Chapter 1: In the Kingdom of Belioth
「Welcome, Fran. I've been waiting for you.」
「Nn.」
「Serve tea to Fran.」
Following the orders of the room's owner, a floating teapot and cup approached me in mid-air. Although I couldn't see them, it was the lower-level spirits who were carrying the tea set. Her temporary exhaustion had recovered, and it seemed that she could now use simple spirit magic without any problems.
It had been ten days since we defeated the Great Beast of the Vivian Lake.
The aftermath, handled not by Weena Rhyn but by Weena herself, had also settled down. She had adopted the name Weena after separating from Rhyn. The sudden change in her name had left those around her quite bewildered. However, given Weena's overwhelming power and authority, they didn't dare to inquire too deeply.
Many who saw her drastically transformed appearance were astonished, but her influence seemed largely unchanged.
Although the actual work in various matters was carried out by local lords and the adventurers' guild, it was Weena who gave the instructions. It might also be because her significant weakening of power was not yet known, but it was undoubtedly a result of her accumulated accomplishments.
Furthermore, the fact that she had vanquished the colossal beast that could be seen even from the town had contributed to her increased influence.
Adventurers, in particular, have a keen eye for heroes. One could even say they obeyed her orders unquestioningly.
Having issued a certain number of instructions, Weena had finished her work and was about to return to the academy.
The government officials seemed to want to stay in the town, but they couldn't force her to stay. In the end, they had no choice but to see her off.
After Fran completed several quests for the sake of reconstruction, she was able to return to the academy with Weena.
At the academy, there was quite a commotion over Weena's drastically changed appearance. Her right hand and right eye were covered by an unfamiliar black substance.
However, after about two days, it seemed to have settled down. Normally, the students didn't have much interaction with Weena Rhyn, so they probably thought it wasn't a big deal as long as it was explained to them.
The teachers, on the other hand, still seemed to be struggling to adapt, but it appeared that they would need more time.
Well, there wasn't much we could do, considering that we would be leaving the academy tomorrow.
Today, we had come to discuss the future while still wearing our school uniforms.
「So, is it okay for Zelos Reed to be taken care of here?」
「Nn.」
Weena and I were currently discussing the treatment of Zelos Reed and Romeo.
This was something that had been on my mind as well.
Fran had made a promise with Zelos Reed that he would give up his life once everything was over. However, I couldn't imagine Fran suddenly deciding to kill Zelos Reed at this point.
Fran felt a sense of closeness to Romeo and Sierra. She had realized that they had something in common. It might not be friendship, but she seemed to feel some form of sympathy.
If Fran were to kill Zelos Reed, Romeo would surely hold a grudge, and Sierra would become an enemy. Fran wouldn't want that either.
Of course, the resentment towards Zelos Reed had not disappeared, but if someone were to say that he had to be killed, Fran didn't seem to agree.
Kiara herself had said that seeking revenge was beneath her. In a way, there was already an excuse to avoid killing Zelos Reed.
And Fran's decision was to entrust Romeo and Zelos Reed to Weena.
「Is that really okay? He's your enemy, isn't he?」
「...Romeo needs Zelos Reed.」
She didn't say she would forgive or forget. However, it seemed that she didn't intend to insist on Zelos Reed's life at this point.
Fran must be thinking about Romeo.
Romeo's wish was not to have a privileged environment or to be protected under a kind guardian but to be with Zelos Reed.
However, Zelos Reed was a wanted criminal, and there were few places where he could walk freely. The academy, with its autonomy, was one of the very few places.
Furthermore, the academy, which had weakened due to Weena's loss of power and Rhyn's decline, lacked special forces. Zelos Reed's strength would likely be needed at the academy.
It was a decision that would incur the gratitude of Romeo, Zelos Reed, Weena, Sierra, everyone. Well, Fran probably wasn't thinking that far ahead.
Rather, it seemed like she had agonized over it and eventually handed the decision over to Weena. Perhaps she had overthought it and ended up confusing herself.
Sierra and the magic sword Zelos Reed had disappeared without us noticing.
For them, there wasn't any particular reason to stay here. They hadn't committed any crimes, nor had they received any requests from the academy. In this world, their status was that of mere adventurers.
However, it seemed like they had lingering concerns about the treatment of Romeo and Zelos Reed. Once they witnessed those through, they seemed to feel that their purpose here was fulfilled.
I wasn't sure where they had gone, but I thought they might have gone after the magic sword Zelyse. While Zelyse on this side was dead, the true enemy for Sierra and the others was the magic sword Zelyse.
As for Nameless, we ultimately didn't know what had happened to them. Weena claimed she had no knowledge of such small fry, and it was highly likely that they had fled. To her, they seemed no more significant than undead creatures that had been wandering on the battlefield.
What remained now was our future.
Fran's role as an instructor had come to an end. In fact, she had become an instructor forcibly to deceive the spirits of the academy, who had seemed hostile. Well, she had come to the academy to become an instructor in the first place, so Fran wasn't reluctant.
By helping Weena and the others, she had been officially recognized as an instructor. Now, even if she were to resign as an instructor, she wouldn't be attacked by the guardian spirits anymore.
I had wondered if Weena's weakening would affect the contract, but it seemed that there were no changes to the existing contract. In other words, the academy's defenses would remain rock solid, especially with Rhyn now part of it.
「I owe you one this time. Thank you.」
Her tone and mannerisms hadn't changed from when she was Weena Rhyn. However, there was clearly a change within her.
The previous instability seemed to have disappeared, and she could now speak with a sense of reassurance.
It appeared that her mental stability had improved with the resolution of the two souls sharing one body, and she had returned to her true self.
Weena placed her hand on her cheek and exhaled as if troubled.
「I'm just not sure about the reward.」
「Isn't it money?」
「Of course, I'll pay you with money. But after being helped so much this time, I don't intend to settle it with just a monetary reward. I'll give you a suitable compensation.」
「Oh~」
Fran's eyes sparkled at Weena's words. It was quite an impressive reward for someone as prominent as her to declare it as suitable. It seemed like a substantial reward could be expected. Fran also seemed to understand that.
At times like this, Fran didn't hold back. She was a firm believer in receiving what she could.
「What will you give me?」
「First, should I give you what I promised before?」
「Promised?」
「Yes, Sword-san, you remember, right?」
『[Translation: Oh, I see. Of course.]』
「I see.」
Fran seemed to have remembered as well. Well, there was no way she would forget.
「I'll give you information about Intelligence Weapons that haven't gone mad.」
Weena had encountered many Intelligence Weapons, including some that hadn't gone mad. Among them, the information about Intelligence Weapons that hadn't gone mad was considered rare. I had been eager to learn about it, and for me, it was more valuable than any other reward.
We were supposed to be told the cause of the lake's anomaly, but instead of finding the cause, we ended up eradicating the root of it. Naturally, it seemed that they considered this matter resolved and were willing to share information.
「I don't know if she still exists...」
「She?!」
『Is it a woman?』
We couldn't help but express our surprise. While it wasn't confirmed to be a man, all the sword personalities we had encountered in the past were male.
Both I and the magic sword Zelyse, as well as Fanatics the Divine Sword, all had predominantly male personalities. Because of that, I had unconsciously assumed that the other side was male.
Announcer-san was a woman, but she wasn't originally human.
『If it's a woman.』
If the consciousness inside is originally from a human, it naturally has a gender.
Well, you could argue that swords don't have genders, but the gender of the consciousness inside is still significant. After all, it would be a problem if I were to enter the women's bath, right? I'm sure I would get in trouble with various people.
In Fran's case, she's a child, and I'm her guardian, so mixed bathing is barely acceptable. That's non-negotiable! But it would be a little awkward to enter a bath where other women are present.
If the consciousness is female, then in that case—
「You seem to be in a hurry, but can I continue?」
『Oops, sorry. I was a bit surprised. Please continue.』
「I apologize.」
「I encountered her on the cursed continent of Gordicia.」
『Gordicia...』
The continent that had been devastated by the worst of the Great Beasts, capable of destroying the world. Currently, it was covered by a massive barrier to prevent the Great Beasts from leaving, and knights and adventurers dispatched from various countries continued to fight against the Great Beasts.
