Fortunately, it seems the crisis has passed. Leonard’s expression, which had been full of irritation, softened a bit. Just as she was breathing an inward sigh of relief, Baron appeared.

“Lady Cordelia. You’ve returned.”

“Baron. Haa. I really thought I was going to die today from exhaustion. Lotty, I missed you!”

“Ho ho. Did something happen?”

As soon as she saw Baron, the pent-up emotions poured out like a waterfall. While stroking Lotty’s back, she recounted the events of the day in order.

First, being ignored at the entrance because she didn’t know what a seal was, then being dragged away by Menufio and the other Seirius. And finally, receiving poisoned mutton at Maximilian’s laboratory.

“My goodness. Are you hurt anywhere?”

“I’m fine. Maximilian, that man killed his own disciple instead.”

“That bastard hasn’t changed at all.”

“I survived thanks to Master. If it weren’t for the peanut magic, I would have eaten it without thinking.”

“It’s not peanut magic, it’s discernment… Well, anyway, the harsh training paid off.”

Leonard said with his arms crossed.

This time, Cordelia nodded vigorously in agreement with her master’s words. If it weren’t for him, she might have really died in that situation.

“But when he saw my seal, he noticed it had been engraved recently. So he asked where you were now, saying you must be alive.”

“Oh no.”

Baron’s expression immediately turned serious.

“Can one tell when a seal was engraved just by looking at it?”

“It’s possible. But how did Maximilian notice that? It’s an Acheron seal, after all.”

“Wh-what if that man comes chasing after me? If he finds out you’re here…”

Cordelia stamped her feet in vague anxiety. It was quite possible that he had set someone to follow her. She worried if they should leave Wilas quickly, even now.

“What’s done is done. If someone’s following, we’ll just get rid of them. The laboratory? Did you go to the laboratory?”

“Ah. Yes. I brought everything you mentioned.”

Because Leonard didn’t seem overly concerned, Cordelia felt a bit relieved as well.

She hurriedly took out the pouch she had carefully brought and handed it to Leonard. He checked what was inside and gave a brief smile.

“Well done. Is the one-eye still attached?”

“One-eye? Oh. You mean Candias? Yes, he’s doing well. But he also believed you weren’t dead.”

“Of course, Candias is under contract with me… Wait a minute. This looks familiar.”

Leonard’s gaze drifted to Cordelia’s left wrist.

Cordelia quickly hid her left hand behind her back. And she decided to act as brazenly as possible.

“What? What is it? This, um, I bought it at the market just ahead.”

“Show it to me again. It’s strangely familiar. I feel like I’ve seen it somewhere before.”

“What’s there to see? You must be mistaken. It’s just a common-looking bracelet.”

“Ah, just let me see your hand for a moment.”

While Leonard and Cordelia were bickering, Beluce entered the inn.

He looked at the two of them and then strode over to grab Cordelia’s left wrist, turning it forward.

“Ack!”

The problem was that the direction was unnatural. Cordelia screamed and staggered. Her hand, twisted in the opposite direction, hurt so much she could barely breathe.

On the other hand, Beluce, as if he had caught an ant, expressionlessly brought her wrist to Leonard and presented it. Leonard’s expression immediately hardened.

“Beluce!”

“It is indeed. The treasure of Evrard. The bracelet that Master has been searching for over a year.”

“Let go of that hand.”

“You said once this is worn, it won’t come off until the recognized owner dies. Should I cut off the wrist just in case?”

Beluce pulled out a dagger from his chest with his other hand. Leonard hurriedly pulled Cordelia away from Beluce’s grasp.

Tears of pain streamed down Cordelia’s cheeks.

“Ah, it hurts. It hurts so much.”

“Bear with it.”

He muttered something short to her wrist, and a white light appeared and then quickly faded.

The pain subsided a lot, but it didn’t completely disappear. Baron touched Cordelia’s wrist and let out a short sigh.

“Fortunately, it’s not broken, but the muscles seem to be quite shocked.”

“This woman touched Master’s belongings without permission. And not just any possession, but the treasure of Evrard.”

“And?”

Leonard supported Cordelia and helped her sit in a chair. Then he glared fiercely at Beluce.

“Cordelia is my disciple. Do you still not understand what that means?”

“Master. Taking that woman as a disciple was just…”

“Beluce.”

This time, Baron interrupted Beluce mid-sentence. And he calmly admonished him.

“It would be best if you stop here and go back in.”

“Go back where? Apologize properly to Cordelia.”

“Do I have to bow my head to a thief?”

With a thud, Beluce’s body flew through the air. Along with him, the chair and desk behind also toppled over. Cordelia was so startled that her tears stopped.

Leonard’s face was as cold as ice. He silently pointed at Cordelia with his chin.

