Surviving as the Third-rate Extra: I Can Plunder Talents
Chapter 44: Heart of Golden Crown [2]

Chapter 44: Heart of Golden Crown [2]

"Young Master, is it truly okay?"

For some reason, Yena’s foot kept tapping the horse-drawn carriage’s floorboard, her expression restless.

Her act as a spy was a masterclass. However, of all the territory she had to tread, it was governed by a notorious one in the same line of work, even though it was now a thing of the past.

Looking at Yena, I opened my mouth to ask, "What are you worried about? Because I might say a word or two that your identity has been exposed, which would inevitably lead to you being disposed?"

Yena gulped; there’s nothing wrong with what I said, just facts knowing the heart of the Golden Crown.

Ravelle was a perfectionist and tended to be uneasy when something was not going her way. Different from any merchant throughout the continent, she prioritized stable connections rather than mere monetary gains.

’She’s probably dealing with the backlash caused by Ires Queen Deadwood. That’s a consolation, I’d say.’

Every major character had some sort of screwloose—and the way to shake them was a little trouble.

"That..." Yena was momentarily at a loss for words, her eyes begging for my motives, thinking such a move was something I wouldn’t dare make.

"Just stay put. If I plan to eliminate you, I would have already done so. But I didn’t since I need every help I could possibly have considering the state of the territory... You know very well that everything I’ve done so far was merely a temporary remedy to tend to the critical wounds caused by Count Othenwald."

"..."

Yena stared at me with a mix of worried and contemplative expression, though I could not care less what she was thinking at this moment since we had been underground more than the time I calculated to wrap up the expedition.

"Tell me any interesting news regarding the Hero Academy, especially the ones focusing on second years, you know..."

I found her communication ability interesting and incredibly reliable considering the long distance it could cover. Of course, artifacts for long-distance communication were a product in this world, but one of them was hefty enough that the cost could feed thousands of commoner families for at least one month.

Yena looked at my disinterested expression, since we were meeting Ravelle, yet my concern was shifted to a seemingly random matter.

Yet with my request—not an order—she began to inform me what Ravelle had told her some time ago.

"Uh, the first semester will be concluded in one week. Miss... Ravelle said that there will be an island exam for first and second years alike..."

Hearing her, I posed a question I already knew the answer to, "An island exam? Where’s it going to be?"

"She says it’ll be on Ranaya Island..."

’Ranaya Island... I guess it didn’t change at all, and that’s a good thing.’

It’s a lone island located in the far east of the continent, which could only be initially accessed through established portals between the capital of the Holy Empire of Divinia and Kingdom of Grisha, one of the kingdoms belonging to the Eastern Empire of Adania, which could be said to watch any possible threats coming from the Atlan Sea—where the exam venue was situated.

Listening to Yena, I asked, "How did you deliver the message?"

"...?"

Seeing her confused face, I continued, "What exactly did you say?"

At my sudden question, Yena’s face paled.

If she were to deliver a message to Ravelle, it had to be in a way that would not give away that her identity as a spy was already compromised.

Squinting my eyes for a moment, I couldn’t help but let out a chuckle, "You said some crazy things about me, did you?"

"Y-Young Master..."

"Hah. Forget it. Just stay composed, will you?"

Yena fell silent, sensing that I was not in the mood to continue. After a few minutes, however, she decided to ask,

"But Young Master, Miss Ravelle’s patience will run thin, especially since it’ll take at least a week to return to the Eshu County..."

It was an honest concern, but I brushed her off and just replied succinctly, "It should be any minute now..."

"...?"

It was at that moment that something besides Yena, who was sitting across from me, manifested—a crack of void.

In the next moment, a fair-hued hand came out, eventually revealing a figure donning a witch’s hat, surprising Yena.

"What the hell were you doing? Where have you been?! You son of a bitch!"

It was Maya Hel Infinitum.

Because of the mysterious nature of the Abyss Lands, it was the only place in the entire world she could not dare to recklessly warp into...

Or just how the sun outside of the dark veil couldn’t give light to the consuming darkness, she could not detect my presence to reach me... But now, it’s different.

"Is this how you express yourself when you miss someone?"

*

Pak!

The echo of the smack lingered as I rubbed my head, her intense glare almost shattered my soul.

Seeing her demeanor, it seemed something had happened with the Imperial Princess. But with Yena’s unexpected presence, Maya refrained from blabbering her mouth.

"You dare act foolish? Just what did you do all this time?"

I replied half-heartedly, "Well, just a little expedition. You know my territory’s running out of funds. I need something to at least hold out a little longer."

"Are you really serious about playing house or what?"

As if Yena’s presence disappeared, Maya continued with her barrage of insults disguised as questions and concerns.

"Just... Shut it! Your Student Council Treasurer is at the doorstep of my territory right now. Since you’re here, at least help us out instead of running your mouth! How about that?!"

Yena gulped at the sight of me and Maya bickering. After all, how could I casually address a renowned genius magician?

But what’s more surprising was the fact that Maya was here... in this faraway place.

’I wonder what’s their relationship...’ She thought.

After some time, as everything had been cleared with a mix of anticipation, Maya casually warped everybody with ease.

*

Outskirts of the Eshu County.

"Do you believe him, Master?" Sokhran, one with brown-skin, fiery hair, and a pair of sand-colored eyes, whose physique was well-built, asked.

As the same one who provided safe passage to Lugh as part of his deal with Ravelle, he had witnessed the former’s demeanor, and Sohkran thought that Lugh was merely a man of hopeless ambition, who was only driven by a responsibility as the son of Eshu County’s former lord.

"Why? You don’t?" Ravelle, beside the carriage’s miniature window, responded to him with a chuckle, who was standing outside and beside the same carriage, his hand was on the hilt of his sword—a habit of his whenever he was escorting his master.

"He seems suspicious. I don’t think he has the capability to lead an expedition of any scale with barely any resources."

"That’s a reasonable concern. But don’t worry, my eye already confirmed that their expedition somewhat bears fruit."

"But do you trust her, Master? It seems..."

At that moment, Sohkran sensed Ravelle’s emerald eyes glaring at him with intensity, prompting him to immediately face her.

"I-I apologize for stepping my bounds, master." He lowered his head in silence.

Simultaneously, an abnormal phenomenon caused the nearby surroundings to tremble, alerting every mercenary and even Ravelle. However, her head tilted to one side at the sight she had witnessed.

’What is that bitch doing with him?’