Indeed, it might be an appropriate place for the legendary beings known as Intelligence Weapons to exist.
『Weena Rhyn encountered that Intelligence Weapon and its owner over a thousand years ago, right?』
「Yes.」
That meant there was a high possibility that the owner had changed.
『It's unlikely she's still on the Gordicia continent...』
「Nn...」
Just like with Divine Swords, they often circulated among various wielders for an extended period, and their whereabouts became unknown.
However, Weena denied our worries.
「No, that's probably fine. Rather, I'm more concerned about whether she has been destroyed.」
「Huh?」
『What do you mean?』
「The user is still alive.」
『Huh? Really?』
A thousand years? Well, it wasn't as if there were absolutely no beings that had survived for that long. High Elves like Weena and the others were a prime example.
『Could it be that the Intelligence Weapon's owner is a High Elf?』
When I asked that, Weena shook her head. It seemed not to be a High Elf.
Are there other races that have such a long lifespan? Well, I might not know about them, but they might exist.
『Then, what kind of being is it?』
「The possessor is an immortal sinner. His name is Trismegistus.」
「Huh?」
『Uh, excuse me?』
Fran let out a surprised exclamation. Apparently, the name that had suddenly been mentioned was quite shocking.
『Isn't he the Dragon King who was forced to battle eternally as divine punishment against the Great Beasts?』
「Yes.」
「Trismegistus...」
Fran had an unusually surprised expression. Well, that was understandable. After all, Trismegistus was a figure as famous as those in fairy tales and was regarded as one of history's most notorious sinners.
Even Fran, who was far from conventional, was aware of him.
In this world as well, he was known as one of the most infamous villains.
However, upon hearing the name, I remembered.
『Come to think of it, didn't Frederick mention that Trismegistus possesses an Intelligence Sword?』
Velmeria, the half-dragon girl who had been controlled by Fanatics and had gone berserk. Her guardian was a man of Gordician origin, a race known for their expertise in various fields.
He had disappeared after the incident in the royal capital, but he had let slip such information after he learned about Fanatics' existence.
It seemed that the Intelligence Weapon mentioned by the two of them was the same.
「The name... or rather, the inscription is 'Fannaberta.'」
『'Fannaberta.'』
So that was the name of the non-mad Intelligence Weapon.
「Yes, she was Trismegistus's adjutant and partner. A cold-blooded sorceress, a swordswoman of slaughter, the shadow of the Golden King. She was a high-ranking mage with various aliases, and she was an elf who willingly became an Intelligence Weapon.」
『An ex-elf!』
That might be why she knew Weena and the others.
『When I heard her current aliases, it doesn't seem easy to approach her in a friendly manner, does it?』
Weena gazed into the distance, trying to recall her ancient memories. Since it was such a long time ago, her memories of the finer details seemed to be fading, but she couldn't forget Fannaberta's cold and ruthless personality. She seemed to have lived solely to assist Trismegistus as his adjutant.
「Is Trismegistus an extremist?」
『...Does that mean she was already crazy even before becoming a sword?』
Was it that she was already insane from the beginning and then became a sword, saying something like, "I won't go any crazier"?
「Well, I don't think she was so crazy that she couldn't hold a conversation. She might have been a fanatic. Besides, maintaining the same spirit even after becoming a sword for a long time is certain, isn't it?」
『That's true.』
Not going mad and maintaining oneself were essentially the same. If there was a way to continue existing without becoming a sword, I definitely wanted to know.
Seeing the version of myself from a different timeline turned into a sword had made me think that way again.
I absolutely couldn't let that happen. Fran would cry!
「The problem is whether Fannaberta is still safe. In that hellish continent, we don't know if she still exists or if she has been destroyed. Considering that she is Trismegistus's beloved sword, she must be exposed to intense battles every day.」
Trismegistus was fated to fight the Great Beasts eternally as divine punishment. Indeed, that battle would be fierce. Swords would probably get damaged quickly in such circumstances.
「Gordicia Continent...」
『It's dangerous, but...』
Honestly, I did want to meet Fannaberta. However, the location was just too perilous. Surprisingly, Fran interrupted my words and declared firmly.
「I absolutely want to go.」
『Yeah, please. Lend me your strength.』
「Nn!」
Fran would definitely go to the Gordicia Continent for my sake. She wouldn't stop, even if I told her it was dangerous. I couldn't stop her this time, for both my sake and Fran's.
So, instead of saying "I'm sorry," "please" was the right word. Together, we had to head to the dangerous continent and search for the Intelligence Weapon.
「Woof woof!」
『I know. Urushi, we're counting on you too.』
「Woof!」
「They get along well.」
「Nn!」
「Woof!」
Fran and Urushi responded to Weena's teasing words with proud nods. Weena shrugged her shoulders as she watched them with a wry smile. There was no trace of sarcasm in her expression; she seemed to be enjoying a casual conversation.
If it had been the Weena Rhyn from a little while ago, she would never have shown such a face.
「All right, the Intelligence Weapon information that I know ends here. So... do you want anything else? If you don't have any specific requests, I can increase the monetary reward.」
「Hmm... Master?」
『Wait a moment...』
We didn't really need that much money. The highest-quality equipment that most adventurers poured their money into was already top-notch for us.
I don't mean to brag, but there was no way they could buy a better sword than me with money alone, and the armor was custom-made by a divine-level blacksmith.
It might even be considered a national treasure in some countries.
Moreover, it automatically repaired itself, so there were no maintenance costs.
We were already going to receive a substantial sum as compensation for this mission. Even after replenishing the high-quality potions we had used this time, we would have over ten million gold left. We didn't need more money than that.
Besides, the other party was a long-lived High Elf, and a powerful one at that. It would be much more beneficial to ask for a reward that couldn't be replaced by money, such as valuable items or information.
『Money isn't necessary! We'd prefer something else, like useful items or information.』
「Well... even if you say that...」
Weena also seemed troubled, with her hand on her chin.
「If it's a reward that would make Fran happy, how about permission to enter the Celestial Dragon's resting place?」
「The Celestial Dragon's resting place? You mean that floating island?」
「Yes. And with transportation included.」
It was a place with S-ranked magical danger and swarmed with A-ranked magical beasts, the Celestial Dragon's domain.
『Even if we get permission to enter, we're definitely not going there alone. It's too dangerous.』
「Aww...」
Fran complained about my words, but I couldn't budge on this.
『Not happening. This is absolutely off-limits!』
「Well, I guess so. I'd love to help if I were in perfect condition, but this is all I can offer right now.」
Weena shrugged her left shoulder and sighed. Indeed, it was a place she'd like to visit if she had High Elf escorts.
After all, Celestial Dragon materials are of the highest rank. Even that Rank A adventurer, Amanda, used a whip made from Celestial Dragon materials as her partner's weapon.
Although it got broken in a martial arts competition, it seems there hasn't been a whip of equal quality available since then. That's how rare and powerful it is, I suppose.
With Celestial Dragon materials, it might be possible to further enhance Fran's armor.
But it's too dangerous. The opponent might be stronger than us, even one-on-one. If there are multiple opponents, we'd definitely have no chance.
Most adventurers secretly bring back a small amount of material, but...
『I don't think just one scale or something would provide much of an enhancement.』
「Mmm... Too bad, I wanted to give it to Amanda.」
『Amanda?』
「Yeah. As material for the whip.」
What! I thought she was only interested in the Celestial Dragon's resting place, but it's for Amanda's gift?
I'm happy to see Fran's growth!
In that case, I want to help too...
『Hey, Weena. What materials do you need to make the whip?』
「The whip? It would need whiskers. And maybe some magic stones, scales, and hair.」
That's right. However, even if we sneak in and swipe a few materials, it wouldn't be enough for the whip. Amanda would probably be delighted even with just a few scales, but I wanted to give her something practical.
Weena must have understood what we were looking for. She lightly nodded and shared some information.
「Well, as for Celestial Dragon materials, they're actually in our academy's treasure vault.」
『Really?』
「Yes. We hunted one for some necessary materials to cure the former king's illness back then.」
As a result, scales, whiskers, horns, and magic stones weren't used, and they were stored away in the treasure vault.
