The Attendant in the Horror Game C51

Chapter 51

“You can sell the ceremonial sword, you know.”

Ian pointed at the sword wrapped in layers of cloth at Jade’s waist. It was too ornate to be left uncovered.

“No.”

Jade immediately hid the sword and shook his head firmly. Sell this? Absolutely not.

The moment he sold it, he might very well lose his life. Ian seemed to speak without any ill intent, but Jade could not stop recalling the ominous lines from the setting guide.

“…You seem to like it.”

“Yes. I do. Very much. That is why I will never sell it.”

“……”

Ian stared at Jade—who was gripping the silver candlestick—with an unreadable expression. There were moments like this when Jade simply could not understand what Ian was thinking or feeling.

“We’re selling this. Let’s go.”

While they were talking, the neighboring shop had already turned off its lights. Growing anxious, Jade hurried toward an antique store on the side of the square.

“Welcome.”

The antique shop was filled with old items of every kind. A bearded old man sat with a magnifying glass, appraising something. They seemed to have come to the right place.

“Do you buy items?”

“What are you selling, then?”

“Can you buy something like this?”

“Let me see.”

The old man chuckled at Jade’s young appearance and picked up the silver candlestick, examining it thoroughly. He turned it over and ran his fingers along the carvings. It had grown dull after being left in the villa for so long, but once wiped with an oil cloth, a shine emerged.

“Myaang…”

Soondol peeked his head out of the backpack. He had been hidden since they entered the village but could not resist taking a look around.

“It’s silver. High purity as well. The carving is excellent. Where did you get it?”

“Ah, my father used to use it.”

He could not exactly say he had taken it from the Linwood villa. He was not that foolish.

But the old man’s eyes were sharp.

“Your father? You don’t look like a noble’s child.”

The suspicious gaze moved up and down his figure. Jade straightened his shoulders, becoming more confident rather than shrinking back.

“My father once served high-ranking nobles as a servant.”

“I see. This is a very old item. Likely something the nobles discarded. Your father must have picked it up.”

“Yes, something like that.”

Satisfied, the old man carried the candlestick to the back.

Jade had complained earlier that the villa held nothing of value, but now he found himself grateful. If he received this much scrutiny for a candlestick, bringing out jewelry would certainly have led to the guards being summoned.

Judging from the old man’s reaction, the latch he had removed from Soondol’s box should be sold elsewhere. The plate and spoon should also be sold separately, on different days.

“Here. Two gold lumen. I’m giving you a good price because the craftsmanship is fine.”

“Thank you. Ah, could I exchange it for silver? I need to shop tomorrow.”

The currency of this world was lumen (gold) and pence (silver). Copper coins were called nips. Gold coins were inconvenient for market use. Ten pence equaled one lumen. Converting to silver was the sensible choice.

“Very well. Here are twenty pence.”

“Thank you. Ah—by any chance, do you have a small pouch? Something I can use as a money pouch.”

“That’s one pence.”

“Yes. Please give me one.”

He handed back one of the freshly obtained pence and received a cloth pouch.
Having never used money before, he had not thought to make a pouch from leftover fabric earlier.
He had earned money only to immediately spend it.

Still, the weight of the pouch felt reassuring.
It had been so long since he touched actual currency.

“You don’t seem to be from around here.”

“No. I am traveling.”

“With a child?”

“Haha, I wanted to make memories with my younger brother.”

“You resemble each other. Both of you are quite pretty.”

The old man glanced between Ian and Jade.

“We do not resemble each other.”

Ian spoke curtly and without hesitation. His blunt rejection did not stop there.

“For an antique dealer, your eye for features seems rather poor—mph!”

“Yes, yes. We’ll have something good to eat later, all right? Calm down.”

Jade quickly covered Ian’s mouth. Thankfully, the old man simply laughed, assuming it was harmless sibling bickering.

“In any case, you arrived at the right time. The market will be large tomorrow.”

“A market?”

“Spring market. The village is too small for a festival, so the market serves as our celebration.”

It was welcome news. With the market open, the variety of foods and items would increase. Jade was delighted not only because of the shopping but because he could show Ian new sights.

“Is there an inn nearby?”

“Turn the corner. You’ll find one.”

“Thank you.”

Once they stepped outside, Ian immediately spoke.

“We are not brothers.”

“It was simply an excuse. It is the easiest and most convenient explanation. It makes us look like ordinary travelers.”

“……”

“Do you dislike being mistaken as my brother that much?”

“Yes.”

He gave only that short answer, then walked toward the corner. His back looked particularly cold.

Was the idea of being associated with him as brothers truly so unpleasant?
Suppressing the sting of disappointment, Jade followed.

Around the corner stood a small inn. A bell rang as they entered.

“Welcome!”

A cheerful middle-aged woman greeted them.
The inn was old but warm. A fire crackled in the hearth, spreading comfortable heat through the room.

Seeing an inn that looked like something out of a medieval fantasy game felt strangely fascinating.
The first floor appeared to serve as a dining hall, with rooms on the upper floors.
A large iron pot hung over the fire, bubbling with stew.

“Are you eating? Or staying as well?”

“A room, please. And dinner. We plan to stay one or two nights.”

“How many beds?”

“Two.”

“Four pence. Head up to the second floor. Come down for food whenever you like.”

The innkeeper handed them a key.
The smell of stew followed them up the stairs, stirring Jade’s hunger.
There was certainly meat in that stew. There had to be. Nothing else could produce such a rich aroma.
After three months of little to no protein, Jade’s mouth watered.

“Finally… I feel alive again.”

They opened the room. It was small but pleasant.
Two beds were placed side by side beneath a window, with a small table and lit candle.

Despite the inn being old, the interior felt warmer than the villa.

“Myaang!”

Soondol burst out from the bag and rolled happily on a bed, kneading the blanket with his paws.

“Ian, you should lie down as well. It’s comfortable.”

“……”

Ian’s ears reddened as he avoided Jade’s gaze.
Whenever the two of them had to lie down in the same room, he consistently behaved like someone unaccustomed to sharing space.

“Rest. You walked a great deal today.”

“…Yes.”

“You must rest if we are to explore the village and visit the market tomorrow.”

After several repeated suggestions, Ian finally lay down on his bed—at the very edge, as if determined to keep as much distance as possible.

“I am not going to eat you.”

“……”

Jade sighed. Ian remained impossible to understand.

They rested for a while. Jade nearly fell asleep, but Soondol began bouncing on his stomach in hunger, forcing him awake.
Ian, too, had dozed off.

“If you come to an inn, you must try the stew.”

Jade tapped Ian’s blanket.
Ian slowly opened his eyes, blinking sleepily.

They headed downstairs. Ian went first, Jade behind.
Ian’s curls were slightly mussed from lying down.
Jade reached out and smoothed them lightly. Ian flinched, startled, and walked faster.

“Here you are. Today’s stew is a special beef stew. Eat while it’s hot.”

The cook placed two steaming bowls before them.
Carrots, potatoes, and tender, slow-cooked beef filled the dish. The heavy use of pepper gave it a sharp yet savory aroma.

“Myaang!”

Jade transferred some stew into a small dish for Soondol, who devoured it eagerly—so eagerly he kept trying to wriggle out of the cloth wrap around his body, forcing Jade to hold him still.

It was the first proper stew Soondol had tasted since hatching.
His eyes glimmered with awe, and his small wings twitched beneath the cloth.