Chapter 56
Yujelia returned to the Grand Temple, and as if in exchange, Heinen ca back to the lodging.
This holy knight, whose face was still entirely hidden, bowed his head the mont he saw Aquila.
Whatever he had heard while staying by Ianpel’s side was unknown, but this ti as well, he would likely fulfill both the role of escort and that of observer.
‘In the previous cycle, it felt like he was being worked to the bone because Ianpel was his superior, but in a different way, he is just as troubleso as Chelsey.’
If Chelsey relayed everything she heard to Ianpel, Heinen was not quite that thorough.
Even so, since he reported important information all the sa, the conclusion was no different.
Aquila t Shen’s and Cahena’s eyes in turn, then looked away.
Before Heinen returned, they had agreed it would be better not to speak of anything important in front of him.
There was a high chance he would pick up even casually dropped words or future plans and report them wholesale to Ianpel.
After all, he had known about the Old Items Auction without them ever bringing it up first.
‘Once the Founding Festival ends, we just need to leave Portplum as soon as possible.’
Living with a tail constantly attached to one’s back was truly botherso.
Especially now, when there were already so many people around.
Aquila let out a wide yawn and flopped back down onto the bed.
***
The day before the Founding Festival.
No matter where one went in Portplum, people were packed in like sardines.
Most shops looked as though they might burst, and those who could not find space spilled out into the streets.
Residents cooperated to prevent accidents, and experienced rchants helped, but the commotion did not subside.
So many people had gathered because of the ‘Great Old Dust Release,’ an event that occurred only once every two years.
With people scrambling to discover good items at the street stalls as quickly as possible, the day before and the day of the Founding Festival were chaos every single ti.
Thus, the first day of the week was the noisiest, the middle days grew sowhat calr, and in the final two days, there were more carriages than people on the streets.
It was thanks to the procession of nobles.
In any case, the important thing was that Aquila Reschenhardt would have to remain in Portplum for eight more days.
‘It is absurdly loud here even just opening the window.’
Aquila drew back the curtain and looked out the window, clicking his tongue.
Each room was fitted with soundproofing magic, so it was quiet as long as one stayed inside, but the mont a window was opened, the noisy chatter outside poured in.
No matter how secluded the lodging had been built, Portplum itself was currently like a boiling pot.
If it had been sumr, being forced to keep the windows tightly shut might have felt even more suffocating.
And that was despite the cooling magic formulas running vigorously in each room to maintain a comfortable temperature.
“Young Master, here is your tea.”
“Thank you.”
Shen set down a teacup that was sending up steaming curls of vapor.
Aquila stared out the window a little longer, then sat down at the table.
As he lifted the cup and inhaled the scent, the fragrance of jasmine felt as though it were gently washing over his body and mind.
“Would you like to go out and have a look around?”
“Why?”
“Well, you have barely gone out at all these past three days and have just stayed inside.”
After returning from the Grand Temple’s prison, Aquila had suffered from fairly intense muscle soreness.
It was because of the stairs he had climbed to reach the upper levels.
Heinen had channeled a bit of divine power into him, so it had improved sowhat by now, but…….
Shen glanced out the window and continued.
“I know how things are, but I thought you might want to go out anyway. Do you not get bored just reading books?”
“Not really. There is nothing to do even if I go out.”
“There is so much to see! Last ti, you only ca to attend the party and did not get to walk around Portplum at all.”
From what he had heard, it seed that Aquila had never stayed in Portplum for such a long, relaxed stretch of ti.
Every ti, his condition had been poor, and he had struggled.
To make matters worse, last ti he had been forced to leave in a hurry because of the Curse of Deadly Poison.
At that ti, Lexenbert had gone off to subjugate the Frost Forest, and it seed Aquila had also used rien’s birthday party as a pretext to leave, lest he run into Celsia.
But that had been the ‘real Aquila.’
The current Aquila had little interest in Portplum.
‘I have seen it too often to be bored of it, so what is there to look at again?’
He had grown tired of seeing it even when he had lived here as a priest of Portplum, and he visited this place every cycle even when inhabiting other bodies.
There was a main scenario that unfolded here, after all.
There was no reason to go sightseeing in a place he already knew inside and out.
Besides…….
“Do not bother. You have heard how fast the rumors spread.”
The spring of water that welled up from the Right Hand of the Halo.
The story of the third bloodline of House Reschenhardt, who had co from the northern lands blessed by the great ancient dragon Igdrein and worked a miracle at the Temple of the Sun, was drawing imnse attention.
Not only from nobles, but rather, even more so from commoners.
Because the carriage bearing the crest of House Reschenhardt had not yet left Portplum, word also spread quickly that he was still here.
As a result, the number of people lingering around just to catch a glimpse of that red hair increased.
Aquila did not particularly mind.
As long as he stayed in this lodging, they were people who could not approach him anyway.
But once renowned nobles began arriving in Portplum one after another for the auction, if any of them showed interest in Aquila, it would be difficult to maintain complete indifference.
Annoyingly so.
“But still…… you really do not look sick anywhere right now.”
Shen drooped his shoulders, sounding regretful.
As the servant said, perhaps because Aquila had done nothing but eat, drink, read books, and lie around accumulating mana, his complexion looked better than ever.
Of course, all of this was thanks to the Blessing of the Sun God.