Normally, they would use those to create weapons and armor, but Weena Rhyn, being a High Elf, didn't need armor, and the academy was doing well financially, so there was no need to sell them.
As a result, even Weena had almost forgotten about it.
「In that case, I want them!」
「Hmm... Is it okay to assume Amanda will be using the whip?」
「Yeah.」
「If a high-ranking adventurer is going to use it, it should have top-notch performance, or it might break again. In addition to whiskers, hair, and magic stones, we might also need things like eyeballs and bones...」
Weena seemed to be thinking about something. After a while, a spirit approached. Weena seemed to have called it. I could sense its presence, but I had no idea what kind of exchange they were having.
Then, Weena opened her mouth with a troubled expression.
「I think I can give you a whole set of Celestial Dragon materials. I mean, I'd even give the whole body if I could. But it seems it won't be that simple.」
Since the materials are stored in the academy's treasure vault, they are under the jurisdiction of the academy. In other words, they are under the guardianship of the guardian spirits.
Even the head of the academy, Weena, can't unilaterally use them freely, it seems. While this will serve as compensation for our work this time...
「The academy has a set limit for rewards that they can provide.」
The reward for Fran this time has reached the highest rank set by the academy. Even so, it seems the maximum amount in terms of money is 20 million gold. No matter how much work you do, the spirits won't allow more than that.
In other words, the value of Celestial Dragon materials must surpass 20 million gold easily.
「If I had it in my possession, there wouldn't be a problem.」
『Then, how about turning all the rewards you're supposed to receive this time into Celestial Dragon materials? We don't need the money. In fact, we'll pay.』
The reward we receive is structured as a reward from the academy, with Weena adding a little extra from her pocket money. In terms of the amount, it's 40 million gold.
So, 20 million from the academy, and 20 million from Weena. What if we pay 20 million from Weena to the academy and obtain Celestial Dragon materials?
「Even so, it won't be enough. I wish I had a bit more savings. I can only pay around 10 million more.」
Weena, a High Elf who has lived for thousands of years. However, she surprisingly didn't have that much wealth. Of course, she'd be considered a billionaire to ordinary people, but her level of wealth as a powerful individual like her was much lower than you might imagine.
However, there was a reason for that.
Living in the academy didn't require money, and she didn't have a penchant for extravagant living. She wasn't interested in hoarding money unless she was a collector of something. Plus, she could do anything by herself when necessary.
Frankly, she didn't need money. So, she didn't actively earn money, instead opting to live modestly while donating as she saw fit, day by day.
Even so, the result of her casually saving the annual reward paid by the academy was the 20 million gold reward we would receive this time. She said she could pay an additional 10 million, but it still wouldn't be enough for a full set of Celestial Dragon materials.
『Then, how about just selling things like whiskers and magic stones?』
「That's fine, but... Rather than making something with half-hearted materials, wouldn't it be much better to buy top-quality dungeon items with the rewards?」
「Mmm...」
It seemed that it wouldn't be that easy after all.
However, as we pondered, Weena opened her mouth thoughtfully.
「I have a solution. Why don't you take on a request from the academy?」
「A request?」
『It depends on the content.』
It seems that the value of Celestial Dragon materials greatly exceeds 50 million gold. Yet, by accomplishing just one task, you can make up for the shortfall? It definitely won't be an easy request.
「Do you know about Gordicia's duties?」
「?」
『No, we don't. We understand that it has something to do with the Gordicia Continent...』
「Well, in simple terms, it's about the agreements related to sending troops and providing assistance to Gordicia Continent imposed on each country.」
On Gordicia Continent, the battle against the taboo Abyss Eaters created by Trismegistus continues to this day.
Well, I've only heard rumors, so I don't really know what kind of battle it is.
And in that battle, countries from all over the world were providing various forms of assistance. Some sent troops, some provided supplies, and others were responsible for transportation. Each country was contributing in the way they could.
This assistance is known as "Gordicia's Duty," and it is mandatory for all countries around the world to participate. If this duty is abandoned, there are various penalties, and in severe cases, it can even lead to wars with neighboring countries.
In fact, there was an invading nation that ignored Gordicia's Duty, then invaded a neighboring country that was sending troops to Gordicia. Subsequently, it was attacked and defeated by a coalition of surrounding nations.
Gordicia's Duty is necessary to protect the world. Therefore, it appears that sanctions are quite severe to prevent the perception that ignoring it is acceptable.
Even the Raydoss Kingdom, known for its wealth, doesn't neglect its assistance to Gordicia Continent. So, the enforcement seems to be quite strong.
「As for our Belioth Kingdom, we usually provide financial assistance, offer transport ships, send hired adventurers, and sometimes, I go on business trips myself. But...」
『So, next time, it's difficult to provide financial assistance or send soldiers? Weena's participation is obviously impossible.』
「That's right. Belioth Kingdom's turn is either this year or the next. However, this recent incident has caused significant damage.」
「This year or the next?」
I didn't think it was that soon.
『Well, it's certainly tough.』
「Financially, we could manage if we pushed it. But in terms of manpower...」
For the sake of recovery, they would need labor. Sending adventurers, who were already in short supply, out of the country was out of the question.
Even if we waited until next year, a dramatic recovery couldn't be expected.
「Technically, if a significant decline in national power due to a major disaster or something like that is recognized, they allow for a reduction or extension of the duty. But we'd rather avoid using that as a last resort.」
Showing weakness to other countries would diminish the influence of the Belioth Kingdom.
It might seem like trivial politics to us, but it was something that couldn't be ignored for the higher-ups in the country.
『So, in essence, you want Fran to go to Gordicia as a representative of the Belioth Kingdom?』
「That's right. Well, not just as a representative of the country, but also as a representative of the magical academy. The rewards will come from both the academy and the country.」
In other words, as a representative of the magical academy, Fran would travel to Gordicia Continent with other individuals sent from Belioth.
『Well, I did plan to go to Gordicia Continent someday, but...』
Carrying the responsibility of a nation, isn't that a bit too much? After all, it's Fran we're talking about. I don't doubt her combat abilities, but I can't guarantee she won't engage in questionable behavior.
As her guardian, I was opposed to entrusting her with such a responsible position.
When I expressed this concern, Weena shrugged casually.
「Just so you know, you don't have to be so uptight about it.」
In my imagination, I pictured Fran being drafted into the military and being in a strict and orderly battlefield, but it seems to be a much more laid-back place.
Moreover, once you arrive in Gordicia, personal freedom is allowed to a considerable extent.
It seems to be up to the discretion of each country. Well, for small countries, they often have no choice but to comply with the orders of larger nations.
「There are no fools who would dare impose unreasonable demands on the representative of Belioth, who has the backing of a High Elf like me.」
『But what about free movement and verifying your accomplishments? Like submitting materials from defeated Abyss Eaters, similar to requests from the Adventurer's Guild?』
「No, it's much simpler than that.」
Apparently, there's a system in place where your accomplishments within the continent can be tracked by registering a special magical device upon entering. By engaging in combat with Abyss Eaters to some extent, Fran can fulfill Belioth Kingdom's duty.
「So, my request is for Fran to go to Gordicia Continent as a Belioth representative and simply cause a bit of trouble. That's all?」
『I see... How strong are these Abyss Eaters, though? We've heard they infinitely grow and reproduce, but there's little other information. They don't seem to be exceptionally powerful if even regular soldiers are fighting them...』
「It's somewhat difficult to explain...」
Weena said, then went on to provide a simple explanation.
Firstly, Abyss Eaters appear as transparent, colorless slimes or are sometimes referred to as the ghosts of slimes. Their size is immense, enough to cover the entire continent.
In fact, inside the protective barrier that covers Gordicia Continent, there are no gaps, and it's completely filled with Abyss Eaters. It's as if there's a semi-transparent dome, and within it, Abyss Eaters are densely packed. That's what it's like.
