"Heh, that's amazing. I can only remember vaguely. What were you drinking?"
"Water."
"Isn't that the same as usual then? ... Looks like you really don't drink alcohol at all. Although it'll be annoying if you also start drinking like Imina."
"It can't be helped. I'm a non-drinker… Though I have to admit Imina-san's drinking habit really is a bit scary."
"Well, Rob, a single cup is enough to turn your face red, then blue and then finally white. I'm still wondering what would have happened at that time if we didn't use magic to remove the poison."
"Someone else would probably be standing here instead. It's not like people haven't died from alcohol poisoning before." Roberdyck shrugged as he said. "Getting back on topic, what do we do about Arche-san's situation? Are we going to end up disbanding?"
"... If we really can't find a replacement then that will have to happen. It's simply too dangerous for three people to go adventuring... maybe we'll have to go back to being adventurers again?"
"I just can't go along with the regulations set by the Temples. If it has to be that way then I'd rather retire."
"Retire, huh... That's not a bad thought."
"I still have the savings we earned, I'll look for a job where I can help other people or protect the weak. It's also not bad to just be a farmer in some flourishing village while studying the teachings of God. What about you Hekkeran?"
"Hmm, just what should I do?"
Roberdyck's mouth twitched.
"...Is that something you can just decide on your own?"
It took some time for Hekkeran to fully process what Roberdyck had said. After finally comprehending, he raised his head.
"—Naa!"
"Kuku..." It was a wicked laugh, "you thought I hadn't noticed?"
"Aah. Aah. Aah! Aah! No, it wasn't something that I was trying to hide. You see, the timing... Is that what you were talking about? The gift."
"Who's giving it to who?"
"Hey, Rob! Look over there!"
In the direction that Hekkeran pointed, two people were currently viewing merchandise that was on display beneath a pretty pavilion.
One of them was a warrior clad in pure black armor, with a crimson cape behind his back and carrying a gigantic sword.
"Such an abrupt change of topic... well, it doesn't matter. I'll just have to find out more later on. Hmm, such stunning equipment. If the wearer has matching skills, then he would be quite a remarkable warrior. Is it someone that we know, who managed to upgrade their equipment?"
"I'm not too sure, but at least I don't think they're from the capital. For example, see that woman hiding over there? I've never seen her face before."
"The angle from where I'm at is bad. How does she compare against Imina-san?"
"—Please don't ask me that. I can't possibly answer that! ... Honestly speaking, the woman over there is really pretty."
"Imina-san is quite a beauty too. For even her lover to be saying this... So that's how it is, these two are either travelers or travelling adventurers. Perhaps they've decided to relocate to the capital."
"However, they're looking at magic household items, isn't that rather weird?"
Underneath the pretty pavilion, rows of magic items were neatly arranged. However, unlike the magic items used by adventurers and workers, the ones on display were for everyday usage. Examples were containers that kept their inside temperature cold, basically acting like a refrigerator that prevents food from deteriorating. Or fan-like items, capable of blowing wind.
These types of magic items had largely been proposed by a minotaur hailed as "The Boastful Sage" two hundred years ago.
Even though he had proposed the creation of many items, he had been unable to explain why these items needed to be in this particular shape or how they worked, so in the end this warrior was unable to create them and ended up with such a title.
However, his skills as a warrior had been beyond first-class, and left behind the legend that one swing of his axe was capable of creating tornados and splitting the earth. He was also well known for raising the status of humans within the Great Minotaur Nation from a species that was treated as food to slaves used for labor.
It was quite a rare sight to see adventurers, who tended to live in inns, looking at magic household items that were thought up by this demi-human, and had no uses for adventuring.
"It's not that weird. The Empire's magical knowledge is quite advanced. It's also cheaper than in other countries. Maybe they're thinking that even after taking the return cost into account, it's cheaper to buy them there?"
"Ah, so that's why. I see. That's a way of thinking I didn't consider before."
"It's true that from our point of view their actions seems strange, but it's not so weird if you keep in mind that they're travellers.”
"Ah, that's right. If I think of it this way then I definitely can understand."
The armor clad warrior was carefully inspecting the magic items. Opening them, then closing, picking them up, turning them around. To the point of making the merchant's head sweat.
"We should be just as serious as them when searching for magic items."
Chapter 2. Butterfly Entangled in a Spider’s Web
Translator: SifaV6 and Skythewood
Editors/Proofreaders: Ferro, TaintedDreams, Namorax, Rockgollem
JcqC, Nigel, Zack
Part 1
Several worker teams had already gathered on the Earl’s estate before dawn. The last team to arrive was Hekkeran’s 'Foresight'. In total, eighteen people were present. The workers gathered for this job were considered to be among the cream of their profession in the capital.
The worker teams maintained a distance between each other as they sized each other up. When the four members of 'Foresight' finally arrived, they were welcomed by the collective stares of the other worker teams. This scene could almost be considered spectacular in its own way.
"Ah, somehow I feel like I’ve seen all these faces somewhere before. Such as Beetle-san over there, didn’t I see him recently at Kattse Plains?"
"Eh? Did I not mention this in the hotel? Greenham’s team also accepted this request… Did I really not say this? Somehow I feel like I’ve said this before… In any case, the worker teams that are gathered today all possess considerable fame within the capital! Let’s have a round of applause for the deep pockets of the client."
"I think I’ll pass on that. Anyways, the ones over there are the team leaders, right?"
In the area between the separated teams, three people had gathered in the center, exchanging information.
"Greenham should be over there, it seems. No doubt about it. Well then, time to go and greet them."
"…Tch! Urgh, that guy is also there? Ah, I see. Then, the elf girls over there are… Hmph, that guy is absolutely the worst. Die, you piece of shit."
Imina practically spat that last sentence out. Although she kept her voice down, it still worried Hekkeran and the others enough that they had to quickly check their surroundings to see if anyone else had noticed.