Chapter 223: Buried Alive (3)

"Hey! What the heck are you doing?! Why'd you hit me... hey!"

Isaac was rendered speechless, not expecting to be struck by Rubia. Though honestly, so were all the humans around us.

"

Whuh

?"

"

Eep

?"

Everyone's gaze locked on the cascade of gems raining down from thin air. The most dumbfounded of all was the clerk who'd looked down on Rubia.

"S-sor—

hic!

Sorry! I'm so sorry!"

She was as pale as a ghost. Jewels had fallen from seemingly nowhere. It wasn't magic that turned them to stone, but the sheer value of the jewels—especially coming from someone they had so brazenly dismissed.

"I-I'm so sorry! Truly sorry!"

Rubia looked at the flustered clerk, as if clueless about what had set her off.

"No need to apologize." She casually glanced over the jewels scattered across the transparent glass display, saying, "These are enough to make a deal, right?"

"Y-yes, of course! I mean... Yes! Miss! I deeply apologize! Could you please wait just a moment?"

"What even was that...?"

"Unbelievable..."

The other customers who had snubbed her were speechless, agape at the fallen treasure.

"

Hmph...

"

As if doused by cold water, a hush fell over the entire store. Sweating bullets, the clerk bolted to the back. Soon, a woman in her fifties, wearing silver-rimmed monocle glasses, emerged.

"I'm Varesi Blackberry, manager of Garnet Wing. What happened here is absolutely unacceptable for our main branch. First..." Without even glancing at the scattered jewels, she bowed her head deeply. "Please, allow me to escort you inside."

The manager opened a thick door. We passed through a long corridor until we reached a softly lit inner chamber. Surprisingly, no jewels were openly displayed. Instead, one wall held dozens of porcelain vases on elegant wooden shelves. A round glass case, embedded with black mother-of-pearl, added to the luxurious atmosphere.

Most of all, the private room was enormous. Nearly ten staff moved quietly inside, yet it felt roomier than the showroom packed with gems outside.

"We only receive one guest per day in our VIP room. Please, make yourself at home."

A small cup was set in front of Rubia, filled with tea at the perfect warmth. Next came a mango cake brimming with fruits, a strawberry pudding topped with generous chunks, and macarons with creamy filling peeking from their smooth shells. I stood silently behind the sofa where Rubia sat.

Manager Blackberry gave me a curious look. "Not a hair out of place... you must be a most distinguished knight."

"Is that so?"

Not sure what impressed her. Maybe the fact that I didn't eat or drink anything? Well, I couldn't anyway.

"Once again, I sincerely apologize."

"Ms. Blackberry, I..."

Rubia began to speak, but Blackberry quickly dipped her head and took over the conversation again.

"What happened was an inexcusable mistake on the part of our staff, something that should never occur at the Garnet Wing flagship store. I will personally ensure your transaction carries a ninety percent commission discount."

"Really? That much?"

"Yes. So please... I humbly ask you to complete your transaction here, ma'am."

***

That was a staggering middleman discount. Given that this was the largest jewelry shop in the capital, there was no reason to refuse. The only question was whether it was too good to be true.

"You have some truly magnificent pieces here." Using a large magnifier, Blackberry examined Rubia's gems from various angles."The cuts are a little outdated in style, but fashion always comes full circle..."

Naturally, since Wadluth's tail had sealed that temple chamber, the gems were quite old. Still, she didn't seem like the type to undervalue just because we were ignorant.

"Is she trying to scam us?"

I asked Isaac just to be sure.

"She's not running some pop-up. This place is massive and well-established in the capital. They're not likely to mess with the goods. Sure, the fees are probably steep, but still..."

Fair enough.

"Do you want to cash these in?"

"Can you exchange this pile for just one item? Something beautiful."

That request was for Isaac. Blackberry paused for a moment.

"All of this for one... Understood. Please wait."

Click click

She rotated the ring on her finger. It was composed of three interlocking bands that rotated independently. Then, one segment protruded.

"Ah, a key ring. Old-school style."

Whirrr.

A section of the wall slid out like a drawer, just below Rubia's line of sight.

"What do you think of these?"

Rather than just pretty, they radiated a faint and curious aura.

"Hmph... Magic stones. A safe bet for the shop. But for someone like me, they're pointless. Just ask for something pretty—the prettiest one."

"Isn't function more important?"

"Once imbued with magic, purity is lost. Better if I infuse it myself. And besides..."

𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

"What now?"

"Do you buy jewels for their function?"

Relaying the conversation, Rubia shook her head. "No, magic stones are fine. But we'd prefer something purely beautiful."

"

Hmm...

