To You Who No Longer Want Me - Chapter 24

Biare, who had been absent from social circles for a while, ended her confinement at the duke’s residence and attended the Monterio family’s literary gathering.

The members seemed to have roughly guessed her situation, so no one mentioned her confinement.

All they could do was treat Biare as usual, showing their own careful consideration.

“Lady Ruschef, welcome.”

The host of this gathering, who spotted Biare, greeted her warmly while taking her hand.

“It’s been a while, Countess Monterio.”

“You’ve brought someone new with you today.”

At the perceptive young lady’s words, Biare glanced briefly at the attendant she had brought.

“Yes, this is someone who will be with me from now on.”

After introducing her to the countess, Joy Ann gave a short bow and silently stood behind.

Joy Ann was wearing a simple dress instead of knight’s attire, as she had been given her first assignment by Biare today.

She usually brought Tonio when visiting the Monterio literary gathering, but she had told her father that from now on, she would bring Joy Ann to gain practical experience.

The duke accepted this, as it was the first knight his daughter had personally brought, and her skills were somewhat recognized within the order.

In fact, Biare had another reason for bringing Joy Ann out – today, with her help, she planned to visit ‘Bernawood Street No. 34’.

Biare remembered that on this day in the past, the duke and Gaizen had rushed down to the territory upon hearing news of ore being mined from a Ruschef-owned mine.

That day when the duke, who had never paid attention to the place before, generously rewarded his vassals for the unexpected huge harvest, had left a strong impression on her.

So Biare planned to visit the underworld using her past memories.

They would return to the duke’s residence late at night at the earliest, or by the next morning, so there was plenty of time.

“Joy Ann, go ahead first.”

“Understood, young lady.”

At Biare’s signal indicating the start of the mission, Joy Ann gave a solemn bow as if determined to fulfill her duty, then left her place.

For this literary gathering, they were supposed to read a designated book, but Biare felt at ease as she had already read and discussed it in the past.

Though not famous, that book containing elements of psychology and philosophy touched her heart deeply even on rereading.

If she were to recall the most impressive passage…

It was a saying that matched well with the pragmatic Ruschef ducal family.

Biare’s mouth tasted bitter as she realized her own thoughts, shaped by the family’s education since childhood, weren’t much different from theirs.

Inevitably, the thick blood of the Ruschef family flowed through her veins.

While Biare was lost in thought, someone spoke to her in a careful, almost whispering voice.

“Come to think of it, there’s still no news this time, it seems.”

“What news are you referring to?”

“It’s almost autumn, but it seems there are still no successful candidates for the entrance exam.”

“Indeed. But I’m sure we’ll hear good news soon.”

Biare knew all too well what the members were worried about.

It was natural that Dension had not appeared yet, as he would show up at the literary gathering in late autumn.

‘When I meet you again, what should I do?’

The next scheduled reunion with him was on the day of Biare’s birthday banquet this autumn.

That day was their first meeting before the regression.

Just thinking of Dension made her heart grow heavier.

She missed him desperately, thinking of him every single day without fail.

But if she were to actually meet Dension, wouldn’t something hazy wet her eyes and flow down without a chance to dry?

She worried about showing her sadness to him, who wouldn’t understand why.

She always thought she should pull herself together until that day came, but that in itself was not easy, which was the problem.

Above all, today was the day to revisit the underworld, so she needed to focus on this task.

‘I hope today goes well…’

To uncover the truth one by one in her own way, she needed countless pieces of information.

First, information about the Verdeum marquis family and the Ruschef ducal family.

As they were influential families, the informant would likely demand a high price, but she had to obtain it even if she had to pay more than the amount she had prepared in advance.

‘Who would benefit from your death?’

Biare, who left the count’s residence much earlier than the literary gathering’s dispersal time, sought out her trusted attendant.

She had entrusted Joy Ann with preparing a private carriage, but she couldn’t let her guard down, worried that a Ruschef family coachman might spot her.

“Young lady, it’s here.”

“Did you shake off the coachman well?”

“Yes, I hinted that the discussion would go on longer today, so the gathering would end late at night.”

“Well done. We absolutely must not be discovered until then.”

“I’ll keep that in mind. Please be careful, young lady.”

