Chapter 52

I will provide the English translation of the given text:

---

I'll write about it in the activity report next time, but let me give a brief announcement.

In the October issue of Comptiq, there will be an introduction to this work.

To the magazine staff, Studio Hard Deluxe, and the editor of the section introducing it, thank you very much.

While I was visiting my hometown in Osaka, I received the offer to be featured and jumped up in my accommodation.

I am very grateful.

The next day, around noon.

Lava and Renge sent me an interim report about "Traumerei."

Renge tried to appraise the bracelet with a skill but failed.

It only revealed that it is a rare item.

The name "Traumerei" is not its true name.

Next, Lava's report.

She tried to channel various types of magic power into the bracelet in different ways, but nothing happened.

She is currently checking if any curse is placed on it.

It would be dangerous to conduct experiments by wearing it on a human body until that is done.

It seems that the analysis will take more time.

On the other hand, there has been movement on the Nesta side.

A moneylender seems to have taken an interest in the bracelet that the merchant failed to recover.

The "Traumerei" that Nesta had is the real one.

The moneylender knows that the bracelet is a rare item and must want to recover it at all costs.

The real bracelet is being kept by the Magic Guild, so the one Nesta currently has is a fake.

Nesta showed the moneylender that he possesses the bracelet with minimal exposure and prolonged the negotiations.

Fortunately, the moneylender couldn't tell if the bracelet was real or fake.

Nesta pretended to be scared of the moneylender's threats.

The overconfident moneylender inadvertently revealed a clue leading to the boss.

All that's left is to verify it.

To begin with, are there really that many real bracelets?

When I heard that the recovered "Traumerei" is a rare item, I had some doubts.

But if there is only one bracelet, the female magician would be more serious about reclaiming it.

I received a report that Luke and the others had contact with the intermediary in the evening.

The intermediary approached Luke, who was disguised as a noble's son.

Thinking he is wealthy, the intermediary said from the start that a high amount of money would be required.

Eugene, pretending to be a friend, waited and said that a bracelet that can cause miracles is a fake and paying for it would be a waste.

The intermediary, reluctant to lose a large sum of money at this point, said that the ritual would be performed immediately and that they should experience the miracle firsthand.

The intermediary said that he would bring the female magician to the Schellen family's mansion the next morning.

"Finally, it's tomorrow."

"Yes. I'll also observe the ritual from the adjacent room."

There are several unused rooms in the servants' quarters.

The rooms on both sides of the one where the female magician will be lured are also empty.

I will confirm the female magician using the ritual from one of these rooms.

There is a hidden window behind a painting on the wall, which is typical of a noble's mansion.

"I'm coming in."

A man's voice, and the door to the chief's office was rudely opened.

Quincy must have known. He didn't move at all, but I was quite surprised.

"Can't you enter more quietly?"

"It's fine. Long time no see, Guild brother."

The chief said with a weary face, but the man who entered was completely unapologetic and greeted me.

I've seen him somewhere before.

"Ah, the one from the dungeon investigation. Thank you for your help back then."

The man was the leader who took over the handover for the dungeon investigation.

In other words, this man is a veteran adventurer and also a guild staff member.

"You and I always seem to meet in strange places. Aren't you supposed to be a window staff member?"

At the entrance to the dungeon, a strategy meeting to capture the female magician.

Indeed, we always seem to meet in strange places. I smiled wryly.

"You two seem to know each other. This man will be the leader of the team dispatched from the investigation department."

"Never thought I'd be called out to catch a fraudster. But it's much easier to deal with people than to capture a new type of monster."

Saying that, the leader smiled brightly.

His reliable smile made me smile too.

"Thank you again, Leader."

"Sure, leave it to me."

---

The next morning.

Luke and Eugene are waiting in the designated room.

I had breakfast with Tristan and then met the trio he had called to the mansion.

"Long time no see, everyone."

"Noah! It's really been a while!"

"I heard your injuries are better now..."

When I spoke, Sol and Gerard expressed their concern.

I was happy but also a bit embarrassed, and I told them I was fine.

