IACGD 44

Chapter 44

A small village just outside the northern region.

The Noven Guild had once again set up camp there.

“Ugh, it’s hot.”
“Every time we go back and forth to the North, it’s amazing.”

The workers of the Noven Guild chatted as they unpacked the supplies.

“Just one road over and the weather changes instantly. Shouldn’t there be an ice spirit here instead of a fire spirit?”
“Isn’t it better for fire to live here since it’s cold?”
“Heh heh. You’re saying weird things again.”
“No, look at this.”
“Enough. Just get it moved quickly.”
“Ah, didn’t something like this happen a few days ago too?”

One worker grumbled as he pulled a cart loaded with firewood.

“If we’re going to move all the supplies and be back in a day, why even go?”

A man quietly listening to their conversation passed between them.

Pale almost to the point of whiteness, his silvery-gray hair hidden under a hat, he was a middle-aged man.

He walked leisurely, observing the mood of the guild.

Fatigue and irritation were written all over the workers’ faces.

It was clear they weren’t pleased with the Noven Guildmaster’s decisions.

He savored those expressions as he walked, finally stopping at a certain spot.

“Good day, Guildmaster.”
“…Count Fruina, I see. Were you waiting here?”
“Please, call me Nerhi.”

He was standing in front of Harbi.

His face looked even more exhausted than all the combined fatigue of the workers.

In contrast, Nerhi appeared completely at ease.

“You have a sharp intuition, Count.”
“Well, I figured the Guildmaster would comply with my request.”
“Hah, then just hand over the medicine quickly. There isn’t much time left.”
“Ha ha. What’s the rush? I brought quite a rare liquor. How about a drink?”

Harbi shot him a sharp look, but Nerhi just shrugged, smiling calmly as if he had nothing to hide.

“It’s not like I’m carrying the medicine in my arms; we’re heading to the inn anyway. Guildmaster, wouldn’t it be better for you to receive the medicine today as well?”
“…I never said I wouldn’t.”

Nerhi led Harbi with a polite gesture.

“Innkeeper, may we borrow a room for a private conversation?”

The innkeeper, running the village’s only inn, had no reason to refuse.

Especially since one of the guests was the Guildmaster of Noven, whose support was invaluable for the inn.

“Of course! I’ll even give you my room!”

Since there were no other rooms, the innkeeper offered his own.

In a room full of signs of daily life, the two sat facing each other.

Nerhi had sent people to bring the liquor and medicine and now smiled amicably at Harbi.

“Since we have some liquor, shall we hear a bit about the North?”
“What do you want me to tell you? Should I describe the villagers’ confusion when the Guildmaster suddenly left?”
“That’s fine too… I heard rumors about a fire spirit, though.”
“Rumors, exactly. Sounded ridiculous.”

Harbi’s blunt remark allowed Nerhi to smoothly shift the topic.

“How about the Grand Duchess’s reaction? I’m curious.”

Harbi gritted his teeth as Nerhi propped his chin on his hand, eyes shining with curiosity.

“Do you know how sorry I felt?”
“You’re too soft-hearted. So… what happened?”

Harbi stayed silent. When he left the territory…

“The Count went to investigate your intentions, right? Don’t worry. Tay will be fine until then.”

The Grand Duchess smiled brightly, threatening that Tay was safely under her control.

“Guildmaster, do not be discovered. Not until everything is certain.”

The Duke insisted several times that it be done properly.

As Harbi’s expression soured slightly, Nerhi chuckled.

“You don’t look all that sorry.”
“Ahem. Do you think I’d hear kind words?”
“True. You wouldn’t be blamed for cursing in this situation.”
“And yet you asked me for this favor?”
“Isn’t it worth it? This medicine is that valuable.”

Sliding the medicine from his pouch in front of Harbi, Nerhi poured some liquor.

“Anyway, don’t worry about the minor lord’s illness.”

A clear sound echoed as a faint floral aroma filled the room.

Harbi, choosing his words carefully, was momentarily captivated.

“Flœm, vintage 20…”
“Indeed, the Guildmaster who built Noven. Recognizing it just by the scent.”
“It must have been hard to acquire.”
“Well, there’s always a way.”

Nerhi inhaled the aroma before sipping from the glass.

“Did you know Flœm only succeeded after the owner changed?”
“I only know that former owner personally.”
“Ah, then you understand. The original owner isn’t necessarily the best choice.”

Harbi flinched, realizing what Nerhi meant.

“Are you saying I should side with the Count?”
“The board is already leaning toward me.”
“…Let’s hear your plan, then.”
“Do we need anything so grand? In this situation, if I align with the Guild, half the territory is already mine.”

Harbi nodded. From Nerhi’s previous actions, he had long understood his objective.

“Why make such a proposal now?”

He could have asked from the start to be allied. Had it been a proposal rather than a threat with medicine, their relationship might have been smoother.

Nerhi smiled casually, crossing his legs.

“Why would I trust the Guildmaster enough to take your side?”
“So now you can trust me?”
“I’ve already planted a foot on your side, so it’s much better than before.”

By intimidation or not, Harbi had betrayed Zephyrus by his own will.

Accepting someone with no way back was a reasonable choice.

“…But don’t you need His Majesty’s permission?”

An unspoken acceptance. Harbi had expected as much.

The foolish ducal family would think Noven owed them a favor.

The same went for the former Duke and Duke before him. The opinions of those who served under them wouldn’t differ.

One major reason Noven Guild was so influential was that it monopolized trade targeting the North.

Mutually beneficial. The Guildmaster wouldn’t want to lose such a sweet business.

“That’s already settled. His Majesty knows everything that happens in the system.”

Even for the Emperor, it was preferable to this Duke who hadn’t left the territory in ten years.

Even if he didn’t actively support it, allowing it to proceed strengthened Nerhi.

The Duke’s family would bow and repay their debt for a while, giving Nerhi even more leverage.

Driving Zephyrus out would make everyone else happy in many ways.

“If you follow my path, His Majesty will also become more familiar with Noven Guild, won’t he?”

Nerhi finished speaking. Nothing more needed to be added.

He sipped the liquor, waiting for Harbi’s confirmation.

“His Majesty’s interest…”

Unconsciously, Harbi followed Nerhi and took a small sip of the drink.

As someone running the Guild, having medicine and poison work was a sign of a ruler’s interest.

Though Harbi didn’t particularly crave the Emperor’s attention, it wouldn’t hurt to have it.

Nerhi’s strangely amused gaze followed Harbi’s movement.

The sweet scent of Flœm quickly soured, and Harbi put the glass down.

“You only extend a hand after pushing someone to the edge of a cliff.”
“And? Does that bother you?”

Harbi clasped his hands together, lowering his gaze.

His eyes wavered briefly, hidden from Nerhi.

‘If it weren’t for Tay, I might have accepted.’

If Airit, the herbal expert in the North, hadn’t been there, he would have taken Nerhi’s hand.

After a brief silence, Harbi picked up the medicine and stood.

“Give me a day to think. Rushing to accept would not build trust.”

Feigning alignment, he needed time. Until Airit uncovered the truth behind Tay’s illness or the poison.

“Yes, if that’s preferable. The Guild will rest here for a week anyway.”

During that time, the growing unease among the villagers would strengthen his own position, Nerhi smiled.

After a few trivial exchanges, the two returned to their respective rooms.

When Nerhi entered, greeted by smiling faces, a woman with calm green hair was waiting for him.

“You’re here?”
“You’ve been waiting, Crea?”
“Not long. How was it?”

Crea shrugged as she asked.

“Well… something definitely feels suspicious.”