The Lady Only Deals With the Real Ones - Chapter 50

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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I turned my head away for a different reason than Crescens.

“Ugh, so bright…”

The sunlight reflecting off Ailren’s blonde hair was shining so brightly it hurt my eyes.

Leaving behind Crescens who lifted his head with a “Hm?” after hearing those words, I squinted and said.

“Do you still have more investigating to do?”

“No. Today I’m here for different business. Please call me when you finish with your customer, I’ll wait.”

If he keeps standing there, everyone in the neighborhood will be blinded by the glare.

My deliberation didn’t last long.

“Don’t do that, just come inside. Would you like to sit at that table over there for a moment?”

“Yes, I’ll do that then.”

Ailren came in and sat at the table near the display case.

I sat back down after watching him sit, but Crescens had a strange expression.

“That person…”

“Ah, he’s a Knight.”

“Why would a Knight come here?”

“There was some business. About permit issues.”

“Really…?”

Crescens glanced at me once, then at Ailren who was sitting with his back turned, and whispered.

“You know that person is a very high-ranking Knight, right?”

“How do you know that, Crescens?”

I was rolling my eyes when I narrowed my brow.

Don’t tell me.

“Is this a situation where you’d get arrested if caught?”

“N-no, that’s not it. That person wouldn’t know my face.”

“Then why were you so surprised earlier?”

“Geez, when did you even see that… I was surprised because I saw someone here I never expected to see.”

Well, Ailren was even in the newspapers, so he’d be famous.

Someone like Crescens would be keeping an even closer eye on his articles.

Having understood that much, I spoke matter-of-factly.

“You know how much the appraisal fee is, right?”

Since I wasn’t prying further, Crescens looked noticeably relieved.

His reactions are quite transparent.

“Michele received about 100,000 gold as the holy relic appraisal fee.”

“Yes, that’s right. But I was wondering if I could receive something else worth 100,000 gold instead.”

“Something else? What kind of thing?”

“Holy water.”

Since Ailren had broken the spray bottle, I had no holy water left.

It’s quite useful to have around, so I needed to get more, but Emma also said holy water supply wasn’t smooth these days.

Since asking a Mage to get holy water would be ridiculous in the first place, I was thinking of getting it through Crescens.

“Ah, holy water. Sure, should I send it by mail?”

“Huh, don’t you need to ask the Cardinal?”

I asked out of genuine curiosity, but Crescens pressed his forehead.

“Of course. He said he’s delegating full authority to me, ahem.”

“Still, you should ask just in case. You might get in trouble for deciding on your own.”

“…Yeah, I guess so. You’re right, Manager.”

Is the Cardinal’s judgment of people really okay…?

I was thinking when I was about to say goodbye.

“Um, what you said earlier about that Knight being bright. Why did you say that?”

Crescens was staring at me intently.

I said it was bright because it really was bright, but why do both Alter and Crescens keep asking about it?

‘Everyone must have healthy eyes, how enviable. My eyes are tired from looking through magnifying glasses every day.’

“…Maybe that kind of appearance is your type? Dazzlingly handsome, something like that?”

“No.”

“Huh? Then is he ugly? That refined face? Do you have unusual beauty standards? Are you sure I can trust you with appraisals?”

“No, no. I don’t want to evaluate other people’s faces. I just said it was bright because it was bright. With the sunlight hitting his blonde hair, it’s like some kind of halo.”

I lowered my voice and crouched down in case Ailren might hear.

Crescens, who ended up crouching down with me, brought his face closer.

‘He smells like lilac.’

Crescens muttered with a thoughtful expression.

“I don’t see anything like a halo at all.”

“Maybe it’s because my eyes are tired. My job is looking through magnifying glasses, filters, and films all day long.”

“Aha…?”

Crescens, who had been running his tongue across his cheek, suddenly turned bright red.

“We’re, we’re too close. I didn’t mean for this to happen!”

What’s with him, acting like someone who’s never talked closely with a woman before, so suddenly?

I was dumbfounded by Crescens who pulled back and blatantly played dumb.

“I didn’t say anything.”

“Th-that’s also saying something!”

