Chapter 264: Chapter 259 – Special-grade Cursed Item

Translator: SFBaka

“This all came about when the pirates first launched an attack on our planet.”

Zesh, who was now sitting on a sofa seat opposite mine, started talking about the events that led to the seed of the Sacred Tree coming into my possession.

“The pirates barged into the engagement ceremony that was about to take place on the base of the Sacred Tree, which was located at the border between the territories of Grado clan and Minfa clan. The attack was terribly fierce, and many participants were either injured, killed, or taken away. Even then, the pirates still seemed unsatisfied and aimed their aggression at the Sacred Tree. The rays of light emitted from their ships burned down the Sacred Tree and turned half of it to smoldering ashes.”

“I see. But why did this seed end up all the way in the middle of a forest then?”

The area where I picked up the glowing seed was right in the middle of the Grado clan’s forest territory. Its location was pretty far away from the Sacred Tree itself. So does that mean someone purposely carried it all the way to the location where we found it?

“When the Sacred Tree faces its demise, it releases a seed to the world. The seed then flies away from the dying tree and pierces a spot where the one destined to find it will appear. And furthermore, no one except for those destined can ever pull the seed out from where it lies.”

“The heck? Is this the Sword in the Stone or something……?”

There were similar legends circulating on Earth. The sword stuck on a rock pulled out by King Arthur and the magic sword pulled out from an apple tree by the Nordic hero Sigurd are some famous examples. Only the chosen ones could pull them out, and they would be granted tremendous power, authority, prestige, and in most cases, tragic ends in exchange. Basically, none of the characters I knew of met decent deaths.

“The heck! So ain’t this some kind of special-grade cursed item? I really don’t need this thing, so just take it away please.”

“No, no, no! This is an incredible honor you know!?”

The mysterious object, err, the Sacred Tree seed, also flashed several times in response.

“You ain’t fooling me! I’m sure the ones who pulled this thing out in the past met incredibly tragic ends in exchange for power, honor, and stuff like that!”

“T-There’s no such thing…… Mm, yes, no such thing at all. I think?”

“If you’re gonna lie through your teeth, could you make it more convincing!?”

I scolded Zesh from the top of my lungs as the special-grade cursed item flickered weakly.

“In the first place, we’ll immediately leave this star system the moment our business here is done. I even actually want to leave now, to be honest. Come to think of it, we don’t really have anything left to do here, right? Okay, let’s get out of here. Like, now. Immediately.”

“Wait, wait, wait, wait! Please wait! Please at least give me some time to relay the fact that you have been chosen Hiro-dono, and let us think of countermeasures. Please! I only ask you to stay for a few more days!”

Zesh frantically begged as he knelt on the floor again.

“It will also take some time to prepare the items to compensate you all. It would take at least three days to prepare and transport them. If possible, I’d like you to give us one week. I will arrange for the best accommodations and service during that time, so please.”

“Gununu……”

If he’s already gone this far…… No, no. I can’t back down now. This kind of event pattern will probably lead to even more troublesome stuff after all. I have to resolutely refuse-

“Hiro-sama, I think you really don’t have to mind it that much, you know?”

“……What do you mean by that?”

“Um……”

Mimi turned her gaze away as if finding her next words hard to say. What is it?

“I think things will turn out the same as usual regardless of whether or not you choose to keep the seed……”

“……”

Mimi’s words shut me up. Was she trying to say I was living a cursed life already, so it didn’t matter if I kept a special-grade cursed item or two? Is that it?

“Yeah, that’s how it is huh.”

“Yep. Definitely.”

“Um…… I’m sorry Big Brother, but I’m of the same opinion.”

“Master, there is a saying that goes ‘If you’ve eaten poison, then better lick the plate as well.’ or something to that effect.”

“I don’t wanna! Who’d want to eat poison anyway!?”

I resisted desperately, but ultimately, we ended up agreeing to stay in Theta for another week or so. Dammit.

In the end, we decided to continue staying at the inn near the integrated port facility where the welcome party was conducted. They welcomed us even more respectfully than before. It kinda felt like I was their king or lord or something.

If it was left at that, then I’d have no problem with it. But that wasn’t the case at all. First, there were the media. I don’t know where they managed to sniff out info, but lots of them came to visit the inn and asked for interviews. We refused all of them, of course. I won’t agree to interviews even if the three clan leaders came personally to beg me. Since we were adamant in our refusal, they resorted to taking voyeur shots from long distances through the use of high-magnification cameras or drones.

We couldn’t relax even if we wanted to with this atmosphere, so we immediately lodged a complaint to the clan leaders. Or rather, even if I wasn’t a formal aristocrat, I was still considered as an honorary imperial viscount. Do they think taking private photos and videos of an imperial noble without permission was allowed? Huh? Anyway, we threatened the media with that sort of justification through the clan leaders, and the sneaky lot immediately stopped their antics. Hooray for aristocratic privileges!n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

I thought things would finally settle down. But-

“It’s been a long time, everyone.”

A beautiful woman with her two female attendants paid us a visit. Yep. It was the daughter of Clan Leader Zesh, Lady Tinia. Today, she wasn’t just accompanied by her female attendants. A handsome male elf also tagged along.

“Hello. I’m Nect, the son of Minfa clan’s leader, Miriam. Thank you very much for your help back then.”

Nect was a handsome guy with a refreshing and warm smile coupled with lustrous blonde hair. Although he was one of those damn pretty boys, I didn’t find him particularly annoying. On the contrary, he seemed like a likable young man.

“I’m glad that you seem to have recovered completely.”

“It’s all thanks to you. To be honest, I remember little when we were imprisoned inside that ship, but I’ve heard that I would have died if it weren’t for your help. I really am very grateful.”

Mr. Nect bowed his head in gratitude. Yeah, it feels nice to be thanked so earnestly like this. Perhaps the fact that he can pull off stuff like this so naturally is one of the major factors that made him a refreshingly handsome guy.

“And I’m sorry for my mother’s behavior last time. I was told that she caused you some inconvenience.”

“No, it’s alright. She did appear quite enthusiastic, but she talked with me in a warm and cordial way.”

She was somewhat a little too enthusiastic regarding my unusual circumstances, but it was still interesting to hear Miriam-san’s conjectures. I was still not too fond of magic, but it might not be a bad idea to pay her a visit later on since we had some time.

“And I’ve also heard that Hiro-dono was actually looking for a rare drink.”

“Uh, yeah. Well, I didn’t manage to find what I was looking for in the end.”

My gaze turned distant involuntarily. If even that big beverage company wasn’t familiar with it, then cola most likely doesn’t exist on this planet.

“Actually, I know of some herbal concoctions that are not generally available to the public back in the Minfa clan’s territory. They are medicinal infusions that the herbalists and pharmacists living in the border area close to Grado clan territory make for their use.”

“……Hou?”

That ignited my interest. Certainly, cola was originally derived from root beer, which was considered a health tonic made by people like those pharmacists Nect mentioned. Hence, it was possible that a concoction that resembled non-carbonated cola was actually one of those traditional medicines unavailable to general distribution channels.

“I’ve brought over recipes for concoctions that were quite well received in past contests, as well as some actual samples that were considered excellent in last year’s contest, but……”

“Good job, my friend. Let us sample them immediately. Ah, would you like to come to our starship as well? You haven’t had many opportunities to board a starship, right? If you’d like, I can even take you on a scenic flight. Heck, you can even accompany us to hunt bandits if that’s what you prefer.”

Nect-kun sure was a nice fellow huh! Eh? What a complete 180, you say? Well, of course. I ain’t some saint or upright politician. Anyway, I’m looking forward to sampling those drinks!