Endless Memoir, Seraph Wedd [rainbow fish read aloud .TXT] 📗

12: Summons

I have two main objectives now that I came to the capital. One was to earn money, or maybe to know of a job that will make me earn money. I was starting to feel the need for it as experiments normally costs money. I couldn’t have Mary shoulder the expenses all the time.

And the second was…

“I want to try this one!”

“I think this suits Mary more. What do you think Blaire-nee?”

“Hmmm… Mature clothes looks good but I think cuter ones are better for Mary…”

“Then Nina should try this! It’s cute and full of frills.”

“Eehh? That looks a bit hard to move with…”

The three of them were frolicking around the other side. I was on the men’s section and was searching for suitable clothes. I didn’t have a change of clothes other than the clothes I was wearing when I woke up in this world. A change of clothes is in dire need.

Due to the border guards providing us with compensation money after we eliminated the demons, we got some money to spare. I got one gold and 5 large silvers after we split the money evenly.

Since the three of them had a lot of clothes to choose from, I estimate that they will take their time.

Now then… What troubled me was the efficiency of the expenses. As far as I know, normal clothes ranges from a large copper to 5 silvers. Good quality goods were from 5 silvers to a large silver. And luxury goods were higher than 2 large silvers.

If I would buy two new trousers, a pair of shirts, underwear and other miscellaneous items, I should more or less use around 5 large silvers. Any higher than that would be considered as luxury.

It took me more of less half an hour to finish my shopping.

“Are you done…? Not here…”

I went to the women’s area but noticed that the three of them weren’t present.

When I was about to turn around and head out, the curtains of one of the dressers swung open.

“Tada!! What do you think?!”

Nina jumped out wearing a funky set of clothes. A skimpy, short denim pants matched with a sleeveless white shirt combined with a large brown belt loosely hanging on her tight waist. If she wore a large hat and sunglasses, I may mistake her for a model for some brand clothes.

“It looks good. I almost didn’t notice it was you.”

I tried praising her but didn’t take it too far. She seemed to be embarrassed after hearing my compliment and she ran back towards the dresser.

Next, as if on cue, Mary came out of the other dresser.

“U-Um… D-Does it look… Weird?”

Mary asked while slightly twisting her body. She was wearing a plain white one piece that traces the curves of her body well. The mixture of purity and a little mature appearance makes it an exquisite combination. If you factor in the cuteness of the one wearing it, it’s unbearable to even blink.

“U-Uhn... It’s doesn’t look weird… Rather, it suits you quite well…”

I was lost in trance while staring at her. Conscious of my gaze, she lightly blushed and hung her head. If we’re at home, I may have hugged her out of reflex. Seemingly satisfied, she went back to her dresser.

So first was Nina then Mary, so the next one is…

“Are you expecting something?”

As I was thinking about what will happen next, a voice came from behind.

“Oh, Blaire. So you’re not participating in the fashion show? What a shame…”

I said in disappointment. She quickly turned her head away while slightly blushing.

“I-I’m not into that sort of stuff… But… (If you want… I can show it to you later…)”

“’But’ what?”

I couldn’t clearly hear the latter part as it was basically a whisper, close to a murmur. Instead of answering, Blaire just turned around and quickly walked out of the store. What’s with her?

After Mary and Nina finished paying for the clothes that they bought, we went out of the store.

“What’s with this crowd…?”

However, I was stupefied to see a multitude of pedestrians standing around. Looking carefully, at the center of the circle of crowd was Blaire who was leaning lightly on the side of the carriage… Was that the reason?

Well… Blaire’s beauty IS enough to even call her an angel. I can’t help but sympathize to all the men here who got captivated by her beauty. If I was on their shoes, I may have tried to ask her name at least. Why was it that nobody’s trying to get close?

We weaved through the crowd and reached the clearing at the center. When Blaire saw us, she immediately went inside the carriage. I let the girls to enter first as I was seated near the door. Before I got up, I noticed some bloodstains on the paved road.

“……”

So that’s what it was… I pray for the poor soul who was brave enough to get near her. May he rest in peace…?

The carriage moved forward as the crowd moved to the sides. I don’t know the reason but some men who met eyes with me stared back with a hideous face. A face contorted in negative emotions. Why o why?

“… Fools…”

“W-Where are we heading towards again?”

I tried to change the topic before Blaire exploded. I don’t want to receive her assault in a confined space such as here.

“If I remember correctly, we are to head towards the Merchant’s Guild. The head merchant has summoned for us.”

Mary answered with a smile. After seeing her smile, I suddenly remembered the clothes she showed me a bit earlier. I felt my face getting hot.

“O-Oh, that guy. So he arrived here earlier than us.”

“He was at the border with us, but when the demons attacked, he was one of the first ones to rush ahead.”

So he was one of the forerunners. No wonder.

“Looks like we can finally know the reason why he was there…”

I muttered to myself.

It had only been half a day after we arrived at the Capital. That’s about 2 days after we got attacked by demons at the border. During the whole duration of our travel, we encountered a few demons but our carriage just sped past them.

