Chapter 11

“Hey, isn’t that you, Clément? Did you check out the stalls?”

A voice called out as he was about to leave, having completed his task. It was Timo, a Dwarf who was a skilled weapon and armor craftsman. Dwarves were renowned as a race adept at smithing. Timo was not only an old friend but also a trusted colleague and a respected master craftsman who had earned the title of Meister.

Perhaps because they had had a bit of a quarrel recently, Timo seemed a bit awkward.

“Hey, Timo. Do you remember when I was searching for that high-grade potion the other day?”

“Of course, I remember. You were running around saying you couldn’t find it.”

With his typical short, sturdy build, Timo’s small legs moved quickly as he approached.

“I managed to get it, actually. It was made by a young woman, barely over twenty. Her name’s Iriya —I just came from seeing her.”

“No way! A young lass like her made a high-grade potion? Surely it was actually her parents who made it or something? You’re being tricked, no doubt.”

It was a natural reaction. Honestly, as long as it worked, it didn’t really matter to him who made it, be it herself or someone else.

“Apparently, she used to work at Egdualum’s research lab, so it feels kind of legitimate…”

“Sounds like you’re being swindled to me. Throwing in a big, far-off magic nation’s name like that smells like a scam.”

“And then there’s that stone from the other day.”

The mention of “stone” brought a grim expression to Timo’s face.

It was the enchanted orange stone that had caused their argument. He’d shown it to Timo, explaining he’d received it, only for Timo to bluntly tell him it didn’t feel right and he should get rid of it. Though he usually appreciated Timo’s straightforward, honest words, he had felt unreasonably offended at that time, snapping back that Timo, who couldn’t use magic, couldn’t understand and was just nitpicking a gift. After obtaining the stone, he’d been more irritated by small things and even received petty complaints. When Iriya  told him it was cursed with discord magic, a burden that had weighed on his heart lifted, and it finally made sense. That was why he’d been able to believe her.

“… Talking about that stone is just going to go in circles.”

“That’s not it. I showed it to that girl too. She immediately went pale and said there was a spell on it meant to cause interpersonal strife.”

“She figured that out just by looking? Sure, things did feel off back then, but still…”

It wasn’t something easily detected, even he’d agree if someone else mentioned it. Timo looked skeptical, scratching his head.

“That’s not all. When I asked her to dispose of it, the man beside her casually picked it up, muttering that it was crude, and held the stone in his hand. Then, red smoke started rising from his fingers, and a shiver ran down my spine as if a cold gust had swept through me. The stone itself became more ominous, yet strangely mesmerizing… it was seriously creepy. Iriya  freaked out, saying it had turned into a tool that could lead people to their death.”

The experience was so intense he couldn’t convey it well. It would be hard to imagine without having seen it. People capable of laying such a deadly curse were extremely rare, and those who could would usually perform it in a sealed, ritual room, protected by layers of spells and even sacrifice. The idea of holding something that could kill just like that felt like a child’s prank in comparison.

“…Well, I don’t think you’re lying,” Timo said with a furrowed brow, prompting a chuckle.

“That guy, she says, is a demon contracted to her. He looks completely human, though.”

“… Whether it’s true or not, she’s quite the outrageous woman, isn’t she…”

“Seriously. But she makes quality potions. I trust well-made products more than people. If someone can make something exceptional, then they’re someone I can trust.”

“That sounds like you.”

They exchanged a smile, and a brief silence fell between them.

Lights began to glow in the dimming streets as the vendors hurriedly packed up their stalls and waved goodbye to each other. Adventurers returned from their quests, merchants who had just arrived searched for lodging or ordered meals at the taverns.

“… That stone, I got it from a craftsman I buy from often. When I asked him where he got it, he said he’d received it as a freebie from a merchant he didn’t know who said he wanted to establish a good relationship by gifting him one. It’s probably just some business tactic…”

“That sounds rough.”

“Anyway, you stay cautious too. You deal with clients, so you’ve probably got more trouble than me.”

“Mind your own business. I’m not handing my creations over to someone who can’t even wield them properly.”

It was Timo’s pride that made him trustworthy. Why had he said what he did back then? If it really was the curse working its way into his heart without him noticing, then that stone was a real threat, especially for merchants who relied on trust and connections.

He sighed and unconsciously pressed a hand to his chest, feeling something hard under his clothes.

He took out a crystal pendant on a leather cord that he’d recently been given, and showed it to Timo.

“Oh, this was something Iriya  gave me as an apology and a gesture of goodwill. It’s enchanted to reduce the effects of attack magic. Not bad, right?”

“What!? She gave you something that incredible? You’re definitely being conned!”

Ah, Timo was still Timo.

But this time, unlike with the stone, Timo actually wanted one for himself. He directed him to the sister’s stall, explaining Iriya  was a magic item artisan and telling him about Belial, the demon he’d only seen once.