Beluce spat out the blood that had pooled in his mouth along with saliva, then calmly got up and approached Cordelia. He bowed his head quite politely.

“I apologize for touching your body rudely.”

“Ah, no.”

Cordelia also half-bowed her head. Beluce bowed deeply to Leonard as well, then went up to his room.

Baron procured some medicine from somewhere and carefully applied it to Cordelia’s left wrist.

“Don’t use your wrist for a few days.”

“Yes. Thank you, Baron.”

Cordelia glanced at Leonard’s expression and then hesitantly opened her mouth.

“Um, Master. Actually… I was just going to try it on for a moment and put it back. But the bracelet suddenly shrank in an instant.”

“It’s fine. I didn’t really need it anyway.”

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have touched it carelessly.”

Cordelia apologized in a small voice with her head bowed low, looking dejected. Leonard let out a short sigh and said,

“It’s not a big deal, so stop that and get up. We’re leaving early tomorrow morning, so go to bed.”

His casual dismissal made her feel even more sorry. Cordelia hesitantly stood up, bowed deeply, and then went up to her room.

* * *

The next day, the group left the inn just as the sun was rising. They weren’t usually very talkative, but today was especially quiet. Thinking it might be because of yesterday’s incident, Cordelia also restrained herself more than usual. Lotty followed behind her.

To reach the territory of Dilloana, they had to take a ship from the Wilas archipelago and then go further south.

That meant leaving the Northern Continent entirely.

Since the Southern Continent was completely different in terms of currency, language, and culture, Cordelia felt both nervous and excited.

The one fortunate thing was that she could speak Vedos, the language generally used in the Southern Continent.

“You can speak Vedos?”

Baron was surprised when he learned this fact. Cordelia answered nonchalantly.

“Yes. When I was young, my nanny was from Yeraticus. She was a devout believer of the Leman religion. So I learned many things. Like Leman religious doctrines and etiquette.”

“That’s interesting. Vasquez is the northernmost part of Ersche, yet there was someone from Yeraticus.”

“I heard rumors that she was quite a high-ranking priest in the Leman religion, but lost in a factional dispute and was driven out, wandering here and there until she drifted to the Vasquez territory.”

“I guess even in a country that serves gods, people are the same everywhere.”

While engaging in light chatter with Baron, they arrived at the dock. Beluce was silently carrying luggage when he suddenly stopped. He glared fiercely around.

“What’s wrong, Beluce?”

“Nothing. It just feels strange. As if someone is watching.”

“Do you think we’re being followed?”

“It doesn’t seem like that…”

Beluce trailed off, carefully scanning the surroundings again. It was just about time for the sun to rise dimly, so there were no people at the dock.

“I must have been mistaken.”

Cordelia watched his expression carefully as she moved her own luggage.

“Once we arrive in Ansen, we’ll buy clothes, a carriage, and provisions, then continue south.”

“Do we need to buy clothes too?”

“You’ve never been to the Southern Continent, I see. It will probably be twice as hot as it is now. When we reach the port, you’ll understand what I mean.”

Baron’s advice sounded terrifying. For Cordelia, who was from the north, even the heat of Wilas was unbearable, but to think it would be twice as hot…

It seems she’ll have to discard her winter coat and buy a couple of light outfits.

While sorting out clothes to discard and those worth keeping in the cabin, someone knocked on the door.

When she opened it, an unexpected person was standing outside.

“You’re called up for a meal.”

“Ah, um. Yes. Thank you, Beluce.”

With only one arm, she hadn’t finished organizing her luggage yet. As she hesitated at the entrance, wondering if she should go now, Beluce frowned deeply.

“What are you doing? Not moving?”

“I-I’m coming.”

At his urging, Cordelia quickly closed the door and followed behind Beluce.

“Um, about yesterday.”

“……”

“I really didn’t intend to steal this bracelet. I just thought it was so pretty and wanted to try it on once, then put it right back. I didn’t know it wouldn’t come off like this.”

“It doesn’t matter. I’ll make sure to retrieve it when you die anyway.”

“…I see. Beluce will definitely attend my funeral then.”

Cordelia tried to make peace with him but soon gave up. She realized that no matter what she did, Beluce would never be friendly to anyone other than Leonard.

“Don’t get cocky just because the master treats you specially.”

“When did I ever get cocky?”

“It will all be over once we get to Dilloana’s territory anyway.”

Cordelia was trudging along behind him when her ears perked up at Beluce’s sarcastic remark. That word ‘over’ particularly stuck in her mind.

“Over? What do you mean?”

“……”

“Tell me. What does that mean?”

“It’s none of your business.”

He turned his head sharply and walked away quickly. Cordelia ran even faster and blocked Beluce’s path.