Joy Ann knew well that her mistress was planning to visit the underworld, but she didn’t ask why she wanted to go there.

She seemed to recognize that her mission was only to listen to what her mistress wanted and wait trustingly.

Thanks to her, Biare was able to easily board the prepared carriage.

Today, she had to buy information from the guild master of Bernawood Street No. 34, no matter what.

Time kept flowing after returning to the past, and she didn’t want any more disruptions to her plans.

‘I really hope things go well.’

Biare, who was biting her nails out of habit, was able to reach the underworld only after turning round and round on bumpy roads with few people.

Biare, with her robe pulled low, carefully surveyed her surroundings and made her way to Bernawood Street No. 34.

From the outside, it looked like an ordinary pub, but that would be the ordinary thought of those who knew nothing.

“Did you come alone?”

At the clerk’s emotionless voice, Biare nodded and answered in a quiet voice.

“I’ve come to seek the absence of God.”

In the underworld, ‘the absence of God’ was being used as the alias of the guild master of Bernawood Street No. 34.

It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that he held power comparable to the Ekarto God of the Marta Empire, at least in the underworld.

To those who sought this place, his existence was considered second only to God.

The clerk showed a polite attitude to her seeking the guild master and guided her upstairs.

After passing through a long corridor and reaching a wall, when he pressed a button hidden behind a frame, a hidden door revealed itself.

Following a dark path for a long time, another imposing door could be found under a lamp where flames were rising.

The clerk who stopped in front of it knocked on the door a few times and said.

“There is someone seeking the absence of God.”

Biare, waiting beside him, felt her lips drying up from nervousness.

Soon, through the gap of the opened door, a man with his face covered by a black mask came into view.

‘Is that the guild master?’

As Biare, who had swallowed dry saliva, slowly walked towards him, he greeted her with a good-natured smile.

“I’m more than delighted that a lady has graced us with her presence here.”

Biare thought it was fortunate that she had pulled her robe low to cover her face.

If by any chance he noticed her identity, it could even become a family issue.

“Are you the guild master here?”

“Hmm, well. What brings you here?”

Without answering the question, he seated Biare and immediately instructed another clerk to bring tea.

When Biare placed a pouch full of benets on the table with a thud, the man who seemed to be the guild master here said with a satisfied smile.

“Unfortunately, I am not ‘the absence of God’. I’m the vice guild master here.”

The man who introduced himself as the vice guild master added that all information here must necessarily go through the person called ‘the absence of God’.

Biare frowned at his bland answer, which wasn’t what she had expected.

“Then where is ‘the absence of God’?”

“That person has another main job, so it will be difficult to meet them today.”

Feeling like there couldn’t be a greater disappointment, Biare clenched her fist on her knee.

He, unconcerned about how his guest might be feeling, even stretched and yawned before saying.

“It’s because my master hasn’t been running the guild for long.”

“Then when does your master come?”

He shrugged his shoulders and made a V-shape with his fingers before handing over a card.

“Please take this.”

After checking the card she received from him, Biare asked with a furrowed brow.

“Isn’t this an item imbued with magic?”

“You’ve observed correctly. It’s a magical tool.”

Biare was at a loss for words at his confident attitude, casually mentioning magic in his reply.

It seemed the rumors about illegal circulation of magical tools here were true, even though magic was taboo in the Marta Empire.

“Ah – I understand what you’re worried about, lady. But don’t worry. It has protective magic cast on it, so it can also conceal its own traces.”

The magical tool, which could perform communication roles without leaving any traces, looked like just an ordinary card on the surface.

“If you return to your original place, I will take measures first and contact you.”

As Biare sat quietly without answering, he added as if asking her to trust him.

“You’ll surely be satisfied. The absence of God has an excellent nose for money.”

The vice guild master clearly gave an unspoken assurance that she would be able to obtain the information she wanted.

Although his words weren’t entirely convincing, there was no other choice now but to trust him.

After all, it was certain that Bernawood Street No. 34 was the most famous information broker in the empire.

“I’ll trust your words for now.”

“You won’t regret it at all, lady.”

Saying that she would be able to contact the absence of God on the night of the new moon when the day of rest comes, he vanished suddenly.