The Sword Saint’s Second Life As a Fox Girl

As one would expect of an infamous merchant, Iris had herself the entire topmost floor of the fanciest inn in town. Erin failed to hold back a gasp of awe as she entered the room. The room itself was nothing impressive. The manor they had stayed in Sephrodia Valley was more impressive. Erin and her companions were not awed by the room’s intricacies but by the fact that the room occupied the entire floor and there were no other rooms within. No walls, no divide. 

“If what I heard is true, this room shouldn’t be much of an awe to you,” said Iris as she made herself comfortable on the floor with pillows strewn about. There was a table just beside her, as low as her knees in her current position. The table was filled with plates, which were filled with treats and nibbles. 

“You have the entire floor to yourself,” Erin responded. “Is this an inn, or your one of your many bases across the nation?”

“It’s an inn but it is mine. So, the answer is yes to both. Well, feel free to pick a spot and rest. Plenty of room for plenty of people.”

Everyone looked towards Erin, gauging her answer to Iris’ invitation.

“If you insist, then allow us to intrude,” Erin said and took a seat in front of Iris in a similar manner.

“I didn’t insist.”

“You would have. I just saved us the theatrics.”

Iris’ face went blank for a moment before breaking into a giggling grin. “Oh, my. You have changed.”

“Things change. People change. Time’s changed. Is it so surprising?”

“I suppose it isn’t if you put it that way.” 

The others followed suit after Erin had settled down, picking a spot to their liking. Lyra and Nivia sat close to Erin, just beside her. Siv sat a little further away from the three but not too far to make anyone think of the possibility of animosity between them. Aera and Lilian took a seat in the corner. The former was a tad too unaccustomed to the tenor, while the latter was simply too tired to be her usual chatty self. Finally, Aedan and Amyra made themselves comfortable on a bench that could double as a table, which was placed a tad further away from the centre.

Iris's drifting gaze caught Siv. “You’re doing well, Siv.”

“I am,” Siv replied with her usual detached expression and tone. 

“Crom was quite worried about you.”

“Why would he?”

“I think he fancies you. He’s concerned for your well-being after your brother’s death. He never stops asking about whether you and him would meet again.”

Siv had an uncomfortable look. Words hung on her tongue but they never left her lips. She swallowed those words and came up with another sentence. “How’s Lord Hegan?”

“He’s also well. Actually, you just missed him. He went into the capital ahead of me. A day early and you would have met him.”

“I do not mind. He’s no longer my employer.”

“He certainly isn’t.” Iris’ gaze slowly shifted to Aedan, who was sitting quite some distance away from them. “And you, my dear Aedan, have gotten mild. Tamer, I must say.”

“Just tired,” Aedan answered dryly.

“Oh, tired? Since when do you get tired? You have certainly never gotten tired in bed.”

“Your Grace, may I?” Amyra was prepared to stand.

Aedan shrugged, so Amyra turned to Erin.

The Fox-kin shook her head.

Amyra sighed and sat back down, but her glare stayed on the Umbrum.

“You must be Amyra.”

The Augur frowned. “Have we met?”

“No, but I have heard of you. Not a lot of adventurers have gone past the inner depths of a dungeon and returned alive or intact.”

“I was still heavily wounded.”

“But you survived and you were able to continue on as an adventurer. Not many adventurers stay adventurers after they have been through what you have been through. Also, you’re an Aeryon.”

“So were you.”

“I still am.”

There was a scoff from Aedan.

“Do you think I spoke falsely?”

“Does it matter? Being an Aeryon doesn’t mean much nowadays. The throne is empty.”

Iris frowned. “What have you done to him?” she asked. Her question seemed to be directed at Erin.

“A lot of things have happened. It’s a long story.”

Iris chuckled. “Well, we are not in a rush. You can tell me all about it over a meal.” She then clapped her hands. Servers flooded the room immediately with trays of varied piping hot dishes. Everyone was served a tray of at least four different dishes. There were more, which were placed down on the vast table in the centre of the room. After servers had finished their task, they made themselves scarce without dawdling for even a second longer.

And of course, Ruri was not exempted from this lavish and abundant feast. The servers were considerate and kind enough to place a small bowl of various meats in front of Lilian, whose shoulder Ruri was huddling on.

Although the dishes were all oozing with extremely aromatic smells, no one touched their food except for Iris.

It was only after Erin picked up her fork and knife that everyone else did the same.

“You have really changed a lot, Erin.” Iris tittered. “And for the better, I say. You were like a lost child when we first met. But now, you’re like a resolute leader, a trailblazer.”

“Hmm,” Erin murmured dryly in response.

“And what manner of creature is that on your shoulder, Lilian?”

The Dryad frowned. “You know who I am?”

“I know a lot of people and a lot of things, especially those that concern my dear friend, Erynthea. Which is why I am baffled. I know nothing about that strange yet adorable creature. Is it some kind of a feline Magic Beast?”

“Seems like it,” Lilian responded just as dryly as Erin had.

“You need not be so wary of me. I’m a friend, aren’t we, Erin?”

