Volume 3 Chapter 15 (1/2)

Volume 3 Chapter 15: Carrier up on the tree

Translator: “Pink Tea” Editor: ”Ryunakama”

「Are you okay, Sidonius?」

I asked Sidonius who was walking while slightly shaking his head.

Since he got out of the bag he kept doing this for some time.

「It wasn’t that uncomfortable inside the bag, but maybe since it’s my first time getting all the way up here in one go, I feel a bit lightheaded. Are you unaffected by this, Axel-dono?」

「No, I don’t feel any particular discomfort.」

Such height won’t affect me that much.

When I was a dragon knight, I fought at greater heights.

I probably got used to this.

「Good gracious, seeing you being fine and sharp while I can’t even walk upright really makes one doubt if you really are a carrier.」

「Haha, well, since I’m using this bag, I don’t think there is actually any room for doubt.」

「Indeed. As regrettable as it may be…」

And while having such a chat we were walking through the square, towards the laboratory on the other side of it.

And part of the way thereー

「Another failure……」

「It is…」

「Hmmm…」

Moka and two other people in white robes were frowning.

Are they the Magic Science Guild’s personnel?

For some reason, they were standing in front of a silver apple-like object lying on top of a metal box.

「What’s wrong, Moka-san? Groaning at such a place.」

When I called them, wondering what is going on, Moka first turned our way and while a little surprised replied.

「Axel-san. And captain. So you came.」

Following those words, the two other guild members bowed in greeting.

「Yeah, we arrived just a moment ago. Since you said we should have a meeting.」

「Ah, indeed. Ehm…… Wait for a bit. I’ll be done with instructions in a moment.」

Then Moka immediately returned to her conversation with the researchers.

「Even so, Doctor Moka. With this, it’s an established fact. If the fruit is not in perfect condition it’s effectiveness will deteriorate, yielding inferior results. Therefore. It seems there is nothing more that we can do at the current stage.」

「Right. The substance is so delicate that even you, who came from the outside, have heard of that. Well, in that case just proceed as we originally planned.」

One of the staff members nodded to Moka’s words.

「Roger, Chief Moka. Then, Bane. After this, we have to join with the logistics team and assist them. You are quite capable, so acting with some degree of independence will suit you better.」

「Yes. The first time going to the ground in a long while.」

「Right, it’s not even a month since you came to us, but it’s indeed a long while…… Well, I hardly showed you around before, so this time I’ll introduce you along the way.」

「Oh, thank you very much.」

After that exchange the two researchers went towards the rope ladder on the passageway.

Seeing that Sidonius made a delighted smile.

「Seems like the number of people capable of going down has increased.」

「Yes. You are right. Thanks to Axel-san’s aid, the time when the rope ladder can be used has increased.」

「Hm? Before that people weren’t going to the ground that much?」

「Yes. Most of the time it was used for goods transportation. But now, descending to the ground became a little bit easier.」

Not only their activity grew in energy, but it seems that delivery affected some other areas as well.

Well, I’m glad that I was of help.

And while I thought that, Sidonius glanced downward.

「However, your conversation just now, it seems to be another failure, chief. And judging by that fruit there.」

「Indeed.」

They exchanged such lines.

It seems to be the same topic she just had with the staff.

「I wanted to ask but. This thing that you keep looking at, what is this?」

Spherical apple-like object, but it has a silver color.

Half of that sphere also keeps slowly crumbling away. It’s hard to tell what is that thing actually is.

As such I decided to ask, Moka-san took the sphere in hand and after showing it to meー

「Ah, this? It’s a fruit that appears only at the top part of the God Tree. Over there, you can see several of them still hanging.」

She explained.

Then, she looked at the tree branch near the laboratory. And as she said, several silver fruits were growing there.

「Oh, so this tree can produce such fruit.」

「Yeah. Moreover, they actually grow absorbing the essence of the God Tree. We already established in our previous research that they could work against poisons, and they actually were quite effective……」

Saying just that, she looked hesitant to continue.

Isn’t that good that they can be used to neutralize poisons? Am I missing something?

「However…… There was some kind of a problem?」

Wondering so I asked, to which Moka replied with a nod.

「It takes delicate handling to use it in antidote production. Soft and easy to damage, and even a slight scratch will lead to its decay. 」

「Ah. I see, so that’s what that talk about the complete thing was about?」

「Yes. I obtained a few of these damaged fruit, and the extraction proved that as ingredients they were pretty much ruined. If we manage to get an undamaged one, I think we will be able to advance with antidote research……」

「Fumu. Is it that hard to collect this fruit? Does it turn like this from a mere touch of a human hand or something like that?」

「Ah, no. Nothing like that. Plucking it from the branch wouldn’t damage it. I once went to collect them myself, and the harvest itself was quite easy.」

Sidonius said. So he also tried his hand at fruit collectionー