Chapter 95. Things We Like

It was another piece of crumb-like information.

The paper in Mihail’s hand was crumpled mercilessly. Next to him, Claude, who had excellent eyesight, managed to sneak a look at the content before the paper was crumpled and asked nonchalantly.

“Someone claimed to have seen Purifier Seraphina at the auction?”

“That’s correct.”

With everything already exposed, Mihail answered straightforwardly.

In truth, it wasn’t because he wanted to be straightforward, but because he was too infuriated by the feeling of being toyed with by the guild master to pay attention to Claude.

In the meantime, Claude snatched the paper to read it properly.

[The claim of seeing Purifier Seraphina at the auction has been revealed to be unfounded. Here is the list of personal information of everyone who attended the auction at the time.]

Claude quickly flipped to the back page.

His red eyes scanned the black text rapidly.

The list contained information on over a hundred individuals, including descriptions of their basic appearance, age group, gender, and general affiliations.

Though he didn’t know what kind of auction it was, Claude could tell that this was top-tier information.

“The affiliations are quite fancy. There’s even someone from the Holy Knight Order? Andrei?”

Claude’s voice was cold as he asked.

“Could that witness be this person? Where is she?”

“…Did you find her?”

Loyal servant Andrei, who had tried to avoid the situation but ended up walking back to the two heroes due to the timely arrival of the information guild’s document, shrank his neck like a humble turtle.

Though he was an unfortunate soul simply fulfilling his duties diligently, Claude seemed to have no intention of being merciful to this witness.

He pressed aggressively.

“Explain in detail. Did you really see her clearly?”

“Well, that is…”

“Describe what you saw that day clearly. Don’t leave anything out.”

Under the fierce intimidation, Mihail also showed interest. He had already heard it but wanted to hear it again.

Andrei managed to open his mouth in the suffocating atmosphere.

“A young woman with brown hair, but she was wearing a hat, so I couldn’t see her properly.”

However, his voice grew as small as an ant’s urine towards the end.

Even though he hadn’t done anything wrong, the overwhelming presence made him feel as if he had.

At that moment, Mihail snatched the paper back from Claude’s hand as if reclaiming it and stared coldly at a particular point as if to bore a hole through it.

‘Number 47?’

Claude followed Mihail’s gaze with his eyes and tilted his head in confusion.

The personal information listed ‘long brown hair, woman in her 20s, information guild’ as keywords.

This document was sent by the information guild, yet number 47’s affiliation was also the information guild…

Something smells fishy.

Claude turned around.

His animalistic intuition told him that he had already obtained the best quality information available here.

Mihail raised an eyebrow slightly, as if displeased with the Guardian of the North’s arbitrary behavior of coming and going as he pleased, and asked,

“Where are you going?”

Claude stopped walking and turned his head slightly to give a short answer.

“To deal with the information guild.”

* * *

A refreshing and sweet fruit scent filled my mouth.

I sipped the sangria that Cyril recommended, smiling happily.

“I’m glad it suits Miss Chloette’s taste.”

Cyril, sitting across from me, smiled slightly and glanced at my foot sticking out from under the table. I was so happy that I was unconsciously tapping my foot.

“It’s amazing that there’s such a delicious place in this rural area.”

“I’ve been to all the stores here, and they’re all excellent.”

“Really?”

“Really.”

Cyril said proudly, even though he wasn’t the owner of the place.

I silently thanked the gentleman who introduced me to this refuge and took another sip of sangria.

“What do you do in Ponitan?”

At that moment, Cyril, resting his chin on one hand, asked languidly.

It might seem strange to others that I came to settle in this boring town. I pondered deeply as I looked at Cyril, the only tourist in this village.

It’s been two months since I fled Elmon.

I spent one month traveling, and the other month passed by doing nothing after arriving in Ponitan.

Honestly, I didn’t expect myself to be like this.

I thought I’d be excited to be free and celebrate alone, wandering around…

I must have been too worn out.

After arriving in Ponitan, I unpacked in my new home and collapsed onto the bed.

Since then, except for occasional trips to the nearest store for minimal food supplies, I’ve been lying still as if dead.

Quietly.

Like a drained battery.

After a month passed, I felt recharged and was about to start moving today.

“Hmm, I’m planning to think about it from now on.”

I answered Cyril’s question ambiguously, rolling my eyes.

I intended to start thinking seriously from today, but I couldn’t just sit there lost in thought in front of a friend I just made.