If not for that, Aquila would have been dragging himself around as he had before.
“I am not saying I will not go out at all until the auction. I am thinking of resting just until tomorrow, then going out on the second or third day.”
“……Really?! I will tell them to prepare!”
Since they would have to stop by the street stalls anyway, Shen’s eyes lit up at the suggestion.
Seeing that expression, Aquila’s lips twitched slightly before he took another sip of tea.
“You just want to go out by yourself, don’t you? If you want to look around, go ahead.”
“What?! How could a servant who attends the young master wander the streets alone?”
“So what? You should enjoy your free ti too.”
“My hobby is serving tea to you, Young Master!”
Shen shook his head firmly as he declared it.
To think that sothing like that counted as a hobby.
Aquila looked down at the teacup, still sending up warm steam, and shook his head.
Given that he was using this body and putting Shen to work, it was not sothing he should say, but a life bound to a single noble…….
‘Has Shen also been in Igrail all this ti, making this his first ti seeing a festival? I should go out with him, if only to let him enjoy the Founding Festival.’
Thinking that, Aquila tilted his cup again, then subtly stiffened his expression.
‘I should not grow attached…….’
He set the cup down silently.
***
[How does it look?]
He closed his mouth, apparently considering how to respond.
But soon, a quiet, blunt voice flowed out, no different from usual.
“They are being cautious.”
[Haha! Is that not because of your appearance? You keep your face covered, so you cannot even appeal as harmless.]
A rarely cheerful voice ca through the communication bracelet.
Heinen looked at the blue light slowly blinking from the mana stone set at its center.
“It is because of the Saint, not my fault.”
[Why is that my fault? It is because you told everything about the third bloodline of House Reschenhardt, is it not?]
“I rely carried out the task I was given.”
[You know very well that it amounts to the sa thing.]
A small sigh slipped through Heinen’s lips.
There was no sound, so the other party could not hear it, but even if Ianpel did, he would likely ignore it.
“What is it that you need?”
[Since when were we such a dry relationship that we only exchanged business? I used the bracelet to ask how you were.]
“I stepped out briefly and must return soon.”
[It must be nice, being together there. To think you would be this cold to . I am hurt.]
“I will be going.”
[Hm. Has what little patience you had decreased even further?]
Ianpel spoke, still filled with laughter.
Then, as if choosing his words, he deliberately made a soft, drawn-out “Hmm…….”
[After staying inside for three straight days, I imagine he will move soon. He would dislike the first day because of the crowds, so perhaps the second or third day?]
“Yes. I saw Shen preparing to go out.”
[Ah, as expected. Then that servant, Shen…… is there anything unusual about him?]
“By your standards, no.”
[Even though, by my standards, most people fall far below the mark?]
Heinen fell briefly silent.
“His movents are not ordinary. As I reported last ti.”
[You said his footsteps are almost inaudible? That he is adept with short blades and very nimble.]
“Yes. He has clearly received assassination training. With two such people staying close to Aquila Reschenhardt, my role as an escort honestly seems rather unnecessary.”
[How modest of you.]
“I am only stating the facts.”
Ianpel added again, his voice amused.
[Hm…… in any case, it really is a strange arrangent. What house assigns soone trained in assassination as a bodyguard?]
A faint rustling sound accompanied his words.
Even though they were communicating only by voice through the bracelet, Heinen could picture his expression as if he were standing right in front of him.
His eyes would be shining.
Like soone who had found an interesting specin.
‘To catch this man’s eye is truly unfortunate. And yet…….’
Heinen recalled the vivid red hair that ca so clearly to mind.
And those black eyes.
Thinking of Aquila Reschenhardt’s gaze evoked a peculiar impression.
He seed indifferent to everything around him, yet at tis, he looked as though everything had been worn away, like dried, cracked tree bark.
In any case, he was soone just as difficult to define as Ianpel.
If Aquila knew Heinen was thinking such things, he would surely recoil in disgust.
[Thanks to the rumors we deliberately spread, there will be many people trying to approach the third bloodline of House Reschenhardt. There will likely be even more people this year than during the last Dust Release.]
“Yes. I will be more vigilant so that no one approaches rashly.”
[And until the auction, could you try to keep him from visiting the Grand Temple as much as possible?]
“Because of the fervent believers?”
[Yes, that too, but…….]
Ianpel did not answer imdiately, pausing uncharacteristically.
Then he added in a quiet voice,
[I received word that Hurbel is coming this ti.]
“Ah.”
Beirets Hurbel, that madman.
Wondering what he was getting at, Heinen understood at once when he heard the na.
After that, he responded quickly.
“Yes. I will also be careful around magic tool and accessory shops.”
[Hm. With so many people, it seems unlikely they would run into each other, but please do.]
“Yes. I will contact you if there is anything to report.”
[All right. Keep up the good work.]
Ianpel spoke gently, his final words laced with a smile.
Then, whoosh, the golden formula vanished, and the blue light that had been blinking at the center of the bracelet disappeared as well.
A faint silver sheen lingered on the darkened surface of the mana stone.
Heinen lifted his head and looked up at the lodging.
‘……This Founding Festival looks like it will be especially busy.’
Letting out a short sigh, Heinen tucked the communication bracelet deep into his clothing, out of sight.
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