Through Unknowns

"The head I showed you will be… hmm… 1,000 gold. The tough hide would be around 25,000 gold. Since it's a huge one and it was a pain to separate from the meat," Emersyn said as she settled her finger on her chin, gazing at the nobles that were slowly getting enraged with her every mention of gold. "The mana crystal is, at the least, at the size of this room and is the purest crystal. Since you all know how to use it now, I would sell it for 1,000,000 gold. I am being pretty generous~ and I will only sell it today~."

"You btch!"

"Oh my~. Then I will increase the price. 100,000,000 gold for the mana crystal~."

"..."

Sloane's face paled, in contrast to those around him, his voice shaky, "Miss… Miss Emersyn, please have some mercy on us..."

"I am being merciful, Sir Sloane."

"Our… our budget is only at 5,000 gold..."

"How much do you have in your treasury?"

"... I'm sorry, I can't say...," Sloane slumped down on his chair.

"We have approximately 100,000 gold, Miss Emersyn," Camellia interjected, smiling stiffly.

"Oh dear~. That's so little. You can only buy the head, hide and the innards."

"You are taking advantage of the fact that you were there when the Water God was killed! You don't even have any money on you! Let's see if you can bring out more money than ours right now!" One of them finally exclaimed in anger as his pudgy body shook; his face red.

"I only have this," Emersyn said as she readied her fingers.

"Only? Hah! You… what?"

A metallic white sheen entered their sight. Their breaths bated as they looked at the familiar coin that they would never touch in their whole life. A platinum coin that was worth 1,000,000 gold that only the Emperor was allowed to touch.

"Not satisfied?" Emersyn willfully thought then took out nine of them. The room was eerily silent as they gazed at those ten platinum coins. They couldn't do or say anything as they were already defeated.

"... Miss Emersyn… please, don't pull out any more platinum coins… we understand now."

"No, maybe she stole those platinum coins..."

"Otis, enough," Sloane said as he glared down the pudgy man.

"I inherited these coins. They look pricy," Emersyn smiled sweetly.

"That just means you stole them," Otis said.

"Think whatever you want, Otis. How about this, Sir Sloane? Let me go around Paladius and I will give the commoners the necessary meat and crystals in each family member. Of course, the nobles are out of the question."

"What?! You can't be doing this! The Water God is the property of Eucarro!"

"Are you even living as a citizen of Eucarro? Have you done anything that will change the world to a better place? Hm?"

"Of course! I always spend my money on those commoners to buy their finest crafts. Aren't I already helping them?"

"That's true, but what I am talking about is like funding the orphanages and feeding the poor. A program that everyone should participate in to clean the whole kingdom. Have you done those?"

"Why should we spend our money on those useless things?"

Emersyn scoffed.

"Thought so."

"Enough, Otis, Raphel. Miss Emersyn, I promise that we will do those if you sell the materials to us. No, only a fourth will suffice."

Camellia raised her hand and agreed, "I will also promise in the name of the Paladius crown."

"I will think about it," Emersyn smiled then immediately left without any excuses.

"That btch!"

"Fcker…!"

"Tch."

Sloane smiled in regret then turned to look towards Camellia who was also smiling ruefully at him.

"Sloane," Camellia called as the commotion died down.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"Send official notice that Miss Emersyn will distribute goods for the commoners."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"Queen?! What are you thinking?! We will lose our money!"

"Is money all you cared about, Raphel?!"

"No… I---"

"Enough with this nonsense! My orders will be followed regardless of your opinions."

***

Emersyn was walking down the corridor and people naturally avoided her as they scattered upon sighting her. When she arrived in the training ground where it was still filled with people vying for Flora's food, they immediately felt a chilling air enough to freeze them over. They shivered and turned to look at the person who was emitting it; Emersyn.

"..."

"... master?" Flora approached.

"My Lady… have some more beef curry. I asked Flora to put enough spicy sauce for you."

Emersyn nodded and received the bowl from Elodiaren. She immediately ate it with gusto and then asked for more. With that, her mood lightened and the people around her visibly sighed in relief. They didn't know how a person could emit such strong bloodl.u.s.t that they couldn't even move from fright. Once Emersyn's mood lifted, they continued wolfing down the delicious food they couldn't pass the opportunity for.

