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Smoke! Fire! Gunpowder! Stealing the Tesoro of the Feast! - Episode 3
⭠ last episode | Episode 3 | next episode ⭢
Snow: Oh, Kenja. As mentioned, there’s no way of predicting what we’ll find waiting for us when we arrive at our destination. Just in case we need your presence, would you kindly join us?
White: We cannot say for certain that it will not be dangerous, but come what may, you will have us by your side. We are certain that Figaro and Cain will be looking out for you too.
And besides… with you around, the other unruly boys might be more inclined to behave.
Akira: I understand. I might be able to be of help while we’re there, so I’ll be happy to go with all of you.
Snow: Well said.
White: We’ll be counting on you tomorrow.
[ Magical Manor - Corridor ]
Night had fallen.
I had been reading the sage’s handbook in the library, and now I was making my way down the corridor back to my room.
Akira: (It’s late already… I’d better get some rest because I’ll be heading out tomorrow.)
It might be a dangerous mission. Knowing that, some part of me had grown restless and uneasy.
Suddenly, I heard footsteps coming from the opposite direction.
Bradley: Yo, Kenja.
Akira: Bradley?
It was Bradley who stood before me.
He was in high spirits. I could hear it in his footsteps that echoed down the corridor he swaggered up from, with an expensive bottle of liquor in hand as if he were part of a city’s nightlife.
Akira: You’re drinking tonight, even though we’ll be leaving tomorrow. Will you be fine?
Bradley: Let me live, it’s called a pre-celebration. After all, I might just be able to get my hands on that treasure, my heart’s desire.
Akira: What treasure…?
[ No BGM ]
Bradley’s mouth split into a grin, and he waved me over.
Bradley: I’m in a good mood because I’ve had some fine liquor, so I’ll let you in on something. Come with me.
[ Magical Manor - Bradley’s Room ]
It wasn’t my first time in Bradley’s room, but it wasn’t a room that I got to visit often. Nervously, I stepped inside.
Bradley had already casually sunk into the sofa. He snapped his fingers, summoning two drinking glasses to the nearby table.
One glass filled with water and slid towards me. The other glass filled with liquor and slid towards him. Bradley took a long sip from his glass and started to speak.
Bradley: About my treasure, I got nothin’ to hide. It’s the Walpurgisnacht.
Akira: The Walpurgisnacht is that gemstone we talked about earlier today, right? But wasn’t it……
Bradley: Hah, as if I’d say anything more than that in front of that son of a bitch Figaro and those two geezers.
Bradley’s expression was both wily and sly as he suddenly leaned across the table. In return, I leaned in closer, as if I were lured in by him.
Bradley: As I said this afternoon, I’m not going to let this thing slip into anyone else’s hands just like that. No one will have it for themselves but me. I’ll make sure of it.
After all, it’s a treasure that no one’s laid their eyes on, ever.
Akira: No one’s ever seen it…?
Bradley nodded sagely, and continued as if he were telling me a fairy tale.
Bradley: In the past, ever since the moment I’d heard of the Walpurgisnacht, I’ve tried to claim it as my own through any and every means possible. I even sent my men to do a thorough search of the collector’s abode.
But as you might know, a house would be a prime target for any old thief. Knowing this, the collector hid it here, there, and everywhere, which made it hard to trace.
Bradley swirled the amber liquid in his glass and lifted it to his lips. He was clearly enjoying the buzz it gave him, but his eyes remained sharp as ever.
Bradley: It was like a game of cops and robbers. He was a man on the lam, and I a man on a mission.
The game was afoot, and it spanned the entirety of the Northern Country. Just when I thought I had him…… I was one step too late.
The Walpurgisnacht had vanished by the time my men arrived.
Just like the hand of that tiny Eastern Wizard.
I blinked at the implication of his words.
The memory of Shino’s hand disappearing before our very eyes that afternoon was still fresh in my mind.
Akira: … You mean to say it’s turned transparent?
Bradley: Not by any cheap magic like what was cast on the candy you bought from that stall.
From what Bradley explained, it seemed that the wizard was in his final years, and he knew his lifespan was coming to an end.
Just before he turned to stone, he had channelled all that remained of his magic into the Walpurgisnacht in the form of a spell——
An invisibility spell, so that it may disappear from the world’s eye, and therefore no longer be able to grace anyone else’s sight.
Bradley: By the time my men found him, he had already cast his magic.
They tried threatening him to find out its hiding place, but his lips were sealed.
Having used up all his magic, he’d turned into dregs of a wizard. Yet, he still had the gall to roar with laughter as he exulted in his victory.
‘Search as you might, it will all be for naught.
It will never be found by anyone.
It will never belong to anyone else.’
‘It is mine and mine forever!’
Bradley: Shortly after, he died, and turned to stone.
He must have been so satisfied with himself. Just as he’d intended, the treasure that he had so zealously guarded would stay hidden even after he croaked.
I was lost in Bradley’s fantastic tale.
