Chapter 39
“What a strange thing. But you should keep this stone. I don’t have any wishes to make.”
“Still, please keep it, Young Master. You might have a wish someday!”
Narta stubbornly placed the pebble he had been holding into Asher’s palm. Asher, finding it cute, accepted the stone and pulled out a glass jar he had prepared in advance.
“Since you gave me a gift, I should give you one too.”
“Th-this… it’s candy.”
“Yes. A return gift for the pebble.”
Inside the glass jar were candies shimmering in rainbow colors. Narta’s face lit up brightly as he looked at the candies shaped in various forms.
“They’re too pretty to eat.”
Narta only fiddled with the jar of candies. Asher watched him with amusement.
“But the gift isn’t just this.”
“Huh?”
Asher handed Narta the two books he had placed beside him.
“You’re interested in logistics, right? I prepared these for you. I hope you like them.”
“These! They’re limited editions!”
Asher had noticed that Narta loved books. Sure enough, Narta stomped his feet excitedly at the surprise gift.
“I’ve been wanting to read these… Thank you.”
Narta politely bowed and quietly began reading the books beside him. Asher watched him for a moment before asking,
“How was your day?”
“It was fine. But I don’t think I’ll be able to come see you from now on.”
“Why?”
“From now on, I’ll be working somewhere else… not here.”
Narta’s expression softened as he closed the book he had been reading, looking reluctant to leave this place.
“The older guy I work with said that once I go there, I’ll never be able to come back.”
“Never be able to come back…?”
“He said no one has ever returned from there. That’s why I don’t want to go.”
“Where is this place?”
Narta shook his head, as if he didn’t know. Then, uncharacteristically for a child, he sighed deeply and fiddled with the sharp corner of the book.
“Don’t worry too much. I’ll find out where this place is.”
At Asher’s words, a faint color returned to Narta’s face. Asher whispered softly as he looked at him.
“But Narta, it’s already been an hour. Aren’t you going to be in trouble if you don’t leave?”
“What?! Already?!”
Narta jumped up as if something urgent had happened. He clutched the things Asher had given him tightly to his chest, bowed politely, and dashed out. Asher waved once and wiped the smile from his lips.
The Narta he had met here was an Alpha. Like him, he was a rare existence, but he was working in this merchant group. The only Alpha working in the merchant group. Asher had intentionally approached him, thinking he might uncover something the Duke of Anest was plotting.
“There’s definitely something going on.”
Asher’s eyes sharpened as he looked at the dock where the ship had arrived. He would have to subtly ask Shaki about it.
Many people disembarked from the ship as the goods arrived. Asher spotted Shaki among them and approached, but he seemed busy. Just as Asher was about to turn back, not wanting to bother him, Shaki noticed him and draped an arm over his shoulder.
“Did you come because you missed me?”
“But you looked busy, so I was going to leave.”
“Yeah. The goods from the Bulldog Kingdom are unusually heavy today.”
The Bulldog Kingdom was the country Asher had planned to escape to in the future. Asher’s eyes sparkled with curiosity, and Shaki smiled, pointing at the ship.
“Stay and look around for a bit. I’ll finish checking the inventory and join you.”
Shaki, as if by habit, ruffled Asher’s hair and nodded at Toms, who was standing behind him. It was a signal to take good care of him.
“Don’t worry. Just take care of your business and come back.”
“I’ll wait a little. Don’t go too far.”
Shaki still treated him like a child left by the water’s edge. Asher chuckled and approached the ship.
The ship carrying the goods was enormous—so large that the people on it looked tiny. Asher climbed the stairs onto the ship and looked around. He stumbled over a box at his feet, but someone quickly helped him, preventing him from falling.
“Careful, that was dangerous.”
“……Thank you.”
Since it was a ship loaded with cargo, a fall could have been dangerous. Asher thanked the person who had helped him and noticed something on the ground.
“Huh? What’s this…?”
Asher bent down and picked up a stone that had fallen to the floor. It looked similar to the pebble Narta had given him. Asher looked at the stone curiously before turning to the man.
“This is precious to me. Thank you for picking it up.”
The man was around Asher’s age, with a slender build. His striking blue hair and green eyes caught Asher’s attention.
“I hope it’s not… a wish stone?”
“Ah…? How did you know? Yes, it is a stone that grants wishes.”
Asher looked skeptical, and the man furrowed his brows slightly.
“Do you think I’m lying?”
“……A little.”
Asher answered honestly. If it really was a wish-granting stone, its value would be immense. Yet he had given it to a child he had just met? Asher stared at the man with suspicion.
“It doesn’t matter if you believe me. But I’m curious how you knew about this stone.”
“I received it from a child I know.”
“From a child?”
At the man’s words, Asher took out the pebble Narta had given him from his pocket and showed it. The man flicked his fingers slightly, and the surrounding noise was blocked out. It seemed like he had cast a barrier so no one could see or hear them.
“Where did you get this stone?”
“I told you, from a child.”
“A child with brown hair and amber eyes, perhaps?”
“Why?”
Asher asked cautiously, worried that Narta might be in danger. But the man seemed even more guarded, closing the distance between them.
“I gave a stone to a child this morning, and it seems you have it.”
The man spoke softly, a smile on his face, but Asher sensed something unsettling beneath it. He took a step back.
“I’m not a strange person. I only asked because the stone’s owner changed.”
“Are you suspecting me?”
“You were suspicious of me first. It’s only natural for me to be cautious as well.”
The man spoke gently, but his words made Asher feel as if he were being accused of forcibly taking the stone from Narta. Since he hadn’t been particularly kind either, Asher put the pebble Narta had given him back in his pocket and said,
“Thank you for your help. Could you release the magic first?”
Asher smiled politely, as if he already knew the man was a magician from the child. The man stared at him for a moment before snapping his fingers lightly. The noise returned to his ears, and the surroundings returned to normal.
“Then, have a pleasant journey.”
Asher knew the man had intended to take the child away, so he put distance between them. He also judged that it wouldn’t be good to get entangled with a magic user.
“I plan to stay here for a week. If the opportunity arises, I’d like to meet again—”
“No. I don’t think we’ll have another reason to meet.”
Asher turned away firmly and approached the people unloading the cargo. He thought that would put distance between him and the man. But it seemed to be a misjudgment, as Toms approached and whispered in his ear.
“He’s still following you. Should I take care of him?”
“He’s a magic user. If we’re not careful, we could be in danger.”
“Then what should we do?”
“We’ll take him somewhere quiet and talk again. Find out his purpose.”
It seemed the man was following him because of the pebble. Asher, worried that Narta might be harmed because he had given him the pebble, decided to lure the man into a secluded alley. Fortunately, the man followed Asher into the alley as he wanted, and Toms, who had been waiting, pushed the man against the wall in an instant.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
