Hakushaku to Yousei - Volume 6 - Chapter 3

P. 80
    The link between Lota’s pirate crew to Edgar, and the granddaughter of the Grand Duke of Cremona who disappeared and the girl named Betty, and the fluorite called Freya that could only be dug up in the town of Wallcave and the existence of the person who was using the name of the Blue Knight Earl. When Lydia was told about everything all at once, it made her confused for a while. 
    And yet, Lydia was able to understand that it would have been dangerous of her to enter the town alone and that Edgar had planned this seize.
    It appeared like this wasn’t just some simple bad joke.
    Standing on the deck, Lydia gazed out into the black-colored ocean just when it was near sunset and lifted up her head at the sound of a presence of someone approaching her through the side breeze.
    “We going to enter a nearby port before it turns dark.”
    Edgar stopped to stand next to her as she was leaning up against the railing. 
    “Weren’t you going to go to Yorkshire on this ship?”
    “Well, I don’t want to sleep on the floor at the bottom of a ship. So, we’ll spend the night at some inn and I’m planning on us taking the train. I already told Nico that he can catch up to us on Lota’s ship. We’ll pretend to be passing-by travelers and enter the town."

P. 81
    As Lydia nodded, she felt their shoulders brushing up against each other, and remembered when he said that she should be close to falling in love with him, and started to feel hard to breath again. 
    On the other hand, he had a gentle smile on his face and was gazing at Lydia calmly.
    “When we’re like this, it makes me remember.”
    “…….What?”
    “The time first we met.”
    When Lydia remembered, she frowned.
    “Now that I recall, I was also abducted by you by a ship.”
    “Oh, did we?”
    You are easy to forget inconvenient memories for you.
    “I only remember that we spent a wonderful night on top of the ocean.”
    “Don’t say things so it sounds misleading.”
    “Don’t you feel that that was the start of our destined love?”
    “I don’t.”
    “In time, you’ll think so.”

P. 82
    I definitely won’t.
    “Oh, yes, I need to tell you that Betty and I are completely over. Even when she is found, don’t let her bother you.”
    Lota let the story slip that the two of them were courting when they were in America.
    That news frustrated her, like it was a bother, or like it was wrong to feel bothered about it, and she didn’t know what she was suppose to organize those feelings inside her.
    Only that she thought she must concentrate on finding the girl as a fairy doctor. 
    “….If Betty was taken as a changeling, I think it might be difficult because some time has passed.”
    “Time has passed? Why?”
    “She might have become accustomed to the fairy world.”
    “I see. Though I don’t mind if she comes to like the fairy world.”
    “You’re quite cold.”
    Edgar loved the company of women, but he never fixated on one. Lydia was reinforced with that every day. So she figured that he would eventually consider what was between Lydia and him as ‘over’ without any hesitation.
    Although nothing has even started.

P. 83
    “People are beings that can’t separate themselves from the human world.”
    “Then, I wish you would become serious about marrying me so that you wouldn’t have to go to the fairy world with Kelpie.”
    “I-……., I might not be a human being.”
    Like it was hard for him to understand, Edgar peered down to look at her. 
    “What part of you? Is it because you resemble a fairy?”
    “A changeling, often times leave behind a fairy baby in its place. When that happens, the fairy baby is put under a spell so that people couldn’t tell it apart from a human. But, somewhere on its body, there should be something that’s different from a human. In my case, it’s because my eyes are a rare color.”
    “Green eyes aren’t something that rare.”
    Lydia knew that as well. But, it seemed that people were disturbed by Lydia’s eyes that looked golden-green clearly by the different reflections of light.
    More than it being because of the color, these eyes of hers that could see fairies were essentially different from that of people and were a gift that held the magic from a fairy.
    “There are times when I think. The real Lydia in the fairy world might be wishing to return to the human realm.”
    “But wasn’t your mother a fairy doctor? If her daughter went through a changeling, I think she wouldn’t abandon her child.”

P. 84
    "Yes. My father always says that I’m not a changeling.”
    “But you’re not convinced?”
    “Because I can’t fit it with the human world.”
    She did believe what her father said, but there were times when she noticed the part inside her, that connected more with fairies than people.
    “Am I not enough?” said Edgar all of a sudden, with a look like he was pressurized.
    “Can I not be the one that keeps you tied to the human world?”
    “Eh…..”
    He let his hand softly touch Lydia’s forehead where there was a thin scar left. The breeze would blow up her hair, so it must have stood out.
    “I’m sorry, for leaving a scar on a lady’s face.”
    “This will heal soon. I would always make scars like this when I was a child. ……Beside, this isn’t your fault.”
    “I was the one who took you there.”
    Lydia felt that lately, Edgar had changed a little. He was beginning to hold himself responsible for what happened to her. Like the responsibility a fiancé would hold.
    Even if she felt that it was a different from the kind of light flirting remarks in the past, but it was still difficult for Lydia to believe that that itself was his form of love.

