Chapter 37 : The Deal (2)

The expression on Ayla’s face, which was somewhat relaxed, quickly turned tired again as soon as the shadow left the room.

“Well, fine.”

Ayla began the conversation by muttering as she often did.

“I want to know about your identity, but even if I ask, it wouldn’t really mean anything.”

“Let me ask just one thing. Was all of this intentional?”

“No.”

I gave a serious look.

Though I always had a serious expression.

“I only wanted to offer a little help, a small trade. Because there was something I needed to receive.”

“And yet, it turned out this way. Don’t you think these people are feeling more indebted to you than you expected?”

It’s definitely not that.

They’re probably just curious about my situation.

Or maybe, they’re a little happy to see me.

After finding the ancient relic, breathing magic essence into the orb, I said my goodbyes to the witch.

After saving Ayla, I planned to disappear from this world. If Ayla wanted, we could stay together, but if she didn’t, I planned to give her a place to live after some time and vanish.

It’s not that I want to die. It’s just that all the positions I’ve built up until then are nothing but burdens.

The Marquis doesn’t know, my mother doesn’t know, but my younger sibling knows.

The witch, the shadow, and even the empress know. After all, they wouldn’t have helped me if I hadn’t shared certain things with them.

We were trade partners, but I’d say we were at least friendly to some extent. I mostly shared valuable things first and let them set the price.

I didn’t need change anyway. It was more advantageous to arrange the terms so that the other party would continue to give for a long time. This way, we could maintain the relationship.

“Just by calling you, you’ve made this count more prosperous than any other estate, brought dangerous information about the nobles, and opened up trade opportunities?”

If I say this is all a genuine trade, they probably won’t believe me.

It’s a good thing I didn’t contact the empress. If she had gotten involved, there would have been a hole in Ayla’s disguise.

“…Because there’s still trade payment left.”

“I’m curious, what kind of payment could allow such a contract renewal?”

For the witch, it was the head and tail of the dragon, and various other byproducts. Dragons are powerful beings that use magic. Every byproduct from their bodies is a precious and expensive material. It wasn’t just hard to catch them, but also because dragons are such a rare existence.

For the shadow, I sold part of the dragon’s digestive tract and potions that could heal any injuries or diseases obtained from the witch. Also, the noble information I had personally acquired. Most of it, the shadow already knew, but there were some crucial pieces of information. The shadow viewed me as a very satisfactory trade partner.

As for the dragon, it was one from the imperial land.

Some countries in the past considered dragons gods, but the empress thought differently.

The dragon, which had settled near a highly profitable gold mine, devoured miners and knights, using all the gold they mined to decorate its nest. In the empress’s eyes, it was just a big thief.

The fact that I only wanted the dragon’s corpse as compensation was a deal where the empress didn’t lose anything either.

Well, the dragon was so big that I couldn’t take every part of its body, so naturally, the remaining parts went to the empress. The armor she often wears these days is made by grinding the dragon’s scales and weaving them together. Moreover, the person who supposedly killed the dragon wasn’t the kingdom’s baron’s son, but an imperial soldier.

I didn’t care about any of this when I wasn’t expecting change. But now, looking back, I feel like I need to claim every single part. Because everything now feels necessary to me.

“When I’m ready, may I ask if it’s okay to tell you everything at once?”

I carefully broached the subject, and Ayla gave a light laugh.

“Even if I order you?”

“If that’s the case… then I would have to tell you, but…”

I had prepared all of it, thinking that Ayla might refuse.

But could I actually say everything if Ayla ordered it?

I had once said that it wouldn’t matter if Ayla’s gender changed. Of course, I’m fine with that.

But would Ayla accept me if I became a woman?

No, would she even remember me? I’ve seen Ayla a few times since then, but we’ve never actually talked.

Would the beautiful memories I had still be beautiful memories for Ayla?

“……”

As the thoughts swirled in my mind, Ayla quietly watched me and then exhaled lightly.

