Chapter 36 – Liars
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Gundry went inside the Orient Inn. Silently scanning the empty Inn, Gundry’s eyes turn towards the owner of the Inn, Felli. She saw the burly man with a tailcoat. She blankly stared at him before saying.
“And what does the servant of the Scribe want from my Inn? If you are looking for Ramiel then too bad, he is out there shopping with Desha.”
Gundry stretched his legs towards Felli. He looked at the cloud like cat sitting on her lap. Then, he turns towards Felli and opens his mouth.
“That is too bad. May I get a drink?”
“Ale or Wine?”
“Wine, if you please.”
Gundry said as he sat on the stool of the bar. Interloping his fingers, he waited for Felli who went to the kitchen, until she came back. She put the mug in front of Gundry.
“Here you go.” said Felli.
“Thank you, milady.”
Gundry took the mug and sip on the wine inside. Felli’s half close eyes glance upon Gundry. Gundry, who was sipping on his drink could not help but speak.
“Is there a problem?”
“I do. In fact, I wonder why did you pick the poor lad?”
“What do you mean?”
Gundry could not help but tilt his head in question.
Felli lazily leaned in front of Gundry and said.
“There are a lot of people in the town. Lots, and somehow you choose him to fetch stuff for you. Why?”
“He came looking for the job milady,” said Gundry, sipping on his drink. “It was merely fate, that he somehow got into the job of fetching for us.”
“Is that so?” Felli replied with a blank face. “Because from what I saw the first time he works with you guys. He was covered in a dire monster’s blood. Really, Mister Gundry, is the sick desire of sending people to their death still a hobby for you?”
“It is not our liking that they die when we asked them to fetch stuff for us.”
Gundry glared at Felli.
“And yet every peon that worked for you Mister Gundry always ends up dead. I guess the curse of the scriber is still effective is it not?”
“It is. The fault of the fetcher’s death is not our fault. The curse of the mistress simply is terrible, and I pray to God that the curse ends with her.”
“Oh really?”
Felli languidly touched Felina’s furry head.
“Death, death, and death—I wonder how much people are going to die with you lot forcing people to fetch things for you. The Curse Scriber is rather pitiable. But even so, aren’t you tired of all the death you are causing?”
“Like I said it is not our fault.”
Gundry said in response.
“We do not wish for death. And the mistress is doing her best, trying to empty the black mark on her leg by writing down as many as she can.”
Gundry said. The Curse of the Scriber is due to the black mark on her leg. That Mark symbolizes the ‘curse’ which was inherited from the ancestors of the lady. It is a curse that covers the leg with ink like mark. And this mark is able to draw out magical inks that if written on paper, can be used to power up scrolls and make the writings unable to be erased.
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It is a binding curse that is perfect for a scribe. It allows them to write endlessly. And at the same time, stay inside simply because the mark located on the curse scriber’s leg would attract monsters and the likes.
Gundry who has been serving the family of Lady Aubrey has spent years doing what his father and grandfather before him do. That is sending people to their death by ordering them to fetch the specific things that the family, that inherited the curse wants. Gundry has seen long line of fools that went without knowing and died without knowing.
This doing is nothing new to Gundry. He has been used to it, but even he isn’t that much a monster to keep sending people to die. He may be born of high class but it doesn’t mean that he is someone who enjoys people’s death. No sane man would ever get used to it unless they are mad.
“But that isn’t enough.”
Felli opens her mouth.
“I know the curse. And I was lucky to be powerful enough to fend off a magical beast when I was foolish enough to work for you lot. No idiot would be fooled to work again after sending them to their death. At first it would be like bad luck but as you order people and they get involve towards that lady. One’s chance of death is much higher.”
Gundry didn’t reply and just held his mug tightly. Felli saw this and shrugged her shoulders.
“I don’t trust you. But even so, you are free to do whatever you want. I am not that influential enough to stop someone deeply affiliated with alchemist and magus guilds. I would be foolish enough to oppose you.” Felli sighed at the thought. “That is why despite my worker working with you. I am not stopping him. I care little for what Ramiel does. He is free to do what he wants. But even so, I can see how hesitant he is to work with you guys. Ramiel may be mute, but he isn’t stupid enough not to see the dangers of working with the scriber and especially you.”
Gundry listened to Felli quietly as she continued speaking.
“So try not letting him die okay? He may be some peon to you two’s eyes but he is someone who owes me. And until the day he pays his debts, he needs to stay alive. So try not to send him his death. I know you Mister Gundry, and how you are planning to cure your lady’s cursed. And I know that what you are doing right now. Constantly hounding Ramiel is fishy. And whatever plan is inside that head of yours. It better be merciful.”
Felli said as he patted the fluffy cat sitting on her lap. Gundry tapped the mug on his hand and then sipped what’s inside.
Felli continued:
“Because if it’s you...then I doubt you aren’t trying something again to cure that lady of yours.”
“I leave it to your imagination.”
Gundry stood up and took a few silver coins from his pocket. Turning around, with his fist clenched, he walks to the door.
“Goodbye, and come again dear customer.” said Felli.
Gundry turned around once more and bowed his head.
“I might.”
Gundry then left the Orient Inn.