Episode 17.8 (2/2)
”What is that thing?”
”It's a <Yacklubend Time Notifier>. This is the small portable version. It shows time when you pour mana in it. It's a very handy tool.”
”That's an equipment issued to the royal knights, isn't it. Are you sure you could bring it with you?”
”Ah. Well, uh. Since I'm not a member of the royal knights, it should be all right.”
Lecan had an interest in tools that could show time.
In his former world, every town has a bell hall that rings the bell on times measured by a machine.
But this world has sunrise split by three periods of Ring Snake (Muruja), sunset by three periods of Water Buffalo (Shootran), night by ten periods, and noon by ten periods. And naturally, these periods change by season.
In other word, time in his former world is unchanging regardless of seasons or regions, while it's relative in this world.
”Fumu. Is that Time Notifier adjusted by sunrise and sunset. Or does it show a fixed time unaffected by seasons and regions?
”Now this is a surprise. So Lecan-dono is also a scholar.”
”At the place I come from, we have a Bell Hall in every town that rings the bell on times measured by machines.”
”There's a country like that? But really, bells huh. I see, bells. That's interesting. But, Lecan-dono. How would that tell which time period it's at. Or perhaps, they ring different-sounding bells for each time period?”
”The numbers of ringing differ. The bell rings twice at Lesser Turtle (Fengel) moment, thrice at Halfbeak (Chichi) moment, essentially, just ring different numbers at every moment. Then you only ring the bell once at 2nd, 3rd, and 4th periods.”
”What? But then... No, that's right. However... Umu. That's interesting. Lecan-dono. Truly interesting. Thanks for this story. I'll be sure to discuss this with my uncle once I get back to the capital. We've been trying to get machine-based time notification work at the capital with less than satisfying results, you see.”
Which means, this world also has machine-based time measurements. Lecan simply didn't know. That said, it doesn't seem to be well known.
In reality, people start their daily lives as lights pour downs from heavens. As for works that can only start at night, establishing the rule <Ring Snake at Three, work starts> has prevented quarrels between employers and employees from breaking out. Sunrise and sunset are made into periods to conform people's daily lives.
”But I still cannot believe how we managed to traverse through floor 21 to 30 in just one day. Just wow. And neither me or Arios-dono fought for real even. We merely had to pick up fallen magic stones.”
Heles grilled salted jerky over the campfire as she said that.
”Ah, it's so nice. This is really nice. This so-called campfire. I can't go on without one now that I've seen the light.”
She sipped down the soup Eda made.
”To think warm soup could be this sublime. This soup is far more delicious than the soup made by my family's head chef.”
Naturally that's not the case, she's probably saying it as a way to express her excitement and gratitude for having these kinds of food inside a dungeon. Lecan refrained from telling her that didn't really work.
”We can enjoy this cuz we're staying the night inside the dungeon. Peeps who keep coming back outside can stay in an inn and all, but I'm wondering if the round trips alone don't tire them out.”
”Eda.”
”Un? Yes?”
”I usually took five days of break before I would go back to a dungeon after coming back from a dungeon expedition.”
”You're really taking your sweet time.”
”Your body and soul get extremely tense inside a dungeon. Doesn't matter if you fight or not. One or two days aren't enough to truly heal those tensions.”
”So that's how it works.”
”The folks here have their own ways of doing things, I won't question that. Just remember that. And when you're camping inside a dungeon, you've got to relax your body well all while never letting up.”
”Un! I got you.”
”Lecan-dono, you truly cherish Eda-dono, don't you. It's like I'm looking at father and daughter.”
”Ehehe. I've got Lecan as my master for this entire year, you see.”
”This entire year?”
”Un. I'll think about then when that time comes.”
”Eda-dono, aren't you going to continue exploring dungeons after this?”
”Unn. Dungeons are fun, but I don't really feel like exploring one without Lecan around.”
”Is that so.”
This day they defeated a bit more than 90 magic beasts.
Six treasure chests popped up. Four had potions, two were shields.
They got some nice Graces, should fetch handsomely.
They also gathered some spider threads. Lecan didn't have the slightest idea just how much would it fetch.