Chapter 79

While packing a simple travel bag, the bandit maids and butlers at Lou's mansion were overthrown.

Judging from the satisfied smile on the head maid's face, it seemed that I had performed excellently during the interview.

"I'm leaving."

"Have a good trip, Miss Daisy and Mr. Jin. I hope you return without any problems, without any incidents, safely, and alive, with Mr. Lou. When will you be back?"

"In ten days."

"Alright. See you then."

After packing the luggage, Jin whispered to me on the way out.

"Senior, I understand that it takes 90 hours for a round trip. Can we find Lord Lou within four days?"

"We have to. We have to in order to keep the promise with Duke Janail. The visit to the ducal family is not far off."

Ah, the life of a busy maid.

I instructed the bandit maid who burst in.

"Take care of Weatherwitz, bandit."

"Of course, Maid Boss!"

The bandit maid, who patted her chest firmly, winked at Jin with a warning.

"Butler, I won't lose to you."

Bang. The door slammed shut, and Jin, with a dazed look in his eyes, asked me for an explanation. He must have been quite surprised.

"She seems to consider you a rival."

"Why...?"

"Maybe because you're in a similar situation."

We headed straight for the Midwinter Large Airport.

As we got off at the sparsely populated airport, a man dressed entirely in black naturally followed us from behind. It was Andert.

'Our airport... was it Airport D?'

Still, it's not unfamiliar since I've been here once.

As soon as we passed Airport C, a familiar face appeared.

As if heading off for a vacation, a blonde man with stylish black sunglasses waved his hand widely at me.

"Miss Daisy! It's been a while! Hahaha, how have you been? Your complexion looks even better. How are Lord and Lady Weatherwitz?"

He was always so cheerful, so he never felt awkward no matter when I saw him.

"They're both healthy. My master is too busy, so I'm moving on his behalf. Please convey my thanks for his kindness and ask him to take care of us for a while."

"I'm the one who should ask you to take care of us, Miss Daisy. This person seems to be traveling with you... Hmm. If my eyes don't deceive me, it's definitely...?"

Jager, who slid his sunglasses down to his nose, looked at Jin and me with disbelief.

"Is this... Miss Berkeley Greyton?"

"That's right, my colleague at work. Jin? This is Jager Parulla, who will guide us to the Northern Continental Federation."

"Colleague...?"

"Please take care of us, Mr. Parulla. I met you before and am glad you remember me. I'm the butler of the Weatherwitz family, Jin. I'll try not to be a burden."

"Butler...?"

Jager, who had fallen into deep confusion, quickly regained his composure, faster than expected.

Maybe because he's the second son of a newspaper family, he has a quick grasp of reality.

After all, there are probably more surprising news in the world than the news that the heir of the Berkeley Greyton family has become a butler for the Weatherwitz family.

He cleared his throat slightly and smiled awkwardly.

"Hmm. As I mentioned before... an unexpected companion has joined us."

I wasn't surprised, as I had already heard about it.

On the contrary, my curiosity only intensified. Who could it be that he keeps hinting at?

The next person to appear was someone who, even if he had given ten hints, would be understandable.

"Hello, Miss Daisy Pagger and Mr. Jin. I think we met once at the noble assembly, but I'm not sure if you remember. I am Duke Dscherro Contana."

Dscherro.

Raphaelo's long-time advisor and my colleague.

For a moment, I thought it was a dream. But I immediately understood what his presence meant.

'Raphaelo sent him!'

This spy Dscherro.

I narrowed my eyes and examined his face. Dscherro, a master at hiding his emotions, looked as tired as always.

"I will be accompanying you on this trip. I hope it will be a pleasant journey."

I shook hands with Dscherro, who looked somewhat uneasy.

Jager, who cleared his throat, whispered in my ear.

"I don't know how it happened, but the news that Miss Daisy is traveling as a representative of the duchess has reached Duke Raphaelo. I haven't told anyone this news. Haha..."

Dscherro, with a look that suggested he had heard everything, smiled with his usual tired expression.

"Duke Raphaelo knows everything in the world."

"So you're here to spy on me. Is that it? A duke?"

"Rank is meaningless in the chain of command, Miss Pagger."

"That's true. Yes."

Looking at him, I felt a bit sorry.

To still be rolling around at the level of a duke.

'That means he's keeping a close eye on me.'

But if you think I'm going to hold back, you're mistaken.

