A Journey Unwanted

Chapter 469 - 458: Offer for The General

[Realm: Álfheimr]

[Location: Quadling Country]

[Glinda’s Castle]

Glinda regarded Grimm for a moment longer than before.

She did not continue speaking immediately. Instead, she simply watched him as though weighing something. It was like she was deciding how best to shape her words rather than whether to speak at all.

The Good Witch did not seem like someone who needed long to think, so it stood out.

"You’re an interesting individual, Grimm; there’s no denying that," she finally mused, her voice still light. She did not reach for her food. Instead, she leaned back slightly in her chair, fingers coming together as she loosely cupped her hands in front of her. "And I do so enjoy interesting things. They make everything feel less stagnant. Life has a way of becoming dull otherwise, wouldn’t you agree?"

"To the point," Grimm replied flatly, cutting through her words without hesitation.

Puck, who had just stuffed a piece of bread into her mouth, paused mid-chew and shot him a dry look. There was something almost incredulous in her expression, as if silently asking how he could speak like that so casually in front of someone like Glinda.

The Cowardly Lion reacted more visibly. His ears twitched, and his posture stiffened slightly as he glanced between Grimm and Glinda, clearly unsettled by the bluntness of the tone. It seemed he expected some sort of consequence to follow.

None came.

Glinda did not seem to mind in the slightest.

"If that is what you prefer," she said easily, a hint of amusement touching her lips as though his bluntness only reinforced her earlier point. "Then I shall oblige."

Her gaze remained on him.

"How about a collaboration with Quaesitorum?"

Across the table, Snow’s brows drew together immediately.

("What...?") The reaction was small, but it was there—clear enough in the slight shifting of her expression as her gaze shifted back toward Grimm. ("A collaboration with him?")

Confusion settled in fully this time. She studied him again, more carefully this time, as though trying to find something she had missed before.

It had taken effort—considerable effort—for the Retorta Guild to even secure a meeting with the Good Witch. Time, resources, and negotiation. And even then, establishing anything resembling a working relationship had not come easily.

Yet here he was.

Offered something similar without even asking.

("Just who exactly is this man?") The question lingered, something that would remain unanswered, as her eyes remained on him.

"You offer that rather easily," Grimm noted, folding his gauntleted hands together, the sound of alloy brushing against itself accompanying the movement. "What is it? Am I that interesting of a specimen to you?"

"I wouldn’t phrase it so harshly," Glinda replied, her smile softening slightly, though it did not fade. "But yes, you could say that. You Descendants, as you call yourselves, are quite the intriguing group. And you, in particular, stand out."

Her tone remained gentle, but her intrigue was clear.

"What use is a collaboration with you and your group?" Grimm asked. The question was straightforward, though there was no real ignorance behind it—only a desire to hear her answer.

"How about easy access across all the realms?" Glinda offered, her gaze carrying amusement, as though she already knew the importance of what she was saying.

Both Puck and Snow reacted—each in their own way.

Puck’s eyes widened slightly, her posture straightening as she looked at Grimm. Surprised he even got an offer like that.

Snow’s expression did not change as openly, but that barely present surprise was there.

"Especially in your case," Glinda continued, her voice remaining with that soothing tone, "it would be quite useful. Considering you are not of this realm, correct?"

"You would be right," Grimm answered without hesitation.

He did not bother hiding it, he did, however, feel Snow’s gaze sharpen.

("He’s from another realm...?") The thought came quickly, her mind already moving to connect it with what she had observed before. ("Would that explain the absence of mana?") She let the idea linger, though it did not settle comfortably. ("Even so, for the Good Witch to take this level of interest, there is no way he is merely some ordinary human.")

Her attention remained fixed on him as he continued.

"So you are also offering a way back to my own realm," Grimm deduced, his tone unchanged.

"Of course," Glinda said with a small, almost playful smile. "You must be getting at least a little homesick, wouldn’t you? Even someone like you should feel that much."

Grimm did not respond immediately, but he considered it.

("The Goddess did say associating with the Good Witch and by extension her group would be convenient.") The thought passed through his mind without resistance. ("Realm travel not only holds a means to return, but to explore beyond this one as well. That alone carries value.")

There was a pause in his thoughts.

("That could be interesting.")

He shifted his gaze back to her.

