Interlude: The Day Before the Auction
“A Magic Sword stronger than the Champion’s Sword?!”
“Yes, to be sold at the auction. And what’s more, it’s said to dance through the air like the legendary Holy Sword Claidheamh Soluis.”
“Grrr, damn that Echigoya Company… They would go that far?!”
In the royal castle salon, a lord groaned aloud at the report from his subordinate, information directly from an Echigoya Company manager.
“I cannot believe they would offer up a Magic Sword on par with the national treasure, even if it is to reduce the number of people bidding on the Prayer Ring…”
“I imagine it only has limited usefulness as a Magic Sword, though.”
“Even so…”
“Yes, the nobles will still clamor to buy it. It’s a rare shot at an item they can brag about to others.”
This was a prototype Satou had made in an attempt to re-create the abilities of the Holy Sword Claidheamh Soluis.
As the lord predicted, its practical usefulness as a weapon was limited, which was likely why Satou decided to provide it for sale.
“But if that is all he has to offer, then he will only eliminate one competitor…”
The lord looked doubtful.
All the people who didn’t win the bid on the sword wouldn’t lose any money, after all.
“W-well…”
“Is there something else?”
“Yes, I’m afraid it’s not just the flying sword.”
“What?!”
The subordinate explained that other equally priceless items were being put up for sale: a spear that returned to its holder after being thrown, a Magic Sword that produced its own “Spellblade,” a buckler that could instantaneously produce an intermediate magic shield, and so on.
“It seems many people are hoping to win at least one. That will reduce the number of the masses and merchants significantly.”
“Perhaps even Marquis Kelten and the other military nobles?”
“Indeed… Ah, I see now!” The lord jumped up from his seat. “So that’s your game, Echigoya Company!”
Careful not to upset the lord, his subordinate waited for him to continue.
“They’re plotting to reduce the power of the group as a whole by driving wedges among the major factions!”
Some of the dukes and pedigreed noble families were attempting to collect money from their dependents and allies in order to acquire the Prayer Ring.
But nobles of the same faction were not a monolith. With rumors like these about, there were sure to be some who would try to get out of providing funds in order to secretly act on their own.
“They really want the Prayer Ring that badly, eh…”
Disturbed anew by the power of the Echigoya Company, the lord could not decide whether to pursue the Prayer Ring to the last or give up and go after a national treasure–like prize.
And indeed, similar conversations were taking place throughout the royal capital, producing many minds who could not sleep for indecision.
Even at the Echigoya Company, the cause of all these worries, Manager Eluterina and Tifaleeza were spending a sleepless night.
But in their case…
“Would a flashy ruby necklace look best with this new dress? Or perhaps a more understated sapphire necklace? …Ahhh, I simply cannot make up my mind!”
“El, is it really all right for me to borrow such a fancy dress?”
Normally, Tifaleeza addressed her as “Manager” or “Miss Eluterina,” but outside of business hours, she had permission to call her by the nickname “El.”
“Why, of course! We’ll be by Lord Kuro’s side all day tomorrow, after all! It would be an insult to him to not look our finest. I’ll lend you accessories as well—choose whatever you’d like from the jewelry box.”
“A-all right. Thank you.”
The pair stayed up late into the night, choosing their outfits for the next day.
“Well, aren’t you a sight.”
“Ugh, Pippin…”
Gazing at the shadows from the window of her high-up jail cell, Shadow Thief Sharururuun grunted without turning.
Apparently, even a prison tower on the grounds of the town guards’ headquarters was an easy task for Pippin to enter.
“You seem awfully down for someone who made one little mistake, no?” Pippin teased.
She didn’t even raise her head.
“It was a total defeat. I didn’t give myself away. My disguise was perfect, and I didn’t do anything suspicious that would make someone analyze me. I watched the person I was disguising myself as for days on end beforehand, memorizing her habits down to the tiniest detail.”
Pippin listened in silence as Sharururuun spoke faster than usual.
“But he saw right through me. He came after me as sure as if he’d known I was Shadow Thief Sharururuun all along.”
She rubbed the bruise from when she’d been pinned to the ground.
“You’d better get your revenge, then.”
“Revenge?”
Sharururuun raised her head for the first time.
“Sure. It might’ve just been a coincidence, yeah? Usually your disguises would fool even a guard with the ‘Analyze’ skill.”
Rather than fooling the “Analyze” skill, Sharururuun specialized in acting so naturally that no one would bother analyzing her.
“Or is the one person I saw as my rival so small-time that she’d let one little coincidence bring her down for good?”
“Hmph, that’s a cheap shot.”
Despite herself, the smile was returning to Sharururuun’s lips.
“Worked, though, didn’t it?”
“Yeah, as much as I hate to admit it.”
Sharururuun stood up, her chains rattling.
“Hate to do this after getting you all worked up, but I’m gonna have to wait to break you out till the last minute. You get it, right?”
“Yeah, of course.”
If she escaped tonight, they would figure out what she was really after based on what she’d tried to steal and tighten up security at the auction hall.
“I’ll come get you out tomorrow afternoon. Will that be enough time?”
“’Course it will. I’ll pull it off for sure this time—just you watch.”
“Now, that’s what I like to hear from my rival.”
With a roguish grin, Phantom Thief Pippin’s shadow and sound alike were gone.
“I swear I won’t fail this time. Even if you’re there again…Pendragon.”
Gazing at the moon through the barred window, Sharururuun swore quietly to herself.
But she had no idea how difficult that vow would be to keep…
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