P. 85
    She felt like she was being pulled in like a pair of lovers would, and her body turned stiff in resistance.
    But even still, he held her shoulders so much more gently than ever before. 
    “I want to ask you something.”
    “…..What is it?”
    “Hold out your hand.”
    While she was trying to guess what it was, he slipped on the moonstone ring on her ring finger. 
    “This guardian fairy moonstone, it’s supposed to be a charm against evil, isn’t it? The place we’re heading to just had a changeling happened. In order to protect you from things that can’t be seen to people’s eyes, what I can do is much too little. That’s why, at the least, I want you to wear this until this case will safely be taken care of.”
    He kissed her fingertips and made a smile saying now I can rest easy.
    Before she realized it, Lydia’s hand had become used to his kiss that was like one given to a lady.
    Even if she felt used to it, that meant she didn’t feel like she wanted to run away or become angered or confused, and up to the part where his lips touched, there was always a lingering feeling like it wasn’t her hand anymore. 
    “You’re not getting upset and telling me to take it off. Are you feeling like you starting to fall in love with me just a bit?”
    Oh, I forgot. 
    “Take it off.”

P. 86
    She did say it just for sake, but as expected, Edgar only made a happy smile.

*

    Slipping out of the inn in the small harbor town, Edgar walked to a pub alone.
    This was a country where people would go to different places to drink according to one’s social position, but this was the closed pub that was located to the inn, built with the old-fashioned style where the entrance were divided.
    Just beyond the small partition, he ordered for a beer as he listened to the bustle and clamor of the working-class.
    On this side, the seats were filled up in a sparse manner but still relatively quiet. 
    For a while, he drank by himself, but then Ermine eventually appeared.
    “Will it be all right if I join you?”
    “Did you come to keep an eye on me?”
    “Yes. If you become drunk and start flirting with women and Miss Carlton witnesses you taking one to an inn, then you wouldn’t be able to come up with a good lie.
    “If it’s about what happened just a while ago, then I wasn’t lying.”
    “I will let that one settle as that.”
    Making a sour smile, Edgar let the beer flow down his throat.

P. 87
    “But, Lydia wouldn’t even allow me a light kiss.”
    “That’s because it wouldn’t be light.”
    It means that hearing it by rumor and seeing it yourself is completely different. 
    “Really, I feel completely disgusted with myself. Lydia said she feel adjusted with the human world. That gave me the feeling like she might leave to the fairy world at this rate because of my fault.”
    “Then you will be able to hold yourself back?”
    “If it was just having a fun conversation, then you couldn’t consider it adultery, right?”
    “If it’s just conversing, then please settle with conversing with me.”
    “You’re all right if I seduce you?”
    “As you please.”
    Because Ermine knew that Edgar would never try and seduce her, she was able to let it fly by as a joke.
    “But it’s been so long, Ermine, to drink with you. From the past, Raven didn’t like spending time at the pubs and would only wait outside.”
    “He doesn’t like how he’s still seen as a child.”
    “He may not look it, but he surprisingly is bothered about his baby-face.”
    “When he was told by the maids that he looked fifteen, he was feeling quite upset inside.”

P. 88
    “If he’s starting to be able to show his emotions, then it’s progress.”
    “But his subtle expressions aren’t being noticed by anyone.”
    Edgar laughed.
    Their small, mindless conversation brought him a small peaceful piece of mind for a short while for them. Because they couldn’t see what was going to happen from now, this kind of time was precious.
    “Oh, let it be. At any rate, I think Raven is happy that you had returned.”
    “I’m not sure about that. He might not feel comfortable about my hair and nails not growing and my body that turns cold as water when I sleep.”
    “I feel happy. Even if you are a little different from before, I’m able to sit down and talk to you like this again.”
    Ermine let the tension in her lips go and even appeared like she was a little lost as what to do.
    “How does it feel? Do you feel suffocated in remaining in human form?”
    “No, I don’t feel anything myself. There are times when I even forget some days that I am a selkie. But, when I come near the ocean like this, I feel like I’m being called by the waves.”
    “I see. …..I don’t intend to chain you down, so when the time comes, let me know.”
    When the selkie part of herself awakens.
    They unusually had one drink after another and fell into a defenseless drunken state of mind. When the barkeeper set down a new glass, he said it was for the fairy.

P. 89
    Did the customers here have a practice where they treated drinks to fairies?
    It could have been a measure so that they could charge their drunken customers, but if it was for a fairy, then that was interesting.
    He didn’t care and tossed over a silver shilling.
    When glanced over to the glass that the barkeeper set down, the amount of beer slowly disappeared even though no one had a straw drinking out of it.
    Fairies were by people’s side unbeknownst to them. That fact was revealed to him ever since he met Lydia.
    Finishing her drink, Ermine stood up.
    “I’ll be going now.”
    “Aren’t you going to keep an eye on me till the end?”
    “I’m not the only one who is watching you.”
    Not understanding what she meant, he felt a little dissatisfied at her dry, offhanded attitude.
    “Ermine, do you think that it will be all right if I stay with Lydia like this?”
    Before he knew it, he grabbed ahold of her hand to stop her from going. 
    “I treat her with such forcefulness, and yet, when the time comes when she accepts, I’m not sure if I would be able to accept her.”
    “Didn’t you make the resolve to do so?”