"Your offer is interesting," he admitted, "but I cannot make use of it. I have business in this realm that takes priority."

"Business?" Glinda tilted her head slightly, her curiosity returning in full. "I must admit, that does make me wonder. What exactly is it that keeps you here, when you have the option to leave?"

"It concerns those dragons," Grimm began, his voice steady. "Albion and Ddraig."

And he saw it, only for a moment. A fraction of a second, barely noticeable to anyone not paying close attention. Snow stiffened. It was slight—so slight it could have been dismissed as nothing. He did not comment on or acknowledge it.

"Oh?" Glinda leaned forward just a little, her interest sharpening rather than fading. "And what concern do they hold for you, I wonder?" That interest was probably further reinforced due to what he was.

"Someone wants them dead," Grimm said plainly. "And I want to see how interesting they are before deciding anything for myself." He lifted a hand slightly, jabbing his thumb in Puck’s direction. "And I need to find the Fairy Queen who is supposedly with this Albion."

Puck blinked, caught off guard by the gesture.

"Wait, that’s still part of this?" she muttered, raising a brow, though she did not interrupt further.

"And," Grimm continued, as though the previous point held no particular weight beyond its mention, "I am looking for someone."

"Oh?" Glinda leaned in further now, her interest did not wane; it instead shifted.

It was not the mention of the Fairy Queen that held her attention now, nor even the matter of Albion or Ddraig. No, what lingered was that final remark, the one delivered without emphasis.

That, more than anything else, seemed to catch her.

"Looking for someone, hm?" Glinda repeated lightly, her eyes remained observant—studying him rather intently. A small grin formed on her lips. "I do hope you do not mean that in the more sentimental sense. It would be rather unexpected to hear you were searching for a future partner of all things."

Puck snorted immediately, nearly choking on the bite she had just taken.

"Yeah, I don’t see that happening anytime soon," she muttered through a half-suppressed laugh, clearly entertained by the idea.

Grimm did not react.

"She’s someone who came with me to this realm," he clarified, ignoring the remark entirely as though it had never been made. "Another Descendant. Like myself."

"I see..." Glinda’s expression shifted. The amusement softened into a more thoughtful look as she leaned back slightly, one hand rising to cup her chin as she considered the information. "To think there are two of you now walking within Álfheimr, that is something worthwhile."

Her gaze drifted for a moment, turning inward, as though shifting through something only she could see.

"Well, I may have an inkling as to where you might find her," she added after a brief pause, her voice returning to its usual cadence. ("That report from the Northern hills, the one about a dragon sighting.")

The thought passed idly through her mind.

("Ddraig is still within the Abyss, that much I am certain of. And Albion, he is far too cautious to reveal himself so openly without reason. So if something resembling a dragon was seen there and if that was a presence strong enough to draw attention, then perhaps it is not either dragon at all.")

"What would I owe you for that assistance?" Grimm asked, his voice cutting through her thoughts.

"Well..." Glinda hummed softly, her fingers tapping lightly against her chin as she regarded him again. "If I were to ask for something simple, then more information regarding how you Descendants function would be quite nice."

Her tone remained almost offhand, but the request itself was obviously not without intent.

"I could compile copies of the research I have regarding my kind," Grimm replied without delay.

It was a straightforward answer, Glinda’s smile deepened just slightly at that, pleased in a way she did not bother hiding.

("Still, that is a rather modest price.") Grimm remained silent for a moment after speaking, his hidden gaze fixed on her. ("Too modest.")

He understood it well enough; she was not asking for much yet.

("She is testing the waters.")

That was the only explanation that fit. She was someone who could offer him a great deal: access to more knowledge, movement between realms, and opportunities that would not come easily elsewhere.

("And the more I take, the higher the price will become.")

It was not a concern.

"Swell, then that will be enough," Glinda said lightly, her hands lowering as she settled back into her seat. "In that case, I shall assist you in finding this person." She said it easily, far too easily.

There was no hesitation in her agreement, no negotiation beyond what had already been said.

Grimm questioned it—if only briefly, but convenience had its own value and for now, this was enough.

"For now," Glinda continued, her gaze softening once more as she gestured lightly toward the table, "let us simply enjoy the meal. There is no need to rush into everything all at once. Conversations, like good food, are best taken in at a steady pace."