Episode 637
“Miss Chloe Young!”
“Yes!”
At Acrella’s call, Chloe whipped her head around. Her hair was hastily tied up, and soot and coal dust clung to her in patches. If Acrella hadn’t addressed her as “Miss,” no one would have guessed her true status.
Acrella, also covered in dirt and dust, beckoned Chloe over.
“See that big boulder over there? The second one from the left? Just move that one, and they say we can find the entrance once it’s lifted.”
“Really? Got it!”
Chloe rolled up her sleeves and strode off briskly. The young lady who had cried about not wanting to go to the mine was nowhere to be seen; now, only a top-tier laborer remained, commanding the site. Without Chloe, the work would have dragged on in many ways.
With a single effortless lift, she hoisted the massive rock, drawing admiring applause from the workers.
“Wow, unbelievable. Bariel really is full of all sorts of extraordinary people. Miss, do you use magic?”
“Something like that, but no. Where should I put this?”
“Bring it down this way. Watch your step.”
Chloe casually slung the rock over one shoulder and descended the slope. Whether it was a side effect of magic or not, she found this work far more suited to her than managing supplies. Moving her body and receiving praise from others made her feel genuinely good.
Boom!
“Where to next?!”
Chloe’s eyes sparkled as Acrella pulled out a small notebook, jotting down notes on her condition. Could emotional changes bring about shifts in personality? As Acrella tilted her head, pen in hand, the village entrance in the distance grew busy.
“Acrella, looks like more of the estate’s people are coming.”
“Yeah, yeah. I wonder what the Hallin family is up to. They should be handling this quickly.”
They still couldn’t accept that the estate’s owner had been purged by the central government and that the mining rights had been handed over. Well, it was understandable from their perspective.
But so what? If they’re so unhappy, they can sort out the mine collapse themselves. Acrella pouted, and the mage leaned in to whisper.
“And Ian has returned.”
“What? Already? Why?”
There was still plenty of time left on the deadline. Acrella looked puzzled, and the mage shrugged.
“Seems they worked pretty fast.”
“Damn it. The kids probably didn’t even get a break.”
“They stopped by Bariel on the way and apparently moved Acrella’s entire lab over. I don’t know the details, but Captain Hale said so, so it must be true.”
“What?! My lab?! How?!”
“I told you, I don’t know. Just passing on what I heard.”
Acrella rolled her eyes and tucked the notebook under her arm. She had some materials she needed, and maybe Hale had brought them. That crazy bearded man! Honestly, impressive, really impressive.
“I’m heading to Kalamath for a bit.”
“Huh? Why?”
“To pick up something. Should only take an hour or two. It’s about time for a break anyway. You stay here and supervise, Miss Chloe!”
“Y-Yes?!”
Chloe came running at Acrella’s call, breathless.
“I’m going to Kalamath to get something essential for the antidote. So while I’m gone, don’t overexert yourself—just rest over there.”
“How long will it take?”
“Not long. Grab some sweets and freshen up that pretty face of yours. I’ll be back soon!”
Whirr! Whoosh!
Without waiting for a reply, Acrella sprang up and took off. The workers watched in awe, and Chloe rubbed her face with the back of her hand. She headed to a corner as told, but her mind kept drifting back to the worksite.
“Ugh, heave-ho! Help me lift this!”
“We’re trying, but two of us aren’t enough. Call more people.”
“Over here! Help! It’s stuck deep!”
“Mage! Over here!”
“Hold on, this side first.”
Watching the struggling workers made Chloe feel uneasy. If she helped, it would be over quickly, but four strong men were still struggling.
Remembering Acrella’s warning, Chloe straightened up quickly, but as time passed, her body and mind leaned more and more toward the worksite. She felt ready to bolt at any call.
“Miss Young!”
“Yes!”
Finally, a worker called for help. Chloe jumped up and ran over, then lifted a boulder as big as a house. It was heavier than before, but still manageable.
“Should I move it over there?”
“Thank you. Sorry to bother you while you’re resting.”
“It’s fine. Actually—”
She was about to say she was bored when the rock on her shoulder suddenly felt heavier. What was that? Just her imagination? She tilted her head and tried to descend the slope.
“…!”
Boom!
A massive impact pitched Chloe forward, as if a giant fist had slammed down on the rock. That’s when she realized—it wasn’t the rock getting heavier, but her strength fading.
“Ah!”
“Miss Young?”
Her strength was draining fast. She tried to throw the rock forward, but couldn’t even manage that. Standing her ground was all she could do.
“Throw it! You can’t keep holding it?”
“It’s too big… I can’t get a good grip.”
“We can’t support it either. What do we do?”
“Miss Young, there’s a hill just ahead where you can set it down. Can you walk?”
The workers circled anxiously, and Chloe squeezed her eyes shut, shouting,
“Step aside! Move away from the sides!”
Boom! Crash!
A deafening roar echoed through the mine, and the tunnel filled with dust so thick nothing could be seen.
“Meow meow, purr purr.”
Acrella crouched, humming softly. She’d thought the claim about moving the entire lab was an exaggeration, but it wasn’t. Everything she needed was in Kalamath.
