Return of the Fallen Volume 13 Chapter 108
Kazuki had wanted to go back to the smithy after Runa left his room, but he found security was on high alert. Runa had broken his focus earlier, and he had dropped a single piece of Monsuta stone in the middle of the smithy. He went undiscovered but the fact that a piece of material was out of place brought unwanted attention.
There was no explanation as to how or why it had ended up there which made others suspicious. To sneak out more Monsuta stone when eyes were actively looking, even if he could fully hide his presence it would be foolish to act now.
The next day, with the rise of the blue sun, Kazuki headed not to the smithy but to Verick.
Pretending he didn’t know the direction, he asked a few servants with a pleasant smile and headed to a certain office.
Sitting at a desk just outside the office was a slender woman. Her wings were neatly folded around her sides and her hair was tied around her horns in a decorative yet minimalistic way. She cared about her appearance but appeared professional. Floating in her palm were a handful of black crystals. Each one glowed with a dim light as she read over the information inside and scribed down notes here and there.
Kazuki hadn’t even approached the desk when the woman called out to him.
“Lord Verick is in dispose. If this is not important don’t even think of wasting my time human. Return to the forge and do your job.”
(She’s very curt. We don’t even know one another but she speaks like this.)
Kazuki slowly walked over. He pretended like he was intimidated mixed with a determined-like expression.
“How would someone like me know if it’s important or not? After all, I’m new to this place, so I don’t know all the inner workings yet.”
The crystals floating above her palm landed softly on the table and she looked at Kazuki with contempt.
“Look here human. Your idea of importance is different from our own. We Gerians have a hard life and toil away with back-breaking labor just to keep this place afloat. Someone like you who’s used to a life of going where he pleases when he pleases is free-flowing and someone without a care in the world. Whatever you think is important most likely isn’t, so just go back and stop bothering me.”
Kazuki had already seen this woman’s memory yesterday when he checked over everyone in the mansion. She was the type to not take crap from anyone she deemed less than. In her eyes, those that fit that criteria were many.
It was pointless to argue with her, and Kazuki did not come here to fiddle about uselessy. He could sense inside the office that Verick was observing the current scene. Kazuki couldn’t read him but knew he had some kind of information related to the ritual. In order to possibly touch upon a clue, Kazuki needed to approach this differently.
Kazuki recalled some of the inscriptions inside the damaged tome from the library. Although he had not deciphered them, at the very least he knew this book held a connection.
There was not much hope but he had to go for it,
“[Displacement of Origin]. I thought Lord Verick would be interested but I guess not.”
The secretary had no clue what Kazuki was talking about and began to shoo him away. Kazuki had just turned around to leave when the door to Verick’s office opened.
“Come in.”
The woman was at a loss. Kazuki was some no-name who held the status of a slave. Even if he had done some paltry-like tricks to entertain, that did not mean he should be allowed audiences with such important figures.
She couldn’t help but jump to her feet.
“Lord Verick this ugly creature he
“Enough! You may go for the day.”
Verick’s voice contained some aura that frightened this woman. She knew when to leave and she swiftly collected a few of her recording crystals. Avoiding eye contact with Kazuki, she ran out of there leaving the two completely alone.
Kazuki walked into the modest-looking office and the doors slammed shut behind him.
Verick stared out a small narrow window overlooking a part of the city.
“Have a seat.”
Without even looking at Kazuki, he told him to sit. A small simple decorative chair with a hard cushion. Verick turned around with the same calm expression as always. He took a few steps forward and grabbed the chair behind his desk with his tail and dragged it in front of Kazuki.
Sitting down in front of Kazuki, his hands interlocked with one another and he stared into Kazuki’s eyes without a word.
Without hesitation, his aura shot forward and enveloped Kazuki entirely.
(His aura is no joke. Compared to Mefius or the others, his is the most refined. There is a clear technique, unlike the other Gerians. If Mefius’s aura is like an ungodly weight crushing down upon you. Verick’s would be like waves of an ocean. Continuously battering away over and over again as it searches for a weakness. He is calm on the outside but deep within there is a firestorm raging on.)
Just like before, Kazuki used his soul-reading ability to keep his fake identity at the forefront. No matter how much Verick searched no matter what he overturned or pierced, he could only see through the fake soul identity Kazuki had set up beforehand.
After looking through Kazuki’s fake memories and finding nothing regarding the tome Displacement of Origin, Verick was greatly alarmed.
“How is this possible!?”
As soon as he said this out loud he went silent once again.
“Instead of asking how this is possible, wouldn’t you rather have a good discussion, maybe about your favorite books? While I was in the library I came across a few interesting ones. There was an interesting quote in one. Do you recall a book called The Soaring Night Blade”
Verick raised a brow before Kazuki continued.
“I had some time yesterday so I read through quite a handful. The Soaring Night Blade had a particular quote. What was it again…Oh yeah, I remember now. A man’s reflection is not what he looks in the mirror and sees but rather what he doesn’t. Very interesting in my opinion. It caught my attention and made me think of several things but what do you think it means.”
Vericks had a small crack in his expression as his mind snapped to that particular book. The exact paragraph and the exact sentence flashed in his head. As soon as Verick recalled the quote his expression returned to normal and he smiled as he understood.
“Kazuki I thought you had something important to come and talk about. Who would have thought I sent my servant away for such little things? Well, I don’t really mind. After all, it’s been a while since I’ve last spoken about my collection in the library. Tell me what you’ve read and I suppose I wouldn’t mind going over a few of my favorites. As for The Soaring Night Blade. The quote you referred to means to see with unclouded eyes and be flexible, otherwise lies will blind you. At least that’s my interpretation.”
Kazuki smiled upon hearing this.
(So he understood what I meant. The Soaring Nigth Blade has a particular quote that I purposely misquoted. At my level forgetting a memory is basically impossible, especially a memory I would have literally made yesterday. He caught that quite easily. The actual quote, A man’s reflection is not what he sees in the mirror but rather what he doesn’t see. It basically refers to lies deception and secrets. In this way, I told him I have secrets. Only a few words out of place and he realized what I was trying to do right away. He could have simply cut things short there but his incorrect interpretation to me incorrectly quoting that book was his answer that he wishes to know more. His expression even broke momentarily and for a split second, he almost glanced toward the hidden observing crystal in the corner of the room. Thankfully he stopped himself in time but it shows he is also aware that Mefius is watching and therefore everything said in this room, Mefius is aware of.)
Kazuki went over several books he looked into yesterday and Verick nodded in understanding.
Some of the titles were simply red herrings just in case Mefius picked up on something here or there. The rest contained certain meanings and phrases one could hear but not understand the hidden meaning without full context.
With the books on the table, so to speak the coded talks began in full view of Mefius.
Kazuki threw out a quote, and Verick easily understood what he really meant.
(There are a few things I am very interested in. Do you mind if I’m blunt.)
Kazuki would take a leap here. He would play his words safe just in case so he could have full deniability.
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