IBMOT Chapter 38

Episode 38

 

It was a fatal weakness Meian had managed to keep hidden from everyone—until now.

If her necklace were broken, the sudden surge of her mana might attract the pursuit of both dragons and humans.

The dragons were obviously dangerous, but humans posed no less of a threat to Meian.

However, tales of humans who, unable to contend with pure-blooded dragons, vented their greed and cruelty on the more vulnerable half-bloods had been passed down for generations.

“Hmm? Oh, so that’s why your clothes look like that…”

Mitzu nodded as he glanced at Meian’s dress.

The high-collared gown, ill-suited for the Empire’s mild weather, looked stifling at a glance. She had likely chosen it to conceal the necklace beneath it.

‘Still, it’s a decent dress from a good tailor,’ thought Meian, though Mitzu’s dismissive gaze made her hesitate to say anything.

She decided against arguing—there was no point in provoking a dragon with a notoriously foul temper.

“Alright, so your mana’s restrained. If we remove that, you’ll actually be of some use, half-blood.”

“Please stop calling me that…!”

Meian, irritated by Mitzu’s disregard for her being of both human and dragon blood, raised her head in defiance.

However, as soon as she met his crimson eyes, she quickly bowed again.

She cursed herself for forgetting his temperament so quickly.

At this rate, she had no right to complain about being called a half-blood.

“Anyway, there’s something you need to do.”

“What is it?”

“Keep an eye on that human woman. Watch what she buys here and whether she meets with anyone suspicious. If something strange happens, or if others try to harm her, step in and stop them.”

The task sounded both suspicious and impossible, yet Mitzu delivered it in the most cheerful tone imaginable.

Who exactly are these ‘others’ I’m supposed to stop? 

Meian swallowed her unspoken question.

For someone who had spent 80 years living quietly, this sudden shift from a peaceful life to a high-stakes thriller felt overwhelming. She wanted to cry.

When had things gone so wrong? She suddenly missed her long-deceased mother.

“And hand over the necklace,” Mitzu added.

“W-Why do you need it…?”

“Now.”

“Here you go!”

Meian quickly removed the necklace from around her neck and presented it to him.

The necklace held a green gem that matched the color of her hair, engraved with a spell to seal her mana.

Mitzu inspected the spell on the gem closely, paying little attention to the necklace’s outward appearance.

Judging by the pattern of the spell, it wasn’t created by dragons.

The mana signature within the gem didn’t belong to dragons either, indicating that Meian had no connection to the group that attacked House Harrison.

If another species had helped her, there was no way to confirm it now. For the moment, there was nothing overtly suspicious.

Mitzu dropped the necklace into her hands with a disinterested expression.

Meian quickly tucked it back into her dress, even faster than she had taken it off.

“If those guys show up, don’t even think about running away, alright? Even if you try, I’ll just—”

He didn’t finish the sentence, but the mere movement of his lips made Meian’s neck feel cold.

“I-I have a question…”

“Hmm?”

“W-Why me?”

Meian couldn’t understand.

She wasn’t close to the guest who had arrived with the triplets.

It was only her second time meeting them, yet she was given such a heavy responsibility.

Who exactly is that guest? And why is she so important?

“Beats me. Orders from above. I just do what I’m told.”

Mitzu replied casually.

“Above?”

Meian thought of the strikingly handsome yet terrifying dragon she had seen before.

She regretted not fleeing the moment she noticed him. Her face twisted with regret, but it was already too late.

Leaving Meian filled with even more questions and fear, Mitzu returned to the bookstore.

Meian soon wobbled on shaky legs as she emerged from the storage room. She couldn’t just leave the customers waiting.

“Um, are you alright?”

“Y-Yes, I’m fine!”

Erina, noticing how pale Meian looked compared to when she had gone in, couldn’t help but ask.

Having dealt with Mitzu’s temperament herself, Erina felt a sense of camaraderie with Meian.

Meian stared at Erina’s concerned face, but there was nothing about her appearance that seemed remarkable enough to attract attention.

In fact, her plainness was her most defining feature.

Why on earth was I told to watch her?

Pushing aside the endless stream of questions in her head, Meian forced a smile.

“Have the little ones picked out their books?”

“Yes!”

The triplets excitedly placed their chosen books on the counter.

Watching their adorable enthusiasm gave Meian a brief sense of comfort as she began to tally up their purchases. Afterward, Erina added her book to the counter.

<Edible Medicinal Plants: Sylvian Empire Edition>

Meian’s eyes widened. It was another book she had authored.

“Did you… perhaps write this one as well?”

Meian’s intense gaze as she calculated the total for the book caught Erina’s attention, prompting her to ask.

Sure enough, Meian nodded vigorously, almost as if her head might fall off.

“This book doesn’t list the author, so I didn’t know.”

“I didn’t know much about copyright stuff back when I wrote this one! But I’ve made sure to include my name in the books I’ve written since then!”

“Oh, I see…!”

Erina got the impression that Meian had written more than just a couple of books.

“Alright, alright. Then I’ll throw this in as a free gift!”

“But you already gave me one last time…”

“It’s fine! Isn’t this all just fate anyway? If you ever have any questions, feel free to ask! Come back often, okay?”

“Thank you.”

Erina expressed her gratitude and left the bookstore with the children.

Following behind them with a bored expression was Mitzu.

Once his fiery red hair disappeared from sight, Meian let out a sigh of relief.

Come to think of it, it’s better if Erina doesn’t come back here! 

Meian had been so distracted by the excitement of someone buying her book that she’d told Erina to return and even given her a gift.

She’d practically walked herself into a dangerous situation.

Realizing her mistake, Meian slumped her shoulders, hung the “Closed” sign on the door, and decided to call it a day.

She had no energy left for business after everything that had happened.

 

***

 

The room was adorned with dazzling chandeliers, the ceiling alight with their glow.

In the vast space large enough to house a fountain, there was but a single table.

It was an overly extravagant use of space.

But for Harkard Richover, the emperor of the Sylvian Empire, such extravagance was par for the course.

As the ruler of the wealthiest and largest territory on the continent, his indulgence was not only accepted but expected.

In addition to his vast riches and land, the emperor was renowned for his magical prowess, ranking among the most skilled in the land.

Though he was over fifty years old, his appearance was that of a man in his early forties, with no sign of wrinkles on his face.

Furthermore, his rigorous physical training meant he could still match strength with even the most youthful knights.

Yet, despite all his power, there was one person in his presence to whom even he yielded: Dylan Harrison.

“How is the tea, Duke Harrison? These young tea leaves were hand-picked from Fukuran across the sea.”

“Fine.”

The silver-haired young man barely responded, showing no interest in the long explanation.

He hadn’t even taken a sip of the tea before him.

The emperor’s briefly faltering smile quickly returned to its usual calm and benevolent expression, befitting a magnanimous ruler.

“I hear your nephews and niece have safely returned?”

“Yes.”

“That’s something to celebrate! To think that blood relatives once presumed dead have all come back alive—what greater joy could there be?”

The emperor laughed heartily, raising his teacup. Its surface gleamed as it caught the light.

The officials standing nearby, listening to the conversation, joined in with matching laughter, filling the room with mirth.

The only person who didn’t crack even the faintest smile was, of course, Dylan.