" After thinking for a moment, the manager adjusted her key and opened another wall panel. "For pure gems, this is the only one that comes to mind. Everything else doesn't quite match in price. I'd feel bad offering them alone..."

Inside the new display case was a single purple gemstone, glowing softly.

"Ooh, now this is nice. Look at that clarity. Ooh yeah..."

"This is a Musrat. Only eight samples are known to exist. It's extremely dense, and this piece was cut from the outer layer alone."

Like she said, the facets weren't symmetrical or geometric, yet their irregular angles stirred something mystical in the viewer.

"Then we'll take it."

"Why did you decide so fast?! Make her show you everything!"

"Maybe it's because the crow keeps making weird noises every time a gem appears?"

We traded Isaac's gems for the purple Musrat and converted the rest into gold coins. According to him, the price was quite generous. As I dropped Isaac's quips during negotiations, Blackberry's gaze toward me grew increasingly reverent.

"Truly an exquisite eye for value... I'm terribly curious about your background! I can't believe I've never heard of someone like you before. How embarrassing..."

"

Ah

, well..."

Since none of that insight was actually mine, it felt awkward to respond. Still, despite my curt answers, Blackberry continued to treat me with utmost respect.

Even after the deal was sealed, she remained proactive. "If this is your first visit to the capital, may I know if you have arranged lodging?"

"No," Rubia shook her head.

"In that case... may I offer a referral?"

Maybe they got a cut from certain inns. Blackberry looked back and forth between us. I didn't really like the idea, but then Isaac chimed in.

"Take the referral."

"Why? It's just a place to stay."

"All the good inns in the capital work on an exclusive referral basis. Don't even think of bluffing your way in with fear. Don't lower yourself."

"Referral-only?"

"Exactly. There's an old rule here: Den Mecho Pheras, no strangers allowed. That's just how capital folks are."

It was hard to understand, but I nodded at Blackberry's offer.

"Sure, please do."

"Wonderful! I'll make the arrangements right away. Please wait a moment."

While she stepped away, I muttered, "What a bizarre custom. Aren't guests supposed to be unfamiliar? That's what makes them guests."

"Even guests must come with status. No one wants to sleep and eat next to people they don't know."

"It's because people here run tabs and pay monthly, they don't trust strangers without credit," Rubia explained.

So she knew the custom too. When the manager returned, she bowed deeply once more.

"Thank you for waiting. If I may, please accept this card."

It was a deep purple business card with white embossed letters.

Trust Us with Your Jewels

Varesi Blackberry

Garnet Wing, Capital Main Branch – Alley 11, Next to White Plaza...

I got a strange feeling of deja vu. There was a black card tucked underneath.

"Merchant guild?"

"You recognized it right away!" Blackberry smiled even more brightly, full of implications.

With this, I now had three merchant guild cards in my possession. One from the Yublam captain's secret vault, one from Yube Jinney, and one from the capital's top jewelry store. As expected, getting them wasn't hard. Once I showed what I was capable of, people handed them willingly.

Even if I died and came back again, those three cards would be easy to acquire. And I only needed two more to qualify for full membership. I'd have to see through experience how useful these members would actually be.

As we exited through the thick door of the VIP room, the gazes of the noble young ladies outside snapped toward Rubia.

"I've never seen anyone go in there before..."

"Wait, did Lady Blackberry herself do the deal? Who is that?"

"There are so many people who dream of having Lady Blackberry match even a single gem or outfit for them..."

Just as we were about to leave the shop...

"

Um...

excuse me!"

A girl with curly blonde hair hurried over. She was around three or four years younger than Rubia, and was shorter by at least a head. The girl bit her lip nervously, as if summoning great courage.

"Milady...!"

Someone holding a parasol tried to rush over and stop her, but the girl shook her head. I considered intercepting her, but held back because she was unarmed and looked fragile. Above all, a sudden move could alarm her escorts.

"

U-um

... Lady...!"

"

Huh

? Me?"

Rubia stepped toward the girl. The girl nodded and gently grasped the hem of Rubia's sleeve.

"What is it?"

"I'm Ivote Sena Erengaede. Please call me Sena."

Blackberry leaned over and whispered, "She's the daughter of Marquis Ivote."

"Yes, Lady Sena."

When Rubia smiled warmly, the tension on the girl's face visibly eased.

"If you're staying in the capital... would you come to... my,

um

... tea... tea party?"

Her tone was timid and hesitant. As the daughter of a marquis, there shouldn't be many people she had to be wary of. Perhaps it was just her nature.

"Wow, a tea party? Me?"

Rubia appeared genuinely surprised. They didn't seem to know each other. And given she had only ever been in Erast, she wouldn't have any acquaintances in the capital.

"It's just that... you were so cool earlier... I... I want to be friends..."