“You’ll have to accept the trade, won’t you?”

The other party always speaks as though Ayla has the initiative.

But from Ayla’s perspective, that’s not the case.

She can’t fully trust me. From Ayla’s point of view, I’m the one controlling everything. It’s because of me that so many people have gathered, and it’s because of me that the shadow came all the way from the kingdom.

I’m the one who brought all the cards that could strike the baron. Unless Ayla is certain that I’m acting in her best interest, she’d just see this as a situation where she’s being dragged along.

“I’m sorry.”

Ayla looked at me silently after I spoke.

“There’s nothing to apologize for.”

Her voice had a light sigh mixed in.

“Get up from your seat.”

Ayla got up from the sofa as she spoke.

“Let’s move around for a bit. You haven’t practiced swordsmanship lately while waiting for the baron, right?”

“Understood.”

“Oh, and speaking of the baron, make sure you set a separate meal time for him. Adjust Seira’s mealtime to match mine. As for the baron, serve him in a way that won’t hurt his pride as a noble.”

It meant to prepare the most luxurious meal possible in the count’s estate.

Something that would make the baron’s eyes pop.

This estate can survive on its own.

To engrave that fact into his tongue.

“Let’s go.”

“Yes, Ayla.”

I quickly got up from my seat and followed her.

Still, Ayla was happiest when swinging a sword.

There was a time when I thought I wanted to become a knight. But looking back, that was because being a knight meant swinging a sword.

It wasn’t that I believed in chivalry, nor was I fascinated by the fairy tales I saw as a child. It was simply because, of everything Ayla had done in her life, the moments when she wielded a sword were the happiest and most enjoyable.

When swinging a sword, there’s no need to think. All you need to focus on is defeating the opponent in front of you.

And the same goes for the opponent.

Even though the sound of swords clashing, the rough breaths, and the noise of feet pounding the ground are loud, it feels strangely calm.

I see Luna’s eyes. Her purple pupils.

Everything else seems like a different matter, but those pupils remind Ayla of her memories.

Is that why Ayla couldn’t be harsh with Luna until the end?

The swords entangle. Luna’s sword is a small sword. Its tip is extremely sharp, but the blade is not even properly set on the side.

Considering Luna’s build and stamina, it’s not an entirely wrong choice. After all, if you’re stabbed properly with a sword, it doesn’t matter how thick the blade is; a person will die anyway. It wasn’t a bad sword to use for self-defense.

However, the habit of wielding the sword was like Ayla’s. A method of handling a slightly thicker sword with a blade on both sides.

Could Luna be hiding her true abilities?

She seems quite sincere for someone pretending.

Yes. She always had this attitude.

Somehow out of place, and somehow not quite fitting, but Luna was always sincere. Even though she knew she would lose to Ayla in the end, she would try so hard because Ayla wanted it. She was always like this in other matters as well.

There was no other choice but to trust, but Aila didn’t like the fact that “trust” was the only option.

The sound of metal rings out loudly.

Once again, Luna’s sword slips from her hand.

Her skills are good, and her posture is correct, but she shows movements that don’t match her stamina with a blade that isn’t sharp. It’s like she was once skilled but stopped practicing for some reason.

She chose a sword that suited her physique and appearance, but it’s as if she’s unwilling to let go of old habits.

She hides so much, yet she’s always sincere.

She was still an incomprehensible opponent.

“Trade, is it?”

Ayla spoke.

“Yes.”

“It’s not entirely a one-sided disadvantage for us.”

“Yes.”

“Only if I trust you.”

“Alright. Let’s try trusting you.”

Ayla said that and turned her body.

“You’re sweating. I’ll wash up before dinner. Get ready. You should wash up too.”

She said that and headed toward her room.

Yes. In the end, the result is just about trust.

It’s not that I trust because I have no other choice, but Ayla wanted to believe.

So, today, that’s what she decided.