Chapter 71: Bottom of Nevera Valley (2)
“Ahaha! So that’s what it was about? You were worried that things might go wrong and you'd be stripped of your successor position?”
That was the first thing Elwin said after hearing Aajen’s confession. He laughed until tears welled up in his eyes, as though he'd just heard the most amusing joke.
Embarrassed, Aajen lowered his head. He felt like a child throwing a tantrum.
“W-Well, it wouldn’t be honest to say that wasn’t part of it…! But more than anything, I wanted to uncover the truth behind my comrades’ unjust deaths—the culprit that caused Father so much pain!”
Aajen bit his lip in frustration, then let out a bitter smile and continued.
Now that he had confessed everything, he figured he might as well sweep up the last remaining dust—for the sake of peace of mind. It was a decision laced with resignation.
“I failed my very first trade expedition that I had so ambitiously prepared, and now I know there’s a force working in the shadows targeting both me and my father… Red Clover was my only hope.”
“Understandable. If it’s Depicio and the Magpie Merchant Group, they’d interfere with any new expedition you planned.”
And so, when Elwin had informed him about the incident and proposed they go rescue Red Clover, Aajen had readily agreed.
There was sufficient justification for rescuing Red Clover. The legacy of the founder—Mort Clover—had to be upheld.
‘If I had returned with Red Clover, that alone would’ve proven my capability...!’
Though Aajen Clover was still a novice merchant with much to learn, he wasn’t so naive as to act without calculation.
— Aajen, I’ve come up with a good idea… Would you like to hear it?
He trusted Elwin. Believed in his words.
The benefit of retrieving Red Clover far outweighed the opportunity cost of failing to obtain it.
— Let’s go save Red Clover.
That’s why he bet on the odds of there being a Red Clover rather than there not being one.
But when he saw the bottom of Nevera Valley—nothing but a barren ruin—Aajen thought to himself:
Retrieving the best possible outcome… that seemed unlikely now.
‘Then the only thing left is the next best option…!’
Taking a deep breath, Aajen rose to his feet.
Brushing off the dust and straightening himself, he pulled something out from his inner pocket. It caught a faint glimmer of light, then flashed brightly.
“Hmm? Aajen, what’s that?”
Elwin tilted his head curiously.
“A backup plan. Just in case.”
Saying so, Aajen handed it over to Elwin as if to say have a look.
Elwin didn’t refuse.
“Ah.”
A small smile formed on Elwin’s lips as he identified the object.
“A jewel shaped like Red Clover, huh?”
It was a radiant four-leaf clover, gleaming red.
The detailing was so fine from the individual leaves to the stem that it looked like a living plant.
Surely it had been carved from a top-grade ruby.
“If we failed to retrieve Red Clover, were you planning to use this as a fake?”
“Yes, that’s right. It’s not that I doubted you, Lewin… But as the heir of the Clover Trade Company, I had to prepare for any what ifs or maybes.”
“I understand. You didn’t really have a choice, did you?”
Relieved, Aajen accepted the jewel clover as Elwin carefully handed it back to him.
As soon as it was in his hand, a strange sense of ease spread through his shoulders.
“…Thank you for understanding.”
Even though it held no actual calming properties, being accepted like this seemed to wipe away the unease that had lingered in his chest.
“Lewin. You needn’t worry about where it came from. This was a gift I received when I was born—from Uncle Dalton Pactio.”
As he fondly rubbed one of the gem’s leaves, Aajen’s expression hardened.
“Father’s longtime friend, he always treated me with affection. He’s always tried to give me the very best.”
“I see. Then something of this quality must have been crafted securely and discreetly through one of the Pactio family’s jewelers. No chance Depicio would trace it.”
“Probably not. Uncle told me to bring it and pass it off as Red Clover if necessary…”
Aajen suddenly clamped his mouth shut and glanced around nervously.
Elwin asked innocently, “Why? Because Mr. Pactio secretly slipped it into your chest pocket while hugging you during his last visit?”
“Y-You knew—?!”
Aajen shrieked in surprise. His face turned as red as a tomato.
“Haha, of course I did! Did you really think I wouldn’t notice when he handed it to you so blatantly?”
In fact, Elwin had even noticed Dalton signaling one of his aides during the commotion caused by Fitzmetz Magpie in the assembly.
He must have instructed them to bring the jewel clover.
‘So Dalton Pactio foresaw this from the start—that Aajen would declare his intent to retrieve Red Clover.’
As expected of someone from the Pactio family. A wise judgment that saw several steps ahead.
And yet, even he hadn’t predicted everything.
This jewel clover was proof of that.
Elwin smiled faintly, the curve of his lips briefly cold.
“…I’m sure others noticed as well. They probably just pretended not to know. In case there was something you couldn’t say.”
But it was only for a brief moment, and Aajen didn’t notice.
