What Changed in Pond, and What Didn’t – Part 05

“Bossman, bossman, you’ve got a visitor.”

“Hm?”

Did I have too much to drink last night? A sharp pain throbbed deep inside his skull.

He’d been at a business dinner with a trading company trying to establish new routes in Pond. The market here was already crowded with competitors, making entry both expensive and tedious. Normally, no one would bother.

But this time, things were different. The Fire Drakon that had flown over the royal capital was to blame.

Two recent sightings of the Fire Drakon had unsettled the merchants profiting in the capital. Fearing trouble, they started eyeing nearby regions, preparing to move their operations. And they had money to burn.

That’s why even Kelbeck, the boss of the Thieves Guild, had been approached. To establish new trade routes in a hurry, they needed the underworld’s support.

“Ugh. Such shitty attitudes, too.”

Grumbling, he poured himself a glass of water and took a sip.

Flame-like tattoos snaked down from his face to his neck. Nothing about him hinted at legitimate work. Because his business was far from lawful.

The merchants from the capital had treated him with thinly veiled disdain from the get-go, their demeanor screaming, We’re paying, so just do your job. Refusing outright out of pride would’ve been foolish. With the kind of money they were throwing around, plenty of takers would line up. Kelbeck couldn’t stomach the thought of someone else snatching up those funds.

But bowing his head and taking the job without pushback wasn’t an option either. It was a delicate game—giving the other party just enough respect, subtly warning them not to try anything stupid, squeeze as much money as possible, and minimize disruptions to the existing firms in Pond.

“So, who’s the visitor this early in the morning?”

“It’s me.”

Before his subordinate could respond, the door creaked open, admitting a familiar boy.

“…”

“What’s wrong? You don’t look too great.”

“My headache just got worse.”

“That’s not good. Want me to use some healing magic?”

The black-haired adventurer Hikaru usually came here alone, but today he was accompanied by a Healer in a cleric’s robe.

“No need. I’m not wasting money on magic for a hangover.” Kelbeck leaned back in his chair and propped his boots on the table. “So? What’s this about? More weapons?”

“Yeah. I need some magic items.”

Smoke bombs and daggers with blades that eject and explode were developed by Kelbeck and manufactured by his subordinates.

“I meant that as a joke,” Kelbeck said. “Come on, now. I just delivered a batch recently.”

Hikaru had stocked up on smoke bombs before venturing into the floating Great Labyrinth of Runay-aas. Kelbeck didn’t know what he’d done with them, but the kid had paid extra for a rush order and immediate delivery to the royal capital. On top of that, since the order was placed through the Thieves Guild, the price was significantly marked up, far beyond what a young adventurer could typically afford. Yet, this boy paid it. And in advance, no less.

“It never hurts to have those kind of things on hand,” Hikaru replied.

“Must be nice. Mind telling me how you’re managing so well?”

“My intel doesn’t come cheap.”

Kelbeck’s eyes narrowed. To an uninformed listener, it might’ve sounded like youthful arrogance, but he knew just how enigmatic this boy was. Word had it that even Unken from the Adventurers Guild had taken an interest in him. There was no doubt he was harboring some extraordinary secrets.

“Fine. I’ll make you some more smoke bombs.”

Kelbeck’s instincts sensed no business opportunity there and he trusted them. Probing further would only invite trouble, not profit.

“Thanks. Can you expedite them?”

“Sure. But if that’s all, you didn’t have to come in person. And…”

His gaze shifted to the Healer behind Hikaru. She was unfamiliar, young, and the way she fidgeted nervously said she lacked experience. Why would this boy bring her here? Surely not to have her accompany him on adventures.

“This is Paula, my companion.”

“H-Hello. Um, are you sure you don’t want healing magic?”

“I said no.”

“S-Sorry!” Paula shrank back and hid behind Hikaru.

“Could you not scare her?” Hikaru said. “Be a little nicer.”

“I’m not scaring anyone. That was just me talking normally.”

“Your normal feels a lot like threatening to most people.”

“And you’re the least nice around here.”

Hikaru chuckled softly. No one else in the city had the nerve to exchange banter with the head of the Thieves Guild.

“Anyway,” Hikaru said, steering the conversation, “I’m here to buy some information.”

“Huh, so you’re the one who wants intel. What kind?”

“It actually ties into why I brought Paula along today.”

Kelbeck looked perplexed. The girl looked unreliable to be his companion.

