Franz-san, Priest-san, Lapis, and the others begin to finalize the plan for the future.
I had nothing in particular to do, so I was idly looking at Marinās Wails outside the window when Gark-san suddenly said.
āā¦ā¦ Cry, is there something on your mind?ā (Gark)
āEh? No, weeeellā¦ā¦ā¦ā¦ā (Cry)
I didnāt say anything thoā ā¦ā¦ā¦ā¦ No, maybe it is bad because I didnāt say anything?
Before I knew it, everyoneās eyes were looking at me. Luciaās *jii* stares were particularly painful. Does this also mean that they found out that I wasnāt particularly listening to them?
Something in my mindā¦ Something in my mind, huh. There is nothing in particularā¦ā¦ā¦ā¦ Right. It has nothing to do with this case at all, but if I had to sayāāI guess it will be about Liz.
Following the order, the next person to escort me should be Liz. As I would end up in a terrible situation either way, I donāt think there is any point in having an escort, but I donāt think she will agree if I say she doesnāt have to come.
And, of course, Liz would know that Luke and the others had gotten something, so she would assume that she would get something as well. In fact, the things I gave them this time were all ridiculous, but that didnāt matter to Liz. If I donāt give her something, she will start screaming like a little kid, Iām sure of it.
Well then, what do I doā¦ā¦ As I was thinking about something completely unrelated, Gark-san frowned and said.
āIf you have something to say, say it now.ā (Gark)
āā¦ā¦ā¦ā¦ No, weeeell, nothing in particular.ā (Cry)
āIt is fine even if it is anything trivial! All because you do the most outrageous things after saying that!ā (Franz)
Franz-san starts to say something unwarranted. I wonder what in the world is causing my reputation to be tarnished like this in his mindā¦ā¦ I donāt mean to be offensive. But if you say it is wrong because I didnāt mean any offenses behind what I said, thatās that then.
However, I am in an atmosphere where it wonāt calm down if I donāt say something. I cleared my throat once, made an apologetic face, and said.
āIt is something not really related to this, butā¦ā¦ā¦ā¦ I meanā¦ how to put itā¦ Ahhhhā¦ā¦ā¦ā¦ā¦ā¦ Right. I was hoping there was something like a locked treasure chest or something.ā (Cry)
ā!? What are you talking aboutā¦ā¦ Bastard.ā (Franz)
āThe key here is that it is locked. One which is old, wooden, and quaint.ā (Cry)
It is because Liz loves locked treasure chests.Ā The more complex the lock, the better, and the closer it looks to the image of a typical treasure chest, the better.
It doesnāt matter if there is nothing inside. I am sure she will be very happy if she unlocks it and I praise her for it.
Ark and the others are frowning. Even Priest-san seemed puzzled. I knew it,Ā I shouldnāt have said anything. Maybe I should look for one on the way home.
Ā§
After finishing our discussions, I leave the church with Lapis, Lucia, and the others. Lucia sighs deeply at me as I stretch out my back due to the sense of freedom I just feel.
I made some airheaded remarks along the way, but in the end, after a heated debate, they decided to ask a āShaman (Jujutsushi)ā to help us.
Until then, they are going to leave Marinās Wails crucified by the Relic. Priest-san looked troubled because it was at a very visible place, but I think it is quite an avant-garde object.
Although the number of people coming to human towns is gradually increasing these days, Spirit People and humans are basically incompatible. And if the other party is a Shaman, who is highly respected even among the Spirit People, any incident could lead to an international problem.
Franz-san, who had to welcome them, looked as if he had been chewing on a bitter bug the whole time. Being a nobleman is really hard.
Once outside, Lapis tells Franz-san.
āIt would be better to hurry. We are immediately going to the forest to talk to them. Franz will get ready to welcome them.ā (Lapis)
āā¦ā¦ā¦ā¦ It will take some time. I will contact you when itās ready. I will give you a Symphonic Stoneā¦ā¦ā¦ā¦ā¦ā¦ ćInfinite Variety (Senpen Banka)ć Give me the Symphonic Stone that I entrusted to you. You donāt need it anymore, right.ā (Franz)
āā¦ā¦ā¦ā¦ Eeeeeh, I was sure you gave it to meā¦ā¦ā (Cry)
āAs if! A Symphonic Stone is a rare strategic item even in the Imperial Capital!ā (Franz)
I was terrified when I received it, but it was convenient to be able to connect to Franz-san relatively quickly, but it canāt be helped.
Reluctantly, I return the Symphonic Stone. Franz-san took it with a snort and handed it to Lapis.
Lapis reluctantly looks at the Symphonic Stone and puts it in her pocket. I envy her so much that every gesture of hers is so refined. She is so badass.
And there, Franz-san looked at me sharply.
āćInfinite Variety (Senpen Banka)ć you do not have any other concerns, right?ā (Franz)
āHmm? I donāt think soooā¦ā (Cry)
Rather than not having one, it is more like I donāt really know.
I am not boasting, but the only reason I was *unun* nodding my headāāWas because I was just going along with the others!
āGrrā¦ā¦ā¦ā¦ You are always like that! Whatās with that outrageous remark you made earlier? Did you get some divine power in return for your antics!? What is it about a treasure chest!ā (Franz)
That, huhā¦ā¦ Didnāt I tell you that it had nothing to with this. Just forgetaboutitā¦ā¦
ā*Yareyare* Oh dear, Franz-san. Calm down. Are you still worried after putting together the best lineup like this one? With Ark, Gark-san, Lucia, and Anthem, you have a seamless lineup, both offensively and defensively, okay. Marinās Wails didnāt cause any damage after all, and with such a good lineup, you should be fine no matter what kind of curse comes your way, right. You are relying on me too much, you know.ā (Cry)
Nothing will come out of me even if you turn me upside down. Didnāt you see that I went to the trouble of having Lucia put me on top of the ornament for nothing!
Everyone comes to me as soon as there is an accidentā¦ā¦ I am not free too, you know. I am busy resting. I have to go buy a treasure chest tooā¦ā¦
āThis time, I came here just in case, and in the end, I didnāt do anything, did I? Let me say this clearly, I am not as big of a deal as you think I am, Franz-san. And I have caused a lot of problems too.ā (Cry)
āS-So you were aware of itā¦ā¦ Bastard! Are you invincible or what!ā (Franz)
Oh shitā¦ā¦ So it was a trap!
When I reflexively tried to go behind Lucia and to hide, the ground shook.
I look behind me. It was Ansem who called out to me (Although he didnāt technically call me). Unusually, he took off his armor and was with a group of priests from the āLight Spirit (Korei)ā Church.
Franz-san, who was about to reprimand me, falls silent.
A physique that just barely passes through the large gate. He has a presence that would silence most people.
Does he want something?
As I waited for his words, Anthem cleared his throat with a small cough and said with a voice that had not been muffled in a long time.
āCry, it seems the church would like to talk to you about the treasure chest that we discussed earlier. Come with me.ā (Anthem)