Chapter 8
The voice was neither too fast nor too slow.
“Like a bard.”
Elise felt slightly intimidated by the calm voice of Baeksan.
“What do you mean?”
“There’s a better way than testing each item individually. Would you like to hear about it?”
“…Please go ahead.”
Baeksan gently lifted the teacup with a contemplative gaze.
“There’s a magic spell on the statue behind Assistant Guildmaster, detecting lies.”
“…!”
“And the wing-shaped sculpture at the entrance is enchanted with mana detection magic.”
Elise, with her jaw dropped in astonishment, was examined by Baeksan’s eyes.
“That’s an ancient artifact called the Eight-Branched Bells used for summoning rain. Next to it appears to be a whip used by the Conqueror Sam, but it’s a fake.”
“…That’s impossible.”
Elise murmured unconsciously, then her expression turned sharp.
“You figured it out as soon as you saw the items. Without proper investigation.”
Baeksan shrugged.
In the next moment, Elise spoke up.
“Are you a ‘sage’ by any chance?”
* * *
The woman hesitated for a moment, then slowly removed her robe.
“I am Minervina Le Tor.”
With her hair braided to one side in a violet hue.
Pink eyes.
A slender jaw and an unusually thin body.
She matched the appearance of Minervina Le Tor, as investigated by the guild.
Elise immediately rose from the sofa and bowed slightly.
“I apologize for any rudeness. Assistant Guildmaster Elise Barrett of Sophus Appraisal Office greets Minervina Le Tor.”
“No need to be so formal…”
“Despite losing all family assets, Le Tor is still a noble family.”
At her words, Minervina nodded slightly awkwardly.
“I understand. Please have a seat.”
“Please pardon my intrusion.”
“I’ll think about it. After all, if you join here, Mr. Barrett will be my superior.”
“Nevertheless, nobles do not condescend to commoners.”
“Your status will be hidden, so it’s fine.”
“…So you mean to conceal it.”
“I liked Mr. Barrett from the moment I saw him.”
Minervina smiled softly.
Her flushed cheeks made her look like an innocent girl who knew nothing.
But she was the ‘sage of Le Tor.’ Claimed to have discovered the truth of the world.
Although the truth of the sage’s statement couldn’t be verified, at least the demonstrated ability was real.
“Understood. We’ll handle this matter confidentially, known only to Mr. Barrett and me.”
“Thank you.”
Elise sighed heavily and sat back down.
Although the precious tea was cooling in front of her, she had no intention of touching it.
“In short, why did you come here?”
“Here?”
“You would receive tremendous rewards just by revealing your existence, even if you just went to the palace.”
Furthermore, there was one more question.
“Moreover, you must have been ‘verified’ by the palace before withdrawing your application…”
She had heard that there was a method in the palace to discern the sage of Le Tor.
“Or did your connection with the palace sour, and you discovered your abilities afterward?”
Various hypotheses floated through her mind.
Minervina looked at Elise as if she knew everything.
Elise couldn’t help but feel a little uneasy under that gaze.
Minervina smiled as if she knew everything.
“I don’t need such rewards. Concealing my identity is one reason.”
Elise exhaled, not knowing whether it was admiration or sigh.
“After Lord Tor, the Marquis of Le Tor, suddenly passed away due to the cessation of support from the palace, the Marquise disappeared…”
Elise couldn’t even ask what happened to the Marquise. It was a pity. If Minervina had awakened as a sage a little earlier, the family might not have ended up in such dire straits.
“Thinking like that, it’s understandable why she didn’t go to the palace. The palace would be resentful.”
But if the other party is the ‘sage of Le Tor,’ it would be difficult for Elise as well.
“If exposed, it would be embarrassing both for me and the palace.”
The palace was already irritated because they had supported the Marquis of Le Tor for so long without gaining anything in return.
The abilities were so tempting, but she was a poisoned apple.
Elise sighed, steeling her resolve.
“Minervina Le Tor. I apologize for saying this, but…”
“Even with your exceptional abilities, you can’t join us?”
“Yes?”
Elise looked at Minervina, who had spoken for her.
Minervina casually continued, “Must appraisers be wizards?”
“…There’s no need to be a wizard. As long as you can appraise magical items. But.”
“Mr. Barrett.”
Minervina smiled wryly.
“Isn’t there an item that’s been troubling you lately?”
“…!”
How did she know?
While Elise inwardly doubted the security of Sophus, Minervina quickly continued.
“I think I can handle that problem. What do you think?”
“….”
Elise pinched the bridge of her nose.
“Can sages possibly read minds?”
In front of this young lady, Elise couldn’t hide anything.
“…How did you know there was such an item? Are you suggesting that instead of appraising it, you want permission to work here?”
“Yes.”
“….”
Elise tightened her grip on the pen.
A potentially dangerous element that the palace might keep an eye on.
But amidst all the risks, there was the legendary ‘sage of Le Tor,’ which made even the guildmaster always sing of wanting to meet her…
What ended her hesitation was Minervina’s words.
“That box, you bought it quite expensively, didn’t you?”
A jolt.
“You need to recoup your losses. Because you’re the Assistant Guildmaster.”
“….”
Finally making up her mind, Elise nodded.
“Understood. If you succeed in appraising that item, I will hire Minervina Le Tor as an appraiser.”
—
Before moving to where the troublesome box was, Elise handed a blindfold to Baeksan.
“From now on, we’re entering Sophus’ top-secret area. Please wear this for security reasons.”
Although her attitude was firm, she seemed to be looking around a bit, perhaps because of her noble status.
[Baeksan]
A reliable merchant. He seems to feel a slight fear of you. He may not spread rumors even if he finds out your true identity.
If it weren’t for that explanation, she wouldn’t have revealed her identity as a sage.
Baeksan calmly put on the blindfold. Then he seemed a little surprised.
“Oh? I can’t see?”
Even though his eyes were open, no explanation came to mind.
At least something like [blindfold] should have come to mind.
“Is it really an ability dependent on sight? You should be careful in dark places or at night.”
As Baeksan thought about it, Elise handed him a rope.
“Hold onto this and follow me. I’ll let you know when we reach the stairs.”
Elise led the way with Baeksan following behind. From their path, it seemed they were heading underground.
After walking for quite some time, Elise finally stopped.
“You can take off the blindfold now.”
‘What kind of tight security is this?’
As Baeksan took off the blindfold, he saw a square-shaped space in front of him. It wasn’t very spacious, about three or four pyeong.
Through a glass window, Baeksan and Elise could see the space.
It was a strange room, as if it were meant to contain something.
In each corner of the room, a person in a robe was sitting, and in the center, surprisingly, there was a floating box.
[Dreadful Box]
A box containing something dreadful. Protected by seven intersecting magic spells. Merely touching it can drive weak-minded individuals insane.
…What’s with this terrifying description?
Elise said to the stunned Baeksan, “This is an item we acquired through a special route. It’s blocked by magic using wizards. As you can see, it’s quite… dreadful.”
