Ian extinguished the flames and asked.
“It seems you have a troublesome matter on your hands. Otherwise, you would not be trying to entrust it to me when I am not even a Red Spear Knight.”
“You are perceptive. I originally intended to assign it to Diol, but I would be grateful if you stepped forward instead.”
Berdan searched through the documents lying on one side of his desk, pulled out a sheet, and held it toward Diol, who was standing nearby with a box of cookies.
Diol accepted it with a reluctant expression. He frowned at Ian, who remained seated and stared blankly at him, then waved the paper.
“Would you like me to bring it to you as well? Come and take it while I am still asking nicely.”
“What is so difficult about bringing it over here…?”
“Exactly. What is so difficult that you are sitting there so arrogantly?”
Unable to win even a single verbal exchange against Diol, Ian rose, took the paper, and examined its contents.
“…Hmm?”
An infestation of insects had appeared at a logging site in the northeast, and they were gnawing through the timber that the workers had labored to cut down.
“Insects?”
“Yes. The damage is still minor, but it will become a problem if it continues accumulating.”
“Is it not merely an ordinary logging site?”
“No. That place is special. As you know, this land was once seized by the Outer Sea before being reclaimed. Because of that, dense mana seeped deep into the soil. You must have heard that some plants exposed to mana mutated into entirely new species.”
Ian nodded.
He had not merely heard about them. He had seen them countless times himself.
“Most of those plants are extremely harmful to humanity, but a few are beneficial.”
“And the trees harvested from this logging site are among them?”
“Yes. Paper made from those trees is of exceptionally high quality and well suited for Grimoires and Scrolls. As a result, we supply it to the Magic Towers at an exorbitant price. The highest-grade Scrolls and Grimoires produced over the past several decades were likely all made with paper from that logging site. It would not be an exaggeration to call it one of the pillars of the family’s income.”
“…Hmm. But I do not think there is anything I could do there.”
“That would be the same whether Diol went or I went. We are knights, not exterminators. Even so, I intend to send one of us to make it clear to outsiders that House Berger is keeping a close watch over the logging site.”
“Are people coming from elsewhere as well?”
“Representatives from the Magic Tower are expected to arrive. That is why I intend to send you with an investigator. You do not actually have to do anything. You only need to remain there. I will assign escorts as well.”
“Very well. What is the schedule?”
“You will depart tomorrow at three in the afternoon. I will reserve the Warp Gate, so go to the station and travel to the city of Balar. The escorts and investigator will be waiting for you there. Be careful not to arrive late.”
When Ian readily agreed, Berdan opened a drawer and searched through it for some time. He then pulled something out and tossed it toward Ian.
Ian stared at the object as it spun through the air like a boomerang.
Even though he did not reach out to catch it, it landed gently and precisely upon the table before him.
It was a sealed envelope.
“What is this?”
Ian roughly tore away the wax seal. Inside was a black card edged in gold.
The moment he saw the emblem of the Golden Magic Tower prominently displayed in the upper-left corner, his eyes widened.
Such a card was said to be issued only to the wealthiest clients.
“You are giving this to me?”
“It was made in your name from the beginning.”
Upon examining it more closely, Ian found the name Ian Berger elegantly engraved upon it.
“When?”
“Diol and I received ours the year we became adults. Yours was… withheld because of your circumstances.”
“Then why do you have it?”
“The family head entrusted it to me and told me to give it to you at an appropriate time. Use it to purchase your equipment. However, if you spend recklessly, it may be confiscated, so exercise restraint. Remember that you must never transfer it to another person under any circumstances. Not that anyone else can use it to make payments on your behalf.”
Good heavens.
Ian had obtained one of the black cards he had only ever heard about in rumors.
With this card, there was effectively no need to worry about the price of anything he purchased.
It would not be an exaggeration to say that he could buy anything that was offered for sale.
“You probably do not know Lus well yet, so I will assign someone to guide you.”
“No, that will not be necessary. I intend to look around alone and familiarize myself with the city.”
In truth, Ian already knew the city.
He had never visited the family estate during his years as a mercenary, but he had come to Lus several times.