P. 90
    “I thought I had the resolve, and yet I’m quick to waver. I have no guarantee that I can protect her, and yet I force her to join my war, and when I imagine something undoable might happen, then I’m afraid I’d might do something that would make her hate me.”
    “You mean an affair?”
    A means that would ruin everything, just like the fairytale he read in the picture book.
    “Because I know that is the most hated thing of Lydia.”
    He didn’t know why he was saying something like this.
    “Would you be all right if you were hated so deeply that it becomes irredeemable?”
    “No. But if Lydia doesn’t hate enough, then I wouldn’t be able to let go of her.”
    And then he realized. That he wasn’t himself tonight.
    However, Edgar looked at Ermine’s hand that he was still holding onto and Ermine did not take her eyes off of his face.
    “Do you need an affair partner that would make you be hated at much?”
    She always was able to read Edgar’s intentions exactly.
    “……Perhaps.”
    Feeling Ermine’s tense presence through his fingertips, he thought he must laugh it off as a joke.
    Although he wasn’t sure if this was a joke or not.

P. 91
    Ermine cautiously let out a sigh.
    “Did you think that I can refuse.”
    Edgar finally let go of her hand.
    “I was joking. Don’t make such a scary face.”
    “………….”
    “…….Even so, that was awful of me. I must have drunk too much.”
    “Lord Edgar, you are denigrating yourself too much. Why couldn’t the both of you take each other’s hands and solve your problems together. We are not in America anymore. We don’t have a battle to fight, you should be allowed to walk the path that brings you happiness.”
    “I wonder if I have the power to make a woman happy. My lovers always end up wearing out in loving me, and Ermine, I have always hurt you.”
    “If it was Miss Carlton, I think she is someone who would even try to support her loved one’s weakness and faults.”
    “……Yes, if she were to come to love me that is.”
    “I will be wishing for that to become true.”
    Feeling Ermine’s presence leave the pub through the doors behind his back, Edgar let out a sigh.
    “I wonder what I want to do.”
    While he gazed at the beer that was set out for the fairy keep on decreasing, it went gliding across the top of the table.

P. 92
    “You have quite the cynical character, Earl.”
    The one who spoke was a gray-colored cat sitting on the table.
    He picked up the large glass like he was carrying a package too big for him and drank the beer.
    “I see, so you’re the other one keeping an eye.”
    “If you had an affair with her, then it sure to hurt Lydia. Since that lady is deeply in love with you for some time, and Lydia knows that as well, so it 
wouldn’t be accepted as just a mere whim.”
    “I don’t have those kinds of feelings towards Ermine.”
    “That’s a lie. You know that.”
    Nico wiped off the foam on his whiskers with his front paw.
    “If that were to happen, then you are the lowest and worst type of man. You take advantage of women’s feelings and leave them hurt. Even Lydia would be sure not to want to even see your face.”
    “I won’t do that, there is no way I could do it.”
    “Which one’s sake is that for? Lydia? Or Ermine?”
    “Both.”
    “You’re full of lies, Earl.”
    “Nico, you won’t go and say anything unnecessary to Lydia, will you.”

P. 93
    “I’m hungry for a fried fish.”
    “All right.”
    “But, that doesn’t mean I can make the promise not to say.”
    Edgar was irritated at his nerve and thought he should stoke and cuddle him all over, but since he knew that he was the one at fault, and so Edgar was barely able to settle down his urge to vent out his anger. 
     Since Nico wouldn’t even want to let Lydia know about this kind of awful thing.

*

    “Are you a scholar?”
    Oh no, this is just a pastime for me.”
    “I hear you are gathering fairytale stories.”
    “I was thinking of writing a book about folklore.”
    Edgar was coming up with one lie after another so smoothly, and he had invited one of the villagers to join them and ride on their carriage and asked to be guided to the only lodging facility that was said to exist in the town of Wallcave.
    “I don’t think there was any fairytales in this town.”
    “In any place or town, there is sure to be at least one or two. Although, these kind of things are best known by senior residents or women.”

