第２９８堀：火の杖 (Part1)
Chapter 298: The Staff of Fire
Staff of Fire
Side: Milly
"Hmm. I still think one silver coin is a bit much."
Moment-san seems like a man of integrity; he has a slightly apologetic expression on his face, as if the information he provided doesn't quite match the payment.
"It's fine. If you think it's not enough, you can just give me other information to make up for it."
"Ah. Yeah, I suppose I'll do that."
Moment-san nods at my suggestion and decides to gather information from Teles-chan, who is listening in from the side.
"How about it, Teles-chan? Want to join in? This kind of thing is actually quite fun, you know?"
"Eh? Is it alright? I haven't paid anything..."
"It's about tourist spots and dangerous areas, after all. I'm also hoping you might tell us if something comes up. You hear all sorts of rumors at the shop, don't you, Teles-chan?"
"Ah, yes."
"Well, in this case, I should be paying you for the info too, but since we're at your shop... let's see, four extra drinks. For me, Kirika, Moment-san, and you, Teles-chan. Oh, and is it okay for you to be chatting with us?"
"It's fine! It's past the lunch rush now, and the crowd has thinned out. If I tell my father, he'll understand. I'll go get the drinks right away!!"
Saying that, she speaks to the man cooking at the back counter—presumably her father—and he glances over at us. He’s a sturdy man with a thick beard. He has a dignified air about him; he looks like he could still serve as an active-duty soldier.
"You're generous."
"I don't do this for people who seem like they have ulterior motives. But if someone seems trustworthy, it's normal not to be stingy with money for things like this, isn't it?"
"I suppose. They say information is worth more than gold. For us mercenaries, information is essential for survival."
As we were having such lighthearted banter, Teles-chan returned with the drinks. This time, instead of standing in front of the table, she pulled up a chair and sat down.
"Now then, let's start with what the two of you can tell me."
"Right. You two, take a look at this..."
Kirika spreads out the map of the Royal Capital that we purchased in this city. If I only asked about dangerous places, it would look suspicious, but since I’m also here under the guise of scouting for a honeymoon, it’s perfectly natural to ask for sightseeing tips.
"This is the Royal Capital, right?"
"That's right."
"Don't look so puzzled. Like I said earlier, we just arrived here. We wanted to know if there are any interesting tourist spots. We'll leave the places outside the capital for later; we need to gather info on how to enjoy the capital we're in right now."
"I see. That makes sense."
"...This is why we need Teles-chan's input. I don't know anything about shops geared toward women."
"Is that so!! Then leave it to me!! I know more than Moment-san!!"
"Well, naturally. If I knew more about that than you, Teles-chan, that would mean you're the same type as Laraina-sama."
"Ugh, my sister isn't really interested in those kinds of places..."
Well, as a Magic Sword User engaged in military service every day, she probably doesn't have the time. She likely has a private room, but she probably has to vacate it often, and since maids come in to clean, she can't exactly fill it with her hobbies. My own room is lined with shelves of rare liquor... Well, Yuki-san knows about it, of course. But if my friends from the guild saw it, I think they'd be taken aback. After all, some of those bottles cost dozens of gold coins each. Those are best enjoyed with Narjia-san. Eris and Ratz say that expensive alcohol just makes them nervous and they can't even taste it.
"So, is there anything you want to ask about first?"
"Let's see. I love alcohol. Do you know of any places that serve good drinks, or shops that sell them?"
Yes, alcohol. The taste varies so much depending on the region. Well, compared to the alcohol from Yuki-san's hometown, it’s still lacking, but I don't believe it's impossible to find something better. Someday, I will find a drink that surpasses the ones from Yuki-san's home. Even in Enaria, I was searching for good booze while dodging the Saintess and the people chasing after her. Oh, I was doing my job properly, too.
"I see, I can probably help with that."
"Hmm. I don't really drink much..."
"It's okay. There are plenty of girls-only spots I want you to tell me about, too."
And so, while achieving my own goals, we began gathering information on dangerous areas and local tips in the Royal Capital.
