Chapter 46 – For one's sake

Gundry was about to head back to the house of Argos. When the Minister of Defense of the Town of Tal call him. He stopped on his track and turned towards the middle aged man that was chewing on a cigar. This middle age man then slowly approached Gundry and offered.

“Would you want one Sir Gundry?”

“No need Sir Taleo, I prefer my cigar with a pint of wine in midnight.”

“Ah, as expected of the Gundry Ravaeno. You know your stuff.”

“It is not worth mentioning,” Gundry said.

“Very well, I am here to discuss something.”

“What is it?”

“The thing you said during the middle of summer. Are you sure that there is no need to deal with the roaming bastards that are around the town?” Taleo said.

“Yes, there is no need to worry about it. I have it under control Sir Taleo. I should have explained it to you right?”

“Yes, about the Lady Argos wasn’t it?” Taleo chewed the cigar and puffs a smoke. “It is rather weird how you go this far. I mean, I know your previous activities but this one is much more of an oddity. What do you want with that foreigner?”

“That is for me to decide Sir Taleo. You know that the Lady possesses a curse that acts a chain for her. And throughout the days of her ancestors, that curse has given nothing but suffering for the Lady.”

“And so you are finding a conduit...” Taleo said. “Passed on the curse through an invisible string—quite a cruel thing to do.”

“I am willing to do anything for the Lady. It is my sole duty to make sure that the curse ends with her.” Gundry said with a determined look.

Taleo glance at Gundry and said, “Well I understand the feelings of a guardian. I once took care of an arrogant elven child. Quite the feisty and ferocious gal she was, and it is to my regrets to lose such odd one.”

“I see. I am sorry for letting such favor halt your work.”

“It matters not" Taleo waved his hands. “You have done this town favors that we don’t even know if we can repay. So think nothing of it.”

“Thank you,” Gundry replied.

“But still, for you to pick a foreigner to bear the curse. Is that foreigner a really suitable conduit for the curse of the Lady?”

“Yes...I thought of nothing about that foreigner nor will I ever let someone unknown like that meet with the lady. But the moment I saw how fate-less the man is. I thought of an idea.”

“Fateless huh...does the man really don’t have the smell of mana?”

“Yes, I tried checking the star where he was born under but there was no sign of it. As if that man just appeared on this world suddenly, a peculiar man that doesn’t hold any strings to the world.”

“I see. No wonder he is best suited as a conduit for the curse.” Taleo smoked his cigar.

“Indeed he is...” Gundry said blankly.

“I have no qualms about what you are doing Sir Gundry. But as a man, who protects the law of the Town. This is the only time that I could help you out with this kind of request.”

“That I understand Sir Taleo. I appreciate your kindness for this meager sacrifice.”

“It is nothing. But the question that is on top of my head. Will the infection of the curse really work? Will the ‘conduit’ ripped off the curse and take it with him?”

“I don’t know. But I am willing to take the chance.”

“I see, though I have one warning,” Taleo said. “It better be clean Gundry. I cannot allow that woman and the person that is the friend of that woman to find out. You know how dangerous he is. And I doubt that the soldiers of the Town or even the Alchemist and Magus Guild could help you once he acts.”

“I know. “ Gundry said. “That is why after the black marks appear. I will pull him out of the town.”

“That’s good.” Taleo made a sigh of relief.

The two then talked for a while. After the talk, they separated their own ways. Gundry walked the streets of the town. And as he walks, he spotted the figure of a familiar man walking with a cloak on. He glances at the lad holding his wrist. The man seems to be in pain and Gundry could see how he caresses his throat.

Watching the man walk while limping, Gundry could not help but close his eyes for a moment before muttering.

“This is nothing personal.”

After that, he continued walking on until he arrived at the house of Argos. Inside the house, he took his tailcoat off and went the lady’s room. There, he saw the lady continuously writing. Seeing the pained expression on the lady’s face, Gundry’s heart ached. And as it ached, the determination to cure the curse of the Lady set ablaze in his heart.

“You are back, Gundry?”

“Yes milady. The meeting with the Lord went well. Although pardon me for approving the deal with the magus and alchemist guild. I only increased the Lady’s burden.” Gundry said.

“Don’t apologize. With the northern kingdom’s and the West non-humans making their move altogether, I believe that your decision is right. It is for my sake after all isn’t it?”

Gundry looked at the lady with a saddened expression. He then lowered his head and replied.

“Yes milady, what I do is always for your sake—nothing more, nothing less.”