CH 12

Vol 1: Chapter 12

*Keith Grand Federation capital, Valhalla*

The towering white-walled castle was called art.

The “King” of Valhalla, the capital of the vast Keith Grand Federation, was also the leader of the federation.

The name of the king is Geffert. He resided in the artistic white-walled castle.

「Your Majesty. There is an urgent magic transmission from Daniel Achenbach, son of the Duke of Achenbach.」

The exterior of the castle resembled that of a good old-fashioned fort, but the interior was somewhat different.

The reception halls and banquets where guests and audiences are welcomed were furnished with luxurious furniture with respect to the exterior, but in the area where official duties were conducted, all sorts of latest magic tools were lined up.

A pot which produces hot water at the touch of a button, which King Geffert uses to brew his favourite tea, is also a magic tool. This is operated by a “magic stone” obtained by defeating a monster.

It is magic stone that moves magic tools.

It is no different from the fact that electricity moves various tools in modern Japan.

The difference is that a magic tool is too expensive and only a select portion of people can use them.

「Urgent…? Daniel is the eldest son of the Duke, right?」

「Yes.」

「Was the Duke’s son authorized to use emergency communications?」

A skinny old man replied. His totally white hair was combed down smoothly to the back, and his stunning long beard was almost reaching his navel. The old man, who seemed as though being crushed under the weight of the jewel studded crown on his head and his crimson mantle, was King Geffert.

「That is… His Excellency has died.」

As the chamberlain’s voice lowered as he reported, Geffert’s eyebrows twitched.

「Then, I have to speak to the New Duke.」

The cane that reflects a deep silver was thin enough that the skinny old man can lift it up easily. The old man left the room, nudging the cane on the floor.

The legs that walked through the long corridor were surprisingly strong, contrary to what it looks like. Sunlight poured in through the polished windowpane which looked completely transparent.

The place where the old man arrived was a room of the same size as before. However, a number of metal panels were attached to the walls of the room, and chairs were lined up in front of them. Operators writing down the message in the transmissions sent to them.

This is the place where you are connected to various parts of the Keith Grand Federation by magic communication.

The most necessary thing to control the vast Keith Grand Federation is “information”, Geffert stated, and spent 10 years building a magic communication network.

25 years have passed since then. Even now, information from various places reaches the ear of Geffert.

Geffert passed through the room where you can hear only the sound of pen writing, and entered a neighbouring small room. When the chamberlain turned on a switch, the air almost felt like shaking, and the sound muffling magic tool was activated.

In the center of the small room, there was a chair for Geffert, and a crystal ball facing the chair, and a stand that supported it.

「New Duke. I heard you made an emergency call.」

The crystal ball showed a fat man wiping the sweat on his forehead. The slant eyes were exactly like his father, Duke Achenbach – Former Duke Achenbach.

『I am grateful to be graced by Your Majesty’s presence…』

「Did you make an emergency call for a silly greeting?」

『I-I apologize…』

Daniel Achenbach wiped his forehead again with a handkerchief. Until now, his father had done all the work, so he didn’t know what to do.

Geffert clicked his tongue internally. Is this the successor? The dukedom is over, he thought.

「So? If you’re in contact, then I suppose it’s related to Six Mine?」

『T-That is right, Your Majesty. Your discernment is indeed most true.』

「I don’t need your flattery. Get to the point.」

Geffert let out an irritated voice without thinking. The New Duke wiped his sweat again. Time passed.

However, even Geffert could not have predicticted the next words spoken by the Duke.

『That is, Six Mine has collapsed.』

「I see. Collapsed, huh… What?」

『Literally, it sank under the debris. It seems that my father was also involved in it and died.』

The duke explained as the old man blinked incessantly.

The slave riot. The appearance of a giant “dragon”. The collapse of the mine. And his father’s death.

(The sequence is reversed. Slaves are bound by contract magic and can’t riot. Perhaps the Duke died first… Did someone kill him? No, I don’t care about that now.)

Geffert’s voice, understandably, became rough.

「So, how is the mine operating?」

『We can’t get inside because there seems to be a “dragon” staying there. We are still trying to confirm whether it is a real “dragon”, but we are unable to contact the adventurers who were sent in.』

「I don’t care about the adventurers! Can’t you do anything with the soldiers?!」

『Y-Yes. Currently, we are using all our troops to carry out activities to recapture the mine.』

「Gnu…」

That is the only thing that can be given a passing mark, Geffert thought.

「A “dragon”…? There was such a disaster-class monster in the mine? Oi, investigate right away if something similar happened in the past. It’s our top priority.」

「Yes!」one of the servants responded, and rushed out of the room.

