Chapter 277 : Chapter 277
Chapter 277: Bluff
What was called a business was not so grand in reality.
The core was the Capsule maker.
So "artisan" might fit better than "business." One doesn't call a single blacksmith a business.
"Sounds like you're asking for him."
Albi referred to the Capsule maker as him.
"You heard right."
"......"
"What's there to hesitate? He'll end up living in the North anyway."
Albi had requested materials and land.
The land she meant was safe land.
Free of Laan's and Luan's eyes and ears, and therefore richer in materials than the continent.
Whether Harad managed the Capsule maker or not, the man would have to relocate to the North. Albi intended to produce Capsules there.
"In Serzila, not just the North. That's the only change. Not even a change, really. Serzila is the heart of the North."
Serzila was the most dangerous place in the North, and simultaneously the safest.
Closest to the Otherworld, yet home to superhumans including Grand Duke Aratus.
"And that Serzila is right here. A collateral, perhaps, but Serzila is Serzila."
Harad said, stroking Ellen's nape.
"I'm probably the safest mage in the North. My side would be too."
"......"
"Good for the Capsule maker as well. Safety, guaranteed."
Just protect the Capsule maker.
Then Capsules could be made at any time.
"Any reason to refuse?"
Plenty.
Harad could see Albi's mind without looking at her expression.
Trust a mage met today, an enemy at that?
She'd never tolerate the Capsule maker's person passing to another. The Capsule was a project that had caught the Otherworld's eye. Albi wanted the maker under her own, or the Liberation Tower's, control.
"......"
But Albi couldn't voice a refusal.
"You and we are equals. At least regarding the promise of tunnels and Capsules."
Regarding the promise of tunnels and Capsules.
The Liberation Tower's leader Albi and its newcomer Harad were equals.
Therefore Albi couldn't refuse.
Refusing was the same as saying she didn't trust Harad.
It would become the act of breaking the promise of equality. And Albi's heart would burst.
"Promise is generous. It does tolerate silence."
"......"
Albi's lips trembled.
Harad beamed.
"Not for long, I see. About to burst?"
"Did you know about me?"
"I didn't. But promises are usually bilateral."
"...... Truly exceptional, Mage Harad."
Albi praised him through bloodshot eyes.
"He's a timid mage."
"I'll handle him gently."
"...... There's a condition."
"Name it."
"You must guarantee the safety of the Capsule mage, Joans."
"Shall we make a promise?"
"...... Of course. I promise."
Albi hesitated briefly, then rose from her chair. She took in Harad and Ellen at a glance.
"If Joans dies in the North, Mage Harad and Ellen Serzila die."
Albi spoke stiffly, as though reading a contract.
Harad turned to look at Ellen for a moment, then spoke.
"Leave Ellen's name out."
"No exceptions."
Albi refused flatly.
Then Ellen took Harad's hand.
"Do it, Harad."
"But......"
"It's all right. You'll protect me."
Ellen said.
It seemed she was speaking not of the promise but of Harad protecting her.
Harad hesitated briefly, then nodded.
"...... Promised."
"Please take good care of Joans, Mage Harad."
Albi smiled broadly and extended her hand.
She looked relieved that the promise was made.
"Likewise."
Harad clasped her hand with a wry smile.
***
Albi and the guard-mage departed.
Kill them? He considered it, watching their backs, but ultimately didn't.
Because the quill pen Albi had given was unusually smooth.
Far finer craftsmanship than the pen Kunlutsban had once communicated through with Isotta.
'No reason to sever the line.'
The Capsule maker Joans aside, there was no cause to kill Albi now.
Albi was the mage who'd inducted Harad into the Liberation Tower. Handled well, she could be a door to the Liberation Tower's inner depths.
'I need to find the base. No rush.'
The immediate concern was the Capsule maker Joans.
And the Otherworld mages who'd soon seek the tunnel.
'Letting them use the tunnel freely is enough.'
Albi had said so.
Which direction would they go? Crossing into the Otherworld didn't matter. Harad in fact hoped for it.
He wanted more mages like Basele Tuas, spreading word of Harein to the Otherworld.
'From the Otherworld to the continent? Come to think of it, that's not bad either. I could assign tails.'
The Intelligence Bureau, once focused solely on the continent, had reestablished itself in the North. A reward of the regression. One word from Ellen and Director Benus would lend people.
'The Tower of Earthquakes had Laash. Other Towers would have lands or bases too. Otherworld mages descending would head for their own Tower's territory.'
Assign tails and learn those locations.
Even without territory, there'd be allies and intelligence. The more he mapped out the Otherworld hidden on the continent, the better for the reverted Harad.
'The heavy hitters won't come down.'
Meaning Eiga's name would carry weight in most cases.
No headaches over the tunnel.
"What now?"
Ellen was staring at him.
She'd apparently been watching his face, waiting for his thoughts to finish.