Based on the coachman’s words, we arrived just on time as scheduled. Which means that the merchant was already expecting us to come today.

All of us didn’t have anything planned in particular so after touring for half a day, where our last stop was the clothes shop earlier, we finally headed towards the Merchant’s guild.

We sped through the wide road. Traffic seems low so I don’t see the need to have a road with a width that can let six carriages travel side by side. However, thinking that this was the capital, maybe it was just a measure to allow soldiers to march quickly in times of war.

I enjoyed looking around, seeing the different materials used to build the houses and establishments around. Some were made with wood, some with rocks, some with clay and some with bricks. It has a wide variety but it doesn’t feel chaotic to the eyes at all.

After about 10 minutes of travelling, we stopped by a large building. It was built with large slabs of stones piled above each other. The majesty of the building was comparable to some Greek buildings like the Parthenon or the Romans’ Colosseum.

The large arched pathway was eye catching but the stained glass over the large windows didn’t lose to it. If an earthquake occurred, how much damage would it inflict to this building alone…? I can’t help but wonder.

After entering, we were immediately greeted by an attendant wearing a uniform resembling a butler’s clothes. We were led to a backroom that was said to be used only for large negotiations or so.

The room was expensive looking too. The red carpet covering the whole floor was soft enough to make me feel my feet digging deep for every step I take. The red sofa was so soft that I sank after testing it once.

There are several paintings and sculptures as well as beautiful and good smelling flowers decorating the whole room.

We waited for a while, looking around listlessly.

After waiting for a little over 10 minutes, a fat man wearing expensive looking clothes entered the room. It was the merchant leader that visited the Village of Mujyara last time.

“You must be Nazo I presume.”

He said with a smile on his face. For some reason, looking at his smile makes me feel repulsed. Looking at the expressions of the other three, it seems that I wasn’t the only one thinking so.

“Yes, that would be me. Do you need anything with me?”

I don’t feel like having a long chat with him. The impression after talking with him in person was worlds different from the impression he shows inside the village.

If I was to say it clearly, he’s acting very disgustingly right now.

“Haha. Well, I don’t mind getting straight to the point but don’t you want to have a little chat first?”

“Nope. I’m a busy man. Time is gold.”

“’Time is gold’ huh… A very fitting saying for a merchant indeed.”

“So? What do you need with me?”

The merchant’s eyes narrowed. I suddenly felt a bit unsettled due to his deliberate action.

“Then I’ll say it. I want you to be my private Magic Engineer.”

Hearing his words, both Mary and Blaire flinched.

“… What’s a magic engineer?” I asked.

“Fumu. A Magic Engineer is the pinnacle of all jobs pertaining magic circles. It uses the concept of both Nature and Modification magic. Also, it delves on the unknown.”

After saying that, he signaled to one of the attendants and someone entered the room carrying an object covered with a white cloth. After removing the cloth, what appeared was an iron gauntlet with a magic circle drawn on it. The first prototype that I made. Why does he have it?

“This gauntlet is an heirloom to our family. It possesses a strength capable of taking out a demon in a single strike. However, the knowledge used to create the magic circle drawn on it was long lost.”

An heirloom? No matter how I look at it, it was the same gauntlet that I made… No… Actually, it was a bit different. For example, the size was a tad bit larger. And one more thing was that… It was drawn using blood.

“So? What do you think after seeing this? Looks familiar right? We have similar tools too if you wish to see more.”

My researcher’s blood started flowing fiercely around my head.

For a moment, I thought that signing a contract with him wasn’t that bad.

Chapter 13: Demon Hunter

“Are you really fine with that?”

Mary asked for the umpteenth time. Ever since we left the merchant’s guild, she had been asking the same question over and over.

“I told you that it’s fine right?”

“But…”

She really didn’t look convinced no matter how I told her.

“In the first place, I can’t just leave you all alone without even repaying your kindness. There’s no way that I would accept such an offer.”

There. I now put it in a very sublime way. How about that?

“If we’re the only thing holding you back, you can just go you know? We don’t mind having lent you our help in the first place…”

… It still didn’t work.

“Why are you pushing me to work under that pig? Do you hate me that much that you want to get rid of me as soon as possible?”

I said in a sulking tone of voice. Mary seem to be disturbed after hearing my words.

“T-There’s no such thing! In fact, I–!!”

“You… What?”

“… N… Nothing…”

She said while blushing wildly up to her ears. Woah, it’s been a long time since she got embarrassed to this degree. What was that she was trying to say?

“In the first place, why are you forcing me to become a magic engineer? Is it really that great of a job?”

Seeing that it will take some time for Mary to recover, I asked Blaire. She just shrugged her shoulders.

“You can say that being a magic engineer is the dream of anyone walking the path of a magic artificer. The me from before probably had the same dream.”

“And now it has changed?”

“Y-Yeah…”

And now… Blaire too blushed up to her ears. Did I ask something that can make her feel embarrassed?

“Well, I basically get what a magic engineer is. Correct me if I’m wrong though.”

I murmured alone as it looks like the two of them won’t be answering for