Chapter 26
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#26.
Shortly after the Spirits vanished, a Knight came rushing over to report that the Delus flowers that had once choked the Mine Entrance had disappeared without a trace.
Another Knight who arrived later to confirm the entrance situation echoed the same account.
"The Delus flowers that were at the entrance have truly vanished, sir."
"They've really disappeared?"
Arkid furrowed his brow in bewilderment. Just moments ago, he'd been informed that Delus flowers bloomed profusely at the entrance, yet now they were gone.
However, the Knight spoke no falsehood. When Arkid and I arrived at the entrance, the Delus flowers were indeed absent.
I remained composed, knowing full well this was the Spirits' doing, but Arkid grew quite grave.
"To be certain, I'll conduct one more thorough inspection."
With that, Arkid positioned me at the entrance and began his reconnaissance. The open terrain allowed me to observe his movements clearly from a distance.
My gaze followed him dutifully, much like the Spirits trailing in his wake.
The Spirits found Arkid's movements endlessly amusing and swarmed after him in a fluttering procession. Since they remained in their incorporeal state, these delicate butterflies were invisible to his eyes.
Moments later, Arkid returned to me and extended his hand.
"It would be prudent to relocate to a safer location. We cannot predict when the Delus flowers might bloom again."
He seemed to judge that the unpredictable emergence and disappearance of the flowers posed a greater threat.
"Yes, of course."
I followed Arkid quietly, feigning ignorance of the situation.
Behind me, the Spirits fluttered their wings in graceful pursuit, though I paid them no visible attention.
* * *
As peculiar events unfolded within the mine, Arkid and I decided to remain here for the time being.
We needed to observe further before authorizing the Wormhole's operation.
Arkid had urged me to return to the Castle first for my safety, but I refused.
After all, I knew no true danger would befall us.
While Arkid conducted his reconnaissance, I remained at the lodgings, reading Elena's letter with a knowing smile.
More precisely, I was contemplating the section where she commented on the Evis Mine.
[The Evis Mine, you say? That must be the place where mana stone yields have plummeted since two years ago.
Given its poor harvests compared to other mines, the Grand Duke has been deliberating whether to sell it to me.
I've even considered venturing into the hot spring business myself, since natural hot springs have been discovered near the Evis Mine.]
"Just as I suspected."
This was undoubtedly Elena's jackpot mine from the novel. I had cautiously probed her with a letter, and my intuition proved correct.
A place where declining yields had prompted a pivot toward hot spring ventures, only for massive mana stone deposits to be discovered, causing revenues to skyrocket.
Subsequently, it was revealed to be blessed land under the Spirits' protection—a goldmine so valuable the Grand Duke nearly died of regret for almost letting it slip away.
'The Spirits are already roaming here, so the truth won't remain hidden much longer.'
With the Wormhole now discovered, no one yet seemed to realize it stemmed from proximity to the Spirits' habitat.
Even I only learned of this energy—Delpina or whatever it was called—after hearing about it from the Spirits.
Since no one else could hear the Spirits' voices, few understood the characteristics of their dwelling places.
'No, wait. That person might know.'
I recalled a figure from the novel and nodded thoughtfully.
The revelation that this land was blessed by the Spirits came about because that person had discovered traces of their presence.
The so-called Spirit Enthusiast.
Among readers, that person was known far more as the Spirit Enthusiast than by their actual name.
Having exhaustively studied every scrap of available information on Spirits, they possessed knowledge of the subject more comprehensive than anyone else.
Enthusiasts understand—the sheer dedication required to reach such heights of expertise.
Passion itself demands energy; it requires an extraordinary convergence of devotion, attention, perseverance, and relentless focus.
Soon enough, that person would arrive here, discover traces of Spirit activity, authenticate this place as a treasure trove, and claim their reward.
I tapped my fingers against Elena's letter, lost in contemplation.
[While you're there, keep a careful eye out for any signs of embezzlement or negligent management.
If I can acquire the mine cheaply from the Grand Duke thanks to your findings, I'll ensure you receive a most generous reward.]
I could smell it—the scent of money flowing my way.
Elena possessed a difficult temperament and exacting standards, but she never made empty promises. When she owed a debt of gratitude, she repaid it handsomely.