Despite stumbling over her words, her sincerity was unmistakable. Rubia's actions had probably made quite an impression.

Smiling gently, Rubia politely declined, "I'm not very familiar with capital customs. I might cause offense..."

However, the blonde-haired girl remained persistent. "Th-that's okay! I don't mind! Please at least consider it!"

After thrusting the invitation into Rubia's hands, she ran off toward her carriage. Her maid and guards rushed after her in a panic.

"Hey, Bonehead. What'll you do now that you've got a rival? With a cutie like that, I'd say the winner's obvious."

"Stop talking nonsense."

Blackberry smiled softly. "To receive an invitation from the Ivote family's tea party, you've been given quite the honor."

"Yes, it's sudden, but I'm happy."

"The young lady is usually shy around strangers. She must've really liked you. Congratulations. Just watching this warms my heart. Now then, allow me to escort you to your lodging."

***

The lodging in the heart of the capital was extremely pleasant.

As soon as Blackberry left, Rubia gasped in delight and explored the suite. "It looks like you could fit ten thousand books in here!"

"That's the first thing that comes to mind?"

"Everything else is just as beautiful."

After some time admiring the place, she stood by the window. From the second floor, a wide, well-kept garden could be seen below.

"San hickory, aravich, spring flowers, and even yucca are blooming. The trees are all so well cared for..."

Seeing Rubia so happy brought me a rare moment of peace. A small pause in our long and relentless journey.

***

After four hours in the bath, Rubia emerged looking dazed. She leaned against the wall with a dazed expression. Was she sick? I used my Detection skill, but her pulse was normal.

"Hey."

Isaac poked me with his beak.

"What?"

"Hurry, you have to tell her to go to the tea party."

"The tea party...?"

"Seriously, how can you be this dense? She's been thinking about it nonstop, didn't you notice? Huh?"

"Hm..."

I'd forgotten, but she was a count's daughter. Even though it was her own choice, she'd spent a month running through deserts, cut off from everything she knew. She probably needed somewhere to lean on emotionally. And a noble girl's tea party? She had probably read about them in books, imagined them in her head, never thinking she'd ever attend one.

"Do you want to go to the tea party?"

"No! I'm fine. Sorry if I worried you."

"She said she's fine."

Clang!

Isaac pecked me in the back.

"When a girl says she's fine, it means she's absolutely not fine, you idiot."

"What kind of logic is that?"

"Haa... saying I'm fine is just a cry of deep longing."

"You should go. You just got back from the desert, it might be a good change of pace."

Rubia glanced down, looking conflicted. "But... I can't even reveal my identity here..."

Right. I'd forgotten. Her uncle currently ruled Erast. If she revealed herself as Count Ray's daughter and rightful heir, it would cause complications.

"I'll figure that part out."

After all, I'd already planned to contact Rena. Once I reach the T&T headquarters, I should be able to choose a wide variety of forged identities. How difficult could it be to create one for a noble girl attending a tea party? But Rubia still didn't look convinced.

"What's wrong now?"

She glanced at me awkwardly. "

Um...

well..."

"She doesn't have a dress. Come on, this is where you say, 'I'll buy you one'!"

What she was wearing now seemed fine, though... But Isaac had a point. At that tea party, every noble girl would be wearing lavish dresses like the ones we saw at the jewelry store. I was starting to realize Isaac had a surprising talent. Despite being obsessed with jewels, he was unexpectedly sharp in social matters.

"If it's your clothes you're worried about..."

Before I could finish, there was a knock on the door.

"Excuse me, we're here with your clothing delivery."

"Clothing...?"

We didn't order anything...

I stepped out first to escape the awkward silence. At the door stood two staff members in uniform, holding a casual outfit and a bright orange dress. They handed me a small card.

Enjoy the tea party!

Varesi Blackberry

"The ten-day lodging fee has been paid in full by our side. Please enjoy your stay."

They neatly hung the clothes and left the room. That was some amazing generosity. Did we really make them that much profit in the gem exchange? Or maybe, she wanted to build up a sense of debt?

"Wow..."

Rubia quietly gazed at the dress. Suddenly, her eyes welled up with tears.

[Rubia's Affection increased by 3!]

"How... how did they get the size just right...?"

[Rubia's Affection increased by 2!]

"Just looking at it, I can tell it'll fit me perfectly..."

[Rubia's Affection increased by 5!]

Tears dripped from her glistening eyes.

"Mr. Skeleton, you're really so kind."

[Affection cap Broken!]

[Rubia's Affection cap has increased to 60!]

[Rubia's Affection increased by 2!]

What just happened?

"Haaah. You just used up all your luck for this life, didn't you?"