IWLMS 56🔐

Chapter 56

Marlin brushed her cheek with a worried expression.

“Ah, I heard not long ago that an unusual monster appeared in Lepium as well. I thought the capital would be safe, but I really am concerned.”

“It’s not just monsters. In crowded places like this, there are pickpockets, and some people go missing while walking late at night. So be careful.”

Flute shook his head and, while placing the peaches she had carefully picked into a basket, offered her some advice.

“Oh, how kind of you. Who would want to kidnap an elderly woman like me? But… will the festival really be held as planned?”

Marlin looked up at the colorful garlands hung across the streets, tilting her head in curiosity. Flute nodded and handed her the basket.

“Of course! Would it really be fitting for the Leonal Empire’s Festival of Light to be held without any celebration? Here, I added one more for good measure since it’s closing time.”

Marlin took the heavy basket, handed over a silver coin from her pocket, and then lifted her head, struck by a sudden thought.

“Ah, that’s right. To get to Lepium Academy, which way should I go?”

“Do you know someone at the Academy?”

He raised his eyebrows as he asked, and Marlin’s round face broke into a radiant smile.

“There’s a handsome young man… and, hmm, another very pretty child attending as well.”

Two sons, indeed. Flute couldn’t help but laugh heartily at how she described the pretty one.

“Ha ha, how did you raise them well enough to send both to the Academy?”

“They grew up well on their own. What could I have done? Ha ha.”

Despite her words, she seemed genuinely pleased, shrugging her shoulders. Flute smiled in return and handed her the change.

“You must be fortunate with children. Go south from the plaza, and you’ll see a large stone building. But since it’s late, it’s better to first find an inn to stay at.”

Marlin expressed her thanks and briskly crossed the plaza.

“Already this late…”

Though she had set out early in the morning, half the sky was already cloaked in black night. She abandoned her earlier plan to locate the Academy and instead headed toward the inn Flute had mentioned.

The basket on her arm felt heavy. She looked down at the brightly colored peaches and smiled sheepishly.

She had meant only to look, but had impulsively bought them. Had she bought them too early? The visit she had requested at the Academy was still a week away.

“When I meet the young lady, I’ll have to buy fresh ones again.”

That morning, Marlin had impulsively decided to travel to the capital. Ever since receiving Rune’s letter, she had been too excited to simply wait.

There was also the reason she hadn’t visited Jun at the Academy before—to avoid interrupting his studies.

She had been so surprised when the large eagle brought Rune’s letter.

“Thanks to our young lady, I’ll get to see the Academy for myself. Ha ha.”

She was curious about how Rune was doing, but her heart also fluttered with excitement at the thought of seeing her son after so many years.

Having already submitted the visitation request, she would soon see all the familiar faces she longed for.

Dragging her tired legs, she entered the alley where the inns were clustered.

Though the festival was imminent, as dusk fell, the crowds had vanished. It was so quiet that even an ant would have been hard to spot.

It seemed the capital’s atmosphere was indeed ominous, as the fruit shop owner had said. Marlin carefully checked the wooden signs and proceeded into the alley.

A shadow suddenly stretched behind her as she walked, checking her footing to avoid tripping.

“Huh?”

Turning toward the approaching presence, a swift black shadow lunged at her.

“Oh my goodness!”

⚜ ⚜ ⚜

“The temple has refused the envoy’s audience.”

Ethan sighed as he placed the returned letter on his desk.

“Joffrey, the envoy, is in poor health and is avoiding public events for the time being.”

“Just as expected.”

“I hear that he hasn’t appeared even for those attending the consecration. Recently, senior priests have been handling his duties instead.”

Kailian leaned back in his chair, wiping his dry face.

“And the Count Farnese?”

“Unchanged. He even held the coming-of-age ceremony, so perhaps he’s worried about rumors spreading… but it’s strange. His own child has disappeared, yet he’s only protecting himself.”

Lady Glory’s whereabouts remained unknown. At Count Farnese’s request, the investigation was being conducted secretly. Still, the investigation led by the Royal Knights had yet to make any substantial progress.

Kailian remembered Count Farnese’s expression from the royal palace conference room and touched his temple.

He could have been impatient, but…

‘His face was unusually calm.’

As if he wanted the incident to quietly fade away.

“How long until the festival?”

