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The elder took a rolled parchment from her chest and spread it on the table.
“A family treasure?”
As Adam reached over the table and lifted the parchment to make it easier to see, Holly, who was curious about the elf treasure, also looked up. A bracelet with a red jewel was drawn inside the parchment.
“I have some idea who did this and where they live. It won’t be too difficult.”
The elder’s tone was arrogant even when she was asking for a favor in this situation.
‘…Is she mistaking us for her subordinates?’
Holly’s eyes narrowed as she stared at the elder through the parchment. Even though she was a commoner, it was unfair for Cahill, the prince of a country, to be treated like this.
“It’s not difficult, so can’t you just do it yourselves?”
In response to her words, the elder cast a cold gaze upon her. Nevertheless, Holly stood tall, determined not to show any signs of intimidation.
After enduring the elder’s intense glare for a prolonged moment, the elder finally spoke, her voice slowly emerging.
“When I move, the other elves’ eyes are on me.”
It meant that they had to proceed without the other elves knowing.
‘Why would we do that?’
Like reading Holly’s thoughts, the elder continued.
“In exchange for this, I’ll give you one of the things you want that can only be found in Lauriue.”
Holly’s eyes sparkled with excitement at the unexpected proposal. While she couldn’t be certain if it were true, she had heard rumors of Lauriue possessing a magical elixir capable of resurrecting the dead.
Moreover, the region was known for harboring numerous treasures that had yet to be traded with other places.
“One per person, right?”
Locking her gaze with the elder, she boldly voiced her thoughts, fully aware that keeping such a secret would rely not only on her own discretion but also on the trustworthiness of the other party.
‘These people probably have no interest in the secret…’
As she examined the three individuals attentively observing the unfolding situation, Holly pondered her next move. With some reluctance, the elder eventually nodded in agreement.
“…I will. However, if the secret leaks out, you won’t be able to get out of here nicely.”
At the same time, she did not forget to clench her teeth and threaten them.
“If it does not leak out of our mouths, you have to pay for it as promised.”
As Holly sighed and added hastily, the elder frowned and opened her mouth.
“How can I believe you didn’t do it?”
Taken aback by the unexpected turn of events, Holly responded with a nonchalant shrug, though her mind was already working on a solution.
She narrowed her eyes.
“We gain nothing by telling the secret. I would rather lose.”
Holly deliberately lowered her voice to show that she was serious.
“I’m telling you to blindly believe us.”
The elder’s eyes glistened like cold glass as she looked at her. Her bulging eyes grew colder and colder, but Holly desperately did not avoid the elder’s eyes.
“I understand.”
With a sigh, the elder, who had been scrutinizing her intently, finally responded. She averted her gaze as if purposely avoiding eye contact with Holly.
“By the way, wouldn’t it be more eye-catching for the people called sinners to be walking around?”
Adam still seemed unhappy that the elves had accused them of being a sinner.
“Humans always dream of taboo things. I would say that you asked to see this Lauriue.”
The elder’s way of speaking clearly showed her dislike for humans.
“Where do we have to go?”
“East of the Mountains.”
Pulling out a map, she laid it flat on the table, her fingers tracing over the marshland to the east.
“The Lamia group that appeared one day is not leaving this place. Rather, the scope of their activities is gradually expanding.”
The elder frowned, showing her dislike for Lamia’s position in Lauriue.
“Lamia is a terrible monster who seduces men and steals their wealth and eventually takes their life. One day, a young elf who met Lamia in the forest fell for their tricks and brought a valuable treasure as an offering.”
Holly’s eyes widened in surprise. She couldn’t help but feel skeptical about the elder’s words.
Lamia, the seductive monster that lured unsuspecting victims, wouldn’t have targeted someone as young as herself. There was a sense that the elder possessed knowledge about the young elf, but she couldn’t quite put her finger on it.
“Then, she stole it from the elf, didn’t she? I think it would be right for the elf or the parents to compensate…”
With her words, the elder glared at her with fierce eyes.
“Lamia’s vulgar dance and song are magical. No man can resist its power!”
Holly flinched at the growing voice, and she turned to Cahill.
“…Shall we not go?”
Her voice was full of anxiety.
Incidentally, all of the group were male.
“Don’t worry! Our prince will not fall for Lamia’s temptation.”
Adam exclaimed, clenching his fists as if he himself had been insulted. The elder raised her lips crookedly, waiting for those words.
“Good.”
Smiling contentedly, she then rolled up the parchment with the map on it and put it in the space under the table. Adam looked back at Badin with a tearful look. In an irreversible situation, Badin sighed and shook his head.
* * *
As confirmed on the map in advance, the party set foot in the forest, heading east.
“Wait!”
At that moment, someone called out to them. Holly, who turned around first, tilted her head.
“Chase?”
Chase’s frantic gestures and calls beckoned Holly from the other side.
As she halted, the entire group came to a sudden stop, starting with Cahill. Chase gasped and made a grab for Holly as if he were on the verge of running away. However, Cahill swiftly intercepted his arm, causing him to stagger and lean against Adam to steady himself.
“Haa, the elder… does she want you to do a favor?”
Seeing his face full of worry, Holly rummaged through her bag and pulled out her water bottle and handed it to Chase.
“That’s what happened. But Chase, didn’t you go back to the mansion?”
Layla’s mansion was far from town. If he had gone and come back, he would certainly have taken a while. When he guided them to the elder’s house, he didn’t say anything, so what was with his reaction now?
“Thank you.”
He hastily downed the water that she offered him, showing his sense of urgency by spilling more than he swallowed.
“Remember when I said it should have been Lyla’s turn this time?”
Using his hand to white his moistened lips, Chase took a breath and began to speak. However, his words caught Holly off guard, causing her to raise her head and glance around.
“Lyla told you not to talk like that thoughtless.”
When she whispered urgently, Chase put on a sorry face but he opened his mouth again.
“Most families have spirits passed down from generation to generation. You have to make a contract with that spirit to be recognized as the real head of the family.”
Holly turned her head to look at her group.
Little by little, she started to get a sense of why Chase was telling these stories to them, who were only outsiders.
“Still, the elder couldn’t make a contract with the family’s spirit.”
“By any chance…”
“Yes. It’s because she lost the treasure. It is the jewel that sealed the family spirit.”
The elder’s son, who had fallen under Lamia’s possession, had evidently relinquished the family treasure. It was truly pitiful to think that someone would willingly hand over such a valuable item to a monster.
Nevertheless, at the same time, Holly couldn’t help but feel a sense of admiration for the person who now occupied the elder’s position, skillfully concealing this fact. Deep within, she shook her head in awe.
“Even so, it has nothing to do with Chase.”
At that, Chase peered around and lowered his voice.
“Only Lyla knows that the elder has lost the treasure. It is entirely because of her that the elder can keep her position.”
His eyes lit up as he talked about Lyla. Chase, who was so lively, suddenly drooped his shoulders.
“…But that’s why the Elder is trying to kill Lyla.”
Uttering those words, he shuddered as he clenched his fists.
“If the elder gets the power of the spirits, then she really won’t let Lyla go.”
Holly’s eyes widened.
Even though she knew the elder and the elder’s son were reluctant to Lyla, she didn’t know that they would aim for her life.
‘…Then, was the murderer at that time an assassin targeting Lyla?’