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Chapter 60
Nerhi could not escape execution. It was only natural.
His execution was carried out quietly. On a night when a blizzard raged, on a day when hot blood froze instantly, his life reached its end.
It was the kind of death that Nerhi, who had longed to live like a king, being admired all his life, would have hated the most.
The reason Nerhi could be executed even while Harbi was infected with Stodium was because of the spring discovered in Aistas—Laha.
“If it has the effect of filtering out all impurities the body doesn’t need… I’d say the Stodium was treated as an impurity and filtered out as well.”
Airit explained this while analyzing Laha.
The fact that Nerhi was still alive despite receiving letters containing information about him meant he had ingested under-aged Stodium. That was why a single bottle of Laha cured him completely.
“And Laha even considers Stodium ingested by the master as waste.”
“So that means… even the insect that made the criminal see the master as its owner would die too?”
Zephyrus’ confirmation was met with a nod from Airit.
“Yes. Of course, one bottle wasn’t enough. It required quite a bit, but it worked.”
After all, Nerhi was going to be executed anyway, so they conducted a bit of an experiment.
They even tried feeding him so much that water would spill out if you pressed his stomach, and tried injections as well.
In any case, they had learned that the more Laha used, the stronger the effect. That was enough.
“A good outcome. But you said Crea didn’t see it?”
Airit asked Gwen.
Among those gathered in Zephyrus’ room, Gwen was standing the most awkwardly. He glanced at Zephyrus before answering dejectedly.
One of Zephyrus’ orders had been to capture Crea, the “herb-obsessed mage” officially recognized by Airit. It had even been important.
But he had failed. He had no choice but to be cautious.
“Yes. Green hair, green eyes. She’s a mage, so she could change her hair color, but not her eyes… It’s an uncommon color, so I thought she’d be easy to find, but she wasn’t there.”
They had moved Nerhi and the mercenary group and searched nearby to find anyone hiding, but found nothing.
It was natural. Crea had never really hidden.
Airit sighed.
“She’ll probably return to the Pruina territory soon and do something. She wouldn’t have involved herself in this fight without reason.”
He speculated that Crea’s involvement must have been related to herbs or medicine, and specifically, because it concerned the North.
He warned repeatedly not to let their guard down.
It seemed there was something only Airit, who had experienced Crea firsthand, could perceive. Clemens nodded, taking note of Airit’s words.
“I’ll relay this to Gwen.”
“That’s fine. Lesible told me that Clemens’ writing cannot be recognized.”
“….”
Clemens pressed her lips and meticulously drew lines through the words she had written with emotion.
“How about the trade guild and the Tay side?”
Zephyrus moved to the next topic. Rosia answered.
“They are looking toward a hopeful future. Tay isn’t fully recovered from the poisoning yet, but they seem to trust the physician quite a lot.”
“They’re focusing there for now, postponing work in the glasshouse. It should be completed soon.”
Airit nodded as if that was expected.
“Wow, really, that physician… no, I won’t say more.”
Ignoring Rosia’s response, Airit spoke.
“More importantly, Laha. I want to supply it as water for the herb cultivation.”
In his imagination, the herb fields were soaked with Laha, and the herbs grew maximally potent.
“Drop such useless thoughts. Focus on Tay’s medicine now, and later, pour all effort into producing the glasshouse glass.”
“The glasshouse glass… the mage will succeed… but I suppose I could keep thinking about it anyway.”
“…Do as you like.”
Zephyrus exhaled lightly and organized the scattered documents.
“Gwen, don’t just find the hidden person, but search the entire territory. Update the villagers’ information while you’re at it.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Rosia, properly assess the current situation in the territory following this incident.”
In exchange for sparing the mercenary group, they had thoroughly investigated the group itself. The revenue gained as compensation was considerable—enough to carry out repair work postponed due to greenhouse research.
“Yes, Your Grace.”
“And the physician…”
Zephyrus sighed again, facing Airit’s insubordinate gaze.
“Just release more information about that mage, and it will be appreciated.”
“I’ll tell you everything I know. It may be old information, but still.”
That would be enough. His informants would gather the latest updates anyway.
“The meeting is adjourned.”
At the declaration, everyone left the office. Only Clemens remained, writing the minutes.
She put down the minutes with a dejected expression.
Zephyrus reviewed the notes, reorganizing the tasks ahead.
“Look! The master can read it just fine!”
Clemens bounced with a bright smile. Zephyrus looked at her in confusion.
“No! Lesible started it! People who’ve seen my writing say it’s like pictures. They can’t recognize it! I wrote it perfectly!”
Zephyrus silently gazed at the minutes. He agreed that it did look like pictures…
‘Still, it’s readable.’
He looked back at Clemens. She smiled at him.
“I only need to show your handwriting to me, right?”
If she wanted to write letters, she could just write to him.
“Yes! I’ll do that!”
