Side Story 50. Anemone Smiled Brightly (26)

The Current King smiled playfully, apparently reading my thoughts.

"Well, I admit I'm a little talkative. There's nothing to do when you're old, and it’s a stigma to talk like this. But I’m not like this with everybody. I turn into a chatterbox only with those who seem trustworthy. Of course, you must be thinking ‘What trustworthy, you just saw me for the first time today’, but then isn’t it the same with the person having fun over there? I think he's my friend's grandson. What’s his name?”

The Current King was holding his temple, struggling to recall, so I simply told him …

"It's Doomstone Blade."

"Yeah! That's the name. That Galak guy bragged about his grandson so much, but I guess he wasn’t just spouting nonsense. To be at that level at just 15, it's similar to Galak 100 years ago.”

You say he's similar to the warrior when he fought against the Demon King? How shocking!

"Doomstone is 17," I corrected.

He chuckled. "Ahahaha! Is he that old already? I often forget as I get older. Please understand, Miss. I don’t know Miss’ name yet. What's Miss’ name?”

I bowed my head politely and greeted him. "My name is Anemone. I'm sorry for the late greeting, Current King-nim."

He waved his hand. "Hahaha, what do you mean sorry? You don't have to apologize for that. Besides, you don't even feel sorry inside.”

His sharp gaze gave me goosebumps. When I took a step back unconsciously, he smiled awkwardly.

"Jeez, sorry if I scared you. Since young, I didn’t like people who are not the same inside as they’re outside. As I got older, I’ve realized and accepted that it is a human attribute, but the habit from when I was young remains.”

I could be wrong, but I did sense a killing intent. If what he said was a summary of how he had formed this habit since young, and if I had met the Current King when he was younger, I might have died. Of course, his younger days would be over 200 years ago.

"Hahaha, I see. Then I will make sure to directly reveal my true feelings when I deal with Current King-nim."

The Current King was taken aback a little. "Miss is incredible. Usually, people like you — who are not the same outside and inside, cannot change their ways. So even if you say so, it’s difficult to act differently. But I see Miss is sincerely trying to speak from her heart.”

"You can even read something like that? Honestly, it is gross."

Doomstone was cute, but this old man was disgusting.

My evaluation amused the Current King, and he laughed aloud.

"Hahahaha! Miss will become big in the future! I like it. But aren’t you going to drink the tea that you brewed? All this talking has made me thirsty."

"Why don't you just ask for it outrightly?" I smiled playfully and handed him the cold tea.

He smiled and received the teacup. "Ahahaha. But how can you be rude all of a sudden? Thank you for the tea.” He gulped it down and exclaimed, "Kyaa! It's not good! There's no sugar in it at all!"

"Yes. I don't really like sweet things."

"Hmm! Your tastes are unusual!" he remarked.

"But why is Curse Specialist-nim staring piercingly at me?” I asked with a smile.

The Curse Specialist replied as he stroked his chin, "It's been a long time since I've seen a genetic curse. The curse of maternal inheritance lineage. Is it the curse of restriction from the mother’s, no, your grandmother's generation?"

My eyes opened wide. Since he was a curse magician who was also a great madosa in that field, it was natural that he’d recognize it.

"It seems she really got targeted by the Demon King worshipers. Curses by black magic are hard to come by even in academia."

"The Demon King worshipers. Those bastards did it?"

"Come to think of it, I heard that the people of the society had collaborated with the worshipers of the Demon King before. Is it the result of that? How vicious. It's a curse that's far short of myth level, but it's enough to be legendary level. Interesting."

Even though the Current King frowned and asked, the Curse Specialist only said what he had to say.

Yeah, perhaps the Curse Specialist can lift my curse?

"Is... Is there a way to resolve this curse…?” Even when I tried to calm down, my voice trembled.

The Curse Specialist shook his head. "There's a way, but there are no ingredients. A blood inheritance curse is that terrible and you have lived with it for too long. Purification by a hot fire, yes, if there was a heart of a phoenix, it could be resolved.”

I bit my lips. Tsk, I shouldn’t have gotten my hopes up. I was stupid.

"Come to think of it, didn't the Crow Tribe's alchemist girl have a heart of the phoenix? I think she’s just been holding on to it because it’s very precious."

The Current King’s words took me by surprise, and I looked at him and Curse Specialist alternately.

"There’s no way that crazy girl will give it up nicely. In addition, you will not be able to live long even if you resolve the curse because it has already eaten up a lot of your lifespan. It seems more reasonable to use it for the advancement of magic rather than to use it to extend your short remaining life,” the Curse Specialist said.

The Current King slapped the back of the Curse Specialist's head hard. "Tsk, you still have a long way to go to be a human being. I'll apologize instead. Magicians often say these crazy things casually."

"No, it's okay. I've already accepted my death," I said calmly.

The Current King looked like he was about to cry. "Damn it, a young one shouldn’t have to accept death. I don't like that, which is why I confronted the Demon King."

The Current King grabbed the Curse Specialist by the collar and said, "Hey, give it up. The magic formula to resolve it! Just try saying that a great madosa’s research results are of the same value as gold and cannot be released. Then, despite the wishes of Tri, I will beat you up, kill you, lead all of the Dragon Tribe, and make anything known as curse magic disappear from this world."

Even amid the Dragon King’s bellowing, the Curse Specialist remained calm. "I don't know the magic formula, so let go, Old Man."

"What did you say?!"

"Although I'm learning black magic, I don't know because I'm not involved with dirty people like Demon King worshipers. If I decipher it, it will be possible, but blood inheritance curses mutate over generations. She’ll probably die before I can figure it out and give you the magic formula,” the Curse Specialist said.

