Chapter 35 : The Claw of Truth

The guards didn’t refuse like they had yesterday. They simply said they needed to check and asked him to wait.

Jonan waited near the door, watching the guards come and go.

About 30 minutes later, the guard who had entered the mansion returned with a maid.

It was Mirey, an elderly maid who didn’t lose her smile despite the deep wrinkles from years of hard work.

“Grandma!”

“It’s really Jonan!”

Mirey smiled brightly when she saw Jonan approaching her.

“It’s been so long, I almost forgot your face.”

“It’s been two years since you entered the Count’s residence, and I haven’t been able to see you.”

“That’s right… that’s right… How is the village?”

“Everyone misses you.”

Mirey was a maid from Estel Village who had worked for the Craystist family for decades.

Originally, she worked at the Count’s residence and occasionally visited the village. But when the Count and Aria were in their situation, she naturally concentrated on her work and stopped going to the village.

Jonan and the villagers hadn’t seen her face even when they visited the city, fearing that they might disturb her. They also avoided sending her letters, as they contained concerns about the disease.

Jonan examined Mirey. She wasn’t related to him by blood, but she was like a grandmother to him.

People of a similar age group had all been cared for by Mirey.

‘She must have been through a lot of hardship in the meantime…’

Her back was a little more bent, and her wrinkles were deeper than they had been two years ago.

“How’s Pavore? Is that guy still complaining about his life all day?”

“No, he’s leading the village well.”

“That’s unusual. When he was young, he used to hide behind me and call me ‘sister’… sister…”

Jonan, not wanting to hear about the village chief’s past, quickly led Mirey to a place where they could sit.

The owner of a small restaurant that served simple food greeted Mirey warmly.

“It’s been a long time here too… I haven’t been able to come out at all because I’ve been so busy lately.”

“Speaking of which, Grandma, can you come out now? You mentioned that in your letter before.”

“Did I? Well, it’s true that I took care of the young lady directly until a year ago. But now I don’t. The younger ones are going in.”

The younger ones she was referring to weren’t really girls under the age of 20, but skilled maids with 5 to 10 years of experience.

But to her, who had been with the Count’s family for half her life, they were no different from children.

“They told me to rest because they would go in one day. They said if I was weak, I might transmit the disease.”

“They were considerate of you, Grandma.”

“So, why did you come? I’ve heard that the village had a tough time during the last ominous moon, but it survived. I’m sorry I couldn’t help you then.”

She couldn’t go to the village herself, but she could hear the news from the people around her. She tried to help, knowing the village wasn’t receiving support, but she had no means to do so.

“The village’s issues were resolved well. I came this time because I have a favor to ask of you, Grandma.”

“A favor?”

Mirey drank the tea that the restaurant owner had brought. Her gestures were a natural display of the etiquette she had developed from serving nobles.

Jonan immediately got to the point.

“Please let me meet the Count.”

“Let’s hear the reason first. You’re not a child who speaks carelessly.”

“I have something to tell you about the crisis facing the barony and the treatment method for Lady Aria’s illness.”

“Tell me more specifically.”

Mirey’s words were a signal for him to continue, but Jonan didn’t feel much relief.

Even though the topic of saving the Count’s family came up, Mirey’s expression didn’t change much.

“First, let’s go back in time to the last red moon…”

Jonan then told her everything he had planned to tell Failer, and the information he had received from the Dragon the previous night.

She was the one who showed wisdom in deciding the major and minor affairs of Estel Village along with Chief Pavore, so Jonan hoped to receive good advice.

He explained how he and Rachel had met a god called the Blue Dragon. That the god had saved the village.

That the god had faced red demons in the northern mountain of the barony. That the red demons, magic stones, and Aria’s disease were all deeply connected.

He even shared that he had been told that if he found the source of all of this, he could cure the disease.

Finally, he showed her the claw of a red demon that he had obtained during his work with Failer.

Clink.

The teacup in Mirey’s hand was placed on the saucer. It was the first action she had made since Jonan started speaking.

“It’s sudden.”

She spoke in a calm tone. Despite knowing the whole story, her tone and expression remained unchanged.

“If you had told me by letter first, I would have prepared myself in advance and prepared to inform the Count.”

“I… I didn’t think of that.”

“Jonan.”

“Yes, Grandma.”

“According to your words, I can’t take you to the Count.”