Fran was standing a bit away, watching me intently.

"Fran."

Gerard called out to Fran, asking what was wrong.

"Aren't you scared?"

Fran said suddenly.

What does he mean?

"I trusted Captain Smith. But you stabbed him, didn't you?"

Fran's words were incoherent.

But I could understand what he was trying to say.

Fran seemed to have cared for Smith.

He must have been shocked by what happened.

He became closer to the knights and had more opportunities to interact with Smith.

Fran might be suggesting that it's better not to get involved with the knights.

On the day I was stabbed, even if a lot happened, nothing might have happened if I hadn't gone to the knights.

If I had returned to Tristan's mansion, my uncle wouldn't have changed his route to the palace to visit the knights.

Fran doesn't know, but my involvement with the knights is not just because I'm friends with Tristan.

So, I will continue to be involved with the knights.

"Fran...? What's wrong?"

"You're not acting like yourself, Fran."

Sol seemed confused by Fran's unusual behavior.

Gerard was unperturbed.

He might have noticed what Fran had been thinking about. He spoke in a light, joking tone, trying to calm him down.

But Fran glared at Gerard, as if even that bothered him.

"How can you talk normally after what happened? You almost died, right? I'm a Fratellian. Aren't you scared?"

"I'm not scared."

I looked Fran in the eye and said.

If I said it was because I was a Fratellian believer, I would have to doubt most people in the capital.

"You're lying."

"I'm not lying."

Fran shook his head.

"No, you are. I know. When you slashed the beastman, you were scared, weren't you?"

Indeed, I was shocked by the blood.

I was scared by the violence in front of me and felt ashamed of my lack of resolve.

At that time, I was scared of everything because I lacked composure.

But now, it's different.

I don't see the power that protects me as violence.

"I may be a coward, but I don't think my comrades who have saved me many times are scary."

"Idiot, be more suspicious. You know the world of nobles, right? Otherwise, you won't survive no matter how many lives you have."

"I understand that you're worried about me. I'm glad to have such good friends."

Fran might not have known what he was trying to say.

But in the end, it sounded like he was just telling me to be careful because I'm unreliable.

To hide my embarrassment, I laughed.

"Y-Yeah, you're an idiot! I won't be responsible if you really die!"

"Being an idiot is fine. If I was stabbed by someone who told me to doubt myself, that person must be really foolish."

After that, it was a mess. Gerard looked exasperated, Sol still looked confused, and I ignored whatever Fran said.

"Then, I'll leave the back door to you."

"Sure! Leave it to me!"

"After the capture, the guild leader told us to follow them. See you later."

"Hey, don't let your guard down until the end."

Sol said cheerfully.

Gerard's calm voice relaxed my shoulders.

Fran, though a bit sulky, was gradually returning to his usual self.

Even though he calls me a good person, he can't talk about others.

I thought this secretly but only smiled slightly.

"Hey, they're about to arrive. Are you ready?"

Pulled by Quincy, I entered the room adjacent to the designated one.

The painting on the wall had already been removed, revealing a peephole.

I exchanged a glance with the leader, who was waiting in the room, and nodded.

If we are detected and they escape, it will be a problem, so we will leave the timing of the raid to the leader.

We are supposed to confirm the ritual, so we will have to be flexible.

There are three of us on my side, including the leader. On the opposite side, three members of the investigation department are also waiting.

I peered through the small window to observe the inside.

Luke was lying on the bed, and Eugene was sitting in a chair next to him.

"They seem to have arrived at the mansion."

Using a crystal that can transmit images, the leader communicated with the comrades hiding in front of the mansion.

Since sound cannot be transmitted, they use hand signals.

Incidentally, this crystal is also hidden in the room where Luke and the others are.

"The intermediary and the female magician. Two others will assist in the ritual. The priority is the female magician. Be careful, as we don't know what skills she has."

The leader gave concise instructions to the comrades waiting behind.

"(They've come in...)"

I could hear Luke's voice through the wall.

"Are you the female magician who can perform miracles?"

"Stand back. Lady Charm is a great one. If you anger Lady Charm, even what can be healed will not be healed."

