Chapter 18
“If you’re here to make baseless and insolent remarks, you may leave.”
“Don’t be like that, Your Grace. Try to enjoy life a little. Perhaps then His Majesty would bother you less? Maybe meet a woman or something.”
“I have no particular interest in that.”
It was very much like the Exarch not to make excuses about any personal inadequacies.
Well, he must be aware of his own excellence.
“Wonder who’ll end up taking him,” Bathilda muttered.
Meanwhile, unusually distracted from the conversation beside him, the Exarch stared only at his papers.
‘That woman probably won’t come.’
He needed to visit her at least once. The ability she demonstrated that day was truly extraordinary.
It was as if she possessed eyes that could perceive the essence of everything.
He had belatedly realized her identity.
‘Minervina Rethor.’
That wind-chilled, skeletal woman was the daughter of the Rethor family.
The Exarch had only recalled this just before the case concluded.
‘The Rethor family… the Baron is dead and the Baroness…’
Though he had promised not to ask about how the Rethor family had fallen to ruin, knowing its history…
‘I should meet with her though.’
The ink at his pen tip dried as his thoughts went in circles.
But the Exarch simply couldn’t bring himself to put pen to paper.
If he were to visit her himself, their relationship would truly remain just that of an important witness…
“…”
What did that matter anyway?
The Exarch lowered his eyes, still gripping his pen.
Suddenly, he recalled his first meeting with Minervina.
‘That’s fake.’
Speaking informally right off the bat. Even Bathilda didn’t do that.
The Exarch found himself smirking without realizing it.
“Your Grace, did something good happen?”
“It’s nothing.”
Responding to Bathilda’s question, the Exarch thought to himself:
It would be nice if she came to visit.
* * *
She felt somewhat regretful.
‘I revealed too much of my ability.’
Though Exa said he wouldn’t ask, she couldn’t be sure about others.
The sponsorship contract with the Imperial family had ended, so they couldn’t do anything to her officially, but the world didn’t always operate within legal bounds.
These thoughts occupied her mind as she arrived at work.
“Mine!”
Something small and soft suddenly embraced Baeksan.
“Mine! Mine… Sob sob sob!”
“Lira.”
Baeksan patted Lira’s back.
Though it was before opening hours, Lira cried in Baeksan’s arms, unconcerned about onlookers.
“You went through a lot.”
Lira looked up at Baeksan’s words. Her eyes were wet.
“I heard from Grand Duke Zahig… that you helped.”
So he mentioned that.
‘He could have taken the credit himself.’
Baeksan hesitated on how to respond, then smiled while patting Lira’s back.
“I’m just glad nothing happened.”
“…!”
Lira bit her lip, then burrowed into Baeksan’s embrace while sniffling.
“Thank you! Thank you, Mine…. I’ll never forget this kindness. Thank you…!”
Her shoulder was getting wet.
Agnes, who arrived late, also burst into tears.
It was somewhat amusing.
Though the clothes she’d splurged on during yesterday’s day off were getting soaked, and the Grand Duke might have discovered her identity…
‘This makes it all worth it.’
* * *
Time passed without incident, and it had been a month since Baeksan had fallen into “Another Saga.”
It was her first payday.
After paying for dormitory fees and necessary items, Baeksan had 4,200 gold remaining.
1,060 gold was left from the money Bathilda had given her initially and the first quest reward.
Plus 700 gold from the Magdala quest.
And today, her first monthly salary of 2,500 gold.
“4,200 gold has been deposited.”
Watching the Stellone Bank teller handle the gold coins, Baeksan still couldn’t quite believe it.
Only one thing was certain.
‘Sweet job. I love you, Miss Elize.’
Contrary to her worries, the Imperial family seemed unaware of her existence, and the Grand Duke had been quiet…
‘I’d like to thank him, could you come to the Grand Duke’s residence?’
“…”
Baeksan, heading to the dormitory, faltered.