I could almost hear the roaring laughter of a man whose face I didn’t know.
A collector and the countless treasures he had amassed — and the one gemstone he was determined to not hand over even in the wake of his passing, the Walpurgisnacht.
Akira: (It must have been quite the coveted treasure… What on earth was this gemstone…)
Akira: What did you do after that, Bradley? You were right back where you started.
Bradley: Of course I didn’t let up the chase. Just because you can’t see it, doesn't mean it disappeared from this world. He must have hidden it somewhere.
Bradley’s long finger tapped at his temple. It wasn’t like anyone was listening in on us, but I held my breath nonetheless.
Bradley: So I started thinking. If I were a guy that wanted to hide something from me, where would I hide it……?
It would either be within arm’s reach, or someplace unthinkable because it wasn’t within my own reach.
So I searched through his hideouts. I retraced his steps from where he died, combed through every bystander’s account, and finally, it led me to……
Akira: The place mentioned in the request, am I right…?
Bradley: Yeah. The very same.
It was an unexpected twist. The thought of it excited me.
Akira: (In other words, there’s a real chance that the Walpurgisnacht is stowed away where we’re going tomorrow…?)
A mysterious ravine where a gemstone of legend lays in slumber — my heart raced with the romance and thrill of adventure.
Bradley: Just when I’d thought I’d storm the place, I got my ass locked up in jail. Plan’s back on the table now, though.
The chase ends tomorrow. The Walpurgisnacht will be mine.
Bradley spoke with feverish conviction.
It felt as if I had managed to catch a glimpse of the manic obsession that he had skilfully kept hidden during the earlier meeting.
Maybe, just maybe, he had been secretly buzzing with excitement ever since the subject of the ravine came up.
Akira: …… I wonder, is it really that beautiful of a gemstone to make you desire it that much? Or is it because it has properties that are supposed to make its owner stronger?
Bradley set his glass down, and he laughed with the expression of someone who knew better than I did.
Bradley: Isn’t it obvious? It’s because it’s something I’ve set my sights on for all these years.
I won’t let it slip through my fingers again, this time for sure.
His eyes shone as he slammed his fist into his hand.
It wasn’t just his eyes — Bradley himself seemed to burn with ambition.
Bradley: Well, how about we call it a night here? It’s way past bedtime for kids like you.
Akira: Ah… Right. Goodnight, see you tomorrow.
Bradley: Yeah.
[ Akira leaves the room, and Bradley refills his glass. ]
Bradley: ………
No way I’m giving up this fight, not when our pride’s on the line.
Episode 4 ⭢
Snow: Oh, Kenja. As mentioned, there’s no way of predicting what we’ll find waiting for us when we arrive at our destination. Just in case we need your presence, would you kindly join us?
White: We cannot say for certain that it will not be dangerous, but come what may, you will have us by your side. We are certain that Figaro and Cain will be looking out for you too.
And besides… with you around, the other unruly boys might be more inclined to behave.
Akira: I understand. I might be able to be of help while we’re there, so I’ll be happy to go with all of you.
Snow: Well said.
White: We’ll be counting on you tomorrow.
[ Magical Manor - Corridor ]
Night had fallen.
I had been reading the sage’s handbook in the library, and now I was making my way down the corridor back to my room.
Akira: (It’s late already… I’d better get some rest because I’ll be heading out tomorrow.)
It might be a dangerous mission. Knowing that, some part of me had grown restless and uneasy.
Suddenly, I heard footsteps coming from the opposite direction.
Bradley: Yo, Kenja.
Akira: Bradley?
It was Bradley who stood before me.
He was in high spirits. I could hear it in his footsteps that echoed down the corridor he swaggered up from, with an expensive bottle of liquor in hand as if he were part of a city’s nightlife.
Akira: You’re drinking tonight, even though we’ll be leaving tomorrow. Will you be fine?
Bradley: Let me live, it’s called a pre-celebration. After all, I might just be able to get my hands on that treasure, my heart’s desire.
Akira: What treasure…?
[ No BGM ]
Bradley’s mouth split into a grin, and he waved me over.
Bradley: I’m in a good mood because I’ve had some fine liquor, so I’ll let you in on something. Come with me.
[ Magical Manor - Bradley’s Room ]
It wasn’t my first time in Bradley’s room, but it wasn’t a room that I got to visit often. Nervously, I stepped inside.
Bradley had already casually sunk into the sofa. He snapped his fingers, summoning two drinking glasses to the nearby table.
One glass filled with water and slid towards me. The other glass filled with liquor and slid towards him. Bradley took a long sip from his glass and started to speak.
Bradley: About my treasure, I got nothin’ to hide. It’s the Walpurgisnacht.
Akira: The Walpurgisnacht is that gemstone we talked about earlier today, right? But wasn’t it……
Bradley: Hah, as if I’d say anything more than that in front of that son of a bitch Figaro and those two geezers.