"Ah… that was delicious… if only I could take Flora as my wife and eat good food everyday…."

"Can't you see? Hero Cone and Flora are close together! They can't be separated! Someday, the hero will ask for Flora's hand in marriage… and that is somewhat pissing me off!"

"I think the one Hero Cone is smitten for is that white haired woman. Look how he served her with smiles in his stupidly handsome face…."

"She is beautiful after all, but weak."

"What do you mean smitten for?!" Chloris, a woman with a fiery red hair, suddenly smacked the head of the man who was yapping about.

"Leader! Can't I say the truth?!"

"Shut up, Belmont! He is not smitten with anyone!"

"Heeeeh. So it is true that our leader is really in love with Hero Cone."

"Guh! You fcker… So what of it? Huh?! Do you want me to dismember your family jewel, Orellio?!"

"Eeek! Please not my junior! I'm so sorry, leader!" Orellio covered his lower body and whispered, "Though it is true..."

"Women are so hard to understand," Belmont nodded. "Why don't you make a move now, leader? This may be the only time you two would meet each other."

"... I..." Chloris turned to look at Elodiaren with sadness in her eyes. The object of her affection was smiling fondly at the woman with white hair. She sighed, "It's fine."

Jarlath, who was staying quiet all this time, suddenly stood up and grabbed Chloris' belt where her sword was sheathed, and dragged her towards Elodiaren.

"Hey! What are you doing?!"

"Excuse me, Hero Cone?"

"Yeah?"

"Do you know Chloris Ivannia?"

"Chloris? That woman who leads the Red Jaguar?"

"Wait what?!" Chloris screeched as she was flung towards Elodiaren. "Hey! You bastard!!! Come… back… here? Oh… Hero Cone… um… it's a p.l.e.a.s.u.r.e to meet you."

"You were the one who mastered the quick draw, right? I saw you fight a demi-dragon along with your mercenary group. You were amazing back there. Though, it's a shame that you lost almost five people in your group."

"Ah… eh… uhm… no… that's okay."

"We will give more money to those that contributed to the expedition even if they are dead. We will properly reimburse their family."

"Yes… that's great news..."

"By the way, do you have anything to say?"

"..."

"None?"

"Uhm… my- my name is Chloris Ivannia… twenty-nine years old. Single…," she blushed.

"... uh…," he turned to look at Emersyn who wasn't even paying attention to them as she ate more curry. He sighed, "... Cone Macream. Twenty-four."

"You're so young!"

"Well, yes. I am."

"Uhm… will you be doing more quests from now on?"

"I am not sure, but I might."

"Ahem. If you need any more comrades, the Red Jaguar will accompany you! So, please, call me! Just call me!"

"... okay? I will try."

"Please take care of me in the future!"

"Take care of me too."

Chloris couldn't help but blush from his response. She covered her flushing cheeks with her hands and squealed internally.

"What… what's wrong, Miss Chloris?"

"Ah! Ehm… it's nothing! Please excuse me!" Then she ran away.

When Elodiaren turned to look at Emersyn, she was looking straight in his eyes with a blank face.

"What in the world!? My Lady, you shouldn't do that… you almost gave me a heart attack..."

"That woman is in love with you."

"Yes, I see that as well."

"Too bad then."

Emersyn's smirk was even more beautiful… Elodiaren shook his head then sighed.

"Yes, too bad. Wait, why is it too bad?" His voice turned hopeful.

"Cause I came to take you away."

Elodiaren's heart shook.

"After all, I only came here to retrieve you."

"... yes, that's right."

"So, do what you need to do and then we will go home."

Elodiaren smiled at the mention of 'home' and gently hugged Emersyn, settling her head on his c.h.e.s.t.

"... what are you doing? I am still eating."

"I need this, My Lady."

"I need to eat too," she said as she fought against his strength. "Let go, punk!"

"Nope~"

Emersyn was ready to punch the living daylights of this guy, but then, she saw the heartbroken expression of Chloris from the distance. She could even hear her members talking about them. Some were smiling as they won their bet and some were angry for Chloris; for breaking her heart.

Emersyn smiled stiffly and just stayed still.