#037
I couldn’t say there was no exaggeration at all, but it couldn’t be helped. I desperately needed the main quest’s reward. I had to make Carlisle help me somehow. If push came to shove, if Carlisle really tried to make me do something unreasonable, I could just get the wish fulfillment right and run away.
“Once all the Fragments of the Sacred Tree are gathered, the pollution will disappear. I can swear on my life. You’re a person of this village anyway, so you’d want to return to peaceful and prosperous times too, right?”
I tried not to blink as I stared intensely at Carlisle. Like we were having a staring contest, we just glared at each other silently for a while.
How much time had passed?
After what felt like an eternity to me, Carlisle’s expression finally changed. His crooked smile somehow seemed to mock my desperation. It was the face of someone who clearly knew that half of what I said was bluffing.
But I didn’t care if he mocked me. As long as I could get a yes.
“Well… fine. I’ll trust you just this once.”
My clenched fist tightened. I almost cheered out loud. Still hoping to appear as calm as possible, I suppressed my emotions and just nodded quietly.
“Right. You absolutely won’t be disappointed.”
“Good, then. This conversation is over, right?”
Carlisle asked. It was a signal to leave. I too wanted to leave this place immediately before he changed his mind, now that I’d obtained the answer I desperately wanted. But.
‘I still need to talk about Eira’s potion too.’
I cautiously brought up my second matter while reading the room.
“I’d like to propose one more deal.”
“A deal? What deal.”
Carlisle’s reaction was lukewarm. His expression showed no expectations whatsoever.
“It’s about Eira Wintum…”
“Eira Wintum…”
Carlisle’s eyes narrowed slightly. This wasn’t a good sign. Somehow it felt like the surrounding temperature had dropped a few degrees. Was it because of Eira’s infamy? I knew this might happen, but I felt slightly anxious.
“The Potionist who lives in the forest.”
Carlisle said slowly.
“Your first marriage partner.”
At the words that followed, my mouth suddenly went dry and I coughed.
“That’s true, but that’s not what’s important… Um, there’s a potion Eira is making.”
“There would be, since she’s a Potionist.”
Carlisle said boredly. His gaze turned toward the window. I took a sharp breath and quickly got to the point.
“I mined Melbrain in Wanderer’s Plains. I heard the potion made from that is pretty good. So… Eira is currently making a Melbrain potion, and I was wondering if you could buy it.”
“Me? Why would I.”
There it was, “why would I.”
“I don’t think it would be such a bad deal for you either.”
Now that encountering monsters had become the default the moment you left the village, the existence of healing potions was absolute. Regular medicine or treatment couldn’t handle it at all, and in most cases had no effect whatsoever. Carlisle didn’t just stay quietly inside his mansion but was clearly a hunter who roamed forests and fields, so there was no way he wouldn’t be interested in potions. What Carlisle had used on me was also a kind of potion… wasn’t it?
I didn’t know how much that potion cost, but it couldn’t compare to the price of potions Eira made. He couldn’t use such good potions every time either. Honestly, considering the market prices, the potion prices Eira charged were practically free compared to their effects.
Besides, Eira didn’t only make healing potions. In this reality where food had become difficult to obtain, stamina potions were also essential. Especially for hunters who weren’t ordinary people. The more potions, the better.
“You must have heard that Eira was banned from entering the village and trading potions because of a misunderstanding.”
“A misunderstanding. Is that what Eira Wintum says? And you believed that?”
Cynicism flowed from his slightly raised lips.
“That’s right. I’ve known Eira Wintum for a long time, and I believe she’s not that kind of person. And most importantly, I know that the potions Eira makes are the best. You can’t be unaware of that either.”
I spoke with all sincerity, but Carlisle’s expression somehow seemed to be getting worse and worse.
“Well, I know Eira Wintum is a genius. But there’s no law saying a genius can’t become a villain, and I’m of the position that humans can always change. Someone who can make the best healing potions can also make the best poison.”
“That’s not true. I can guarantee Eira’s innocence.”
“You can guarantee it…”
Even the cynicism that had lingered at his lips disappeared. When his completely humorless, dry gaze fixed solely on me, I somehow felt breathless.
