Chapter 47
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Chapter 47
It was Roper, her advisor.
"What's happened?"
"A grave situation, my lady. The heavy rains last night caused flooding, and an entire nearby Village has been submerged."
Igraine's brow furrowed with concern.
"Upon hearing the news, the Crown Princess immediately departed for that Village."
To provide substantial aid to the Village, the Emperor's approval would be necessary.
Yet the Emperor and Crown Prince, oblivious to the circumstances, had ventured out hunting despite the foul weather, leaving only the Crown Princess Hildegard to take action.
Igraine rubbed her temples with a weary sigh and issued her command to Roper.
"...Prepare the carriage. I'm heading to the Village."
First, I needed to assess the situation.
* * *
"Summer's nearly gone, yet here comes all this rain. What cursed weather."
The Coachman, guiding the carriage across the muddy earth soaked by the night's downpour, voiced his complaint.
I, seated beside him, wholeheartedly agreed.
"Indeed. If autumn brings this much rain, all the crops will rot."
"Say, you're quite the unusual woman. Most ladies are frightened of strangers and sit quietly in the back."
"Sitting alone makes the journey tedious. Meeting like this is fate, so I thought we might share stories of our lives."
The Coachman was the one from the Tavern where I'd stayed last night who'd offered the cheapest rate to the Capital.
'Just because of a little rain yesterday, everyone's demanding double their usual price.'
Thanks to his reasonable offer, I'd secured passage to the Capital affordably, and I intended to be his companion for the journey in return.
In my past life, it was customary for the passenger to keep the driver company.
'And while I'm at it, I might as well gather information about the Capital.'
The Coachman, seemingly enjoying our conversation, laughed heartily and spoke.
"It's nice not to feel lonely for once. But what brings you to the Capital, young lady?"
"Ah, well...."
My mood darkened the moment the subject arose.
"I'm searching for someone I must find."
The day I learned Curtis Rohan had disappeared, I left word for Rachel and immediately packed to depart for the Capital.
The period when the original story begins.
I knew that heading to the Capital now carried the risk of events unfolding as written, yet I had no choice but to go.
'I cannot lose Father like this.'
Whatever happened, I had to find him and prevent disaster before it was too late.
"Someone? Family?"
"Yes. He left home to earn money, leaving only a single note behind."
"Oh my, of course you'd be worried."
After hearing my story, embellished with a touch of fiction, the Coachman clicked his tongue sympathetically, then seemed to recall something and opened his mouth.
"Ah, then why not try the Guild? They say if you pay them, they'll find anything and do anything."
"The Guild?"
"That... what was it called? Terras? No, Terrak, I think? Anyway, it's been quite famous lately."
Hearing that story, I felt anew the reality that the original narrative had changed.
According to the original, the most famous guild in the Capital at this time would have been the Karma Guild, which Rachel patronized.
The master of Karma Guild cooperated with Rachel from the shadows, and Rachel wielded the guild like his own limbs.
However, the current Rachel, unlike the Rachel of the original who had built power in the Capital, had disguised himself as dead and crossed into the neighboring country.
Perhaps because of that, the Karma Guild seemed not to have appeared at all.
'Still, the guild name is Terrak—it reminds me of Rachel for some reason.'
Terrak was the scientific name of that magnificent old tree atop the Small Hill where we said our final farewell in childhood.
'Well, it's such a common tree name that it's probably just a coincidence.'
I dismissed the guild name without much thought and recalled the problem I faced immediately.
'Hmm, then should I request that guild to find Curtis Rohan?'
It was then that I was making plans for after arriving in the Capital.
"Heh, looks like that coachman over there is a greenhorn. Got his wheel stuck in a ditch good and proper."
Hearing the old man's voice, I turned my gaze to where he indicated and saw a carriage with its wheel mired in mud.
A coachman and what appeared to be an attendant were straining, but the wheel seemed to have sunk quite deep, and they looked to be struggling.
As I gazed at the scene, I called out to the old man.
"Sir, would it be troublesome if we stopped here for a moment?"
"Hmm, well. Why not? There's nothing particularly urgent."
The old man readily brought the carriage to a halt.
I descended from the carriage and approached the one stuck in the mud.
'It would weigh on my conscience to pretend not to see and pass by when I have the strength to help....'
With that thought, the moment I drew near the carriage, one person immediately caught my eye.
Silver hair neatly combed, mysterious violet eyes visible beyond her glasses, and slightly upturned eyes that conveyed a sharp yet intellectual atmosphere—a middle-aged woman.
She was quite beautiful, yet her appearance seemed overshadowed by her distinctive presence.
'Wow, magnificent....'
She was someone to whom "magnificent" suited far better than "pretty."
"What brings you here?"
Entranced as I was, I snapped back to my original purpose upon hearing her cool voice.
"Ah, I happened to pass by and saw you were in difficulty. Would it be alright if I helped?"
"Ha, what strength could a frail young lady possibly have—"
The coachman and attendant, doubting my small and delicate frame, tried to dismiss me.
"Then I'll trouble you for it."
The Noblewoman, who had been quietly observing me, silenced the coachman and attendant with merely a glance and made her request of me.
Her gaze was cold and serene, yet carried no prejudice or contempt whatsoever.
Motivated by that gaze, I smiled brightly and approached the carriage.
Then Kamang, who had been sitting quietly atop my head, hopped down onto my palm.
"Then I'm counting on you, Kamang."
"Meow!"
Kamang drew forth blue mana from my palm and absorbed it, then bounced up with a pop.
In an instant, he enlarged his body enough to swallow the carriage whole, opened his mouth wide, and swallowed it.
"That is...!"
The Coachman and the aide, as well as the Noblewoman, watched the sight unfold with expressions of considerable astonishment.
In the meantime, Kamang, who had moved onto the dry ground, regurgitated the carriage it had swallowed.
"All done now! You can board the carriage―"
Turning to face the others with a sense of satisfaction, I faltered under the gazes of the Coachman and the aide.
In their eyes directed toward me burned both fury and dread.
"Were you a Dark Spirit summoner?"
"How dare a filthy half-breed with tainted blood―!"
I had never expected any grand praise or reward for my act of goodwill, offered with genuine intent.
But neither had I anticipated such unjust treatment in return.
"Ah, how mortifying it must be to receive aid from a filthy demon-blooded hybrid. Shall I undo it all and restore things to their original state?"
"How dare you speak with such insolence!"
Just as the Coachman moved to rebuke my sarcasm.
"Roper, Walter."
The Noblewoman's frigid voice brought them to a halt.
Though she had neither raised her voice nor spoken at length, merely calling their names carried an overwhelming pressure.
"Apologize at once."
"...Pardon?"
"Unless you wish to disgrace my honor before my benefactor."
"B-but, madam! This person has filthy demon blood mixed in―"
"So, did this young lady kill Dain?"
At the Noblewoman's question, the aide called Roper flinched. The Coachman did likewise.
"Or perhaps she murdered someone else?"
Overwhelmed by her commanding presence, the aide and Coachman ultimately bowed their heads to me.
"...We sincerely apologize. We allowed our personal prejudices to override courtesy and committed a grave offense against our benefactor."
Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org