A Journey Unwanted

[Realm: Álfheimr]

[Location: Heart Kingdom]

[Pulchritudo]

[Banquet]

"Well then," Duke Bluebeard said, turning toward Ella and Gretel with a broad, satisfied grin, "is this an impressive sight enough for you, my ladies? Or have I somehow still failed to meet your expectations?"

He spread one hand toward the enormous chamber as though presenting an entire kingdom rather than his private collection.

"Treasures from every corner of the world," he continued proudly. "Artifacts that have crossed oceans, relics purchased from collectors who would sooner part with their own blood than sell them, weapons that belonged to names most people have only ever read about, and jewels that have never been seen outside these walls. The vault alone is worth more than two countries put together."

There was no mistaking the pride in his voice.

Bluebeard was showing them what he believed his wealth said about him.

Gretel looked across the chamber again.

She wasn’t an expert on the value of rare artifacts, and she certainly couldn’t judge the worth of every gem, weapon, painting, or piece of furniture surrounding them. Still, even she could recognize that Bluebeard’s claim wasn’t entirely empty boasting.

The vault made the banquet downstairs seem almost insignificant.

("I wonder if this is the vault Goiim was referring to.")

Gretel’s silver eyes moved slowly across the room.

A Duke with this much wealth could afford several such places if he wanted them. There was no reason to assume this was the only vault Bluebeard possessed.

("Knowing how rich he is, I wouldn’t be surprised if he had another one hidden somewhere.")

Bluebeard seemed pleased with their silence.

"You have a very unique privilege in being allowed to see this," he said, gesturing for them to continue following him. "Very few people are permitted beyond those doors. I don’t simply open this place for every guest who happens to compliment my banquet."

Trismegistus had already fallen somewhat behind.

The Royal Guard seemed far less interested in Bluebeard’s collection than the Duke would probably have preferred. He had stopped near one of the paintings and was examining it, his golden mask concealing whatever expression he might have had.

With little alternative, Ella and Gretel followed Bluebeard deeper into the vault.

The further they went, the more the space seemed to open around them.

What had initially appeared to be an enormous chamber became only the entrance to something considerably larger. New displays emerged around every corner, each containing another collection of expensive objects.

Jewelry filled several cases.

Weapons occupied others.

There were swords with jeweled hilts, elaborate daggers, ornate staffs, and strange weapons whose purposes Gretel couldn’t immediately determine.

There were suits of armor displayed individually beneath arranged lighting, each one looking as though it belonged to a different era or culture.

And then there was furniture.

Expensive-looking furniture arranged almost as carefully as the artifacts. There were plump chairs, long couches, and decorative tables. Even beds, each one made with elaborate frames and fabrics that looked far too expensive to actually sleep in.

Bluebeard watched their reactions as they walked.

"This entire vault," he said, sweeping his arm around them, "is my pride and joy. Years of acquisition, negotiation, travel, and investment went into creating it. I hope, at the very least, that it has proven sufficiently interesting."

His eyes settled on Ella.

Then, rather than remaining on her face, his gaze slowly traveled over her.

Ella noticed, but she gave no visible reaction.

Bluebeard licked his lips before his grin widened.

"We can even have our fun on one of these fine beds later," he said, lowering his voice slightly as though sharing an intimate promise. "After all, it would be a shame to let such accommodations go unused."

Ella merely hummed; there was no embarrassment in her expression. She looked at him with the same expression she had maintained throughout the entire conversation.

"Right," she said easily. "I suppose I have to keep my bargain." Her casual acceptance made Bluebeard’s expression brighten immediately.

"Then shall you also be joining the fun, my dear?" he asked.

His attention shifted toward Gretel.

Gretel immediately felt the intensity of his gaze; she barely managed to keep the frown from reaching her lips.

"Well—"

"Of course she is."

Ella moved before Gretel could finish; her arm slipped around Gretel’s waist and pulled her closer. Gretel’s entire body stiffened as a startled noise almost escaped her before she managed to swallow it.

Of all people, Ella.

She turned her head toward the smaller girl with wide silver eyes.

Ella looked completely unbothered.

"We’re thick as thieves," Ella said, the smallest trace of amusement entering her voice, "and we do practically everything together. Isn’t that right, Gretel?"

She extended one delicate finger and lightly tapped Gretel beneath the chin.

Gretel’s face immediately flushed.

