C364 - Trail (4)
On September 19, 1799, at the Toad Inn in the southwest of the Feudal State of the Empire, Kyken.
Valeria sat in the lobby with her hair dyed black, wearing light leather armor, and sipping on beer.
Her staff was propped against the wall, wrapped in cloth to look like a spear, giving her the appearance of a novice adventurer engrossed in her task.
She had been staring at a flyer hanging on the inn's wall for a while.
(Jin Runcandel said, "Beauty, that's your other na." Surrender to the stunning performance of the Peng Clan's makeup.)
Setting aside the embarrassing advertising slogan (though the Peng Clan's advertising slogan garnered significant attention), it was remarkable that even in a small town like this, there were flyers hanging around.
"Not many rcenaries would order a beer in broad daylight and stare at an advertising flyer with such a cold expression. I recomnd changing things up a bit. Order lots of food, put a rcenary magazine in front of you, that would be nice."
Jin took a seat across from her, shrugging.
"Did you really say that?"
"That 'your other na' part? No way."
Even though Jin himself was right in front of the consecutive advertising flyers, no one recognized him.
Jin opened the nu and, naturally, called the innkeeper. He then proceeded to order a variety of dishes.
"Beef stew with lots of chili and onions, and ox intestine stew. Add plenty of pepper to the latter. And..."
Jin stopped when he saw Valeria's expression.
"I accidentally ntioned the dishes we used to eat often during our ti together in our past lives. Since I got used to eating according to my master's preferences, my taste has changed a bit."
Fortunately, Valeria didn't react any differently.
"Well, the dishes available at any inn are common foods. There shouldn't be anything unusual."
But Valeria thought differently.
"Lots of chili, onions, and plenty of pepper. How can he be so accurate? It's not extrely unusual; so people eat like that from ti to ti."
Valeria's palate had been cultivated during her ti with the Gray Owl rcenaries. Thinking suddenly of them, Valeria wore a bitter smile.
"Oddly enough, sotis... it feels like Jin Runcandel knows well."
It had been a long ti since Valeria ate these dishes with others, but she thought it wasn't a bad feeling. Not exactly great, just acceptable.
They ate to their heart's content while pretending to be the typical rcenary duo and discussed their future as freelancers.
"Good job, Aria Owlheart. Impressive, you managed to find the Cat Tribe in just three months."
As they left the inn and walked along the quiet path to Wantaramo, Jin began to speak.
"I haven't found them completely yet; as I wrote in the letter, I only found traces. They lead to the Wantaramo Forest."
Jin nodded.
Actually, I don't know if the Wantaramo Forest is an ordinary forest.
This ti, I heard the na for the first ti.
Just as Jin was about to say that, Valeria continued.
"Moreover, if the Cat Tribe hadn't intentionally left traces, I wouldn't have found even those. It's not who's impressive; it's them."
"The Cat Tribe intentionally left traces?"
"Yes. They know I'm looking for them. I think they realized a month ago, and since then, they've been subtly sending ssages, almost like posing riddles."
The Cat Tribe was leading Valeria to the Wantaramo Forest.
"If they could leave ssages to pursuers, at least they weren't all wiped out..."
When she recalled the mont when she left them alone with the cave barrier in the third tomb and departed, even now, a part of her heart felt heavy as if it were laden with tal.
-The Cat Tribe's barrier is quite interesting. There are more troubleso things than you think.
The words that the Specter Corps had uttered when they broke through the Cat Tribe's barrier and entered the cave.
Even after hearing those words, Jin never asked the Specter Corps what they had done with the Cat Tribe.
Perhaps it was because he couldn't afford to reveal unnecessary weaknesses or engage in psychological warfare with them.
Later, when Berakt appeared and t other specters upon leaving the forest, Jin couldn't shake the fact that he hadn't asked the specters about the Cat Tribe.
"I was planning to contact you when I had the chance to et them in person. But since it's the Wantaramo Forest, it was necessary to bring soone they knew. I thought they might have considered a threat and decided to eliminate ."
"Eliminate you?" Jin asked, and Valeria smiled in satisfaction.
"Seriously, you don't know what the Wantaramo Forest is?"
"I don't."
"Then why did you pretend to know?"
"When did I...?"
"You just did."
"No, I was actually about to give an honest answer before. You just didn't give a chance to speak."
Pfft.
Valeria let out a light chuckle.
"I was actually testing you. I was curious about the information-gathering ability of Runcandel's Flagbearers. It seems that information about the Wantaramo Forest isn't given to lower-ranked Flagbearers."
It wasn't that big a deal, but it felt like a blow to the back of his head.
"If you feel bad about it, then I apologize."
"It's okay. So, what is that forest anyway?"
"Although you don't know the Wantaramo Forest, you must have heard of the Royal lodic Drink, right?"
"I've tried it before. My father gave it to ."
"Most people in the world probably think of you as the least favored younger son, but you were a very beloved child. And to think that even Cyron Runcandel granted you the Royal lodic Drink. The Wantaramo Forest is the land where the Royal lodic Drink is brewed."
It was then that Jin finally understood why, when Kashimir was young, the emperor and Vermont's associates negotiated with the Wantaramo Forest.
Royal lodic Drink.
A special drink crafted for a special day, at a special mont, for a special person.
Only one race in the world could make the Royal lodic Drink.
'Descendants of the Fairy Tribe...'
In the Wantaramo Forest lived the descendants of the Fairy Tribe.
Very few knew this fact.
Even most Dragons who had lived for thousands of years didn't know, let alone the Twelfth Flagbearer.
Literally at the pinnacle of the world or near it, those in power and their close associates, or those with the special ability to uncover the many secrets of the world, were the only ones who knew Wantaramo's true nature.
And those who knew Wantaramo were always cautious about approaching it.
The Wantaramo Forest was common property of the giant forces. If rumors about Wantaramo spread to unnecessary individuals and caused trouble in the forest, everyone would suffer the consequences together.
"Jin Runcandel."
"Yes?"
"Last ti, when I took a look at your records, I learned that the Fairy Tribe has a close connection to my clan."
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