LIGHTNOVELSTORY Chapter 24 - Elder Gillifield's Arboretum (1)
Chapter 24. Elder Gillifield’s Arboretum (1)
“Are you really sure about leaving just like this, Young Master Rubin?”
The escort asked with a worried look. Yet, even they knew that Rubin’s decision would not change.
“Hey, you anxious assassins. You and I both know exactly what kind of kid he is, don’t we?”
The one to twist the escort’s expressions with a few words was Tina, who stood beside Rubin.
Right now, Tina had transformed into a man the size of a bear. Rubbing her thick chest hair, she chuckled heartily.
“Am I right? You and I both have seen Rubin hiding his abilities slyly.”
“How dare you say something so outrageous with that mouth! I should kill you right now, if not—”
“What, you’re going to kill me? If you kill me, that scary lady Seiren won’t just let it go.”
“How… how insolent!”
The hands of the escorts reached for the daggers on their waists.
Rubin had no choice but to step in.
“This is enough. Tina and I will go this way, so you all should return to the estate.”
“Goodbye, assassins. I’m off to leave privately with this sly little Young Master.”
Peiiing.
Leaving behind provocative words, Tina transformed into another creature. Watching her shape-shift in front of them was bizarre yet mystifying.
Hiiing. Pprr…!
A black horse, tossing its mane and stamping the ground with its forelegs.
Tina turned her head towards Rubin.
“Come on, Rubin. Think about Elder Gillifield who’s eagerly waiting.”
“You’re really rushing me.”
Rubin climbed onto Tina’s back and reminded the escorts.
“There’s nothing to worry about. From here on, it’s the Pamuk Road, the safest road in the Empire, so what could possibly happen?”
“It’s not anything else we’re worried about, it’s that Blood-Transformation Tribe woman…”
The escorts couldn’t finish their sentence properly.
Tina suddenly dashed forward.
Pamuk Road.
One day’s journey from the Ronan estate, it was known as the Empire’s safest road.
Maintained by the Kingdom of Pamuk, it stretched across the center and eastern regions of the Empire.
The three escorts who had joined Rubin’s tour of the tower accompanied him only until Pamuk Road, where they were supposed to part ways.
Even though they spoke of worry, they didn’t genuinely fear for Rubin.
Like Tina said, they knew that Rubin’s skills surpassed those of an average escort.
“Hey, kid.”
As they galloped, Tina spoke up.
“Tina, why don’t you act more like a proper horse?”
“If you could interpret horse sounds, I’d be glad to.”
Hiiing. Pprrr.
“Alright, enough. What do you want to know?”
“The thing I didn’t finish asking earlier. What’s my job at the arboretum?”
“First, you resolve whatever is troubling Elder Gillifield. Second, you adapt well and live there for two years.”
“For two years? And then?”
“We’ll meet again. I’ll make sure you’re free from assassination missions then too.”
“That’s a sweet offer. But you seem confident I won’t run away?”
Tina’s tone was brimming with confidence.
With the Blood-Transformation Tribe’s transformation ability, escaping from the arboretum would be easy.
Even if the Assassin Blade Family’s retainers guarded the arboretum, Rubin was well aware that the Blood-Transformation Tribe’s transformation abilities surpassed them.
“You know that if you betray me, things will become very troublesome for me.”
“So you thought I’d be so moved that I’d obediently stay to raise crows for you?”
“Of course, that’s not it.”
A way to control Tina.
If he hadn’t had a method, he wouldn’t have gone this far, assuring Seiren so boldly.
“It sounds like you have some method.”
“Stop, Tina.”
The ever-curious Tina halted immediately, tapping the ground with her hooves, eager for an answer.
“What? Why?”
“Your transformation ability is exactly what will allow me to control you.”
“What are you talking about? If I transform, I assure you no one could find me.”
“Oh, really?”
“Shall we bet on it?”
Tina stomped her hoof proudly. Rubin thought it was time to bring her down a notch.
“Fine. I’ll prove that the Blood-Transformation Tribe’s transformation ability isn’t perfect. In one kilometer, we’ll reach the fourth intersection square. A crowded square. Go there and hide anywhere.”
“Huh? Are you saying you want to play hide-and-seek? Typical kid.”
“Whatever you turn into, I’ll find you before sunset. If I do, you’ll listen to me from now on. How about it?”
“And if I win?”
“I’ll set you free.”
“Hmm.”
“What’s there to think about? Afraid you’ll lose?”
