IHDOE Ch 18

Following Liv's guidance, Satina arrived at a shop selling dishware. Stepping inside, a young woman welcomed her.

[Lina] "Welcome! Feel free to look around, and please tell me if you are looking for anything specific."

Searching here and there proved unnecessary, as a large system window popped up the moment Satina entered the shop.

[Liv] "Discovered a gem infused with holy power! Destroying this gem grants the skill 'Purify Contamination'."

Satina stared at the sapphire necklace worn by the shopkeeper. Though not appear particularly expensive, it was a fairly old item.

[Satina] "Hmm, never mind other items, but if it is no trouble, do you sell that necklace by any chance?"

[Lina] "This necklace?"

[Satina] "Yes, it is so gorgeous that I must have it."

Lina replied with a troubled face.

[Lina] "Ah, what should I do? This item is not for sale."

[Satina] "Is that so? Whatever the price, it matters not……"

At that moment, Hedzel—wearing his hat pulled low beside her—could no longer endure it, interrupting the conversation between Satina and Lina.

[Hedzel] "E-Excuse me! We desperately need that necklace, so is it impossible? Or even just the gem decorating that necklace…… I will pay whatever price it costs!"

[Lina] "P-Pardon?"

[Hedzel] "I have pressing circumstances as well! Please!"

Looking at Hedzel's desperate face, Lina appeared flustered momentarily, but soon hesitated before speaking.

[Lina] "I am sorry. If it were another item, perhaps…… but in truth, this necklace is a gift from my late husband."

[Satina] "My goodness…… You must grieve deeply."

At her comfort, Lina offered a faint smile.

[Lina] "It is fine. A long time has passed. My husband is gone, but this fellow protects me instead."

Lina spoke, stroking the head of the dog lying on the floor. At her touch, the large yellow dog leapt up, licking her cheek and acting affectionate as if noticing the grief lingering around its owner.

[Lina] "My, this fellow. Playful again. Stop it. That tickles."

[Dog] "Woof!"

[Satina] "What an adorable dog."

At her words, Lina smiled warmly.

[Lina] "Right? I say this not because he is my dog, but because he is intelligent and sweet. When my husband first brought him home, he fit in my palm, so small and cute. Look how big he grew."

Lina spoke, calming the dog.

[Lina] "At any rate, selling the necklace is impossible. Though not an expensive item, it holds precious memories for me that nothing can replace."

Unable to ask again, Satina and her companions had to leave the shop. The three stood near the shop, lost in thought.

[Katan] "Explaining our current situation and asking honestly for the necklace seems best after all."

At his words, Satina nodded.

[Satina] "Indeed, she seemed like a good person. Explaining our situation would likely make her hand over the necklace immediately."

At that, Hedzel recoiled in panic.

[Hedzel] "Don't speak nonsense! What if that woman learns the situation and meddles by telling the temple! Then my companions and I are finished!"

[Katan] "Then do you have a better alternative?"

Groaning as he pondered, Hedzel spoke in a quiet voice.

[Hedzel] "……What about stealing it?"

[Katan] "Are you serious?"

[Hedzel] "I-I don't want to do such a thing either! But no choice exists!"

Satina ignored their conversation, looking at the quest window.

The quest says to help Lina and acquire the gem infused with holy power.

She raised her head, looking at the general store's sign.

Lina's Dishware Shop.

Seeing the shop's sign made it certain that the owner's name was Lina.

Playing the game presented hopeless situations like this several times, but visiting the person repeatedly to build affection often opened new paths.

[Hedzel] "So while that woman comes out, you attack her, and in that opening I……"

She cut off his words.

[Satina] "No, there is no need for that."

[Hedzel] "What?"

[Satina] "For now, let us wait while persuading the shop owner. Her mind might change."

[Katan] "If Master judged it so, I shall follow your words."

Katan agreed with her opinion immediately. What surprised her was Hedzel's reaction. Pondering briefly, Hedzel nodded obediently, contrary to expectations.

[Hedzel] "Fine, I will do as you say."

I thought he would oppose it first, for sure.

When Satina looked at him with a surprised face, Hedzel spoke with a sullen expression.

[Hedzel] "What? Why are you looking at me like that?"

[Satina] "No reason, really. Just surprised."

[Hedzel] "What for! I-I am worried, but you know this matter best. In truth, I don't know how that gem helps you either. But unlike other nobles, you worry about us and always make sincere efforts to resolve our problems."

He avoided her gaze awkwardly.

