Chapter 102

“There are a lot of mechanical dolls. The place I lived was also famous for having quite a few mechanical dolls, but compared to here……”

Quilbion looked at the mechanical dolls moving not only in front of shops but also along drainage channels.

“For simple repetitive work, they’re much more efficient than people, so we increased the number in operation.”

“It’s a wealthy place. Good to live in.”

He looked at a mechanical doll working hard to wave promotional phrases in front of a shop.

“Or maybe the world has generally become better to live in.”

While touring the lively market, before he knew it, they were at the inner castle entrance.

Beyond the bridge cutting across the moat, he could see a castle that was overall round in shape. Had pointed things gone out of fashion?

One spire stood tall, but it seemed more like a surveillance tower than residential.

“Let’s go.”

They entered the inner castle with the saluting guards behind them.

Unlike ordinary streets built compactly, the inner castle streets were designed spaciously without any places blocking the view.

“Building codes have changed quite a bit.”

“I don’t know that part well enough to explain. If you’d like, I can separately invite an instructor……”

“That’s fine. And don’t pay too much attention to what I say. I tend to talk to myself a lot by nature.”

“Understood.”

They entered the castle.

Throughout the hall that welcomed guests and enemies, artworks were placed. While looking around by rolling his eyes, his gaze was caught by a stuffed bear head.

“It’s damn huge.”

“The 8th Gibel Do…… it’s something our ancestor hunted and brought, an object like a symbol of our family.”

“Nice. I also had such a hobby once. Catching all sorts of things, snapping off just the heads and hanging them in clusters on trees.”

Quilbion smiled while looking at Ruki. Ruki’s complexion darkened in real-time.

“I’m joking.”

“I-is that so?”

“Actually, I’m not joking.”

He was a fun friend to tease.

Should it be called the typical clumsiness of an inexperienced young master? It was funny how he reacted to every poke.

They went up to the second floor.

Unlike the hall, there were no decorations making the eyes dizzy. Only spare weapons could be seen occasionally.

Was it this era’s noble etiquette, or the castle owner’s taste?

Ruki, who’d briefly left, returned.

“Father has permitted it. Let’s go in together.”

“He’s an easygoing person. Meeting me right away.”

“He prioritizes practicality over etiquette.”

He walked down the long corridor following Ruki.

Midway, he encountered two armed men, but they looked only straight ahead without giving a single glance.

They were well-trained.

“Do you still call people like that knights these days?”

“Ah, yes. We call them knights.”

“There are many things that changed, but many things that haven’t changed too. How people live is similar after all.”

Knock knock knock—Ruki knocked on the door engraved with a silver bear. After waiting about 10 seconds, Ruki pulled the door.

“You’ve returned.”

A middle-aged man sat at a desk with his back to an enormous window. He was a man who’d grown an impressive mustache.

Quilbion silently waited. He’d introduce him when the time came.

Conversation went back and forth between father and son. A report about mission failure, followed by rebuke.

While listening to the story, he got fidgety and glanced at the bookshelf decorating the wall. All sorts of books were stuck in. Tightly rolled parchments also caught his eye.

I’m bored—should I look at those?

It was when he had that thought.

“I apologize for making you wait. Being what I am by birth, I cannot abandon procedures.”

The middle-aged man spoke while rising from his seat.

“That’s fine. It’s an understandable part.”

“Please come this way.”

He pointed to a sofa decorating one side of the room. He sat without refusing.

Ruki stood behind his father and straightened his posture. The expression that had looked stupid couldn’t be found even if you washed your eyes and looked. His father must be quite scary.

“I heard a rough explanation from my son, but I only believe what I see.”

“That’s how it should be.”

Quilbion kindled the sorcery of Sitpin Yellow Form, flames that weren’t hot. The man who’d been sharply watching the floating flames boldly stuck his hand into the flames.

“It’s truly not hot.”

“I can make it hot for you.”

“That’s fine. The weather is hot since it’s summer.”

The man smiled faintly while looking at the sparks on his hand.

“I do feel mana, but the density is strangely low. Magic or magic arts that have gone through mental world manifestation would enter a dangerous state where you couldn’t even touch them.”

“Because it’s not magic.”

“Then what should this unidentifiable power be called?”

“Let’s call it sorcery.”

“Sorcery. You’ve developed a mysterious method of operating mana.”

“I didn’t develop it—I happened to learn it. It’s not a very pleasant story.”

The man nodded.

“I won’t ask further. Since you don’t enjoy food, we’ll skip tea……”

“No. Tea is good. Do you happen to have coffee too?”

The man gestured to Ruki. Ruki left the office.

“I was late with greetings while serving an esteemed person. I’m Kuhard.”

“Your son seems to have told you many things in a short time.”

“He’s a naive and inadequate fellow, but he’s not stupid. It’s fortunate.”

Kuhard smoothed the tip of his mustache.

“I heard you want an interview with Barara Tribe.”

“That’s right. That’s all I desire.”

“I can arrange a meeting. But the choice isn’t with me—it’s with them.”

“Even noble people can’t act carelessly it seems. These Barara Tribe people.”

“Yes. Since they’re in a special position, it’s difficult for me to exert influence too. If they’re in a good mood, they’ll meet you, and if not, you’ll have to wait. Sometimes they leave without reason and can’t be contacted.”

“That’s fine. I also have plenty of time to spare.”

