013 | Delevoids

Rowan spoke first, "What's up?"

There was a brief pause before Etho replied, "Rowan, Rowan, Rowan. Every time you come here, there's always a request that you have to make. As you can see here-"

Etho glanced at the pile of unfinished paperwork. His voice, unlike Eugene, was crystal clear and he sounds like a smart person. I'd guess that Eugene is the gangster fighter while Etho is the gangster mastermind.

"I'm quite busy with some...tedious tasks."

Etho stood up, he was wearing a classy thin leather uniform. It was like screaming the words: "I am the owner of this store."

He walked around and continued with his work. He went over to the side where dozens of cabinets and drawers were and he started digging through his files.

"C'mon buddy, you already KNOW what I can do. I'm the problem solver and you just repay me."

"It's not very often that the one and only, Rowan himself, comes visiting my store. So? What do you want? Is it related to that human?"

"Indirectly. It's an order from my wife-"

"Ah, Patricia? Interesting. What do you require?"

Etho sat back down and started writing with a fancy feathered ink pen.

"Patricia needs clothes for boys from the age of four to fifteen."

"A mixed variety, I'll present the highest quality goods for the Delevoids."

"Please, she prefers people don't relate her to the royal family."

New information acquired. Good work, ears. The Delevoid royal family and Patricia's relationship to it. Could it be that she simply refuses to have any ties from politics? Perhaps some internal power struggle? Or has she been cast away from the pressure of her family at their royal palace? The old man, Calamno, is most definitely the king of Naskac. Perhaps not currently, but formerly.

"My apologies, so why bring this human along with you, Rowan? It's not like you to have an accomplice."

"This is Asher, Asher that's Etho. He and his brother are Draconians, the two actually have red skin but it's being concealed with magic."

Concealed? Foolish tricks don't work on me. I've honed my abilities to the extent of which my eyes can perceive the flow of different types of energy. A low-grade spell of this caliber can't fool me.

Perhaps I can get more information by talking myself.

"I already know that."

Etho didn't seem surprised. In fact, he seems to be very well at keeping his emotions hidden. A difficult skill to master, but if you're an owner of a large business, it's simply another useful perk.

"Human, you are abnormal. I see why Rowan has taken an interest in you. Rather, I see why even one of The Twelve Duke's has their sight on you."

"You have ways in getting your information don't you?"

Etho didn't mind my childish looks and voice. I still despise it. I want to grow up already.

"If I didn't, then I wouldn't be able to keep up."

Etho unexpectedly smiled, "This request will be free of charge, Rowan."

"Huh, why?! Usually, you'd ask me to solve a problem or two that's been stressing the company out!"

There was no reaction from the Draconian. He scribbled something on a piece of paper and put it in another pile while picking more paperwork to do.

"I am already satisfied that a human can be like this."

"Man, Draconians are weird."

"Thank you, Rowan."

I wonder what I had that satisfied Etho. Perhaps, did he also see my past life? It's probably not a stretch to say that the Draconian race is probably incredibly powerful but rare. The ability to see through an individual, reading me like an open book with just a glance. How frightening, that's an ability that can't be blocked unless I had more mana to conjure a spell. Alternatively, I could train my body to be naturally resistant to all magical abnormalities.

Etho signed another piece of paper and handed it to Rowan.

"You will expect your orders arriving by the end of today. It's been nice seeing you, Rowan. Nice meeting you, Asher, I expect to hear many things about you all in due time."

Rowan grabbed the piece of paper and grinned.

"Let's all grab a drink sometime, I know you've been practicing brewing a new type of wine."

Etho smiled and waved us goodbye without looking away from his work.

* * *

Rowan teleported both of us back. Though, it seemed like he couldn't do it on the same level of mastery as Calamno. Prior to the teleportation, he put on a few rings which I presume to have helped him in conjuring the spell. After appearing in front of the mansion, he was a bit out of breath.

"I, hah, am not as proficient in magic, hah, as my wife or father, hah."

Chill out dude, just focus on breathing.

"I see, then I assume you're better in close combat?"

Rowan laughed then looked at me with a serious expression and confidently stated his answer, "Absolutely not."

"..."

I ignored Rowan and headed inside. I took my time as I walked a familiar hallway.

Where might I be going you may ask? To this mansion's library. Composed of different books and reading material that Rowan and Patricia collected over the years. There are some books that are supposedly priceless. Well, according to Rowan that is.