Berdan frowned slightly.
“It may be dangerous.”
“Do you take me for a child? I can protect myself perfectly well. Besides, what could possibly happen in House Berger’s own front yard? You are worrying needlessly.”
“…Yes, you have a point. Do as you wish.”
Ian placed the card inside his coat.
“I should be going.”
“You are leaving already?”
“It is late, and I am quite tired.”
“Hmm. In that case, it cannot be helped. Once you register as a mercenary tomorrow, come and see me immediately. There is no need to return all the way to Lampas tonight. Stay here. There are plenty of empty rooms.”
When Ian nodded, Berdan called someone’s name.
A man opened the door and entered, apparently having waited outside.
“Prepare a room for Ian and see to his needs.”
“Yes. This way, please.”
“Then I suppose I should be leaving as well.”
Diol picked up the box of cookies and attempted to follow them, but Berdan did not allow it.
“Diol, I have something to discuss with you separately. You will remain here.”
“Ah, I would rather not…”
Despite his words, Diol stayed behind.
Ian bid the two of them farewell and left the room.
***
Thanks to Berdan’s consideration, Ian spent the night at the lord’s residence and did not venture outside until around noon.
As befitted one of the most developed cities in the eastern region of the El Karda Empire, the streets were crowded with people.
It would have been natural for someone to brush against his shoulder or shove him while passing, but no one behaved so rudely.
Even a particularly ill-tempered-looking mercenary who strode directly toward Ian flinched upon drawing near and stepped aside.
Ian had no escort, but the flame insignia embroidered upon his clothes served the same purpose.
He let out an incredulous laugh at the family’s influence and continued walking without hesitation.
His destination was the street where the blacksmiths and weapon shops were gathered.
CLANG, CLANG!
The frequent sound of hammer striking metal confirmed that he was heading in the right direction.
Ian looked around for a particular workshop.
‘It should be somewhere around here.’
His memory was somewhat uncertain, but the establishment was so large and famous that there was no need to stop a passerby and ask for directions.
After walking a little farther and turning a corner, he found it immediately.
The Seventh Demium.
It was the seventh workshop established by the Inoria Foundation, an organization renowned not only throughout the empire but across the entire continent.
In practice, most people simply called it Demium.
Ordinary riffraff were not even permitted to enter. Guards wearing armor and helmets comparable to those of knights stood watch at the entrance.
Ian approached them.
He felt their gazes briefly pass over him, but they did not attempt to stop him.
When he opened the door and stepped inside, he was greeted by a spacious, immaculate interior.
All manner of weapons and armor were displayed according to type. Several customers were examining them while employees attended to their needs.
Ian’s eyes met those of a middle-aged man standing behind the counter.
The man wore a formal suit and held himself perfectly upright.
“……”
Esteban turned toward the customer standing at the entrance and noticed the flame insignia embroidered upon his clothes.
It signified that the wearer belonged to House Berger.
Moreover, Ian’s black hair suggested that he was connected to the family by blood.
He was still young, but he possessed the right to enter this establishment.
Esteban approached and addressed him.
“Welcome to the Seventh Demium, esteemed customer. I am Esteban, a Crown of Victory and the manager of this workshop. May I ask your name?”
“I am Ian Berger.”
“…Ah.”
It was likely a name he had heard many times.
Esteban nodded.
“Then I shall address you as Young Master Ian. Since this is your first visit, may I remain by your side and assist you?”
“Would you?”
“Of course. That is my duty. First, please come this way.”
Ian slowly followed Esteban.
“Is there a particular kind of equipment you are seeking?”
When Esteban turned and asked, Ian nodded and recited the passphrase.
“I need a weapon that will neither break nor grow dull, one capable of protecting me under any circumstances.”
“…Esteemed customer, no such weapon exists. All weapons and armor are expendable. Without maintenance, they rust. With continued use, they grow dull and eventually break. Even relics imbued with extraordinary powers are no exception.”
“I know. However, every rule has its exceptions, does it not? Just as the sun and moon protect us from darkness, the sunlight that borrows the form of gold coins to protect us is Inoria, while the moonlight that borrows the form of a blade to protect us is Ellasium.”