“You are very friendly. We are acquainted but I wouldn’t call us friends. We haven’t known each other for long.”

“I see…” Iris’ expression dimmed but her zeal remained. “Well, we have plenty of time for that. Feelings can change, just like your beauty. You’re more marvelous than I remember. The whispers regard your beauty highly. Even the royal family caught wind of the whispers about you. You are making a name for yourself, a very big one.”

“You have kissed her arse enough, Iris.” It was Lyra who spoke up. “Just tell us what you want.”

Iris stared at Lyra, blinking. “Why do you presume I want something?”

“Because you’re a merchant and you don’t get to where you are by doing charity for anyone, even if they are your friends, much less acquaintances..”

“For once, I concur with her,” Nivia added.

Iris’ expression turned complicated but in the end, and as always, her ever-present confident smile returned. “You are right. I do want something from you, all of you. You are all adventurers, after all. Have you heard of a certain Lord who goes by the name of William Marsh?”

“Was there a House Marsh?” Aedan questioned. “Is that a new house?”

“It is. A new house and the head is a High Lord.”

“A fledgling house, and it has already received a high status. What’s happening to the kingdom?”

“High Lord William Marsh was only but a mercenary just two months ago with his own small company of twenty. There was a small army of Drakes lurking around the capital. Marsh and his men seize the initiative to subjugate the Drakes, inadvertently saving the crowned prince who was out hunting then. Marsh and the prince became friends from then on.”

“His friendship with the prince led to his quick rise in the noble ranks?” Erin asked.

“I don’t have the exact facts but that is the likeliest story. There is another story that is… unsavoury.”

“Blackmail?” Erin muttered her guess.

Iris smiled wryly and nodded. “Blackmail,” she confirmed. “Elsewise, how would someone of common birth manage to rise through society so quickly?”

“And what is your perspective on this?”

“I have none. At least nothing about his rise to power. However, I do have an opinion about his… secret ventures. I’m sure you are already aware of the missing villagers from these nameless villages, no?”

“It’s hard not to be aware of them.”

“A lot of people didn’t. In fact, almost everyone didn’t.”

“How could they not notice it?”

“There are paved roads here. The forests have little game. No reason for them to wander into the forest unless they are trying to avoid attention.”

“Are you implying the abduction of the villagers has something to do with this new High Lord, William Marsh?” Lyra asked.

“I am. My spies have seen Marsh’s men making contact with bandits and thugs. Of course, they are not officially employed by Marsh, so there’s no solid proof in my implication.”

“Is this where we will be of use? To help you investigate this… William Marsh person?”

“Well… not exactly you. Actually, I only need him.” Iris pointed at Aedan.

“Me?” Aedan pointed at himself.

“Yes, you. My very own private investigator, just like the old times.”

“This ain’t the old times.”

“I suppose it isn’t. But fret not, I will see to it that you all are well-compensated in this task.”

“If Aedan is the one you truly need, why hire the rest of us?” Nivia questioned, her arms crossed in front of her plain chest.

“You sell yourself short, Nivia. I have no doubts that you will all be of tremendous use in this task.” Iris veered her gaze to Lilian. “And you are no stranger to such a request, I believe.”

Lilian’s frown deepened, more than it already had. “You know a lot about us.”

“Information is power and also my trade. Moreover, the bunch of you have been making a lot of waves. I can get all this information just by sitting in the corner of a tavern. Have none of you heard the rumours?”

“We heard plenty of rumours,” Erin said. “But that’s just what they are, rumours. We lack the capacity to verify these rumours. But that’s not our concern here. Before we take on this request, what else can you tell us about William Marsh? What do we need to be wary of?”

There was a stack of papers beside Iris. The Umbrum smiled and handed the paper stack over to Erin, as if she had been waiting for this moment. “This is everything we know about Marsh.”

Erin narrowed her gaze as she received the papers. “It’s a lot of reading. What are the main concerns regarding him?”

“He’s in the higher levels, the seventies and above. He’s adept at an array of weapons. For a fighter, he had also dabbled in Magic Arts. Namely, enchantments and infusions. He has his own mercenary company, but none of his men were men at all. They are puppet golems.”

“A natural gift or the result of some magic tool?” Aedan asked.

“I do not know. He’s very secretive.”

“No one cared to pry the secret out of him?”

“Plenty did, but he always dodges the inquiries with false tales. Of course, many don’t know they are false. Since Marsh has the prince as his friend, no one can be too harsh or persistent with their curiosity.”

“I see…” Erin muttered, her fingers drumming on the stack of paper in her hand. After some silent contemplation, she began flipping through the papers, glancing and skimming through the contents. Everything on the papers were quite detailed, to the point that Erin doubted a normal human had written all of these words. She flipped through the pages until the last one, where a portrait of William Marsh was sketched. When she saw the portrait, her eyes nearly widened in surprise, but she kept her composure from faltering or crumbling.

However, Erin’s unease did not escape the notice of the ever attentive and observant Umbrum in front of her. “Oh, my… Do you perhaps recognise this person, Erin?”

“...I do.” Those words left Erin’s lip, reluctantly and bitterly.