Chapter 59
The room that Ainz and his groups were shown into seemed to be the personal office of the Chief Professor, and was furnished with good quality soft sofas.
However, there were also several storage cabinets, in which some magic stones were also kept, and that caught Ainz’s interest.
He then prepared a cup of coffee and handed it to Ainz and his group.
「Well then… First of all, let me introduce myself. My name is Oz, and I’m the Chief Professor here at Ist Grand Academy of Magic. My main field of study is about magic stone energy. I am studying the energy contained in a magic stone」
The chief professor, Oz, seems to be a well-known man among the researchers. He had a talent for research since he was young, and even in Ishtalica he is irreplaceable.
「Err, and I am…」
Ainz was thinking of a fake name for himself. And the name that came to his mind was Aiku… Just like in Kadyma’s case, Ainz had discovered that he lacks the sense to think of a name. He could only sort of come up with a slight variation on his first name.
(TLN: A-i-ku アイク A-i-n アイン)
「Oh, excuse me. Can you first turn off your magic tools? The letter of introduction from Professor Emeritus Majolice stated that you’re “His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, Ainz”… So, I have a rough understanding of your circ.u.mstances」
「H-hey, Chris. Did Majolice-san said he’ll write something like that…?」
「No, he didn’t… Good grief」
“He should have told me first. It gave me a bit of a heart attack” Ainz thought.
「…We’ll remove it then」
Ainz removed Majolice’s special magic tool, Chris and Dill then followed suit. Their magic tool was in the shape of a ring, so there was no difficulty in removing it.
「Once again. I welcome you, Your Royal Highness the Crown Prince, Ainz-sama. I apologize for only referring to you as an “important guest” earlier. There were other people there too, so I had to act that way」
「I think it was the right thing to do. I appreciate your concern」
「I’m glad to hear that」Said Oz with a small smile.
「We’ll introduce ourselves then… I don’t think I need to do that though, so you guys, please introduce yourself」
「Let’s start with me. My name is Christina Wernstein… I hold the position of the Grand Marshall in the Knight order of Ishtalica. My best regards」
「My name is Dill Glacier. The son of Lloyd, the former Grand Marshal, and I am currently a.s.signed to serve as Ainz-sama’s personal escort apprentice」
Somehow Kadyma did not open her mouth, so Ainz urged his escorts to introduce themselves. After they introduced themselves, Kadyma finally opened her mouth.
「…My name is Kadyma von Ishtalica. It is a great honor for me to meet the renowned Professor Oz」
――!?
Kadyma introduced herself with the elegance of a lady, as if she were the princess of a country. It was the first time for Ainz to see not only her gestures, but also the way she spoke without adding “nya” to the end of her words, and he was speechless.
But it was not only Ainz. Chris and Dill were both as surprised as he was, and seemed to be at a loss for words.
「…J-just like a princess…」
「Ainz-sama… She’s really a princess, in fact, she’s the first princess of our country…」
「W-well, I understand how Ainz-sama feel…」
He felt like he saw a blue vein streak on Kadyma’s forehead, it seems like she didn’t like the fact that her greeting was interrupted. But of course, that was not all the reason.
As a researcher herself, she must have some sort of reason to act that polite.
「Ooh! I never thought I’d be able to meet Her Highness the First Princess, the brain of the Royal Capital… I’m honored!」
「(Hey, Chris-san, what does he mean with the brain of the Royal Capital…?)」
「(It was one of Kadyma-sama’s nicknames… It seems that Kadyma-sama was famous here in Ist, she’s called as the brain of the Royal Capital by the researcher here…)」
Kadyma continued her conversation with Oz, unconcerned about the two people talking in small voices beside her.
