HTWBB Chapter 12

Grace placed something brooch-shaped on the wolf's chest. It was round like a full moon, pure white in form, with only gold decorations along the edges—clean to the point of looking somewhat bare.

"This is called Frost Lake. It's an artifact containing condensed water or ice magic."

"For self-defense?"

"No. It's not for that purpose."

It meant it was an object that couldn't function for attack or defense. Ordinary artifacts generally focused on protection, even if only single-use.

However, if Grace's words were true, 'Frost Lake' had little utility compared to the effort required to make it. Rietta, briefly lost in thought, muttered.

"For fire-specialized mages."

"You really know everything there is to know. Then do you know how this artifact came to be?"

"No."

Grace nodded as if she'd expected that.

"It's not widely known, but this is also a derivative of the 'Moon Tide' that's passed down only to the werewolf clan leader."

To be precise, it was a pair of artifacts passed down through generations to the leader and their mate. The only object that could maintain the moon's power, which becomes extremely strong during the full moon, while allowing them not to lose their reason.

The purpose was clear. To prevent the tragedy of killing each other among clan members caught in madness, control was entrusted to the leader. In other words, it was safe to say this 'Moon Tide' was the core tool that enabled werewolves to maintain their bloodline from ancient times to now.

"The requested item this time is precisely that 'Moon Tide.' The client must have heard rumors about Mabia first."

"Why a werewolf artifact?"

"Well, they insist on keeping their identity secret, but they must have a very powerful fire-specialized mage."

"They could use Frost Lake."

"It's useless. Not with imitations."

Grace sighed with a regretful tone and shook her head. Unable to withstand Rietta's staring gaze, she grinned and laughed.

"Such mages are occasionally born. That's why if you can just find it, you can name your price. You'll go, right? You have plenty of time."

Rietta nodded without long deliberation. The fact that it was near the seaside bothered her a little, but there shouldn't be any particular problems.

"When should I leave?"

"Today would be best, tomorrow would be just good."

"I'll go tonight."

"You really are the only one!"

Grace spread her arms and pounced. Rietta didn't reject the body rushing at her violently. She let Grace hug her tightly and shake her around, but when she saw her pursing her lips, Rietta pushed her face away.

Grace, who had been grumbling about feeling hurt, opened her mouth as if suddenly remembering.

"By the way, what about Melian? Why haven't I seen hide nor hair of him lately?"

"In the library."

"Aha, the library."

Grace raised her eyebrows with an extremely interested expression.

"That cheeky brat is doing things he didn't used to do, these days."

Rietta didn't answer. Since she'd met Melian only a few months ago, she knew nothing about what he'd usually been like.

Hadn't she first encountered him just before this incident, even though he'd been residing in the guild as an errand boy?

Anyway, she could guess the reason Melian went to the guild's library that rivaled an actual library, but it wasn't a matter for her to discuss.

Grace, who perhaps hadn't expected an answer anyway, quickly lost interest and narrowed her eyes while scrutinizing various parts of Rietta.

"What on earth could have captivated that adult-child."

"Don't talk nonsense."

"Nonsense? This is a legitimate question."

Rietta thought about what an illegitimate question might be, then gave up.

In fact, in the past Rietta didn't know, Melian had quite a bad reputation. It wasn't just Grace's opinion. Her secretary who lived buried in work, those who'd sparred with Rietta, even those in charge of the same odd jobs would click their tongues constantly.

However, the actions he had shown Rietta from their first meeting until now were different enough to doubt the harsh reputation. Even when Grace said things like whether she was dreaming at the introduction, Rietta had let it go in one ear. She experienced it firsthand after returning from Luemmasa.

'Melian was saying strange things.'

'Mm?'

'That he's your permanent gift.'

Grace opened her mouth as if absurd at Rietta's question, then soon laughed enough to wipe away tears.

'How much does our cute nymph like you?'

When the laughter subsided, Grace lowered her body as if sharing a secret and whispered.

'I didn't give him—Melian threw a tantrum.'

'What?'

'Can't take back words once spoken, right? He said since I gave him to you as a gift, he'll leave from under me.'

Rietta, who was forced to receive a gift that couldn't be returned, was more composed than bewildered.

As Melian said, Grace knew almost nothing about him. Besides the fact that he was nymph mixed-blood, she properly knew only extremely few facts like both parents being absent, and most things she knew were inaccurate.

Starting with believing Melian was the age he appeared to be.

'Then I'll accept him well.'

'Right, as expected, reject...'

Grace, who had been nodding, asked as if she couldn't believe it.

'What? Really? For real? You're not lying?'

Whether Grace's eyes popped out or not, Rietta decided to accept Melian. It wasn't because he'd revealed truths to her that he hadn't disclosed even to his employer. His plea hadn't played a major role either.

Simply, Melian had learned too much about Rietta during their last journey. Whether she could use magic, the appearance she maintained with it, perhaps even her vague identity.

