Chapter 704 – Counseling and Aptitude

000

“In other words, the quartz disappeared while I was away for a while, and only this magatama was left in its place… Is that true?”

Lila listened to the whole story of Aine, who suddenly came to visit her at night after the sun had set, and answered.

The item she gave herself was a black magatama.

At first glance, it didn’t seem to have any features, but there were definitely traces of a faint tracking spell that seemed to be chasing someone’s presence.

＂That’s right. While I was away for a while to deal with a ghost that appeared in the village… Mr. Quartz disappeared. That magatama is an item that I and my sisters gave as a gift to Quartz-sama so that if something happens to him, we can immediately chase him down.”

Looking at Aine, who was responding in a calmer manner than she expected, Laila blinked her eyes, carefully placed the magatama in her hand on the table, and spoke to her. 〉

“Indeed. But you don’t know who the other person is, and you can’t find out where he went unless you follow this Gogok. “I guess you thought you needed reinforcements?”

“That’s right. … I’m truly sorry for coming to see you so suddenly. However, as far as we know, we believe that the only people who can ask for this kind of work are Lord Cleon and his companions.”

It may be that she was talking about relying on herself, but Lila shook her head as she spoke as if she felt sorry.

“Mr. Quartz also had the blessing of being able to heal Amelia. Of course, Cleon will also say he will help. Right now, I am away for a while to do other things, but…”

“Now that I think about it, you can’t see Lord Cleon. Where are you now…?”

Because Aine didn’t want to delay even a moment, she spoke as if she planned to leave right away if Cleon was there.

“I got caught up in something troublesome again. I think it will come back soon… But even so, we also need to investigate in many ways. “I wonder what is in the place that this magatama points to, that is, in the place where Mr. Quartz is.”

＂It means that we must pay attention to safety during operations. Indeed.”

Aine nodded her head, agreeing with Laila’s words.

The suspect was probably the Exiled Church, but there was no clear evidence, and it was also not clear what the level of power there was with Cleon and his group alone.

“That’s right. Especially… When you can’t track the location properly with tracking magic.”

When Lila said that in a somewhat meaningful manner, Aine also looked down at Gogoku with a nervous expression.

＂What does it mean to not be able to track the location properly?＂

“It’s literally like that. The magic attached to this magatama creates the power to return to the original owner that the magatama remembers, but it is judged that it cannot directly reach the location of the original owner.”

What that means is that you can’t get to the place where the quartz is by using normal methods.

＂Can we find out the cause? ＂

“We’ll have to investigate that, too. Many hypotheses can be made. Something like being inside a barrier that is so powerful that you can’t get in or out without using magic or a special method. Or… Like going to a place other than this world, like a gap in another dimension.”

Aine and Lila probably have the same perception that this could happen if the other party was an exiled church.

＂What is needed is detailed information on the enemy, in addition to the entry and exit routes. That’s what it means. In that case, my sisters and I will take the lead and scout…”

As expected, she looks calm on the outside, but maybe she is very impatient on the inside, and seeing her trying to get up from her seat before hearing Lila’s answer, he stretches out his hand as if to tell her to calm down. Br〉

“No, no. Because if you go in, it will be like going into bondage. For reconnaissance, you can use safe methods. For example, sending a familiar. Until recently, there was a guy who would have been perfect for the role. For some reason, he came back as a human…”

Lila slowly turns her gaze toward the living room outside the reception room.

Then, the only voice that comes back from there is ‘Nya, nya-‘ in a trembling voice, awkwardly imitating a cat.

However, after hearing Laila’s answer, Aine sat down in her seat and quietly looked down at her magatama.

＂… That is…＂

“In other words. What I want to talk about is research and preparation. Until these two things are accomplished, it will be difficult to go directly to rescue Mr. Quartz. So, it takes time.”

The basis of a rescue operation is to prevent foolish situations in which the people who went to rescue are caught.

For that, Laila says, it is necessary to be cautious.

It would be fortunate if Aine would understand after hearing that, but since she considers Quartz to be her biological parent, will she be able to make a rational decision?

As Lila looks at her, unable to let go of her worries, Aine sits down in her seat and thinks for a while, then slowly nods her head.

“… All right. It’s just as Layla said. In order to maximize the chances of rescuing Quartz, we need information about the other party.”

But fortunately, like the leader of her class, she answers with a cool-headed judgment.

Lila couldn’t help but let out a small sigh of relief.

“I thought well. I’m glad you’re a wise person.”

After saying that, Laila sighed for a moment and then continued talking while pointing at the magatama.

“Of course, I understand that you are worried about Mr. Quartz’s safety. However, this magatama you guys gave me is more useful than I thought. Life link… If the owner’s life is in danger, something will change in this magatama. Cracks, breaks, etc… So, I think we can assume that her body is safe right now.”

Aine also knew about that fact, but after listening to Laila’s explanation, she recalled it again and nodded.

“There is just one thing to think about… What is the enemy’s intention? Why did she need to take Mr. Quartz with him? “Someone in the Exile Church is sick, and she needs to treat it?”