「After so much effort, I was given permission by His Majesty to help Ainz this time. This is a rare opportunity for me to come to Ist, so I would like to absorb as much knowledges as I can before we leave」
「It’s my pleasure. I’d like to have a talk with you about my research. I never thought that I would be able to meet the person who is called the brain of the Royal Capital on this day… Urghm, I’m sorry, Your Highness, I got carried away…」
「No, don’t worry. Please take some time to talk to her later」
「Hahaha. Well then… What exactly is Your Highness was looking for that you need our help with?」
「Umm, Kadyma-san, may I ask you to explain it to him?」
Kadyma then nodded in agreement.
Ainz knew that Kadyma knew more about it than he did, so he decided to let her explain it to him.
Someone as smart as Kadyma is very good at organizing things and communicating them to others. She gave the information to Oz, keeping it as clear and concise as possible while sticking to the important points.
Oz’s expression changed several times in surprise while he was listening to her.
What Kadyma was talking about now was something no one had ever known before, and as a researcher himself, it was impossible for him not to be interested in it.
And finally, when she tells him that Ainz can absorb a magic stone, his excitement jumps to its peak.
「…Your Highness. Is everything she just said true? I never thought someone could absorb a magic stone…」
「Yeah, it’s as she said」
Kadyma also explained that he had absorbed Dullahan’s and Elder Lich’s magic stone. Oz looked a little lost in thought when he heard that.
「…Now I understand why the Emeritus Professor introduced you to me. I’m probably the most qualified for the job…」
Oz is a leading expert in the study of magic stones. There is probably no one here in Ishtalica who knows as much about magic stones as he does.
「One moment please. I’ll be right back with something」
「You’ll bring something…?」
Oz seemed to be thinking about it, but then his expression changed and he seemed to have made a decision. Then he stood up and started walking towards the cabinet in the room.
He headed to the cabinet where Ainz and his groups saw the stored magic stones when they first entered the room.
「Professor Oz. What are you…?」
「Rest a.s.sured, Christina-sama. This room was protected by a seal created by the Emeritus Professor, Majolice, so nothing will go out of control…」
Oz opens the cabinet and pulls out an engraved box that was in it. He then returns to Ainz and the others with it.
「…Professor Oz, what’s this?」
Ainz asked a question before Oz even said anything.
「Well, you see, this contains what Your Highness was looking for」
「What I was looking for…?」
While Ainz was wondering about it, Oz opened the case and took something out of it. What he took out was a purplish magic stone with a flame-like pattern on it, making it look somehow poisonous.
「This is a priceless magic stone. I’ve only seen one other of these myself」
With those words, Chris sensed it before anyone else.
That’s why she abruptly took Ainz’s hands in both of hers and squeezed them tightly. She wondered if she could help him somehow, so that he would not go out of control again.
「…Chris-san?」
「I’m sorry, Ainz-sama. But please just stay like this for a bit… Professor Oz, please continue」
「Y-yes… Actually…」
It was not only Ainz who was surprised, but Oz as well. It was only natural for him to wonder what was going on when the escort suddenly began to hold her lord’s hand.
「This is the Red Fox’s magic stone…」
『I see』 He now understands why Chris had taken his hand.
He could feel her nervousness from Chris’s unusually warm hand. But he was still all right now, even after he heard Oz’s words.
He wondered if Elder Lich was holding back her own husband, Dullahan. The thought of it even brings a little smile to his face.
He prayed for the couple to stop the quarrel between them in his own body.
「It’s indeed a priceless magic stone」
「Yes. However, all the research I can do on it has already been completed. I’ve already done the a.n.a.lysis, and I’ve squeezed as much information out of this magic stone as I can」
「You’ve must been doing research for a very long time then?」
「…Studying the red fox has been a pretty interesting thing in my life」
Oz smiled wryly, but his expression showed that he had been through a lot.
「Would you be willing to tell us about it then? We’ll give you an appropriate reward, of course」
「That’s unthinkable, I don’t need any reward… rather, as a researcher myself, it was me who has to pay for this, don’t you think so, Your Royal Highness the First Princess?」
「Yes, it’s as he said. We researchers are rewarded with nothing more than the knowledge of undiscovered truth」
Kadyma, who is still using her unusual polite way of talking, agreed with Oz’s words.
