IDVM 47

Chapter 47

It was her aide, Ropher.

“What is it?”

“A—A disaster has occurred. Because of last night’s heavy rain, a nearby village has been flooded.”

Igraine’s brow furrowed.

“And upon hearing the news, Her Highness the Princess departed for that village immediately.”

To provide official relief, the Emperor’s approval was required.

But the Emperor and Crown Prince had gone hunting despite the foul weather, utterly ignorant of the situation. Only Princess Hildegard had stepped forward.

Igraine sighed, rubbing her forehead, and gave Ropher an order.

“…Prepare the carriage. We’re going to the village.”

First, she had to grasp the situation.

* * *

“Summer’s over already, so why in the world is it still raining like this?”

The coachman, struggling to drive over the soggy ground left by the night’s downpour, muttered his complaints.

Sitting beside him, I nodded in agreement.

“You’re right. If it keeps raining like this in autumn, the crops will rot.”

“Still, miss, you’re a strange one. Most young ladies are too shy or frightened of strangers to sit up front with me.”

“Well, it’s boring to sit all alone in the back. Since we’ve met like this, it’s fate of a kind—we might as well talk about life.”

The coachman was the one I’d hired from the inn last night—the cheapest among them willing to drive all the way to the capital.

They doubled their usual prices just because of a little rain yesterday.

Thanks to this man, I’d managed to get a reasonable fare, so in return I planned to keep him company along the road.

In my previous life, it was considered polite for the passenger riding shotgun to chat with the driver.

And besides, I can pick up some information about the capital while I’m at it.

The coachman didn’t seem to dislike the conversation either; he let out a hearty laugh.

“Not so lonely today, that’s nice. By the way, miss, what business do you have in the capital?”

“Ah… that is…”

At the question, my mood instantly darkened.

“I have someone I absolutely must find.”

The day I learned that Father had disappeared, I left a message for Rahel, packed my belongings, and set out for the capital at once.

It was the very time when the original story began.

I knew coming to the capital now risked everything flowing along the same dangerous path as the original.

But I can’t just lose Father like this.

No matter what, I had to find him before anything happened.

“Who is it? A relative?”

“Yes. He left only a note saying he’d earn some money, and then disappeared.”

“Ah, I see… of course you’d be worried.”

The coachman clicked his tongue sympathetically. Then, as if something came to mind, he added:

“Well then, why not try the guild? If you pay, they’ll find anyone or do just about anything.”

“The guild?”

“What was the name again… Ter… Terras? No, Terrak? Anyway, that’s the one people talk about these days.”

Hearing that, I suddenly felt the reality of how much the story had changed.

In the original, the most famous guild in the capital at this time was Karma, backed by Rahel.

Karma’s master worked in secret, aiding Rahel, and Rahel used Karma like his own hands and feet.

But the Rahel of this world, unlike in the original, had faked his death and crossed into the neighboring country.

Because of that, Karma had never even appeared.

Still, Terrak… that name reminds me of Rahel.

Terrak was the scientific name of the great tree under which we had said our last farewell as children.

Well, it’s a common tree name. Probably just a coincidence.

I dismissed it lightly and returned my thoughts to the pressing matter at hand.

Should I request that guild to find Father?

I was still planning what to do once I reached the capital when—

“Ah, look there. That coachman must be a novice. His wheel’s sunk into the mire.”

At the coachman’s words, I looked ahead and saw another carriage stuck in the mud.

A driver and what looked like an aide were straining to push it free, but the wheel was deeply wedged.

I hesitated for a moment, then called out:

“Sir, would it trouble you if we stopped to help them?”

“Well, why not? We’re not in any particular rush.”

The coachman readily pulled his carriage to a halt.

I climbed down and approached the stranded carriage.

It feels wrong to turn a blind eye when I have the power to help…

But as I drew near, my eyes were immediately drawn to one person.

Silver hair combed neatly back, eyes of mysterious violet glinting behind glasses, and slightly upturned corners that gave her sharp yet intellectual air.

A middle-aged woman—stunningly beautiful, but with a presence so commanding that her looks were almost secondary.

Wow… she’s striking.

“Beautiful” wasn’t the word—“dignified” suited her better.

“What is your business here?”

Startled from my daze by her cool voice, I quickly remembered why I had come.

“Oh, I just happened to pass by. You seemed in trouble, so I wondered if I might help?”

“Hah, what help could a frail young lady offer—”

The coachman and aide clearly doubted me, looking down at my small, delicate frame.

But before they could finish—

“Then I shall trouble you.”

The lady cut them off with nothing but a glance, her words directed at me.

Her eyes were cold, but devoid of contempt or prejudice.

Inspired, I gave her a bright smile and approached the carriage.

At that moment, the little black creature perched on my head hopped down into my palm.

“All right, Kkamang. Please.”

“Mnyaa!”

Kkamang absorbed the blue mana flowing from my hand and then leapt upward with a pop!

In an instant, his body grew to the size of a beast large enough to swallow the entire carriage. He opened his jaws wide and did just that.

“What in the world—!”

Not only the driver and aide, but even the dignified lady stared in shock.

Kkamang then padded onto firmer ground and spat the carriage back out, perfectly intact.

“There you go! You can board it again now—”

Feeling rather proud, I turned toward them. But I froze at the looks in the driver’s and aide’s eyes.

They glared at me with a mix of rage and terror.

“You… you’re a dark spiritist?”

“A filthy half-blood dares to—!”

I hadn’t expected praise or reward for such a small kindness.

But neither had I expected this ugly treatment.

“Ah, so it’s disgraceful for you to have accepted the help of a filthy demon half-breed, is it? Shall I put the carriage back into the mud for you?”

“How dare you speak so arrogantly—!”

The driver stepped forward angrily—

“Ropher. Walter.”

The lady’s cold voice cut through the air.

She hadn’t raised her tone, nor said much at all—merely spoken their names. Yet the weight of authority in her voice was undeniable.

“Apologize. Now.”

“…What?”

“Unless you want to humiliate me in front of my benefactor.”

“B—but, Your Excellency! She bears the taint of demon blood—”

“So what? Has this young lady killed Deins?”

The aide called Ropher flinched. So did the driver.

“Or has she murdered anyone else, perhaps?”

Crushed by her sheer presence, both men finally lowered their heads to me.

“…We are sorry. Overcome by personal prejudice, we were gravely discourteous to our benefactor.”