The next morning, they departed early to the place where the priest lived. It was located in an inconspicuous area around a mountain with a small pond. The house was humbly built with bricks and woods and was scarcely decorated with wilting flowers and dead plants. Overall, it looked too abandoned for someone apparently living in it.
Gravel crushed underneath their boots as they walked near the house when a blurry figure rushed past them and blocked them from walking forward. Artemis frowned and observed the young boy who was nervously looking at them, sweat continuously rolling down the side of his face.
"Who are you?" She asked.
"Y-You can't enter this place!" The young boy who saw their expensive attire and exceptional faces had already determined them as high-ranking nobles. His bony arms futilely covered the path in fear.
Seeing his thin body in tattered clothes as if he were about to be blown away by the wind desperately try to stop them, she grew intrigued and immediately knew that something suspicious was happening. And perhaps it was connected to their mission, after all. She eyed Ian and asked the boy, "It seemed like something happen. Is the priest present?"
Knowing that they were indeed looking for the priest, his face considerably paled and his body shook. No one knew the trauma he had to experience when he took in the job as the priest's servant. He had thought that it would be a very relaxed job with decent pay, but who would have thought that in the span of one day, there would be several powerful people who came to torment him for the location of the priest? He also did not know. He wants justice! Justice!
"I-I promise I really don't know…! The priest had suddenly vanished yesterday when he said he was out to meet a customer…! A-A strange woman had already visited this place and scoured the place empty. P-Please spare me!" The young man was about to break out in tears when he saw the face of the woman coldly click her tongue and narrow her eyes.
Artemis sighed when she realized that the only clue they got was cut in an instant. She stared as the young boy trembled under her gaze and felt a little pitiful. It did not seem like he was lying and he was even innocent amongst all these situations. She grabbed inside the lapels of her robe and pulled out two gold coins before giving it to him.
"You say a strange woman? Does she have weird inks on her body?"
The young boy's eyes lit up and his previous grievances disappeared the moment he saw the shining gold. He enthusiastically nodded his head, gaze never leaving the gold, "Yes, yes! She indeed has weird inks on her body. It was a pity as that auntie was really beautiful! She had brown hair and bright green eyes."
Artemis suppressed the tugging on her lips and grabbed onto his shoulders lightly, "Do you know where she went after she left?"
"She said that if the priest returned I immediately report to her. She said she would be lodging at a bar underground. I only need to say the words magic spirit and she will immediately come to see me."
Indeed, she was the witch that was Letia referred to. The witch who had forcefully manipulated an element not belonging to her and suffered dire consequences just for an aging man she wanted to be with. Even if it meant sacrificing certain things. Just for the name of beauty.
"Alright, little kid. Thank you for the information. Have this and wisely use it, okay?" She handed the two gold coins and the boy felt tears spring up to his eyes as soon as he touched it.
"Hm. Okay. Thank you so much, pretty lady!" And the young boy excitedly left the scene, a trail of dust after him. Artemis turned to look at Ian who was quietly observing her work and she gave a proud smile. Finally, it did not seem as if she was a burden to their group. She had managed to unravel crucial information.
Ian who was sitting on a rock saw her proud smile and was confused for a moment before a thought appeared. Was she perhaps asking for a praise? But it did not seem like it. In the end, he did not know what to do and could only give a small praise.
"You did well."
"Ah? Well, I guess. What do you think of it?" She wanted to know what he thought of the witch and his plan forward from this. There seemed to be something more profound happening than what Letia told them. If they managed to solve it, won't it mean extra points for them?
But her seemingly innocent question was distorted when it reached Ian's ears. He stared at Artemis for a while confused on what her intentions were. Was she using this chance to show off in front of him? It was not like her usual style at all. The uncomfortable feeling that Ian felt whenever he saw Artemis came back. Like something was slowly gripping his neck and a cold blade had been placed in front of his chest. He frowned. It had been a long time since he felt it, but whenever it came back, it was still unpleasant. But even with his inner feelings in turmoil, for the sake of basic manners, he could only go along with her whims.
"It's true, Lady Francia."
"What? What's true?" Artemis had a slight inkling that he had misunderstood her question. But even before she could correct him, he had already gone ahead of her.
"…you're pretty. I believe what that young boy said is true. That is what I think."
...what the hell went through his head for him to misunderstood it like that?
It did not make sense. The moment Artemis heard his words, it was as if something exploded inside her head and her thoughts went blank. She could only feel her face heat up till the tips of her ears and she had to snicker in order to distract her thoughts. It was like that awkward moment when a close friend of yours who only knew to insult actually compliment you. The feeling was numb-minding and skin-crawling. Never in her life had she imagined that the invincible and aloof Ian would actually be able to compliment anyone other than Celethene. And additionally, even compliment them.
Artemis took a while to recover from the sudden attack yet her face still felt hot. She watched as Ian uncomfortably squirmed in his seat. It was evident that he was even uncomfortable. But why? Did he really misunderstood and thought that she was asking what he thought of that boy's remarks? Oh my god.
"…Your Highness," she called.
"Yes…?" Ian felt that something was wrong with her expressions. Wasn't she supposed to be happy when he complimented her? Why is her face… like it had just eaten something sour?
"I-I really apologize if I disrespect you, but I think you misunderstood my question. I ask what you think of the witch, not what you think of my appearance…"
An unbearable silence hung over the air and it took quite a while for Ian to process her words.
"…oh."
'Oh? Oh, what? Dear Highness, please do not be so vague! Quickly tell me if you want to behead me right now!'
Artemis was about to speak and looked over at Ian in fear yet what she saw astonished her to no limits.
Ian's face which was always an impassive one with sharp eyes and tight lips were currently burning red in embarrassment. His royal blue eyes which showed the faintest of shame had turned to look at her without knowing what to say. His thin lips kept opening and closing trying to form coherent words. No words could describe the level of disgrace this had brought to him. He was foolish. Very foolish. Who told him to be so idiotic and even mistake such a simple question? It was his overthinking that had led him to this moment which he knew he couldn't escape so easily.
The cold wind brought by the early morning did nothing to tame the burning sensation on the tips of his ears which looked as if blood would seep out from his almost transparent skin. Artemis was speechless at such a scene. This should be a crime…
It should be a crime to make him in this state…!
Artemis had felt as if she committed such a large sin. This moment of gap-moe had her heart thumping. Her view of Ian as an apathetic man with cold blood completely shattered. She could not even help but think that he was… a little cute.
(ノಠ益ಠ)ノ彡┻━┻!!!