157 156. Cork.txt (1/2)

The streets of Cork were similar to the Allied Gliard.

The only difference would be that there were fewer adventurers and explorers. As long as there is no labyrinth, it's natural that there will be fewer people who make a living doing rough work. However, in in inverse proportion, you can see many people who look like garrison soldiers, perhaps because they are close to the battlefield.

And as a port town, many people seem to be doing business for a living.

The town is lively in its own way and has a certain amount of energy.

However, I was not satisfied with the appearance of the town.

It's quite a stuffy town. ...... ”It's quite a stuffy town. But I heard it was on the 'mainland', so I was expecting a more lively place, but that's not the case.

I had taken the liberty of expecting the same kind of excitement as when I moved from the countryside to the city, but I was overwhelmed by the fact that the change was not that dramatic.

The Allied nations aren't the same as the countryside. ”That's because the Allies aren't rural,” he said, ”and they're naturally like the 'mainland.

Dea, who seems to have a good knowledge of the land, is leading the way as a guide. Incidentally, Rastiara, who always wants to walk at the front of the pack, is useless because she's scurrying around like a curiosity. She's a three-year-old boxed girl, and she's very restless.

''It's just that the air is a little different, though similar ......,''

Yeah, it's a front-line war zone. Yeah, it's a front-line war zone, so everyone in the area knows that the fires of war can reach them at any time. It's a different kind of tension than in a frontier area where there is no enemy.

The 'sensation' is sensitive to the tingling air that stings the skin.

If you look closely, you can see a slight shadow on the faces of the vibrant people. That's all it takes to understand the gravity of the existence of war.

...... This is the first time I've been to a country at war. ...... I wouldn't have wanted to come if I could.

'Is this Kanami's first time in the war? That's unusual nowadays.

'I was born and lived in a country where there was no war in the original world, and I've been in a war-free confederacy all my life in this world. So I really don't know what war is like.

...... that would be a blessing.

Deere laughs thinly as she listens to me, her face contorts as she continues to speak.

'--but you can't stay ignorant forever. One day you'll have to pay the price for your ignorance, so you should be careful, Kanami.

”The price of ignorance?

I feel uncomfortable with Dia, who suddenly starts using small words.

'Yeah, I'm going to pay for not trying to know.

Then Dia spits abominably. The words pierce me deeply.

I know it's about war. In fact, right now I've only lightly expanded Dimensions, and I'm upset by the lives of those who are suffering from the war. I feel like every word I pick up is an indictment of me for living in a lukewarm world.

But it sounded like Dia was talking to herself, not to me.

A little talk about the actual war is enough to create a gloom in the air.

But as if to break it, a high-strung Rustyala shouts out.

''--That's why, I guess we should first go to a tavern or guild to gather information!　Well, that's the high road to adventure!　That's the start of a heroic tale!　I'm excited!　Let's see, where's the bar!

Thanks to her natural cheerfulness, I crisply cut off Rustyala's hopes.

''No, I'm not gathering information. I'm sure you'll be able to find a place to stay for the rest of your life. As long as you have a place to settle down, I'm fine with that.

'Oh, oh, hey, are you sure you don't want to go to the tavern?　Kanami, you owe a debt of gratitude to the tavern in the Walt. And yet you don't go to the tavern?

'It's the tavern in the Allied Wald that I am indebted to. Not the tavern in this city.

No, since we're here, why don't we collect information while we're sightseeing? ....... Let's use our feet properly. ......

'I'll tell you what, as soon as I can get a handle on Palinkulon, I'll be off the mainland.

'Eh, er ....... It's boring, really, Kanami's handiwork is boring!

You can't blame them because 'Dimensions' is the most reliable: ......

'It's little details like this that add to the adventure!　Kanami doesn't know what's going on!　You know what I've been through!　What should I write when I put this together as a story!

Can't we just go with the usual 'I found Palinkron's place in the magic 'Dimension' of my friends'?

'You're talking too fast!　There's more!　Like, if you're in the middle of gathering information, or if you want to know where the Palinkron is, you'll have to do this request!

There's no way I'm going to have a problem with that. I'm going to take care of the Palinkron in the quickest and fastest way possible, with zero waste.

Me and Rustyala rub each other's arguments in our usual fashion.

In this way, we arrive at our destination while talking about something that seems futile and necessary.