"...And that's about it for my recommendations."
"Indeed. The statue here is of the Holy Sword User who is said to have founded August long ago..."
And so, the topic of the Holy Sword User came up periodically. While I thought about how everything was being beautified in the retellings, I also understood the sentiment that having those hot-headed people in charge was a hopeless situation.
"Oh, don't go into that alleyway."
"It's dangerous. They don't just pickpocket strangers; they've been known to kill them to take their valuables."
"My, I didn't know there were such dangerous places in the Royal Capital."
"Well, as long as you don't enter that street, you'll be fine. It's a sort of unspoken agreement. Every place has its bright spots and its dark ones."
"I can't understand it at all, though. I wish I could just ask my sister to go and clear it out."
"It's not that simple. That street serves a purpose by feeding the outcasts. The Shadows keep things somewhat contained, which is why it stays limited to that area."
"Ah, so the Shadows are connected to all of that."
"Exactly. People in high places in the country are involved, so you can't just interfere. Besides, it acts as a stopper to keep the outcasts from running wild in the capital, so you can't exactly call it entirely bad."
"A story as old as time, isn't it?"
"That it is."
The Shadows, huh? I'll have to report this to Yuki-san and the others. We won't interfere from our side, but if they happen to cross us, I'll make sure that day is their last.
Now that we've heard enough about the capital, let's move on to the August region. I signal Kirika, and she spreads out the map of the August territory.
"Alright, Moment-san, you're up next. Do you have any information that will satisfy Teles-chan and us?"
"I'm looking forward to it."
"Milly aside, I don't recall any places that would be fun for Teles-chan."
"Eh? Aren't there places with beautiful scenery or fields of flowers?"
"I'm sure there are, but those aren't the kinds of things that catch a man's eye."
"Wait a minute, I don't remember flowers, but here is a place with beautiful scenery."
Moment-san points to a spot on the map—a plain with nothing on it. The only problem is that it's currently a region where a battle is taking place.
"This looks like a plain, but is there something there?"
"Yeah. It's not on the map, but there's a lake there. It's beautiful, like a mirror."
"Heh~"
Teles-chan shows interest, but Moment-san continues with a bitter smile.
"Sorry to dampen your curiosity, but while it might be fine for Milly and her group, Teles-chan, you should stay away."
"Eh? I can go there, can't I? I can handle a few bandits."
"Well, if it's just bandits, you and your father could probably manage."
"See?"
"But the opponent is a bit different."
"The opponent is different?"
"Yeah."
Moment-san moves his finger off the map and stops at a single point.
"Here."
"Isn't that another country? The Hifi Holy Nation, if I recall?"
"You know your stuff."
"Of course I do. It's the country that worships the gods who existed even before the Holy Sword Users were born."
That caught my attention. I had never heard of such gods.
"Hey. What's this about those gods?"
"Ah, you don't know?"
"Teles-chan, it's natural you wouldn't know. That's just what they claim, after all."
"Just what they claim?"
"Er... they occasionally come to this Royal Capital. You know, in the stories, the gods created the Holy Sword, and the people who received them became the Holy Sword Users, right?"
"Yes, that's the story."
"They claim to worship the gods who created the Holy Sword."
...Wait a minute. The one who created the Holy Sword Users should have been the previous Dungeon Master of this New Continent. Are the gods and the Dungeon Master being confused? Or is it just a lie to gather faith?
"It's mostly considered a lie. After all, if it were true, it would have spread along with the stories of the Holy Sword Users, but it hasn't spread at all."
"Oh? Is that so, Milly-san?"
"That's right. I've never heard of such a thing when I was in other countries. So, what do you mean by the Hifi Holy Nation being the 'opponent'?"
"Ah, right, that's what we were talking about. Teles-chan already explained the Hifi Holy Nation, so I'll skip that. Well, it's fine that they worship some tacked-on god. When they come to the capital, they hold soup kitchens and take people who are struggling to find food back to their own country to help them find work."
"Where is the danger in that?"