『Eh? But you have to go inside the barrier to fight, right?』
「Yes.」
『Doesn't that mean you'll be inside the Abyss Eaters? Isn't that dangerous? What about air?』
「Abyss Eaters are ethereal magical beasts. You can enter, but you can't touch them. They're somewhat similar to spirits. Even though we call it inside their 'body,' Abyss Eaters themselves won't harm us in any way.」
『But then, there's no danger, right?』
「That's not quite right. The main Abyss Eater body doesn't have any offensive capabilities. It just exists there. However, the Abyss Eaters that it generates within its body are different. They attack and consume anything and continue to send their power back to the main Abyss Eater.」
『So, they serve as the source for endlessly generating magical beasts. In other words, the job is not to deal with the main Abyss Eater itself, but to defeat the magical beasts it spawns, right?』
「Exactly. The magical beasts produced inside the main Abyss Eater's body are known as 'antidemons.' We want you to defeat as many antidemons as possible. If you achieve some significant results, you'll be free to act as you wish afterward.」
We planned to go to Gordicia Continent anyway, and if we go, we can't avoid fighting antidemons. So, if accomplishing this request can be counted as a valuable accomplishment, why not?
As we were still hesitating, Weena pushed further.
「And, there's more to the benefit of accepting this request than just the reward.」
『What do you mean?』
「When you travel to Gordicia via general passage, there are various restrictions, and quotas are imposed. However, if you go to Gordicia for my request, I'll take care of the transportation, and your landing there will be smooth. Moreover, you won't be forcibly incorporated into other countries or have any interference; you'll have the freedom to act. Isn't this a benefit?」
「Right. Freedom is a good thing.」
『Yeah.』
Since we were going there anyway, it might be a good idea to accept the request. I had started to think positively about it, but Fran seemed to be pondering something.
『Is there something on your mind?』
「Nn... Raydoss Kingdom. Can we just leave them alone?」
『Well, their actions are indeed concerning, but... What can we do against such a big country?』
Adventurers aren't allowed to enter their country, and even if we infiltrated, what would we do? Search for Nameless or Zelyse's associates hiding within their vast territory? And risk making the entire country our enemy? It's too reckless. Even if we wanted to search for Nameless outside the country, we wouldn't know where to start.
「I've already contacted various countries and guilds about Raydoss Kingdom. It won't hurt to wait for their responses. You're not in a hurry to annihilate Raydoss Kingdom right away, are you?」
「Nn.」
「Sooner or later, we'll make them answer for their actions. There will come a time when I'll need your help. Until then, be patient.」
It seemed Weena had no intention of showing mercy to Raydoss Kingdom, which had provoked us. Even if she lacked the means to personally administer justice, it appeared she was determined to find some way to counter Raydoss.
If that were the case, then taking on the work on her behalf, so she could focus on dealing with Raydoss, was something we could do. Lightening the burden of the Gordicia Duty could ultimately benefit us as well.
「Understood.」
For Fran, Raydoss Kingdom was a troublesome nation that caused inconvenience in her life. However, she didn't harbor strong feelings like hatred or a burning desire for their destruction. At most, she probably wished they'd learn their lesson if they experienced some hardship.
Well, that was how it had been up until now.
But with the information about Zelyse teaming up with Nameless, creating Jean, and targeting Fran, some of the powerful figures in Raydoss Kingdom had become enemies that needed to be defeated in Fran's eyes.
However, Fran didn't intend to deal with them alone. If Weena was going to take action, then Fran could wait for that.
「Alright, then I just want to pass on a message to Jean.」
「About what you mentioned earlier, the Demilich named Nameless?」
「Nn.」
「Leave that to me as well. I'll make sure all the information you provide is relayed to the guild.」
「Please.」
Weena likely had influence within the Adventurer's Guild, so entrusting her with this was not a problem.
While Weena and I discussed future plans, a new figure suddenly appeared in the room.
However, the door had not been opened or closed.
This person had simply materialized out of nowhere.
「Fran, I also want to express my gratitude. Thanks to you, I was able to become a guardian spirit safely.」
「Rhyn.」
It was Rhyn, who had re-established her contract as the academy's spirit.
Although Weena had regained the power that was previously dispersed between her and the Great Beast Rhyn, Rhyn's physical body had already disappeared, and she had become firmly established as a spirit. Reconstructing her body and returning to being a High Elf was deemed impossible.
Weena had been trying to find a way to regain her physical form, but it was Rhyn herself who refused.
「Being a spirit is the atonement for having absorbed the lake spirit.」
Rhyn had transformed into a spirit by forming a contract with the lake spirit she had absorbed within the Great Beast.
In other words, part of her was now also the lake spirit's.
Spirits had completely different ways of thinking, consciousness, and values compared to humans. Even if Rhyn had assimilated with them, the lake spirit didn't seem to lament that. However, Rhyn herself couldn't accept it.
She had expressed a desire to remain by Weena's side as a spirit.
But as a spirit, there was something that had puzzled Fran.
『Why did you become the guardian spirit of the academy rather than making a contract with Weena?』
「It's because that way, a hierarchical relationship would develop between me and Weena.」
『Even the academy's headmaster and guardian spirit have some form of hierarchy, don't they?』
「That's fine. Weena and I are equals under the established rules.」
「Equals, but still bound by the academy.」
As far as I knew, the Magic Academy was one of the strictest institutions in this world when it came to enforcing rules. Weena Rhyn had likely structured it this way to prioritize the rules that the guardian spirit must enforce over her own will, ensuring that she wouldn't go out of control. In that place, emotions and personal preferences didn't matter; actions were judged as right or wrong.
This ensured that even if someone other than her became the headmaster in the future, they could prevent abuse of power. In a world where laws could be easily twisted at the whim of those in authority, this was a unique place.
「To be honest, Rhyn, you could come back, and I wouldn't mind retiring as headmaster.」
「No. My dream has finally come true.」
Rhyn rejected Weena's words. Bound by the academy was her dream? What did she mean?
Fran also seemed perplexed, tilting her head.
「Dream?」
「Yes. Someday, I wanted to establish a school and spend my time surrounded by children.」
Come to think of it, when Weena Rhyn was still unified before separating, she had shouted something like that. She had opened the academy for Rhyn's sake.
「Rhyn also held the title of 'Child Protector.'」
Child Protector title! It's a title held by child-loving child lovers for the sake of child lovers like Amanda.
If she held that title, she must really love children.
『But being a guardian spirit and being a teacher, aren't they quite different roles?』
「Well, it's a slightly different form, but it's still a position where I can watch over children. I'm satisfied.」
I thought if it was really okay, but Rhyn looked satisfied. It seemed that protecting children by her side was more important than being a teacher.
Being an elf and a guardian of children. She resembled Amanda. When I mentioned this, I received a surprising response from Rhyn.
The story was that Amanda was Weena Rhyn's descendant, but more precisely, she was Rhyn's descendant. One significant reason Amanda disliked Weena Rhyn was because it seemed as if Weena had absorbed Rhyn.
In truth, she probably didn't like children, but as the headmistress, she pretended to be fond of them. From the perspective of a child's protector, she must have seemed untrustworthy.
『Well, if Rhyn is happy, then that's what matters most.』
「Hehe. In the past few thousand years, this is the most fun I've had.」
「I see. That's great.」
Rhyn's face displayed a warm smile with human-like warmth, rather than her previous mysterious and archaic smile. It was a smile like that of a gentle schoolteacher, and it was comforting for someone who appeared young.
This must be Rhyn's true smile.
If we had a teacher like her in elementary school, maybe I would have liked school more.
Fran had been pondering for a while, but in the end, she decided to accept Weena's request. The benefits outweighed the drawbacks.
The departure was set for tomorrow. However, it didn't mean we would immediately head for Gordicia continent.
First, it seemed we had to go to the capital of this country with the request ticket. There, we would join other participants in crossing to the Gordicia continent together.
「After this, is it a special lesson?」
「Yes.」
「I hope there's something to gain.」
After parting ways with Weena, Fran headed to a small classroom. It turned out they would provide a special lesson just for Fran.
An elf teacher whom Fran had met several times in the staff room enthusiastically gave her a one-on-one lecture.
「That's the general idea. Did you understand?」
「Yes.」
The lecture was about spirit magic. Since Fran was still a student until today, Weena had been considerate enough to arrange this for her.
