Chapter 45
With the thought, ‘When a cat suddenly acts like this, it’s usually because it’s seen a bug…’, following the gaze of the cat’s slightly dilated pupils in the sunlight…
In a corner, two knights engaged in an affectionate display, smooching among themselves, came into view.
‘Ugh.’
Ruan’s brow immediately furrowed upon inadvertently witnessing this scene.
Unfortunately, both were faces Ruan knew.
Knights Konrad and Kata.
They were the ones who had recently become a minor topic in Reinke’s gossip circles, having started dating after fighting so much, and at the same time, being Magda’s peers, they often crossed paths with Ruan.
Ruan felt a bit uncomfortable having witnessed acquaintances displaying affection in public – not realizing that he and the Grand Duke probably looked no different to others.
No matter how early in their relationship, why would they do this where everyone could see?
‘They might think they’re sharing a thrilling and secret kiss, under the illusion that no one is watching…’
In fact, everyone in this place, even the passing cat, was witnessing this spectacle. Even Ruan, who absolutely didn’t want to see such a sight, had unintentionally witnessed it.
Just as he was about to avert his gaze, feeling like he wanted to gouge out his eyes, the Grand Duke cat’s voice suddenly came from beside him.
“What are they doing?”
Momentarily confused by the abrupt question, Ruan quickly grasped the situation.
The Grand Duke, generally indifferent to humans, was often ignorant of human affairs, especially private matters. Kissing is also a form of skinship meaningless to cats. It seemed the Grand Duke was wondering what this act was that he had accidentally witnessed.
Quickly understanding, Ruan explained simply, matching the cat’s level:
“It’s a human courtship expression. It’s called kissing.”
The cat-tailored explanation seemed appropriate, as there were no follow-up questions from the cat.
Thinking this Q&A was concluded, Ruan led the Grand Duke away from the spot to escape the sight of his acquaintances’ public display as soon as possible.
…Completely unaware of how that answer, neatly stored in the cat’s mind, would be output in the future.
* * *
Reinke’s short summer was coming to an end.
Although the average temperature barely hovered around 10 degrees Celsius, the warmest period of the year was passing, and a cool air was gradually starting to set in.
The cold morning air, reminiscent of the harsh winter soon to come, made busy the hearts of those preparing for that brutal season.
On a day when knights and soldiers were intensifying their training, dwarves were busy renovating the city walls and crafting weapons, and piles of documents were accumulating on civil officials’ desks…
A letter arrived for Ruan. It was a letter that made him think ‘So when is the reply coming?’ several times a day, even though he knew letters couldn’t travel that quickly given the era and region.
“Ah… Finally…”
Ruan picked up the letter in front of him with trembling hands. His gaze, looking fondly at the envelope, stopped at a corner where the sender was written in an elegant script.
‘Steiner Merchant Guild’.
It was the Steiner Merchant Guild’s reply to the monster by-product business proposal.
Ruan hastily picked up a paper knife. The cat sitting at his desk watched with a look that seemed to worry if he might hurt himself mishandling it, but this was beyond Ruan’s range of awareness as he focused on the letter.
‘Surely… it’s not a rejection?’
Just before confirming the result after a long wait, Ruan’s hand suddenly stopped at an ominous premonition that popped up.
What if he opened the envelope and found a message like ‘We sincerely thank you for your interest in the Steiner Merchant Guild and for your proposal. Despite the excellent potential of the proposed business, we regret to inform you that we will not be able to proceed with this project. While regrettable, we once again thank you for your proposal…’
Ruan briefly recalled a similar response he had received in an email once, but shook his head vigorously.
‘No, that’s not it. I have something Ralph Steiner needs. Steiner is definitely not in the superior position in this situation.’
Of course, the author who provided this information had thoroughly blindsided Ruan by not mentioning that the Grand Duke was a cat… But anyway, the fact that Ralph was constantly looking for it was clearly described in the novel. There should be some response.
After painfully exorcising the ghosts of the past and calming his mind, Ruan opened the envelope with the paper knife.
The Grand Duke’s gaze followed the aide’s hands as he handled the blade.
Contrary to the Grand Duke’s worries, the aide, who had already spent two seasons in a world where letters were a common means of communication, skillfully handled the paper knife and extracted the letter from the envelope.
Ruan’s hand touched the thick, smooth paper he had never felt in Reinke.
Feeling Reinke’s poverty even in the paper, Ruan vowed to make this business successful and earn a fortune, and unfolded the letter.
In the letter he opened with trembling heart…
‘Ah… Thank goodness…’
It contained an agreement to the transaction proposed by Reinke, along with a desire to visit Reinke in person to discuss the details.
Only then did the tension slightly ease from his shoulders.
Adjusting his posture and reading the letter with a relaxed mind, Ruan’s gaze lingered on the words written at the end.
[I would also like to see the herbs you mentioned when I visit Reinke.]
And the next line.
[As a merchant dealing with medicinal ingredients, I am overjoyed to be introduced first to such precious medicine that can cure the erosion disease, which has been known as an incurable illness until now.]
These words.
It was well known that Ralph Steiner had a great interest in medicinal ingredients.
People believed it was because medicinal ingredients were also a major item his guild dealt with, and he had made a fortune trading certain ingredients. As written in the letter to Ruan.
Additionally, rumors that dealing with medicinal ingredients was his hobby had gradually spread, so quite a few people tried to curry favor with him through medicinal ingredients, and those with good ingredients would approach him first.
In this way, Ralph Steiner often got his hands on new or rare medicinal ingredients or combinations first.
‘And… in fact, it’s not for money or hobby.’
Ruan knew the real reason through the novel.
The reason Ralph Steiner collected medicinal ingredients in this way was because his mother was a patient with the ‘incurable’ erosion disease.
Erosion disease, a rare illness with no known cure, slowly eats away at a person.
Those afflicted with erosion disease experience gradual weakening of muscles and organs throughout their body and occasionally suffer severe seizures.
After each such seizure, their physical condition rapidly deteriorates… Eventually, the whole body loses its function, leading to death.
People without the means to manage their weakened physical condition might die even before experiencing multiple seizures, but the Steiner family’s situation was different.
The Steiner family was one of the wealthiest in the empire. They had enough wealth to prevent complications in weakened individuals and slow down the rate of physical deterioration.
Thus, Ralph Steiner strives to find a cure for erosion disease while buying time for his mother with money.
Originally… until Louise Sirah, who became the empress of the Holy Empire, starts a war to reclaim her imperial throne.
And finally finds a cure and saves his mother.
In contrast to Louise, who loses a loved one to the same disease just before Ralph discovers the cure.
From that point, Louise’s ‘belief’ begins to crumble, but…
‘Well, that’s not an important story for now.’
The important point here is that Ruan knows about this cure much earlier at this time. And that the ingredients for this cure are a few herbs found in the northern part of the empire.
‘Actually, these herbs are common ones that northern commoners casually pick and use, so we can’t sell them as a cure… But before it becomes known as a cure, we can sell the ‘treatment method’ once.’
Ruan intended to sell this to establish a friendly relationship with Ralph Steiner.
He felt a slight pang of conscience trying to take credit for something Ralph originally discovered, but…
Considering the money, effort, and time that would flow while he figured it out, wouldn’t that side benefit too? If the monster by-product business goes well, it could be quite profitable…
Anyway.
Ruan gathered his thoughts and read the remaining part of the letter.
[I look forward to the day when I will meet my old friend again…]
‘…’
Old… friend…?
Who on earth is this talking about?