P. 94
    “But what is the reason for you coming to a place like this?”
    “It’s just a coincidence. I travel unplanned and play it by ear, but I heard that the hills around this area have the most wonderful views, and since I am having my fiancée accompanying me on this trip, then I thought we should go and stop by.”
    “If it was that, then there are many places and things to enjoy. Since, visitors from the city seem to find a small mountain or cliff to be quite rare.”
    As Lydia listened to their conversation, she felt like the villager didn’t want them to touch on the subject about fairytales. 
    The view of the landscape was hills standing off in the distance in a row with rises and falls in their rocky surfaces. The vast open nature was enough to please the eyes. However, even if they neared the community, she felt that there was much too little of farmland.
    Even the wheat fields that was surrounded by a fence, at this time of season where the harvesting should be over, there should be mountains of straw piled up, but they were only filled with withering weeds.
    She was told that the main produce of this town were fluorites, and there originally must be a small number of farmlands, but hearing that even fluorites weren’t being able to be dug up, so she wondered what they were doing. 
    She wondered if the people were living on just the money sent in by those working out of town.
    As she was thinking that, they passed by the town community and were beginning to see tall stone buildings that carried a different kind of air then that of a village house. When their carriage stopped in front of that, the villager explained to them that it was the estate of the lord of the manor. And that normally, the people opened it as a lodging facility.

P. 95
    “Is the lord of the manor not living in it?”
    “He doesn’t come that often. Since, he is an earl who has estates here and there.”
    “When was the last time he came?”
    “Oh, I can’t say exactly. Maybe, two years ago.”
    Hearing that, Edgar gave a glance over towards Lydia.
    Just as she thought, someone who claimed to be the Blue Knight Earl had visited this town, Lydia gave a serious nod.
    “Please wait for just a moment.”
    Saying that, the villager disappeared into the back of the building. After some while, two women appeared.
    “You must be the Viscount Lord Middlesworth. If you would follow me, I shall guide you immediately.”
    That was the alias name that Edgar had used to introduce himself to the villager just earlier. The oldest women opened the entrance lock and gave directions to the younger woman.
    It seemed that the only lodgers were going to be only them.
    “Would you prefer a room that has the view of the ocean, Lady Middlesworth.”
    “Eh.”
    Suddenly called by that, Lydia was thrown into a panic.
    “She is still just my fiancée, so would you make our rooms separate. I think it’s best to have a waiting room for a maid attached to it. Although it would be even better if there was the view of the ocean.”

P. 96
    Maid? She surprisingly thought and turned her head around and her eyes met with Ermine, who had a face like that was expected.
    Hiding the fact that she was a fairy doctor, and even if there was a need to enter the town, she sort of felt like she was being used to Edgar’s advantage.
    She was even made to wear a dress that a noble daughter would normally wear, and she must have looked like she came to play around with her fiancé and bringing along her maid, but she was put through the feeling like she was being made to go along with Edgar’s bad joke.
    “Martha, then would you escort the lady,” said the older woman, to which the younger woman nodded in reply.
    At the name Martha,  Lydia remembered something. The woman who had sent the letter about the changeling also was addressed from Martha.
    “Lydia, see you later.”
    Edgar gave her a pleasant smile, and disappeared into a room along with Raven.
    As Lydia was escorted into another room, she spoke to the woman.
    “Umm, are you perhaps married?”
    The woman was the quiet type and also gave an impression like she was very depressed, so that made Lydia worried if she might be the mother of the changeling.
    “Yes. It has been one year since I married into this town. My husband is working in the next town so he isn’t living here with me.”

P. 97
    “Do you have children….”
    “No.”
    Then, she might not be the one. But, according to Edgar’s story, it seems like the whole town is saying to give up on the changeling to all the village members, so she might just be saying that she doesn’t have any children.
    Even though she might be doubted or eyed suspiciously, Lydia asked her a question.
    “Are there any other husband and wives who had just gotten married?”
    “Oh, no, since this is a small town, I am the only one. …..Is something the matter?”
    “Eh? Ahh, umm,”
    “My lady can’t help herself but want to hear the stories of young newlyweds recently. Since her own marriage is nearing, it seems there are quite a few things she is worried about. But, please, have the only thing you talk about is that you were glad to get married.”
    Ermine gave her a helping hand, and Lydia thankfully let her heart rest easy.
    “I see. But, if it were me, I don’t think that I would be of any use to my lady. Since, I’m regretting my marriage.”
    Regret? Because your child was put through a changeling?
    But, to go and say you’re in regret, and she should have gotten her child taken away, but that could maybe be because her husband wasn’t by her side.
    Putting aside Lydia who was in surprise, the young woman guided them through the room in a businesslike manner.

P. 98
    “The room for your attendant will be in the back there. May I ask for you to come and get the live charcoal for your fire later? I’m sorry, there just isn’t enough working hands at the moment.”
    Leaving the nodding Ermine in the corner of her eye, the young woman was quick and crisp in her movements in opening up the curtains and when she was done, she looked like she was going to leave, so Lydia rushed and tried to stop her.
    “Uh, I-, I can see fairies!”
    The young woman turned around with a suspecting look.
    “Do you have anything that is troubling you? I can talk with fairies, so I think I could be of some help….”
    Suddenly, the look of her face changed, and she spoke up.
    “If that is true, then I will caution you that its best for you to hurry and leave this town at once. Or else, it would put your lives in danger.”
    Leaving with just words that sounded like a threat, the young woman sped out of the room.
    “What is that suppose to mean?” mumbled Lydia as she was lost.
    “The whole town might be threatening her not to leek out the word about the changeling occurring.”
    “So that they would obey the order given to them by the person who they think is the Blue Knight Earl? Yes, if that’s so, then the other villagers might not talk about fairies that easily.”