Thanks to that, Fran had learned the basics. Well, in the end, it was about finding compatible spirits.
After the class, it was Fran's farewell party. It was organized by the students.
While having a meal with everyone at the surprisingly improved student cafeteria where Fran had helped, they exchanged farewells.
「Thank you very much. I've learned a lot.」
「Thank you for helping us.」
「Please come back again.」
At first, Fran had made them nervous, but now they had completely accepted her. Especially in the first few days after returning from the lake to the academy, she had spent time with the class as if she were one of them. The students came to say goodbye one by one with somewhat lonely expressions.
「You're really leaving, aren't you? That's a shame.」
「It's true! I thought I'd made a fellow beastkin friend...」
Even instructors like Innes and Horial were reluctant to part.
「The classes you've taught have visibly improved our students' abilities. If you continue to teach, the students will be delighted... No, that's not right. I'll train them just like you!」
「Yes, do your best.」
「Ha!」
Fran, speaking with Innes, seemed very pleased. It was not only because they were lamenting her departure but also because they were appreciating her as a teacher.
Fran didn't seem to dislike her role as an instructor. Well, there might be a childish aspect of enjoying acting superior, but she also found satisfaction in the fact that her experience could help others.
Receiving praise from Innes for that part of her job boosted her confidence.
「Fran.」
「Carona.」
「Thank you for everything.」
Next came Carona, the blonde with the drill-like hair. Her eyes were slightly red, but she was smiling bravely. Fran was surprised when Carona teared up at their farewell. Initially, they had a somewhat awkward encounter in the Adventurers' Guild, but they had grown close without Fran realizing it.
For Carona, Fran was strongly associated with being the combat instructor who trained them and supervised extracurricular activities. As she bowed and expressed her gratitude, you could sense both deep appreciation and respect for someone superior.
However, Fran felt the same way about Carona. She was thankful and had great respect for her. Without Carona, Fran's student life would have been quite different. It might have taken her more time to fit in with the other students, and they might not have been able to have such lively interactions.
Fran understood that. Certainly, Fran was superior as a warrior, but in terms of human experience, Carona was ahead. Fran seemed to feel that way.
「I'm the one who should say thank you.」
Fran lowered her head again towards Carona.
「I had a great time thanks to you.」
「Well, I... 」
Carona's eyes widened. She understood that Fran wasn't the type to say such things, especially considering it was Fran.
I was surprised too.
Perhaps she sensed that. Fran tilted her head slightly.
（What's wrong?）
『I just thought that Fran today talked a lot more than usual.』
（Is that so?）
『Yeah.』
It seemed that Fran herself hadn't noticed.
『But, I think it's a good thing to express your feelings honestly, right?』
You shouldn't say everything, but expressing gratitude is a good thing.
Fran seemed to agree with a nod and a hint of understanding in her expression.
（You're right.）
『Oh, you get it?』
（Yeah. The me from over there and Master... Maybe if we had talked more properly, it wouldn't have ended up like this.）
『I see, I understand.』
Their encounter with their counterparts from the other world had been a very brief moment, but something had remained with Fran. It was a dense and meaningful time.
「Fran...」
Carona touched her lips as if she were deeply moved.
「...please come back again.」
「Yes.」
「I, I'll just step out for a moment!」
Carona, perhaps embarrassed to have her proper crying face seen, left her seat. She was quite the proper lady, including her pride. I don't dislike her for that.
「Fran-san, I'm so glad you're safe.」
「I'm grateful for the information. Thank you.」
The last person to arrive was Karna, the girl we had met on the way to the Belioth Kingdom. The information from Messer Company had truly been a lifesaver.
「No, thank you very much.」
「Huh?」
「I mean, for protecting this country from the Raydoss Kingdom.」
「I did it for my own sake.」
「Even so, many people were saved. If the conflict had escalated into a large-scale war, both countries would have suffered greatly.」
Karna said this and bowed again. Her demeanor appeared very poignant. It wasn't just happiness and relief like Carona and the others showed; there was also a sense of sadness and loneliness.
I wonder what's going on? She might have some connection to the Raydoss Kingdom. Nevertheless, it seemed like she was genuinely relieved that Raydoss's invasion had failed.
She must have her reasons... But before I could ask anything, Karna left the scene. She seemed to have some errand to attend to, and I couldn't stop her.
『I hope I can ask her someday.』
「Yes.」
The party continued to be lively afterward.
Fran, unusually, stayed awake until late at night. It seemed that she had fun interacting with many boys and girls of her age.
『It's fun.』
「Hmm?」
『I said it's fun.』
「Yeah.」
Despite the various troubles, just seeing Fran's smile made it worth coming to this academy.
After leaving the academy and returning to the inn, Fran sat solemnly while gazing at the central giant tree in the inn, eating her meal. Given how much she had already eaten, she might be expected to have a late-night snack, but for Fran and Urushi, it was business as usual.
The innkeeper probably understood Fran well since she brought out the meal without saying anything. Or maybe she simply liked taking care of children? Well, there was no doubt that we had found a good inn.
『Well, it's time to say goodbye to this inn.』
「Arf.」
「Nn.」
Her voice lacked energy. The meals here should be delicious, so what's going on?
『Fran, is something wrong with you?』
（...Spirit, didn't meet it.）
『Oh, right. I forgot about that.』
I never got to meet the spirit said to reside in the ancient tree. Even with my spirit detection skill, I couldn't sense any presence.
However, Fran suddenly looked upward.
『What's wrong?』
「Woof?」
「Spirit, it's here.」
『Huh?』
I didn't understand the meaning of Fran's muttering.
Because I couldn't feel anything. Urushi, who was tilting his head, probably didn't see anything either.
But Fran's eyes were firmly fixed on a point in the void.
「...」
She continued to silently stare at the trunk of the giant tree for several seconds.
Then it happened.
『!』
「I saw it.」
『Oh, I did too!』
「W-Woof!」
It seems Urushi could see it too. They both forgot about their meals and stared with open mouths.
「...」
Floating there was a faintly glowing green squirrel. It had the appearance of a small animal, but from within, one could sense a deeper and stronger presence.
Is it the spirit of the ancient tree? Even with a conservative estimate, it appeared to be a high-level spirit.
It was strange, but as soon as its form became visible, I could understand its size. I couldn't sense anything when it was invisible.
Moreover, considering how it completely fooled my perception skills while in its presence, it became evident that this spirit possessed considerable power.
「Oh my, the spirit has shown itself. It seems quite fond of you.」
「Me?」
「Yes.」
The elven old lady was looking at Fran, the spirit, and me with a smile. It appeared that the green squirrel now visible in front of us was indeed the spirit of the ancient tree.
「It seems grateful to the young lady.」
「Why?」
「Well? Why don't you ask it? Since you can see it now.」
Wait a second, it's a miracle that it's visible at all, isn't it? Asking it to start talking all of a sudden seems a bit unreasonable...
「Nn. Okay.」
「Yeah, that's the spirit.」
Fran seemed quite confident.
And then, she slowly approached the spirit of the ancient tree.
「...」
「...」
Fran and the spirit locked eyes in silence for a while.
It didn't last very long, maybe about ten seconds. I still couldn't imagine they were having a conversation.
Then, for some reason, the spirit and Fran nodded to each other.
『Huh? Can they communicate? Just now?』
（(Huh? You didn't hear its voice?)）
『Hmm?』
What's going on? Were they talking about something?
『It's the spirit, right?』
（(Yeah. It's thanking me for helping Rhyn.)）
『Urushi?』
（(Off.)）
Urushi couldn't hear it either.
Apparently, only Fran could hear the spirit's voice.
I see, maybe this is what they call compatibility. Spirit magic is more about compatibility with spirits than skill level or proficiency.
In extreme cases, even newcomers who've just learned spirit magic can make contracts with transcendental spirits that exceed human knowledge, as long as they are liked by the spirit.
It seemed that the spirit of the ancient tree and Fran had good compatibility, while it was poor with me and Urushi.
Come to think of it, do I have compatibility or something? After all, I wield a sword. Even with spirits, there might be a chance that I'm unnoticed, right?
