Passing through the Latria Forest, there was a small city called Latran. In terms of size, it may be a small or medium-sized city, but it turned out to be a wealthy place that owned a nearby copper mine. Maybe thatâs why the large, clean buildings lined up were clearly visible from afar.
As Calian, who felt as if he was looking at Astrisha Street, was looking at the cityscape with slightly admiring eyes, Jan, who was worried that Calian might be attracted to the lord, opened his mouth.
âCount Hale Latran. Do you remember?â
âAhâ¦â
I felt familiar with the name and title.
Calian slightly raised his eyebrows and recalled a memory. He was one of those who sent a gift box to the youngest prince who was hurt by Plantzâs mistake.
âbat.â
Yan grinned after hearing Calianâs brief evaluation.
âBefore that, he was on Prince Randelâs side, but when there was a war between Tensil and the Warriors of the Great Desert six years ago, he immediately switched to Prince Planzâs side.â
The reason Kairis did not have the sea even though there were four kingdoms located on the continent was because the north and west were blocked by an endless desert.
In that barren place called the Great Desert, there was no proper country yet. Those who lived a wandering life there believed in their folk beliefs, not in Serenti, the main god. Using that as an excuse, an attempt was made to expand territory into the northern desert in Tensil, where the country was small and the power of the divine beings, the source of divine power, was gradually declining. Since there was no proper army, they thought it was worth a try.
However, when the war broke out, the power of the warriors gathered in an instant was stronger than expected. Tensil, who was cornered after doing something pointless, requested help from Kairis, citing his relationship with Randel. Of course, Silike was against it, and as a result, Tensil had to resign with only heavy losses.
âStill, itâs a bat that knows when to fall at the right time.â
Should we take it positively that such a person tried to step up to us? Calian laughed for a moment as he thought about that.
While we were talking, we soon arrived near the entrance to the city.
I came to the entrance and saw Hale, who had been waiting for the princeâs party, standing there with a happy face that seemed excessive.
Soon, Calian increased Ravenâs speed a little and came to the front of the group. As the distance got closer, Hale came forward and said hello.
âI meet you, Prince Calian. I am Hail Ratran.â
âNice to meet you.â
Kalianâs answer was always the same. After exchanging greetings, I was thinking about going inside when Haleâs mouth opened again. The words that followed were indeed long and long.
âIt is an infinite honor for this Hale that the day has come when I will be able to serve the prince in person. I have been so eagerly waiting for the day for the prince to arrive that I had trouble sleeping last night when I heard that he had arrived nearby.â
At those words, Calian turned his head for a moment and pretended to look around. It was because it was very difficult to hide the expression of disgust at the unfamiliar words.
This road is the shortest route from Kairisis to Siegfried.
So, it was clear that Hale would have said the same words to Plants last year, which made me feel like my heart was dripping just by hearing them.
Calian immediately turned his head again and smiled back. Since the words I spoke after taking a tiring step were such a sloppy remark, I didnât get a very sweet answer.
âIt would have been better if we had cleaned up the front yard first and waited.â
Then he turned his head and looked at the man who had attacked him for a moment. asked Hale, who made a gasping sound as if he had finally seen the bloody patient covered in Kalian.
âAre you with the group? I will prepare a witch doctor.â
Calian shook his head and said.
âThis is someone who no longer needs treatment.â
Haley gasped again.
This is because the word Calian used just now was a kind of slang used by nobles to avoid harsh words and meant death row inmate.
This does not mean that Kairis does not provide treatment for criminals, but death row prisoners are an exception. They say there is no reason to treat them because they will die anyway.
The man pointed his sword at Calian. Calian was a prince.
As a result, the man became a person who did not need treatment for his wounds.
âIâm sorry, prince.â
Hale bowed her head after learning that the man had attacked Calian. Since it was said to be the front yard, something must have happened within Ratran territory. It would have felt like the sky was falling because Hale was in a situation where he could not escape responsibility.
As he was about to answer, a drop of water fell from the sky and wet the back of Kalianâs hand. Soon another drop falls. And then it pops again.
Raven gave a small sigh. It looked like water had hit the bridge of his nose.
Then it started to rain little by little.
Jan hurriedly came over and tried to put an umbrella over him. Calian motioned to Hale that it was okay because it wasnât raining too much.
âMaybe we need a roof before apples.â
By the time we passed through the inner castle and arrived at Yeongju Castle, the rain had become quite heavy. As the rain fell in the middle of August, a damp atmosphere quickly spread around the area. Kalian, who was looking at the rain, said to Yuran.
âFor now, just hand it over to the castle soldiers and donât give any other explanation.â
âYes, my prince. I will.â
Calian got a little wet on the way to the castle, so he went to the room Hale gave him and washed himself first. Then he opened the roomâs window wide. The sound of rain filled the room.
As I looked at the sky, it seemed like I would probably be stuck in the rain until tomorrow.
It was already a long way, so I didnât want to get stranded, so I tried not to touch on what happened a little while ago, but I ended up getting stranded because of the rain.
âThatâs right.â
â smart.
Jan came in with a knock. He was holding in his hand the cold mint tea filled with ice that Kalian had requested.
âthank you.â
Yuran was seen through the open door.
When I looked at him wondering what was going on, Jan gave me the answer.
âThey say they found something from someone who was caught today. Should I ask them to hand it to Count Latran?â
I was asking this because I had said on the way here that I would leave the rest of the investigation to Hale. Calian shook his head and answered.
âIâll check what it is first. Ask them to come in.â
With those words, Yan, who had called Yuran into the room, left for a moment and brought Yuran some mint tea and handed it to her.