「New Duke. I want all the information about the “dragon”. Like its appearance, size, and everything.」

『O-Of course.』

「”Dragon”– “Dragon”, huh. In that case, throwing adventurers should take care of it quicker.」Geffert said, as though talking to himself.「New Duke. I will send in one of Valhalla’s best adventurers on a state-of-the-art magic airship. Keep the docks open and ready for use.」

『Understood! B-But… about the adventurers?』

「Those guys choose fame between danger and fame. My treasured Knight’s Order is on an expedition and can’t be moved immediately. I will dispatch the Knight’s Order if this is not resolved within a month. Is that fine?」

『Y-Yes!』

Then, the communication was cut off.

「Shit, this is bad…」

Geffert stroked his beard with his wrinkled fingers.

「One other place other than Six Mine where skill orbs can be harvested is Third Forest, which is located in a territory under my direct control… but the High Elves are unwilling to give the skill orbs…」

Then, suddenly, Geffert turned to the remaining servant, as though having remembered something.

I remembered while thinking of the High Elves. Wasn’t there an adventurer called “The Crimson Dragon Slayer” in Valhalla?」

「Yes. There is information that the half-elf Mithril-rank adventurer, Crysta-La-Crysta, is currently staying in the capital guild. I heard that he is currently participating in the search-and-destroy operation of the “Dark Fang Mercenary” at the request of the guild and the Mayor of Valhalla.」

「He is the Dragon Slayer?」

「Yes. He has experience in subduing dragons in the past.」

「If so, send him to Achenbach Dukedom! Postpone the mercenary operation!」

「Understood!」

「Hurry! Once word gets out to the other nations in the federation, each one will start pestering. Keep the information as secret as possible!」

Then, the servant left the room.

The riot in the mine where Reiji was was already becoming a problem for the entire Keith Grand Federation.

* *

We headed to the Adventurer’s Guild through the alleys, as we watched soldiers march out of the city.

The Adventurer’s Guild building was a 3-story large building facing the stone-paved main street. The iron doors on both sides and the wooden windows were all open, so you can hear the voices of people talking inside.

「–It seems that there was a riot in the mine.」

「–I heard that the slaves are attacking the surrounding towns. Villages might be in more danger.」

「–And I heard there were places where everyone was killed. How scary.」

「–So that’s why the troops are being mobilized… Is it slave hunting?」

Every time I heard the word slave, I felt shivers run down my body.

At that time, my hand was wrapped by a warm hand.

「Reiji-kun, don’t worry. Because you’re a member of Silver Balance.」

「Mimino-san…」

…Why is this person so kind to me? Even though there’s nothing I can give back to her.

Dante-san entered the guild at first, and when Raikira-san followed, the inside of the guild fell silent.

I entered after them. The first floor was spacious. The floor had stone paving, just like the main street, with wooden tables and chairs placed all over. There was a long counter in front of the entrance, and people who seemed to be guild workers wearing the same uniform glanced at us.

Adventurers were impolitely staring at us. The guild was filled with people of mixed genders and ages. Anyone over the age of 10 can register and there was no retirement age. From adventurers who seemed to be struggling to make a day-to-day living, to adventurers in dazzling armor that could be mistaken for a noble.

The Adventurer’s Guild was the perfect representation of society.

Finally, when Non-san walked in, I heard whistlings.

「Please state your business at the Adventurer’s Guild today.」

「I would like to sell materials and also register this child.」

Dante-san’s placed his hand on my head — Wait a minute. Me?

It was an elderly man with gray hair who responded. He had a pair of monocles on his right eye.

「…I am sorry, but according to the rules, you can only register at the guild after the age of 10.」

「This child is already 10 years old.」

「With all due respect, he doesn’t appear to be so. In this case, you will need a certificate such as a citizen registration card.」

「We don’t have such a thing.」

「If that’s the case, I am sorry, you can’t register here… Wait a minute…. Are you perhaps, inflicted by the curse of petrification?」

「Yes.」

Dante-san slid down the shirt that covered his neck, showing his petrified skin. The inside of the guild suddenly became noisy.

「I-Isn’t that petrification?」

「Shit, that’s contagious, isn’t it?」

「It ain’t.」

「But do you wanna get close and find out?」

「Not me.」

The adventurers, who were lazing at the table, left the guild in a hurry.

「Haa… How troubling, Dante-sama. This is pretty much a business disruption. We are already pretty busy even at the best of times, and now, even the guildmaster was summoned by His Highness the Duke and isn’t around to take care of the guild.」

The guild staff said, while confirming the guild card provided by Dante-san.

「Medusa’s curse isn’t contagious. You know, right?」

「I know, but some don’t.」

「That’s something the guild should educate.」

「Anyway, it is still a problem because there are also some who hate petrification by faith. We will buy the material, but I recommend that you leave the city as soon as your business is done. After all…」the guild staff said, glancing at Raikira-san and Mimino-san.「The city is in a state of confusion right now.」