「…B-but as a member of the Royal Family, I need to give something back to you, right, Chris-san?」
「Just like what Ainz-sama says. Some people might think that he had abused his authority if he doesn’t reward you」
「Hmm… If so, let me ask you a few questions about your body. How about that as my reward? Of course, I won’t share the information with anyone else」
「…Well, I could tell you a little more about it if you’ll keep it a secret. But then, wouldn’t it be impossible to publish your research results, professor?」
「Some of the questions and wonders I ever had are now being answered. I don’t think I need to publish anything」
It seems that Oz was a genuine researcher at heart. He was not interested in revealing himself, nor did he use his research results for money.
He genuinely wanted to solve something that was bothering him. That’s all he wants. That’s why, when he thought about it, receiving information rather than receiving money is more attractive than anything else for him.
He thought about it for a while, but then he realized that Oz might be able to give him some useful information. If he thought about it that way, this was not a bad deal for them.
「…Very well, I’ll tell you anything I can answer」
「That would be great! Thank you so much!」
Oz smiled innocently; he seemed to be really happy.
As for Ainz, he would rather be the one to be thanking him. He can’t help but think that.
For today, they decided to first sort out the information they had on each side. Then, they’d work on finding new information.
Until evening, they were all sharing information and looking for some clues together.
***
「…Haah, haah…」
「Grint-sama! Don’t push yourself too hard, you might hurt your own body!」
In the new Roundheart Mansion in Hyme’s royal capital. There was Grint, who’s training diligently, and in front of him were the knights from the capital, who had collapsed from exhaustion.
「Revine. I have to get stronger, if I don’t… I would only make a fool of myself just like before!」
He was talking to Revine, the son of Viscount Ricardo Lance, who was taken care of by his father, Logas.
He was often close by his side, as if he was Grint’s attendant. Grint and Tigre’s visit to Euro was not made public at that time, so Revine was left behind in Hyme.
「That again, Grint…!? …I’m telling you not to push yourself too hard!」
It was not just his attendant, Revine, who was worried about Grint, but also his father, Logas. Grint has been training a lot ever since he came back from Euro, and Logas is worried that he has gone too far.
「D-dear father… Why you are here?」
「Don’t ask me that. What do you think you’re doing; do you want to hurt yourself?」
「B-but!」
「Haah… It is about time you should tell me about the knight of Ishtalica that beat you in Euro」
He couldn’t bring himself to tell Logas about that matter even after more than six months had pa.s.sed. It was just so humiliating; he didn’t want his father to hear about how that knight made him roll over like a bug.
「If you still won’t tell me, I’ll confine you in your room for the time being!」
「Wha… Father!」
His father was honestly worried about him. He’s proud of him when he saw his son making an effort, but he couldn’t let him do it like this.
He wanted to know about Grint’s opponent, even if it meant he had to force him a little.
「If I tell you, will I be punished?」
「I won’t punish you, you had my words. So why don’t you tell me about that knight?」
Logas sits down on a nearby chair and brings his attention close to Grint. Looking at him here, he seems to be behaving like a good father. But that’s only if Ainz wasn’t around.
「…Perhaps, he’s seven years older than me」
「Hmm? So, he’s still only an apprentice knight then」
「That’s what I’m saying! …He seems to be my brother’s… Ainz’s escort, but he’s still just a teenager like me!」
His words were more than enough to shock Logas and Revine. After all, Grint is already an excellent knight, even at his age. Not only does he have the skills of a Holy Knight, but he also has a genius sense of style and talent that has allowed him to continue to grow.
And yet, that Grint was treated like a bug by a teenage knight.
Although Logas didn’t say it in words, he would like to fight with that knight once.