Refusal. Jonan was taken aback.

“Wh-why? This matter is important…”

“Yes, it must be important. According to your words, thanks to the god called the Blue Dragon, you have found a way to cure the disease. And you have learned of the danger in the northern mountain that even the Count and the knights do not know.”

Mirey summarized Jonan’s lengthy words neatly. Contrary to his concern that something might have been missed, she grasped everything.

If Jonan’s words were true, his hometown wouldn’t have been destroyed thanks to that god.

Among the children of the same age as Jonan, she especially cherished him and believed his words.

“But Jonan, it lacks persuasiveness.”

“Persuasiveness? But this claw is a by-product taken from the corpse of a red demon. Sir Failer or the Count will recognize it immediately.”

“Probably. I don’t know much about that, but if you, a skilled hunter from the village, saw it that way, the knights will recognize it.”

Mirey paused for a moment, and Jonan could hear the sound of tea traveling down her throat.

Clink.

“But Jonan, where is the evidence that the god called the Blue Dragon actually exists?”

“…What?”

“The salvation of the village, the cause of the disease, the situation on the northern mountain. You said it was all the work of that god called the Blue Dragon. But how will others believe that?”

“…”

“I’ve known you since you were a child. So I know that you’re an honest and upright person. But that doesn’t serve as the basis for your words.”

It was true.

The Blue Dragon existed. Jonan and the villagers had witnessed it and received its grace.

But the members of the Count’s family? No one knew about that god. Mirey pointed that out.

“It’s time to go. The children will be waiting. If you want to see the Count, bring the evidence. Evidence that will persuade not me, but the knights and the Count.”

With those words, Mirey slowly got up from her seat.

‘Still the same, getting sloppy when you focus too much on one thing.’

The atmosphere in the Count’s family had been growing gloomier lately. The oldest member of the Count’s household was doing her best to prevent the Count and the servants from collapsing.

But in the process, her mood had become burdened, which was inevitable. Lately, even her body had been aching here and there.

Seeing a child like a grandson after a long time made her feel a little better.

‘I’m sure that child will find the answer.’

Because he’d been doing that since he was little. With that thought, Mirey conveyed the village’s regards to Jonan and passed by him.

Then, she smelled an unfamiliar scent. Turning her head, she realized it came from something wrapped in cloth that Jonan had placed next to him.

“What’s that sea smell…”

“!!”

At her words, Jonan, who had been silent next to her, jumped up.

“Grandma!”

“Oh, oh?”

“There is! Evidence!”

“Evidence? What is it that has you so flustered?”

“I can’t reveal it yet. But please call him.”

“The Count? I’m sorry, but the Count is…”

“No. Please call Sir Failer. Can’t you call Sir Failer?”

“If it’s a knight, it might be possible somehow…”

She often took care of the knights of the Count’s family. Even if the two had clashed, she might be able to meet him if she asked politely.

Jonan said to Mirey with a serious look.

“I’ll persuade Sir Failer. And through him, I’ll reach the Count myself.”

Mirey, seeing Jonan’s determined expression, suddenly thought of the past.

A young hunter who found the answer faster than anyone else when the village children were given a task.

“Sir Knight.”

“Maid Mirey! What brings you here…?”

Late at night, the knock that broke Failer’s concentration was heard. When he opened the door of the lodging, there was the old maid of the Count’s family, Mirey, whom he usually thanked.

No one in the Count’s family didn’t know her.

From the beginning, all the people in the mansion, including Count Craystist, were either not born when she started working at the mansion or were just children.

In fact, she was the one who encouraged people instead of the deceased Countess.

And now, she had come to find him at night. Failer immediately realized it was an important matter.

“I’m sorry to disturb you while you’re resting.”

“No. I was just… thinking.”

What was the method Jonan mentioned? It hadn’t disappeared from his mind. Because of that, he couldn’t even perform his work properly today.

As Failer glanced away, Mirey showed a benevolent smile.

Her smile seemed to pierce people’s minds.

“May I come in for a moment?”

“Ah, yes. It’s humble, but.”

“Thank you.”

Mirey, who sat lightly in the seat where Failer had been agonizing a little while ago, looked around the room leisurely.

“So, Maid, why are you in my room…?”

“The thought you were having until a little while ago. It’s probably about Jonan, right?”

The topic that he hadn’t expected at all came out of her mouth.