Reincarnated as Twins: And Then, I Was the Only One Abandoned - ☆31 Mistia Lake

☆31 Mistia Lake 

For the first time in years, Rohan returned to his hometown Celestia. 

As a B-rank adventurer, he had been working in the guild of the Kingdom of Soldia for quite some time. But upon receiving news that his mother had fallen ill, he rushed back to check on her. 

Since he was back in Celestia, he figured he might as well make his travel expenses worthwhile—maybe even earn a little extra pocket money. 

After all, there was a way to make easy money here. 

A method that only he knew about. 

Mistia Lake, located just outside the castle town of Eldora. 

His discovery of magic stones had been purely accidental. 

One day, while napping by the lakeshore, some fox or raccoon had rummaged through his belongings. As he chased the animal away, his bag tipped over. And one of his magical tools—a key part of his trade—fell into the lake. 

Panicking, he dove in to retrieve it. It was only to realize the lake was far deeper than he had expected. 

Since diving down was impossible, he returned to town, purchased materials for a casting net, and muttered, “What the hell am I even doing?” as he set up by the lake. 

When he threw the net and pulled it back, his magical tool was nowhere to be found. 

However, mixed in with the ordinary stones was something unusual—rocks that emitted a faint glow of mana. 

His instincts told him immediately: *These are worth money.* 

But if he showed up at the market with too many, people would start asking questions. 

So, he had made it a habit to visit the lake every so often. He collected small amounts to sell for some extra cash. 

◆◆◆

Returning to Mistia Lake after so long, Rohan was stunned by how much the area had changed. 

First, the roads were now properly maintained. 

A grand mansion—practically a castle—stood in the distance, along with several smaller houses. 

To top it all off, there were now farmlands growing crops he had never seen before. 

Still confused, he made his way to the lake—only to find a small boat docked there. 

A bad feeling crept up his spine. 

Still, he began preparing his casting net. 

That’s when it happened. 

“Oi, old man. What do you think you’re doing?” 

Turning around, he saw three boys approaching. They had weapons in hand. 

Their stance and movements told him all he needed to know—if he fought them, he’d lose. 

“Oh, I was just, uh… planning to do a little fishing.” 

“Fishing? Who gave you permission? This is Lady Elysia’s private property, you know?” 

What? 

Private property? 

Rohan recalled the massive mansion he had seen earlier. 

Hold on—who in the world has enough money to buy out this entire area? 

“I see… I hadn’t realized. It’s been years since I was last here. By the way, who exactly is this Elysia person?” 

Raising both hands in a gesture of surrender, he asked the question. 

“She’s the princess of the Eldarin Kingdom. Normally, we’d haul you in and turn you over to the authorities. But since you didn’t know, we’ll let you off with a warning. Just don’t come back, got it?” 

Eldarin? 

No way. 

Had the local lord actually sold this magic stone treasure trove to another country? 

What a foolish decision. 

“Understood. I’ll do as you say.” 

Rohan packed his things and obediently walked away. 

As he trekked back to Eldora on foot, he mulled over his next move. 

Making pocket change off the lake was no longer an option. 

Damn, it was such a risk-free goldmine, too. 

But if he couldn’t make money from the stones himself… 

Why not sell the information instead? 

If the local lord found out the true value of that lake and took action to reclaim it, Rohan could negotiate for a handsome reward in return. 

◆◆◆

Upon returning to Eldora, Rohan immediately went to the guild to arrange an audience with the local lord, Leonard Eldora. 

Normally, a mere adventurer wouldn’t even have a chance of meeting such an influential figure. 

But Rohan had framed his request carefully, stressing that it was “a grave matter concerning national interests.” 

That should be enough to force Leonard’s hand. 

A few days later, as expected, Rohan received a summons. 

A luxurious carriage—unlike anything he had ever ridden in—arrived to pick him up. 

With a tense expression, he boarded and was taken to Leonard’s estate. 

Though he had seen the mansion from the outside before, this was his first time stepping beyond its gates. 

Upon entering the grand hall, he was overwhelmed by its opulence. 

Then, Leonard appeared. 

His face was twisted in a deep scowl, and he wasted no time with pleasantries. 

“I am a busy man. You are aware that I have no time to entertain someone like you, correct? If this so-called ‘grave matter’ turns out to be nonsense, I’ll have you thrown in prison.” 

The sheer authority in his voice made Rohan break into a cold sweat. 

Taking a deep breath, he steeled himself and began to speak. 

“This concerns Mistia Lake. Duke, I have heard that you sold the entire area to the Princess of Eldarin Kingdom. Is that correct?” 

“And if it is, what of it?” 

“The bottom of that lake holds a vast amount of magic stones. If word reaches the royal capital that you have sold such a valuable resource to another nation, it could become a serious problem.” 

“What did you say? How do you know this? Have you been illegally mining them all this time?” 

“W-Well, that is…” 

A cold sweat ran down Rohan’s back. 

Leonard closed his eyes, deep in thought. After a long silence, he finally spoke. 

“Hmm. If what you say is true, then this is indeed a troublesome matter. Very well—I will overlook your past actions in exchange for this information.” 

Then, without hesitation, he turned to the two guards standing by his side. 

“Throw this man out.” 

The guards immediately grabbed Rohan by both arms and carried him out. They tossed him unceremoniously onto the street. 

Leonard let out a deep sigh. 

“What a mess. I’ll have to arrange a meeting with the princess soon.” 

With that thought in mind, he began mentally preparing for his upcoming conversation with Elysia.