Chapter 63: City of Ca.n.a.ls (part ten)
While being carried by Tirnanog, we climbed the wall behind Water Palace.
Tirnanog was walking on four legs without attracting attention.
It was a bit awkward because he was not completely in his dragon form, but the mobility couldn’t compare to upright walking.
(After all, he’s working too hard……)
I forgot about it since he seemed fine, but Tirnanog was in his convalescence period after his restoration.
When this matter was over, it would be nice for him to have a relaxing rest.
While thinking about such, I arrived at the veranda of my a.s.signed room.
It seemed that Palug hadn’t return yet, so we entered the room and waited for her.
After we entered the room, Tirnanog shrugged off his mantle.
The stuffed toy-sized Tirnanog jumped out from inside the crack on the back of his armor that looked like a cicada’s husk.
He made one turn mid-air and landed brilliantly on the carpet.
『Good grief, finally I got my solid body back.』
“Sorry for troubling you today.”
『Don’t worry. It was quite fresh and fun.
Aah, leave the armor as it is. So it will be easier tomorrow since I don’t have to stretch it again when I wear it.』
After saying so, Tirnanog dragged out a large washbasin from inside one of the large luggage that was brought in and poured water in it.
It seemed that he was going to relax by bathing.
I put a sheet over the armor that was thrown away before someone else saw it.
Now then, I should look over the materials before Palug returned.
I sat on a chaise longue and spread the books I bought on the table.
First off, let’s read the book I purchased.
The pilgrimage story was a book that summarized anecdotes from the surrounding area by monks.
It was a collection of stories about various folklores that the seven horse-riding pilgrims gathered to kill time.
It had many stories about monsters and phantom beasts which made it the perfect book for my purpose.
The story of the first weir and the kraken.
The tragic love story of the Silver Alchemist who married the Northern Princess.
A story of an old monk who carried out serial killings by smearing poison on banned books.
A story of a navigator that got shipwrecked in seven voyages by seven kinds of monsters.
A story of an alchemist who made the Sword of Fire and fought against the Prince of Sword.
The tragic love story of the Eastern Princess who loved the golden-haired Werewolf Prince.
The story of a goblin and the cursed silver.
Somehow this region had many materials about the magical beast Kraken.
Yeah, was this the death flag for six years in the future?
While it was worrisome, but the seven kinds of monsters, magical swords, goblins, and werewolves were also worrisome.
As I wrote a summary in a notebook with a simple ill.u.s.tration, Tirnanog peered into it.
『There is no problem if it’s just an octopus. I will devour all of them.』
“Yeah, I will leave it to you then.”
Next, I turned over the ma.n.u.script of a diary written by a merchant some hundreds years ago.
In addition to the notes about the fluctuating price of wheat and eggs, worrisome descriptions were mixed in.
For example, the poisoning incident that occurred in the monastery two hundred years ago from the time this was written was described as a warning against greed.
This was probably the story of the old monk who made a serial killing by poisoning the banned books in the previous pilgrimage story.
I see, I should compare these two books to know what era the folklore was based on.
While reading the book and taking notes, I heard the door opened.
From there, another me appeared while grinning broadly.
It was Palug who had finished dinner.
When I looked over my shoulder, Tirnanog was asleep as he bathed inside the washbasin.
“Welcome back, Palug.”
“I’m back. Oh my, this guy, he’s sleeping already?”
“It’s because he had worked hard today.”
“Hmm. Then it can’t be helped.”
When Palug returned to her former state and crept closer to Tirnang, she touched the water inside the washbasin with the tip of her nail.
After a short time, the water began to foam and steam came out of it.
『Mu!? Aah, what, it’s the cat, huh.
It seems that I fell asleep before I knew it.』
『Good morning. Isn’t it a good hot water?』
『Umu. I don’t really care about it.』
『If you didn’t wake up, I would have just kept it boiled as it was, you know~?』
Tirnanog stretched pleasantly inside the hot water.
Palug chuckled and sat beside me and looked into the spread materials.