“It’s about the estate of the late Count Morgstadt.”

“Oh?” Kelbeck raised an eyebrow. “That reminds me. You were concerned about the girl who killed him.”

Kelbeck recalled the commission from the boy. He had asked for a man who could act. Count Morgstadt was killed by his own daughter—at least, that’s what Kelbeck believed—and the girl was to be transported to the capital. If he recalled correctly, her name was Lavia.

The transport was arranged by the Adventurers Guild, with a C-ranked party in charge. Kelbeck’s man had approached the convoy during the transport. The job was simple—nothing illegal, just a casual request for water. Still, it had earned Kelbeck a decent fee. What happened after that—the girl vanishing without a trace—had nothing to do with him.

“No one likes a man who digs up the past.” Hikaru’s expression turned icy.

“Ooh, scary,” Kelbeck said with a laugh, though the look in the boy’s eyes was enough to unsettle him.

This kid’s not normal. Not that he didn’t already know.

“So,” Kelbeck said, “what exactly do you wanna know about the count’s estate? It’s just a haunted house now, you know.”

From what Kelbeck had gathered, the Morgstadt residence was unoccupied after the Count’s death, its owner was unknown, and it was in disrepair. Rumor had it that ghosts haunted the place.

“That’s it.”

“Huh?”

“I want to know what a haunted house is like.”

“Why would you—wait. Don’t tell me…” Kelbeck’s gaze flicked to the young woman behind Hikaru. “Are you thinking of purifying it?”

“Something like that.”

“But the ownership’s a mess. Even if you clear the place out, there’s no guarantee you’ll get paid.”

“That’s exactly why I need information. I don’t care who owns it. I just need to know the details.”

Kelbeck raised an eyebrow. Was he trying to purify it and make a little money? Or maybe—though it seemed unlikely—he wanted to buy the estate himself? He didn’t care who owned it?

“What exactly are you after?”

The black-haired boy smiled. “I don’t owe you an explanation, do I?”

God damn it. Kelbeck sighed. What a cocky kid.

---

As the night wore on, the main street of Pond grew eerily quiet. Unlike the royal capital, there were few taverns still open this late, and there was little reason for anyone to be out after dark.

The abandoned estate, in particular, was dark, enveloped in an eerie atmosphere.

“I-It’s a little scary,” Paula murmured, shivering.

Silver Face and Star Face were at the estate. Paula, despite being a clergywoman, seemed terrified of ghosts.

It was raining back then.

Hikaru was reminded of his first night in this world. Roland had rushed him to this very mansion, and using his only skill, Stealth, he killed Count Morgstadt.

“Lord Hikaru?”

“Let’s go.”

There was no reason to dwell on the past. If he found himself in the same situation again, he’d make the same choice. What mattered most, though, was that he had met Lavia here.

He climbed over the wall and used his ultra-sharp knife to pry open a window. He didn’t break the door. Doing so might allow thieves to enter.

There it is.

With his Mana Detection, Hikaru sensed a faint, floating mass of magical energy. That was probably the ghost.

He quickly led Paula inside, then lit a magic lamp. The dark interior slowly came into view.

“It’s dusty.”

“Eek!”

Paula clung to Hikaru, eyes wide with fear as she stared at a portrait on the wall. Her scent mixed with the musty air.

“Anyway, if a ghost shows up, just purify it, no questions asked,” Hikaru instructed.

Paula nodded. “Th-This is where Lavia used to live… right?”

“Yeah.”

Although Paula more or less knew their story, this was her first time in the mansion. The house, abandoned and silent, was coated in a thin layer of dust.

Hikaru opened a door and stepped into the hallway. His footsteps were muffled by the carpet, leaving the silence undisturbed. All he could recall were memories of his trespassing—where he hid, where the knights patrolled.

“Lord Hikaru, what do you plan to do with this mansion? You’re not thinking of buying it, are you?”

Paula, brought here to purify the ghost, couldn’t fathom Hikaru’s real intentions.

“Ah… well, if Lavia wanted it, I might consider it. But I don’t think she does.”

“I thought so. Then why?”

“Ah, it’s over there.”

After climbing the stairs and walking down the hallway, Hikaru stopped in front of a door at the very end.

“Is the ghost in here?” Paula asked hesitantly.

Hikaru chuckled. “No, it’s not.”

He opened the unlocked door, revealing a small, unused room, now gathering dust. The light from his magic lamp illuminated a shelf in the far corner of the room.