The Current King got angry as if it were his own business. "Then, are you telling her to just die like this?!"

"Didn't I tell you already? There's a way. If you have a phoenix heart, even without me, Mirpa can resolve it. The heart of the phoenix is such a great treasure, so I don’t know if she’ll give it to you that easily."

"Hey! No matter how bad of a personality that kid Mirpa has, she isn’t like you where magic comes first over human life...! Right? I don't think so."

The Current King did not seem confident.

"Thank you for worrying about me even though we just met. I'll try talking to her through Doomstone later," I said.

The Current King seemed gloomy as he let go of the Curse Specialist's collar. Then, he took a book out of his bag and handed it to me. "It's fate to meet like this, so I'll give this to you. If Mirpa doesn't give up the heart of the phoenix, give this to Galak and he will take it from her even if he has to steal it. He's a selfish man, but he's not a man who does not know how to repay a favor."

On the book were the words ‘The North Continent’s Cry’.

By favor, it seemed this was an important book for Doomstone's grandfather.

"What is this?"

"That book? It's necessary to decipher the summons of the Demon King."

"... What?"

I looked alternately at the old book and the Current King. It's a book that deciphers what?

"Don't worry. Because you can't do anything with that alone, let alone summon the Demon King. Oh, but if Mirpa does resolve the curse for you smoothly, just take the book and sell it somewhere that looks like an old bookstore. It's a dangerous item when in Galak's hand."

"Yes, I understand."

I didn't know why this was dangerous if it went into the hands of the warrior, but I nodded for now. If this book was needed to summon the Demon King, I thought it would be better to use it as firewood for roasted sweet potatoes and just get rid of it. However, there must be a reason why the Current King could not get rid of it.

"Now my friend’s grandson seems to have finished playing, so we should get going. It's annoying to get involved with the Crows. Then, Anemone, I hope your future is filled with luck.”

"I wish Current King-nim and Curse Specialist-nim all the best."

The Current King smiled at my greeting while the Curse Specialist yawned as if he was uninterested. The two disappeared in a blink of an eye, and shortly after, Doomstone approached me with a refreshed face.

"You're here? Did you try to smack his butt until it’s red?" I asked.

"Of course! I'm a person who keeps to his words!" Doomstone replied with a big smile.

Did he really do it? Let's express our condolences to the king's buttocks.

"Did you rob the treasury like I said to?"

"Yeah, there were a lot of interesting things! I robbed to the point where nothing more will fit in the space expansion bag anymore!"

The bag behind his back was full of the treasures of the Imperial State. He seemed to have robbed it properly as I’d told him to.

"By the way, did someone come here? I can feel the strength of someone strong."

"Oh, the Current King Drachen and the Curse Specialist came and went."

"What?! Where are they?"

I ended up laughing at the sight of him wanting to fight right away.

"Ahahaha! They’ve already left and are no longer here."

"Really? Tch, that's too bad."

"I’m sure there will be a chance next time. Then let's go back now. To the Empire."

"Okay. But where are we going? Asterium?” he queried.

"No, the capital. I have to meet Glont ahjussi and the crown prince," I replied lightly.

Since the journey there will be boring, I think wandering through the Imperial State would be good.

Should we tour through about seven territories?

-o-

I woke up to the morning sun.

"Ootcha!"

I stretched and opened the window for ventilation. The cold winter air drifted into my room and blew away the remaining sleepiness.

It had been a week since I arrived at the Empire’s capital after my trip to the Imperial State’s capital. I heard that the Imperial State was in a crisis and on the verge of declaring a moratorium due to a friendly visit from me and Doomstone. What a bunch of wimps.

Does a moratorium make sense just because he patted the king of the Imperial State’s butt?

Ah, is it because of the outflow of national wealth? Ayy, No way.

I left the room smiling and went down to the first floor of the mansion I was staying in.

"Good morning, Mrs. Arscilla," I said.

Mrs. Arscilla greeted me with a caring smile. "Good morning, Anemone. It's breakfast time soon, so can you call Doomstone?”

"Yes~ Doomstone~ Let's eat~!" I went to Doomstone; he was training this morning in the garden.

Thanks to Mrs. Arscilla's consideration, we stayed at Duke Arthemius’s villa while in the capital. The villa in the capital was huge because Mrs. Arscilla worked in the capital on behalf of Duke Arthemius who was indisposed to leave the Holy Land due to his weak body. Perhaps Mrs. Arscilla's presence here was to prepare a workplace for her son, Arcanta, in the future.

"You're training on your birthday, too? You're working hard."

I was amazed to see Doomstone sweating and exercising brilliantly wearing a special increased gravity band made by the Magic Tower.

"Well, even if it's a birthday, it's a day when you put candles on dragon meat and eat something a little more delicious than usual. Is there anything special to it?” he replied.

I smiled playfully. "Why wouldn’t it be special? It's the day when I’m no longer an older sister."

"Ahahaha! That is a special day!" Doomstone laughed merrily, controlled the mana on the gravity band, and took it off. "It's nice outside. I didn't think I could train like this with a magic tool.”

"Ahem! That's the convenience of civilization." I held out my chest and bragged.

"Ahahahaha! Why are you bragging?”

"Ahahaha! What do you mean why? It's because it’s a convenience of civilization I bought with my own money.”

"Pfft! Thank you for that.”

As we chatted, we tried to enter the mansion, and right then a white bird flew our way. Doomstone raised his hand and the bird naturally landed on it. There was a small container on its leg, and he took a small note out from it.

"Mirpa ahjumma is coming. With the heart of the phoenix."

I was dumbfounded by what he said with a big smile.

"... Really?"

"Yeah. It’s the best birthday present.” Doomstone laughed and tousled my hair.