'Kanami, Rastiara, we're at the inn, but ......'

Dia, who was leading the way, turns around. It looks like she wants us to stop arguing before we enter.

'Look, we're at the inn while we're wasting time talking.

It's not a waste of time, it's important. At this rate, chapter two, the Palinclone Legacy defeating chapter will be over in a few more pages. Bad, bad, bad: ......

Finish your story and walk into the inn.

I use a suitable pseudonym and talk to the receptionist. I'm getting used to using a different name, and I was a little sad to see myself getting used to it.

Then I rent the two most expensive rooms. I don't think I'll ever have to worry about money again, so that's a big deal.

According to the receptionist, the same inn where we stayed in Hoosiers, it seems that this one also includes a meal. I was a good paying customer, so he taught me very politely.

We decided to have an early lunch, and without hesitation, we headed to the inn's dining room. It was just as well that Dia, who had overslept, hadn't eaten anything.

The dining room resembled the Fuzeyer's Inn where we once stayed.

With food in hand, we talked as we sat down.

Hmm, I wonder if the detention group will make and eat lunch properly ....... I'm afraid that if we leave Snow and others alone, we'll be lazy until we starve to death.

He's telling Sera to make it, but I think the Reaper will end up making it in the end. You see, like Kanami, the Reaper is very handy and can do anything.

'Well, with my emotions and experiences leaking out to the Reapers, I guess it's inevitably similar.

The 'connection' thing?　We said no to it because it leaks even private feelings, but you're leaving Kanami out?

'Me and the Reaper are best friends, you know. I'm not afraid to share a few feelings with you.

'No, I think even my best friend would usually say no. ......

It's partly to do with the fact that we'll have a better chance of finding the labyrinth. That's where the connection comes in handy.

Yeah, yeah. That's fine then. ......

Rustyala stopped his pursuit with a drawn-out face. Next to her, Dia and Maria have similar faces. After all, sharing emotions in general seems to be a crazy act.

I understand this in a rational way too.

But I don't want to stop.

Now that I've promised Rowen that I'll protect the Leaper, I have to keep an eye on the danger she's in. And I also need to share as much of my power with the Leaper through me as possible. It may be a taut growth, but direct combat power is not a problem to have.

The loss of Aikawa Uzumi's private life in exchange for that is a trivial matter.

There are many things that are more important than that right now.

One of them is.

In order to find Palinclone, I will activate 'Dimension' without a break.

''Well then, since we're wasting time, why don't we just eat and look for Palinclones?

Maria produces a small fireball as she sees me start to search for the enemy.

'I could do it too if I wanted to, but ......

Like Arti, Maria can pick up information about her surroundings with flames. Scattering the flames would have the same effect as The Dimension.

'I'll be fine on my own. Maria's flame stands out.

Yes, I understand.

”-- 'Dimension multiples'

As you bring the food to your mouth, you expand the scope of your perception with Parallelism.

He kneaded magic power to increase the density of the Dimension and pick up people's conversations. Of course, unlike Snow's vibrating magic, his accuracy with sound is low.

However, this time there was no need to read mouth movements and pick up conversations. All you have to do is look for the person emitting the six letters ”Palinkulon” and it's easy.

With the inn at the center, we expand our range to the surrounding houses, taverns, government offices and everywhere else.

''--Huh, what?''

Along the way, we find a familiar face.

The tavern closest to this inn. In it, a boy knight was asking the people around him.

''La, there's a liner ......!

There's no doubt about it as he wears a large amount of wind-attribute magic tools and lowers the broken magic sword 'Ruf Bringer' at his waist.

I don't need to look at his status to know for sure that he is Rainer Helvilshain.

''I mean, he's incredibly close. Ah, watch out ......!''

It's the building right next door.

Had the timing been even slightly different, we might have run into each other.

Rustyala reacts to the name that leaked out of my mouth.

''Oh, is that brother-kun there?　But isn't it strange that even though it was an amateur voyage, it was still faster than us who came straight to the mainland?　I wonder if they came straight overland that way.

He had to come all this way, didn't he? He had a vendetta against me, you know?

So what's Reiner doing?　I knew you were looking for us?

Yeah, I'm looking for someone. Good. I didn't have to go to a tavern or a guild to gather information: .......