Zephyrus twitched at the corner of his mouth. Though probably not, it felt like she answered his unspoken thoughts.
“Now, tell me your story.”
“My story?”
“I heard the details from Gwen. Your aura was quite intimidating, I hear.”
People usually avoid the unusual. The villagers’ reaction would differ from before. Zephyrus worried Clemens might get hurt.
“Oh, that. The knights were protecting the villagers and blocking the front, so it wasn’t easy to see,” Clemens said.
“That’s fortunate.”
Clemens tapped Zephyrus’ shoulder lightly.
“Even if something to worry about happened, it’s okay, I don’t mind. Don’t worry.”
As if that could happen. Zephyrus’ expression said it all. Clemens giggled.
“Since we’re a bit busy for now, we’ll go to Aistas in a few days. I’m looking forward to the excursion.”
“I told you it’s not an excursion.”
“Eh, you’re looking forward to it too, Master~”
“Out.”
Zephyrus finally drove Clemens out as well.
“Phew.”
A misstep when she first set foot in Aistas—she could tease him about that forever.
Zephyrus sighed again, covering his increasingly flushed face.
The villagers’ confusion quickly subsided.
Harbi, freed from Stodium, exposed all of Nerhi’s schemes.
They drank the water distributed under Zephyrus’ orders and felt noticeably healthier.
Most importantly, Clemens and the knights went back and forth, informing the villagers about what Zephyrus had been doing.
Nerhi had copied the very method he had used to win the people’s hearts.
Since he hadn’t hidden his deeds for the territory, it was eye-opening for the Grand Duke’s domain.
Growth occurred even in crisis. By handling this well, the Grand Duchy’s cohesion improved further.
“Clemens! Come here for a moment too.”
“Wait, just a sec!”
Clemens was quite busy.
The villagers, having realized all the rumors about Zephyrus were false, sought out Clemens constantly.
“Please convey this to Your Grace too. We’re sorry for everything…”
They prepared gifts as apologies and tokens of respect.
Since the knights were armed, and the villagers couldn’t hand anything directly to the lord, they entrusted everything to Clemens.
Of course, she intended to deliver all of it to Zephyrus.
“And this is for the Avatar.”
A gift from a villager for her.
It had become repetitive over several days, and now it almost felt disappointing if there was nothing.
“What is it this time?”
“Nothing special. Candy from the guild crushed and frozen. Quite tasty.”
“Huh. That precious candy! If I give it to Sho and Sia, they’ll love it.”
The lady waved her hands vigorously.
“The kids won’t eat it because it’s cold. This is…”
Hesitating, she handed the frozen candy quickly.
“For the Avatar, who can’t feel cold well because of her hot body!”
She flushed to the tips of her ears and ran off. Clemens laughed.
Yesterday, the innkeeper had given her beer to drink while resting; the day before, the carpenter had gifted her a sculpture. Among the snow, the sculpture in the field near Clemens was quite beautiful.
‘Seems they felt awkward giving gifts only to the Master.’
Seeing each take turns giving her gifts, it seemed they also wanted Zephyrus to receive them.
Clemens popped the ice candy into her mouth. She didn’t eat just one, but many at once.
They’d melt on the way anyway, and it would be a waste not to eat them.
Carrying a full arm of precious gifts meant to be delivered to Zephyrus, she ran into Ruby and the twins.
“It’s Nanro!”
“Narrrooo~”
The twins, as usual, each clung to one of Clemens’ legs.
“Oh my, you’ve gotten quite heavy.”
“What? Saying that to a lady is rude! Stupid Nanro!”
“Really?”
Laura and Lu’s reactions couldn’t have been more different.
Lu still enjoyed using her small shoulders to hide, smiling. Clemens giggled.
“Getting heavy means you’ve grown? Laura, don’t you like being bigger?”
“Uh… uh? I guess so! Then I want to grow even more!”
“Oh? You want to keep growing?”
“I’ll be bigger than Nanro!”
“Then you’ll have to eat your pickled cabbage properly too, right?”
“No! Why does it become like that? Even if I don’t eat it, I’ll grow just fine!”
Laura’s rushed rebuttal made her pronunciation slip. She noticed it and her face twisted.
“I’ll grow, yes, I will, no problem!”
Watching Laura practice her pronunciation while puffing out her nose, Ruby shook her head.
Even as Lu ignored her, playing with Clemens’ hair.
“Fire! Hot!”
“No, it’s not.”
“Ouch!”
“Not hot. Ouch doesn’t work.”
“Nar… is it hot?”
Lu’s round eyes gazing at Clemens were unbearably cute.
“Nanro gets hot when angry! Flames! Roar!”
Finally, she put the load down and tickled their bellies.
“Gyaa! Hahaha!”
Lu burst into laughter, and Laura, drawn in, came along. Clemens hugged them both and tickled their necks with her fingers.
Boom!
At that moment, a vibration sound of something falling could be heard.
