Chapter 66 – Claus and Anastasia
Ralph quietly entered the prison cell, which had just a little light coming through a window near the ceiling. And then he sat down on the rough bed.
His father wasn’t being unreasonable. As a manager of these lands, protecting the people and enriching their lives would also be a heroic effort.
But…
What if you just happened to have a friend, who had such massive talent, that he easily broke your arrogant spirit?
What if you had the chance to travel with a prodigy who knew nothing of the world, and you were able to teach him?
Who could blame him for wanting to know where those two would go?
(Father hasn’t changed… Soft but severe…)
There was a reason that his father…Claus, was like that.
He had once had a beloved wife.
While it was an arranged marriage, it did not take him long to fall in love with the kind-hearted and beautiful woman.
Ralph’s mother, Anastasia.
However, she had a weak heart from birth.
In this world, everything was made up of magic elements. People were no exception.
If you had weak organs, the elements would not flow properly, and you would be headed for a slow death.
In this world, Enchant techniques were not very developed. And there were few things to be done about internal diseases. That was why there were no potions for magic energy regeneration.
And so Anastasia gave birth to Ralph and then died.
Claus was consumed by grief. But he was not the kind of person to break because of it.
Ralph had Anastasia’s hair… And so he decided to raise his son with his mother’s gentleness, with his own severity.
And as he tried to copy Anastasia, he developed a habit of talking to Ralph in that way.
He generally avoided it with others watching, but did not do so when around Ralph’s trusted traveling companions.
As Ralph mused about such things, a shadow appeared by the window.
He looked up just as a white bird flew through the window. It fluttered down to Ralph’s feet.
“…Paper?”
It looked like a bird, but it was paper that was in an odd shape.
Ralph only knew one person who could, or would do something like this. It must be Menew’s work.
He hesitantly picked it up. Inside, there were four pictures and a few notes.
‘To Ralph.
I know that I probably shouldn’t worry about you, but I have decided to send a few items that would be useful for escaping. But here are some warnings.
Once an item is created and disappears, it cannot be used again.
If you make one item, the previous one will disappear.
With that in mind, place your hand over the picture and will it to materialize.
Also, we will be waiting in the inn that is in the middle of the town.’
This was a crazy thing to send someone.
Ralph had seen Menew’s drawing materialize many times now. But this was extreme.
On the other hand, the one item at a time limit was likely because Ralph’s MP was too low.
As for the pictures, there was a ‘butter knife that can cut anything,’ ‘spoon that can dig anywhere,’ ‘invisibility cloak,’ and ‘key that opens any lock.’ What was with the cutlery fixation?
(He’s having fun with this.)
The key alone seemed like it would solve most of his problems. But he decided to save it as a last resort.
He would start with materializing the butter knife.
(I’ve been poisoned quite a bit myself.)
Ralph chuckled to himself as he held his hand over the paper.
“Now, it’s time to escape.”
Thanks for the tractor!