Chapter 16
ON HER WAY back to Alcait, Mira took the rare opportunity to relax in the wagon. But just as she was getting comfy, the communicator began to ring.
Mira begrudgingly stood, opened the closet, and put the device to her ear. “Yes, yes… What now?”
“Ooh, you finally picked up!” Solomon’s relieved—if impatient—voice came through. “You weren’t sleeping, were you? It’s midday.”
“I was resting. You’ve already heard everything, I presume? I’ve been busy dealing with the fallout and cleanup of this whole affair.” Mira flopped onto the futon in the closet and let her limbs fall limply at her sides. She looked extremely slovenly; her short dress was hiked up so much that her butt was peeking out.
“Yep, I’ve heard. Sounds like you’ve been putting in some real elbow grease. And you even summoned the Spirit King? Nice. You’re really making a name for yourself.”
“He summoned himself. But thanks to you, I’m a celebrity now.”
The declaration of victory from atop the spirit airship was all Solomon’s idea. It was his way of creating a public justification for Mira to succeed Danblf as the Wise Man of Summoning. Mira didn’t appreciate being suddenly thrust onto the stage.
“Now, now. It’ll be good for you in the long run. Keep up the good work, ’kay?” Solomon’s voice was earnest, not teasing. He truly did think it was for the best.
Mira had no rebuttal; she replied curtly, “Yes, I know.” She then asked, “So what now? I assume that isn’t why you’re calling. What do you want? I’ve finally got a little time to relax, and here you go ringing my phone again. Good grief.”
“Sorry about that. Can I ask you for one last favor? It’s easy work: I just need you to get a document from Ebatess for me. I’ve already told them, so if you pop by, they’ll hand it right over and you can be on your way.”
Solomon didn’t hesitate to dole out chores. He’d already volunteered her for this, and she couldn’t refuse.
“A document, hrmm?” Mira murmured self-importantly. Though it was an annoying request, she wasn’t about to say no. It was a sort of ritual between them for her to play stubborn.
“It’s an important certificate to wrap up our diplomatic agreement. Please? I promise, I’ll treat you to all your favorite foods.”
“…Hrmm. I’ll hold you to that.”
“Of course. Thanks! I’ll be waiting.”
After Solomon’s pleased voice burbled through the receiver, the connection was cut off. Mira had extracted a promise for treats, and Solomon had a good grasp of her favorite foods. Excited by the prospects of the royal kitchen’s best, she put down the communicator.
“Well, off to Ebatess!” Mira dragged herself out of the closet and ordered Garuda to change course for Roslein while enjoying the scenery below.
While they slowly changed course, Mira gazed upon the mountains towering in the distance and wondered, Is that it? I think Chimera Clausen HQ was around there.
***
The Ebatess Commerce home location in Roslein had an enormous compound behind the store, with many buildings surrounding the CEO’s mansion. This was where all of the business’s departments, facilities, and employees resided. From the sky, it looked like a small town unto itself.
Garuda carried Mira’s wagon over the small city and landed directly on the plaza in front of the property. The compound must have already been informed of Mira’s grand entrance. While some onlookers had gathered, there was no panicked commotion.
When Mira exited the wagon, a well-dressed maid greeted her, “Miss Mira? We’ve been expecting you. Come this way; the CEO is ready to meet you.”
“Very well,” Mira said curtly and returned Tweetsuke to the wagon to wait.
She followed the maid into the mansion. The interior was more understated than gaudy, demonstrating the taste of the person living within. Mira was escorted to the third floor. When the maid announced her arrival, a cheerful man’s voice came from inside the room. The maid opened the door and ushered her inside.
“Pleasure to meet you, Miss Mira. I’m Urashis Teles Ebatess, Ebatess’s CEO. I look forward to working with you.”
It all happened suddenly. Urashis stood up as soon as she entered the room, seizing her right hand and offering a genial greeting.
“Ah, er, right. It is a pleasure to meet you too.” His sharp gaze seemed to drag the words from Mira’s mouth. Were all skilled merchants like this?