P. 99
    But then, why are the mothers not allowed to retrieve their changeling child, she wondered.
    Ermine left the room so that she could go get the coal.
    Outside the window, the sound of the wind kept endlessly blowing. Even if she was inside the room, a building with no fire lit was completely chilled and cold, but she didn’t feel like getting her coat, and so Lydia remained as she was and sat down on the sofa.
    She realized that the window was making unnatural noises, and when she lifted up her face, she saw Nico standing outside and knocking on the window glass.
    In the end, the reason why Nico decided to ride the train might have been because he was worried about Lydia and wanted to keep his eye on her. Getting up, she opened the window and he hopped down from the window and came into the room.
    “Oi, Lydia, this town sure is quiet. Even if I walk down the streets, there’s hardly any people, and I can’t even see the sight of any fairies even though this is one of the lands that belong to the Blue Knight Earl.”
    The reason the number of people were low must have been because nearly all left town to work in the cities, but now that she recalled, it was strange to not see any fairies at all.
    She thought that, but Lydia noticed a shadowy dark figure move behind Nico’s fluffy tail like it was trying to hide itself.
    “Whose that? Your friend, Nico?”
    “Huh?”
    Nico turned around and held up his tail and found a small brown-colored fairy there, and placed his paws on his hips and turned his body to face it.

P. 100
    “Who are you, don’t go and let yourself touch my tail as you like.”
    (Huh? Oh sorry….. I just thought you were an unfamiliar cat.)
    “I’m not a cat.”
    (Whaaat)
    “Cats don’t talk, and you know they don’t stand up and walk around.”
    (Now that you say that, you’re right.)
    “Are you an idiot?”
    It was a female fairy that wore and skirt and cloth as a hat. She looked closed to a brownie, but from the looks of how weak her brain is, she might be more of a dobby.
    “Now, Nico, don’t say such awful things.”
    The small fairy turned to face her, and as soon as her eyes met with Lydia’s, she went rushing back to hide behind Nico’s tail.
    “I said stop, this human isn’t to be afraid of.”
    (What, are you able to see me?)
    “I can see you. Because I am a fairy doctor.”
    (A fairy doctor!)

P. 101
    The fairy let out a shrill like she was surprised and rushed over towards Lydia’s feet, and in a desperate manner, she clung onto the hem of Lydia’s skirt.
    (Please help my child!)
    “What? What do you mean?”
    (My child is being put in a pot. If they left my baby like that, they’re going to boil my baby!)
    Put a fairy baby into a pot? That was one of the measures a human would take in order to uncover the identity of the baby when they were suspicious of it being a changeling.
    There were times when fairy parents would leave behind their own fairy baby who they put magic on to make it look like a human baby in place of the baby they stole. In those cases, if humans put the fairy baby through something terrible, then it would reveal its true form and the magic would be undone, and it was said that the fairies would give back the baby they stole.
    However, Lydia thought that was a method she couldn’t recommend.
    It didn’t guarantee to have your baby returned, and because of that, there were times when the stolen human baby would be treated horribly by the fairies.
    Instead, it was a method people who didn’t know anything about fairies would take, and if it was a fairy doctor, they wouldn’t use such a method.
    “Your baby, is it the changeling that was exchanged with one of the villager’s baby?”
    (That’s right, but how horrible is it for them to put my baby in a pot.)

P. 102
    Since fairies don’t like iron, they considered it cruelty to put a fairy in a pot in place of a baby cradle. The young woman, Martha, who they met just now, must have heard that method from somewhere and tested it.
    However, she was working here and it didn’t seem like there was any time to be boiling a pot.
    “Then, you better return her baby back to her.”
    (I can’t. Everyone wouldn’t allow me.)
    The female dobie wiped her tears with Lydia’s skirt.
    Lydia carefully lifted her up and placed her on top of the table. 
    (You say everyone, so do you mean your kind? Why won’t they let you?”
    (If I were to do that, then all of us will be eaten by The Wyrm.)
    Wyrm? That was a dragon that had the enormous body like a snake. There were times when they didn’t have any legs like a lizard.
    It was a different kind of dragon that had wings; those species of dragons were much more common here in England.
    “There is a Wyrm here?”
    (The Wyrm is the one who creates the Freyas.)
    It was said that this place mined up precious fluorites by the name Freya.
    The name Freya, which meant fire, might be created from the fire that the Wyrm breathed out.
    (Wyrm wants to eat human children. And it orders us to go and steal them. We can’t fight back, so we ended up doing changelings… But, I don’t want it if my baby is going to be put through pain. Please save my baby, Fairy doctor!)

