Volume 3, Chapter 27 – The Bouquet and the Adventurers

“It’s lively everywhere.”

Withdrawing her gaze from the celebrating people on the street, Liti sighed softly. It was clear that she enjoyed this kind of atmosphere; her steps were so light that even her long purple hair bounced along with them.

“Would you like a bouquet of flowers, milady? I hear it’s a way to gain more of Lord Thanatos’s favor.”

A neatly dressed little girl carrying a flower basket approached Fia’s group of four, smiling as she presented a bouquet of blue flowers to Fia. Compared to the slave children she had seen in the alley, this girl looked much healthier, her cheerful smile reminiscent of a blooming flower.

To see a little flower girl on the street with my own eyes.

Fia couldn’t help but marvel inwardly. In her memory, this was an ancient profession. Although the phrase “to gain more of Lord Thanatos’s favor” was confusing, for the sake of the little girl’s bright smile, she would buy a few bouquets.

“Y-you want to buy four bouquets?” Hearing Fia’s request, the little girl’s eyes widened in surprise. However, she quickly resumed her previous smile, the joy on her face even more pronounced. “That’ll be four copper coins in total. You’re my biggest customer today!”

Four copper coins counts as a big customer? Hmm… on second thought, the places where I’ve used money have all been related to magical items, which are usually very expensive. Considering that one gold coin is enough for a family of three to live comfortably for a month, the purchasing power of a copper coin is indeed very strong. My surprise at four copper coins being considered a big sale is purely because the things I’ve dealt with before have been too expensive.

My perception of money has been subtly changed. The gap between the rich and the poor on the World Tree Continent is absurdly large, Fia complained inwardly.

She placed a silver coin in the little girl’s flower basket. The girl’s face first lit up with joy for a moment, then became anxious. Even after putting together all the copper coins in her basket and the small iron coins in her pocket, she didn’t have enough to make change. A mist began to gather in her eyes. Fia had no choice but to ask for two more bouquets to alleviate the little girl’s near-tears anxiety.

Although it felt a little mean, Fia found the little girl’s rich and varied expressions very cute.

After sending off the little girl, who skipped away saying she was going home to get change, Fia distributed the flowers she had bought to Anastasia, Liti, and Milu beside her. Renee, being on Prince Schain’s side on the surface, did not follow Fia. Earlier, she had gone off on her own, using the excuse that “now that the Flame King is dead, the value of the Barony of Khesa needs to be re-evaluated.”

“It’s a Durandal…”

“Y-Your Highness, I cannot accept this gift.”

In contrast to the happy Liti and Milu who had accepted the blue bouquets, Anastasia rarely refused Fia. Her usually serious face was now full of hesitation and unspoken words.

Fia tilted her head in confusion.

“Why? I have no use for it.”

“The name of this flower is Durandal. In the noble circles of the entire northern continent, the Durandal symbolizes ‘love.’ Giving someone a Durandal is the same as a c-confession. It’s understandable that you would give it to Her Highness Liti and Milu, but to give it to me… how could I be compared to you, Your Highness?”

So this flower symbolizes love.

No wonder Liti looked so surprised and happy when she received it.

I should have asked the little girl about the flower’s meaning before buying it, Fia couldn’t help but feel a little embarrassed. She had just done it on a whim.

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But to leave Anastasia out like this would make it seem like she was treating her differently. Fia had to endure the embarrassment and waved her hand, feigning a relaxed manner.

“It’s fine. I don’t mean it in the way you’re thinking, Anastasia. Please accept it.”

“Since Your Highness says so… Thank you, Your Highness.”

Her cheeks slightly flushed, Anastasia accepted the paper-wrapped bouquet as if it were a treasure and carefully placed it into her storage item.

“Heehee~ As expected of the sister hailed as the empire’s number one genius. You handled Sister Ana so easily.”

“Her Highness Liti, how can you make such a joke? It’s too rude to Her Highness.”

Anastasia immediately tried to stop her in a panic. At the same time, Fia also lightly pinched one of Liti’s cheeks.

“You must have known the meaning of these flowers all along and deliberately didn’t say anything, waiting for me to give them to you, right?”

“Oww… S-sister, you said you didn’t mean it that way, right? I won’t tell Sister Claire!”

“Tsk.”

At the mention of Claire, Fia couldn’t help but click her tongue and let go of Liti’s pretty cheek. She then turned to look at Milu, who had been holding the bouquet in her arms all this time. Having heard Anastasia say that these flowers represented “love,” Milu’s face was unnaturally red, and her movements were even a little coy.

After all, she was a child who could even misunderstand the meaning of “sleeping.” It wasn’t strange for her to misunderstand here.

“Um, Milu, I don’t mean it that way. I just gave you the flowers as a gift on a whim. You don’t have to take it to heart.”

“It’s okay.”

Still holding the bouquet in her arms, Milu nodded magnanimously, as if she hadn’t heard what Fia had said.