Look, look, I knew it!　If you'd gone that way, the event would have happened!　It was supposed to be interesting!

'I don't want to do anything like that kind of encounter. If possible, he'd like to be able to successfully convince them to join us.

What, you're not gonna bump it up?　Since we captured it first, why don't we just aim for the one place on the outskirts of town where he's alone and then we can all surround him and attack him?

'If you do that, you'll never clear up the misunderstanding, but you're an idiot ....... I'd like to make Reiner a friend - or at least a collaborator - if possible. So that's just not going to work.

Oh, you want to join us?　That was such a pain in the ass, wasn't it?　Wouldn't it be easier to send them back to the Allies after we've beaten them to a pulp?

No. Reiner will definitely be one of us. That's why at the end of 'V'alfoura', I was agitating for the name calling.

'Er, ......, your brother... ......'

Rustyala looks blatantly uncomfortable.

'I disagree. I don't like that guy any more than I like my sister Fran.'

I only have an image of him as an enemy, too: ......

I could even feel the killing intent from Dia and Maria.

Strangely enough, the positive reaction from the other members was hopeless. After all, the one act after the ball is over might be fatal.

But I'm not giving up.

In my personal opinion, I believe that I can understand Reiner if I talk to him.

More than anything, he's a gem of a guy who can break up the current one man one woman six situation at the party. If there was just one person of the same s*x with whom I could share my pain and suffering, my stomach would be in a completely different state.

I think about the good things about Rainer, trying to convince everyone to do something about it.

But I almost despair because I have no good memories of him. If I meet him, he's one of two things: he's dying or he's out to kill me.

Still, the reason I like Ryner so much is probably because of his family-friendly nature.

I can relate to the way Ryner treats his family.

Alright. I'll appeal to everyone as a kind-hearted boy who cares about his family. Then, I am sure that people will see his merit.

And just as we start to think about the arrangements for how to present Reiner, ”Dimension” finds it strange.

Reiner's cloak shakes as he walks through the bar. To his surprise, his hands, visible underneath the cloak, are shackled.

The feeling of discomfort continues.

The content of the conversation spoken by Reiner was completely different from what he expected.

''-- Huh?　Isn't that what Reiner is looking for, us?

Although we were looking for someone, the name of the person we were looking for was not us. If I'm not reading my lips wrong, it says 'chestnut hair', 'small and lanky' and 'sheer legacy'.

'What, who are you looking for ......?'

I met this girl, Shea Legacy, the other day. Why do you think they're looking for her?

'Oh, they don't want us there. Well, then, do you guys want to go see him?

Rustyala's tone is light.

But this lightness is light because she thinks she can win overwhelmingly even if she fights Ryner. If the conversation gets complicated, she will surely invite Dia and Maria to beat Ryner to a pulp as declared.

In a hurry I refuse to do so.

It's not a good idea to intimidate a lot of people. I think I'm going to meet and talk to her alone first.'

Hmm. I have a feeling we should all go in and get them as soon as possible.

Rustyala and his team are thoroughly prepared to engage.

I must definitely meet with them alone to protect Ryner's life.

'If I were to catch them, I'd be enough on my own. I was only able to get away with it because Rowen was there before, and there's a huge difference in strength between us.

Now that Rowen is with me. I won't be delayed by the rough stuff.

That's for sure: ......

Rastiala is not happy. From the looks of it, I can tell that they are trying to force him to leave the mainland.

'I'll offer you a joint front to defeat Palinkron, but of course it could get complicated. During the engagement, if I think we're short-handed, I'll unleash a great spell (Midgall's Freeze). If you see it, come to our aid.

I offer a compromise and convince everyone to accept it.

I leave the seat alone and walk out of the inn. I've given enough gold coins to everyone, so payment should be no problem.

Then I walk around the city for the first time, where no one knows me, feeling like a bit of a tourist.

It feels refreshing to be alone for the first time in a long time.

No one's eyes, no one's eavesdropping, no one's life in danger. That alone is enough to make me feel better about my stomach, which is starting to feel a hole in it.

I unfold The Dimension and capture Reiner's shoulders as he slumps in the bar without much information. It's the first time I've seen his face in days, but he looks like a friend from yesteryear that I've been waiting for.

He was in a state where he could clearly see how trapped he was in the party he had gathered.

I welcome the little knight as he comes out of the tavern.