"Wha—" Her composure actually threatened to crack. ("Is this payback for all the teasing earlier!?")

Ella’s expression remained perfectly innocent.

The Duke, meanwhile, looked as though someone had just handed him the greatest gift imaginable. His eyes widened and his grin became almost painfully broad.

"Haha," he breathed, visibly struggling to contain his excitement. "Y-yes. Yes, that will be nice. Very nice indeed."

His imagination was clearly already running far ahead of the conversation.

Gretel noticed, and she regretted noticing.

Ella, apparently satisfied with the reaction, finally withdrew her arm from around Gretel’s waist.

"But that’s for later," she said, turning her attention back toward Bluebeard.

Her tone was casual enough to make the Duke hang on every word.

"For now, please show us around." She glanced toward the displays surrounding them. "Seeing interesting things gets me all hot and bothered or something."

Bluebeard’s face practically lit up.

"O-of course!" He turned sharply on his heel and resumed walking; his stride had noticeably quickened. Whatever dignity he had possessed a moment ago seemed to have been replaced by barely restrained enthusiasm.

Ella watched him go, and Gretel too.

Then she slowly turned her silver eyes toward Ella.

Ella simply continued walking as though nothing unusual had happened.

Behind them, Trismegistus finally looked away from the painting and followed.

"Was that really necessary?" Gretel whispered, keeping her voice low enough that it would not carry to Bluebeard ahead of them. Her cheeks were still somewhat red, and the embarrassment had not quite left her despite her best efforts to regain her usual composure. She kept her eyes forward as she walked beside Ella, though every few seconds her gaze drifted toward the smaller girl with an expression that made it clear she still hadn’t decided whether to be irritated or simply bewildered.

Ella noticed.

"Color me surprised that you can actually get embarrassed like this," she hummed, the amusement in her voice becoming harder to conceal. The corner of her mouth threatened to rise into a grin. "If I’d known something that simple could make you lose your composure and shut you up that easily, I would’ve done it much earlier. Would’ve saved myself quite a bit of trouble."

"Ugh," Gretel sighed, shaking her head. "You being like this of all people is honestly unbelievable. I didn’t think you had it in you."

There was no real disappointment behind the words.

If anything, despite herself, Gretel sounded almost fondly exasperated.

"But I suppose it worked," she admitted, glancing ahead toward Bluebeard. "I think the Duke’s completely sold on us now. He practically swallowed the bait without even questioning it."

"Pig’s practically salivating at the chance to get into our pants," Ella mocked, her voice flat despite the vulgarity of the observation.

Gretel looked at her for a moment.

"You’re wearing a dress, though," she pointed out.

Ella’s expression barely changed.

"Shut up," she said, waving the observation away as though it were beneath consideration. "That’s not the point. All that’s left is to hear what that Goiim chick actually wants, and then we can come back. Once we know what we’re dealing with, there’s no reason to keep wasting time here."

Gretel’s amusement faded slightly.

Her eyes moved toward the enormous golden walls around them.

"But what about security?" she asked quietly. "I can sense something. It’s faint, but it’s definitely there. Mana. A lot of it, actually. I’m guessing the defenses are well hidden."

"They are," Ella answered without hesitation. Her gaze briefly swept over the surrounding architecture. "Complex wards. Layered and concealed. Whoever set them up knew what they were doing."

Gretel waited.

"But nothing impossible to penetrate." Ella glanced toward the direction they had come from. "Now that I’ve seen them properly, teleporting into this place is child’s play. We don’t have to waste time figuring out every individual defense when we already know how the system is structured."

Gretel hummed thoughtfully.

"So we’d be one step closer to finding those dragons, huh?"

The thought seemed to settle between them for a moment.

"It’s a roundabout way," Ella admitted. "But I’m not wasting hours playing detective just to find them. If this Duke’s vault and whatever Goiim is after gives us the opening we need, we’ll use it. For now, though, we leave."

Gretel glanced back.

"What about the Duke?"

Ella looked at her as though the question itself were strange.

"What about him?" Her eyes briefly shifted toward Bluebeard’s broad back before returning to Gretel. "Unless you’re actually looking to get railed by that lard-ass, there’s nothing left here for us to do."

Gretel stared at her.

Then she let out a tired breath, a weary smile appearing despite herself.

"Right," she murmured. "Leaving does sound better."

"Glad we agree."

Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!