Ⅵ
Malinda noticed Arthur narrowing his eyes immediately.
"What's wrong?
Is there something wrong with the item?"
She frowned.
It wasn't just because the person on the other end of the deal was her Arthur. She also despised underhanded tricks once a transaction was underway.
Of course, she quite enjoyed the sparring that came before a deal.
But once an actual agreement had been reached,
both parties should honor their promises honestly.
That was what she believed, and how she acted.
That was precisely why, though the name "Lady of the Long Night" was stained with blood, it also reassured the merchants of South Los.
"There's nothing wrong with the item.
But our Count has clearly set me a difficult problem."
As he spoke, Arthur handed [Don Quixote's Conviction] to Malinda.
It was a pendant with a black leather cord threaded through an outer silver frame, enclosing a crystal carving the size of a little finger.
The crystal inside wasn't intricately carved, but one could make out a mounted knight. Only, the knight's horse was scrawny as a rake, the knight himself was decrepit, and he couldn't even raise his lance, leaving it to drag along the ground.
"So it's this item.
My cousin really was generous.
Hahaha."
Malinda naturally knew about the deal between the Count of South Los and Arthur.
But she hadn't expected her cousin to bring out [Don Quixote's Conviction], one of "Herke's twenty-seven treasured artifacts."
She'd thought it would be an ordinary piece-there were certainly plenty of works bearing Master Herke's name, with no shortage of fine pieces among them.
"She really is an honest person."
Arthur sighed.
"So whatever you do, don't choose a windmill as your target."
Malinda laughed again as she spoke.
She knew all about the Old Count's grand exploit.
Precisely