“One week. At this rate, this year’s festival will pass with nothing accomplished.”

Kailian rubbed his throbbing head and stood. Having spent several days confined within the royal residence, he felt stifled.

Checking the time, it was nearly dinner. Based on past experience, Lawrence would soon contact him. Better to avoid it before it becomes troublesome.

“Let’s leave the palace for today.”

Ethan’s face lit up. It was the happiest thing he’d heard in a while. Their lord, who usually pushed them to the limit, finally seemed willing to rest.

“Good idea! Let’s go quickly!”

Feeling that tonight would be a relaxed meal, Ethan’s heavy legs felt lighter. But as he rushed Kailian toward the door, a Dark Knight rode swiftly down the palace corridor. The urgent footsteps sent a jolt of anxiety through Ethan.

No, don’t come!

Ignoring Ethan’s thoughts, the knight looked relieved and spoke.

“Good. You’re still here. Sir Ethan, is the lord inside?”

“Y-Yes…”

Seeing the audacity of someone trying to throw work on them right before leaving, Ethan nodded in despair.

“What is it?”

The knight bowed deeply to Kailian, who was just leaving the room.

“Lord, the young lady, Countess Farnese, has been found.”

⚜ ⚜ ⚜

“So, you’re saying… she was found in the Marquisate as well?”

Daniel tilted a flask in his hand and frowned.

Below the murky water, black powder floated with sand. It was the muddy water Rune had collected from the outer river.

“Yes, it looks the same as what we saw at the collapsed outer wall.”

Rune nodded while inspecting the sword received from the Academy.

The sword, which had been sent for repairs, was returned via a temple courier a few days later. The magical stone, which had lost its glow, regained its clear purple hue.

Ellen picked up a small glass vial and spoke.

“It looks similar, as you said. But we can’t tell for sure just by looking at it.”

The vial contained the black powder Jun had previously filtered.

She fastened a scabbard to her sword belt and perched on the table.

“We’ll need to verify if it’s the same powder. But if I’m right, this ghoul incident is clearly connected to the monsters’ abnormal behavior.”

“So, we’ll only know for sure when Jun comes. When is he arriving, anyway?”

Daniel, losing interest, yawned and slumped in his chair.

A few days ago, Jun had collected the muddy water and was due to meet again at the library today.

Jun had been busy traveling between the palace and the Academy, preparing for a presentation on his research results.

With the festival approaching, the Academy’s atmosphere was becoming quietly lively.

Students, taking advantage of the holiday, had flooded the town, leaving the spacious library hall on the second floor empty.

Rune glanced at the wall clock. Jun seemed to be running late.

Ellen, alternating her gaze between the muddy water and black powder, spoke.

“If the Estelle region has already started an investigation, we should contact them first.”

“You’re right. I had thought of that… but I’m not in a very clear position yet.”

Rune sighed, recalling her father’s cold face. Even knowing she was at the Academy, he had made no contact. Perhaps he thought of her as a child he had lost.

Rune hesitated.

“…And even if I report this, I don’t know how much they’ll believe.”

As Kailian had said, it was circumstantial evidence at best.

“We need more concrete proof. At least we need to know what this is before we report it anywhere.”

Ellen nodded silently, perhaps empathizing with Rune’s position.

At that moment, Jun appeared, out of breath, ascending the stairs.

“Jun!”

“Sorry. Did I keep you waiting?”

Without a proper greeting, he dropped the thick books he carried onto the table.

“As you said, the powder mixed in the muddy water is identical to what you gave me before.”

He rummaged through the bag slung over his shoulder.

“This is the powder filtered from the muddy water. There’s not much, but it should be enough to analyze the composition.”

Vials identical to the ones given before clattered onto the table.

“Oh no,” Daniel muttered, catching the rolling vials.

“You didn’t even bother showing this side to us?”

“Oh, Daniel. Long time no see. And this is…”

“Ellen Grimaldi.”

“Nice to meet you, Ellen. I’ve heard a lot about you from Rune.”

Jun finally exchanged a proper greeting. Rune, seeing Jun’s anxious demeanor, guided him to a seat.

“Calm down and sit. Jun, aren’t you overdoing it?”

Jun shook his disheveled hair and smiled brightly.

“This is nothing. I just hurried because I wanted to tell you quickly. By the way, have you met mother yet?”