Chapter 68
“You’re in a good mood . ”
I was arranging my luggage in our assigned cabin when Klaus spoke to me from behind . I only realized I’d been humming when he pointed it out . Yeah, it would’ve looked pretty darn chipper .
“Because something good happened,” I answered without any embarrassment .
“Hmmm…” His voice dropped a level .
I put the items in my hand down and looked over my shoulder . Klaus leaned against the wall, a frown on his face . Moodiness fell off him in waves as he grumbled to himself . He was saying something like, Next time for sure I’ll make him fall to his knees . I had no idea what he was going on about, but it gave me goosebumps so I hoped he wouldn’t come into contact with me .
“By the way, brother, how many times have I reminded you to mind your tone?”
“Will you not permit me the freedom of our room?” he asked, at a loss for words . His brows lowered like a scolded child . It seemed like making him speak to me casually was quite stressful for him . “It is my duty, but be that as it may, what sort of heavenly tribulation is this, that I must speak rudely to one I love and respect? I feel as if my loyalty to you is being tested,” he said with heartfelt emotions .
“It’s all in your head,” I dismissed . Even if he begged so seriously, it was nothing but trouble . However, despite being pushed away, he wasn’t deterred .
“Please… I beseech you,” he begged, brows knit sadly .
The silence stretched on for several seconds, but the first to throw in the towel was me .
“Well… If you can promise me you won’t reveal yourself outside . ”
It can’t be helped, I thought .
Even though it was small, in the privacy of the room there won’t be other passengers around . The thin walls were a concern, but the room next to ours was the cargo hold . As long as he paid attention to the switch between inside and out, there shouldn’t be a problem .
If I were to be honest, there was a part of me that wanted him to get to a level where he could speak with me unreservedly, but if I caused him too much stress and he exploded, that would be a problem too .
“I thank you!”
He lit up with smiles, and when he smiled without any guile like a child, I couldn’t bring myself to treat him with my usual coldness . I smiled resignedly and sighed once before returning to sorting my belongings, careful with every item I took out .
“Oh, that’s right . ”
I stopped and handed a piece of paper that had been rolled up to Klaus .
“What is this?” he asked as he accepted it . All I said was, “From Flamme . ” He was quick, so that was all I needed to tell him for his expression to turn serious . He began to read it silently . It was a letter from Georg, the latest report to arrive before our departure .
Georg and Michael had continued to look for a steady stream of information from port town and mountain villages, and they had acquired important info .
There seemed to be a village with a certain family living in the mountain ranges to the southwest of Flamme . The lived deep in the mountains, growing herbs and and making high quality medicine . Their name was “Kur . ”
“A clan of medicine experts . It’s a very promising lead,” he said as he read the letter .
There was a high possibility that this clan called Kur had the information for the medicine I’ve been searching for .
Georg felt the same and had narrowed the object of his investigation down to their clan . However, he seemed to be have difficulties ever since then .
The Kur clan had almost no involvement with the outside world .
They made periodic trips down the mountain in order to sell medicine, but it seemed like they concealed their faces and spoke at a bare minimum . They were recognized for their medicinal knowledge and high quality medicine, but apparently, even the rich merchants and nobles who had come forward desiring to form a contract with them had been given the cold shoulder .
The closed off Kur clan hated intervention from strangers, therefore there was barely anyone who knew the location of their village .
“Until we catch up with them, it would have been nice if they had made some progress, but… it sounds like they are having a hard time . ” Klaus furrowed his brows .
I nodded . “Well, either way, there’s nothing we can do from a ship . Let’s focus on what’s in front of us right now . ” I stood up . I was done sorting .
“Where to?”
“I want to see the deck and below . I want to know what is where, and of course, I wish to know the positions of the sailors as well . ”
“As you wish . ”
My hands were on the door knob . I stopped and looked over my shoulder .
“Get yourself together, brother . ”
Switch into your role, I sent the message with my eyes .
With a blink, my loyal knight had transformed into my kind older brother .
“Okay . Let’s go,” he urged me on gently .
I opened the door and walked out .
“It’s quite clean, isn’t it?” Klaus said as we were on the way to the deck .
In general, the areas we can freely traverse ended with the circumference of the ship, but as he said, the inside of the ship was cleanly maintained . It wouldn’t be polite to say it wasn’t what I expected, but I had honestly imagined more of a mess .
“Even though it’s not new, it looks like they’re taking good care of it . ”
Every step I heard the firm clack of my soles on the floor . The floorboards were seasoned, but still gleamed due to careful polishing .
There was much in front of the galley, but I didn’t notice any traceable dirt or odor . My impression of this ship with its scrupulous cleaning was great .
The cargo were piled up in a mannerly order, and fixed so neatly it didn’t seem like they’d ever collapse .
The passages were narrow, but nowhere was it obstructed by luggage or any number of tools . Even in an emergency, as long as the embarking passengers did not become confused, escape shouldn’t be delayed .
“The sailors are also friendly and kind . It’s a wonderful ship . ”
Nothing less than what I expect from a ship recommended by Master Julius, I thought to myself as I went up the stairs . I had just stepped onto the deck when an angry voice leapt at me .
“It’s hot!”
Eyes rounded, I looked around but found no one looking in my direction . It didn’t seem like that voice had been aimed at me .
I followed the gazes of the sailors and passengers on deck and finally landed on a certain group .
“Hurry and bring me a cold one!”
It was the pretty girl the sailors had called a “goddess . ” She made no effort to hide her irritation as she shouted her orders . She sat on a deck chair under the shade of a parasol cast by a male servant, glaring at a young woman who looked like a maid .
“B-but Miss Flora, th-there is no ice house on this sh-ship . W-what should I do…?
“Don’t ask me, figure it out yourself!”
The pretty girl—Miss Flora—yelled at the maid .
“Y-yes . ” The maid nodded, looking ready to cry . She turned on her heels and ran .
“What a useless girl . Nothing more than a halfwit,” Miss Flora said maliciously as she fanned herself with a gaudy fan made of lace, while her male servant soothed her ruffles .
“Whoa…”
This scene had shocked me so much as I watched, I couldn’t control myself .
“Ridiculous… What part of her screams goddess?” Klaus didn’t even hide the disgust in his voice . The second half of his statement was said in a low voice, and only I could hear standing next to him . I probably should have told him not to say something so rude, or to be careful with his words, but a small part of me find myself in agreement .
“Make it quick!” demanded the girl with the same name of the goddess of Spring and flowers .
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