“……”
There was no response.
Esteban stared at Ian with his lips firmly closed.
His gaze did not suggest that he thought Ian was spouting nonsense. Rather, it seemed to ask how Ian could possibly know those words.
However, Esteban was a professional.
He quickly relaxed his stiffened expression.
“You seek a custom commission. Please follow me.”
Ian followed Esteban deeper into the workshop.
They walked down a windowless corridor lined with statues whose purpose Ian could not identify.
One step after another.
With every step, Ian felt increasingly dizzy.
He had walked through this corridor when he visited the establishment with the Champion, but he had experienced no such symptoms then.
‘They installed a ward.’
The flow of mana was subtly distorted.
Ian was not especially knowledgeable about magic, but the statues he had assumed were merely decorative appeared to serve as the anchors of the ward.
Esteban glanced back at him.
Ian maintained an indifferent expression and pretended that nothing was wrong.
At the end of the corridor, they reached a door that had been invisible from farther away.
When they entered, Ian saw an armored knight sitting upon a chair.
The knight did not move in the slightest. Ian could not tell whether he was asleep or whether the armor was empty.
A staircase leading underground stood in the center of the room.
The best place to hide treasure was beneath the earth, and these people appeared to follow that principle as well.
They descended the staircase.
Weapons and armor were displayed below.
There were fewer items than on the floor above, but every piece contained dense mana and possessed a distinctive, highly individual appearance.
As though entranced, Ian fixed his gaze upon a longsword displayed nearby.
The keen aura it emitted made it appear far from ordinary.
“The sword you are examining is called Demit. Several enchantments have been layered upon it, granting it abnormally high durability. Furthermore, anyone wounded by its blade suffers a drastic reduction in their ability to recover. It would be particularly effective against opponents with exceptional regenerative abilities.”
“What about this one?”
“That is a set of daggers obtained from the Garam Empire. They are called White Jade Pavilion. There are five in total, and befitting their simple, unadorned appearance, their effects are also relatively straightforward. Their power and speed increase when thrown, and after being thrown, they return to their owner. Those abilities alone make them fully worthy of being called relics.”
Ian continued examining several other pieces of equipment, and Esteban explained each one courteously.
Quite a few were enchanted objects rather than true relics.
After looking around the entire floor, Ian tilted his head.
He knew there was another level below, so why was Esteban not guiding him there?
Upon closer inspection, Esteban was standing directly in front of the staircase leading farther underground.
“May I go down to the floor below?”
Ian liked every item displayed here, but none of them were relics of the caliber he sought.
“I am afraid that will be difficult.”
At Esteban’s firm refusal, Ian nodded.
Perhaps entry was restricted because Ian was not a Champion.
That was likely the reason.
Ian was considering choosing several items from those displayed here when Esteban said something entirely unexpected.
“Unfortunately, you are also unable to purchase any of the equipment on this floor.”
“What do you mean? I gave the passphrase correctly.”
Esteban nodded.
“Yes, you certainly did. That is precisely the problem. The passphrase you recited is known and used exclusively by Champions.”
“……”
“Had you spoken an ordinary passphrase, I would have assumed that your father told it to you. However, reciting a passphrase that only a Champion should know makes the situation rather different. I would like to ask how you learned it, but I doubt you would answer willingly. Nor can I detain and interrogate you, since you happen to be a son of House Berger. This is quite troublesome.”
Ian calmly endured Esteban’s piercing gaze.
The words struck close to home, but as Esteban had said, Ian could not answer him.
“You could simply have refused to bring me here.”
“I could have done so. However, you clearly possess some connection to a Champion, and your identity is beyond doubt, considering that you openly bear House Berger’s insignia here in Lus. I could at least allow you to look around. It is not as though the equipment will wear out merely from being seen.”
“…I take that to mean you may still be willing to sell me the items here. Is that a fair interpretation?”
“Yes. As long as you fulfill the necessary conditions, you may purchase them.”
“And what are those conditions?”
“There are three. You need not feel burdened, as satisfying even one of them will suffice.”
Ian sighed.
“Let me hear them.”