“Allen!”
I hurriedly called his name.
“Are you okay?”
Then, Allen’s strained voice came from below.
“Huff, I think my back is broken……”
“Wait! I’ll be right there.”
Worried that the door might close, I quickly climbed down the ladder.
“B-Be careful.”
Had I gotten halfway down?
Clatter!
Suddenly, there was the sound of a door closing from above.
“I can’t believe it’s really underground.”
I thought it was just a figure of speech……
As soon as my feet touched the ground, I headed straight to Allen. He was hurriedly picking up the things that had fallen from his bag.
“Are you okay?”
At my words, he nodded with an embarrassed look.
“You said your back was hurt.”
“More than that, I’m just really embarrassed……”
“That’s the problem?”
“I’ve failed to uphold my dignity as a knight.”
Judging from his jokes, he seemed fine.
Relieved at last, I turned my gaze. Then Allen followed behind me with a sheepish smile.
“Shall we keep this between us?”
“Then that would be neglecting duty.”
“……”
I walked along where the sewage flowed. The walls were covered in unfamiliar vines, and judging by their glow, they seemed like plants that didn’t exist in the Empire.
“It doesn’t seem connected to an ordinary sewer.”
Allen, glancing around, added his comment. It made sense, since the sewer was quite clean. The water was so clear that the bottom was visible.
“……Looks like it’s over there.”
Beyond a stone bridge, there was a shabby tent.
“Let’s go.”
Just a while ago, he clearly didn’t like this, but Allen now wore an expression full of curiosity.
“Excuse me, is anyone there……?”
Judging by the herbs and items on display, it seemed like someone was there.
“Who in the world buys things like parrot feathers?”
Allen scratched his head, clearly unable to understand.
“If you’re not going to buy anything, get out.”
Just then, someone groaned and straightened their back from under the display stand.
“Even if it’s not you guys, there are plenty of people who’ll buy!”
I blinked blankly and glanced at Allen. He too mouthed silently, probably thinking the same thing.
‘She’s way too young……’
She couldn’t have been older than eight. Despite her folksy tone, she was a little girl.
Allen asked gently.
“Where are your parents?”
“I don’t have any.”
At the child’s response, his face turned pale.
“Ha ha, Allen, really……”
I hurriedly elbowed his side.
“Are you the owner here?”
“That’s right. Do you have a problem with that?”
Perhaps because she didn’t like being shorter than me, she stepped up onto a box to match my eye level. Then she waved her hand as if we were unwelcome guests.
“If you’re not buying, get out. I’m not like my aunts. I choose my customers!”
“We are customers. We came here to buy something.”
At my words, the girl narrowed her eyes.
“I-I heard there’s an i-item that can preserve my beauty forever……”
My voice stuttered, horrified at the words coming out.
“Miss, so that’s what you usually think about.”
No, no, that’s not it!
“Oh, if you came for information, you should’ve said so earlier.”
She proudly shrugged her shoulders.
“My aunts and uncles handle the items, but information is my specialty.”
Luckily, we seemed to have stumbled upon the right person. Just as I was about to relax, she whispered to me.
“In return, you need to show a little sincerity……”
Could a child really make such a greedy face?
“As much as you want.”
When I signaled Allen with my eyes, he handed me his bag. I took out a pouch of gold coins from inside and placed it on the desk.
“Where’s the item?”
She took the pouch with some doubt, but only for a moment.
“Gasp……!”
When she looked inside the pouch, her eyes widened. Then, after thinking quickly, she flashed a bright smile.
“Can I call you big sis from now on? I’m Penny.”
Fast talker, I like that.
“The item you mentioned is rare. We can’t get it for you, but we can invite you to the auction where it might be available. Is that alright?”
Penny, who had just been standing on the box, quickly climbed down and looked up at me.
“Auction?”
“Yes. It’s a rare piece of information, but the Tower Master has awakened recently. He’s the one hosting the auction.”
“……Who gave you that information?”
“No matter how close we are, I can’t tell you that. Security is everything to me.”
Penny held my hand desperately as if asking me to understand, while also seeming to count how many pouches were in the bag.
“There’s something I don’t get—if the Tower Master just woke up recently, then who made the item? Surely it’s not his disciples putting up items for sale.”
“Of course, it’s not the Tower Master’s item.”
“Then?”
“If you want to ask questions……”
Penny’s gaze shifted toward the bag. Then she gave a sly smile. I responded with a smile of my own.
“I don’t need the auction invitation, but do I still have to pay extra?”
“……Someone with so much money sure is stingy.”
Penny let out a small sigh and answered as if she had no choice.
“It belongs to someone even greater. A great mage with a forgotten name.”
“……!”
“That’s all. Still, my mouth tends to surrender to capital.”
I took out another pouch and placed it on the table with a thud.
“Are you sure it’s the great mage’s item?”
“Of course. Big sis, I only sell reliable information.”
If it was the great mage with a forgotten name, then it could only be Eileens.
‘Hestia said she’s looking for that item.’
Rumors about the item must have spread among some of the noble ladies, including her. Considering that rumors about Peril waking up were circulating.
Maybe they were trying to ride on Peril’s fame.
But the truth was, it was Eileens’ item.
Come to think of it, I’d never heard that Peril made the item. The rumor of him waking up had simply overlapped, so people naturally assumed that.
Whoever spread the rumor didn’t lie.
‘……Peril may be the bait, and Eileens the real subject.’
It was said that a mage’s power grew the more their name was embedded in people’s minds. And with the rumor of Peril’s awakening, many people would gather at this month’s shop.
“Were you the one who spread the rumor in the social circles?”
“I do have a pretty loud voice.”
Penny giggled.
“I’d prefer it if you stopped talking about the auction or the Tower Master.”
“I don’t want to either, but I still have time left on the promise I made to him.”
Penny lowered her eyes as if it couldn’t be helped.
I took another pouch out of the bag.
“……!”
“Not enough?”
Her eyes widened for a moment before she hurriedly clutched the pouch.
“Then I’ll buy up your remaining time with this.”
“You’re really putting me in a tough spot……”
Penny trailed off while fiddling with the gold coins inside the pouch.
Was she asking for more money?
As I narrowed my eyes unconsciously, Penny shouted hastily.
“W-Well, I usually listen to big sis, so let’s just go with that?”
“And one more thing.”
Penny, who had been washing herself in gold coins, nodded as if to say go ahead.
“I want to find the whereabouts of the Tower Master.”
At my words, Penny made a reluctant face. She thought for a moment, then set down the coin she had been holding.
I guess it wasn’t free of charge.
When I placed another pouch on the table, Penny glanced at the remaining pouches in the bag and swallowed hard.
“Big sis, I can do even more for you.”
“That’s all I’m asking for.”
As I closed the bag, Penny quickly opened her mouth.
“B-Big sis, then how about this?”
“What?”
“I want money but don’t have it, and you have money but lack information.”
It was true, so I nodded.
“Hire me for a while. You never know, you might need me more later.”
“……”
“I’ll make it worth the money, if you just leave the bag behind.”
Penny held onto the bag with lingering attachment.
“Hm, what should I do……”
Then Penny, with a sulky face, suddenly walked up to Allen and kicked his shin.
“W-What are you doing!”
Startled, Allen called out to Penny. But when she stared him down, he turned to me with an awkward expression.
“My lady, shall we return to the mansion if you’re done here? My ears have been ringing for a while now and I can’t hear anything—let’s go back and rest.”
Though I found his words odd for a moment, the bag I was holding suddenly felt heavy.
Looking down, I saw Penny with desperate eyes.
“I’m really good at keeping secrets—don’t you trust me yet?”