TIDSF 08

Chapter 8

“…Still no luck finding it?”

They weren’t just in trouble—they were in a downright crisis.

“Well, yes… There are only vague rumors, and we can’t track the source at all…”

“There’s even talk it’s coming from the imperial family. We must find it.”

“But there’s also a high chance that it’s just an exaggerated hoax, Chairman.”

“Then find the source of the hoax and drag them here!”

Bang!

The chairman slammed his fist down hard as he shouted.

Trust was the foundation of auctions and merchants alike.

And they were none other than the Guild of Merchants!

The number one most trusted merchant guild, responsible for hosting the largest auctions in the empire!

And yet, people had gathered because of the rumors about the Aurora Diamond—only to find that the item didn’t exist?

It was obvious their credibility would hit rock bottom.

A merchant who lost trust was finished in this business. That’s why they had to find the basis of those rumors—any basis.

“If it’s not real, then we need to tell them ahead of time!”

“Y-yes, of course.”

“Find it!!”

“Y-yes! Understood!”

But no matter how hard they tried, they couldn’t trace the origin of the rumor.

Slurp—

“Ahh, this booze hits the spot~!”

Of course, they couldn’t. The true culprit behind the rumors hadn’t taken a single step outside his home since.

On his way to the capital, Moneypan had done as Eve advised—dropping subtle rumors about the “Aurora Diamond” at every tavern he stopped by.

He even demonstrated the Aurora Diamond a couple of times.

To do so, he had arranged for reliable high-ranking mercenaries through the Adventurers’ Guild.

And once in the capital, he paid an acquaintance who ran a boutique to spread whispers about the diamond to noblewomen and their maids who passed by.

All of this had been suggested by that young duke.

‘I don’t know how he knew I had connections in the boutique scene…’

Perhaps he just assumed Moneypan had broad connections, since he was an accountant affiliated with the Finance Guild.

After all, he did handle financial management for several businesses.

Anyway!

Whether he was eating, sleeping, or washing—Moneypan never let the gemstone out of his sight.

Paranoid thoughts of someone stealing it plagued him.

If this plan failed, his life would be over.

‘…I really hope things go as the young duke said.’

Moneypan thought of the boy who had seemed like a completely different person.

And the backroom strategies he had whispered to him.

Truth be told, Moneypan had been skeptical.

Sure, he was a duke, but just a kid. It was too dangerous a gamble to risk everything he had built.

Still, aside from that—the Aurora Diamond was an incredible discovery.

So, for the first time in his life, he stepped into a once-in-a-lifetime gamble.

Not because he trusted the boy, but because he believed in the new mineral he had seen with his own eyes: the Aurora Diamond.

Even the information the boy had shared made perfect sense.

‘If this really works…’

Instead of finishing the thought, he downed his drink.

He had been so nervous all day that he’d done nothing but drink.

Now he needed to pee.

“Ugh, alright.”

He got up and staggered toward the door but paused mid-step.

“Oh, right!”

Moneypan, swaying from the alcohol, hugged the gemstone wrapped in cloth to his chest.

“Let’s gooo~ Lucky charm~!”

He stumbled toward the bathroom—still clutching the gem.

Yes, he even took the stone with him into the bathroom.

It was the afternoon of the auction submission deadline—two days before the auction itself—when Moneypan finally left his house.

A team of elite mercenaries escorted him all the way to the Merchants’ Guild.

“Eureka!!”

Albus, covered in dirt, shouted loudly. He must’ve discovered something again.

The North really was a natural treasure trove.

‘I should be finding some too…’

Unlike Albus, who seemed to discover something with every step, I hadn’t found a single thing today.

Oh, you’re wondering why I’m out here doing this?

A few days ago, after leaving the warehouse, I had asked Albus to go up the mountain with me.

I thought he’d ask why, but instead, he simply said, “Should I bring a shovel?”

What a perfect answer.

Pleased, I shook my head and pointed at something else. “Pickaxe, today.”

Because this time, I wasn’t digging for rocks—I was digging for food.

“Found one!”

Lost in thought, I suddenly spotted a round, wide leaf poking out among the weeds and other unnamed plants. I dashed over and swung the pickaxe.

Thunk!

Scratch scratch scratch.

I dug eagerly through the dirt until the fruit I had been searching for poked its head out.

“Ughh.”

I grabbed the fruit embedded in the ground with both hands and pulled with all my strength.

Pop!

Finally, the fruit buried underground was fully unearthed.

“Whew.”

Beaming with pride, I wiped my forehead with my sleeve.

“Albus! I found one too~!”

Grinning from ear to ear, I held the fruit high.

Albus, who had been nearby, turned his head—and his eyes widened.

What’s with him?

“Albus?”

“Ah… Yes, that’s excellent.”

Albus smiled, but the corners of his mouth trembled. His eyes looked a bit red.

“There seem to be more over this way.”

He quickly turned his head and pointed toward a patch of thick grass.

“Oh, thanks!”

As I ran over and crouched down, Albus took his old straw hat and placed it gently on my head.

It was adult-sized, so it came down over my eyes and blocked my view.

“The sun’s strong.”

He squatted in front of me and tied the hat’s strap so it wouldn’t fall and obscure my vision.

Up close, I could clearly see his red-rimmed eyes and gloomy expression.

“If it’s too hard, we can go back.”

“No, I’m fine. It’s just…”

Albus gave a bittersweet smile.

“This is the first time I’ve seen you smile.”

“Oh.”

Well, yeah. There wasn’t exactly much to smile about when you were constantly scolded and starving.

“I think I’ve just been making excuses, saying I didn’t have time or energy.”

No—it was true. He really hadn’t had time.

Albus had been maintaining this entire large estate practically on his own. From the stables to the mansion.

“From now on, I’ll take better care of you. Lady Evelyn… perhaps she appeared in my dream because she couldn’t bear to ignore you any longer.”

No, I just didn’t die and woke up instead.

Feeling awkward, I glanced around and then gave him another bright smile.

“Yup! Let’s get rich quick, hire a bunch of servants, and bring in a doctor too!”

I flapped my arms while holding the fruit, and Albus’s eyes welled up again.

Come on, why are you crying again!

“I hope Lord Wood gets better soon too.”

“Yeah.”

I really hoped so.

“So let’s hurry and keep digging. I want to give him some too.”

“Yes! I’ll dig up a bunch.”

“Great!”

We turned our backs to each other, crouched down again, and resumed swinging our pickaxes.

Yes.

We had been scouring the mountain with pickaxes for four days now. Because there was a fruit we needed to find.

What we were looking for was a plant that bore very hard fruits—each about the size of two adult fists.

It was called Crutan.