How to put it…
Though she understood the sincerity, separately from that, she didn’t want to visit.
‘It reminds me too much of who I was in my past life.’
Walking while recalling the Grand Duke’s words to herself, Baeksan carelessly glanced around.
Someone was reading a newspaper, and people were talking about how Grand Duke Zahig had accomplished another feat.
If she hadn’t seen it herself, she would have just idealized him like that, but what Baeksan saw that day was a robe dusty from running around all night and weighted shoulders.
And those righteous eyes that seemed genuinely happy about arresting Magdala with minimal casualties.
“…”
Baeksan stood still a moment longer before resuming her walk.
‘I definitely shouldn’t get involved.’
* * *
Making a mockery of her resolution, Baeksan was summoned to the fourth floor the very next day.
“A cooperation request?”
“Yes.”
Elize, who was serving tea, answered Baeksan’s question.
“It seems there are items requiring appraisal among Magdala Magik’s hidden assets that were recently seized.”
Baeksan paused briefly before asking.
“Is this cooperation request from Grand Duke Zahig?”
“Yes. I heard you helped our official previously. It seems Grand Duke Zahig requested cooperation with our guild because of that incident.”
This was becoming… slightly troublesome.
‘And I was trying to avoid him.’
Baeksan touched her forehead. She must have shown too much of herself.
“But don’t things like this usually get handled by the government, I mean, the state? Why is Grand Duke Zahig…”
“You’re correct. Usually, the administration handles these matters.”
Elize’s expression darkened.
“But as you know, Ulm’s current political situation is quite complicated…”
“You mean how the Emperor is keeping the Grand Duke in check?”
Elize smiled as if uncomfortable answering. Seemed like confirmation.
‘Hmm.’
If that’s the case, it wasn’t incomprehensible why someone of the Grand Duke’s position would request external cooperation.
“So ultimately, you want me to go there?”
“Ahem, ahem.”
Elize cleared her throat and glanced at Baeksan.
“Of course, we won’t send Minervina alone.”
“Then can’t you leave me out of it?”
“Hem-hem.”
Elize cleared her throat again.
“…As you might expect, commissions from the Grand Duke’s residence come with high rates. Naturally, no guild wants to miss out. If we establish a good relationship this time, there might be future opportunities.”
“Ah.”
In other words, they didn’t want to send just anyone and risk losing a valuable future client.
Baeksan fiddled with her bangs while considering.
‘Being called for work duties is something I should naturally accept as an employee, but…’
…She had a feeling they’d meet. That’s what her intuition told her.
He probably requested cooperation with Sophs knowing she was here.
‘But refusing a superior’s orders just because it’s uncomfortable isn’t professional behavior either.’
Even now, wasn’t she watching her with those sparkling eyes?
Glancing at Elize’s golden coin-colored eyes, Baeksan let out a quiet sigh.
‘If it’s just doing the appraisal and leaving, it should be fine.’
That man probably wouldn’t try to get involved with her either.
What reason would he have?
He didn’t seem like someone who’d want to present a sage to the Emperor to curry favor.
With that thought, Baeksan nodded.
“Alright. Where do I need to go?”
* * *
The next day, a carriage from the Grand Duke’s residence arrived at Sophs Appraisal House.
A fox-faced knight descended from the carriage and loaded the guild’s mages.
Baeksan pulled her robe down to her nose and squeezed in among them as she boarded the carriage.
The carriage headed to a small brick house in a corner of the city. Baeksan slightly lifted her robe to check the information window.
[Magdala’s Hideout]
The thirty-eighth hideout of the wanted criminal Magdala Magik.
Thirty-eighth…
‘No wonder the cleanup is taking over a month. They’ll have their work cut out finding them all.’
Baeksan thought this as she entered the brick house.
And then she froze.
“Your Grace. I’ve brought the mages from Sophs Appraisal House as requested.”