『Oh my, my master is very diligent.』
“If there is something I can do during my stay, I want to do it.”
『This is also useful for me. Tonight I will go to the pilgrimage point that comes out in this book.』
Palug brought a wagon with silverware dishes.
『The two of you haven’t eaten yet, have you? Eat this properly, okay?』
That said, Palug opened the silver dish covers.
Steamed chicken, steamed cabbage with warm carrot salad, and cheese appeared from inside.
While eating, we shared information on our first day in Knot Reed.
“First, let me hear about what happened today in Water Palace, Palug.”
『After switching, I didn’t see Count Nibelheim.
Aah, that’s right. In order to match the talk with Ernst and the others, I need to keep you updated about the launching ceremony.』
I cut a steamed chicken with a knife and fork and thrust it into Tirnanog’s mouth as I listened to Palug.
The sauce on the chicken and the warm vegetables used cheese and they were very rich in flavour and delicious.
“I see, for example?”
『As the new aircraft carries golems in the inside, it seems that the Golem Guild is supporting it in general.』
The Golem Guild here was not the guild where golems gathered but the guild of golem creators.
It was a powerful group as factories used golems in many areas.
“Is there anything else?”
『As for maritime insurance bidding, it seems that there was a dispute before we arrived.
As expected, it seems that Turm decided to take over.』
As expected from the successful merchant Turm.
They were going to take over the maritime which was a big insurance essential for shipping.
『Another thing. There are rumors that the alchemist who got caught by an aristocrat from Ignitia to make white porcelain had escaped.』
“Oh, that is some progress from the rumor I heard before.
So it’s not missing but run away, huh.”
『It seems that they escaped in the middle of the incident in Island of Messenger.』
So there was such a thing happened in the shade of panic due to Auguste’s super-wide mental interference, huh.
If it was someone with the blood of the Visitor’s Clan who wasn’t easily influenced by the mental interference, that incident was probably a great opportunity.
It would be nice if they successfully ran away, that white porcelain alchemist.
『It seems that the arrival of the previous aircraft carrier of Ignitia is delayed, and it is likely to arrive around tomorrow.
If there is nothing wrong, it seems that he launching ceremony will be held on the day after tomorrow.』
“That means Auguste will also arrive on the day after tomorrow.”
When I said so, Palug smiled ambiguously.
Oh, didn’t she want to meet him soon?
“Are you a little disappointed?”
『Fufu, as long as I can meet him, I don’t mind even if it is a little late.』
I returned the slightly off topic to the information collection result of today once again.
“Is there any rumor about the fraud?”
『Six months ago, it seems that a large-scale scam of antique art had been exposed.
Most of the scammers were caught and it seems that the punishment had also been executed.』
“So there was a scam of antique art goods. But if they were caught then this may be a separate case.”
『Since the main criminal of this case seems to have escaped, isn’t there a possibility that he will do something similar again?』
There was also a possibility that the content and target of the fraud had changed from the original game.
Perhaps it might have been different as the result of the previous two incidents had changed.
『I tried to explore the stories related to the silver vein, but there wasn’t any particular result.』
“Yeah, nevertheless, we have to tell Count Nibelheim to be cautious of fraud.”
『That’s true, but how do we tell Count Nibelheim about the situation, that’s the problem……
If I got close and went to see him, I will look like the con artist.』
Even if I told him with a letter, depending on the content it could be seen as a threatening sentence.
And I couldn’t advise him with the appearance of Erica.
While murmuring such things, Palug had a thoughtful expression.
Certainly, an advice like ‘Be careful as you are destined to be deceived’ was exactly what a con artist would likely say.
“Ah, that’s right! There is a good news on that matter.”
I told her about Harold Nibelheim that we encountered in the city.
At the same time, I also added stories about when we were at the back at Turm Wand Store and about the young man Gilbert.
“It would be nice to be friends with him and check the situation frequently in correspondence.”
『Not bad, the situation would look somewhat suspicious but I think we can get through it somehow.』
Tirnanog who almost finished eating the steamed chicken pitched in the conversation.
