It’s not polite to peek at someone else’s TokTok conversation. What’s more, if that ‘someone’ is not just anyone but the lord you serve? It’s even more out of the question. Secretly looking at TokTok is akin to betraying one’s lord, similar to rummaging through their desk drawer and reading their letters.
Rayburn, a knight serving Duke Daira, knew this well. However, having seen the duke conversing with Count Hexen late into the night, he was dying of curiosity about their conversation.
‘Last time I checked, Count Hexen was no ordinary oddball… Could he be toying with our innocent lord?’
The loyal Rayburn Isset seriously pondered this.
Should he honor his loyalty and leave the lord’s TokTok alone, or should he exercise some discretion to uncover Count Hexen’s true intentions?
Rayburn paced in front of the duke’s desk, torn by intense conflict. In the end, it was not curiosity, but a sense of duty to uncover Count Hexen’s motives that triumphed.
“This isn’t because I have any ill intentions.”
Rayburn quickly turned the TokTok towards himself. Tapping the screen, a list of the duke’s recent conversation partners appeared.
It seemed the duke had also tested the device’s capabilities by chatting with the nobles a few times. Rayburn ignored those and looked for Count Hexen’s name.
[Count Mirah Hexen (00000001)]
After a few taps, the conversation history with the count appeared.
[You must be busy, no need to reply further~]
[Yes, you don’t need to reply either, Count.]
[Yes, thank you!]
[Yes, I’m thankful too.]
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[Do you have any more questions about TokTok?]
[No, I don’t.]
[Okay! I kept replying just in case you had more questions!]
[That’s not the case. Thank you.]
[Yes~]
[Yes.]
[.]
After swallowing hard, Rayburn turned off the screen and carefully placed the TokTok back as it was.
To Rayburn, Count Hexen and his lord were like a spear and shield. In the end, it was Count Hexen who sent a noncommittal dot to end the conversation, but there were several points Rayburn couldn’t understand.
It was clear both wanted to end the conversation, but why did they keep replying to each other? The lord was always polite, but why did Count Hexen reply like that?
‘Why not just ignore it instead of sending a dot?’
Both were strange, Rayburn concluded, nodding to himself.
What should you do when two carriages meet on a narrow road, and both belong to nobles?
In my case, I just yield. A ‘commoner-born noble’ is still treated as half a noble, so it’s better to avoid trouble and step aside.
But that carriage yielded. Why?
I narrowed my eyes and examined the coat of arms on the carriage through the window. A large shield crossed by two magic wands, scales symbolizing fairness and neutrality.
“Is that Duke Daira?”
I muttered to myself, and the old man sitting opposite me checked as well.
“Indeed. Why did they yield? Did they recognize us?”
“Who knows, but they’re certainly peculiar.”
Considering the nobles who stubbornly insist on having their way, losing face and fighting in the streets, Duke Daira is truly an extraordinary exception.
“If they’ve yielded, let’s not linger. Let’s pass first.”
The butler tapped the coachman’s seat, and the carriage started rattling and rolling again. Then, I saw a long procession behind the duke’s carriage. Probably knights and servants who had followed from the capital. There seemed to be quite a few people, but their attire was not flashy.
“So he really did come to the capital.”
Duke Daira had always stayed in his domain. Of course, he traveled and broadened his horizons, but this was the first time he had left his domain with such an official entourage.
He is a powerful magician and comes from a prestigious magical family, so he has the duty to manage and control several magicians. Between overseeing his vast domain and dealing with unruly junior magicians, he must be very busy.
Yet, what could be the reason for him to come to the capital? Well, it’s none of my business.
“Miss, we’ve arrived.”
The old man opened the door for me, and as soon as I stepped out, the distinctive sweet smell of the magicians’ district hit my nose.
I’ve always found this artificial scent rather unpleasant.
“Love potions for sale, cheap!”
“Just drink this and feel the tiger’s vigor! You’ll even win against a wolf!”
“Buy one invisibility potion, get one more free!”
Love potions, body-strengthening beverages, invisibility potions… They sound fascinating and impressive, but their effects are just so-so. The love potion simply makes your heart beat faster, the body-strengthening beverage makes you feel warm, and the invisibility potion is, surprisingly, just transparent in color.
There are no great magicians in this district. The items for sale are all much of a muchness.
Even if they wanted to sell something remarkable, the law prevents them from doing so. Imagine, if anyone could create fire with a magical device or sell a potion that truly made your body invisible, what would become of the world?
“Can we really get any real information here?”
I asked skeptically, pulling the hood of my red robe tighter. The old man replied quietly, so as not to attract attention.
“They’re all magicians here. They have their licenses.”
“But they’re not specialists in curses.”
“Ah, just come with me. Don’t respond if anyone talks to you.”
I sighed and nodded, then remembered I had to give the last response and said aloud, “Okay.”
Over the past few days, the old man and I had experimented and learned something. If you don’t engage in conversation with people, there’s no need to respond. When the old man rambles on to me alone, I can just ignore him, and there’s no need to reply.
Perhaps it’s the same with TokTok? If someone speaks to you and you don’t respond, maybe it’s okay to ignore them.
It’s such a hassle to worry about all this.
But I can’t really turn to stone and die, so I’ll just keep my mouth shut.
As I walked through the bustling and bright atmosphere of the magicians’ district, which resembled an ordinary market, a well-decorated shop appeared. I looked up at the sign.
[All the Magic in the World, Rayver]
“They say he’s a reliable informant. He’s reputed to have some expertise in curses, but you have to come in person for an accurate diagnosis.”
“Really? I hope it’s not a wasted trip.”
There’s so much to do for the new year; I wonder how long I’ll have to keep worrying and wandering like this.
The old man led the way and opened the wooden door. A bell tinkled. No one would recognize my face, but just in case, I pulled the hood down further.
While the old man spoke to the receptionist, I quietly surveyed the surroundings. The overall atmosphere was very warm and cozy. The inside was filled with warmth, and the sound of burning logs could be heard. I had expected an information shop to be quite gloomy.
As I sat quietly, I overheard the conversation at the reception desk.
“I’m sorry, but you might have to wait a while… We have a reservation at this time.”
“How long will we have to wait?”
“Well, we can’t say for sure.”
“Can’t you do it quickly? It seems like that reserved guest hasn’t arrived yet.”
“I’m sorry, but…”
I checked the clock on the wall; it was already half-past two. It must have been a two o’clock reservation, but they’re late. Anyway, it was the old man’s job to handle, so I just fidgeted and killed time.
Then, the bell rang again.
Turning around, I saw two men standing there. The one in the lead caught my eye immediately.
…He’s incredibly handsome, isn’t he?