Every Morning, My Mirror Saves the World - Chapter 50

Chapter 50

After that day, whenever Lars and Landatini crossed paths and Lars instinctively wanted to start trading barbs with him, Ruiyin would turn ashen and drag him away at once.

“Why do we have to avoid him?” Lars said unhappily. “That guy treated Ruiyin like that before. Even if he’s an ally now and we can’t kill him, we still don’t have to let him have an easy time!”

“Because you can never beat a pervert,” Ruiyin said, shaking her head. “And the day you truly do beat him is the day you have lost utterly on the road of life.”

Such a philosophical statement immediately made the little wolfdog Lars give up on the idea of competing with him.

Just like the Celestial Empire of old, the administrative departments here had equally worrying efficiency. So although the Allied Forces’ contract had already been signed, Juvina still had to go through a pile of complicated, tedious procedures before he could formally lead troops out. The free time in between became an important opportunity for everyone to stock up the adventuring party.

Ruiyin strolled through the marketplace, lazily swinging a money pouch around one finger. Vigia, in human form, followed beside her, staring pitifully at the wealth that had been plundered from him. Galahad in his silver armor and the eye-catching Lars, with his looks and bearing, trailed behind as baggage carriers. His Highness Prince Juvina, who had disguised himself yet still could not disguise his flamboyant ways, walked at the very front in the name of “observing the lives of the common people.” Wherever their party went, the crowd quickly cleared out an empty space, afraid of being infected by a mental virus…

“This really is my first time coming to a place like this,” Juvina said, looking with great interest at the little trinkets on a nearby stall. He glanced at Ruiyin, who was seriously checking items off in her notebook. “Actually, I could provide all the supplies for you free of charge. Why come to a place like this on purpose?”

“Because I wanted to experience a live-action RPG plotline–” Ruiyin stopped, turned to see Juvina’s puzzled face, and changed her wording. “Because there are always things hidden in the marketplace that you would never see in the imperial palace. And I have always taken pleasure in discovering them.”

Juvina thoughtfully looked around, then smiled. “That does make sense. For example… I can always discover many new admirers here.” As he spoke, he sent a subtle flirtatious wink toward a few girls in the corner who did not fear the mental virus.

“…Why the hell did you bring this idiot along?!” Ruiyin yanked Lars over and hissed through gritted teeth. “He’s a prince! At a time like this, shouldn’t he be drinking tea and flirting with girls in the palace? Didn’t you ever tell him this rustic, all-natural local flavor isn’t suited to him?!”

“He wasn’t planning to come at first,” Lars whispered back, lowering his head to Ruiyin’s ear. “But just as I was going out, I ran into Tio, who was on her way to find him… and then His Highness the Prince insisted on coming to observe the lives of the common people.”

“…” Truly, there was always someone beyond the someone beyond the mountain, and beyond every idiot there was an even greater idiot.

Galahad and Vigia, on the other hand, were completely unaware of the stormy undercurrents in the adult world. The little dragon-man duo bounced happily through the market. Just as Ruiyin had said, there really were always many novel things hidden here that could not be found in the imperial palace: butterfly brooches whose wings would flap after magic was cast on them, horned hats supposedly once worn by the Pirate King, little glowing charms to decorate a knight’s longsword… Galahad, who had money in his purse for the first time, examined each item with great interest. In the end, besides red and blue potions, Vigia’s Dragon’s Hoard also ended up holding a whole assortment of things, including roasted sweet potatoes.

“R-Ruiyin…” Lars bashfully sidled over and presented a small wooden charm in both hands, his big, expectant eyes blinking at her. “Do… do you like this?”

Hmm. He knew to give his mentor (?!) a present now. She couldn’t crush the brat’s taste. Ruiyin nodded encouragingly. “I like it.”

“That’s great!” Lars jumped up in delight, then quickly hung the little charm on his belt beside the Sword of Shadow and, treasuring it dearly, stuffed it into his waistband…

“This is something Ruiyin likes!” Lars shyly pressed his fingers together. “I’m going to carry it close to my body every day! I’ll keep it together with my most important thing, and that way I’ll always be able to feel Ruiyin’s affection!”

…Could you please not do something so stalkerish with such perfect confidence?! Young man, with that creepy look on your face, can you really still be the male lead in a romantic god-tier drama?!

Ruiyin, whose face had gone green, forcibly suppressed the sudden discomfort in her stomach and turned back to continue checking items off the supply list…

For merchants, whether or not a customer was mentally ill was simply not a factor worth considering, so the roadside uncle still enthusiastically recommended his wares to them.

“This handsome knight, would you care to try a new magic gun? Depending on the type of magic crystal used, it can produce all sorts of magical effects. It would be an excellent aid to a knight as battle-hardened as yourself!”

Galahad pointed at himself, flattered and surprised. “Huh? Me? Are you talking to me?”

“Other than you, what knight could possibly be worthy of such a perfect magic gun? Look at these smooth lines, this elegant shape, and its tremendous power! Such a flawless piece is being sold for only ten gold coins! Handsome knight, what are you waiting for? Wonderful, this gun now belongs to you!”

Ruiyin looked at Galahad, who had been conned by the sales pitch into cheerfully paying up, and said with an unhappy expression, “Hey, haven’t you bought enough random junk already? This thing for fooling children actually costs ten gold coins?”

