Episode 47: The Second Piece (4)
“Thank you.”
Jaron suddenly said at the door of Thompson Gray’s mansion.
Thompson Gray’s house was a huge mansion, or rather, an impossible castle in the small countryside. Muriel, who was tense because it wouldn’t be easy to retrieve the fragment, couldn’t understand what he was saying and turned to look at him.
Thank you, so out of the blue.
Was he being sarcastic? Was he saying ‘Thank you so much for allowing me to break into this mansion where security seems tight and there are a lot of servants’?
“I told you not to break through and just wait until Thompson Gray comes out.”
He had suggested breaking into it by himself as if it wasn’t a big deal…
Muriel, who was often stabbed but never thanked, spoke irritably, and Jaron scratched his neck, saying, “No, that’s not it.”
W-What… what was with that embarrassing, shy gesture? Seeing Jaron with an inappropriately soft face gave Muriel goosebumps.
Muriel glared at Jaron with white eyes, lightly brushing her goosebumps-induced arm. Despite seeing her like that, Jaron didn’t pick up a fight and instead made a sound, “Hmm…” and cleared his throat. Only then did Muriel tilt her neck in confusion. It was strange. If it was the Jaron she knew, he would have already started a quarrel and been sulking.
“Today, I meant. Thank you.”
Muriel tried to figure out what he meant. Because his words seemed somewhat meaningful with his sincere gaze, despite his awkward face. She couldn’t just let that slip away inadvertently.
He seemed awkward but had a sincere gaze, making it seem significant in some way. She couldn’t just let it pass without paying attention.
“…I guess it’s an honor for knights to hold the sword of Dachini for justice?”
“Well… yes, but…”
She thought it was that, but she received another lukewarm response again.
It would be nice if he just said it straightforwardly like usual, but he kept hesitating and biting his lips, which didn’t suit him.
Of course, if you look at his face alone, Jaron looked neat and upright, and had a model-like face. So, it somewhat suited him to have a little embarrassed expression like this. That was the case if you went by appearances alone. However, for Muriel, who knew how crooked and flawed his true nature was behind his innocent and upright face, this side of Jaron felt unfamiliar.
It was like seeing a cat with a missing claw suddenly imitating a sheep. Normally, he would have already scratched, hissed, and shown his true nature, but now it was like he was a gentle lamb going ‘baa’ and it left her perplexed.
However, she didn’t have the desire to dig deeper and ask what he was so grateful for, so she responded with a nonchalant answer, trying to extinguish her curiosity. In response, Jaron whimpered like an itchy puppy.
“Muriel, you’re such a good person.”
“…”
“It’s just that.”
What the hell was wrong with him?
After a long period of agony, Muriel finally found the answer.
“Ah… Okay. I got it.”
Considering Jaron’s usual behavior and interests, there was only one reason why he would say these words as if he meant them.
⚜ ⚜ ⚜
“Ah…”
Jaron shed a lamentable sigh, muttering this wasn’t it.
Somehow, he felt uneasy as he watched Muriel nod her head as if she understood perfectly.
Breaking into Thompson Gray’s house turned out to be easier than expected. The inexperienced guards, brandishing their swords and trying to look formidable, were scattered not only at the entrance but also in the study and the vault, which seemed to hold valuable items. Before Jaron could even do anything, the guards were already frightened by the sight of a massive white wolf. Some trembled and made way for them, while others threw down their swords and fled.
Even if they were located in the peaceful countryside, these knights were pathetically inept.
Rumors had it that Thompson Gray had a fondness for navy blue, but these guards, all young and inexperienced, seemed to be gathered for a different reason.
“Phew….”
If there was one bother, it was that even with a knife to his throat, the incredibly collection-obsessed Thompson Gray wouldn’t give up his fragment of Ur. But that wasn’t why Jaron sighed.
The foolish collector proudly displayed the sculpture in the center of his study.
While Jaron had Thompson Gray by the collar, choking him and demanding the fragment, Muriel had already confirmed its authenticity and carefully placed it in her mysterious black box.
“Alright, let’s focus on the small and expensive things. Wow, as expected, the rich folks of Eclum are truly different.”
This was the reason for Jaron’s sigh.
Muriel, for some reason, looked around the study where jewels and various collectibles were displayed more preciously than the books (calling it a study in the first place was ridiculous, but the guards, dressed in navy blue, referred to it as such). She began sweeping the gems into a large bag, constantly glancing at Jaron with an expression that seemed to say, “I’m doing well, aren’t I? Aren’t I clever?” The sight was incredibly stupid and insidious. It felt like any trace of admiration that had briefly developed in him vanished at once.
“What are you doing all of a sudden? Stealing….”
Of course, Thompson Gray was a notorious collector even within the kingdom, a noble known for acquiring whatever he desired by any means necessary.
