After returning to Koare , it was already nearing evening, so we decided to stay the night. Due to the closure of the Dead Sea, the rooms at the inns were filled with people waiting for the closure to be lifted. We finally found a room at the fifth inn.
If we can just get our hands on a herb called Seeb Issahil Amel, we will be able to make Amrita…! This herb grows in clean water and is quite difficult to find.
After checking out, I bought Dead Sea salt and decided to take a walk around the town. The innkeeper told me that the hunting party had left for the Dead Sea this morning.
I’ve done something bad… I’ve already defeated it.
I defeated the serpent, and the sea serpent will probably still be floating in the Dead Sea. I wonder what to do with the black dragon scales I obtained. Even if I process them into equipment, they’re quite heavy.
While browsing the shops, the muscular, gray-haired man with a beard who I met yesterday noticed me and called out. He was still wearing the same clothes, long sleeves and pants, with a brown cloth wrapped around his waist.
“Hey, it’s the young lady from yesterday!! I’m glad to see you haven’t left town yet!”
“I apologize for the rush the other day. How is your injury?”
When I bowed, the man lowered his head in response.
“Ah, no need to be so polite… After applying that ointment, I’ve been feeling much better. I can walk normally today.”
I quickly took out my notebook, asking him in detail about the duration and effects, making notes as he answered. He smiled awkwardly but answered sincerely.
“I see, I see… May I examine the scar?”
“Ah, of course, but it won’t change in a day, you know?”
“That’s true, but I’m still curious.”
The man sat on a nearby bench and rolled up his pants, so I crouched down to carefully examine the scar.
It seems to have faded slightly… There’s a good chance it will heal completely. Ideally, I would like to observe the progress every day.
“…What are you doing in a place like this?”
“Oh, Lord Belial. Since you used the painkiller yesterday, I was wondering how you’re doing.”
Belial, who had been shopping at a different store, came over. He seemed to have been peeking into a jewelry shop. He liked shiny things, such as jewels and gold.
“…Are you under contract?”
“Do you recognize me? I’m Belial, the demon.”
As expected, someone who’s been through battles probably has a good instinct for danger. And anyone knowledgeable about demons or summoning wouldn’t ask about titles recklessly. If they did, it would raise suspicion and be unwelcome.
Though sometimes there are demons who boast about themselves openly.
“I thought you were a magic item artisan, but you’re a summoner…?”
“My current occupation is as an artisan, but I’m also a summoner and a magician.”
This is turning into my usual line.
“Enough small talk. Let’s go now.”
“Ah, yes. Well then, thank you for your cooperation.”
When Belial urged me to stand up, the man hurriedly stopped me.
“If the hunt at the Dead Sea is successful, the entry ban will be lifted starting tomorrow.”
“No, that’s already fine. Right now, I’m searching for a water plant called Seeb Issahil Amel.”
“…I’ve heard of it. They say that in the Wastent Republic, it has been over-harvested and is no longer available. But in the Chenkaslar Kingdom, you might still find it.”
What!? This man seems to know about what I’m searching for! With Amrita, I can obtain the materials to make more Amrita. This is what they call a cycle.
The man continued to explain further.
“It’s not normally sold. You should request it through the Adventurer’s Guild.”
“Thank you for your kindness. I came from Chenkaslar , but I wasn’t aware of this. I’ll go back and make a request right away.”
I thanked the man who kindly informed me and bowed my head.
“No, thank you for your help. By the way, young lady, what’s the name of this medicine? If possible, I’d like to buy it.”
He asked. Well, we probably won’t meet again, so it’s fine.
“I’ll give it to you. Thanks to you, I should be able to make more. It’s called Amrita Ointment.”
“Amrita…!?”
“Well then, I’ll be off.”
With the man’s surprised expression in my peripheral vision, we soared into the sky.
“Hmm… but it’s probably not available in Renant…”
“It’s on the way back, so why not stop by the defense city? They might know about it.”
By “they,” he’s probably referring to the commander of the defense city, Ranvalt , and the head mage, Baraha, whom we had dealings with before. They would likely use such a medicine, so they might have stocked up on the materials, and asking them for a supplier could work.
“Then our next destination is the defense city, Zadol Toshe!”
Last time we encountered a fire dragon, a horde of monsters, and the Zumeu dragonfolk, so I wonder if it will go peacefully this time.
…Could it be that Belial is expecting trouble again?
And then, we could see the high walls of the defense city, Zadol Toshe.
This time, there was a drawbridge. We had to enter through there. Since there are always guards on the walkway above the thick walls, trying to sneak in with flying magic would likely be stopped. We had no choice but to approach the front. Just as I thought that, someone flew toward us from the city.
