CHAPTER 29……………………………….
“Desert Rose.”
This refers to gypsum or baryte that crystallizes in a rose shape in arid areas such as deserts. In some regions, this stone is considered a symbol of love and is even placed in newlyweds’ bedrooms.
“In short, it’s a stone that’s treated like a kind of gem. The moisture inside evaporates, and it hardens into a rose shape.”
“Moisture? But this is a desert.”
“Exactly. So you usually find them in places where there used to be an oasis.”
“Oasis, huh…”
“It hardens into a rose shape. Thanks to the sand on the surface, it sparkles when light hits it at certain angles.”
“I see. So it hardens into a sort of pinecone shape.”
“…Tch, never mind. Huh? Wait, what’s with the surface of this one?”
Adamas said, taking the desert rose from Sapeiros.
It wasn’t just sand sticking to the surface of the rose.
Adamas quickly took the first desert rose he had found out of his bag.
It was definitely different. The surface of this second desert rose had crystals of something else attached along with the desert sand.
“What’s this sparkling stuff besides sand?”
“Oh, that? Looks like salt.”
“Salt?”
Adamas lightly scraped the surface of the desert rose with his silver sword at Sapeiros’ words. Then he carefully put it in his mouth.
Rolling it gently on his tongue, he clearly tasted salt along with the sand.
“…Ugh. Spit. Definitely salt. But how did you know so quickly?”
“There’s a lot of salt here. That lamp over there is made of salt too.”
Sapeiros gestured toward a magical lamp attached to the wall.
Ah, why didn’t I notice?
The orange magical lamp seemed to activate based on movement. The lampshade material, designed to diffuse light evenly, was salt.
“Wait, but why is there salt here?”
Adamas imagined a crazy wizard sprinkling salt even on stones.
No, this expensive salt? That couldn’t be it. Then what is it?
Adamas was still pondering this when suddenly—
Swish—
Sapeiros drew his sword from across the room.
“Hah, Sapeiros, I’ve decided not to be startled anymore no matter how silently you draw your sword.”
“Appreciate it.”
Sapeiros positioned Adamas behind him and held the sword toward the door.
“Did you hear someone? Could it be Tina’s group finally coming in?”
Adamas peered over Sapeiros’ shoulder at the door.
“No. I don’t think so. Look at the bottom of the door.”
Sapeiros pointed to the gap beneath the door.
“Uh? Could it be…?”
Adamas gasped and ran toward the door.
Crawling through the gap were stone ants, their surfaces mottled as if covered with something.
Adamas and Sapeiros exchanged glances.
“Salt.”
“Ah!”
Adamas’ jaw dropped in astonishment.
“A mine! There must be a salt mine somewhere in this desert! It’s underground, so no one knew!”
The uninhabited Glave Desert held enormous potential.
Salt! My god! What a stroke of luck!
“Ohhh, this will be a ray of light for our miserable marquisate!”
“Mas, watch your words.”
“I’m stating facts! Anyway, Sapeiros, salt! The crazy wizard was harvesting salt with golems!”
“Alright, calm down a bit, will you?”
“Do I look like I can calm down right now? Our marquisate is about to become as rich as the Duchy of Schweiren!”
The Duchy of Schweiren, the northern powerhouse whose wealth surpassed even the Imperial family of Francis. Over seventy percent of the empire’s salt came from Schweiren.
“From a fixed salt production structure to the arrival of our marquisate!”
Adamas’ breath quickened, and his head felt light.
“What do I do! I’m so excited I might go crazy! Pumped! Sapeiros!”
Adamas’ eyes sparkled. He dashed to the dusty desk and started rummaging through everything.
Finally, he found an old black notebook.
“Here it is! Of course it has to exist—a mining journal!”
Adamas quickly flipped through it, but as he continued, his hands slowed.
Returning to the first page and reading carefully, Sapeiros instinctively sensed something was wrong.
“…Ugh!”
Finally, Adamas slammed the black notebook shut in frustration and glared at Sapeiros.
“Why are you staring at me like that?”
“Annoyed. I feel like swearing.”
“But?”
“I’m calming my anger by looking at something handsome.”
“What?”
Adamas collapsed on the floor, dumbfounded.
“Ugh!!! That’s why things felt like they’d go well! This miserable marquisate! The scorching desert! Fierce golems! Handsome Sapeiros! And the kind marquis!”
“The last part doesn’t matter, does it?”
“It does. Without you and the marquis, I wouldn’t live this hard! I’m so lazy! If I have no plans, I won’t go out and will stay in my room all day without even bathing!”
“…Mas, that’s not really something to yell about.”
Oh no!
Adamas bit his lip and laughed awkwardly.
“Hahaha. So basically, I’m saying I’ve been working really hard lately. I’m not that filthy, okay? When I get home, I’ll shower first.”
“Right. I promised to heat the water for you.”
“Yeah, yeah. Warm water. Didn’t forget. Hmm.”
Sapeiros quietly extended his hand. Adamas placed the black notebook into it.
“No, not that.”
He tossed the notebook onto the desk without opening it, knelt on one knee, and extended his hand to Adamas again.
“Take my hand and stand up, my fiancée.”
Adamas was shocked, holding his ears.
“Are my ears still intact?”
“Perfectly. Why?”
“Nothing. Never mind.”
It was partly a joke, half-teasing.
Heart still racing, Adamas finally calmed down enough to take Sapeiros’ hand.
Sapeiros helped him up.
“You’ve got a lot of dust on you.”
“Huh? I’ll dust myself off. It’s my dust, so I should do it.”
Leaving it would feel like “I’ll dust your whole body for you,” so Adamas waved it off.
Wow, why is he being so sweet lately? If I actually fall for him…
“But, Mas.”
“Hm?”
“Well… no matter how kind the marquis is, he’s still a bit…”
Ah, even without looking away, I almost fell for him.
“Just quietly read that journal.”
Unable to tell Sapeiros to shut up outright, Adamas scowled silently.
“Hmm, so this is a journal?”
Seeing Adamas’ icy glare, Sapeiros quickly opened it.
He frowned at the heavy cursing written on the first page.
*”This damned desert. I am not meant to rot like this. I’m too young to take orders. Oppressing old wizards to see if I can live well. If it weren’t for the filthy diamond, I wouldn’t stay a day in this place.
Damn Liger Francis II! The glory of Francisco ends. Soon God’s wrath will fall on that tyrant.
The blessed land is…”*
“The owner of this journal is a drunkard. It’s almost impossible to read.”
The handwriting smelled of alcohol. At first it seemed like terrible handwriting, but the smudges suggested spilled drinks.
“Also a swearer. The further back you go, the more curses. Makes me want to learn it!”
Adamas clenched his fist and laughed. Sapeiros shook his head in disbelief.
“Don’t. The journal’s owner is truly insane. How can one dare slander the late emperor so freely…”
The journal’s author harshly criticized Liger Francis II, one of the most notable rulers in the history of the Francis Empire.
“Really? But even if it were a crazy wizard, I’d probably swear too.”
“What?!”
“If you read the journal, you know. The wizard was forced to come here.”
“…For what reason?”
“Who knows. How could an ordinary citizen like me guess the emperor’s thoughts? Especially since the late emperor was so duplicitous.”
“That’s true… He lowered taxes during droughts yet defended slavery. Praised as a genius ruler expanding lands, but he loved war so much he often entrusted governance to the young crown prince.”
“Exactly. So the young crown prince tasted power too early…”
Sapeiros knew why Adamas trailed off—because the young crown prince he was about to criticize was now Emperor Liger Francis III.
