Chapter E83: Carving

Chapter Eighty-Three
Carving

Holding the herbs wrapped in yellow-brown paper, Bogda left Rosen’s Folk Herb Shop in a daze.

While waiting for the trackless public carriage, he abruptly came to himself.

I spent a whole ten pounds on this one packet of stuff?

That is nearly a month’s salary!

If I had not believed Anna and Joyce, I never would have brought so much cash to the Divination Club!

Could it be that behind Mr. Moretti’s eight-pence divination fee, he is actually cooperating with the blackhearted owner of Rosen’s Herb Shop to earn even more money? This—this is exactly like the classic fraud cases in the newspapers!

Connecting the events before and after, Bogda could not help beginning to doubt Klein. He even began to doubt Joyce and Anna.

The trackless public carriage stopped. He looked at the herbs in his hand and, in the end, did not have the thick skin to return them. He could only enter the carriage with a heavy heart.

…

Inside Rosen’s Folk Herb Shop.

The owner watched Bogda’s back recede, then suddenly turned toward the back door where herbs were piled and called out, “Shermin, starting today, do not go out to purchase herbs anymore.”

“Why? Teacher, why?”

A delicate-looking youth with messy hair walked out.

The owner smiled.

“This is the sixteenth customer who has come because of my reputation. If this continues, I believe the Nighthawks, Mandated Punishers, and Machinery Hivemind will all notice me. It is time to consider moving to another city.”

“Then does this shop need to be transferred?” Shermin asked with sudden understanding and concern.

The owner gave a chuckle.

“If you want to stay, you can become the owner of this shop. In identifying herbs and blending medicines, your abilities are already sufficient. Of course, remember to deposit fifty percent of your monthly profits into my bearer account at Backlund Bank.”

“But I still have not learned the thing you are truly good at.”

Shermin was tired of staying in one city for less than a year, yet reluctant to give up his teacher’s miraculous formulas.

The owner sat down in a recliner and rocked leisurely.

“That is not something one can learn merely because one wishes to…”

…

A cup of boiling black-green liquid appeared before Bogda’s eyes. Its smell, like rotten socks, and its color, which made one want to vomit, caused him to deeply question everything he had done that day.

Freshly drawn rooster blood was dripped into the medicine. Bogda’s father looked at his son with concern.

“I believe surgery is the best choice.”

The small amount of rooster blood rolled several times in the boiling liquid, then vanished. Bogda inhaled deeply and said, “If this medicine does not work, then I will consider surgery.”

“The Lord will protect you,” Bogda’s father said, drawing the triangular sacred emblem over his chest.

When the boiling liquid cooled, Bogda clung to the thought that he could not waste ten pounds. With a lift of his right hand, he closed his eyes, tipped back his head, and gulped down the entire potion.

The foul stench with faint traces of blood echoed through his mouth, almost making him vomit everything he had just drunk.

That night, Bogda discovered that he had ruined his stomach. He went to the washroom a full six times. Only when the crimson moon was about to disappear did he finally fall asleep in a daze.

No one knew how long had passed before he suddenly woke, having dreamed of his company boss’s reprimand.

“Fortunately—fortunately, I requested three days of annual leave. I do not need to rush to the company.”

Bogda breathed out in relief, then suddenly discovered that his mind was rather clear.

This formed a sharp contrast with the low spirits he had endured over the past few weeks.

Subconsciously, Bogda reached out and pressed the right side of his abdomen. The place that had previously hurt so much even with slight pressure that he could barely endure it now felt normal. There was only ordinary tenderness when pressed.

“It cannot truly have worked, can it? That pharmacist was clearly fooling people…”

Astonished, delighted, and doubtful all at once, Bogda rolled out of bed and moved his body, feeling a long-lost sense of health returning to him.

After pondering for a long while, he muttered to himself, “According to that pharmacist’s instructions, I still need to drink it twice more. After I finish the packet, I will go to the hospital and find another internist for a check.

“Though that pharmacist did not seem to say how many times a day I should drink it…

“…I still think he looks a little like a fraud…”

…

Inside the civilian staff office of Blackthorn Security Company, Klein had requested in advance and obtained an environment where he would not be disturbed.

Holding a carving knife, he expressed his spirituality while carefully carving incantations and symbolic signs onto two silver ornaments.

They were Hermes words praying to avoid misfortune, as well as two mystical symbols representing the Evernight Goddess, the Empress of Misfortune and Horror.

Aside from those, Klein also added the spiritual number corresponding to the Goddess—“7”—and related magical markings.

In addition, both sides of charms and amulets had to be carved. Which symbols, incantations, and markings were arranged on each side, what positions they occupied, and what special format they followed all belonged to advanced mysticism. The knowledge circulated among ordinary people was filled with mistakes.

