“Your ordered herbal tea, thank you for waiting!!”
Ah, it’s that yesterday’s MC-like woman who starts with a proper greeting and finishes with her usual tone!
I want to ask more about the butterfly mask, but now is not the time.
I briefly explained to Nina that Kolome’s concealment magic extended even to the slaves.
“That’s how it is, shopkeeper. Kolome has survived on the Shamanias Continent for good reason.”
“I wonder how many sacrifices she made, or rather, how many she used, to become that strong.”
“Um, shopkeeper, have you ever met Kolome directly?”
Silence. She doesn’t want to talk about it, does she? Wow, this herbal tea is strong and delicious!
“I can tell what I can from information alone. Anyway, let’s get back to the topic. The Adventurer Guild isn’t foolish.”
“I know, right? So, what’s the countermeasure?”
“If we procure the highest-grade Appraisal Crystal, we can probably break through Kolome’s information concealment ability.”
This sounds like some amazing stuff.
“Where can we get that?”
“In the Mu Mu Empire. It can see through up to level 120. However, it takes time to borrow it from there.”
“How much time?”
“I don’t know. If they have something to gain, they’ll lend it quickly, but if not, it could take several months.”
“Ah, so like a bribe? But it’s an empire, so they don’t need that, right?”
It seems like a country that doesn’t accept bribes, like the Church.
“We’ve finished serving! Your companion’s herbal tea is hereeee!!”
Nina was served the weaker herbal tea.
Ah, I see. This is probably the free one. That means mine is…
“Here you go, here’s your water.”
“Hmm.”
Wow, such a married-couple-like voice!
And that receptionist is definitely her…
“That place has good relations with various countries, but also disputes.”
“So they’re difficult to deal with, like a stubborn old man?”
“No, more like noblewomen. The Queen is like that, in fact.”
I see. I’ve seen noble parties a few times, and there were definitely people like that.
“Presumably, it’s common for such super high-class, large crystals to take time to procure.
Kolome is likely moving around knowing this.”
“Ah, so she’s running away before her identity is revealed.”
“Even though the Adventurer Guild is connected worldwide, it’s difficult to get detailed information across different continents.
They may have a bad reputation for easily letting companions die due to their slave-centric approach, but that alone isn’t enough to capture her.”
No evidence left, free to lie, and if things get dangerous, just go to another continent until the heat dies down, huh.
“Shopkeeper, you said the Adventurer Guild isn’t foolish. That means…”
“They’re probably already moving. However, even if they’re negotiating with the Mu Mu Empire for the crystal, it’s uncertain if it will go well.”
“Can’t we borrow it from other countries?”
“Impossible.”
The shopkeeper gulps down some water.
“If we could capture Kolome and take her to the country with the large crystal, maybe, but…”
“Ah, so it seems impossible.”
“…Listen, I have a question.”
Nina says this after finishing her weak herbal tea.
“Where does that large crystal come from?”
“The material? It’s from a very large dragon with strong magic power, a high-ranking Demon Lord, or their magic stones.”
“Once we obtain that, will it take time to process?”
“It depends on the blacksmith’s skill. For a blacksmith who can normally accept requests at Shucco’s Commercial Guild, it takes about half a year to a year.”
“That long? Kolome can easily escape then.”
…Let’s avoid talking about the exceptionally skilled dwarf for now.
“Um, for what purpose is the female hero Kolome adventuring in the first place? Why is she going around the world like that?”
“Adventurers don’t need a reason. The information we have says it’s to eat all the delicious food in the world.”
“With such a vague reason?”
“No, Deles, it’s quite a specific reason.”
“Is that so?”
Nina gets a refill of herbal tea. It’s free, I think.
“It’s as different as traveling to be embraced by men versus traveling to be embraced by good men.”
“Is it that different?”
“Then let’s put it this way. It’s as different as traveling to embrace men versus traveling to embrace a short, young-looking boy.”
(Who are they talking about? ♪)
“Hey, don’t derail the conversation.”
“Ah, excuse me. So, if we had a Demon Lord’s crystal…”
“A regular one won’t do. We need the magic stone of a dragon capable of intercontinental travel, or a magic stone from one of the Seven Great Demon Lords.”
Madame Butterfly hands out hot towels. How thoughtful.
“In that case, here…”
“The magic stone of the Demon Lord, Beast Shooter. If we sell it directly to the Adventurer Guild instead of putting it up for auction, there’s a high chance it will be made into the highest-grade Appraisal Crystal.”
“Rather, we could probably ask them to do that.”
So, we can see through Kolome’s lies then.
“Deles, then the sooner the better.”
“Yes, let’s hurry up and level up before Kolome escapes.”
“It’s Kolome. Make sure you coordinate with the Adventurer Guild.”
“Ah, speaking of which, I’d like to meet the Guild Master who’s in East Area A.”
“…Him? He’s busy. Wouldn’t the Sub Guild Master in East Area B be fine?”
Why is his tone so timid suddenly?
“Or you could consult with Shiki, the Hero Exclusive Receptionist in East Area A. If you’re not set on the East, there’s Ganes in the West. He’s the de facto number two.”
“Ah, that wild one! I always rely on Ganes-san.”
“Then that’s fine too.”
Ganes-san, who was able to easily catch Anju-chan, who everyone was terrified of in her Grim Reaper mode, must be incredibly skilled. I’d like to ask that mature woman with the butterfly mask over there about that around there.
“However, even if you were lucky enough to obtain the magic stone of a Seven Great Demon Lord – lucky is an understatement, it’s the big boss of this country – do you have anyone to process it? Will you ask the person who made that huge sword, the one that prioritizes magic power?”
The shopkeeper’s gaze falls on the Berserk Sword leaning against the wall.
I answered before Nina could speak.
“I have acquaintances who are Dwarves. If I ask them, they’ll definitely do it for me, but…”
“It will be expensive, I suppose.”
“No, well, even if that were the case, there are… various conditions.”
“Deles, I’ll handle the negotiations for that. Don’t worry. First, we need to defeat the Beast Shooter.”
“Nina…”
This is bad. I want to be embraced tonight.
“Alright, I’ll provide information on the Beast Shooter, but the Adventurer Guild probably has more information.”
“I know.”
I glance at Madame Butterfly. Ah, she’s taken off her mask in the back and is wiping her face!
(It really is her!)
“Is there any other information you need that the Adventurer Guild can’t provide or investigate?”
“Um, oh, yes. There’s a Cat Beastkin who wants to work here for a while, for about two months.”
“What? Most of the time they’ll just be staying put, but if that’s okay with you, I’ll hire them for a low wage.”
“I’ll bring them next time. Soon.”
“From today onwards, it might be open at any time, or not at all. Just check and come by.”
Thus, after paying for the information and the strong herbal tea, we left the information broker.
“Thank you very much! Please come againyyyyy!!”
(And the receipt Madame Butterfly gave me is for three herbal teas!!!!)
The strong and weak ones are the same price!
Well, it’s fine.
“Alright, Deles, we have a clear objective now.”
“Yes! Let’s get stronger quickly, defeat the Demon Lord quickly, and get the magic stone made into the highest-grade Appraisal Crystal quickly!”
Now, what’s next? Ah, I have to take Helen-san’s Slave Party to the Dungeon.