“People wouldn’t believe it even if you told them, but… they’re all genuinely kind, aren’t they?”
“Yes. Every one of them is gentle.”
Aajen swallowed back the words ‘Including you, Lewin.’
He knew—even if someone told Elwin, “You’re so kind,” he wouldn’t believe it himself.
It was a merchant’s intuition.
“But Aajen. Do you happen to know the legend of Red Clover?”
Then suddenly, Elwin tossed him an unexpected question. He beamed as he urged an answer.
“…Uh, I’d say I know more than most.”
Aajen blinked a few times before answering shyly.
“It’s a bit embarrassing to say, but… when I was little, I was obsessed with the legend. It’s tied to our ancestor, Mort Clover, after all.”
“I see. I’m pretty interested in the legend myself, though I’m not sure how accurate what I know is. Could you confirm it for me?”
“Oh, of course! I'd be happy to!”
As they walked, the two continued their lively exchange.
“According to the legend, Red Clover has a mysterious power. Shake its petals and it releases a strong fragrance that saps evil men of their will. Brew it into tea and it becomes a panacea, curing all ailments. Is that right?”
“Wow…! Lewin! You even know that part? You’re incredibly knowledgeable!”
Aajen’s admiration was met with Elwin’s smile.
He understood why Aajen was so surprised.
The legend of Red Clover was a folktale passed down only in the Kingdom of Batevil. If you weren’t a native, you’d have little chance of knowing it.
“Well then, how about guessing my motto this time?”
“Your motto?”
“Yes, or my personal creed. Take a guess.”
Aajen gave a few answers after pondering…
“Wrong!”
“Bzzt!”
“Not quite!”
Each time, Elwin cheerfully shot him down.
“Ugh… I give up. Please just tell me.”
“Haha. Alright, I’ll give you the answer.”
Then, Elwin’s eyes narrowed slightly, revealing a sharp glint of blue.
“I don’t use people I don’t trust. But once I do, I believe in them.”
“…!”
“To be honest, I was a little disappointed earlier, Aajen.”
There was weight to Elwin’s words.
“If it had been Nonohen here instead, he would’ve believed me even if we were staring at a snowy wasteland. He wouldn’t have brought a jewel clover, either.”
His piercing gaze delivered a stinging rebuke to Aajen’s lack of trust.
Even merchants who calculate everything and keep their cards close… sometimes, they have to place full faith in others.
And this was one of those moments.
“Just as Nonohen said—Aajen, you still have a lot to learn. Especially when it comes to dealing with people.”
Aajen’s face flushed bright red. The meaning behind the words hit him squarely.
“I know you were relying on me—on us. But if you were going to trust me, you should’ve trusted me all the way. Didn’t you already know?”
Elwin playfully tapped his nose.
“Aajen, you have a special nose, don’t you? I’m sure you saw through it long ago—that I was telling the truth from the very beginning.”
“H-How did you…?!”
“There are ways to know everything.”
[Trait: “Blessing of the Glorious One”]
— A heightened sense of smell that detects the true nature of someone you've just met! Also exceptionally adept at discerning someone's wealth and potential profitable ventures.
That trait had appeared in LAMPAS.
Though the Aajen Clover in LAMPAS had died, his abilities were sellable “products” exchanged for wealth.
Naturally. After all, LAMPAS was just a game.
“So you… really did know everything…”
As he gazed into Aajen’s shaking pupils, Elwin couldn’t help recalling what Nonohen Clover had told him.
— My benefactor. My son is still immature.
The night before, while resting on the airship, Nonohen had suddenly requested an audience with Elwin through Nahrhan.
— He’s my own son, but Aajen has remarkable talent as a merchant. He’s bound to go far one day.
— But right now, his perspective is narrow. His thinking is even more confined than a frog in a well. Perhaps because I’ve spoiled him, he’s yet to experience the harshness of the world. He believes the world is only what’s written in books.
— So if he makes a mistake tomorrow… Please, be generous and forgive him. I beg you!
Elwin had been unable to refuse a father’s heartfelt plea for his son.
“Lewin… then does that mean… Red Clover does exist?”
Aajen asked, voice trembling, and Elwin nodded softly.
“Of course. Would I have suggested we go get it if it didn’t?”
“B-But the surroundings are so barren…”
“Yes. It’s just that the path hasn’t opened yet.”
“…?”
Aajen looked up at Elwin in confusion.
“Aajen. You went through all the trouble of bringing that jewel clover, but… I don’t think we’ll need it anymore.”
Elwin gestured silently toward the jewel, and Aajen flinched like a spring.
Then hurriedly tucked it away again.
“Because Red Clover is real.”
“…!”
“Come. I’ll show you with your own eyes.”
Elwin grinned and stepped forward.
“W-Wait for me! Lewin!”
Startled into motion, Aajen scrambled after him.
And behind them, a single ray of sunlight followed.
At last, morning was arriving.