From Tina’s perspective, she could pretend to comply and escape.
He was essentially offering her an opportunity, but Rubin already knew her nature.
The Blood-Transformation Tribe were known for their pride and fierce competitiveness.
Tina was bound to take the bait, blinded by her pride.
And sure enough—
“What! This cocky brat!”
Enraged, Tina transformed from a horse into a sparrow.
She flapped her wings furiously right in front of Rubin’s face, chirping madly.
“See you later, kid!”
Ignoring her fierce warning, Rubin watched her fly off with an innocent expression, still calm as he observed the bird disappear into the distance.
* * *
The Fourth Intersection Square.
Among the thirteen intersection squares on Pamuk Road, this one had eleven roads connecting from different directions, making it one of the largest.
The bustling square was filled with numerous travelers and merchants, all possessing ‘Empire Passes’ that vouched for their trustworthy identities, so safety was not a concern.
Upon arriving at the square, Rubin was still relaxed. He showed no sign of looking for Tina, instead, he was busy watching the crowd.
‘I’m starving. Come to think of it, I haven’t eaten yet. I’ll grab a meal first.’
Wading through the crowd, Rubin walked toward the square’s eateries.
It was a quiet time in the restaurant, as the lunch rush had passed.
He took a seat at one of the tables and looked over the menu.
Those inside curiously glanced at Rubin, guessing he must be some noble’s child.
For this journey, Rubin’s role was that of a noble from the borders.
Rubin ordered chicken soup and an expensive steak.
Soon, the food arrived, and he indulged in a feast he hadn’t had in ages, not since his return to the past.
‘Hm, it’s delicious. If I were stuck in the estate, I wouldn’t have tasted this.’
Then, he suddenly recalled his bet with Tina. Casually glancing around the restaurant, he wasn’t looking to find her just yet.
“That was a good meal.”
Rubin placed an imperial gold coin on the table and stepped outside.
“Now, shall I start looking? Ah, there she is.”
It didn’t take long for him to spot her around the square. He didn’t even need to use Dark Ripple.
Rubin walked into a general store across from the restaurant.
A group of about ten people gathered around the travel goods display.
A gambling game was underway.
“Hey, how is it possible to roll three sixes in a row? This is a total scam! No way, I’m not paying! This belongs to me!”
It was a dice game, with a pair of travel boots as the prize.
A man with a mustache raised his voice, nostrils flaring.
The situation was easy to grasp.
The mustached man, who had held the high score, was about to lose his prize.
“Have some class! Hand that over now, will you?”
“What? You think I’m doing this over some boots? All of you, from the bystanders to the ones stirring things up, are scammers.”
“Oh, listen to this guy. Why drag all of us onlookers into it?”
Mustache Man clung fiercely to the boots, refusing to let go. But to Rubin, it was clear—there was only one swindler here.
“This won’t do. Time for some justice! I’ll go call the Imperial soldiers. You swindlers, hey—wait! Who’s tugging on my clothes?”
The mustached man, finding Rubin pulling on his collar, gave a sheepish laugh.
“Oh…? H-how did you find me?”
“Even a passing dog would know it’s you.”
“What did you say!”
“Let’s quit making a fuss and get moving. We need to reach the Ninth Intersection Square by evening.”
“J-Just get moving? Wait, Young Master! I haven’t even eaten yet. And this is a serious issue here. The world is sick with swindlers! I rolled three sixes in a row, you know?”
Ignoring her, Rubin tossed the boots Tina had been holding back to the people and promptly left the store.
“Ugh…!”
Tina and Rubin exited the general store and chose one of the many crossroads, heading in the direction marked on the map as where the elder’s arboretum lay.
They walked until the people around them thinned out. After a while, Tina broke the silence.
“Hey, kid, how did you find me? You couldn’t have tracked my Dark Ripple.”
“I have mysterious eyes.”
“Mysterious eyes? Ones that can see through a Blood-Transformation Tribe’s transformation?”
“Something like that.”
“Impossible! I’ve never heard of anything like that in my life!”
“Not entirely untrue. I’m the only one in the world who has them. And you’ve only just learned about me.”
“H-h-how dare this… insolent brat…”
Mystical eyes.
Though he claimed the ability as his own, it was actually Haneke who could detect a transformed Blood-Transformation Tribe.
‘For a power bestowed by the Empire’s Grand Marshal, it’s fairly modest.’
‘Thanks to it, I can make Tina one of my own.’