As it happened, I owed Elena a debt of my own.
According to the original story, Elena should have dealt with Marquis Lorke and received the Evis Mine from Demian as compensation.
But my interference meant the Evis Mine remained Demian's property.
What if I helped Elena here and ensured she acquired the Evis Mine instead?
Elena would strike gold, and I would receive such generous compensation that my hobby budget would swell considerably.
This was a matter of timing. With the mine's atmosphere unsettled by these strange phenomena, before the Spirit Enthusiast arrived—now was the moment to make my move.
I steeled my resolve and picked up my pen.
"It's only right to return it to its original owner."
I felt guilty toward the Grand Duke, but expanding my hobby budget took precedence.
* * *
Inside a hotel near Frozen Mountain, Elena smiled slowly as she read Rhoena's letter.
As always, it began with excessive formality and lavish praise for Arkid.
When had they grown so close?
The letter's actual content only began after lengthy passages of adulation directed at Arkid.
[A massive Wormhole has appeared at the Evis Mine, and vast quantities of magical stones have been discovered there.
Only a handful of administrators, myself, and Arkid know of this matter.
Strange phenomena have been occurring around the mine, so everyone is being cautious.]
The magical stone reserves had seemed depleted, but apparently they'd accumulated elsewhere.
Just as I'd begun suspecting the administrator of embezzlement upon hearing of the late discovery of this massive Wormhole, Elena's eyes widened at what came next.
[I believe this is the work of a Spirit.]
A Spirit.
Elena's gaze deepened at this unexpected revelation as she continued reading.
With each line, her expression shed its amusement, replaced by the sharp, calculating eyes of a businesswoman who'd caught the scent of profit.
Rhoena had presented her argument with remarkable logical coherence, backing each claim with evidence.
She seemed to have studied Spirits extensively. Her hypothesis struck Elena as entirely plausible, which only piqued her interest further.
In truth, Rhoena had cobbled together information gleaned directly from Spirits and from novels, but Elena had no way of knowing that.
'I didn't realize she had an interest in Spirits.'
Perhaps her success in one venture had sparked her enthusiasm for profit. Moreover, the proposals she offered were quite sound and impressive.
As the future Grand Duchess, her mindset seemed admirable, and Elena viewed her transformation favorably.
After all, learning to earn money was far more beneficial to the family than merely knowing how to spend it.
Elena read the letter through twice, then pondered for a long while. A Spirit, no less. Merely brushing past it would bestow blessings upon the land, rendering it fertile.
'If this is true, it's truly coveted land.'
How could she wrest it from Demian?
Elena was turning over every possible angle to find leverage against Demian when he arrived at her hotel room with a knock.
"What brings you by today?"
Elena folded the letter and placed it in her reticule, then asked with dignified composure, her legs crossed. Demian answered from the doorway.
"We should be able to depart for the Castle around tomorrow. The journey will take longer since we'll need to clear snow along the way, but we can't delay any further."
"Finally, I'll be free from this confinement. I understand. I'll prepare."
At this point, his business seemed concluded, yet Demian lingered like a stone monument, showing no sign of leaving.
"Is there something else you wish to say?"
"I heard you received a letter."
Elena's body stiffened at Demian's mention of the letter.
Could he have somehow sensed that Rhoena was providing her with valuable information?
The letter bore no signs of being opened. Since it had been delivered through an intermediary, there was no way Demian could know who the sender was.
Yet if the Grand Duke set his mind to investigating, it would be entirely possible, so Elena clasped her tense hands tightly together.
He had never involved himself in her correspondence with others before—why this sudden interest?
Demian's expression hardened as he observed Elena's heightened tension.
Could it be a man, after all?
Recently, Elena had been displaying smiles he'd never seen before.
Knowing that smile was not directed at him, Demian felt something twist inside his chest.
Of course, he was well aware that he had no right to feel slighted.
Even if his choice had been for her sake, Elena, who knew nothing of it, had no reason to understand him.
Since he had not begun this unilateral decision with the expectation of understanding, Demian should have stopped speaking here.
But Demian could not restrain himself and blurted out the question that had been gnawing at him. And quite bluntly at that.
"You seem to exchange them quite frequently. Don't tell me you've taken a lover?"
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