Chapter 45
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The twenty-fourth fragnt, Carpe Diem
Jeanne was dumbstruck at Tia’s ability to see right through her. Indeed, like a true rcenary of Baek Eun-pae, there was more to her than what t the eye.
“That’s amazing… You’re right. With your help, I wish to find the fragnt that was said to have fallen here.”
Jeanne answered truthfully. Judah, simply listening all this ti while cutting their apples into the figures of rabbits, only tilted his head at their exchange. Carpe Diem, the twenty-fourth fragnt that fell on Serenia Castle, was already in his possession.
However, it was a fact that no one knew except Xian and himself. Of course, it was correct to think that it will be in the western forest, but why head to the eastern forest? Judah couldn’t grasp why, and Tia thought the sa.
“It’s been said that the fragnt fell in the western woods, but why would you want us with you in the eastern and southern woods?”
“Well, I’d like to think differently. I wonder if the word of the fragnt’s whereabouts is false. Maybe it isn’t in the western forest, but rather, it lays in the eastern forest or on the other side?”
Not a hint of it was discovered for nearly 150 years, so to think of such a possibility was not unreasonable. Jeanne used to believe the old whispers, but overti, her trust in it had changed. And in a way, she was right. It was in the east woods. The only detail she missed was that it already had an owner. Tia sat back deep in thought, looking at Judah, who was as absorbed as he.
“What do you want to do?”
“I get to decide?”
“Well, you’d be the one to handle the wolves anyway.”
She didn’t need to say it, but basically, Jeanne was only to watch him from behind. And considering her level, she could hinder their success rather than help. Judah checked her status, confirming her level that sat at 16, missing just a single point. Despite this, it wouldn’t be so bad to hunt with her.
“And if you can’t find the fragnt? What then?”
“It doesn’t matter if we can’t find it. It doesn’t matter since we can’t expect it in the first place. Try thinking bigger. These fragnts, as the Lord said yesterday, will show themselves to those who led by fate. Don’t worry, finding it is of no pressure.”
“…If you say so. Well, then, we’ll go with you.”
Judah nodded to her request that made Jeanne lit up at his acceptance.
“Thank you.”
[Apprentice Blue Spear Knight “Jeanne Art Loire” is shifted as a temporary companion.]
[You can check the status of her while she is a colleague.]
[Jeanne Art Loire’s credibility has increased by 5.]
As Judah scanned the holographic ssage in front of his eyes, Tia tapped him from the side.
“Go wash the dishes. As for you, Miss Jeanne, shall we talk briefly about the commission and future work?”
“Oh, yes, go right ahead.”
Judah stared at the ladies as they left the kitchen to discuss affairs in the living room. After washing the dishes thoroughly, he stumbled upon them, already coming to an agreent.
It was decided; they were to receive advanced pay, and they were to et in front of the east gate at 7 am every morning, excluding the weekends. Judah discussed the plan of action to be followed when they entered the forest and decided to give away so of their proceeds from hunting black wolves.
The next day, Judah and Tia headed for the east gate before 7 am. They were a little earlier than the promised ti, but Jeanne was already there when they arrived. To their confusion, all she had worn was a simple outfit and a backpack. Although underdressed for hunting, Judah and Tia made no ntion of it. It wasn’t a requirent, and being the blue lancer that she was, they figured she could simply use her magic should she need it.
As they entered the forest away from civilization, Judas asked Jeanne for the backpack she had been carrying. She handed it over to him despite her hesitation. Judah, on the other hand, simply put it in his -bag-. Just like Tia the first ti she saw it, Jeanne was as bewildered with Judah and his talk of subspaces.
They reached the southern forest by taking the path through the eastern forest. As soon as a group of black wolves appeared, silver particles appeared on Jeanne’s body that wrapped her entire figure. Judah could not help but stare, as it was a transformation straight out of a cartoon that he used to watch as a child. The silver particles engulfing her fra beca a shining full-length armor and helt, and in her grasp, brandished a bluish cone-shaped jousting spear and a rectangular tower shield.
According to plan, they launched into action; Tia hid through invisibility while Jeanne acted as a distraction for the wolves. Her shiny silver armor successfully snatched their attention, most going for her, and only two out of the five galloped for Judah.
They weren’t spared from the prowess of a Blue Spear Knight. She stopped the first wolf with her shield without difficulty, striking with her jousting spear like a blunt flag. The wolf was beaten like at, and soon it found itself paralyzed as if its bones were broken and strangled. When Judah dealt with the ones that attacked him, they received the sa excruciating fate. Before Judah turned, Jeanne stabbed her spear at the last remaining black wolf. The spear pierced the black wolf’s body with ease.
Their combat thod proved to work in their favor. After skinning and collecting the gemstones, their hunt continued in the sa way. Of course, it wasn’t just hunting.
As Jeanne requested, they were to look around, and on the next day, she dragged them sowhere even farther away. Deep into the woods, packs of black wolves beyond their capacity appeared, that Tia had to join the battle to defeat them.
