Fanian is the name of a mining town on the northeastern edge of the continent, and the surrounding areas are often referred to collectively by this name as well.
Like Fuziaze, this mining town is surrounded by rugged mountains, with little interaction with other countries or territories. It is theoretically under the control of the country of Fuziaze. However, in reality, the relationship is closer to that of equal trading partners rather than one of lord and vassal.
This is because the power of the aristocrats who govern the region is not much different from that of the country of Fuziaze.
Fanian, taking into account the continent’s relative locations and traditions, is currently reluctantly adhering to the country of Fuziaze, but is in a position to refuse if unreasonable taxes are imposed. If the time comes, it could easily switch allegiance to another country.
This was the knowledge possessed by Tiara Fuziaze, the royalty of Fuziaze, but the time had already come. I presumed that the Fanian region had virtually become independent from Fuziaze and had transformed into a special type of city-state.
Frankly speaking, the child, the Fanian region, had quickly broken free from the protection of its parent, the country of Fuziaze, which was pitiable and impoverished, and was now living independently.
In recent years, Fuziaze, with its own struggles, had not been able to properly observe Fanian’s independent life.
However, now, two people from Fuziaze had finally reached the mining town of Fanian.
I felt its reality not just with my eyes but with my entire body, and exclaimed my感想 with my very first words.
“Fwoooo, I feel so refreshed! The best!”
Steam rising from my body, clad in clean clothes, having washed away all the dirt, I put my reborn feeling into words.
Next to me, my Master, who had also changed into local clothing, was lost in thought.
“Ah, it’s the best… I feel so refreshed. Fanian is amazing… The aqueducts are truly the source of civilization and vitality…”
He was, in fact, crying.
He nodded deeply, looked around repeatedly, and continued to praise the marvelousness of this town.
I, like my Master, looked around the town.
Around the public bathhouse we had just emerged from, the area was filled with vitality. Several solid stone buildings stood in a row, emitting the aroma of food that stimulated the appetites of those who had just bathed.
Furthermore, a little further away, shops dealing in items other than food were lined up, black smoke rising from their chimneys. There were few shops selling daily necessities and clothing; instead, many displayed iron crafts and weapons and armor.
I had heard it was a mining town, but I hadn’t expected such advanced processing technology, and I was surprised. Looking inside the shops that lined the streets, most of them had workshops equipped with furnaces.
My surprises did not stop.
The most striking feature of this town was its brightness.
The “flame-producing stones” were installed everywhere, providing light.
Along the neatly maintained stone-paved roads, streetlights made of “flame-producing stones” were placed at regular intervals. Next to the signs of the shops, there were always lamps made of “flame-producing stones.” Looking a little further, there was a lighthouse displaying a giant “flame-producing stone.” This one was so large that it rivaled the sun, which I had only known from books.
In other words, there was no darkness in this town due to the dark clouds of “Demonic Poison.”
The surprises continued.
Most notably, there were the walls surrounding this bright and vibrant town.
Fanian had surrounded the town, which was as large as the capital of Fuziaze, with artificial walls, reducing the threat from external Monsters, and even conducting proper inspections.
This selected external visitors and enhanced the town’s public order.
Thanks to this, there were no menacing glances from thieves like the ones we encountered in the town a little while ago. The people walking on the streets did not have bloodshot eyes, nor did they appear to be suffering from hunger.
The town possessed the vitality that humans should naturally have.
Honestly, it surpassed not only the towns we passed through but even the castle of Fuziaze.
“It’s truly amazing. We’re defeated…”
After looking around, I, despite being royalty of Fuziaze, admitted it.
As I said that, a man in a very good mood approached, laughing.
“Hahaha, it seems you have thoroughly enjoyed the specialties of my Fanian domain.”
A man with noticeable white hair approached, dressed in fine fabric that, in Fuziaze, only royalty could wear.
He was one of the attendants serving the Neisha Family, the lords of the town.
“Please, Tiara-sama. The confirmation is complete.”
The letter of introduction from the Fuziaze royal family, which I had been given upon entering the town, was returned to me.
