Fallen off the Cliff by My Lover After Becoming a Hero

"Oh! That roundish thing? I think it's over here."

"Hey, wait! If you're going to fetch it, just do it yourself! Don't drag the Marquis into this mess!"

"It's fine, Mr. Damian. There's no need to worry so much about me."

They finally reached the section of the warehouse near my cage, where a chaotic pile of goods was stacked haphazardly. The Marquis, initially eager to retrieve the item herself, was firmly stopped by both her attendant and the goblin. Left with no other option, she stood aside, watching as the sea siren captain rummaged through the clutter.

Clatter!

Amid the noisy search, a familiar object tumbled out of the pile and hit the floor.

That—that's my suitcase!

Even in my frail condition, the sight of my belongings so close sent a shock through me. My eyes widened in disbelief.

"Found it! Here you go, Marquis. Try it out."

"Use proper titles, for goodness' sake!"

"Ugh, you're such a nag, goblin."

"Don't call me a nag!"

Their bickering continued, but the captain still handed over a cylindrical case to the Marquis. The item was wrapped in fine leather, shaped like a quiver. With practiced ease, the Marquis undid the buckle, revealing a metallic core. She expertly twisted the grip to open the cylinder and drew out its contents.

This... this is—!

With a crisp clicking sound, a strip of leather rolled out from the cylinder. Along its length were evenly spaced slots and straps designed to secure tools in place.

"Yes, this is exactly it," the Marquis said confidently.

She pulled the leather out further, eliciting another satisfying click from an internal mechanism. Upon releasing her grip, the leather strip swiftly retracted back into the cylinder.

"I've occasionally seen the maids at home use one of these." her attendant added.

"Right, Renathras? I think it's brilliantly designed—practical, portable, and easy to use," she remarked casually.

Rebuckling the leather strap, the Marquis slung the case over her shoulder with a satisfied nod.

"I'm quite fond of it."

"I'm glad the Marquis is pleased. In that case..."

"The payment can be handled onshore later, correct?"

"Of course, Sir Renathras, whatever you prefer," Damian replied quickly.

The sea siren captain muttered something under her breath about how hard it had been to acquire the item. Damian, standing slightly out of the Marquis's view, nudged her playfully with his elbow. A sly smirk crept onto the captain's face, her demeanor shifting to one of mischievous charm.

"But Damian—no, Captain," Renathras said suddenly, redirecting the conversation.

Wait... that's mine!

The man bent down and picked up my suitcase.

"A suitcase in the warehouse… Captain, is this something you acquired during your voyage?"

Ren Sha held up my suitcase, his faint smile sharp and unnerving.

"Good eyes," the captain replied, dropping her casual facade. Folding her arms, she eyed the suitcase with a calculating expression.

"I'm no expert in craftsmanship," she admitted, "but this suitcase is no ordinary item. It's clearly the work of a highly skilled artisan—a rare piece, no doubt—"

"—it's human-made," Renathras interjected, his tone colder now.

The atmosphere shifted abruptly.

Renathras's smile vanished. The Marquis frowned, crossing her arms in displeasure. Damian froze, his mouth slightly open. The captain, however, smiled wickedly, a glint of malice sparking in her eyes.

My suitcase, once a simple container, was now a spark threatening to ignite a dangerous fire.