Chapter 53: Aajen Clover and the Mysterious Group
There was only one person occupying the wide infirmary.
“...Uugh, ngh…”
A man with beige hair lay on a white hospital bed—Aajen Clover.
“Henderson, Molly, Zenapha, Mark, Sophia…!”
Drenched in sweat, he groaned endlessly as if trapped in a nightmare.
“No—!”
Then suddenly, Aajen's eyes snapped open.
He lay curled in place, breathing heavily, until his body calmed and his mind settled.
Only after some time passed did he finally sit up—and only then did his surroundings register, surprising him.
“…Where is this?”
A place he had never seen before. Yet the overall atmosphere was warm and peaceful.
It felt like no harm could reach him here.
“A hospital? There are a bunch of beds…”
Had someone stumbled upon him during the attack and brought him here?
The last thing he remembered… was a vivid red. But beyond that, his memory failed.
“Hm, that’s strange…”
He had been strictly trained since childhood to take over the trade company. To forget such a crucial detail—this was rare for him.
Puzzled, Aajen slowly got out of bed.
Only then did he realize that his ragged clothes had been replaced with clean garments and that his wounds had been treated.
“Whoever saved and treated me… I must thank them properly.”
He resolved to repay that benefactor generously someday.
But his curiosity about this place only deepened.
“…Maybe I should take a look around.”
Aajen Clover was a merchant by nature.
He was full of curiosity, and that curiosity had always been the root of his business instincts.
But soon after looking outside, Aajen gasped in shock.
“What the heck! No way…!”
Beyond the fluttering white curtains lay a sight that defied belief.
“The sky…?!”
A vast blue sky stretched across his entire view! As he remained dazed and bewildered—
Knock knock!
“Are you awake?”
“…!”
A voice from beyond the door startled him, turning his complexion pale.
The man who entered wore a black tailcoat.
Aajen Clover instinctively analyzed him on sight.
“How are you feeling?”
Shoulder-length navy hair. Hazel eyes.
His soft expression clashed with the sheer size of his build, which exuded pressure.
…This man’s no ordinary guy!
As a merchant, Aajen had a sharp “nose” for people.
He could tell who had money, who was dangerous, and who best not be provoked.
That ability alone had earned his father’s acknowledgment as superior.
Though my first business venture flopped miserably…
Still, with such instincts, Aajen could tell this man reeked of danger.
A man blindly devoted to something. I need to be cautious.
The kind that, when a button is pushed the wrong way, could do anything.
That kind of customer was the worst of the worst—completely unreasonable.
“Have you finished your business here?”
The man, who had waited patiently, finally spoke.
“Ah! Well…”
His expression showed nothing, but Aajen flinched, worried that he had been caught observing.
Just as he scrambled to regain his composure, the man continued.
“My master is waiting for you. The ones who saved you are with him as well.”
“…Ah!”
His benefactors!
“If you’re feeling well enough, would you care to meet them?”
Aajen nodded firmly.
Oddly, his body felt light—almost as if he could fly. And more importantly—
Aajen Clover wasn’t the type to leave unfinished business behind.
He always chose to face things head-on and carve new paths himself.
“Yes, I’d like to meet them!”
“Then follow me.”
As the man led the way, Aajen struggled to suppress repeated gasps—not because of the luxurious interior.
Of course, as a merchant, the opulence caught his eye… but it was the breathtaking view outside that truly captivated him.
This is really… an airship…
Crystal-clear blue sky. Wisps of cloud rolling by. Migrating birds tracing arcs through the air.
…Beautiful. I didn’t know such scenery existed in the world!
Who could’ve imagined?
After narrowly escaping death, he awoke aboard an airship that not even high-ranking nobles or the wealthiest moguls could access.
Who owns this thing? Royalty? An emperor?
Ordinary royals couldn’t even get near an airship. Only a nation’s highest authority—a king or emperor—held the right to command one.
Only direct royal family members or heirs favored by the monarch could ride it.
Whew… I’m getting nervous.
Aajen Clover was a promising young merchant, but his success hadn’t bloomed yet.