[Hedzel] "……Then I have no choice but to trust you."

Whatever else remained, she had clearly gained Hedzel's trust.

---

Every day, Satina visited Lina's shop to observe her movements. During that time, they became familiar enough to drink tea together, yet Lina's resolve remained firm.

Is this not the right way?

Meanwhile, Satina visited the underground aqueduct in her spare time to heal the remaining patients.

Rat beastkin who once guarded against Satina now flopped their large ears upon hearing her footsteps, coming out first to greet her.

[Satina] "I memorized the path, so coming out to greet me every time is unnecessary. I can walk alone now."

At her refusal, Lara shook her head firmly. As one of the patients Satina cured first, Lara followed her devotedly after rising from her sickbed.

[Lara] "No! What if you get lost?!"

[Satina] "That won't happen."

With the system present, getting lost was impossible, yet Lara spoke with a worried face as if Satina were a five-year-old child.

[Lara] "Still! Do you know how fierce the competition was to come greet you, My Lady?"

[Satina] "You should rest more."

[Lara] "I recovered thanks to My Lady! Besides, staying in bed when sick makes the illness worse!"

Speaking with a resolute face that refused to compromise, Lara caused Satina to burst into laughter.

[Satina] "Alright, then I leave it to you for now."

[Lara] "Yes, trust only me!"

After healing people and checking for changes in the contaminated zone, Satina met Hedzel. He lowered his voice and whispered.

[Hedzel] "How is her condition over there? Does she seem ready to yield?"

[Satina] "She shows no intention of yielding yet."

[Hedzel] "Damn it."

[Satina] "Just in case, I am searching for a similar gem. If worse comes to worst, I will steal the necklace and swap the gem."

Satina spoke, looking at the blackened, contaminated land. Though strictly a last resort, leaving that place as it was meant risking losing Hedzel and his companions.

---

Quite peaceful yet busy days passed for a while. Then at last, an incident broke out.

That day as well, Satina planned to visit Lina's shop as usual. Carrying tea leaves to share with Lina, she arrived at the shop, but the doors were closed for some reason.

Something definitely happened.

Instead of turning back, she waited before the shop.

A short while later, Lina appeared drenched in sweat with disheveled attire. Swollen cheeks suggested she had wept all day, and sheer panic caused her to wear her clothes backward.

[Satina] "Lina?"

[Lina] "A-Ah, My Lady! My Lady! Please help me! I, I……"

Lina gripped her arm.

[Satina] "Calm down first and speak slowly. What happened? If it is something I can help with, I will help with anything."

[Lina] "Cookie, Cookie disappeared!"

[Satina] "Cookie?"

Cookie was the large yellow dog Lina introduced on her first visit to the shop.

[Lina] "What should I do? It is my fault. I failed to check properly if the door was locked, so he slipped out last night. I can't find where he went. What do I do?"

Bursting into tears, she collapsed where she stood.

[Lina] "They say thieves stealing dogs abound lately. What if he was captured by them? Cookie, Cookie……"

[Satina] "Calm down. Cookie is a smart dog, so he will return home soon."

[Lina] "I-Is that so?"

[Satina] "For now, wait at home. I will search for Cookie."

[Lina] "Y-Yes! Please! You have servants to command, My Lady. Yellow, this big, wearing a green collar……!"

[Satina] "I know what Cookie looks like too. We saw him together every time."

[Lina] "Ah! Right. Um, please……"

She looked at Satina with desperate eyes.

[Lina] "I beg of you. I will die without that child. Please……"

Satina seated Lina inside the shop first, having her drink warm water.

Exiting the shop, a system chime sounded.

[Liv] "Quest details updated. Would you like to check immediately?"

[Satina] "Yes."

As she gave a small nod, a system window floated before her eyes.

[Liv] "Quest: Find Lina's dog and return him to her arms. This is a time-limited quest, so the time to complete the quest is set. Time remaining until quest completion: 10:00:00"

---

[Katan] "Will you be alright?"

He asked worriedly.

[Satina] "About what?"

[Katan] "Finding a dog in a place like this will prove quite difficult."

Indeed, finding a dog in the middle of a bustling capital overflowing with people and carriages presented immense difficulty. Even inquiring everywhere starting now, finding the dog within ten hours was unlikely.

Yet she felt little concern regarding the task.

[Satina] "No, I am actually surprised because it is too easy."

Smiling brightly, she asked back.

[Satina] "Katan, shall I ask you a question? How do you think Hedzel knew I had his younger brother?"

---

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