She swayed her hips lightly, sorting what was essential from what wasn’t.
“Acrella, what are you doing here?”
“Oh, Captain Hale said he’d bring me a gift. Where’s Ian?”
“He’s with His Majesty, a bit delayed.”
“Is he hurt? I heard you found Filia too? Honestly, I shouldn’t say this, but you must be crazy.”
“No, he’s perfectly fine. Sigh… but this feels just like a few days ago. When only Ian returned, I could accept it, but now the captain too—”
“Good, right? I know, I know.”
“Yes, very good. So good it’s driving me mad.”
Acrella patted the mage’s shoulder and gathered her things.
Just then, Ian appeared descending the upper stairs, probably just finished his audience with the emperor. They hadn’t been apart long, but seeing him every day made their reunion warm and welcome.
“Ian, good to see you.”
“Acrella, what are you doing here?”
“I needed some things, and Captain Hale brought them. I heard you returned safely. Anything I should know?”
Ian motioned for her to wait, then asked a servant for paper and pen. Leaning on the stair railing, he wrote something down, folded it neatly, and dropped it toward Acrella.
“Whoa.”
She caught it with both hands, looking up at Ian in confusion.
“What’s this? A love letter?”
“Not exactly a set date, but probably within two weeks. The mages will depart for Torolun before the main force, so have ‘that’ ready by then.”
“Wait, is this on the menu?”
Acrella scrunched her nose and unfolded the paper, then raised her eyebrows with interest.
“This is interesting.”
“Is it possible?”
Ian leaned on the railing and asked. Acrella smiled wryly.
“Hmm. It’s tricky, but doable. Who else but the world’s greatest genius mage Acrella? First, let’s make sure we meet the delivery deadline.”
“Thank you.”
“Don’t mention it. I’ll serve with the true spirit of a loyal subordinate.”
She gave a playful, noble-style bow. Ian smiled softly, then turned and disappeared down the corridor connecting to the magic department.
After seeing Ian off, Acrella folded the note carefully and tucked it away. A mage watching nearby asked quietly,
“Captain, what’s that?”
“Oh, the kids don’t need to know. Now go get back to work.”
“Captain, I’m actually a year older than you.”
“Is that so? Then you old-timers get back to work.”
With the experimental materials secured and Ian’s official potion order placed, nothing could stop her now. Just as Acrella struggled to sling her bag over her shoulder, a mage supervising the mine site suddenly fell from the sky.
Crash!
“Whoa, you scared me!”
“What? Why are you here?”
“C-Captain, it’s bad. Miss Chloe—”
Huh? Acrella slowly set down her heavy bag and opened her mouth in disbelief. Oh no, damn it, it can’t be…
“Lady Chloe? What happened to her?”
“The side effects suddenly disappeared. It was when she was carrying that massive boulder on her back. Unfortunately, I was checking on another site and didn’t notice right away.”
“W-what are you saying? The side effects just vanished just like that?”
“Yes. I’m not sure if it means there’s another problem or not, but you should hurry and take a look…”
“Damn it! Hey! Move that over to our side.”
“Yes? Ah, right away! Understood!”
Acorella took off without looking back, flying swiftly.
Left alone in an instant, the wizard tugged at the bag and shook his head as if to say it wouldn’t work. Beric might be strong enough to carry it, but every time he used his magic, he’d demand food, drinks, and cause a fuss—definitely not cost-effective.
‘Maybe I should check on that bag.’
The one belonging to that Nathan tribe guy, Nabu something. Captain Hale took him somewhere earlier—maybe he was assigned a task?
As the wizard crossed his arms and glared at the pile of luggage, someone spoke from behind.
“Is something wrong?”
“Oh, Lord Xiaoshi. Are you coming out after the audience? I saw Lord Ian just now as well.”
“Yes, that’s right. Is there a problem?”
“Ah, nothing major. Captain Acorella asked me to move this to the mine, and I was wondering who to assign. Beric seems like the easiest choice, doesn’t he?”
Xiaoshi glanced at the bag and nodded in agreement. The mine, huh? If I go see Captain Acorella, surely…
“But I don’t know how the captain planned to carry this. If it weren’t for the message, I think she would’ve tried to haul it herself. Hmm.”
“A message?”
“Ah, about Lady Chloe. It seems her side effects suddenly disappeared.”
The wizard muttered to himself, busy packing, and didn’t notice the subtle expression on Xiaoshi’s face.
“Because of that, it seems there was some trouble. Something about the boulder… I don’t know the details, but the site supervisor flew over and caused a bit of a commotion.”
“……”
“Lord Xiaoshi?”
Why no answer? When the wizard turned around, Xiaoshi looked stunned, almost frozen. Then, almost reflexively, he grabbed the wizard’s shoulder and asked,
“If it’s alright, may I help you move the luggage?”
“Excuse me?”
“Please, I really would appreciate it. I’m asking you.”
It was the first time the wizard had heard Xiaoshi speak so earnestly. He looked him over with a puzzled expression, then finally nodded. What is it with this palace? Not a single normal person in sight. Sigh.