His father, head of the Clover Trade Company, had experience dealing with all social classes.
Aajen, by comparison, had only ever peeked at those dealings from the sidelines.
Will I be okay facing someone of such high status alone?
He feared being thrown off the airship for a mistake—or worse, bringing shame to the company.
“We’ve arrived. Please go in.”
“…Ah, yes!”
Lost in a swirl of possible scenarios and responses, he’d arrived before he knew it.
He stepped through the door the man opened.
“Hey! You’re finally awake!”
The first to greet him had an unmistakably brash voice.
A scruffy, gray-haired man bounced over to him.
“How’re you feeling? You’ve been out for a week, you know.”
The man continued talking, but Aajen couldn’t process a word.
A strange déjà vu made his vision blur. Then, his eyes locked onto the man’s.
“Crimson eyes in the dark…?”
“Huh?”
“Aah!!”
The memory returned—Aajen’s eyes went wide.
Pointing furiously at the gray-haired man—Gale—he cried out.
“I thought you were a monster coming to devour me! But you… saved me, didn’t you?”
Only afterward did he realize his rudeness.
Damn! I promised myself I wouldn’t mess up. And I blew it…!
Panicking, he sweated bullets and looked around nervously.
But then, loud laughter burst out nearby.
Two other people were there.
“Ahaha! I haven’t laughed like that in ages!”
A lilac-haired woman chuckled, smoothing her short hair.
She was strikingly beautiful—but Aajen knew.
She’s no easy mark.
In a very different way from the others—she was dangerous. Her porcelain smile gave nothing away.
Even the cleverest merchant would struggle to swindle her.
“You two go well together. Monster.”
The tall man beside her teased Gale.
Zahardt?!
With bluish-black hair and deep blue eyes—he bore all the traits of the Zahardt family.
Even more shocking was the aura he exuded.
That guy’s… a natural sucker!
Aajen was sure of it.
Though cold on the outside, this man was likely easily manipulated and got swept up by others all the time.
But… who owns the airship?
Aajen didn’t believe for a second it was one of these four.
The navy-haired man had introduced himself as a butler and gave off a priest-like aura.
And though he felt guilty saying it—there was no scent of money at all from the gray-haired man.
If anything, he gave off “new money who blows it all” vibes.
The lilac-haired woman seemed far more composed—but more like a scholar who didn’t care for riches.
The Zahardt man radiated inherited wealth… but surely even he didn’t have this kind of power?
“To think you’d mock someone’s looks. Has your dignity hit rock bottom since your little runaway stint, dear young master?”
“Have I not told you countless times not to call me that?”
The two bickered while the others watched, unfazed.
Only Aajen Clover sat frozen, utterly out of place.
Then—
“Haha! You two get along so well~”
A new voice chimed in close by.
“Hm? That sour look… Did you eat a bitter fruit or something? Don’t you think so, Ms. Sercia?”
“…Who knows. I’m not sure.”
“Kids grow up by fighting, they say.”
Suddenly, there were six people in the room.
A golden-haired boy had appeared—no, seamlessly manifested—as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
To Aajen, it felt like magic.
“Oh, that’s right. We have a guest.”
The boy turned toward him.
And in that moment, a radiant scent of wealth enveloped him!
Like stepping into a golden utopia.
That boy… he’s the airship’s owner!
Aajen tensed—his whole body on alert. The scent of gold was accompanied by a staggering danger.
It was as if a blade had brushed against the back of his neck.
One wrong move… and I’ll be killed!
This boy was the most dangerous person here.
“Hello. You’re Mr. Aajen Clover, yes?”
“Y-Yes, I am…”
Aajen’s eyes flew wide.
He’d never revealed his name or identity to anyone here.
“My name is Lewin Legisel. We just so happen to be headed toward Boreales… Shall we take you to the Batevil Kingdom?”
But Aajen didn’t even have the mental room to question how the boy knew his identity.
“I heard the head of the Clover Trade Company collapsed.”
“…!”
And Aajen Clover instinctively knew what to say next.
“…What can I do for you?”
At that, the boy—no, Elwin Krieger, smiled as if he had been waiting for that very moment.