Unlike the rest of his mansion, Urashis was dressed extravagantly. Though he was surely reaching old age by now, he was taut and muscular, showing no signs of deterioration. His large build helped him look bigger than his average height might lead one to expect.
“Imagine my surprise when I learned that the famous successor-to-be was a friend of a dear friend. Hah, I’m a lucky man. It’s an honor to meet you.” He flashed a heartfelt smile and finally released Mira’s hand. The “dear friend” he spoke of must have been Solomon. Mira understood that much, but the rest prompted her to cock her head in confusion.
“Famous? Successor-to-be? What do you mean?” Mira asked back.
Urashis had a thoughtful, confused look on his face for a moment before murmuring, “Aha, so it is true that you have trouble realizing when you’re the talk of the town. Though personally, I notice quickly when people are talking about me.” For merchants, rumors were assets that could greatly influence profits. As someone sensitive to such talk, he couldn’t comprehend how Mira could be so clueless.
“What have you heard about me, then?”
“If you’re so curious, let’s have a nice chat.” Urashis took a book from his bookshelf and began telling the story of the Hero-King Forsetia.
Long ago, around the time the king of monsters appeared, there appeared a little girl. Her name was Forsetia, and she bore the Spirit King’s blessing. She used the power of the spirits to fight valiantly for humanity, and was beloved by mankind. At the conclusion of the story, having achieved many exploits in battle, Forsetia finally used the power of the Spirit King to defeat the king of monsters and became a legendary hero.
“According to the rumors, you’ve received a blessing from the Spirit King as well. And summoners can summon spirits, can’t they? You defeated the great evil that was Chimera Clausen. Add all of that together, and you’ve become something of a modern Hero-King Forsetia. Understand?”
Urashis excitedly finished his explanation, opened the book to the final page, and placed it on the table. On it was an illustration of Forsetia, a beautiful knight, alongside another illustration of the Spirit King. Their depiction of Forsetia was overflowing with…feminine charm. That alone made Mira doubtful that she could live up to the legend. But Urashis was not the kind of man to focus on that.
“I thought I was getting a little popular these days, but this is why…?”
In the days after the Spirit King’s sudden appearance, Mira had begun to notice a lot more eyes on her. But she’d believed it was only temporary interest from standing out during the declaration of victory. If what Urashis said was true, then her fame was far greater than she’d imagined.
While she understood the reason now, she still grimaced at the trouble it would bring.
“Ah, right, I was meant to hand you the document. Apologies. Old age is catching up with me.” Urashis abruptly turned around and picked up a sealed envelope the size of a certificate from atop his desk. He turned back to Mira and offered it with a sincere look.
“Oh, no worries at all.” Mira had only come on a menial errand, so she accepted it casually and carefreely.
Hm, so this is the document Solomon mentioned. What a gaudy sealed envelope, though…
The thing was thoroughly shut with three wax seals, each bearing a different symbol. The front was adorned with a gold print of Roslein’s national crest. Mira finished examining the envelope. While she did find it a little too gaudy for her tastes, she shoved it into her Item Box regardless. Solomon’s request was fulfilled.
“Duly received. I’ll just be going—” she declared in an attempt to make a quick exit.
“Ah, apologies, Miss Mira. Could I ask for your signature?” Urashis snatched a square, white plate from his drawer, circled around Mira in a hurry, and offered it to her with a pen.
Given Solomon’s involvement in this, it must be a very important document indeed. Naturally, a signature would be required to accept it.
“Oh. Of course. Right. How silly of me to forget.” Mira accepted the pen, murmured, “Received,” and signed it in the very center.
Urashis checked the signature, held out a piece of ink-stained cotton, and added, “And your thumbprint, please.”
“Why not? Is right here okay?” Mira obeyed, dipped her thumb into the ink, and held it next to her signature. Once she had the CEO’s approval, she pressed her thumb down firmly. “Will this do?”
The white plate now bore Mira’s signature and thumbprint. Urashis gave her a cloth to wipe her thumb and gazed at the plate in excitement for a moment before turning serious again.
“Yes, that’s just fine. Sorry to keep you.”