‘She’s not the type to betray you anyway. She’s quite a pure-hearted, amusing young woman. The best I’ve seen so far.’
Haneke was right.
While Rubin had managed to provoke her competitiveness, Tina didn’t actually need to respect the bet.
In her sparrow form, she could’ve just flown far away.
The fact she didn’t, and that she was still there even after her anger had cooled, meant she already trusted Rubin.
“No one’s around. So, what should I turn into this time, Young Master?”
“A horse is probably still the best.”
As Rubin requested, Tina transformed into a black horse.
She looked far more agile and powerful than before, a high-quality breed Rubin recalled from the Maia region.
Then, a thought crossed his mind.
“So, can you transform into anything you want?”
“If only it were that easy.”
Tina snorted playfully.
“Think I could just go around turning into a tree, then a rock? Then I’d have no need to run from that Emperor.”
“Then?”
“My transformation has conditions. It has to be a living being, and I need to have seen it before.”
“A living being, huh? So, you can’t transform into ancient creatures.”
“When I was young, I read a book on extinct creatures and tried. No luck. But when will you give me the meal you promised?”
“Here, take it.”
In front of Tina’s eyes, an orange object dangled from a fishing line-shaped rope.
“Wait, don’t tell me… this is a carrot, right? I believe it’s not.”
“It’s a carrot. When I asked for food for a horse, that’s what they gave me.”
At this, her massive horse body began to tremble.
“You cruel Ronan whelp! One day, I’ll defy my Blood-Transformation Tribe nature and end you!”
And with this bickering, Rubin and Tina galloped on down Pamuk Road.
Every few hours, when her transformation wore off, they would take a break in a quiet spot.
Rubin had actually packed bread and potato dishes Tina would enjoy, which helped him calm her down whenever she got upset about the carrots.
During rest, Tina transformed into a large man to ward off passersby. Despite her towering figure drawing some looks, no one dared bother them, and they had a comfortable rest.
“We’ll arrive at the Ninth Intersection Square by dusk.”
Tina said, munching on a potato.
“Perfect timing. Once we slip into the underwater cave there, it’ll be just as dark.”
The Ninth Intersection Square connected six roads. However, the path Rubin and Tina would take wasn’t on any of those six roads.
Between two of the intersections, if they walked about 10 kilometers through an unmarked path, they’d reach a cave known only to members of the Assassin Blade Family.
This cave led 15 kilometers beneath the sea.
And at the end of that underwater cave lay Elder Gillifield’s arboretum.
“We’ll need some light for the cave.”
When darkness fully settled, Rubin and Tina entered the underwater cave.
Inside, it was several times darker than the outside. Even using Dark Ripple to navigate the terrain wouldn’t make it easy.
“A light? Don’t tell me you plan to use a fire torch here. It’ll go out immediately.”
“There’s a light that doesn’t go out.”
“I’m not transforming into a torch, you know.”
“I know. But I think a glowing frog would be perfect here.”
A fluorescent frog—a creature that emitted light.
“Ugh, I can’t stand frogs!”
“Really? Then I guess I should toss out this gift I’ve kept for you.”
“A gift?”
Rubin pulled a glistening object from his pocket.
A bracelet with a polished, radiant green stone known as Laphire.
“I heard the Blood-Transformation Tribe go crazy for sparkling gems.”
“Ooooh. You sly brat!”
“Still hate frogs?”
Croak, croak.
Tina had already transformed into a glowing frog. Wearing the Laphire bracelet as a necklace, she shone brightly.
She climbed onto Rubin’s shoulder, croaking non-stop.
The darkness receded somewhat.
Using the light from Tina’s body and his own Dark Ripple, Rubin continued through the underwater cave.
After hours of walking, the darkness thinned, revealing the end of the cave.
Croak, croak.
“Tina, you should stop the frog transformation now, or you’ll get snatched by a crow.”
At Rubin’s words, Tina changed back immediately.
She had no choice; if she remained a frog, hundreds of Roincrows would tear her to pieces.
Caw!
Rumble…
The cave’s exit was blocked by a curtain of cascading water.
Beyond it, hundreds of crows awaited the visitors.
“It means they want to see our passes.”
Rubin and Tina both revealed their Dark Ripple.
The crows’ vigilant cries gradually softened. Following their aura, the waterfall created a narrow passage for just the two of them.
A narrow path opened between dense trees.
And beyond that—
“This is Elder Gillifield’s arboretum. The homeland of all the Roincrows.”