Ermenia spun once in mid-air before landing gracefully on the ground.
Despite her elegant movement, she glanced cautiously at Edelmar and spoke.
[Why did you call me?]
“I need to confirm something with you.”
Ian briefly glanced at Rose, who was sleeping soundly, and said,
“Is it possible to materialize an illusion?”
Ermenia’s pupils widened.
[How did you know?]
“I just happened to find out. Can you do it or not?”
Ermenia shifted uncomfortably.
[I can, but…]
“But?”
[It might not work.]
Ian tilted his head.
“What do you mean?”
[When the contract was made, it wasn’t just with Rose; it included you as well. Although I follow Rose as my master, I listen to you because you’re also a party to the contract.]
“And?”
[So, even if you materialize it, the materialization might dissipate if Rose doesn’t accept it.]
Ian considered Ermenia’s words for a moment and responded,
“So, the materialization can only be maintained if Rose accepts it?”
[Correct. It’s Rose, not you, who will use the materialization.]
Ian nodded.
Until now, he believed he alone was enough to protect Rose.
However, should there come a day when they were separated, like today, it might be difficult for Claude and Fenrex alone to protect her.
“Could you teach Rose?”
[I don’t see why not, but I’m not sure if Rose would accept it. Materializing an illusion isn’t something you can fully understand just by explanation. And even if she does understand, it doesn’t mean she’ll be able to accept it immediately.]
“Do it anyway. I’ll also try to help Rose.”
[Alright. Is that all?]
When Ian nodded, Ermenia quickly concealed herself.
“If you keep staring like that, it’s intimidating.”
“It’s fascinating to look at a spirit.”
“You also have spirits with you, Grand Duke. What’s so fascinating?”
“It’s not in a human form, after all.”
Ian shook his head with a sigh, contemplating.
‘How should I explain the concept of materializing an illusion?’
***
“We’ve arrived.”
Ian wiped the sweat from his brow and gazed at the quiet territory.
“First, let’s find an inn.”
In response to Edelmar’s words, Ian nodded.
The estate, situated halfway up a rocky mountain, was a challenging climb.
Even Rose, who had initially wanted to walk, eventually had to be carried, and Fenrex, who had been walking on two legs, transformed into a wolf.
However, Edelmar was the only one in the group who remained unbothered and completely fine on his own.
“Three rooms, please.”
“That will be 20 silver coins. And about meals?”
Edelmar looked back at Ian.
“Let’s eat at the inn tonight.”
Edelmar nodded and glanced at the innkeeper, who handed over the keys.
“Shall I bring the food to your rooms?”
“Yes.”
Perhaps due to the inn’s mountainous location, most buildings in the estate were single-story.
The inn was also a single-story building but quite spacious.
As soon as they were assigned to the innermost room, Ian set about washing Rose first.
“Rose, you need to wash up before sleeping.”
“Mm…”
Exhausted, Rose was half-asleep, but Ian managed to coax her into a quick wash and then lightly showered himself.
Knock, knock.
“Come in.”
Edelmar entered the room, looking as fresh and unruffled as he had been in the morning, without a drop of sweat on him.
“When do you plan to leave?”
“We’ll set out at dawn.”
“What about Rose?”
“We’ll bring her along.”
Since leaving the duchy, Rose had stopped crying as often at night.
However, she occasionally woke up calling for Ian, so he couldn’t leave her behind.
“The mine is at the top of the mountain, isn’t it? It’ll be tough carrying her up.”
“I plan to use magic.”
“Even if it makes you cough up blood?”
Ian shrugged.
“There’s no other choice.”
Every time he visited an estate, he searched for a baby carrier, but given that this wasn’t Earth, it was impossible to find one.
If there was a fabric store, he might be able to make one, but the estates they had passed through were all small and only had clothing stores without any fabric shops.
“What about asking Yan to carry you?”
“No, thank you.”
Ian grimaced.
No matter how much of a spirit he was, Yan had the appearance of a man.
Just the thought of a grown man being carried by another man made Ian shudder.
“Hmph.”
Edelmar frowned, seemingly displeased with the idea of Ian using magic.
“I’ll only use it briefly. It’s not severe enough to be life-threatening.”
“Well, that’s a relief.”
‘What’s he so displeased about?’
Ian shook his head in exasperation as he began drying Rose’s damp hair with a towel.
“Can’t you use an illusion?”
“What?”
“I saw the spirit of reincarnation follow your orders before. Can’t you use that materialization ability too?”
Ian’s eyes lit up.
‘Why didn’t I think of that?’
Ermenia had mentioned that Ian was also a party to the contract. So, he should be able to materialize an illusion as well.
“Ermenia.”
“Errr!”
Ermenia appeared by Rose’s bedside, wagging her tail.
“Is what the Grand Duke says true? Can I also perform materialization?”
Ermenia nodded.
Ian chuckled in disbelief and turned to Edelmar.
“Thank you. That was a great idea.”
Edelmar shrugged.
“Think of it as the price of following you.”
“Are you planning to come along?”
“Do you think I came all this way just for sightseeing?”
‘Not exactly.’
Grateful for the useful idea and aware that Edelmar had no ulterior motives in tagging along, Ian decided it was better not to argue and simply allowed it.