I, maid Daisy, will go my own way without revealing my true identity.

Taking the opportunity, I introduced the two pieces of luggage I was dragging.

"The duke asks you to take care of them, kids."

Dscherro, who had been looking at Andert with a suspicious eye, sighed in surprise.

"Garosh? Is that you, Garosh? How did you end up here?"

"I'll introduce you again. This is my colleague at work, the butler. This is my brother, Andert."

Andert clenched his teeth, embarrassed by the introduction.

"Please ignore the barking. I ended up traveling with them, Duke Dscherro. I'll keep a low profile, so you don't need to acknowledge me."

"Miss Pagger, are you and Garosh pretending to be siblings?"

"No, we're just siblings."

Andert clenched his teeth again.

"We're not pretending."

Yes, we're not pretending. We're real siblings.

I requested a handshake from Dscherro and gave him a hint to board the airship.

"Please take care of us, Duke. Call me Daisy from now on. Shall we board?"

I shook his hand vigorously and headed for the airship.

'Five party members. A stable number.'

It feels reassuring, reminiscent of the old days.

A day like today, perfect for an airship to take off. What is Lou, who left me behind, doing?

* * *

Somewhere in the Northern Continental Federation.

Verdand was walking a bit faster.

As soon as he heard the news, he flew from the Kingdom of Astrosa to Calpha, the holy land and main temple of Logue.

During this time, the sun had set and risen once, but Verdand couldn't get a moment's rest. As always, the 'culprit' of the news was unpredictable and acted without regard for timing.

Really, just like always!

"Calpha."

The people guarding the outskirts of the holy land knelt as soon as they recognized Verdand's face.

However, Verdand had no time to acknowledge their greetings. He squeezed through the slowly opening door and walked briskly.

"Calpha."

"Calpha."

The Yetes, who were allowed to live in the outskirts of the holy land, knelt one by one as soon as they saw him.

A serene silence settled wherever Verdand went. The people who bowed their heads respectfully, as if in prayer to a god, created another path.

The ashen-white holy land, with dome-shaped roofs scattered here and there. The river that spread like veins between the gaps. The large willow leaves swaying in the south wind and the sand grains rolling on the ground...

The harmony of ashen-white and blue announced the peace of the outskirts of the holy land.

How can it be so quiet when the 'culprit' of the news has returned?

'He must have climbed over the wall again without any warning.'

Now, it's so familiar that my tongue doesn't even dry up.

After passing through the outskirts, he entered the lowest of the peaks surrounding the area. Stepping into the cave where a cool breeze blew, a long vine stretching towards the sky appeared.

Verdand walked up the stairs inside the thick vine without stopping. Even after passing through the heavy door at the top of the peak, he continued.

The stairs stretched towards the sky. The two giant vines that spiraled into a staircase existed to reach a single place.

From a distance, it looked like a giant tree hidden by clouds.

The land of the gods.

The unparalleled holy land, Calpha.

At the end of the stairs, a massive door appeared before Verdand. As if granting his visit, the door slowly opened with a heavy sound.

Beyond the beautiful paradise that made one's eyes widen, a man with silver hair and a white robe stood.

"Urd."

Verdand approached the man, Urd, with a light step.

Despite the familiar greeting, Urd's gaze behind his glasses was cold.

"You've crawled in without being called by Lord Calpha."

After insulting him, he walked ahead as if nothing had happened. Verdand was flabbergasted.

"How can you talk to me like that?"

"I have no kind words for someone who doesn't take care of the holy land and just runs around outside."

"Taking care of the holy land is your job."

"It's also your duty."

Urd is right.

In reality, the three Calphas, the leaders of Logue, have the duty to manage the holy land, Calpha. However, since the other two have been away for a long time, Urd has been shouldering the responsibility alone.

"...Have you heard nothing from Skuld yet?"

The three Calphas of Logue.

The scribe, Urd.

The commander, Verdand.

The guide, Skuld.

And the great demigod, Lord Calpha, who oversees them.

Among them, Skuld has been in the southern continent for four years, searching for the relics of Dian Ket. It's strange that it's still quiet, as we should have heard that he has recovered at least a couple of them by now.

"It's as you know."

It means it's still quiet today.

"Alright, forget about that. Why did Lord Calpha return suddenly? I thought I wouldn't see him for years."

"Don't get excited like a child. Have we ever been able to predict his intentions? If you're curious, shut up and follow me."