Chapter One Hundred and Nine: The Cornered Rat and the Kittens 2 (Harald’s POV)
There had been several times before when Harald had nearly received recognition. A merchant in his former town had found Harald’s exceptional memory interesting and taught him various things. Thanks to that, Harald had learned not only reading and writing but also calculation and document preparation.
But in the end, Harald couldn’t compete with the town children who couldn’t read or write but possessed normal amounts of magical power. Skills could be naturally picked up while working, but magical power didn’t increase naturally. Unless one risked their life in battle and had that recognized by the goddess, magical power wouldn’t increase. And even among adventurers—those crazy enough to fight monsters daily at the risk of their lives—such miracles are rare.
That’s why Harald was told they would rather hire a lazy child from a two-parent home who didn’t even try to learn but had high magical power. When he was told with a warm smile to knock on the trading company’s door again if his magical power ever increased, Harald responded with a smile, but his face must have been contorted. Every time he remembered the guilt-ridden face of that kindhearted merchant, Harald felt like his face was burning with shame.
What had he even been expecting?
For instance, one couldn’t form magical contracts without magical power. While being subject to a one-sided contract posed no problems, if Harald wanted to make someone else honor a contract, he would need enough magical power to activate the contract magic. But Harald didn’t have that. What merchant would trust someone who had to involve a third party for every important magical contract in business?
He knew there were countless jobs and customs where nothing could be done without magical power. So why had he gotten so full of himself just because he could do work that didn’t require any magical power?
That’s why Harald swore to himself not to get his hopes up about Karen’s proposal of a raise. He would not show disappointment at the inevitable outcome. He would accept it with a matter-of-fact expression to avoid making Karen feel guilty.
To never experience such feelings again—
“Hey, Harald!”
“W-What is it?”
“We have customers. Pull yourself together.”
Harald blushed when Tim admonished him with exasperation. Of course, Harald wouldn’t glare at Tim since it was his own fault for being distracted. After gritting his teeth at his own negligence, he looked toward the customers Tim mentioned.
Once again, they were suspicious-looking visitors. Two men completely covered in black cloaks with hats that hid even their faces. Previously, a customer with this appearance had been Karen’s valued client. Not wanting to be disrespectful, Harald composed himself.
“Welcome. Currently, Alchemist Karen is away, so we’ll take your request.”
“When will the alchemist return?”
“She’s gonna be back late today, right? Probably.”
Harald elbowed Tim, who was speaking too loudly for a whisper, and smiled at the customers:
“She is expected to return late today.”
“We want to buy cosmetic potions.”
“I’m afraid cosmetic potions cannot be sold without permission from Her Highness the Princess. We can sell you minor healing potions though.”
They had permission to sell easy-to-handle minor healing potions even when only Tim and Harald were present.
“Can’t you sell just the soap?”
“I apologize. If you need cosmetic potions urgently, please inquire at the Princess’s residence.”
Harald had been instructed to use the princess as a shield if customers asked for cosmetic potions. At his response, the visitors exchanged glances.
“You said the alchemist will return late, but how late exactly?”
“Should be sometime tonight… I suppose?”
When Tim tried to answer in casual speech, Harald glared at him, causing him to switch to awkward formal language. As Harald endured a headache, the two visitors sighed. Just as Harald was trying to smooth things over with a forced smile, the tip of a dagger was pressed against his throat.
“Don’t make a sound, kid. Not if you want to live.”
Harald trembled as the dagger’s edge touched his throat when he gasped. He was terrified that his own trembling might cause the dagger to pierce him.
“The request was to intimidate that alchemist Karen, but there’s no way we’re getting near her. Noble house knights guard her day and night. If we’re gonna move, it’s gotta be kids. So, what’s the plan?”
“Why not just kill them?”
“Would killing orphan servants be enough of a threat?”
“She’s a young woman, so finding kids’ corpses when she comes home should be frightening enough. But if you’re worried, we could torture them? To show what will happen to her too.”
“Let’s write on the wall with the kids’ blood. ‘You’re next,’ or something.”
“Before we get our hands dirty, let’s steal the potions—especially the soap. That’s what the client wants.”
The men who had removed their hooded cloaks decided the fate of Harald and Tim with the casualness of planning dinner. Tied to a pillar with his arms behind his back, Harald was drenched in cold sweat.
“Hey, what if they aren’t actually customers?”
“Are you an idiot, even at a time like this?!”
Tim, who was tied up next to Harald in the same manner, said something absentminded. Harald couldn’t help but raise his voice.
“I mean, they could just be rude customers, right?”
“How could they be…!”
“ Shut up, both of you! Though I get wanting to call that idiot an idiot. But seriously, do you still think we’re customers? Are you out of your damn mind?”
Even the hired robber-murderers looked taken aback by Tim’s words. Harald was too dumbfounded to speak.
“Hmm, so you’re not customers. That means you’re… bad guys, right?”
“Obviously they’re robbers and murderers.”
“If you’re saying that, Harald, then it must be true.”
The men twirled their fingers near their temples. Harald moved past exasperation to admiration for Tim’s courage.
“Hey, who sent you guys?”
“Someone your employer made an enemy of.”
“Someone Karen made an enemy of… so it must be that Isaac guy.”
“Don’t blab so much to the kids, hey.”
“Who cares? We’re gonna kill them anyway.”
Harald knew that good-paying jobs came with risks. The larger the trading company, the more dangerous serving them became. Serving an excellent alchemist naturally came with even more danger.
“—Haha.”
“What are you laughing at, kid? Have you gone mad with fear?”
The men frowned at Harald’s laughter.
“I was just thinking how amazing my master must be if someone is trying to destroy her with such despicable methods.”
The man sneered at Harald, who spoke despite being teary-eyed and trembling violently.
“There were soap potions and what looked like ingredients in the workshop. No paper or report, though. Probably locked in that magic-authenticated safe.”
“That’s off-limits then. Guess we’ll make sure they can’t scream, for starters.”
As one man grabbed Harald by the collar and tried to force a wad of cloth into his mouth, his strength suddenly weakened.
Somehow, Tim, who had been tied to the pillar just like Harald, had escaped from his restraints.
And his arm was now embedded in the chest of the man who had tried to gag Harald, piercing through to his back.
Oof... Tim isn't a very bright bulb, but a very sharp knife instead.
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