IWLMS 64🔐

Chapter 64

“If it’s the Information Guild, they must have had connections with wizards or alchemists, right?”

At her words, Daniel, who was sprawled on the bed, waved his hand as if to dismiss Arthur.

“Rune, whatever you’re thinking, it’d be best to approach this carefully. How many wizards are even in the Empire…? And alchemists are almost impossible to find unless you go to the Kingdom of Francis.”

“That guy’s right. There aren’t none in the Empire, but even through the guild, it would be hard to meet one.”

Rune nodded obediently at Ellen’s agreement. That was expected. Even then, she would probably need a letter of introduction from the guild master to submit a request.

“So that’s why I’m asking you. I want a letter of introduction from Gotham Kindler.”

Since Ellen had been part of the Gotham Guild, she must have had a close relationship with the guild master, Count Kindler. A very close one. After all, it had been Count Kindler who handed her the recommendation when her father canceled her admission, preventing her from giving up on the academy.

“…What are you planning to do this time?”

Ellen’s suspicious look made Rune narrow her eyes. As if she always did something reckless.

“I just need to be connected with a wizard who can analyze the black powder.”

She shrugged casually and continued.

“I’m not forcing you. This is just a request. If you don’t want to, it’s fine not to help.”

Ellen stared at Rune quietly, then reluctantly nodded. She had already asked Denil to analyze the powder. Even without the Gotham Guild, there were places to submit a request. Though dubious, Rune would see it through to the end once she made up her mind.

“Alright. I’ll try contacting Kindler, but don’t expect much.”

“What? You’re really going to submit a request? The Gotham Guild headquarters is at the very southern end.”

Daniel jumped up, his face incredulous. Even using the express post to contact the guild would take considerable time. Moreover, the Gotham Guild was so backlogged that it could take months to get anything done.

“That problem should be solvable.”

Ellen nodded toward the window. Sic, who was picking at her chicken impatiently, tilted her head.

“Gureuk?”

“Rune, this one has a ‘known eagle’.”

⚜ ⚜ ⚜

‘I didn’t expect it, but I didn’t think it would take this long.’

Humphrey, deeply hooded, looked up at the large shadow crossing overhead.

“Piiiii—”

At the eagle’s cry fading into the sky, Humphrey furrowed his gray eyebrows. Jonathan, walking beside him, tilted his head and asked,

“Why, Captain?”

“…Nothing. I just remembered a guy who ate chicken like a ghost out of nowhere.”

“Oh! Chicken, you say? I was starving anyway! Let’s grab a late-night snack before moving!”

The thought alone made Jonathan’s mouth widen like a grin. Humphrey frowned deeply at the cheerful face.

“Even after sending the lord off, you remain completely carefree, Jonathan.”

He grabbed the back of the inexperienced knight’s collar and led him into a dark alley. “Waaah, please let me go!” Jonathan’s cries echoed behind him.

Humphrey, in his darkened mood, recalled his conversation with Marquis Este.

“The ‘traveler’ has accepted the request but has not shown their face yet.”

It was a pitifully minimal message to deliver to the lord before the expedition. Humphrey clenched his lips at the memory of that awkward moment.

“I’ve heard they are extremely capricious. Rather than waiting indefinitely for them, it would be better for me to follow the lord myself.”

“No, Humphrey, you will stay here. Do not stop tracking the ‘black powder’ even after I leave.”

What could this black powder possibly be?

‘This is troublesome. It’s already been half a month, and I haven’t even glimpsed their shadow.’

Dragged along by brute force, Jonathan now contemplated the worn signs he passed.

Traveler’s Rest

Humphrey stopped in front of an old inn tucked in the dark alley.

Jonathan grimaced at the crooked wooden sign. Not this place again today!

“Ugh! Captain! Please! Shouldn’t construction sites be separated?”

“You noisy brat. Just follow me without complaint.”

With a clanging bell, they entered through a rough wooden door, greeted by a well-built man.

“You’re here again today. Sit this way.”

He guided them to the window seat, now their usual spot, and handed them the menu. A single candle flickered on the table, the only ones in the inn.

“Same as always?”

“Yes… please, the usual…”

Jonathan bit his lips, trying to force a polite smile.

‘…There’s no real choice anyway.’

This place’s menu was meaningless—everything was shockingly bad.

“Give me whatever you like, whatever the owner feels like serving.”

Humphrey, arms firmly crossed over his chest, raised an eyebrow and glared at the man.