「Nn. I see.」
「...」
「Hmm.」
They were having a complete conversation.
『Does that spirit know Rhyn?』
（(Yeah. It's Rhyn's friend. It's been freed from the great magical beast, and it's happy.)）
Water and plants should be well-matched. Maybe, as high-level spirits of water and plants, they have some sort of interaction. They seem like friends, so maybe they play together in places unknown to people?
「Ah...」
『Oh.』
「Arf.」
While thinking about such things, the spirit slowly disappeared. However, Fran could still sense its presence and was following the area where the spirit seemed to be.
It seemed the spirit had come to express its gratitude, but for us, what we gained was much greater than words could describe.
〈Fran was able to acquire the skill of spirit magic after observing a high-level spirit for an extended period of time.〉
『What? Seriously?』
「?」
〈It seems her talent has suddenly blossomed.〉
No way! I quickly checked Fran's status. Indeed, she had learned spirit magic. In fact, after the recent intense battle, both Fran and Urushi had gained five levels.
However, at that time, she definitely hadn't acquired spirit magic or any new skills.
Could it be that the spirit of the ancient tree deliberately revealed itself for this reason? Anyway, it was great that Fran had gained a new skill.
『Fran, you know spirit magic now.』
「Really?」
『Yeah, how about trying it out?』
「Nn...」
With an excited expression, Fran focused her consciousness. When we first met, Fran quickly mastered magic. Even if it was a new skill, it shouldn't be a problem.
I thought so, but she stopped concentrating immediately. Her ears and tail drooped, clearly indicating that something was wrong.
『Fran?』
「No good.」
『Is it not working? You don't know how to use the skill?』
「I can use the skill, but I can only sense the spirit of the tree.」
『You mean the spirit of the ancient tree you could see until now? You can't sense the presence of other spirits?』
「Nn. Also, I can't borrow the power of the tree spirit.」
It seemed that even though she could activate spirit magic, the spirit rejected her. Despite appearing to have good compatibility, it didn't want to cooperate.
Using spirit magic turned out to be more challenging than I thought.
I recalled what I had learned in the daytime classes. Probably, because it had already formed a deep contract with the old lady, it didn't desire other contractees. Among spirits, some are known to have multiple contractees, while others prefer to be closely associated with a single human.
The spirit of the ancient tree clearly belonged to the latter category.
『Originally, it's an extremely difficult magic with few users. Let's practice it leisurely.』
「Nn. I'll do my best.」
The next day.
We stood in front of the gates of the Academy City of Lady Blue.
『We've been through a lot in this town.』
（Nn.）
Thanks to Fran from the other timeline, I found out what would have happened if I had become a sword. Teaching others allowed Fran to grow as well. And witnessing the terror of the great magical beast and the existence of truly formidable beings was an eye-opener.
The resurrected great magical beast would have been the strongest opponent I'd ever encountered. And Weena Rhyn, who defeated it, was undoubtedly the strongest among the strongest.
I did come close to dying for real, though!
Reflecting on various things, we walked.
「Fran, wait.」
「Sierra?」
Before us, as we passed through Lady Blue's main gate, appeared a young man who had been missing for the past few days: Sierra.
He was the grown-up version of Romeo, who had come from another timeline. However, they had asked us to continue calling him Sierra, so neither Fran nor I referred to him as Romeo.
「What's wrong?」
「I wanted to express my gratitude again. Thank you for letting us go.」
Sierra said this and lowered his head.
When the true identity of the magic sword Zelos Reed was revealed, Sierra had promised to face the matter once everything was over. In other words, he would accept Fran's desire for revenge and provide a battleground for their fight.
However, Fran let Sierra and the others go.
She still harbored resentment towards Zelos Reed, but that was directed towards this Zelos Reed, not the one who had taken on the form of a magic sword. In fact, Fran didn't have a strongly negative impression of the Zelos Reed that had transformed into the magic sword.
Rather, Fran felt sympathy for Sierra and didn't want to engage in a battle at this point.
Fran told Sierra that everything hadn't ended just because Zelyse had escaped, but she had avoided a fight.
『Could it be that you were waiting just to express your gratitude?』
「No, it's different. Well, of course, part of it is to express my gratitude, but I remembered something. I wanted to tell you about it.」
『You remembered something?』
「Yeah, it's information I obtained over there.」
By "over there", she means information obtained in a different timeline.
「What kind of information?」
「Over there, Fran mentioned that Master was a divine sword. She said she heard that conversation before Uncle turned into a sword.」
『Huh? You mean I'm a divine sword?』
「Yeah, exactly.」
What's going on? Was I a divine sword over there?
No, that's just ridiculous.
『Maybe she meant a discarded divine sword?』
「No, she said there was no need for Uncle to become a divine sword.」
That was definitely not something a discarded divine sword would say. It was clear that it referred to an active divine sword.
「So, could Master evolve into a divine sword?」
『Fran may be right... but can such a thing really happen?』
〈Yes, it's possible. The birth of the individual named Master was orchestrated by the gods, and the necessary elements such as Fenrir and Cherubim are already in place. There is a possibility of gaining the title of a divine sword through some means. However, detailed information is lacking, and the method is unknown.〉
『Announcer-san, didn't you mention that you shared information with the Announcer-san over there? Didn't they tell you anything at that time?』
〈No, there is no information regarding Master's transformation into a divine sword.〉
That's a mystery. If they could exchange information about skills, couldn't they share simple information like, "Hey, our Master became a divine sword"? It would only take a moment.
『Didn't they have the time for that?』
〈No, there was plenty of time for information sharing.〉
Then why didn't they tell us? The possibility of becoming a divine sword is quite important information, isn't it? While there might be differences between here and there, I didn't think Announcer-san would be mean or withhold information. Of course, it's not like they would forget to convey it.
『Does that mean... they intentionally didn't share information about becoming a divine sword?』
〈That seems to be a high possibility.〉
『So, it's possible that Announcer-san over there decided it's better not to become a divine sword?』
〈There is a high possibility that there would be some kind of compensation involved in Master gaining divine sword powers.〉
『It might mean the compensation is quite severe...』
The Announcer-san from over there should have known that we were fighting against the Great Beasts. If they didn't share information about evolving into a divine sword even then, it must mean that the compensation is truly severe.
Could it be something like changing my name and becoming someone other than myself? Over there, I had become a sword, and it's entirely possible that becoming a divine sword was the cause of it.
While I admired the idea of becoming a divine sword, it seemed prudent to be cautious.
『I appreciate that information.』
「No, I'm glad if I could be of any help.」
『You've been more than helpful.』
We had gained valuable information about the possibility of becoming a divine sword and the potential dangers associated with it.
「What are you going to do next, Sierra?」
「I'm going after the magic sword Zelyse. That guy is my true enemy.」
「I see.」
「What about you?」
「I have a request from Weena.」
Fran and Sierra exchanged information about their future actions.
Sierra planned to investigate legal means to enter the Raydoss Kingdom. At the same time, he would gather information about undead incidents in the surrounding areas. The current owner of the magic sword Zelyse, the Demilich named Nameless, had claimed to be the commander of the Black Corpse Legion, which was affiliated with the Raydoss Kingdom. This meant there was a high possibility that he was secretly active, leading an undead army in various places. Sierra hoped to track him down through sightings of undead.
Fran's immediate destination was the capital of the Belioth Kingdom. It was likely that she would cross over to the Gordicia Continent from there. She planned to fulfill Weena's request and also meet with Trismegistus. Additionally, her long-term goal was to lift the curse on the entire Black Cat Tribe, although she acknowledged that this would likely take a very long time.
「The curse on the Black Cat Tribe?」
「Yeah.」
It seemed that Sierra was unaware of this information, as he had no interest in it. Fran proceeded to explain it briefly.
「So, it means the Black Cat Tribe has to defeat an S-rank or higher threat, or even a minion of a dark god?」
「It could be either.」
「In any case, it sounds like a tough battle.」
「But I'll definitely lift the curse.」
「I see... I hope you achieve your goal. If I come across strong members of the Black Cat Tribe, I'll let you know.」
「Please do. I'll also be searching for Zelyse.」
「Count on it.」
After a final handshake, Sierra mounted the horse he had summoned. It was a lower-tier summon but still a horse-type creature, and it appeared to be quite fast. Fran waved him goodbye with a big smile.