A man in a black robe, with a mithril staff set with a black jewel, approached us.
“Baraha-sama! Long time no see!”
“I thought so, Iriya -san and Lord Belial. Why have you come from the Wastent Republic today?”
We landed inside the walls of the defense city with him.
As expected, since we were with the head mage, no one reprimanded us.
“Actually, we went to the Dead Sea. After that, we were searching for Seeb Issahil Amel and heard it could be obtained in Chenkaslar .”
“…It doesn’t seem like a sightseeing trip to the Dead Sea… Could it be that you’re also making Amrita?”
“Exactly!”
It seems he understands the materials right away. But why is Baraha looking surprised even though he guessed correctly?
As we were talking, someone approached quickly.
A knight with golden-brown hair and green eyes, wearing white armor—he was Ranvalt Haegstett, the commander of the army stationed in this city.
“Iriya -san? Is that you? My parents made a terrible mistake last time.”
He suddenly bowed his head. Wow… this is so conspicuous!
“No, please don’t apologize! I’m the one who was rude, not knowing the circumstances…”
“What’s going on? Did something happen between you two?”
Baraha, who didn’t know the details, looked worried.
People passing by turned to look. Since it was so noticeable, Ranvalt suggested we move to a nearby café.
After ordering at the café, I explained what happened.
How the Haegstett Viscount had slandered me, calling me a money-grubbing commoner who had deceived Ranvalt and Zieghardt, and how I ended up freezing an intermediate Blizzard Dragon in anger.
I also mentioned that I heard the Viscount’s sister had died from illness when she was young, and that because of that, many people trying to deceive others under the pretense of making medicine caused her to become distrustful.
It seemed Ranvalt didn’t know much about his father’s sister, as he blinked in surprise.
“Y… you froze it…? A Blizzard Dragon?”
“Yeah, I froze it.”
Baraha winced. Of course, I didn’t think it would freeze completely either.
“What kind of magic did you use!? A Blizzard Dragon is not something you can just freeze!”
“I don’t even remember the chant. It even had a poison effect…”
Ranvalt seemed intrigued by that. But this was definitely something I couldn’t explain.
“…I’ll just say that it was a magic superior to the Blizzard Army I showed you last time.”
“Superior to that!?”
Both of them exclaimed in surprise.
Belial suppressed his laughter at their reactions.
Most people think that Blizzard Army, Gross Turbillon du Neige, is the highest-level magic in water, so when they hear there’s something beyond it, they’re always shocked. It’s a dangerous magic that also carries a deadly poison, so it’s not something that’s usually used or even taught.
The parfait I had ordered was brought to me, so I ate it. It was a delicious parfait with fruit! The combination with vanilla ice cream was perfect… Ice cream is a luxury item, so it’s not often on the menu at more common shops.
In Egduarum, it’s considered a food for nobles.
Baraha seemed to like sweets too, as he was enjoying a pudding parfait. Ranvalt and Belial only had tea.
“Iriya -san, you really eat so deliciously,” Ranvalt said with a gentle smile in his green eyes. I felt a little embarrassed.
“I love sweets. The other day, you invited me for tea. I had my first Afternoon Tea Stand at Duke August’s mansion…”
“Wait! Why a duke!?”
Oops, I let something slip! The magic of sweets is too strong.
Baraha, holding a spoonful of pudding, chimed in.
“Well, uh, I’m going to be under his protection.”
“Even so…”
“The Duke is famous for favoring mages and artisans, you know. As expected of you, Iriya -san.”
Ranvalt subtly stopped Baraha’s questioning with a gentle tone.
Belial was grinning… probably thinking something like, “Did you just spill the beans yourself?”
“Anyway, speaking of which, Seeb Issahil Amel, right?”
A rare helping hand. I hope this isn’t a sinking ship.
“Ah, that’s right. Baraha, do you think it’s available?”
“Unfortunately, no. I think it’s better to request it. I heard it’s found in a spring in the mountains.”
So it’s not available. But it’s grown around here. If I could swim, I would go and gather it myself, but I can’t swim…
“By the way, no dragons around here?”
So that was the real question!! Ranvalt answered seriously.
“This area doesn’t normally have dragons.”
Belial looked quite disappointed. If dragons were a common threat, the mages would certainly have defensive magic against dragon breath.
Since no one was willing to take the request for Seeb Issahil Amel, Ranvalt agreed to submit it for us. Apparently, not many people in Chenkaslar can swim.
I was anxious to make Amrita as soon as possible, but there was nothing we could do.
We entrusted the request to Ranvalt and left the defense city.