His collection ranged from jewels to beauties, rare books, precious horses, and works of art. The variety of items he collected was so vast that wherever his influence reached, it turned into ruins as if a swarm of locusts had passed through. This story was well-known.
Impoverished artists had their lifelong works snatched away for a pittance, and some even had their wives, daughters, and mothers taken from them.
So, turning the pockets of that zealous and malicious collector wouldn’t bring him any sense of guilt or remorse, but the problem was Muriel.
Every time Muriel put something in her bag, she would look back at Jaron and smirk ominously. It was a strange and unsettling sight to see her so proud, as if some inexplicable mischief was about to unfold, and he felt grumpy for some reason.
“What are you doing? Hurry up and put it in. Anything you pick up here will be more valuable than a pebble on the street.”
Jaron suddenly felt dizzy.
“…you know, I’m just asking in case, but this sudden behavior isn’t because of me, right?”
“…This behavior?”
Muriel blinked her eyes as if she didn’t understand. It only made her look more suspicious. Seeing her fierce eyes narrow, Jaron couldn’t help but think, ‘It’s really difficult to understand her.’
Snap.
“Why are you suddenly acting like a thief? I thought you weren’t particularly greedy.”
“What? Weren’t you the one who gave me a hint to do this first?”
“When did I?!”
Jaron let out a deep sigh and grabbed his throbbing head. He couldn’t fathom why this misunderstanding had occurred, but Muriel, with a look of utter disbelief, sharply exclaimed.
“Earlier, in front of the mansion! You were going around in circles with your words! Saying things like, ‘You know why even if I don’t tell you, right?’ Wasn’t that a suggestion to fill your pockets?”
Not at all. On the contrary, even though he might have said such things under normal circumstances, back there, it wasn’t true. At that moment, he had the purest heart ever.
“Ha… What do you even see me as?”
“Money… A lover of wealth?”
“…”
“Why…? What…? What’s with that expression?! You were the one who narrowed your eyes first!”
Jaron wanted to express his true feelings to Muriel in front of the mansion. He was grateful that she didn’t turn a blind eye to the misfortune of a commoner and helped them. He was thankful for being able to share that experience together. He was grateful for her being the first noble he could truly admire.
No, well, not to the extent of admiration, but if she had been the lord he served, it wouldn’t have been so bad. He was content to know an aristocrat like her. Thanks to her, he realized that there are nobles like that as well, and he was grateful for that. If the circumstances were different, I would have liked to serve you as my lord. He wanted to say something like that.
However, since they were words he had never even uttered before, he couldn’t bring himself to say it properly. He had lived a life far from feelings of admiration or gratitude all his life. He had only believed in himself and loved himself, so saying words of gratitude felt unfamiliar and embarrassing. He never expected to feel such pure feelings for a young lady with a sharp gaze that he hadn’t even felt in his boyhood.
Who would have known that he, who only thought about money even during his days as a squire, would feel something akin to loyalty? That’s why he fumbled his words.
What did he say again? Was it truly so misleading…?
‘In truth, I’ve never felt any satisfaction other than money during my life as a knight. Money is everything. That’s the only reason I’ve managed to barely hang on.’
But today was different. The key point was that today, it wasn’t about wanting money.
‘But I was lucky today. To have been given such a great opportunity…’
He meant he was happy to be able to help Sierra, not that he was fortunate to find a good prey like Thompson Gray.
‘In truth, I don’t know when things might get bad, but I want to focus on the present.’
It meant that he didn’t know when she would have to lose her fragments when Sharan’s command came, but for now, he wanted to keep the good feelings he had for her.
However, Muriel misunderstood and thought that he was saying, “Let’s allocate a lot of funds since we don’t know what might happen in the future.” While referencing the inn repair expenses.
“Are you an idiot? Why can’t you understand my words?”
-Crrr (That’s what I said.)
“Who told you that you misunderstood?”
“….”
“Then are you going to leave all of this behind?”
Muriel, in the meantime, had carefully prepared and held up a pocket full of jewels. On her ears hung blue earrings that matched her hair color, so she’d already taken something she liked. It was a talisman in the form of accessories.
“Who said that?!”
Jaron yelled, “Don’t be ridiculous!” and started stuffing expensive-looking items into his big hands. Muriel frowned with a look of disbelief, as if to say, “What on earth?” Thompson Gray, who had been also listening with anticipation, became tearful and disappointed.
“I’m not the only one who wants it! I’m planning to bring a lot and if there’s another kid like Sierra when we go to the third house, I’ll share!”
Suddenly choked up, with feelings, Jaron exclaimed. He had a pure heart today. She ruined all his sentimental feelings.
“You don’t understand, Muriel!!”
Of course, his heart felt secure again with the heavy bag full of precious gems that filled his arms. Jaron packed the jewels that filled the study and left behind all the pebbles he’d collected on the road.
They’re both idiots lmaoo I’m laughing so hard
the’re like dumb and dumber. i just kent. HAHHAHAHHAHA