Thanks to keeping this on my person at all times, we were being treated as guests in Fanian. Recently, my days had been spent covered in mud and spitting blood from encounters with bandits, but… I am, after all, a princess from the nation’s capital.
“Thank you. It was a great help that you were at the town’s checkpoint. Thanks to you, things moved so much more smoothly!”
Upon arriving in the town, we were first subjected to a strict inspection.
Realizing that entering the town without any connections would require a huge bribe, we quickly decided to use our trump card: the backing of the royal family. In fact, it was the only card we had left to play.
And then, this attendant was at the checkpoint, and after examining the letter of introduction, he led us to the town’s pride, the public bathhouse.
The attendant, who likely held considerable authority in this town, personally welcomed us, the envoys of Fuziaze.
“Hosting important guests from other countries is part of my duties… By the way, regarding the banquet at the lord’s mansion, we would like to request the evening of tomorrow. Could you grant us one day to prepare something fitting for Tiara-sama?”
A banquet tomorrow evening for a sudden visit.
Among the expected responses, this was quite standard. The lord’s pride and consideration for the royal family would not allow for a hastily prepared reception. It was clear that they were being careful not to offend the envoys from Fuziaze.
“Tomorrow evening… Do I have to attend? In times like these, everyone is struggling, so it would be fine to skip formalities. As I said before, a casual reception would be most helpful. We are only here for a secret inspection, you know?”
Our purpose was to recruit talent—or rather, abduct them. The inspection was merely a secondary objective, so we wanted to avoid any trouble if possible.
“We cannot do that. To not host Tiara-sama at the mansion would be tantamount to slighting the country of Fuziaze. Please, grant us this opportunity to show our hospitality.”
“No, really, I’m at the very bottom rung of Fuziaze. Seriously.”
“Yes, that’s precisely why. That’s precisely why we want to welcome you to Fanian with all our hearts.”
I tried my best to emphasize my lack of upbringing, portraying myself as a spoiled, undisciplined princess, but it was in vain. From those repeated “precisely why”s, I sensed there were multiple reasons for their desire to welcome me and gave up.
“…Alright. I’ll come. It’s not every day, after all.”
“Phew. That puts my mind at ease. Then, allow me to guide you to the best inn in this town. It will also serve as a tour of the town.”
The attendant began escorting us.
The slightly forceful nature of his guidance made me suspect he was more of a guard. There was a possibility our objectives had been leaked somewhere and reached this town ahead of us.
I maintained a composed smile and carefully followed the man. My Master, on the other hand, had a genuine smile on his face and was chatting with the attendant like a child.
“Incredible…! This isn’t just cobblestone, is it? It’s so easy to walk on…!”
“Oh, Miss Aikawa, you have a keen eye. You see it? The ingenuity and effort put into it.”
Incidentally, I had given Master an appropriate noble title in Fuziaze and presented him as a bodyguard knight. On top of that, my setting was that he was my swordsmanship instructor.
“I do. The outer walls also show ingenuity, unlike in Fuziaze. The shape, the angle, the material… they’re not just for enclosing the area.”
“This area is rich in special minerals. We all collaborated to devise and somehow achieve this.”
“It’s magnificent. I doubt any ordinary Monster could destroy that.”
“Yes. So far, there have been no reports of destruction. However, there have been a few reports of climbing…”
“Even at that angle? But if we were to increase the angle any further—”
Perhaps they had similar hobbies, as they were conversing with great enjoyment.
But listening beside them, I held a very different, more sober impression.
Indeed, this Town of Fanian was advanced and wonderful.
However, I felt the true essence lay elsewhere.
Was this smooth path truly for the sole purpose of distributing goods? Was the exquisite height of the outer walls not considering anything other than Monsters?
It was natural for there to be political machinations within a country, but the underpinnings of this town didn’t feel like the “usual” sort, such as connections to other countries or trading prohibited goods.
It had the same scent as Fuziaze, which had gained vitality since Master and his entourage arrived. It was undoubtedly connected to “abnormalities” like “Thief of Principles” or “Apostle.”
What I felt most strongly related to what was lining the path we were currently walking.