“Should I believe you just because you guarantee it? Why?”
Carlisle suddenly straightened from leaning against the desk and strode toward me. When he stood close, despite knowing it already, I couldn’t help but newly recognize the fact that he was quite tall. Suppressing the unconscious desire to step back, I stood my ground and looked up at him. He lowered his head until his face was close enough to touch.
Carlisle’s suppressed voice flowed quietly into my ears.
“There’s a saying about stretching your legs according to your sleeping space. Coming to your ex-husband to beg him to become your first wife’s business partner—did I look that easy to you?”
Hot breath brushed against my ear. It felt like his lips might have slightly touched too.
“Are you looking down on me, or overestimating your own worth? Which is it?”
I couldn’t tell if my trembling shoulders were due to the anger mixed in his voice or the hot breath.
“It’s troubling if you misinterpret my kindness to you this way, darling. Time has passed and you’ve suffered, so I thought you might have changed somewhat, but you’re still trash.”
A large hand came up and gripped my chin. Our gazes met head-on. Those were chilling eyes. The grip strength gradually applied was no joke. It was power that could easily crush a human’s jawbone if he wanted to.
This bastard, why is he so angry?
I barely endured my face crumpling in pain, barely swallowed the gulp of nervous saliva. At a distance where lips might touch, with a gentle tone different from his eyes, Carlisle whispered.
“It’s not entirely unpleasant that you came to find me and beg, but I’m quite disappointed that what you’re asking for involves your ex-wife.”
“That’s not…”
I opened my mouth but had nothing to say. Even if I said that wasn’t the case, there was no way to explain it, was there? Carlisle, who had been staring at me for a while with eyes that seemed somehow out of focus while gripping my chin, released my chin as if throwing it away. Pushed by that force, I swayed momentarily.
Returning to his desk and resuming his original posture, his face was regaining its initial indifference.
“No matter how messed up the village is.”
He reached out and picked up an antique silver cigarette case from the wide desk. He took out a long, white cigarette from inside, put it in his mouth, and lit it. Clean brows furrowed.
“We have to maintain what should be maintained, darling. Don’t you think? I’m also a member of the village. Even I don’t want to be kicked out of the village. The survival difficulty would increase dozens of times. Wintum’s potions—it’s not like there are no alternatives.”
Along with a hollow laugh, smoke puffed out and covered his handsome face. An acrid scent spread through the room.
“I won’t go out of my way to report my ex-spouse’s illegal dealings anywhere, but if you have any conscience, I’d appreciate it if you didn’t try to incite me to participate.”
His lips curved up gently again. While his eyes still glared at me fiercely.
“……”
“Besides soliciting illegal deals, do you have any other business? If you do, say it quickly, and if not, I’d like you to leave. It happens to be dinner time, and you don’t want to sit face-to-face with me for a friendly meal, do you?”
Carlisle gestured toward the clock hanging on the wall. I shook my head. Why would I get indigestion eating with him? He wasn’t sincerely inviting me anyway. He was telling me to get lost quickly.
For me too, there was nothing good about staying longer with someone who was openly showing his bad mood. He might even take back the expedition matter we discussed earlier. Disappearing from his sight quickly was the best strategy.
“Fine, then. Let’s meet in front of here at 7 AM in three days.”
Carlisle turned around while putting out his cigarette. It was a real order to leave.
***
Deep darkness had already settled everywhere. In the middle of the lake, orange light flowing from the priest’s cabin floated in the air. Because the surroundings were so dark, it looked like fireflies or will-o’-the-wisps. The cold wind that blew carried a fishy, musty smell. It was the perfect atmosphere for ghosts to appear.
I walked toward the guild. The dark streets were quiet without any signs of people. Though inside the village was still supposed to be safe, most people refrained from going outside once the sun set. Only the howling of monsters from afar and the sound of my footsteps filled the surroundings.
‘Is what’s safe really safe…’
I couldn’t help but be startled whenever unidentifiable noise suddenly came from somewhere or I felt a presence. It’s ‘still’ safe, but no one knows when that safety might collapse. Unluckily, today could be the day the barrier collapses.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
