfather know that your parents are still alive,” Mira instructed. “I’m sure he’ll be happy to hear it. And you’ve got three options in becoming a mage. The choice is yours. Whichever you choose, make sure to pay a visit to the Linked Silver Towers. There’s a welcome waiting for you… Just be sure to talk it over with your grandfather first.”

“Yes, ma’am!” Tact glanced around the room once more, as if to firmly imprint the image of the moment in his mind. The memory would last a lifetime.

As soon as the boy was out the door, Flicker could no longer restrain herself. “Mira! What about my invitation to the Linked Towers?!”

The Linked Silver Towers were the largest institute of magical research on the entire continent, not just inside Alcait. The towers were a den of single-minded madmen intent on expanding their disciplines at all costs. Even top-tier adventurers might find themselves turned away at the gate.

As the pupil of Danblf, Elder and highest-ranking member of the Tower of Evocation, Mira had access that others didn’t. Given the battle they’d witnessed in the depths of the Ancient Temple, it was clear that she could earn a place within the Towers. By offering a blanket invitation to Tact, she had unknowingly flaunted her influence in front of her lecherous and jealous compatriot. 

“Mira! Just get me in to have a look! I’m begging yooou!” Flicker groveled and clutched at Mira’s boots—yet the sorceress was looking at her for the first time with something other than lust. Her eyes were filled with a mage’s thirst for knowledge.

“Fine, fine! When I have the time, I’ll show you around. Just let me go!” 

“I love you, Mira!” With Mira’s acquiescence, Flicker’s personality flipped once again and she pounced, only to be intercepted by Emella.

Dinner and drinks finished, the group retired to Zef’s room on the second floor of the tavern.

“All right, now for the truly interesting stuff.” Zephard spread the demon parts out across the table. There were two twisted horns, eight gleaming black claws, a stretch of jet-black hide that had survived the fire, and the two wings.

All of them seemed to have a corrupted aura about them, and Emella had the sinking suspicion that they might be cursed. But Flicker, their expert in such matters, said nothing. If there were a problem, then the lecherous mage would have spoken up.

“You look at them laid out like this and…it’s just amazing.” Asval sighed as he stared at the demon remains.

“The magical power in these claws alone is incredible,” said Flicker. “They seem to be attuned to elemental fire. If we used them to make magical armaments, they’d be unbelievably powerful.”

She picked up one of the claws, inspecting it as though searching for something.

“A flaming sword!” Emella gasped to herself, her fear of curses evaporating as her eyes twinkled in anticipation. She looked at the claws arranged on the table, then whispered, “Eight magic swords…”

“O-okay,” said Zef, looking at the vice captain with a wary eye. “First things first. How do we divide them? Mira, you’re sure we should split these as well? It’s not like we did much besides watch the fight.”

Emella groaned and the light faded in her eyes. The rest of the party knew that Mira had carried the raid.

“How many times do we have to rehash this conversation?! If you’re still that bothered, just remember that your guild now owes me a favor. I need that information, and if this is the payment, then that’s fine with me. I don’t need demon claws—I need the facts about those dates.”

Zef and Asval exchanged glances and shrugged.

“I would help with that no matter what, because I love you,” said Flicker quietly enough that no one heard.

“Then leave it to us!” Emella said confidently, as the vision of flaming swords danced in her head.

“How about this, little miss: you take what you like, and then we’ll split the rest between us.”

“Hrmm, fine. If that’s what it takes.” Mira glanced over the table.

The hide was best suited to make armor—so it was largely useless to her. The claws were useful for mage equipment or tools, of which she had plenty. The wings were a defensive material.

She didn’t need any of those. The horns, on the other hand… “I suppose I’ll take these. And the rest is yours to do with as you see fit.”

“You sure, little miss?” asked Asval. “Don’t hold back on our account. Any one of these is a great reward from our point of view.”

Demonic materials were a very rare and expensive commodity, especially since demons had been an extinct species until recently. The only demon parts still in circulation were bits and pieces from the great war over thirty years ago. What lay before them was in excellent condition compared to what might occasionally be unearthed from an old battlefield. The price would be astronomical.

“This is enough,” Mira said, mulling over what she might be able to do given a quality refining table and some time to work.

“Well, you heard the lady. Now let’s divvy up the rest of this lot,” said Zef, looking down at the table just in time to see a hand reach out and snag a demon’s claw. “Oh, Vice Captain…”

Emella found herself the target of three cold stares. “But…swords,” she mumbled.

After several rounds of choosing and swapping, Emella wound up with five claws, Asval most of the hide, Flicker the wings, and Zef three claws and the remainder of the hide.

“Well, I suppose it’s time for me to head back. This was all quite entertaining,” Mira said. The other four members present stood and bowed to her. She looked at the four of them quizzically, surprised by their sudden action.

“It’s thanks to you that we’re still alive. I offer you my gratitude. Thank you.” A smile bloomed across Emella’s face like a flower, but her eyes shone with a conviction to grow stronger.

“Thank you, little miss. For everything, even this little souvenir,” said Asval, smiling pleasantly as he patted his portion of the demon’s hide.

“Thank you for everything, Mira. I’ll make it up to you someday. So if you could just tell me how to contact you…”

Flicker was cut off by Emella’s strike, allowing Zef to cut in. “Thanks to you, I was able to come to peace with a few things. Thank you.”

Mira’s cheeks began to burn as she was once again forced into the center of everyone’s attention and praise. She looked down at her feet and a hesitant smile crept across her face. 

“What’s all this? I told you all thanks weren’t necessary.”

The cuteness was overpowering, and like a shot, Flicker lunged—only to fall victim to another of Emella’s vicious chops.