At that moment, many ruined materials lay to Klein’s right. Only after repeated practice, and only after confirming that he had skillfully grasped the process, did he dare make amulets for his elder brother Benson and younger sister Melissa.

His mind settled. Spirituality surged from the tip of his carving knife, outlining the number “7” on the silver ornament’s surface.

The incantations and symbols on the other side had already been completed. Only this side remained to be finished.

When the final cut fell, all the spirituality linked together. Klein suddenly felt a strange, vast, terrifying power surge inside the room.

That surge swiftly vanished. In Klein’s spirit vision, the incantations on both sides of the silver ornament formed a complete whole, emitting a tranquil and peaceful black.

He set down the carving knife and rubbed the silver ornament formed from a “circle” and one vertical “line,” feeling its warmth carry a few traces of coolness.

“Done!”

Delighted, he placed the amulet he had previously made and this newly completed one together into his pocket, planning to find an opportunity to give them to Benson and Melissa.

This kind of amulet made by a Beyonder possessed a certain effect. It could allow the wearer, without realizing it, to avoid a considerable degree of misfortune. However, the effect would not be too exaggerated. Spirituality would slowly drain away as well. Unless a higher-level ritual magic was used to pray for complete solidification, one year of use was already the limit. Such high-level ritual magic had frightening requirements for spirituality and was not something Klein could currently bear.

When the time comes, I can just outline it again with spirituality…

Klein nodded thoughtfully and began tidying the messy desk.

For the moment, he had not made any item for himself. This level of amulet had limited effect on him. His goal was to further master charm-making, then cooperate with ritual magic to create a few charms that could be activated through special syllables for self-defense.

After finishing the cleanup, Klein had just walked out of the civilian staff office, preparing to turn in the wasted materials, when he saw Captain Dunn come over in a black windbreaker.

Dunn’s deep gray eyes swept once over him. The corners of his mouth lifted.

“Klein, the Sanctuary has approved it. You are now our official member.”

“Really? That is wonderful!”

Klein showed delight that was half real and half acted.

Dunn smiled and nodded.

“You may immediately receive the three pounds of salary you are owed for this week. After that, it will be four pounds ten soli per week, until the advance payment is fully repaid.

“By the way, have I mentioned the Nighthawk ritual?

“Every official Nighthawk must independently complete a mission. Only by doing so can they receive the recognition of their companions. Considering your outstanding performance before, I believe we may use an ordinary commissioned mission instead. When that time comes, I will formally introduce you to all the Nighthawks in Tingen City.”

Klein answered without the slightest hesitation.

“All right!”

Three pounds plus the seven pounds of reimbursement—buying another formal suit will not be a problem at all!

And there will still be quite a lot left over!

Mm. I wonder when I will be able to wait for that mission…

Klein waited all the way until Sunday, until Selena’s birthday dinner.

…

After changing into formalwear and cleaning his half-top silk hat with a brush and handkerchief, Klein checked himself in the mirror and walked down to the first floor quite satisfied.

At that moment, Melissa was looking Benson’s clothes up and down.

“Is there a problem?”

Benson raised his cane, made rather guilty by his sister’s gaze.

He looked himself over and felt that there was nothing wrong. He was already dressed respectably enough.

Melissa withdrew her gaze and said with a serious expression, “Benson, that is a very old formal suit.”

“There will be quite a few outstanding young ladies and ladies attending the birthday dinner today. I believe dressing this way shows them disrespect.”

Klein had originally been full of questions, but after hearing Melissa’s emphasis, he immediately understood. Smiling, he leaned over.

“Benson and I are close enough in build. He can wear my other tailcoat.”

He had already explained to his elder brother and younger sister about buying a new formal suit. He had said that when inspecting certain cultural relics, his clothing had been snagged and damaged, so the company had generously compensated him. Of course, he concealed the matter of his promotion and raise, afraid of startling Melissa and Benson. He planned to tell them after half a year.

That explanation had made Benson and Melissa extremely envious. They felt that Blackthorn Security Company was truly an employer beyond reproach.

“There is no need for that, is there?” Benson asked, still failing to understand the situation.

“No. It is very necessary.”

Klein pushed Benson’s shoulders and guided him toward the staircase.

“My tailcoat is hanging on the coat rack.”

After watching Benson go upstairs with a blank expression, Klein turned to Melissa and smiled.

“You hope Benson can use Selena’s birthday dinner to begin a beautiful relationship with a certain young lady?”

During this period, he had read no small number of newspapers and magazines, and knew that banquets among nobles and the middle class often served matchmaking functions.

Melissa nodded seriously.

“Yes. Benson has already missed too much because of us.”

Sister, why have you grown into such a motherly role…

Looking at Melissa, Klein suddenly shook his head and laughed.