“Little Milu, it would be best if you gave the flowers to me or sister to put in a storage item.”

“No.”

Liti, who had suddenly come closer, made Milu move away, the latter protecting the bouquet as if it were her dinner.

“I don’t mean to snatch the gift sister gave you. I just wanted to say that if you don’t put it in a storage item, the sun will soon wilt the flowers, and they won’t look pretty anymore.”

“Ngh…” Milu’s bewitching and slightly childish face showed hesitation, but after only a moment, she shook her head firmly. “No.”

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“Eh.”

Liti looked at Fia, her rose-colored eyes seeming to say, “Do something about her.” Fia returned a wry smile. Milu might be very fond of flowers. Since she wanted to hold them, it was fine to let her. If they wilted, she could just buy new ones.

After Fia smiled and patted Milu’s head, saying “it’s okay,” the tension in Milu’s expression quickly eased. The group, amidst Liti’s complaints of “you’re spoiling her too much,” began to walk down the bustling street again.

“By the way, Your Highness, what are you going to do at the Mage Association?”

“More importantly, someone is impersonating you, sister! It was you who defeated the Flame King, yet that blind Baron Khesa is talking about some Hero Thanatos. How can that credit be given to some unknown minor character? It’s so annoying! Aren’t you angry, Sister Ana? We must find Baron Khesa today and clarify this.”

“I want to go to the Mage Association to sell some things. I made some magic potions last night that need to be sold. I also need to buy a suitable weapon for Milu.”

Fia first answered Anastasia’s question, then a subtle expression appeared on her doll-like, exquisite face. Neither Anastasia nor Liti knew that the elf princess was Thanatos. Fia still didn’t know why the elf princess hadn’t told Anastasia, her personal maid, about this, so she couldn’t decide whether to tell her that Renee was actually on their side.

If the elf princess had done this for a profound reason, such as paving the way for a future plan, or if telling Anastasia would cause some unforeseen disaster, she would undoubtedly have done more harm than good. Perhaps only after meeting the Commander of the Royal Guard, Erin Slate, would she understand the reason.

However, not being able to tell Anastasia that Renee was on their side did not mean she couldn’t explain that she herself was Thanatos. If she explained it as “this is another identity of mine,” and avoided mentioning Erin Slate and Renee’s existence, it should be fine.

“As for Thanatos… that is another identity of mine. Didn’t I go out yesterday afternoon? That was to explain to Baron Khesa that the Flame King was defeated by ‘me,’ that is, Thanatos.”

“A fake identity?”

Hearing Fia’s explanation, Liti’s eyes lit up.

“No wonder Baron Khesa dared to confirm the Flame King’s defeat. So it was you who went to explain it in person, sister. The name Thanatos sounds so cool. Can you show me what Thanatos looks like, sister?!”

“No… it’s not that cool.”

It was basically just wearing a mask, shrouded in a hood and a black robe, while disguising her voice so that it was impossible to tell if she was male or female.

It was worth mentioning that when facing Baron Khesa, Fia had used a lowered, masculine voice, while when facing the women who had suffered at the hands of the bandits in the fortress, she had adopted a cold, feminine tone. This was to confuse people and make Thanatos seem mysterious and unfathomable.

“Now the whole city is cheering for you, sister, but only I know that you are Thanatos… ehehehe.”

Happily linking her arm with Fia’s, Liti’s pretty face had a look of infatuation, to the point that Fia felt her arm might be covered in Liti’s saliva at any moment… It was a bit disgusting.

How did a proper elf princess turn out like this?

Fia couldn’t help but sigh a long sigh inwardly.

“In that case, we must go and see the party arranged by Baron Khesa tonight! This morning, while you were still sleeping, Your Highness, the baron sent people to shout in the streets that there will be a play in the square tonight reenacting the hero Thanatos’s defeat of the Flame King.”

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Anastasia said with a smiling expression. Although Fia knew that Anastasia was not making fun of her, she couldn’t help but think that she was up to no good. She quickly refused.

“No, no, I’ll pass on that.”

What kind of embarrassing play is this?

In the end, the process of killing the Flame King could be described as inexplicable; it couldn’t be considered a proper defeat at all. Just thinking about how Baron Khesa would reenact it made Fia’s scalp tingle.

“This is everyone’s praise and eulogy for you, sister. You should graciously accept their goodwill.”

“I know it’s goodwill, but it’s too embarrassing. And I don’t want Thanatos to appear in front of others so brazenly.”

The Thanatos in her mind should be mysterious, taciturn, and extremely cold—at least according to Renee’s reaction. If Renee saw Thanatos appear on stage with a smile, waving to the audience, Fia really couldn’t imagine what kind of strange expression she would have.

“If you’re not going, sister, then I’ll go with Sister Ana and little Milu tonight.”

“Yes, together.”

Milu nodded happily.