『When I was in the wand store, I heard something similar about the red-haired brat.』
“About my const.i.tution and Harold’s const.i.tution, Gilbert explained it in detail for us.”
I told the two of them about the matter of const.i.tution measurement using Rainbow Strap.
About the recoil of the wands and our encounter with Gilbert.
That Harold didn’t inhibit external magical power at all while I inhibit the external magical power.
Hohou, isn’t that a wonderful power?
Um, yeah, I don’t know anything since it’s a different culture, but is that advantageous?
“I also don’t really get it.”
Tirnanog started to argue with sparkling eyes.
『It means that you won’t die, no matter how much you drop a star. This is the power that deserves gold!』
『Eeh~~, what is that. You mean the Alchemist’s Star? Uwah, isn’t that too dangerous?』
『Prostrate yourself before the power of the Star of Aurelia, cat.』
『Eeeeh~, humans are too powerful!!』
Although it was the cause of Tirnanog’s death, it seemed that he had a special feeling towards Alchemist’s Star.
No, maybe it was because it was his cause of death.
The Wand of Sailor’s Song which created a star in the sky was beyond the common sense of this world.
I didn’t think there would be that many opportunities to use such a dangerous wand in my life.
『Ah—, that’s right, is Gilbert handsome?』
Palug had changed the topic to be about the good-looking man.
It probably became troublesome to talk about the Alchemist’s Star with Tirnanog.
“He’s not a great beauty, but he feels like a good young man with a sense of freshness. He looks a bit nasty, but he is kind and seems to be good at taking care of people.”
『Is the face that important to you?』
『It’s very important, you know~. I will not hesitate to repeat this over and over again, it’s important~』
『How vulgar……』
I started eating the warm carrot salad and cheese in the gap when the two of them quarrel as usual.
『But that young man Gilbert. I was hoping that he will go to see the shop owner, but it seems to be difficult.』
“Tir, did you talk about that with the shop owner?”
『Umu, he said that he kicked his son out because he was mad, but he couldn’t help but worry.』
“Come to think of it, Harold did say something like that.”
『Since his son also has something that he wants to make, it seems that he went out of this city to learn the technique.』
“I see……”
Well then Gilbert was lurking in that store even if he returned home.
It reminded me that he said there were special circ.u.mstances.
“But well, with this, we have finished sharing each of our information.”
『Umu.』
“So, we will take action tomorrow, but we will receive the completed wands first. With this, 70% of the wands will be available.”
『Hm, oh my. There is still 30% left?』
“There are wands that cost a little expensive.”
The price of those wands was incredible.
For example, among the wands that were used before, Urd Sight was too expensive so it was impossible.
Since he used a lot of this wand, Klaus’s debt to Onii-sama was ridiculously high.
“I think I will also make contact with Harold and Gilbert.
I also want to hear the continuation of the lecture course.”
『Humm, meanwhile I think that it is good to stay with Ernst again.』
“Yes.”
After the three of us were done planning, what remained was the nightly survey of Palug.
『Well then, now is a good time to do my own job.』
“I will leave it to you, Palug.”
Palug turned herself into the Hero with somewhat short blonde hair and white skin
This bold and charming young man was the Severe King Jean.
“It’s a bit exciting to go for a night trip. Ufufu.”
『Do not be discouraged. You don’t have enough power right now.』
“Oh my, are you worried?”
『Hmph, if you don’t get accustomed to your power quickly, our plan will be delayed!』
“Yes, yes, well, I’m going~!”
After bickering with Tirnanog, she turned around in somewhat high-spirits to survey the surrounding area.
Jumping out of the window, she flew across the ca.n.a.l.
After I saw her off, I finally sunk into the soft bed.
First of all, yes, apparently Zaratan (Tir) died by Alchemist’s Star, and Jaconius died by knife. I mixed it up, j.a.panese is really hard since sometimes they got no subject >< I have fixed the corresponding chapters.