P. 103
    Which means that the baby of Martha might be at the Wyrm’s nest.
    “Then, was the human baby already eaten?”
    (I don’t think yet. That beast slowly turns humans into stones and then eats them.)
    However, if it still hasn’t happened, it would be difficult to retrieve the baby.
    But still, in the past the Blue Knight Earl should have made a trade with the fairies so that jewels could be mined out of this land. At that time, he should have made a trade with the Wyrm in regards to the Freyas.
    “Excuse me, Dobie, but wasn’t it recently that the Wyrm began to want human children?”
    (That’s right. The Wyrm had been in hibernation sleep all this time. Ever since it was defeated by the Blue Knight Earl. But now it has awakened.)
    “Then, we need to think of a way to put it back to sleep.”
    (That’s impossible. The Wyrm can only be defeated by the Blue Knight Earl. But, it was a new Blue Knight Earl that awoken the Wyrm. Just for the sake of wanting Freyas. Long ago, the Earl has stopped listening to what our wishes are.)
    A new earl, there was no mistake that he was the one who was making the villagers endure about the changelings.
    “That earl is an imposter.”

P. 104
    (An imposter? Then if the real Blue Knight Earl would come, then would he defeat the Wyrm for us?)
    Although Lydia let those words spring out of her mouth, she was lost in how she should reply about that. 
    There was no way that Edgar could possibly defeat an enormous dragon like how the old Blue Knight Earl would have. Which means that she couldn’t go around claiming that the real one was here.
    (Ahh, but more importantly, Fairy Doctor, please save my baby and rescue it from the pot. If you don’t hurry then my baby will be boiled.)
    “All right. Take me to there.”
    Lydia decided to follow after the small swiftly moving fairy.


    The lord’s manor was located a distance away from the community. Lydia left there and was walking pass scrub brushes.
    The dobie stopped in front of the kitchen door of a house that was settled a ways away from the town. Lydia peered inside but couldn’t see any signs of a pot.
    (Where did my baby go? Just a moment ago, there was a pot right here.)
    The female dobie searched around the dirt floor.
    (My baby looked so cold and I couldn’t bear to see my baby like that, so I filled the pot with potatoes.)
    “Hey, Lydia, someone’s coming.”

P. 105
    At Nico’ voice, Lydia quickly hid herself behind one of the pillars.
    The person might be Martha’s mother-in-law. As the old-aged woman came in through the kitchen door, she was able to see that the woman was carrying a pot filled with potatoes.
    In the pot, there was water filled so high that the potatoes were all sunken in it. When Lydia hid and watched, the woman placed it atop the heath fire.
    “What, hold on just a moment!”
    Lydia went jumping out from behind the pillar shadows.
    She pushed aside the woman and plunged both her hands into the pot. She scrabbled around through the potatoes and her hands felt the soft touch of baby clothes and pulled out the baby.
    “W-who on earth are you?”
    “What do you think you’re doing? This baby is completely wet. And on top of that, you were about to put the baby over a fire!”
    The woman knit her brows together and her eyes went back and forth between the baby that Lydia was holding and the pot.
    “I didn’t know. I was only asked by my daughter-in-law to boil the potatoes. But that baby, it doesn’t cry at all even though it has sunk down in the water. It really isn’t normal at all.”
    She took her eyes away from the baby and balled up her back and sat down in a chair.
    It was just a little bit smaller than a normal human baby, but this fairy baby had a brown crinkled face. Its ears were also pointed, so the magic to make it look human wasn’t exactly high-leveled.

P. 106
    If your own baby’s face suddenly turned into this, then any mother would become suspicious that a changeling might have happened.
    Even the baby’s grandmother was lost at what to do and seemed to be mourning.
    The female dobie seemed to be in shock that her own child was going to be put on the fire, and was slumped down on the dirt ground and bellowed in tears. Of course, Lydia was the only one who could see that. 
    Since she nearly tried to wipe her face with Nico’s tail, he swiftly swiped away his tail.
    “Um, Madam, you mustn’t treat it so terribly just because it is a changeling. Please change it into some clean baby clothes. And don’t put it to sleep inside a pot.”
    The woman lifted her face up with a dubious face again.
    “Who are you again?”
    “I am a fairy doctor.”
    “A fairy doctor? Humph, a person who says they can see fairies put themselves all on the fairy’s side. They only concentrate on getting the good favor of the fairy.”
    “That’s not true. If fairies do something terrible, we would also teach it a lesson.”
    “Then, why don’t you get our baby…”
    She let out nearly out, but shut her mouth again.
    Perhaps, it could have been because she was told over and over not to go and retrieve her changeling grandchild.