“Understood. I’ll inform you, Grand Duke, before we depart.”
“Very well.”
Even after answering, Edelmar remained in the room, prompting Ian to ask,
“Is there anything else?”
At that, Edelmar handed him a note, as if he had been waiting for this moment.
“They say they’ve completed the test wristwatch.”
“Already?”
Ian read through the note.
It was written by the craftsman responsible for making the watch parts, stating that a magic stone-powered watch had been completed and was keeping accurate time within a small margin of error.
“Is the skeleton watch still in progress?”
“That one will take a bit longer.”
Ian nodded.
“That’s fine. The priority was the standard model, so it doesn’t matter if it takes some time. When can we start production?”
“As soon as you approve it, production can begin. Are the watch straps ready?”
Ian recalled the message he had received from May via the communication sphere a few days ago.
“Yes. Once the finished products are delivered to the trading company, we’ll attach the straps and begin sales. Please ask the craftsman to produce only 20 units of each design initially.”
Edelmar raised an eyebrow.
“Only 20? I thought the goal was mass production?”
Ian smiled.
“The rarer it is, the higher its value. Even if it’s a standard model, it’s the first wristwatch we’re releasing, so it’s better to produce a limited quantity initially to increase its value.”
“Ah, I see.”
Edelmar looked at Ian with a curious expression.
“Did you perhaps work as a merchant while you were cooped up in the fortress?”
“Is that even possible? This is really quite obvious.”*
“All right, I’ll inform the craftsman as you requested.”
“Yes, thank you.”
The wristwatch had been completed sooner than expected.
In this world, a wristwatch was an innovative product, and it would be the breakthrough that ‘Rose’ needed to overcome its sales slump.
Ian was smiling at the thought when he noticed Edelmar was still standing there and asked,
“Do you have more business here?”
Edelmar replied,
“I just find it boring to stay in a room alone.”
“Boring…”
Ian muttered in disbelief, but Edelmar nonchalantly took a seat on a chair in the room.
“Let’s chat until it’s time for dinner.”
“Do you really have things you want to talk to me about?”
“There are a lot of things I’m curious about.”
Ian flinched for a moment.
Curious things?
Ian recalled all the times he had evaded or mumbled answers to Edelmar’s questions.
‘What does he want to ask?’
He stared at Edelmar, but it was impossible to read his thoughts from his unchanging expression.
Ian was about to speak when the door suddenly burst open with a loud bang, and Fenrex entered.
“Ro—”
Ian quickly clamped a hand over his mouth.
“Quiet!”
At Ian’s small yet firm voice, Fenrex rolled his eyes.
He could see his marked companion sleeping soundly on the bed.
Once Fenrex nodded, Ian released the hand covering his mouth.
“What are you here for?”
“I want to sleep with Rose.”
Annoyed by this persistent wolf constantly trying to stay close to Rose, Ian pointed to the door with his finger.
“Go back.”
“I don’t want to be alone in my room.”
When Ian stared at him in disbelief, Fenrex drooped his ears and tail.
“Can’t I sleep next to Rose?”
“Do you think that’s allowed?”
“…What if I turn into a wolf?”
Fenrex lowered his head sadly, but his eyes looked up hopefully.
The gaze reminded Ian of Rose when she first arrived at the estate, making him feel soft-hearted. Noticing this, Fenrex quickly transformed into a wolf, jumped onto the bed, curled up beside Rose, and closed his eyes.
With the tension from his little tussle with Fenrex dissipating, Ian took a seat across from Edelmar.
“Feel free to ask your questions.”
“Do you know what the sacred artifact looks like?”
“Yes.”
Ian pulled a sheet of paper and a fountain pen from the table.
He then began sketching the sacred artifact hidden deep within the rocky mountain.
Blessed by the constellations with skillful hands, sketching the artifact embedded in his memory was an effortless task.
The artifact they were seeking today was the ‘Goblet of the Divine.’ It took the shape of a wine goblet, with a green emerald embedded in its center, surrounded by strings of pearl-like beads.
“Hm. How does one use this?”
Edelmar asked, examining the drawing.
“Use it?”
“Isn’t the purpose to use the sacred artifact?”
Ian corrected Edelmar’s misunderstanding.
“You’ve got it wrong. It’s not a ‘divine tool’ but a divine ‘substance.’”
“A divine ‘substance’?”
“Yes, it’s the Tear of the Divine.”
“I didn’t know something like that existed.”
“I didn’t either.”
It was a type of divine substance that even <Flow> had never mentioned.
If he hadn’t encountered the one known as the Apostle of God, he would have dismissed it as mere rumor.
Edelmar seemed to be contemplating something, tapping the armrest with his palm at a steady rhythm, until his hand suddenly stopped.
“Where will you go after obtaining the divine substance?”
“We need to head to the Fend estate.”
“The westernmost edge, then?”
“Yes.”
🍓; *Ian saying that it’s not likely he would have been a merchant while confined to the fortress, implying it’s an absurd suggestion. The second part reinforces that what he is doing (or did) is completely natural or obvious to gain some wealth, since you know Loenbaum duchy are planning for independence.