Master was praising it at that very moment.
“—And most of all! This ‘stone that generates flame’ is incredible! What’s the mechanism behind it!?”
“That is Lord Flame God’s Sacred Stone. As a mere attendant, I cannot explain it in detail, but it is produced at this town’s The First Demon Obstruction Research Institute. The blacksmiths of this town then process it.”
“Se-ki! Ken-kyu-in! …I see. This town was looking to the future of the world, trying to unravel that ‘Demonic Poison,’ weren’t you?”
“…Yes. Ever since this ‘Demonic Poison’ began to spread across the world, its unraveling has been humanity’s task.”
…
At that moment, the attendant’s demeanor shifted slightly.
I knew he had lied, but Master continued to talk cheerfully about a bright future.
“Tiara, we absolutely must take this stone back! No, better yet, let’s scout the engineers here! It will undoubtedly speed up the development of our country’s ‘Curse Technique’!”
“O-oh? Well, I’d like to do that, but I don’t think it’s possible. Just because it’s within our territory, we can’t do something so reckless, Master.”
“Eh? Since it’s within Fuziaze’s territory, can’t you issue such an order?”
“I can issue orders. However, whether that order is obeyed depends on the power of the lord. Honestly, I don’t think the people here have any reason to listen to a declining capital.”
“Then how about an exchange of engineers, perhaps… we could send Sis over…”
“An exchange? Hmm, if that’s the case—”
Leaving Master to utter his rather harsh proposal, I glanced at the attendant’s face.
He wore a wry smile but did not agree.
“Looks like it’s a no.”
Seeing the attendant’s reaction, Master seemed to grasp the power dynamic between Fuziaze and Fanian.
He grumbled with apparent regret and abandoned the idea of abducting researchers. However, he quickly regained his composure and proposed what he could do now.
“In that case, would you at least allow us to observe? I’d like to see the mineral processing technology and the research institute of this town.”
“The processing technology and the research institute… Yes, of course. There is nothing in our town that we would hide from an envoy from Fuziaze.”
“That’s great…!”
Master was pleased with the magnanimous offer, but my suspicions deepened that such an impossible request had been granted.
Were they always prepared to hide anything they felt guilty about? Or did they want to show off technology that Fuziaze could never replicate?
To understand this town’s intentions, it seemed best to cooperate for now.
I quietly conveyed my agreement to Master in a low voice.
“…That’s right. While looking around, we can search for things.”
“Yeah… Even if we can’t find them, we want to bring back corresponding information and technology.”
I didn’t specify what we were looking for, but thankfully, Master nodded, having “Thief of Principles” in mind. I felt a slight sense of relief that he hadn’t forgotten the original objective in his excitement about sightseeing.
…Or perhaps it was the opposite.
Perhaps Master was so excited precisely because he hadn’t forgotten his own original objective.
Master’s top priority wasn’t the search for “Thief of Principles,” but the advancement of “Curse Technique” for his sister. Therefore, faced with a culture that seemed more valuable than “Thief of Principles,” the search was being postponed.
We reconfirmed each other’s travel objectives and continued to be guided by the attendant.
During this time, he showed us the buildings lining both sides of the street and told us about the lives of the people of Fanian.
And we learned that although the work of miners and blacksmiths was arduous, it was compensated with wealth. Everyone working in the town, knowing the misery outside, was deeply grateful for their life here. Even while breathing heavily and sweating profusely, their faces held a sense of contentment.
Among them, some individuals stood out.
We had already seen several groups facing a large “Lord Flame God’s Sacred Stone” in the town, pressing their foreheads to the ground. They weren’t doing so reluctantly. Unlike in the previous town, they weren’t praying in despair. They were praying of their own volition.
As my Master and I watched them, a servant approached us with an explanation.
“Is it unusual?”
“No, we’ve seen them on our journey here, so it’s not unusual. I believe Fuziaze is a country that worships the Arutofel religion, correct?”
“That’s good news. Our missionaries dispatched beyond the walls seem to be gradually spreading the teachings’ magnificence.”