After a week, they got used to hunting with Jeanne to so extent.
On weekdays, they hunted. On weekends, Judah and Tia relaxed at ho and goofed around. When her favorability exceeded 70, her showing of affection beca even more daring. There were many tis when her gaze appeared to be seductive, and there were tis she would take a shower and co out without a towel to cover her. There were instances where Judah would take a bath, and Tia would co waltzing into the shower with him.
Her statents, “I’ll eat you once you’ve grown,” seed real as she kept watching Judah like a ripened fruit. He liked her affection, but it had started to unsettle him. As if she had read this atmosphere, Tia picked up that he was burdened, so she gave them a reasonable distance. What was she to do? Was she rushing in too much? The air of uncertainty between them continued.
And just like that, a year passed by, with nothing special happening between them.
There was still no news that the fragnt had been found, and Jeanne, who wandered through the eastern and southern woods searching for it, was unsuccessful either.
Whether the number of black wolves had decreased, they couldn’t tell. They hunted two to three or more groups every day, and if that number was kept steady, it could be considered strange.
Hunting a certain amount of black wolves every day and selling leather and gemstones to Serenia Castle soon made the leather price a little cheaper. On the brighter side, the anxiety within the inhabitants of the castle squandered away. Just a year ago, the crowd in the square would talk about the black wolves, but now its ntion has halted.
The restriction on access to the woods was also lifted. However, the possibility of black wolves roaming around continued, so the hunters would go in groups and take the path northward. The herbalists and herb-diggers were still going out with the soldiers. However, none had seen a black wolf for several months already, so people began to roam loosely like before after a little more ti.
For Judah, they carried on with their routine of hunting black wolves. As usual, he sold leather, sold gemstones, and handed out the money. Tia, who was in charge of their finances, distributed bags of the paynt to Judah and Jeanne.
“You had a hard ti today.”
“Indeed, but thank you.”
Jeanne seed to stall. Her mouth hung open as to say sothing. For a year, working with her has proved that she was a true knight. If she had anything to say straight, Judah hoped she could say it as it is, without hiding it through layers of taphors. But seeing her hesitate, it felt like she had sothing important to discuss.
“What’s wrong, Jeanne? Do you have anything to say?”
Jeanne could only stutter in surprise as she was confronted. In a mont, her head dropped.
“Well… I wished to end our quest today. I’ve been grateful for this. I couldn’t find any fragnts, and it seems like the ti has co for us to go in separate ways.”
Tia and Judas glanced at each other, then back again to Jeanne.
“What’s going on?”
She found it hard to explain her story.
“We couldn’t find it now, but maybe it’s going to happen in the future. You know I’m an apprentice, yes?”
“Yeah.”
“The Blue Spear Knight is given two to three years of free ti during the probationary period. We are free to roam during that ti, whether to work for the Empire, go on an adventure, or train. My free ti is now. When it’s all over, I go back to my ho country and take the test to beco an interdiate knight. The ti has co for to return to my ho country, and I’d like to explore the western forest a little while I still have my ti.”
Judah and Tia nodded in understanding. It was so sudden, but they couldn’t help it because this was hers to deal with.
“Then, should we have a drink today before we go our ways?”
“You an like, drink alcohol?”
Jeanne rolled her eyes in thought. The offer was tempting. While she debated, Tia threw the bait.
“It’s on . I’ll treat you sowhere fancy.”
“That sounds like a great offer. Shall we go now?”
“Once we’ve washed and gathered ourselves!”
Their conversation continued without Judah.
“Wait a minute. Tia, am I going for a drink too?”
“I’ll buy you sothing delicious when I leave~ You can go wait for at ho.”
Tia laughed at Judah as she bid him farewell, leading the young boy ho. Jeanne, just as amused, also couldn’t help but laugh as he watched Judah being dragged by his wrist. She bowed her head at him as her goodbye. Before they could leave, Judah followed after them.
“Wait a minute, are you really leaving alone?”
Tia’s mischievous eyes watched him from underneath her eyelashes. Thinking about alcohol had always brought a cheeky smile to her face.
“You can’t help it. You haven’t held a coming-of-age ceremony yet. But you see, even if you drink alcohol, no one will say anything, but people will be watching. Why, can’t it without your teacher?”
Judah could only sigh as a reply to her teasing remark.
“Okay. Just… Drink moderately and co ho early.”
Tia smiled and didn’t answer. Saying that to a grown-up adult like her was nothing more than pointless nagging. Judah laid on the living room sofa while Tia headed for the bathroom to fix herself up.
‘Damn it. That’s sad. I wanted to drink too.’
The liquor they had at ho was not very tasty. He rembered drinking it as much as he wanted to before, but he didn’t think he’d wish to drink it again this ti around. As he sat there waiting for Tia, sleep began to crawl into his senses. Judah opened his status window, checking the stats he had gathered over ti.
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