Ch. 84 Melina, who was kneeling on his back

While arguing, Patches grabbed Mia’s foot—the one stepping on the back of his hand—with his other hand, trying to move it away.

But no matter how hard he tried, Mia didn’t budge an inch.

After all, basically everyone who had fallen for Patches’ tricks, besides players, was dead.

Melina, who was kneeling on his back, also added a bit more pressure.

“You skin-peeling frog, a fellow who only pollutes the air by staying in this world, put your dirty hands where they belong!”

Although Melina’s words were completely different from Mia’s stern but civilized scolding, their attack power was arguably even higher.

“Guh—”

Patches felt as if a stone spike was pinning his back; it felt like his internal organs were about to burst out of his body.

“I’m not lying, I’m really not lying! I’ll get it for you myself!”

Faced with the’special care’ from the two beautiful girls, Patches had a mournful look on his face.

“Hmm…” Mia stared at Patches’ smooth, bald head.

She thought about what he said.

If there really was something precious, as Patches claimed—

Letting him hand it over personally seemed like a safe approach.

Although according to typical TV drama logic, to prevent an ambush in this situation, one would usually make the other person state the location and then go get it themselves.

But this was Patches she was dealing with.

Who knew if there were traps in that place?

“Get up,” Mia said coldly.

“You’re stepping on me,” Patches replied.

Mia moved her foot off his hand.

“Melina, let’s see what he’s going to do first.”

“Yes.”

Melina also stood up.

However, as she transitioned from a kneeling position to a standing one, Melina’s point of support for her body weight was still Patches.

Patches grimaced in pain.

“Get up.”

Mia looked at him with contempt.

“Was that necessary…” Patches rubbed his hand, which had been stepped on until it was bright red, and stood up sheepishly.

Mia held her staff, keeping a distance behind him.

“Don’t think you can fool your way through everything with an apology.”

“Yes, yes…” Patches muttered.

From time to time, he would spit out phrases like ‘It’s not like there were any victims’ or ‘What a fuss over nothing.’

“Find the item quickly!” Mia urged.

Patches dawdled as he walked toward a pile of miscellaneous goods in the corner.

He leaned over to rummage through the pile, and before long, he stood up.

Holding something, he walked over to Mia and handed it to her.

“Here, this is the treasure. Can you forgive me now?”

The object in Patches’ hand—

At a glance, it looked like a dark stone slab about the size of a brick.

It was wrapped in the dried roots of some kind of plant.

“Hmm?”

Mia took the stone slab.

There wasn’t much dust on it.

Either it was kept in a very secure place, or Patches hadn’t had it for very long.

Looking closer, the Erdtree crest was engraved on the stone slab.

It still contained magic power.

‘margits shackle’

‘A cursed object bearing golden magic power.

Among the many cursed Omens, this was used on one who required strict restraint.

Even now, a slight amount of binding magic remains.’

“Where did you get this?”

Mia looked up at Patches.

“I picked it up.”

Patches answered quite honestly.

“Really?”

But since this guy had far too many prior offenses, Mia remained skeptical.

Patches complained, “What point would there be in lying to you at a time like this?”

That was true.

But she still had to ask a bit more.

“Where did you pick it up?”

“It fell off a caravan. A bunch of Demi-humans attacked the caravan, and I picked this up on the battlefield!”

Patches observed Mia’s expression from time to time.

If he talked nonsense now—

He would probably be beaten up again immediately.

“Mhm.”

She tentatively believed his explanation.

Mia stroked margits shackle in her hand.

With this item, she would have a better chance of winning when facing the boss at the entrance of Stormveil Castle, Margit, the Fell Omen.

However…

In the game, it was an item that only required pressing a button to use.

How was it supposed to be used here?

Turning around: “Melina, do you recognize this thing?”

She wanted to hand the shackle to Melina.

But Melina suddenly took a step back, staring intently at the stone brick.

The magic power remaining in the seal style on it…

Was familiar yet somewhat strange.

But it was still repulsive.

Mia tilted her head in confusion.

“Sorry…”

Melina looked at the seal on the shackle and lowered her head, speaking softly.

“This is… a shackle used to imprison someone. The seal on it has the effect of restricting the target’s movements.”

“There’s still magic power remaining that can be effective, right?” Mia asked.

“Yes. But I do not know who the target of this seal is. However, as long as the residual magic within can be activated, the seal can briefly exert its power.”

Melina paused: “Whether it’s pinning the target’s entire body or constraining them to an area, it only requires activating the magic within to achieve it.”

“Activate the magic within?” Mia nodded.

Like activating the magic within a glintstone?

She probably knew how to use it now.

She put the shackle into her storage space.

Melina didn’t know the target person of this shackle.

But Mia knew very well.

The girl suddenly noticed that Melina had been watching her movements since a moment ago.

“What’s wrong?”

Mia asked in confusion.

Melina took a breath: “Lady Mia.”

She spoke very seriously.

“A seal like this, used to imprison someone, is one of the mistakes committed by the Erdtree. It is something that should not be used, a thing that harms the innocent. So I hope that you will not try to replicate such a seal.”

Although she didn’t know why Little Wood would specifically emphasize such a thing—

Mia still nodded vigorously.

At least it was a sign of respect for Melina’s attitude.

“I promise you, I won’t try to replicate such a seal.”

“Thank you.”