"Wait for Eiga."
Harad pointed to the tunnel entrance.
The reason neither had left the underground yet.
He didn't want to leave Eiga free and unsupervised.
Of course, he'd already sent him off.
"What if he doesn't come back?"
"Then that's that."
Eiga was an outstanding asset.
But not worth chaining down. Capable and loyal, yet a mage who couldn't be fully trusted.
"The Liberation Tower?"
"Simple. Kill Joans, use Albi."
"Pardon? How? You promised."
Ellen stared at Harad's chest.
His heart.
"Ah. That curse-like thing blocked the magic."
Ellen spoke as though declaring the answer.
The regression's constraint had blocked Albi's Promise.
Harad shook his head.
"Wrong."
"The Sun overpowered it?"
"That's too vague. Creative, though. I'm properly bound by the Promise."
"I'm not?"
"I am."
Harad nodded, emphasizing.
Ellen tilted her head.
"We, not I?"
"I am."
Harad emphasized again.
Because of the regression's constraint. He couldn't speak first. The correct answer had to come from Ellen.
"I'm not bound!"
Ellen poked her own chest and proclaimed the answer.
"Correct."
Harad smiled.
He'd never had the slightest intention of staking Ellen's life.
"Why? Ah. I have to guess. Because I'm not a mage?"
He couldn't shake his head either.
That too would become an answer.
"Because it's weak against Aura?"
Harad simply pretended not to hear.
"Because my heart is too strong?"
Harad laughed without meaning to.
"That's the answer, isn't it?"
"Correct."
Precisely, it was because of Innate Strength.
But her answer was also right.
-My heart is too strong for its own good.
The Elaine of the past life had said the same.
-What kind of nonsense is that.
-Meaning even if I break a promise, it probably won't burst.
-Nonsense.
It wasn't nonsense. It was real.
-Look. It didn't burst.
-You madwoman......
Elaine's heart hadn't burst even after breaking a promise with Albi.
Looking back, it had been the height of recklessness.
"You can break the promise. I can't."
Ellen's eyes sparkled.
Just for a moment. The widened eyes quickly narrowed. Deflated.
"Then what's the point."
Deflated Ellen sighed.
"There is one. I said: kill Joans, use Albi."
"If that Joans person dies in the North, you die too."
"What counts as the North?"
"Well, Serzila's...... oh?"
Harad grinned.
What counted as the North?
Serzila's land was the North. If not on this land, Joans could be killed freely.
"I wasn't aiming for this, actually. This is Albi's mistake."
"You stumbled into it?"
Ellen, who'd been pleased, furrowed her brow.
"You know me. I hate gambling."
"Sure."
He meant it. For some reason Ellen didn't believe him.
"Two promises are carved in my heart. The tunnel and Capsule are secret. And regarding those two, Albi and Harad are equals."
"What happened to 'If Joans dies in the North, Mage Harad and Ellen Serzila die'?"
"That one wasn't carved in my heart. It wasn't magic but bluff."
No magic in the world is perfect.
Every vagueness has its limits, and the heart is smaller than one thinks.
Small enough for only two promises.
The reverted Harad knew the mage called Albi well.
"She throws blank checks everywhere. You can't tell real from fake without ripping them open."
Few would rip them open.
That itself was a life-stakes gamble. At minimum, Albi had never encountered anyone who did.
"How did you know?"
"That's a secret."
Harad answered with a smile.
"You experienced it in the other world. Dug into it. So you knew only two promises are allowed."
"Exactly."
"Then you're safe too? As long as you keep the tunnel-and-Capsule secret."
"Right."
Ellen brightened.
She'd been worried about Harad's life, it seemed.
"But then, why did you do that?"
"What?"
"You asked to leave my name out. There was no need."
"So the act would be flawless. Normally one doesn't stake their woman's neck."
Albi had probably gained certainty then.
That Harad and Ellen would believe and uphold even the bluffed third promise.
"Most people value their own neck more."
"Do they?"
"...... Ahem."
Ellen cleared her throat. Then said.
"Can I kiss you?"
Suddenly?
Harad made a bizarre face.
"You don't have to answer. I'm going to anyway."
"Mmph......"
Ellen's kiss was still closer to violence.
***
Some time passed.
Telling time was absurdly easy for the reverted Harad. Without a clock, he could estimate the hour quite precisely all day long.
Not now.
Kissing was that kind of act. So bewitching it devoured time whole. Being underground, he couldn't even gauge time by the sky.
But considerable time seemed to have passed.
His throat was dry. His mouth drier still.
"Apologies!"
Then Eiga burst from the tunnel entrance. He was a wreck. Wearing rags, not clothes.
Eiga didn't look well either.
His complexion was pale, as though he'd overexerted. Manifestation, presumably. Harad's face hardened.
"Basele Tuas?"
"Apologies! Dead!"
By whom.
Harad's eyes narrowed at Eiga.