「Goodbye, Sierra!」
Sierra turned and waved back.
The expressions on their faces as they wished each other well clearly showed the bond of friendship between them.
「Goodbye!」
「Woof!」
With that, Fran gave Sierra a proper send-off and then mounted Urushi. Her face was filled with determination.
「Let's go, Urushi.」
「Woof!」
『Yeah, that's right.』
「I won't lose to Sierra.」
『I won't lose to other Intelligence Weapons either!』
「Nn!」
We set out from Lady Blue and headed straight for the capital of the Belioth Kingdom.
Under the clear sky with only a few scattered clouds overhead, Urushi raced along effortlessly.
「Woof Woof!」
「Urushi, you seem to be having fun.」
『Woof!』
As expected of a canine, it seems to enjoy running. With no obstacles at this high altitude, Urushi can run at full speed without any worries.
We are currently traveling at a very high altitude, perhaps around 2,000 meters. At this height, even when Urushi returns to its normal size and runs at full speed, it won't attract any attention from the ground. There won't be any commotion about a giant magical beast appearing.
「Woof Woof!」
「Wow!」
『Fran, make sure you hold on tightly!』
Perhaps getting too excited, Urushi's movements became more intense. It started ascending unnecessarily, changing its stride and leaping in a playful manner.
「Woof Woof Woof!」
「Hey, be careful, Urushi!」
Finally, it even pulled off an acrobatic stunt, running spirals as if it were running along the walls inside a tube. It felt like being on a roller coaster.
From various directions, people attacked us, thinking it was fun. Fran was cheering, enjoying the experience like being on a roller coaster.
But I was on edge, worried that Fran might fall. I couldn't help but be anxious.
『Urushi, that's enough!』
「Kuhn...」
「Is it over now?」
『Fran, don't you look disappointed!』
Then, our eyes were drawn to something sparkling in the sky, even higher up.
「Woof?」
「Master, is that a Celestial Dragon?」
『Yeah, probably.』
Looking up, we saw floating islands. And on the surface of those islands, something long and slender was swaying back and forth, as if licking the surface of the white clouds that enveloped the islands.
It was an A-rank magical beast, the Celestial Dragon. Normally, it stays within the clouds, but it seemed to have come out accidentally.
「It's shining.」
『It's probably reflecting the sunlight.』
Celestial Dragons are skilled in light magic and have the power of light magic flowing within them. Moreover, they seem to reflect the sunlight that bathes them.
I had seen Celestial Dragon materials in the warehouse of the Academy of Magic, but the living Celestial Dragon's scales emitted a completely different brilliance.
The scales of the Celestial Dragon I saw in the warehouse were a dull golden color. The impression I got from them was like a cymbal that hadn't been polished. But, by being imbued with magic power, they gained a mirror-like shine.
The platinum-shining Celestial Dragon ascending through the clouds was a sight so beautiful that I felt like worshiping it.
I understood the meaning of the saying that those who see its form are blessed.
『It looks like something good is going to happen.』
The graceful flight of the Celestial Dragon through the sky felt like it was blessing our journey.
「Nn.」
「Woof!」
Two days have passed since leaving Lady Blue. Along the way, we stopped in towns and villages, buying local specialties as we continued our journey eastward.
And now, without any major issues, we have arrived at the capital of the Belioth Kingdom.
And so, without any major issues, they arrived at the capital of the Belioth Kingdom.
『Wow, as expected of the capital of a great nation. It's just as big as the capital of the Kranzel Kingdom.』
「Nn. The walls are high, and the streets are wide.」
「Woof!」
While they were also impressed by the scale of Lady Blue, much of their amazement came from the size of the academy. However, in this case, the sheer scale of the city itself was impressive. Even within the capital, the bustling atmosphere resembled that of the Kranzel Kingdom's capital.
「Alright, let's head to the castle.」
『Sure thing. Urushi, don't grow too big now.』
「Arf!」
While they had gotten lost in the capital of Kranzel, there didn't seem to be any such mishaps here. By following the main road almost directly from the gate, they could easily reach the royal castle. It seemed like the city had been planned carefully, with little chance of getting lost. Well, in Kranzel, as long as Fran didn't stray from the main road, they wouldn't have gotten lost either.
Ahead on the wide avenue, which could probably accommodate twenty rows of carriages side by side, a colossal castle came into view.
『Alright, let's go.』
「Nn.」
However, the wide road proved to be a disadvantage for Fran. Her heightened sense of smell led her to various food stalls along the way, causing her to zigzag through the streets.
「Nom nom.」
「Chew chew.」
『Is it good?』
「Nn.」
「Woof!」
The usual pattern of snacking had begun. Fran and Urushi went from one food stall to another, zigzagging their way through the wide streets.
Fran said as she spotted another shop on the opposite side of the street.
「It smells good over there.」
「Woof!」
She had apparently found another shop on the opposite side of the street and rushed toward it, weaving through the crowd.
『When do you think we'll finally reach the castle at this pace?』
〈At this pace, it's estimated to take approximately four hours and thirty-eight minutes to reach the castle.〉
Wow, that's quite a while! At this rate, it'll be nighttime!
I decided to suggest a break from their snacking to Fran and Urushi.
『Hey, Fran, Urushi. We still have a long way to go to the castle. How about we take care of our business first and then eat? What do you say?』
「…Nn.」
「…Off.」
He felt guilty when they looked at him with those sad eyes, but he couldn't allow them to keep snacking right now.
『We can eat as much as you want later! So, shall we head to the castle first?』
「Alright. Let's go to the castle.」
Maybe as much as you want was a bit too far...?
Afterward, they headed to the Royal Castle of the Belioth Kingdom at a brisk pace. Surprisingly, they were able to enter with ease.
The letter of introduction from Weena had proven to be incredibly powerful. Furthermore, detailed reports about the incident at the lake had been submitted to the kingdom before their arrival. Naturally, this report would have contained information about Fran's background as well. At the castle entrance, the inspection process was so quick and efficient that he began to worry if everything was alright. It was more like a quick glance than an actual inspection.
He didn't know what information had been reported, but the way they were being treated was as if they were meeting a hero. The soldier who had greeted them at the entrance and the others were giving them the utmost respect. Currently, they were in a room that resembled a meeting room, facing an elderly man.
He was an elderly man with a sinister appearance, lean and dark-skinned. His gaze, which pierced through long white hair, was as sharp as that of an assassin, making it seem as though he were glaring at them.
His torn right ear and numerous scars of various sizes scattered across his body left no doubt that this old man was not an upstanding citizen.
Had they met him without any prior knowledge, they might have mistaken him for a retired yakuza.
This elderly man went by the name Brunen. Surprisingly, he was one of the admirals of the Belioth Kingdom's navy. Hearing that, one could sense the aura of a seasoned warrior about him. Well, he did have a more pirate-like appearance than that of an admiral. In this world, appearing weak could lead to trouble, so it was not uncommon to encounter men with such imposing and rugged looks.
Brunen appeared to be in charge of the dispatch to Gordicia, as reported by Weena Rhyn.
「So, as reported by Weena Rhyn-dono, you intend to head to Gordicia as adventurers hired by our country, correct?」
「Nn.」
「Indeed, indeed! That's much appreciated!」
Brunen expressed his joy when Fran nodded. It seemed that the recent incident had significant implications, and the leadership of the kingdom had been grappling with the decision of how to handle their responsibilities toward Gordicia.
And now, they had Fran, whom Weena Rhyn had ranked as on par with Rank A adventurers. For the kingdom, she was truly a savior.
「We also wish to employ you as our own.」
「Nn. So when do we depart?」
Fran asked excitedly. To her, this continent, known as a hellish place, would serve as an unknown training ground.
However, Brunen's expression darkened slightly.
「Hmm... Well, you see...」
「What's wrong?」
「Oh...」
What was going on? He had been quite frank just thirty minutes ago. It seemed unusual for him to suddenly hesitate like this.