“However, we haven’t seen as many believers as here in any other town…”
“This Fuziaze is the sacred land and the main headquarters of the Arutofel religion. Furthermore, the lord is promoting the Arutofel religion, so there are many followers. They also hold regular ceremonies and festivals. It’s currently the festival period.”
“Ah, so it was the festival period. That’s why there’s so much liveliness…”
“Still, it’s only at the level of stalls lining the streets and people playing around with masks. We’re planning a grand event using the ‘Lord Flame God’s Sacred Stone’ in a few days, so we’d be happy if you two could stay until then.”
“………..Huh, that sounds quite… thorough…”
During the conversation, my Master’s complexion suddenly changed.
He had been so cheerful just moments before, but his eyes sharpened as if entering a combat stance.
He hadn’t used 《Dimension》 yet.
That was his last resort, as it consumed a lot of his energy. This meant my Master was preparing for a battle to the death for reasons other than that.
“Yes, we put a great deal of effort into the Arutofel religion. By offering prayers at the pillars installed in the town for worship, your wishes can reach the sacred body of Lord Flame God… How about it? Wouldn’t you like to try praying just once, Mr. Aikaw?”
Unaware of this, the servant urged us towards the large monument in the town to pray. My Master politely declined with a wry smile.
“Reach? Uh, um, well… I’m sorry. I’m not very used to this kind of thing, ha ha ha…”
“…Ah, I apologize. It’s a habit unfamiliar to people outside the walls, and I recommended it casually. Even though I understand it intellectually, living in Fuziaze, it’s something I just do.”
“No, I understand your desire to share something better. Especially if it originated from your own town!”
“Ah, Mr. Aikaw, you are truly understanding, which is a great help. It’s been a long time since I’ve guided someone around town this enjoyably.”
They had one point of divergence, but it wasn’t enough to break their rapport.
As if nothing had happened, they resumed their lively discussion about town planning and continued walking along the street. When they reached the center of the town, they arrived in front of a particularly large building. The servant spread his arms wide, as if to boast.
“This is the shop with the best workshop in our town. Please wait here for a moment, you two. I’ll go ahead and arrange for a tour.”
He went inside first to obtain permission for a visit.
After seeing him off, I immediately turned to my Master beside me for confirmation.
“Master?”
I asked about the reason for the killing intent from earlier. However, the moment the servant left, my Master began muttering to himself while staring into space.
“—Is this, ‘Demonic Poison,’ flowing in one direction…? No, is this converted power? A force of the same kind as my dimensional power is moving… How? Who, and for what purpose…—”
I followed my Master’s gaze, but I could see nothing. It seemed something that only a “Thief of Principles” could sense was stirring in this town.
“—Perhaps the entire town itself was the ‘Price’? Does the mere existence of the concept of faith establish a transaction with the world? If so, then what’s there—”
It sounded incredibly interesting, so I stopped watching and shouted.
“Master!! I know you’re surprised by something, but tell me too!”
Startled, my Master replied with a small “Sorry.”
“…Tiara, I’m sorry. But it looks like it’s going to take a while, so I’ll write it down in a way you can easily understand later and give it to you.”
He wouldn’t tell me.
But it was clear there was a threat that caused my Master to break out in a cold sweat of tension.
“Is this town that dangerous?”
“It’s not dangerous. Rather, it’s a very good town. However, if I were to compete for ‘Demonic Poison’ in the air with a ‘The One Who Steals the Logic of Fire’ who might be in this town, I think I would lose. This is entirely their territory.”
He conveyed through his eyes that it was dangerous even with “Curse Technique.”
My physical ability had reached inhuman levels with “Curse Technique,” but it seemed I couldn’t let my guard down.
I conveyed my intention to be cautious with my eyes as well, and we nodded at each other.
Just then, the servant emerged from behind the building and beckoned us over.
“Both of you, please come this way! The master craftsman here has agreed to meet you directly!”
It seemed we were receiving special treatment by being led through the back entrance instead of the main one.
We couldn’t refuse such kindness, so we hurried into the building.
Thanks to entering through the back, it didn’t take much time to reach the workshop at the back of the store.
