Collecting information about dark wizards?
That wasn’t in the original story.
So this is because I caught the dark wizard.
Originally, when the western port was used, the dark wizards were not discovered.
But because Leopold arrested them on the spot, the future had changed.
If things I don’t know keep happening like this… won’t I eventually lose my mind? Like ordinary people who don’t know the future.
A strange sense of expectation slowly rose.
“There have been no sightings of dark wizards in the central region.”
Alfious spoke calmly.
“Of course, they might exist, but I haven’t seen any. Ah, I did run into a few in the east on my way here.”
“I see. If you learn anything else, please let us know at any time.”
In any case, Baron Forman was very pleased when we treated him to dinner.
“Oh, veal steak. It seems trade with the County of Yohain has begun, if we can eat beef.”
In truth, it was cattle we had started raising ourselves, but I didn’t point that out.
Baron Forman hesitated for a long time, then finished his plate.
“Perhaps the custom of leaving food behind should disappear now.”
I agreed.
“Baron, I’ve thought that for a long time. Leaving food is the most terrible of western customs.”
In a time of food shortages, it was truly outdated.
Baron Forman smiled gently and looked out at the garden. It was the land where Alfious had been farming so diligently earlier.
“What are you planting, young lady?”
“Corn.”
We were planting corn in the front and back gardens.
It was midsummer, so the kinds of crops we could choose were limited. Corn seeds were hard to obtain, but fortunately, as soon as the warp started working, we managed to get some from another region.
The money had to come from selling the remaining potatoes.
We really had no money… and we still don’t.
Alfious said that now the warp was working, he would try asking the Second Prince for reparations again.
But this was the response from the imperial palace:
[The Second Prince has received an imperial order to investigate the “Curse of Sleep” and was dispatched to the south yesterday.]
“Well, it’s just an investigation, so he should be back soon. Once His Highness returns to the palace and contacts us, we can go immediately. For now, we’ll just wait.”
That was why Alfious was farming while waiting for the Second Prince’s message.
There was no point contacting the south anyway. According to procedure, the Second Prince had to ask the Emperor directly to receive reparations.
“But why corn all of a sudden…?”
“It seems the west’s grain productivity won’t be normal this year.”
As if struck at the core, Baron Forman flinched.
“How did you know?”
“You can tell just by going to the seed market.”
In fact, I had gone to the seed market myself. It was the most important thing.
Just then—
“Shall we depart, then?”
Alfious appeared, having changed into clean clothes.
“So, um, we were invited, right? Then I’ll prepare right away! Let’s go as soon as you finish eating!”
“What?”
Baron Forman stopped his spoon in midair while eating the dessert, milk pudding.
He smiled awkwardly.
“Ah… the Marquis is going as well? And you mean to leave right now?”
Alfious tilted his head.
“Brisa is still young, so, um, shouldn’t a guardian accompany her? Or is the invitation for a fixed date?”
“Well, yes, that’s true, but the timing isn’t urgent. You can visit whenever it’s convenient.”
“Ah-ha! Then let’s go now! Now is convenient for us!”
Alfious said brightly.
“Actually, I need to collect—no, beg—no, ask the Second Prince for money, so if not now, I don’t know when I’ll have time.”
If the Second Prince contacted him, he would have to rush to the palace immediately. He wanted to clear his schedule as fast as possible.
Baron Forman glanced at me, looking troubled.
“Um, what does Miss Brisa think about this…?”
“I don’t think it’s good.”
I sighed.
“I’ve told you several times not to make that ‘um’ sound in the middle.”
I was the one invited, but there was no reason not to bring Alfious.
I actually wanted him to gain some experience with noble families. If the first was Baron Forman’s house, that was ideal. At least Baron Forman wouldn’t openly look down on Alfious.
“Then I’ll prepare! Baron, you should come with us too!”
Alfious declared cheerfully.
“Traveling with our Briv—no, Brisa! I’m so excited!”
I sighed and warned him.
“Don’t be too excited. When we go, you have to look serious. You heard it. The west is having a hard time because of dark wizards.”
“Oh, really? Sorry…”
“You shouldn’t apologize so easily either. It makes it sound like you owe something.”
“Ah, I see. Then I’ll do this.”
Without a word, Alfious bowed deeply toward Baron Forman.
I stomped hard on Alfious’s foot.
“Bowing is even worse. Especially to someone of lower rank. You should never do that. It just makes things uncomfortable.”
“R-really? Then, um, what if I’ve already bowed like this?”
“Just lie down. Say you collapsed from anemia, not because you bowed, and call a doctor.”
Listening to our conversation, Baron Forman smiled awkwardly. He clearly hadn’t expected us to leave for the west immediately.
Of course, no one leaves the moment they’re invited.
Still, I didn’t particularly want to oppose Alfious’s opinion.
According to the original story, the warp will stay unstable.
The original story described only the south’s warp as a complete mess, but that didn’t mean the west’s warp was guaranteed to be safe.
It might just have been skipped because the protagonist never went there.
So if things are fine for now, we should move quickly.
I couldn’t say that, so I sided with Alfious instead.
If we go to the west, maybe I can meet Leopold? Baron Forman’s family is his maternal family, after all.
But now I had a new purpose.
I need to hear the details from Leopold.
I wanted to live. To do that, I had to know exactly who the people targeting me were.
Even if the dark wizards of the Seven Kingdoms just wanted to kill me because I had Riente blood, I still needed to know everything surrounding it.
I can’t afford to be stuck somewhere, knowing nothing, and get taken out.
And one more thing.
This might not even happen, but I wanted to see the western lands.
According to the original story, problems keep happening on that vast land…
No matter how much we tried to be self-sufficient, it was best if the entire continent’s productivity improved.
The west’s wide lands were an irreplaceable resource by themselves.
I won’t interfere unnecessarily… but if they ask for help, I should at least take a look.
The chance was low, though.
I don’t know if a guest would ever need to step in.
I was a child who knew her place.
Anyway, for many reasons, I wanted to go to the west as soon as possible, even though it wasn’t a typical noble decision.
Well, it’s not my decision. It’s Alfious’s.
After thinking it over, Baron Forman seemed to decide it wasn’t a big deal and nodded readily.
“Then please stay a few days while you’re there.”
He suggested gently.
“You can also visit our pride, the magic library.”
And so, one hour later.
We gathered our group and prepared to move to the central warp.
“Alright. West… Nogen… Magic Library… in front of the Wesean Cave.”
Baron Forman calmly entered the coordinates.
Warps were usually built in remote places where people didn’t pass through often. That was why the central warp we were at was also on a hill.
“Now, we depart.”
As we all stood on the massive warp and were enveloped by the magic circle—
“Uh… huh?”
“S-something feels wrong?”
Both Alfious and I felt a strange sensation, our toes trembling.
No way. Is the warp already malfunctioning?
Just as panic rose and I wanted to scream—
“Eek!”
“Aaaah!”
Unable to hold back, I clung to Alfious, screaming.
“Brisa! Brisa!”
Like a lie, solid ground touched my feet.
But that place was… not the cave we had expected.