“I will ensure that this is delivered,” Mira said firmly.
Urashis took the cloth back, shook Mira’s hand again, and replied, “Thank you.”
The handoff was completed, and the small errand accomplished. Mira left the room thinking about all the foods she’d be treated to.
Now alone in the CEO’s office, the head of Ebatess Commerce gingerly placed the white plate and the cloth Mira had wiped her finger on into a frame.
“Successor of the Hero-King. I know you’ll be a major figure someday. Oh, what a collector’s item this will be. This calls for a celebratory drink!”
He went into another room beyond his office, stood in front of a large shelf, and embraced the frame with a smile as innocent as a child’s. The shelf was packed full of keepsakes signed by famous adventurers and generals.
“And I will not be washing my hands for the rest of the day!” He placed Mira’s autograph among the others, recalling the touch of her fingers on his right hand. His eyes showed no sign of joking—only a burning will.
Urashis Teles Ebatess, a man who admired and wanted to be like the heroes, had a strong sense of justice and a firm determination never to fold before evil. He was truly the kind of man to earn Solomon’s respect.
However, his virtue bordered on vice. He sometimes asked the impossible of the people in his firm. Fortunately, the would-be victim had escaped danger…this time.
***
After leaving the mansion, Mira summoned Garuda and boarded the wagon again. Just as she was about to lift off, she heard someone calling her from afar: “…ra… Miraaa… Miiiraaa!”
“What now?!” Mira muttered and poked her head out of the wagon again. She spotted a man running madly in her direction with a bag slung over his shoulder and a large package on his back. Mira had wanted to duck back into the wagon reflexively, but when she caught a glimpse of his face, she realized she’d met this guy before. “Oh, is that…”
“Aah… Phew… Thank goodness I…made it in time…” His clothes, hair, and breathing were ragged. This was Lenos, grandson of Urashis himself. The young man was still wheezing, but he managed a smile. “Phew… It’s been a while. Well, over a month, anyway.”
“Right. Thank you for caring for Scorpion and Snake back then. Can I help you?” Mira asked.
“Umm, right. I’m afraid it’s kind of embarrassing, but…” Lenos replied apologetically. But his excitement was more than clear as he opened the package he’d brought.
It was a drawing board—as in, a board used to draw on. But it was totally blank at the moment, prompting Mira to cock her head in confusion. What did he mean to do with it?
Lenos held out the board, bowed deeply, and shouted, “Please sign this!”
“O-oh. That’s what you want.” Mira was befuddled for a moment, but she remembered something Scorpion had said before: Lenos loved heroic tales of adventure. The destruction of Chimera Clausen was the talk of both Sentopoli and Roslein. Mira was a key figure in the victory. Maybe she was more famous than she’d thought.
And as she’d heard from Urashis before, people were claiming that she might be the successor of the Hero-King. Lenos would naturally jump at the opportunity to meet someone like her.
Mira didn’t mind giving autographs, so she accepted the pen. “It’s rather…large. Where should I sign?”
“Right here, please!” Lenos replied with a beaming smile and pointed at the center of the board. Mira nodded and scribbled her signature in grandiose strokes. “Thank you so much! I’ll never let it go!”
The white drawing board now bore the name “Mira” written diagonally across the center. Lenos thanked her ecstatically, cradled it in his arms, and opened the bag slung over his shoulder. From it, he retrieved a camera as big as his head. Lenos looked as if he’d met an idol or a movie star as he begged Mira just as enthusiastically as before, “May I take a picture too?!”
“A picture, hm? Very well.”
Put in a good mood by this shower of admiration and envy, Mira pumped a fist in front of her wagon and Garuda as she struck a pose.
“Thank you, thank you! That’s incredible, Miss Mira!”
Lenos readied his camera and showered her with praise, snapping pictures one after another from angles both normal and questionable. Egged on by his words, Mira bragged, “You’re lucky. An opportunity like this might not come again.”
And thus, jaw-droppingly high-quality pictures of Mira striking silly poses with Tweetsuke sitting on her head were added to Lenos’s collection.
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