Bradley’s expression was both wily and sly as he suddenly leaned across the table. In return, I leaned in closer, as if I were lured in by him.
Bradley: As I said this afternoon, I’m not going to let this thing slip into anyone else’s hands just like that. No one will have it for themselves but me. I’ll make sure of it.
After all, it’s a treasure that no one’s laid their eyes on, ever.
Akira: No one’s ever seen it…?
Bradley nodded sagely, and continued as if he were telling me a fairy tale.
Bradley: In the past, ever since the moment I’d heard of the Walpurgisnacht, I’ve tried to claim it as my own through any and every means possible. I even sent my men to do a thorough search of the collector’s abode.
But as you might know, a house would be a prime target for any old thief. Knowing this, the collector hid it here, there, and everywhere, which made it hard to trace.
Bradley swirled the amber liquid in his glass and lifted it to his lips. He was clearly enjoying the buzz it gave him, but his eyes remained sharp as ever.
Bradley: It was like a game of cops and robbers. He was a man on the lam, and I a man on a mission.
The game was afoot, and it spanned the entirety of the Northern Country. Just when I thought I had him…… I was one step too late.
The Walpurgisnacht had vanished by the time my men arrived.
Just like the hand of that tiny Eastern Wizard.
I blinked at the implication of his words.
The memory of Shino’s hand disappearing before our very eyes that afternoon was still fresh in my mind.
Akira: … You mean to say it’s turned transparent?
Bradley: Not by any cheap magic like what was cast on the candy you bought from that stall.
From what Bradley explained, it seemed that the wizard was in his final years, and he knew his lifespan was coming to an end.
Just before he turned to stone, he had channelled all that remained of his magic into the Walpurgisnacht in the form of a spell——
An invisibility spell, so that it may disappear from the world’s eye, and therefore no longer be able to grace anyone else’s sight.
Bradley: By the time my men found him, he had already cast his magic.
They tried threatening him to find out its hiding place, but his lips were sealed.
Having used up all his magic, he’d turned into dregs of a wizard. Yet, he still had the gall to roar with laughter as he exulted in his victory.
‘Search as you might, it will all be for naught.
It will never be found by anyone.
It will never belong to anyone else.’
‘It is mine and mine forever!’
Bradley: Shortly after, he died, and turned to stone.
He must have been so satisfied with himself. Just as he’d intended, the treasure that he had so zealously guarded would stay hidden even after he croaked.
I was lost in Bradley’s fantastic tale.
I could almost hear the roaring laughter of a man whose face I didn’t know.
A collector and the countless treasures he had amassed — and the one gemstone he was determined to not hand over even in the wake of his passing, the Walpurgisnacht.
Akira: (It must have been quite the coveted treasure… What on earth was this gemstone…)
Akira: What did you do after that, Bradley? You were right back where you started.
Bradley: Of course I didn’t let up the chase. Just because you can’t see it, doesn't mean it disappeared from this world. He must have hidden it somewhere.
Bradley’s long finger tapped at his temple. It wasn’t like anyone was listening in on us, but I held my breath nonetheless.
Bradley: So I started thinking. If I were a guy that wanted to hide something from me, where would I hide it……?
It would either be within arm’s reach, or someplace unthinkable because it wasn’t within my own reach.
So I searched through his hideouts. I retraced his steps from where he died, combed through every bystander’s account, and finally, it led me to……
Akira: The place mentioned in the request, am I right…?
Bradley: Yeah. The very same.
It was an unexpected twist. The thought of it excited me.
Akira: (In other words, there’s a real chance that the Walpurgisnacht is stowed away where we’re going tomorrow…?)
A mysterious ravine where a gemstone of legend lays in slumber — my heart raced with the romance and thrill of adventure.
Bradley: Just when I’d thought I’d storm the place, I got my ass locked up in jail. Plan’s back on the table now, though.
The chase ends tomorrow. The Walpurgisnacht will be mine.
Bradley spoke with feverish conviction.
It felt as if I had managed to catch a glimpse of the manic obsession that he had skilfully kept hidden during the earlier meeting.
Maybe, just maybe, he had been secretly buzzing with excitement ever since the subject of the ravine came up.
Akira: …… I wonder, is it really that beautiful of a gemstone to make you desire it that much? Or is it because it has properties that are supposed to make its owner stronger?
Bradley set his glass down, and he laughed with the expression of someone who knew better than I did.
Bradley: Isn’t it obvious? It’s because it’s something I’ve set my sights on for all these years.
I won’t let it slip through my fingers again, this time for sure.
His eyes shone as he slammed his fist into his hand.
It wasn’t just his eyes — Bradley himself seemed to burn with ambition.
Bradley: Well, how about we call it a night here? It’s way past bedtime for kids like you.
Akira: Ah… Right. Goodnight, see you tomorrow.
Bradley: Yeah.
[ Akira leaves the room, and Bradley refills his glass. ]
Bradley: ………
No way I’m giving up this fight, not when our pride’s on the line.
Episode 4 ⭢