In a space as large as a castle hall, several giant kiln-like structures were lined up. The ceiling was built as high as possible, and soft earth was spread on the floor.
Although I had only read about it in books, I thought it was not much different from a regular workshop. If there was one clear difference I could discern, it would be the heat source. In a corner of the room, a large quantity of those “Lord Flame God’s Sacred Stones” were stored. They were probably used to maintain the high temperature inside the kilns.
Inside one kiln, which had a fire lit, a “Lord Flame God’s Sacred Stone” glowed, scattering sparks.
“These are our customers from the country of Fuziaze. This is Miss Tiara and Mr. Aikaw.”
As my Master and I looked around the interior like country bumpkins, we were introduced to a swarthy man who was the only one in the workshop.
Sensing he was the master craftsman, my Master and I quickly bowed our heads.
“Hmph. I’ve heard the story. Feel free to look around.”
The master craftsman welcomed us cheerfully. From his tone, I could tell that the servant had skillfully omitted details about our situation.
“Thank you. Despite the sudden request—”
Master immediately thanked him and spoke to the workshop owner.
He seemed very interested in the metalworking technology of this town. Wasting no time on greetings, he began asking the owner to explain the facilities and tools in the workshop.
Even when bombarded with questions, the owner did not hide his techniques. At times, he even demonstrated the metalworking process for Master, eager to teach them the high level of the town’s technology.
“……”
At first, I listened to his warm yet ordinary explanations along with Master.
However, I soon began to wander around the workshop alone. Using Master as a diversion, I wanted to find something interesting on the sly.
As I searched for something that might catch my interest, the iron products leaning against the wall caught my eye.
There were everyday items like pots and scissors, hoes and hammers. Among them were swords and axes.
Next to them were mountains of “Lord Flame God’s Sacred Stone.”
Casually, I picked up one stone and examined it.
At first glance, it appeared to be a red jewel.
However, upon closer inspection, I saw a black liquid—”Demonic Poison”—inside, along with some kind of inscription. The person who made this likely had the same idea as Master’s “Spell Formation.” While the execution of the “Spell Formation” was inferior to Master’s, the fact that he succeeded in the mass production plan I envisioned was truly remarkable.
My gaze then shifted to a nearby sword.
In addition to decorations, the blade was also inscribed with characters.
Like the stone, it also contained “Demonic Poison.”
—I need this.
I absolutely need this technology.
Thinking it would be better to listen to the owner’s explanation like Master, I tried to return. But, the owner was already standing behind me.
“Are you more interested in weapons than conversation, young lady?”
I expected to be scolded for wandering off on my own, but the owner smiled happily as he watched me looking at the weapons leaning against the wall.
“Ah, yes… I was thinking I’d like something for self-defense…”
I gave a plausible reason and nodded.
“Ah, I see… Indeed, things have been rather dangerous lately. With that murderer on the loose, one can’t even feel safe within the walls.”
“M-murderer!?”
The unexpected news caused my true emotions to nearly show.
“Hm? Aren’t people in this town abuzz with talk of a murderer who appears in the dead of night?”
“No. This is the first I’ve heard of it…”
Feigning a weak, frightened demeanor, I turned my face towards the quiet attendant.
“It wasn’t intentionally hidden… Yes, that’s correct.”
It wasn’t something to discuss openly with guests. I didn’t intend to scold him for it, but I was incredibly eager to hear the details.
“And, a murderer? Not just bandits?”
“Yes, it’s a murderer. They don’t toy with their victims, nor do they steal. They simply kill. And they often target happy followers of the Alfelt religion. If you are a follower, young lady, please be careful.”
“No, I’m not a follower, so I’m fine.”
“Is that so. By the way, we call them the ‘Black Hanging Man.’ From the scant eyewitness accounts, all we know is that it’s a man who stands attached to the ceiling.”
“Wow, huh. A murderer in this day and age… Quite ambitious in this world…”
That is “abnormal.”
It is highly likely to be our original objective. Master seemed to agree, and when I looked at him, he gave a slight nod.