‘What is this…’

As I looked bewildered, Crescens jumped up.

“Anyway, I’m leaving!”

“Yes, go ahead.”

“Before that!”

What else is left?

I was looking at him when Crescens wrote something on the back of the Cardinal’s business card.

“It’s the Cardinal’s direct telegraph number.”

“…Is it okay to give me this?”

“At most I’ll just get scolded. Anyway, if you have something to ask, contact this number. The Cardinal would probably prefer telegraph too.”

Well, he has circumstances that prevent him from speaking.

It was a reason that made sense to me.

“You can ask if you’re curious about holy relics or holy power too.”

Crescens paused briefly and spoke quietly.

“You can ask if you’re curious about magic power too.”

“Holy power I understand, but magic power too?”

“Yeah. Since it’s a force that conflicts with holy power…”

Crescens glanced at Ailren.

Is it awkward to talk about magic power in front of a Knight?

He lowered his voice considerably.

“The Temple has done a lot of research on it too. While Mages research how to increase magic power, you can think of the Temple as researching how to erase magic power. We’re more expert in that area.”

We?

‘He’s already developed a sense of ownership, calling the Temple “we.”‘

He seems to be properly indoctrinated.

I smiled a little and said.

“Ah, I see. I understand, please tell him I’ll contact you if I need anything.”

“Sure, it’s time for my afternoon nap so I’ll really go now.”

Did he really need to mention that…?

I shook my head and saw Crescens off.

“Yes. Since it’s come to this, from now on set your mind right and live well. Got it?”

‘Well, anyway it’s fortunate that the Temple forgave him.’

Crescens, who had hesitated, nodded and walked away.

‘Ugh, so draining.’

Was this draining feeling because of noisy Crescens, or because of Ailren’s unique aura?

Glancing over, I saw Ailren was still waiting in the same sitting position as before.

To think he maintained such a rigid posture even normally – I felt almost reverent.

‘Wow, I couldn’t do that even if someone made me.’

Surely not all knights are like that, right?

‘But why did he come today anyway?’

The permit issue was resolved, and according to Lina, the pendant matter was settled too, wasn’t it?

“Excuse me, Knight.”

I called out carefully, but there was no answer. Did he not hear me?

“I’m done with my business now. You can come over.”

Again, no answer.

Don’t tell me there’s some rule that he only listens to words spoken face-to-face?

Puzzled, I approached Ailren and was slightly startled.

‘Oh…’

The way he had his eyes closed looked just like…

‘Is he sleeping?’

“Huh.”

Was he sleeping? Meditating? Or was this some kind of training?

His posture hadn’t collapsed at all – he just had his eyes closed, so it was confusing.

‘Come on, surely he’s not sleeping.’

But I felt awkward about touching him or speaking right in his ear.

‘What if I go flying again?’

I remembered the shockwave that had sent my body flying the moment I touched Ailren.

‘The very first time we met, I touched him and didn’t go flying, but still, you never know.’

If I went flying from this angle, I’d definitely break one or two of the display cases on the 1st floor.

What should I do?

Thinking it over, I scratched the back of my neck.

‘Well, he’ll probably wake up on his own soon. I’ll just have to wait.’

***

Ailren opened his eyes.

His characteristic headache had come again, so he had been resting with his eyes closed for a moment.

But when he opened his eyes.

‘Strange.’

He felt refreshed, as if very cool water had been poured over his head.

For him, who had been constantly suffering from pain for the past 3 months, this was a sense of liberation he hadn’t experienced in a very long time.

Blinking slowly as he looked around, he discovered another strange thing.

‘Why… has the sun’s position changed?’

The time Ailren had arrived at the pawnshop was definitely 1 PM.

But judging by the sun’s position, it was now 3 PM.

Then could it be that…

“Are you awake?”

At the voice from behind him, Ailren unconsciously bolted upright.

When he turned around, there was.

“I was a bit confused at first, but after about two hours I figured it out. You must have been tired. Oh, there were no customers in the meantime. Lucky for you, a bit unlucky for me.”

The pawnshop owner was there, smiling wryly with a slightly tired face.

“So, shall we hear what business brought you here?”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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