“I’m relieved you say that.”

Ruki returned with coffee. Brown liquid swaying in a smooth white cup.

Though he’d drunk until sick of it while wandering through cracks, this was the first time in reality—and coffee brewed by someone else at that.

He slowly enjoyed and savored the scent first.

“The sour taste stands out. This is very good.”

“You know the taste. There are many who stick out their tongues saying they dislike acidity.”

After exchanging glances with Kuhard, he smiled contentedly.

“Ah. I should introduce myself formally too. I’m Quilbion. I stayed in a village called Lukin long ago, but I can’t tell how it is now.”

“If you wish, I’ll make inquiries.”

“There’s no need to go that far. The people I had acquaintance with would all have entered the graveyard.”

Kuhard set down his cup.

“May I offer words of consolation?”

“Thank you for your concern, but it’s fine. If people are born, dying is the natural order. Except for a few strange guys, everyone lives and dies like that, so there’s no need for consolation.”

“Lord Quilbion must belong to that strange category.”

“It’s a curse. A tiresome curse.”

“I’m envious. I have many things to do ahead, so the time of departure is regrettable and frightening.”

Quilbion looked into Kuhard’s eyes beyond the raised teacup.

“There’s no secret to eternal life. This is a curse, and it’s not something I’d recommend to others. So don’t be greedy for what you can’t have, and let’s talk about what you can have. I like the saying ‘giving and receiving favors.'”

“Since you say that, I should put aside greed and bring up trade.”

Kuhard opened his mouth in a much more relaxed posture.

“The fleeing territory residents were scheduled to be deployed to the frontier.”

“I caused damage to your territory.”

“Not at all. Just saving my son more than makes up for it.”

Kuhard stood up, went to the desk, and brought fountain pen, ink, and paper.

He didn’t know what manufacturing process it went through, but it was paper with a smooth surface. It looked quite expensive.

“How about staying in my territory while we prepare for the meeting with Barara Tribe?”

“I won’t refuse.”

“You must need things. If you write them here, I’ll try my best to obtain them. Whether objects or people.”

“Could you obtain a dragon by any chance?”

He could see beneath Kuhard’s left eye twitching.

“They say blood can’t be fooled—you react easily to such questions. I’m joking.”

“I showed an inadequate side. I was so flustered.”

Quilbion picked up the fountain pen.

“It seems I’ll have to live here for a while. I’d like to learn about the outside world during that time.”

He wrote only one word on the paper: ‘Knowledge.’

“Knowledge is important.”

“It doesn’t have to be specialized knowledge. Stories about how the world works, all sorts of rumors are fine too. Ah, since it came up—are there no recent rumors about seeing will-o’-the-wisps?”

“No. There haven’t been such strange rumors within our territory. Adults occasionally bring it up to frighten children though.”

“That makes sense. They’re not common.”

“……Do will-o’-the-wisps really exist?”

“They do, but if you see one, don’t fearlessly stick your hand in like you did earlier. You might fall somewhere absurd and suffer terribly.”

“I’ll pass it down for generations. To be careful of will-o’-the-wisps.”

Kuhard folded the paper and put it in his chest.

“If you wish, I’ll prepare a room in the castle.”

“No. Splendid places like this don’t suit me at all. I’ll look around the residential areas. There are also places I want to tour.”

“A guide……”

“Rather than a guide, I need money to use immediately—can you lend me some?”

“I’ll give you a slightly lower interest rate than usual.”

“I also like cheap things.”

With a greeting to see each other again soon, he left the office.

“It’s nice that he’s straightforward.”

The moment they came down to the hall with Ruki, he could see a neatly dressed servant waiting with a chest.

Ruki received the chest adorned with elegant decorations and opened it.

Inside was a heavy pouch.

“It’s money in circulation on the market. Since these are handled by major merchant groups, you’ll be able to use them comfortably wherever you go within the territory.”

“Record it well in the ledger. We have to calculate properly.”

“Father said to tell you it’s fine to receive it comfortably.”

“When you receive money for free, there’s always aftereffects. Sometimes strange intent attaches too. Anyway, since I’m borrowing it, I’ll receive it well.”

It was when he turned around holding the pouch. Ruki hurriedly stood beside him.

“I don’t need a guide.”

“It’s not that, it’s this.”

It was a gold badge the size of two fingers put together. The form of an angry-looking bear was engraved.

“When troublesome things happen, if you show this, everything will be resolved.”

“I’m not planning to cause problems, but I’ll still accept it. Just in case.”

“You can use it comfortably. And the inn I recommend is ‘Oto’s Bedroom,’ which you’ll see as soon as you leave the inner castle. It’s a well-managed place, so there won’t be any discomfort.”

“I’ll go there. Don’t follow me now. You must be busy.”

When he came outside the castle, he could see Ruki’s subordinates. They stood in a row on one side looking straight ahead.

Quilbion approached them.

“If you’re so resentful you can’t sleep or feel like you need to have it out, come find me anytime.”

“Not at all!”

“Then that’s settled.”

After patting each of their shoulders once, he left the inner castle.

“Nice. A place where people live.”

Though cracks also felt like everything was real, experiencing it in reality indeed had a different charm.

It was when he crossed the street while examining the faces of passing people one by one.

Quilbion squinted his eyes slightly.

He’d discovered faint traces of nark.

Nark containing intent.

It could be called someone’s excrement.