I decided to think about it when I got home later.

There’s plenty of time ahead!

“Until when do you plan to stay in Ponitan, Cyril?”

I lightly changed the subject.

He rolled his dark eyes as if checking his schedule. Then he met my gaze again and smiled slightly.

“Coincidentally, this vacation is long.”

Cyril hummed while eating a grape.

“If nothing special happens, I think I’ll stay.”

“Really? That’s great!”

I clapped my hands together in genuine joy.

I was a bit anxious thinking I might have to say goodbye to a new friend right away, but it seemed I wouldn’t be bored for a while.

“Shall we meet again tomorrow?”

“We…”

“Hmm?”

I was resting my chin on my elbows on the table and blinked a few times at Cyril’s curious reaction. It felt like cold water was poured on my mood, which was lazily soaked in sangria.

Did I say something wrong?

Was I too clingy, having just met today?

“I was just so glad to make a friend in a strange place. Hehe.”

I scratched the back of my head and mumbled.

“Let’s get to know each other slowly, Cyril.”

“No, it’s fine. I like it. Us.”

“Cyril, you’re very considerate. It must have been burdensome.”

“It’s not burdensome. Let’s meet tomorrow.”

“Yes, Cyril.”

He continued to mention ‘us’ several times to be considerate, but I didn’t want to be a burden.

Cyril said he’d show me around the village tomorrow.

It was a bit funny that he, the tourist, would introduce the village to someone who would become a resident of Ponitan.

But for now, Cyril seemed to know more than I did, so I gladly accepted.

* * *

After returning home, I glanced around my new place, still getting used to it.

The house with white walls had a bright atmosphere overall. Vines with pink flowers climbed the exterior walls and covered the roof, and inside, wooden furniture and cute decorations added coziness.

It was a spacious house for living alone.

I wanted to thank the gentleman, but I decided not to.

The gentleman had established a minimal emergency contact network here, telling me to use it only when necessary. Frequent contact would only increase the chances of being tracked.

“The merchant guild is quite impressive.”

Perhaps the merchant guild and the information guild are closely connected.

The gentleman’s emergency contact network was also through the merchant guild, and I used the merchant guild’s financial management part to withdraw my laundered assets. The security was thorough, with secret codes and all.

Anyway, thinking about the merchant guild reminded me of the hefty retirement fund, which put me in a good mood.

“Is this a dream or reality?”

Pinching my cheek to confirm it was reality, I moved to the bedroom. I planned to lie down and think about what to do next.

I wanted to fill my time with things I liked.

Hobbies I liked, things I liked, people I liked.

“……”

The moment I crossed the bedroom threshold,

Why did I feel a wave of melancholy?

I achieved everything I planned and wanted.

But why…

I slowly moved and crouched in front of the luggage bag carelessly thrown in the corner of the room. I had unpacked everything, but there were still items I hadn’t taken out, so I hadn’t put away the bag.

“Why did I bring this?”

With a sinking feeling, I took out two items from the bottom of the bag.

Could it be that I actually liked that hellish assignment?

I swear to God, with my hand on my heart, I terribly hated those times. Yet, I couldn’t understand why I felt this emptiness, as if there was a hole in my heart.

I fiddled with the compass Mihail gave me, my nose turning red, and let out a deflated laugh. It was something useful only in the desert and useless here.

It was something I could discard now…

“I brought it because I didn’t want to waste my past.”

That’s all there is to it.

No other meaning.

“I brought this because it smells nice.”

I opened the silver case and smelled the dried camellia petals inside. The scent of the North seemed to linger, which put me in a bad mood.

“Damn.”

Why did I really bring this?

I closed the lid again and got up.

Then I put the compass and the silver case in the drawer of the table next to the bed. Very deep inside. In the farthest corner.

“Oh, I feel melancholic.”

I guess I should go outside again.

I went out the back door to Sylphid, who was tied under the awning.

Sylphid had been with me when I escaped Elmon.

The horse that pulled the cart I hid in was Sylphid. By mixing a potion given by the gentleman into the feed, I could disguise the conspicuous white horse as an ordinary brown horse.

“Sylphid.”

I asked as I stroked the mane of the horse, which had returned to its beautiful white form.

“Want to run along the beach?”

Snort, snort.

Whether it understood my words or not, Sylphid pawed the ground happily.

It was the time when the sky was turning red with the sunset.

Running in such a setting seemed quite romantic.