P. 107
    “Get out.”
    “But….”
    “I’ll scream for someone. If you go around in this town saying that you’re a fairy doctor who sticks your head into fairy business, then you won’t be left in peace.”
    “Why is that? Because the lord of the manor said so? But, that lord is an imposter!”
    “What do you think you’re saying!”
    The woman changed her expression immediately and stood up.
    “Please don’t go around saying that kind of thing in this house. My whole family will be tormented!”
    At that time, Lydia noticed the presence of someone standing and blocking the passage through the kitchen door.
    It was two men who seemed to be villagers of this town and they stood with their arms crossed.
    “So, you’re a fairy doctor. I thought it was strange for vacationing travelers to come to this town,” said one of them as he glared at Lydia.
    “M-my family has nothing to do with her. I don’t know what but this girl came into the house on her own.”
    “I wonder if that’s true. Didn’t someone invite her here? Anyways, we’ll need to have a talk with the head of the town.”

*

P. 108
    Edgar, with Raven along, had come to the third floor of the house of the lord. If this was the room which was used for the lord of the manor, then he thought it would be on this floor.
    This should be the place to investigate for clues so they could find out about the person who claimed to be the Blue Knight Earl who appeared here two years ago.
    With the merrow’s sword in one hand, Edgar investigated one room at a time. He brought it along just in case he needed it since he was going to a town that didn’t accept him as the Blue Knight Earl.
    In recent times, there weren’t any nobles who carried swords with them unless they were in the military, but he was required to keep it with him at all times, so it couldn’t be helped.
    There were a number of rooms that were locked, but it wasn’t any trouble in getting them opened.
    Edgar sneaked into a room that looked like a gentleman’s room, and stood in the middle to take a good look around the room.
    In the darkness made by the curtains drawn closed, the thing that glowed and stood out in the corner of the room was a statue made out of fluorite.
    Edgar walked over towards it. When Raven lit a fire on the candlestick, the light helped make the shape of the red and purple statue be seen clearly.
    “A white swan about to fly up into the sky, huh, Raven, don’t you think it’s a wonderful piece of art.”
    Raven didn’t agree or deny him, but Edgar didn’t want a reply from his in the first place. When Edgar stepped away from the statue, he searched atop of a desk.

P. 109
    There was letter paper and a seal that had the earl family coat of arms in them.
    Opening up every drawer, he checked everything inside. However, they were mostly empty.
    Raven opened up a cabinet that was locked shut, but no matter how you think about it, it was strange because there was nothing in them. 
    They must have disposed or hidden the documents, which they didn’t want anyone to see, were supposed to be here.
    Edgar walked over to the hearth. It had been cleaned but in the pile of ashes in the corner, he found a piece of a burnt up a leather string that would be used to bind something, and he tutted with his tongue.
    However, in a minute his eyes fell down to something on the carpet on the floor.
    Because he saw some yellowish piece of paper peeking out from one of its corners.
    He turned over the carpet and picked up the paper that had apparently been tucked under it. 
    “Lord Edgar, that is,”
    “It looks to be a part of an account.”
    While his eyes followed along with the words written on it, Edgar eventually drew a frown across his brows.
    It listed the percentage of output of the account.
    There was a massive amount of jewels dug up that was reported to not be able to be mined.
    “Lord Edgar, someone is coming.”

P. 110
    Just then, the sound of several footsteps coming running up the stairs could be caught by Edgar’s ears.
    The people who became suspicious of the vacationers must have come to investigate the lord of the manor’s estate.
    Raven went over by the door and tried to put the lock on, but Edgar told him that was unnecessary.
    “There is no reason for us to run or hide. Let’s hear what the people here have to say about themselves.”
    Edgar set himself down in the chair that must have been for the lord of the manor.
    At the same time, the door slammed open and a number of men came stumbling into the room.
    Raven went near Edgar who remained sitting down and stood ready with the knife that was on his waist in his hand.


    Lydia was told by an old man who said he was the mayor of the town to follow him and had returned to the lord of the manor’s estate.
    She was led to go up the stairs of the building, while she remained surrounded by the men of the village with an air about them like this was a stately procession. 
    She was worried if her revealing that she was a fairy doctor without asking if it was a good idea to Edgar might cause him trouble, but there was nothing she could do about it now.
    One from their group had gone to check up on the room which Edgar was lodging in, came back and whispered something into the mayor’s ear.
    The mayor nodded and he motioned for Lydia to follow and they went further up the stairs.
    They stopped in front of one of the doors, and they stood to listen up against the door to see what was going on inside the room, but eventually, they looked at each other and nodded, and then slammed open the door and went barging inside.

