An eyeball?

A chill instantly ran down my spine. Images of the corpses from the church flashed before my eyes.

Focusing my magic, I raised my voice to confirm,
"You just said you're looking for an eyeball?"

The girl was startled, her whole body jolting as she took two steps back like a frightened fawn.
"Y-Yes. I'm looking for the 'Star God's Eye.' Is there... something wrong?"

Hearing this, I secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
The Star God stands on the opposite side of the Three-Eyed Ritual. Anything related to Him wouldn't be dangerous.

But, the Star God's Eye?

I said,
"Nothing's wrong. But this is the first I've heard of that name. Is it some kind of accessory?"
The girl looked surprised.
"No. Didn't you hear Baron Goldflame's announcement just now?"
Not at all. I was too busy selling potions and appreciating Sylvia.
Sylvia, please help me out here... No good, she's also shaking her head with a blank look.

"If you don't mind, could you explain?"
"Mmm... Of course. To celebrate the first autumn harvest festival of this peaceful era, Baron Goldflame decided to spare no expense."
"He hid a rare crystal somewhere in the town. It's a beautiful, egg-shaped crystal. Its color is like a blue-purple nebula, with a bright, pupil-like platinum-white point at its core. It's a treasure symbolizing luck and a bright future."
"Baron Goldflame promised that he would grant a wish within his power to the wise person who finds the crystal."
"...That's about it. Did I... explain it clearly enough?"

The girl's voice was soft and thin, but her enunciation was clear, pleasant to listen to.

I said,
"I understand. I'm sorry, but we have other matters to attend to. I'm afraid we can't help you."
Just kidding. I have a whole two-person world to spend with Sylvia.
Please pursue this treasure-hunt wish, reeking of money and with no leads, by yourself.

"...I-I see. Sorry."

The girl apologized softly, seeming a bit dejected, and turned to leave. Sylvia called out to her, smiling gently.
"Please wait a moment. If it's okay to ask, why are you so keen on finding that crystal? Is it to get rich with that wish?"

The girl quickly glanced at Sylvia, then immediately shyly averted her gaze again.
Weird.

As if steeling her resolve, she placed a hand on her chest, lifted her head, and said,
"No, not for myself. It's for my brother, Basil."
"Since childhood, his goal has been to enter the Obsidian Mage Corps. He's been striving for it for ten years now."
"But... my brother's talent isn't exceptional."
"If things continue like this, he'll probably need another ten or twenty years to have a chance at achieving his wish... By then, I might not be around to see it."
"So, I want to take this opportunity to help him."

Unlike the vibrant, healthy Sylvia, the girl's demeanor was like a delicate, fragile piece of art. Even if she wasn't suffering from an illness, her constitution was likely frail.

Come to think of it, elves seem to have long lifespans. If I manage to help Sylvia survive the prophesied death, I am still destined to be just a transient figure in her long life.
Thinking about that made me understand the girl's feelings a little better.

Sylvia said softly,
"I know a bit of healing magic. I'm something of a physician; perhaps I can help."

Hearing this, the girl showed a bitter smile and gently shook her head.
"Thank you very much for your kindness. But I suffer from congenital short breath syndrome... Since you're a physician, you probably know its nature?"
"...Yes. Magic and medicine find it difficult to cure. It requires a large investment of money and resources for long-term gentle care and conditioning, praying that the body gradually improves."

A rare, troubled expression, like a passing cloud, drifted across Sylvia's face.
But in just an instant, that gloom vanished without a trace, replaced by an unwavering, confident smile.
"Adam, what do you say?"

How could I possibly make any other choice when the one I love says that? Honestly.

I looked at the girl and said,
"We will definitely find the crystal for you before sunset."

The girl's face lit up with joy.
"Thank you so much! As for payment..."
I chuckled.
"That's unnecessary. Instead, please agree to one condition from me."

Sylvia looked at me with disbelief, a hint of disdain appearing in her eyes. Does my smile look that sleazy?
Though, having her glare at me like that is kind of... Stop.

Sylvia is smart, but occasionally a bit scatterbrained. She must have thought of something strange.
I hurriedly clarified my thoughts to the girl,
"You seem frail and might have trouble keeping up with our pace. While we search, please don't accompany us."
"I understand... Should I wait here then?"

I handed the girl a small piece of ice crystal.
This was an ice crystal whose state I had Stagnated using my second rune. Until I dispel the magic, it won't melt in the slightest even under the blazing sun.
"That's not necessary. You can go sightsee elsewhere or try to find the crystal on your own. After we find the crystal, this ice crystal will melt. Then you can come back to this stall to meet us."

The girl carefully took the ice crystal, a blush appearing on her pale face. She said,
"Yes! Thank you! Oh, Baron Goldflame also gave a clue about the 'Star God's Eye.' I wrote it down."

The girl felt her pockets and handed me a slip of paper with elegant handwriting on it.
[Pumpkins like fine wine, improve with patient time.]

It seemed to be some kind of riddle. I'm not very good at these. If only Mr. Wilson were here; he could at least put on a profound air and analyze it.
"Thank you. And you are...? My name is Adam, and hers is Sylvia."
The girl nodded and smiled,
"You can call me Rosemary."

After bidding farewell to Rosemary, Sylvia and I left the stall, blending into the bustling crowd. We walked past hawking vendors amidst the aromas of food and sounds of laughter.

After strolling for a few minutes, Sylvia suddenly stopped.
"Adam, if I may ask... where exactly are we going?"
I was taken aback.
"Weren't you leading the way, Sylvia?"
Sylvia was also taken aback.
"...You looked so confident, I thought for sure you were leading!"
"I looked confident because I thought you were leading! You were smiling so confidently!"
"And you blame me?! Do you really like me or not?!"

I cleared my throat and said seriously,
"Of course. I undoubtedly lo—"
"Stop!"

Sylvia immediately raised her hand to cut me off.
"Got it, got it, my mistake! Please save your sentimental quota. Back to business, any ideas about that hint?"
"Let me think... The suspicious elements are only 'pumpkin' and 'wine.' Maybe the crystal is hidden at a stall selling pumpkin wine? Inside the oldest wine bottle?"

Sylvia framed her chin with her thumb and forefinger, squinting in thought.
Cute. Gotta find a chance to pinch her cheeks sometime.
"I don't think I've seen any stalls selling homemade wine. And if I remember correctly, in the Kingdom of Aethera, you need the lord's permission to publicly sell homemade alcohol, right?"

I mimicked her pose, framing my chin.
"That's true. However, there are some stalls related to pumpkins... like that one over there?"

I pointed to two long wooden tables not far away.
On the left table were piles of orange pumpkins, with carving tools and pulp scattered nearby. Five or six people were sitting around the table carving pumpkins.
On the right table were two rows of already completed jack-o'-lanterns. They came in various shapes, many already lit with candlelight. The candle flames flickered, casting warm light and dancing shadows.
In front of the two tables stood a wooden sign, hand-painted with rough paint: "Carve Your Own Pumpkin, Light Up the New Year!"

Sylvia also looked towards the stall.
"That's right, let's go take a lo—"

Halfway through her sentence, her words caught in her throat. Her gaze locked onto two of the pumpkin-carving customers.
...Looking closely, aren't those Mr. Wilson and Mary?