Rather than worry about secrets leaking, it was more comfortable to keep him nearby and travel together. Since he had useful abilities, it was a not-bad choice in many ways.

Melian, completely unaware of her thoughts, simply smiled happily upon hearing the news.

'Looking forward to working with you!'

"Smiling cheerfully all day long, it's ridiculous."

Ding ding. Grace, who'd tapped the plate a couple times like ringing a bell with her fork, grumbled. She muttered about not knowing gratitude, about beasts with black hair... no, brown hair not being worth picking up, about feeling hurt that he wouldn't smile at her even once. More complaints continued. Then suddenly she lifted her head.

"Ah. What are you planning to do about getting there? Horses won't work this time either?"

"Since Melian is here, it should be okay to try."

However, she couldn't be certain. Rietta recalled the horses that had reared up or run away during that time and made other plans in advance.

"Will it be all right?"

"Of course. Since I'm here, it won't throw Miss Rietta."

Melian, sitting in front, said with a relaxed face while stroking the horse's neck. Under his gentle touch, the horse was docile as if dealing with someone it had bonded with for years.

Rietta looked down at such a horse somewhat bewildered. Her experience with horseback riding was limited to riding a terrified horse in an urgent situation long ago. The tensely strained muscles and violent struggles that seemed about to throw her off were still vivid.

Since most animals would flee in terror upon seeing her, it was a natural reaction. Except for some carnivores, this was the first time one had obediently let her get close.

"Please be comfortable, Miss Rietta. If the rider is uncomfortable, the horse feels the same way."

"All right."

Rietta slowly relaxed. The sensation touching through clothing was warm, solid, and overflowing with vitality. The horse snorted once. Grace, who had been watching, made an exaggerated gesture of wiping away tears.

"Truly moving. To think this day would finally come."

"How about going inside now? We don't have much time left either."

"You'd be truly perfect if you just removed the nagging, Francis."

"I don't want to seem perfect to the Guild Master."

"I'll just propose to you right now."

"How terrible."

Grace stopped teasing Francis, as time really was approaching, and waved her hand at Rietta.

"Be careful. Don't force yourself to bring it—just confirming if it exists is fine."

"You don't mean that."

At Melian's sneering, Grace pressed her forehead.

"Just leave quickly, Francis. So I can stop seeing that cheeky brat."

Melian snorted and turned the horse's head with a skilled motion to depart. Rietta, fascinated by her body moving by another's will, looked back. The distance between them moving in opposite directions widened rapidly. Grace suddenly whipped her head around. When their eyes met, Rietta nodded lightly.

"I'll miss you too, honey!"

Grace, with a moved expression, blew a hand kiss and disappeared, led away by Francis's hand. Melian, who had been shaking his head, opened his mouth.

"Mabia, you said?"

"Right. Close to Clémora."

"That port city? Then can we see the ocean?"

"No. It's separated from the sea, so you won't be able to see it."

Melian, who'd had an excited face, drooped his shoulders glumly.

"What a shame..."

The quietly walking horse whinnied softly. Melian patted the horse's neck a couple times, saying he was fine.

Rietta roughly calculated the dates. Though Grace hadn't set a request period, on average it took approximately two weeks to a month to resolve assigned cases.

Since it was a day and a half's ride from Mabia to Clémora, unless the work ended faster than expected or something special happened, there was no reason to stop by.

"More importantly, did you have any results?"

Rietta glanced down at Melian sitting in front and changed the subject.

"Results?"

"You've been holed up in the library continuously."

Ah, Melian's shoulders drooped further as he blinked.

"No. I don't understand at all."

No matter how large the library was, it couldn't compare to a real library. During Rietta's rest, he searched for information not only in the library but also through nearby bookstores and even purchasing books through several mercenaries going on commissions.

It didn't necessarily have to be about nymphs, and he didn't discriminate against any materials about coming-of-age ceremonies of other races. However, the possibility of such detailed records remaining in an Empire that had deliberately excluded other races was slim.

Though it was questionable whether ceremonies passed down internally within races would even be recorded, Melian didn't give up.

"I'll find a clue somehow. I can't live as a child forever."

His eyes sparkled with determination. Rietta, who had remained silently, said as if in passing.

"I can help if you want."

"Really? How?"

"If there are no records, just meet them directly. Mixed-bloods who've reached adulthood will be maintained regardless of race, so even if they're hiding, you can track the traces of where they lived."

"...If we find them?"

"There are many other methods even if persuasion doesn't work."

Considering Rietta's reputation and the methods she'd resolved things with until now, it certainly wouldn't be a moderate approach. Melian knew this fact well too.

He grasped and released the reins busily several times before forcibly nodding.

"Haha. Thank you, Miss Rietta. But first, I'll try searching on my own."

When Melian lightly pulled the reins, the horse began to pick up speed. Rietta felt the wind touching her forehead and raised her head. It was a full moon night.