As we rejoiced at having obtained valuable information, the owner continued to promote his wares.
“Just in case, it’s a good idea to carry a knife for self-defense. All of ours are unique, blessed by Lord Flame God Alfelt. For the guard brother here, something like this would be good.”
He introduced a sword leaning against the wall, and Master looked at it with delight.
Now aware of the threat posed by the “Thief of Principles” they were looking for, Master was very enthusiastic about acquiring weapons. Fortunately, thanks to the gold coins he had hidden, the purchase wasn’t too much of a burden.
Master selected a suitable light sword and hung it at his waist.
Then, he picked up another sword and offered it to me.
“Here, try holding this. Tiara, you should be able to handle this size, shouldn’t you?”
“Eh, me too? If Master is holding it, I’ll pass. It just feels like a waste of money.”
Master would look good with it, but it felt incongruous for someone of my short stature to wield a sword. I shook my head to avoid drawing undue attention, but Master wouldn’t accept it.
“No, Tiara should be the one to carry it. You’re stronger than I am.”
“I have the “Martial Arts” that Hidaki Sister taught me, so I don’t think I need it…”
“There’s meaning in possessing it. It’s an appeal to those around you that you have the resolve to resist if attacked. Apart from the murderer, I think it would serve as a deterrent against people like the muggers we encountered before.”
He was being a bit overbearing.
From his words and expression, I could tell his true intentions were different.
Master likely wanted to ensure my safety as much as possible.
Knowing how stubborn Master could be when he set his mind to something, I gave up and chose something more suitable. It was even smaller than the one Master was holding.
“In that case, I’ll take this one…”
It was smaller than a sword but larger than a knife. At this length, it seemed versatile enough to cut through vines along the path or chop food.
I wore it so it peeked out slightly from the hem of my clothes.
Without missing a beat, Master praised me.
“Yes, it suits you. You look very cool. It enhances the impression of a traveler.”
“…Really? Then, I guess it’s fine.”
Suppressing the blush that was creeping onto my face, I thanked him lightly.
Master’s way of thinking is truly peculiar.
The value of a royal woman is measured by how much she can captivate men. If anything is to be said, it should be about beauty and grace, yet he so readily praises the exact opposite.
To avoid letting Master realize he had touched my heart, I continued with lighthearted banter.
“Haa, Master, you’re really something else… With this sword, I’ll protect you properly, so don’t worry.”
“…Thank you. I will protect Tiara too. No matter what happens.”
However, what I received back were even heavier words.
Perhaps I had touched some part of Master’s heart as well, but it was too much.
Ah, Master, really.
Just by looking at me like that, it causes me so much trouble.
“Is this person doing the same thing to other women? If so, it’s a serious problem. Now I understand why the maids at Fuziaze’s castle were so flustered. This needs to be resolved quickly.”
While I was thinking about this with a heated brain, I was suddenly attacked by the master.
“—Oh. At first, I thought you were siblings or something, but are you lovers?”
“Lovers…?!”
“—!”
My master and I took massive damage simultaneously.
Even I, who am good at maintaining a poker face, showed my agitation. No, my emotions might have been leaking out a little earlier, and the master might have sensed it.
I remained silent, but my master hastily denied it.
“No! No, no! That’s not it!”
“Hmm? That’s your reaction? Ah, so that’s what it is. Haha, quite a first love.”
The master looked at the two of us with a very puzzled expression.
Then, with a look of amusement, he made his own conclusions and played along.
“I said something I shouldn’t have. I’ll give you a little discount on the price for that.”
“It’s really not like that… My master and Tiara are…”
“Ah, I get it. I’m sorry, I’m sorry.”
By then, it was already decided in the master’s mind that we were in such a relationship.
Realizing that it was impossible to deny after me, my master, with a embarrassed look, fell silent and proceeded with the payment.
And so, we obtained Fanian’s specialty products.
However, my master, perhaps disliking the master’s smirking face, decided to give up on continuing to observe and leave the workshop in a hurry.
I agreed.
We had to hurry, or it would be too late. My master and I had been careful to avoid this kind of atmosphere during our travels. We didn’t want it to be in vain here.