Don’t agree at a time like this!

Fia felt like she didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

The Mage Association was very close to the noble district. The group, engrossed in their chat, soon arrived at a pointed-roof building, from which an ancient and mysterious feeling emanated.

Perhaps because of the holiday, the Mage Association was crowded and noisy. Besides the neatly dressed magic casters and nobles interested in magic, there were also some strangely dressed people Fia had never seen before.

For example, people with afros or mohawks, dressed in simple, tribal-like attire, with strange tattoos on their faces and bodies. There were also people carrying huge weapons, their bodies exuding a murderous aura, their muscles filled with explosive power. In addition, their races were varied, from ratmen to slime people. If not for the fact that she knew this was the World Tree Continent, Fia would have thought she had come to some kind of special performance art exhibition. Even Milu looked normal compared to them.

“So many adventurers.”

Anastasia, who had just entered, frowned. Because of the presence of these adventurers, a strange smell lingered in the hall.

In Fia’s understanding, adventurers should be people full of the spirit of exploration, exploring the unknown and challenging powerful monsters. But on the World Tree Continent, adventurers were people who lived for money. They could unclog the city’s sewers, fight monsters, and even help people find lost cats. The only difference between them and mercenaries was that they were more reputable and rarely committed acts of murder and arson, and were better at dealing with monsters.

As if sensing Fia’s confusion, Anastasia explained in a low voice.

“Adventurers dress strangely to attract clients. Apart from very famous ones, new adventurers can only be remembered if they dress outstandingly enough, thereby cultivating regular clients. But apart from a few, most adventurers are vulgar bastards, especially human ones. They are frivolous and rude, a group of people who think that just because they know a few spells, they can be compared to magic casters. You don’t need to pay them any mind, Your Highness.”

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“Damn it! It’s all that bastard Thanatos’s fault! He defeated the Flame King without a word, causing us to lose our jobs. He gets to eat the meat, but he should at least let us have some soup! If he had taken us with him before he went, we could have at least gotten some money from the baron. Even if we have to go elsewhere to find a new livelihood, we would have had the travel expenses.”

A man’s cursing voice came from a group of adventurers.

Just as Fia was about to frown, a dull thud of flesh hitting flesh sounded. A burly man among the adventurers punched the cursing man in the face.

“You ungrateful dog! The Flame King’s death is a good thing for everyone! It’s because of people like you that we adventurers are discriminated against!”

As he spoke, the burly man straddled the man on the ground and raised his fist to punch him again. If not for the other adventurers around them who promptly intervened, this punch would have surely knocked out a few of the man’s teeth.

It seems not all adventurers are detestable.

Since the guards in the hall promptly intervened and pulled the two apart, Fia did not do anything extra and led her companions directly to the front desk.

It was worth mentioning that most of the adventurers, upon catching a glimpse of Anastasia, their eyes widened, a look of seeing a peerless beauty on their faces. Although Fia and Liti were also very beautiful, they did not have Anastasia’s magnificent bust and perfect buttocks. For adventurers who spent their days in taverns, the bust, buttocks, and thighs were the elements that determined beauty.

Towards these people, a single sharp glance from Anastasia was enough to make them look away. And when they noticed Milu beside Fia, any thought of appreciation vanished. Like seeing a jinx, they all turned their heads and began to whisper.

Although Milu did not show any fear, as if she hadn’t seen them, and concentrated on holding her flowers and following Fia, Fia did not think this was a long-term solution. Perhaps she could think of a way to make Milu’s eyes less frightening.

Since there are curses in this world that make people feel terrified, there should also be blessings that make people feel cute. I can ask the staff at the Mage Association about it in a little while.

As she was thinking this, Fia had already arrived at the front desk. The female clerk from last night was not here. A young man was attending to her.

“How may I help you, miss?”

“I would like to buy some magic weapons and items.”

Just as metals were divided into common metals and magical metals, weapons were also divided into ordinary weapons and magic weapons. Depending on the magic inscribed, the performance of a magic weapon would also be different. Take a magic sword for example. Some would spew flames when mana was infused, creating a surprising effect in battle. Others were naturally imbued with the [Slow Repair] spell. Even if damaged in battle, as long as they were left for a period of time, they would recover on their own.

Besides the magical effects, magic weapons were also sturdier and more durable than ordinary weapons. This was because most of them used magical metals in the forging process or were soaked in mana liquid, factors that could enhance their durability.

Hearing Fia’s request, the male clerk’s eyes lit up. Magic weapons and items were not cheap. In addition, he had heard this morning the news of his female colleague from last night getting rich overnight. He immediately showed great enthusiasm for his work, his face beaming with excitement.

“Magic weapons and items? May I ask what rank of magic weapon you would like? Do you have any specific requirements for the style and inscribed magic?”

“Bring me the magic catalog. I’ll take my time choosing.”

“Yes, please wait a moment.”