「I can’t find any clues that might help us」

It’s been about a week since we infiltrated the underground passage. On the third day, we discovered a way to get to the surface, so we went above ground, but the rest of the time we’ve been underground.

「The Resistance is also trying to find them, breaking in from other places, but there seems to be no progress. Traps and monsters have prevented them from progressing as far as they had hoped」

When we were on the ground, we only contacted and reported respectively. We have reported the current situation to Rose-san and Snow-san has reported to the Princess and the Resistance.

「The deadline is only a week away…」
「That is the limit of what Emeria-sama can do to help」

When you think about it, we’re pretty much on the edge. If the Princess leaves the city, there is no doubt that the lord and the organisation will make their move. Unlike above ground, the underground passages are so intricate that when checking the map it is clear that we are less than half way through.

「If we had been exploring on the side of the Resistance, we might have made more progress」

The Resistance were searching from the other side of the city, and if we had made the same progress, we could have joined them in the center in a week.

「There’s no point in talking about it. Let’s do what we can」
「Yes, I know. But still…」
「Un. It’s depressing」

The Devilfish is still following us down the waterway. It doesn’t attack us, it just follows us. The Devilfish can’t see very well in the water, so it occasionally jumps up and down to get a better look at us. It makes the water splash around and it makes a lot of noise. I can understand why the two of them don’t like it.

「What should we do?」
「Maybe it’s waiting for us to get in the water」
「There’s a path to walk, and there’s no way I’m going in there」
「That’s right───… hmm?」

Although it is a monster, it has knowledge. Who would willingly go into the water when it’s swarming with Devilfish? However, I still felt uncomfortable following it. Yes, I could sense it. With sensory magic.

「What if, for example, the Devilfish thinks that people are going into the water?」
「I don’t think I’ll go in, are you?」
「Normally, yes. But Luri-chan said that there might be a magic tool that allows you to move through the water」
「Now that you mentioned it」
「That means…」
「They have to go through the water to get to where they want to go?」
「Yes, otherwise there would be no reason for it to follow us」

I am constantly deploying my sensing magic. And I remembered that there was a place where there was an odd gathering of Devilfish.

「Maybe that’s where the suspicion lies!」
「Yuan, do you remember the place?」
「I’m not sure, but it’s an inkling」
「Believe」
「Well, I guess we’ll just have to go for it」

We decided not to go deeper, but to go to the place where the Devilfish gather. I should have noted the locations where the Devilfish were gathering unnaturally. It’s no use saying that now, though, as it’s just a matter of time.

「Um, I think it’s just down the path」
「Looks familiar」
「Really? They all look the same to me」

All the passages look the same to me too.

「No problem. There’s a junction of passages up ahead」

Shia-san was right. We reached a place where water was coming in from all directions. It’s more like a small pond than a pathway.

「Looking back on it now, it’s pretty unnatural」
「Un」

The canal is a waterway. But there is no flow of water here, and water is coming from all directions.

「If you think about it, the water that flows in should have nowhere to go」
「Yes, but if the water is gathering without overflowing, then it must be draining somewhere else. And if we assume that there are a lot of Devilfish in the water…」
「They’re moving on from here, that’s a possibility」
「But how can you be sure?」
「It is dangerous to go inside. There’s no guarantee we’ll be able to get back in or stay in contact」

It’s a possibility, but it may not be true.

「Can’t we use Yuan’s sensing magic to find out?」
「It’s impossible! I’m not that versatile」

There are magic tools that allow you to see images from a distance, but my sensing magic doesn’t have that capability.

「Talk to Il-nee」
「Well, it’s worth asking, as there might be some sort of magic tool in there」

Pushing yourself too hard can often end badly. Time is of the essence, but the sooner the better. By the time we reached the ground, the sun was already setting. Thanks to the watch we know what time it is, but our perception is getting a bit confused. The sun is great!

「Il-nee, are you there?」
「Hmm? What are you doing here at this hour?」
「Urgent business」
「You must be in some kind of trouble. We were just about to close the shop, please have a seat」

Lara-san prepared cups of tea for us, and over the tea we told them exactly what we had just seen.

「I see」

Illumina-san ponders with a difficult look on her face.