Once outside, my master and I worked together to try and forget what had just happened.
But first, our eyes met.
“…………”
“…………”
The word I had been avoiding, ‘lovers,’ popped into my head.
As if to shake it off, we started making small talk.
“That was a good thing to see, Tiara! And we got good stuff too!”
“It was. Even though it’s outside my specialty, I learned a lot. It feels like that workshop had what we were lacking.”
“Yeah. We’ve always tried to make do with what we have, but it really showed me the importance of gaining cooperation from various countries.”
“Right. Honestly, it seems like Fuziaze alone had its limits.”
After some casual conversation, my master asked the attendant to move on.
“Alright, let’s head to the next place! Please!”
“Fufu. Yes, it seems like we should go quickly…”
The attendant’s gaze felt a little warmer.
It felt like it had turned into one of amusement, like the master’s, watching us, but we had no choice but to accept it.
Led by the attendant, we walked through the town again.
And in a short amount of time, we arrived at our next destination. The building was located near the town’s best workshop.
“Well then, next is ‘The First Demon Obstruction Research Institute.’ This seems to be the last place. It’s almost ‘The Night of Yore.'”
The building was immense, but vastly different from the architecture of Fuziaze. Instead of soaring into the sky, it was a stone structure that spread out flat along the ground.
Stone walls extended as far as the eye could see, adorned with ‘Lord Flame God’s Sacred Stone’ at regular intervals, their edges lost in the distance.
There was only one entrance.
A giant gate, wide enough for dozens of people to pass through at once, stood open, with people constantly entering and exiting.
“Is ‘The Night of Yore’ the time when the lights are extinguished?”
“You knew, Aikara-sama? That’s correct. Here in Fanian, we not only rely on Lord Flame God but also set aside time to express gratitude for the blessings of his flames. That is ‘The Night of Yore,’ when all ‘Lord Flame God’s Sacred Stone’ lose their power.”
“I see… So it has religious significance and also regulates the time for the entire town?”
“Yes. There are various other reasons, but those are the main ones. Personally, I believe the biggest blow from the dark clouds covering the sky was that people were robbed of their time. For example, the repercussions of that are—”
While I surveyed the surroundings, my master and the attendant continued their conversation.
When it came to the town’s culture, these two could talk endlessly at a rapid pace, which was troublesome.
Leaving them to their own devices, I observed the townspeople.
There was a clear difference between those entering ‘The First Demon Obstruction Research Institute’ and those passing by.
“A patient…?”
I was not mistaken.
Those with pale complexions or physical ailments were gathering inside this building.
“Ah, Tiara-sama. That is because this place also serves as a hospital.”
The attendant replied as if it were nothing.
Indeed, it wasn’t entirely strange for the two to be in the same place… but this was like…
“It’s only natural for Tiara-sama to find it suspicious. However, I believe you will understand once you see the inside. In fact, this is a truly special place, and it serves not only the roles of a research institute and a hospital, but also a significant third role.”
“Huh? Not just two…?”
“A while ago, I mentioned that Fanian had a sacred site of the Altoferian faith, and it is also its headquarters, right?”
When this topic came up, the attendant’s enthusiasm gradually increased. He clenched his fists, his speech sped up, his eyes sparkled, and he boasted about the most wonderful aspects of their town.
“This research institute is the largest facility in the city. It was the first place to discover and begin producing ‘Lord Flame God’s Sacred Stone,’ which is the lifeblood of Fanian. In other words—”
From his demeanor, it was clear that this was no ordinary place.
It also explained the cause of the ‘abnormality’ that permeated the town.
“This is the sacred site where Lord Flame God Altofer’s divine body is enshrined! Therefore, the people of Fanian come here seeking the miracles of the divine body! They know that the sacred flames here are the last medical treatment in this darkness! Now, please! Into ‘The First Demon Obstruction Research Institute,’ the pride of our Fanian!!”
The attendant, walking in front of us, spread his arms wide, emphasizing ‘The First Demon Obstruction Research Institute,’ and invited us inside.