I remember him saying something like: "You can easily find a book that isn't being printed anymore. Discontinued or even one of a kind."

I have been spending lots of time in the library, Patricia likes to read as well so we often enjoy each other's company. When I walked into the library today, it was as magnificent as always.

Long and tall aisles of bookshelves, filled to the brim. Not a speck of dust anywhere due to Patricia's magic that keeps the house clean and tidy. Neatly organized sections and categories of all kinds. In the middle of everything was a small sitting area with some really soft chairs of some sort gathered around in a semi-circle facing a warm fireplace.

They call it a "bean bag chair", such an invention wasn't present in my old world. At first, I thought it was literally made by stuffing beans inside, but after some clarification from Patricia, that clearly wasn't the case.

Patricia was leaning comfortably on a green bean bag chair with her legs crossed. She wore the same dress as she did the day I saw her. In fact, she's been wearing that ever since. When I asked, she told me it was a waste of time to dress up and attempt to look nice every day.

"It's not really your natural look if you're putting on so many things, right?", is what she said.

I saw the books that I was reading yesterday were right where I left them. Right beside Patricia on a blue bean bag. Upon getting closer, Patricia sparked up a conversation with me.

"Welcome back, Asher. You met the Draco brothers?"

I sat back down and opened my book on magic and mana studies, "Yeah. Rowan placed some sort of order."

"As he should. Right, I should probably let you know soon."

"Let me know what?"

While I talked with her, I was also reading.

"You know your rabbit right?"

"I do."

"She's very friendly and intelligent. This rabbit variant is known as the Sapphire Rabbit due to them always possessing a pair of light sapphire blue eyes."

"I read about that."

"Then you should also know about the uniqueness of your rabbit."

Patricia and I had a brief pause before I spoke.

"Sapphire Rabbits aren't known to be friendly at all."

"That's right. I think she may be a valuable individual of yours in the future. Which is why I think we should get you two into a contract."

Absolutely not. Hearing the word contract gives me PTSD, horrifying trauma, from my previous life. I'm sure I don't need to explain how I was exploited.

"I refuse."

"Many individuals who own beasts have their own-"

"Spiritual Contract, I know. It's your typical master and servant relationship, except there are consequences if there is any disobedience."

"And you don't wish for your rabbit to stay by your side forever?"

"Not at all. I strive for a life full of fun and freedom. I don't know much about her but I think even a rabbit is entitled to such rights."

Patricia smiled, "Indeed, you're really a human?"

I was bewildered. What could this beautiful Dark Elf have meant by saying that? Despite Patricia's intentions of not wearing anything excessive, her looks aren't anything to scoff at. Must be nice having royal blood. The Delevoids, huh? I'll keep that name in mind.

"What do you mean by that?"

"Surely with such remarkable maturity and wise mentality, you can't possibly be human. Perhaps are you half-Elf?"

I shook my head, "Nonsense, I'm undoubtedly human."

If I was anything else but a human, I would know for sure. This body irrefutably belongs to a human. On the outside and inside, is completely human. Although, I'm not sure if I'm still humane. The things I've done for the Empire in my past life was...nothing short of sinful.

Patricia tilted her head as she looked me in the eyes, "...Is that so?"

"Y-yeah I'm pretty sure I'm human."

The daughter of one of The Twelve Dukes had nothing to say after that. She merely smiled and went back to reading her novel.

I was thinking about this while reading. Perhaps, Patricia might have been testing me and my intentions. Certainly, if Rowan and Patricia helped Rudif, a runaway slave, they would have to test me to reveal my thoughts. To get rid of a weed, you rip out with its roots.

So they're just here to investigate the roots of the weed to see if it will grow into a threat. I don't doubt that any of them would hesitate to kill me. I'm living in a mansion with probably the strongest Dark Elves in the entire nation. Although, they seem to prefer peace over violence giving that Patricia stays away from politics despite being part of the royal bloodline.

The days went by and I spent my time reading everything I could get my hands on in the library. I frequently explore the forest nearby along with Rudif, or we tag along to see how Rowan hunts. There's not much to learn as Rowan always aims to kill, and he never misses.

A few months later and I've been noticing that the old man has been following me closely for quite a while now. Turns out Etho was right about Calamno being interested in me. I decided to walk into the forest alone and when I was deep within the trees, I figured I'd personally invite the old man for a chat.