Chapter 16

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter Title: The Princess Only Deals in the Real Thing 24

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"What is it? What? I can't stand the suspense—spill it already."

Unlike most other mages, who tended to be reclusive and socially awkward, Emma was refreshingly sociable.

She pressed eagerly.

"Mages have a guild too, like the Merchant Guild on Ashen Street?"

"Nah. We're the type that lives scattered and dies united. We don't have a shred of solidarity—not even as much as an ant's nostril."

"That explains it. So that's why powerhouse mages like you haven't conquered the world yet."

"Oh, you flatterer."

"No emergency contact networks or magic tower alumni groups, then?"

"Eh, unless they've got some fetish for hating their own kind, there's no reason for it. Why?"

"I need to find a specific mage."

Emma tilted her head.

"Who?"

"Thing is, I don't know their name."

"Ah, the classic request. 'Find the guy I fell for at first sight,' that sort of thing? Michele would clutch his neck if he heard, but hey, the world has its secrets—and a price for keeping them."

"Actually, I don't even know what they look like."

"Ooh, now that's a rarer one. Back in the day, some guy came in with just a footprint from a red shoe. Said he tripped, saw this gorgeous foot in a red pump right in front of him."

I giggled and asked,

"Did you find them?"

"With that? No way. I told him it was impossible, but he kept hounding me, so I hit him with a dream spell."

"A dream spell?"

"Yeah. Gave him nightmares of two hundred red shoes chasing him at once. Never saw him again."

Emma shrugged and crossed her arms.

"But I don't wanna go that far with you. Anything else you know?"

"Yeah. I know their ritual formula."

Emma clapped her hands with a smack.

"A ritual formula's like a mage's signature. If you've got that, name and face don't matter. What does it look like? Show me."

I handed over the sketch I'd prepared in advance, and she examined it closely.

"Nicely drawn. Stag beetle, olive tree, smoke, coral..."

In truth, I'd just memorized and copied it without understanding the meaning.

Thankfully, since Emma could interpret it, I'd gotten it right.

"And pomegranate. Rare combo. This should narrow it down—I can find them."

"Really? Thank goodness."

"...Hang on, Elisha, you're not a mage, right? Normal folks can't see ritual formulas unless a mage draws it for them or they use a special magic tool. How'd you know it and draw it?"

I just grinned without answering.

'Of course, I didn't read it myself.'

It was a formula I'd seen in a painting in my previous life.

'Reclaiming Lionet isn't something money alone can do.'

Money was, in a way, the easy part.

What mattered more—and was harder to reclaim—was the title and the territory.

'And the mage I'm looking for can help with that.'

Since I was just smiling, Emma jumped to conclusions: 'She got this as a token from him? Scared I'll snitch to Michele? But how'd she fall for a mage? Her tastes are wild...'

Luckily, she didn't pry further. It'd be tough to explain anyway, so I let it slide.

"How long will it take?"

"Who knows. I can't promise tomorrow, that's for sure. Gotta ask around everywhere, so minimum a few weeks. But you did right coming to me—I'm pretty connected for a mage."

"As long as you can find them. How many friends do you have?"

Emma proudly held up three fingers.

I was genuinely impressed.

"That's a ton."

"Right?"

Because I had zero.

By the time our chat wrapped up, opening time was almost here.

I parted ways with Emma and headed back to the shop.

'By now, Rozanne Viscountess has probably heard about the Forest of Colonya. A forger like her must have a replica of it too.'

The fact she hadn't stormed in yet suggested the replica really existed.

That was expected. I'd planned around replicas from the start.

If it didn't exist, that would've been trouble.

'But she'll learn replicas won't cut it. In the end, Rozanne will have no choice but to buy the original.'

The next nighttime auction was in two weeks.

Plenty of time to fiddle with the replica, realize it wouldn't do, and crave the real thing.

'Speaking of, Rozanne knew the book was banned and still tried selling it to Hanna...'

No matter how scheming Rozanne was, she was just a viscountess.

She didn't have the status to influence banned book designations.

'So, she must have connections among high nobles or higher-ups.'

I had a rough idea of her network, but not every personal tie.

Why had Rozanne hated Hanna enough to want her dishonorably fired, anyway?

As I pondered, a loud voice rang out from afar.

"Oh my! Oh goodness! It is you!"

The woman clasping her hands, beaming at me like we were old pals... was

'A total stranger.'

Uh, sorry, who are you again?

I awkwardly greeted her, and she grabbed my hand.

"So nice to meet you! You're the shop owner, right? It's me! From the auction—the one you helped!"

No way?

"Hanna Diego! Call me Hanna, nice and casual!"

A pumpkin had rolled right in on the vine.

Hanna spent the whole time I prepared tea going "Wow!" and "Ooh!" while exploring the shop.

Her pure, wide-eyed wonder lifted my spirits too.

"Here you go. Hope it suits your taste."

"I'm already stuffed just from the vibe! Wow, I had no idea a place like this existed in the capital. If I'd known, I'd have come ages ago!"

Steam fogged her glasses as she sipped her tea.

It was adorably cute. I couldn't fathom Rozanne trying to boot out someone like her.

How'd she even find this place? She couldn't have seen me at the auction.

I handed her a cloth for her glasses and casually asked,

"Did you spot me at the auction? How'd you know I work here?"

"Oh, I forgot to mention! Sorry, hope I didn't startle you. That super tall, scary guy told me!"

The word "scary" clicked it immediately.

Source: Alter. Obvious to anyone. But why?

"I nearly got scammed big time, and you stopped it—that's why I thanked him. But he said he wasn't the one who deserved it. Said the real hero noticed and helped."

Unexpected.

I hadn't pegged him for passing the credit.

She'd asked why he helped, and I'd thought he'd brush it off—but apparently, he just wanted to block Carlos too.

Self-loathing among his kind? Or 'How dare you pull stunts like this in my turf'?

"So I asked who it was, begged him to let me know. Yesterday, he messaged the shop details via transmission magic. I took leave the second I heard and rushed over."

"I didn't do much. Anyway, glad it worked out, Hanna. Leave? Where do you work?"

I asked even though I knew.

Hanna lit up.

"I'm a document officer in the imperial palace. Work in the library! Started 'cause I love books, so when I saw that August book at auction, I lost my mind."

"So you handle ancient scrolls and manage rare tomes?"

"Yes! That's why I'm extra thrilled to be here. That parchment on the desk is gorgeous—the wear marks are divine!"

First person ever to call wear marks on a desk "divine."

"And that glass paperweight! With one like that, I could read dozens more books... Ungh, love it."

Hanna was clearly a massive book nut.

Her eyes sparkled as she asked,

"No old books or documents out? Got any?"

"I do, but they can't see sunlight, so they're all downstairs."

"You know your stuff! Right—books must never hit daylight! They fade fast! ...Um, b-basement..."

"Want a peek?"

"...Gasp."

Hanna's ecstatic face made me worry she'd faint right there in her seat.