“By the way… has the ‘traveler’ still not shown up today?”

⚜ ⚜ ⚜

Exactly a week later, Gotham Kindler’s reply arrived sooner than expected.

Though Ellen hadn’t had high expectations, the joy of seeing it was indescribable.

The three of them gathered around the introduction letter Sic had brought.

Traveler’s Rest

Below the letter on the parchment was Count Gotham Kindler’s seal.

Daniel drew his eyebrows together and said suspiciously,

“Traveler? This person also has terrible naming sense, huh?”

“A wizard who settled in Lepium about two years ago. Skilled in alchemy too, quite famous among those in the know.”

Rune nodded at Ellen’s words, then rubbed her chin thoughtfully.

“We have the letter… but how do we submit the request?”

Despite their excitement, a new problem arose. According to Ellen, the wizard known as the ‘traveler’ was extremely capricious and difficult.

“They’re very sensitive. You have to make an appointment beforehand. Even with the guild master’s letter, they may refuse the request if they’re in a bad mood.”

“Still, if so many seek them out, they must be talented…”

Rune picked up the letter and looked at Ellen.

“You know where they are, right?”

Ellen pinched her forehead, troubled. Rune could tell she was thinking something unpleasant.

“As I said, that place only opens at night. Wait until the holiday arrives.”

“Before the rainy season starts, dam reconstruction will begin. Time is tight.”

Summer was almost over. They didn’t have much time to schedule and wait for a reply.

Before autumn arrived, Lepium would endure a week-long heavy rain.

Once the collapsed embankments along the river were rebuilt, if they tore up the dam area, any remaining traces of the black powder would vanish.

‘The black powder must be connected to the current monsters.’

To halt the construction and request an official investigation, they needed solid evidence.

“Even if we go there blindly, I can’t guarantee we’ll meet them.”

“It’s fine. I also want to check the location anyway.”

Ellen shook her head firmly, arms crossed.

“Alright, let’s say we go. How will you get into the academy afterward?”

Even on weekdays, there was a curfew until 9 PM, even with a pass. Conveniently, the ‘traveler’ was active after the academy closed.

Daniel, who had been quietly listening, stroked his chin.

“Actually, there’s one remaining secret passage.”

⚜ ⚜ ⚜

Despite the academy’s thorough renovation, Daniel had found a new secret passage.

It seemed people’s plans could change unpredictably. That hated passage would turn out to be very useful.

“I’ll be back before midnight.”

Rune crossed the square with the map Ellen had drawn. It was almost 9 PM. She planned to confirm the ‘traveler’s’ location and return via the secret passage Daniel mentioned.

Following the map, she passed the central fountain and entered the innermost secluded alley. She stopped in front of a worn sign.

“Here it is.”

Traveler’s Rest

In the quiet dead-end alley, the only building was a dilapidated inn.

“The name matches… but it looks like a failed inn.”

She tried pulling the wooden door, but it creaked and barely moved—it seemed locked.

Rune approached a dusty window and peered inside. She saw chairs overturned on round wooden tables.

“It only opens to those who promise a deal. I can’t guarantee you’ll meet them today.”

As Ellen said, unless the ‘traveler’ accepted, they could not make contact.

Some time passed.

The lanterns in the square were all extinguished, and a faint crescent moon dimly illuminated the dark street.

“If the moon were as round as the sun, tonight would have been much brighter.”

“Puhf—”

“…?”

She looked around at the sound, but the alley was silent and empty.

“Must’ve misheard. Still… what a difficult person.”

Rune clicked her tongue and stood, shaking her numb legs. Time was approaching midnight—she had wasted more time than expected.

“All we can do is wait for a reply for now.”

She slipped Count Kindler’s introduction letter into the small mailbox beside the door. Perhaps she could meet this ‘traveler’; she had even brought a glass vial containing the black powder, just in case.

At least now she had confirmed the location, achieving the first goal.

Leaving the alley, Rune headed straight across the square toward the academy.

As she hurried through the gloomy streets, she narrowed her eyes and stopped.

‘What’s going on?’

She spotted a scuffle in a dark, deserted corner. Three large men surrounded a person, roughly pushing at their shoulders.

“If you don’t want that pretty face ruined, come quietly.”

One of the men roughly tore the robe off the person pressed against the wall. In the faint moonlight, the face hidden by the robe was revealed.

“Wow. Even better than I expected.”

Thick pink hair cascaded down the neck. She was a girl with rare pink hair for the Empire.