「Do you have any?」
「I do have some, but I can’t get them right away because my shop only sells things that are useful for everyday life」
「Is that so…」
「But maybe I can refer you?」
「Referral?」
「Yes, there are other shops that sell magic tools. They might have what you’re looking for, Yuan-chan」

That’s good news. There’s a big difference between having an address and not having one!

「Then I’ll introduce you」
「We’ll introduce you, but they’re not like us, they’re merchants. It might not be so easy」
「I think I can handle the money, as long as I can transfer some of it. I’ll have to talk to Emeria-sama, though」

Illumina-san shook her head at Snow-san’s words.

「It’s not about money. The most important thing for a merchant is trust. Some merchants won’t sell if they don’t trust you, even if you’re royalty」
「Is that so?」
「Yes, just as adventurers have their preferences, merchants have theirs. In fact, merchants are probably more troublesome. Many of them are eccentric. Merchants are more interested in the future than in the immediate future, in making a profit. Some merchants will choose to take a loss if it means they can buy a name and a reputation」

If the royalty and the nobility are watching them, they can move their base and start doing business again. It is not uncommon for merchants to think that way. It seems that most of them were originally in the drifting business. There are a handful of merchants who keep the shop they inherited from their parents, but they are not considered to be merchants but shopkeepers. This is why dealing with merchants is so difficult. In order to gain their trust, they have to face the uncompromising spirit of the merchant.

「I was exaggerating a bit, though」
「Fine」

I know Shia-san is not very good at that too.

「Sell」
「Not for sale」
「Why?」
「~~~~Because I said so」
「Sell because I want it」
「I already told you~」
「Just sell it」

Yes, as you can see.

「Yuan, you’re thinking rudely」
「No, I don’t?」

I was just considering the right person for the right job.

「So, is the merchant a difficult man?」

As Illumina-san said, there are many different kinds of merchants. If they are friendly, some of them might be willing to sell their products easily.

「He’s very friendly. But he’s a true merchant. He buys with his own feet, he sells with his own hands, he only trusts what he sees with his own eyes」
「Is that what you call a friendly person?」
「Yes, I’m sure he’ll hear you out」

I agree with Snow-san. I don’t think he’s a very friendly person either. He seems to be very committed on his work.

「Name, give」
「Yes, Zack from Zack’s Shop」

Mumumu, where have I heard of that?

「Is it possible that he’s an ojisan with a nice kaiser beard?」
「Oh, you know Zack?」
「Yes, I know Zack-san, he told me that he is a merchant in the city of Tanza」

It’s not evidence, but for confirmation, I showed the letter of introduction that Zack-san gave me to Illumina-san.

「Un…… No doubt, it’s Zack’s referral」
「Can I use this?」
「Yeah, it’s pretty rare for Zack to give a referral, so I’m sure they’ll give you the benefit of the doubt」
「That would be very helpful」
「I was going to write a letter of introduction and lend you one, but I guess that failed」
「Ill-nee, impatient」
「Ah, I’m not a merchant, but I’m not a nice person either, you know?」
「I know」
「Shia-san, Illumina-san is a good person. So don’t say anything bad about her」
「Mou……」
「Fufu, Shia is no match for Yuan-chan, it looks like. Anyway, if you don’t hurry up, Zack’s shop will close any minute now?」

I check my watch and it’s almost 6. Some shops are open until late at night, but most regular shops close by 6 for security reasons.

「Shia-san, Snow-san, let’s hurry!」
「Yeah」
「Un」
「Thank you very much Illumina-san. Lara-san, the tea was delicious. We’ll come back to thank you again」
「You don’t have to thank us. So, please feel free to come back anytime」
「Yes~ please take care~」

I was told that I didn’t need to thank them, but I had received information and tea, so I had to repay them in some way. The best I can do is to propose a magic tool, but I’m not sure that would please them. I thought about it, but now it was not the right time, so I changed my mind and went to Zack’s shop.

Author-san

Do you all remember him? It’s Zack-san!
I had almost forgotten about him. I just remembered it and it appeared in a hurry.
It’s not a coincidence, I’ve been planning for him to reappear here from the beginning… that’s a lie.

I have to be careful because sometimes I forget people I have posted in the past.
I will have to look at the settings again.

Thank you for always reading.
Thank you to all those who bookmarked and rated it.