But as he listened more closely, he understood the reason behind Brunen's change in demeanor.
「So, we'll depart in two months?」
「Yes.」
Originally, the departure had been scheduled for the end of March or early April, just about ten more days from now. However, the recent incident with the large magic beast had disrupted those plans.
Delays in the transport of supplies and the mobilization of troops, along with compensation for the victims and the need to rebuild commercial fleets, had all contributed to the postponement. The Belioth Kingdom had found itself compelled to adjust its plans.
「I see.」
However, Brunen wore a distressed expression as he spoke.
「I beg of you! I understand it might be difficult, but could you please return to the capital two months from now?」
To a kingdom, two months might not seem like a long time. It was just a two-month delay in their departure. But to adventurers who lived their lives moment by moment, it was a distant future.
If they were ordinary adventurers, someone would surely say, "I can't plan that far ahead; let's just pretend this request never happened." Brunen was likely aware of that as well.
What if he were to propose a contract that obligated Fran to return in two months? Adventurers who disliked being bound by contracts might leave with their pride hurt. Additionally, it would be challenging to give high-handed orders to adventurers as powerful as Fran, and they couldn't expect loyalty to the kingdom from Fran, who hailed from another country.
In the end, there was nothing they could do but bow their heads to Brunen and earnestly make their request.
『What will you do?』
（No problem.）
『Well, it's just a verbal agreement, so there are no penalties for breaking it.』
Even though it might earn the resentment of Brunen and Weena.
After all, going to the Gordicia continent was almost certain. In that case, it would be better to have the backing of their country. Considering that, accepting the request while being in debt to Belioth wasn't a bad situation.
Fran was eager to depart immediately, but there was no absolute need for them to leave right away.
「I understand. We'll return in two months.」
「R-really? I'm grateful!」
「Nn.」
「So, Fran-dono, what are your plans after this?」
That was indeed the question.
Fran had originally intended to go to the Gordicia continent, so she didn't have any specific plans beyond that.
However, Fran had a clear alternative in mind.
「Bulbora! I'm going to enter a cooking contest!」
『Ah, I see. If you've got the time, you can participate.』
There were two major events being held in the Kranzel Kingdom: the Bulbora cooking contest and the Ulmutt martial arts tournament. Fran had participated in both events last year, but this year, she had given up on them.
With the delay in their Gordicia journey, they suddenly had more time on their hands. This presented a great opportunity for Fran to participate in the Kranzel events.
Upon hearing her decision, Brunen seemed to be lost in thought.
「I see... Heading south, perhaps... Well, would you be willing to take on a request from our country?」
「A request?」
「We'd like you to deliver a letter to someone and ask them to accompany you on your journey to Gordicia. You can just hand over the letter, as it has our seal of approval.」
Are they from the Kingdom of Kranzel? Thinking about potential reinforcements, Amanda seems unlikely. Jean is probably not suitable either. How about Forrund?
「In normal circumstances, they should be wandering the small nations in the south, but they are supposed to be invited as the guest of honor for this year's Ulmutt Martial Arts Tournament. You might be able to meet them.」
「Who?」
In response to Fran's question, Brunen uttered an unexpected name.
「The recipient of the letter is named Dimitris. He's a renowned Rank S adventurer.」
「Dimitris.」
『I've heard that name before.』
Dimitris was the founder of a martial art known as Dimitris Style, the mentor of Colbert, and a legendary master recognized by the gods. He was the strongest martial artist and carried the nickname "The Immovable." Despite his old age, he was still actively adventuring.
「You'll meet Dimitris and deliver the letter?」
「Yes, that's fine. I'm also interested.」
「Great! I appreciate it!」
「Just deliver the letter, right?」
「We don't intend to impose any obligations on you to accept a request from our country. Dimitris is a busy man, and it's not easy to meet him in the first place.」
The other party was a high-level adventurer. It was more likely that someone like Fran, a fellow adventurer, would be willing to listen.
「He's not a bad person, but he can be quite difficult...」
Hearing that made me a little uneasy...
「That's why it's really great that you're taking this on!」
Brunen, delighted, took out a leather pouch that looked plain except for the emblem of the Belioth Kingdom. To those who looked closely, it would be apparent that it contained a certain amount of magic.
「An item bag?」
「Yes, indeed. This bag contains a letter for Dimitris-dono and some other things. Oh, wait a moment, don't open it carelessly.」
Brunen hurriedly stopped Fran, who was trying to peek inside.
「The letter is considered classified. It would be a failure if someone other than Dimitris-dono opened it. So, we've taken precautions.」
「Can you really do that?」
「Our head magical technologist is quite skilled, especially with item bags and spatial magic.」
Fran responded with indifference since she had her own magic and skills, but it was clear that the magical technologist was an impressive talent. They might even be able to create long-distance teleportation devices or something similar.
Brunen seemed to get annoyed by Fran's lack of interest. He began to boast about the magical technologist and their achievements.
Then, Fran suddenly became interested in a certain topic, just like I did.
「Research on opening item bags?」
「Yes. It's still in the experimental stage, but there are instances where item bags become unusable when the registered user dies. You've heard of those, right?」
Fran's interest piqued, and Brunen explained the groundbreaking nature of this technology.
If it succeeded, it would greatly simplify resource management for the military. Currently, regular supplies were managed with unregistered item bags, while valuable items like medicines and local currency were stored in item bags registered to specific individuals.
This was done to prevent smuggling and theft, but it had its drawbacks. If all registered users died, the items would become inaccessible.
There were cases in the past where an assassin had killed the administrators, rendering supplies and medicines unusable, leading to the collapse of military operations.
It made sense. If you could deal a significant blow to the enemy's resources by simply killing a few administrators, it was worth trying.
As a result, a higher number of registered users were set up as a precaution, but that also increased the risk of having untrustworthy individuals among them.
However, if the technology to open any item bag, regardless of registration, were to be developed, those concerns would become irrelevant.
「But registration would become meaningless.」
Indeed, as Fran pointed out, if such technology were developed, item bag registration would become obsolete.
「Well, yeah. It could also be misused.」
Brunen seemed to understand that too, and he sighed deeply.
However, since this research was being conducted everywhere, the country couldn't afford to fall behind. If a research project was guaranteed to eventually succeed, then obtaining it early would be an advantage for their country.
「In addition, you don't need to worry too much about it now. After all, we haven't even managed to open small bags yet. If that were the case, it would be better to pay a large sum to a high-level contract magic user to open it.」
「High-level contract magic... can open item bags?」
「Well, theoretically, yes. It depends on the rank and size of the bag... Beyond contract magic, there's a related skill in curse magic. Do you happen to have an unopenable bag?」
「Nn.」
Saying that, Fran took out several item bags. Some she had acquired in the human trafficking organization's hideout, others from goblins, and so on.
「The registration of these is done through contract magic. So, if you're a curse magic user skilled enough to overwrite the contract, you can deactivate it.」
「I see...」
Honestly, if it were me, I could open them.
You just needed to raise your contract magic level and acquire curse magic. But using valuable points just to open item bags when you didn't even know what was inside... well, it didn't seem worth it.
While traveling, we would have to search for someone who could use curse magic, or maybe a magical beast capable of it. If you could obtain curse magic from a magic stone, that would be the fastest way.
Well, I had almost forgotten about it until now, and if we couldn't find it, it wouldn't matter.
「So, I just need to hand over that leather pouch with the letter to Dimitris?」
「That's the idea. I'm counting on you.」
「Nn.」
Dimitris, the Immovable. What kind of old man was he? I was looking forward to meeting him. Well, I also had some concerns. After all, high-level adventurers tended to be a bit eccentric.
Fran? What's eccentric about Fran! Isn't she pretty, lovely, and cute as can be?
A being that all of humanity should adore!
「Master, what's wrong?」
『Oh, nothing. I was just lost in thought for a moment.』
「I see. I'm looking forward to meeting the Immovable Dimitris.」
『Is that so?』
「Nn. I want to fight him.」
『Well...』
Well, if you asked whether he was a conventional person or not, it might be a bit difficult to answer.
No Comments Yet
Post a new comment
Register or Login