P. 111
    “Gentlemen, it would be polite of you if knocked and then entered if you had business.”
    The sound of Edgar’s nonchalant voice was even able to reach Lydia’s ears.
    “What are you doing in this kind of place.”
    “What you say, is there something that is the matter?”
    “Of course there is, this is the room of our lord!”
    “Well, you all just wait.”
    The mayor entered into the room as he called out to the group of young lively men in a tone like he was giving them fatherly advice. Lydia’s back was pushed by a man behind her and so she entered the room.
    When her eyes met Edgar, there was a second where it looked like he and Raven went stiff, but the both of them quietly watched the mayor carefully allow her to take a seat in a chair.
    The mayor immediately left Lydia’s side, however before he opened his mouth, he stood in front of the doorway as if to not allow them to escape.
    “The young lady who was accompanying you had claimed that she was a fairy doctor, and had apparently lodged one of the villager’s infants into a pot.”
    “What, no! I was trying to save that baby. If you ill-treat a changeling, the human baby won’t return. You have to take the right measures…”

P. 112
    "What you’re saying is ridiculous, saying that a changeling exists. That house’s bride was just making a commotion because her infant that was just born had a little ugly face.”
    That was the same thing that Lydia was arguing about at the mayor’s house.
    “Why are all of you going so far like that to hide about changelings?”
    Ignoring Lydia, the mayor faced Edgar.
    “Viscount Middlesworth, was your name I recall. It seems that there are thieves who try to steal precious house items by using an alias of a noble and staying the night at a grand house in the countryside, it seems. It would be strange of you to be searching around in the rooms that were locked while this young lady was making a commotion in the town. I would like if you would leave this place before we throw you to the police.”
    “Unfortunately, the thieves here would you all of you. Since, it would be troublesome if the police got involved.”
    Edgar wore a light smile on his face as he stood up.
    This was the Edgar that was the most dangerous Lydia knew. He was thinking about how to completely knock out his opponents.
    “What? I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
    “This house is my estate, everything here belongs to me. Whether I take it out or break it, it’s my freedom.”
    He purposefully swept a near-by expensive-looking vase to the side with his arm.
    At the disturbing sound of glass breaking, one of the young men, pulled out a knife in reflex and in the next second was knocked down by Raven, and ended up flying back into the wall.

P. 113
    “Raven, make sure to go easy on them.”
    “Understood.”
    Now, then, said Edgar as he gave a look around at the group who went frozen.
    “Do you know who I am?”
    He took and held up the thing that was resting on the desk. It was a long sword that was still in its sheath.
    It was the merrow’s sword, and while Lydia watched patiently, he pulled out the sword.
    So that the men could have a good look at the large star sapphire, he held it in front of the mayor who didn’t make a sound.
    “The master of you all, I am the Earl of Ibrazel.”
    All the villagers were in complete silence.
    They probably didn’t have a chance to see the sword that proved the identity of the Blue Knight Earl, but they must be aware of the star sapphire that was called the merrow’s star.
    Even the deep blue that had a faint silk glow and the cross star that shined out clear and bright wasn’t just any normal jewel.
    All of them clearly weren’t hiding the look of surprise on their faces.
    However, the mayor took deep breaths as if to calm himself.
    “…..I have met the lord of this estate a number of times, and so I know him. You are not him.”

P. 114
    Edgar shrugged his shoulders like he found it humorous and was trying to say oh, my, my.
    “And it would have been for the best of you all if you had just gone with the story that you were all deceived by him. So this makes all of you his accomplices. It couldn’t be helped if society considered that you took his hand and were tricking me.”
    He stood dangling the sword and started to slowly walk in front of the villagers.
    “In regards to ‘my’ fluorites that are mined in this land, you had reported to the earl family butler that the mining vein was draining, when in reality, the amount that was being dug up had drastically increased compared from the past. Oh, goodness, really, which one of us is the thief.”
    When he came all the way up next to the desk, he held out a piece of paper that was colored in a yellowish hue.
    “So, mister major, you’re dividing the money that was earned by the fluorites that you illegally channeled to yourself with the rest of the members of this village? Which means a hidden market route exists. Since, the fluorites here have a unique coloring that is only mined here in England. You weren’t able to lie about where the place they were dug up and distribute them. And so, why not I have you all talk about the thief who claimed to be the Blue Knight Earl and is 
the leader of your group and stole my fluorites after he plotted everything with all of you and made all of the negotiations for you all.”
    “The mining vein of the fluorites has depleted,” said the mayor stubbornly. 
    “Just like you say, we cannot take the liberty and sell them as we please. That is just only a memo, and not any kind of official paperwork. Even if you search the whole village, no fluorites or mountains of money will come out. All of us here are just barely able to get back with a modest living.”

P. 115
    I see, said Edgar with a smile like he found something fun. The perfect smile that his perfect looks wore carried a heartless presence behind it.
    Even Lydia could tell that he had lost his temper to quite a level.
    “So, even if things were made public, you’re still going to act like you have nothing to hide. If you intend to go against the lord of your manor, then you must be quite prepared for this.”
    “Our lord is not you.”
    “You have angered me. I will have you all sent to the fires of hell,” stated Edgar in a cold tone like a tyrant in the past.