「I see. …I now understand why you’re so obsessed with that knight, Grint」
「Next time, I will definitely beat him… I’m going to treat him the same way as he had treated me!」
Seeing his son so ambitious makes him want to cheer him up. He knows it too, Grint is very compet.i.tive, just like Logas himself. That’s why he understood why he says he’s going “to beat him no matter what!”.
「We’ll fight in a real duel next time. And then… I’ll definitely defeat that knight named Dill」
Grint clenched his fists tightly and made up his mind. “Will he ever get a chance to have such a real duel with the knights of Ishtalica? It probably won’t come any soon…” Logas thought. But considering that six months ago, Grint had an abrupt encounter with Ainz, anything could happen.
Just as Grint was making up his mind to do so, he received news of a visitor to their mansion.
「Grint? I know you’re still in the middle of your training. But you have a visitor」
「Dear mother? I wonder who is this visitor is」
At the training center where Grint and the others were, his mother, Alma, showed up to inform them that Grint had a visitor.
「Your fiancee is here. Go get yourself ready and go to your room」
「Shanon!? I’ll be there shortly!」
His visitor is Shanon. Shanon Blueno… She was Grint’s fiancee and a year older than Grint. Although it was still unofficial, Grint is very fond of Shanon and always looks forward to seeing her.
Revine and Logas thought it was a relief that she was here. They were relieved that Grint is finally willing to take some rest.
「Now if you’ll excuse me, dear father! …Revine, I’ll see you tomorrow!」
「Yeah, go ahead, Grint. Make sure you’re dressed properly, okay?」
「Yes, have a good day, Grint-sama. I’ll see you tomorrow」
When he saw Grint running away cheerfully, Logas was relieved to see that he was acting just like someone of his age would.
「…I’m sorry, Revine. Thanks for looking after him」
「Not at all… I hope that one day Grint-sama will be able to fulfill that wish」
Revine knows that. It is difficult to think of a chance to meet and fight again with that knight from Ishtalica, whose diplomatic relations between them have been severed, except by a pure chance.
But still, he prayed that Grint’s wishes would be fulfilled.
***
「Shanon!」
「h.e.l.lo, Grint-sama. I hope I didn’t disturb you」
「No, you don’t! I’m sorry I kept you waiting!」
Grint had changed his clothes after cleaning himself after training. And in his room, Shanon was waiting for him.
Her lightly applied makeup and the brightly colored dress caught his attention.
「Well, come over here. Thank you for your hard work today」
「Y-yes… excuse me!」
He walks up to her side, then she patted Grint’s head a little and pulled him to her chest.
She is not greatly developed yet, but still, Shanon’s feminine softness and scent make his head spin.
「Don’t be shy, Grint-sama… let’s have a chat, shall we?」
Grint couldn’t hide his embarra.s.sment and Shanon found out about it. But Shanon doesn’t seem to mind at all, though he feels embarra.s.sed as a man that has shown his embarra.s.sed expression.
He then sat down next to her on the bed, and they began to chat about trivial things.
For some reason, he felt at ease when he was with her, and it made him feel like he could do his best.
He had never shown Logas or his mother Alma his current expression.
「I heard that you were training hard today. It’s very cool to know Grint-sama was working so hard, and I can’t help but admire him… But don’t push yourself too hard, okay? I’m worried that you might get hurt」
「…Don’t worry. I’ll be a little more careful」
He often listened to her words without question. He doesn’t want Shanon, who he loved so much, to hate him, and when he thought of that, he feels like he could endure anything. That’s how much he cared about her.
「Fufu… Good boy. Grint-sama will certainly show me the moment when you fulfilled your wish one day, right?」
「Y-yes! Of course! I’ll invite Shanon to a special seat!」
Shanon couldn’t help but let out a smile when he saw how cheerful Grint was.
Grint must think that Shanon is a lovely fiance with beautiful red hair that brings good luck and is well known in the capital. He was more than happy to spend time with Shanon.