Because of this, a laughable scene unfolded as Yu-ran, who bounced out of his seat, bowed his waist and held a cup of mint tea with both hands, sat back down politely.
After Yan, who was embarrassed, went outside again, Yuran took out something wrapped in a handkerchief and placed it in front of Kalian.
âThe soldiers told me that it was hidden in his shoe. Oh, the handkerchief is mine. Itâs not dirty, so donât worry.â
Calian laughed at the explanation in case he thought it was dirty.
The sound of rain outside the window makes me smile as I take a sip of cool mint tea, feeling refreshed after a fresh wash. Calian, enjoying that little moment of leisure, put down his glass and unfolded his handkerchief.
And the smile that was prevalent on Calianâs face slowly disappeared.
Kalianâs mood changed so drastically that Yuran sat with his mouth shut, forgetting that he had to explain it. Calian, who had been looking at what was inside the handkerchief for a while, asked quietly.
âHe had this?â
Yuran may not have known the details, but it was an item that gave Kalian an unforgettable experience.
Yuran looked puzzled as he looked at Kalian frowning. They wonder how Kalian recognized him at once.
Kalyan asked, looking at what looked like a piece of sugar.
âHow does Sir know this?â
âA long time ago, when I was in the security forces, I saw it while apprehending a female dealer in Riverne. It was said to be a poison that disguises oneâs death for a while. By the way, may I ask the prince how you know that?â
How could you not know?
Calian smiled strangely as he looked at the poison that had left him sick for a week but had given him freedom.
âBecause Iâve tried it before.â
The sound of rain outside the window was heavy.
Unfortunately, it rained and I was stranded. In addition, something appeared that made it possible to return the foot that had been pulled out. So how can you get any more attention and continue on your way?
âThe guy who couldnât even guess was poisonous.â
Calian scratched his cheek and mumbled. Yuran looked at Kalian at the word âspeculationâ.
âI thought you were excellent at swordsmanship.â
Calian smiled slightly at those words and opened his mouth.
âThe man.â
It was a very blatant change of words. Actually, this is the part I was most curious about, but they donât even let me open my mouth. Therefore, Yuran answered, forgetting for a moment the image of Kalian cutting down a long sword with a small knife.
âYes, prince.â
âIâll take a look now.â
Yuran asked in surprise.
âAre you speaking directly?â
Instead of answering, Calian tapped the glass with water droplets forming on it. It probably means that you donât want to say it twice. Yuran, who roughly understood Kalianâs personality, spoke again.
âall right.â
* * *
Fire magic burns wounds. Ice magic freezes wounds.
The magic of the wind heals wounds.
My shoulder was pierced by the force of the whirling wind. To put it bluntly, it would have been torn apart rather than penetrated. The hand, which had not been properly in contact with blood due to the wound being left with only a loose bandage, was swollen and turned a dark purple color.
Calian did not frown. I asked instead.
âWhere are you from?â
The man raised his head and looked at Calian. And then he laughed. Yuran frowned, but Kalian just nodded as if telling him to leave it alone.
âI thought you were a master from a noble family.â
âHe is a child of a more precious family.â
There was no particular emotion in Calianâs eyes as he scanned the manâs wounds. It was difficult to find any expression of regret or concern about the man on his face.
Of course, Yuran also did not think that Kalian should feel indebted to the man. However, Yuran only felt that the face that the fifteen-year-old boy made after hurting someone with his own hands was too calm.
âIâm a copper mine guard. They came to me and said they would reward me if I helped them find someone, so I only helped them for a little while.â
âHow do you have that sugar stuff?â
âThey divided it one by one. They thought it was good and stole it.â
Calian nodded. I decided to believe it was true up to this point.
âWhat were they looking for?â
âI do not know.â
âDo you know who it is?â
âWe didnât even call each otherâs names, and we couldnât even see each otherâs faces because of the masks.â
âAnything else you remember?â
âdoes not exist.â
Calian placed his clasped hands on the table and looked at the man. There was a lot of fluid seeping through the bandages, and my face was red as if I had a fever.
Even if the wound was caused by magic, it would have already begun to fester in such a hot and humid place.
âIâll treat you.â
The man looked at Calian.
Calian, who knew most accurately in the entire city how much pain the man was going through, spoke with a calm expression.
âIf treatment doesnât seem to work, Iâll at least cut it. Instead, give me something that can help. If itâs not there, itâll be a shame for both of us.â
The man didnât speak for a while. Kalyan did not fill up.
After a while, the man opened his mouth a few times and spoke.
âI have a wife in Hanson Village. They know.â
It seemed like he had made a threat in case the man revealed the truth. Calian nodded as if telling him not to worry.
âWhat they lost. What is it?â
â⦠Something like a transparent bead the size of a fingernail. I was told that I would have to check with Tensilâs priest to find out for sure.â He
must have had a sacred object. Tensil, who collects sacred objects at random, would buy them at a high price, so it would have been quite an uproar if it had been stolen. Moreover, if it was a sacred object, it would have been an elf. It made sense to feel the energy. Calian asked the next question:
âWhere can I meet them?â
âIt seemed like they werenât staying here. There was a white-haired elf, and he must have followed him.â â
What are they?â
âI told you before, but I didnât see their faces and I donât know their names.â
The manâs voice was heard again in Calianâs ears, who was a little disappointed at the thought of not knowing something important.
âInstead, I heard a title for the guy who seemed to be their leader.â
Calian gestured with his chin as if to tell him to continue speaking. The man frowned slightly, recalled his memory, and said,
âBlue Warbler.â Thatâs what I called it.â
ââ¦â¦Blue warbler.â
Ha.
Father.
Why did your bird fly all the way here?
Calianâs face hardened.