Galahad fondly stroked the magic gun in his hands. It looked somewhat like a revolver with a built-in scope. “It’s fine. His Highness the Prince said that as long as I’m willing to join the Allied Suicide Squad, he can pay me fifteen gold coins a month as commission! He said this is a gun only a handsome Silver Knight can use… Oh right, Ruiyin, do you know how to use it?”
…If you have absolutely no idea how to use it, why the hell did you buy it?!

Ruiyin turned back, utterly defeated. “No clue whatsoever.”

“From the look of it, you can shape blank magic crystals infused with magic power into special forms, then fire them mechanically.” Juvina, on the other hand, leaned in with great interest to study it, picking up one of the complimentary magic-crystal bullets. “Six crystals’ worth of capacity, and it just happens to cover all six attributes. Fascinating. May I try?”

Galahad planted his hands on his hips in pride, cradling his magic gun like a treasure. He was just about to say something when a sudden commotion broke out in the crowd ahead. A moment later, a disheveled man came staggering out. He had a frail girl clamped under one arm, while his other hand held a knife, trembling violently, against her neck. He roared at the crowd in desperation, “Don’t come any closer! If you do, I’ll kill her right now!”

Lars almost immediately pulled Ruiyin into his arms. He swept his wary gaze around their surroundings. Only after confirming there was nothing deliberately suspicious apart from the panicked crowd did he relax slightly and let go, turning with the others to watch the man who had stolen everyone’s attention.

The man was gaunt and shabbily dressed. The crowd had forced him to the edge of the market, and his eyes were filled with panic and despair. The girl he held captive in front of him had her eyes tightly shut; whether she had fainted or something else had happened was unclear. The man’s knife hand shook beside her neck as he shouted, “Don’t come any closer! Let me leave here safely! Otherwise… otherwise I’ll kill this girl right now!”

“That’s Viscount Kalt,” Juvina said, already calm again. “I heard the Kalt Family owed a great deal of debt, but… I never imagined a fallen noble would do something even the poor rarely resort to.”

“Doing such a thing is utterly unforgivable!” Galahad said indignantly, clenching his fists. “It seems I, the Silver Knight, must save this innocent maiden!”

Ruiyin looked at him in surprise. Galahad swiftly took out the magic gun he had just purchased, pressed all six magic crystals into the magazine at once, raised the pistol, narrowed his eyes to aim carefully, and pulled the trigger without hesitation.

Bang! A huge rock slammed down three meters away from Mr. Kidnapper. Viscount Kalt jumped in fright.

“You… dare use magic against me!” he said through gritted teeth. “I’m warning you! If you don’t let me leave, I really will kill her!”

Galahad crouched down, clawing at his hair with all his might. “Impossible… I have to try again. How could I miss?”

Boom! A fireball set a haystack next to Viscount Kalt ablaze.

Splash! A water ball extinguished the fire.

Whoosh! A gust of wind swept away the dust.

Mr. Kidnapper had gone from his initial panic to calm acceptance. He was even looking at the crowd with a certain anticipation, waiting to see what the next spell would be…

“I… I don’t believe it!” Galahad said, his eyes bloodshot as he broke down. “I was clearly aiming right at him… I have to try again! One more time!”

“Wait.” Lars suddenly stopped him. Under Galahad’s puzzled gaze, Lars stepped forward and lightly twisted the sight Galahad had lined up, shifting the crosshairs onto Miss Hostage beside the kidnapper. Then he held Galahad’s hand and pressed the trigger.

A beam of holy light descended from the sky and struck Lord Viscount, who was still stupidly waiting, knocking him out with perfect accuracy.

Hostage secured.

Lars quietly retreated behind Ruiyin, hiding his achievement and his name alike…

The uncle from the pyramid-scheme crew introduced with a beaming smile, “Oh my, it seems this gentleman has discovered the special feature of our product! That’s right. In order to bring users a small surprise, we deliberately made a subtle deviation in the aiming device. That is precisely our selling point! Please come again next time, young knight…” The uncle smiled and rattled on as he packed up his stall at light speed and made a swift retreat…

Mr. Kidnapper was soon arrested and taken away by the guard squad Juvina summoned. It was only an ordinary civil dispute. Ignoring Lars’s resentful, handkerchief-biting gaze, Ruiyin walked over and, with some effort, helped up Miss Hostage, who was lying on the ground with no one paying her any attention. Her eyes were still tightly closed as she lay unconscious. Ruiyin studied that face carefully and realized, to her surprise, that Miss Hostage was actually a great beauty!

Her flaxen hair had been braided into two innocent-looking plaits that hung quietly over her shoulders. Two playful freckles dotted her fair, delicate cheeks. As she lay weak and helpless in Ruiyin’s arms, she had not only the approachable charm of the girl next door, but an added touch of pitiful loveliness.

“Are you all right?” Ruiyin gently patted the girl’s arm. The other girl let out a soft little whimper and slowly opened her eyes.

A pair of large, azure eyes gazed at Ruiyin through a misty haze. She raised a hand, rubbed her eyes, and yawned. “Your Highness… I’m so sleepy…”

…This girl…

Had she been fucking asleep the entire time just now?!

Author’s Note:

New lunatic acquired! Some of you have probably already guessed who this young lady is, right?

Creep Lars: Something Ruiyin likes, ooh! I have to hurry and put it together with my most important thing. (Sneakily looks around, then tightens his belt!)