One of the henchmen standing on either side of the female magician said in a dramatic voice.

"(Haha...!)"

"(Quincy! Hold it...!)"

The overly dramatic line made Quincy chuckle.

Meanwhile, the henchman continued to praise the female magician.

"Alright, alright. Then, let's start the ritual right away."

"Not so easily,"

The henchman pretended to be reluctant, and Luke dangled a large sum of money.

The henchmen gasped.

"(They're too greedy...)"

Eugene said something to discourage the female magician's side, who seemed to be motivated.

"Please wait. We can't afford anything happening to Lord Luke."

"(Hey, what's he up to...?)"

The leader looked at me with a puzzled expression.

"Do you doubt my power?"

"Even as a noble, that's too disrespectful! Lady Charm, let's go."

The leader looked at me again.

But I raised my hand to stop him.

The henchman made a gesture as if to leave but didn't really mean it.

Besides, I trusted Eugene and Luke.

"(Stand by...)"

The leader signaled to the room on the other side.

"You can perform miracles multiple times, right? Then,"

Luke continued.

"First, heal this wound."

"(Luke...!)"

Luke quickly cut his wrist with the small knife I gave him.

Blood dripped.

At the strategy meeting, Luke said he would handle it.

He would pretend to be a crippled knight. Since the illness couldn't be judged by appearance, it would be fine.

However, now, Luke chose to sacrifice his own wrist.

If he had told me, I would have definitely stopped him.

So, he didn't tell me. He must have thought about it from the beginning.

"(Tch. Hey, Noah. Don't just stand there.)"

The female magician started the ritual.

Hit by Quincy, I suppressed my shock and focused on the female magician's movements.

The henchman chanted something like a spell.

I couldn't sense any flow of power.

When the chant reached its peak, the female magician touched the bracelet on Luke's wrist.

"Power within me, perform a miracle. Drink the sacrifice, Traumerei."

The blood flowing from the wound on Luke's arm stopped almost immediately.

"(It's really healing... Hey, Guild brother, what's wrong?)"

"(Your face is terrible.)"

I shook my head to indicate I was fine and signaled to the leader.

"(That's enough. It's sufficient.)"

"(Understood. Raid!)"

The leader acted quickly without wasting time.

The female magician and her group were captured by the investigation department without much resistance.

It was surprisingly easy.

The female magician, cursing ugly, was led to another room by the leader and his team.

I entered the room where Luke and Eugene were and spoke to them for the first time in days.

"Luke..."

"Noah. It went well, didn't it?"

"Yes, good work. With this, there will be no more victims of Traumerei."

Eugene and Luke looked happy.

But I couldn't smile.

"I entrusted it to you, but I didn't mean for you to do that with the knife."

Noticing my gloomy face, Luke said with a smile.

"It's nothing, really. This way, we could understand the bracelet's effect, right?"

If he had pretended to be sick, the bracelet's power might not have been clear in this situation.

I understood why Luke cut his wrist, but I couldn't fully accept it.

"I understand, but..."

"It would have been better if you had waited until the wound was fully healed before raiding."

I couldn't help but shout.

"It's no good...!"

The two of them flinched.

I came to my senses at the volume of my own voice.

"Relying on the bracelet's power is not good. It just appears to perform miracles by absorbing the wearer's magic power."

"That means..."

"It forces the wearer's natural healing power to work faster using magic. Even if it heals, it will always put a strain somewhere."

"Then, Nesta's mother..."

She must have converted the magic power circulating in her body into physical strength to recover from her illness. It might have seemed like she recovered over a few days.

But it only weakened her already diseased body and shortened her life.

I felt sick knowing this.

Luke's arm still had a vivid red line.

The surface wound had closed, but it could reopen if moved carelessly.

"I... I'm sorry for not consulting you properly."

Luke said seriously and bowed.

Eugene, looking tense, whispered, "Me too."

"I'm sorry. I'm not angry. You both did a great job. Thank you."

I couldn't blame Luke any further.

But I was worried that Luke might do something similar again.

---

2015/01/12 Revised