It is true that Quartz is a great doctor and pharmacist, but there is a clear question whether it was necessary for them to target Quartz for that alone.

Or was she trying to use him as a hostage?

No, if that’s the case, there might have been someone who was a better fit, that is, someone related to Herty.

＂We don’t know the intention… First, we don’t know much about the other person. But… It was the elder who taught us swordsmanship and martial arts.”

＂Mr. Quartz…? I can’t imagine it…”

The Quartz that Lila knew was, after all, a kind old man with a bent waist and full of wrinkles.

It was difficult to imagine her, wielding a sword as tall as her own, moving and running around with the agility of her three sisters.

＂Ah… Of course, it was just a matter of correcting basic posture and theoretical aspects. We have never seen the old man demonstrate in person, but we believe he must have been a highly skilled swordsman in his younger days.”

“Ah, I think I know what it is. You are an expert in seclusion, a tradition of Eastern countries.”

＂Well, I’m not sure if it’s a tradition…”

For the first time, Aine looked embarrassed and worried about Lila’s strangely discrepant knowledge.

001

About an hour after Aine’s visit, you hear the front door of the lodging where Cleon and his group are staying open.

Cleon, who seemed somewhat tired, and Diora, who returned with him, appeared together.

＂Hey, Cleon worked hard today~☆＂

As Diora casually sat down on the chair in her living room while saying that, Lila, who was waiting for her Cleon, looked at her for a moment with an expression as if asking, “Why are you here?”

＂For a moment, I didn’t feel uncomfortable. If anyone saw me, they would think I was a member of our party.＂

“Oh, that’s not bad? Please add me to your party.”

When Diora spoke as if it was a good idea, Lila looked at her and responded as if her sarcastic intention was not conveyed.

＂How did a knight join the adventurer party! ＂

“Ah, that’s right. I was a knight of the kingdom… It’s a shame☆ Do you think so too, Cleon?”

＂No…＂

When Cleon responded by shaking her head unexpectedly, Diora pretended to cry and brought both hands to her eyes and rubbed them.

“I’m sorry Diora. I don’t think we’re in the mood right now… Lila, the story that Mr. Quartz seems to have been kidnapped…”

When Cleon, who had already received Aine’s story from Lila before returning to her house, says so, Lila nods her head.

“That’s right. She also talked to Aine and told her to just get ready. Since you don’t know which tiger’s den you will enter, you need to prepare in advance.”

＂Mr. Quartz, I know! “Are you a famous doctor in the Eastern countries?”

When Diora joins in like that from next to her, Lila glares at her slightly as if to stop her from speaking, and then speaks with a sigh.

“You really know everything.”

“That’s right, I’ve done some research on the people around Cleon.”

＂Not just the kingdom, but even in the Eastern countries…?＂

Diora nodded her head casually.

“Isn’t it better to debut as a stalker rather than a knight?”

“No way. They’re worse than information technicians. Because that’s their job.”

“Naturally, don’t supplement the stalker with information articles…”

Cleon imagines how scary it would have been if Iona and Talcheck were stalkers.

“… The story keeps getting sidetracked! Anyway! There is an item that can be a hint as to the location where Mr. Quartz was kidnapped, so it is necessary to investigate the location in advance!”

When Lila speaks, raising her voice, Diora responds by leaning back on her sofa.

“But, the culprit is most likely a member of the Exiled Church, right? Then, you need to be careful no matter who you send…”

“There is no problem with that. Because we have a new colleague. Right? “

When Lila talks while looking at Cleon, Cleon blinks her eyes and looks back at Diora.

＂Could this be him…?＂

＂It can’t be like that!?＂

Lila reacted genuinely to Cleon’s words and snapped her fingers.

But wait, nothing happens, so Lila tilts her head and snaps her fingers again.

Cleon and Diora could only stare for a moment at what Lila was doing.

Then, a voice was heard from outside saying ‘Ah.’

With a squeak, Arnia appeared as she opened the sliding door of the living room.

“Did you call me? Lila.”

She came in as she spoke, her voice sounding much less mechanical thanks to being able to speak vocally.

“… I told you to come in as soon as I snap my fingers.”

“Sorry. I was thinking about something else for a moment.”

Arnia, an automaton that responds naturally.

＂If you ride an automaton, give priority to orders…!?＂

“But my master is not Lila…”

＂Ugh…!＂

Because that was true, Lila shook her shoulders, unable to hide her exasperation.

But when Cleon, who was watching such a scene, looks back at Lila, Lila sighs and points to Arnia.

“Okay. This is the answer to ‘who should I send’ that Diora mentioned earlier. Arnia was originally an automata used by the Exile Church. She still has some information about her exiled church.”

“It’s just as Lila said. My database contains limited geographic information on bases operated by the Exiled Cult. Also, there is information about those who were my commanding officers in the past.”

When Arnia answers like that, Diora looks at Lila with an exclamation like ‘hehe~’.

“Well thought out. Surely an automaton would be perfect for reconnaissance missions. Because I can remember exactly what I saw and heard.”

“Of course, we will provide maximum support here as well. For that, she will attach her familiar to her.”

“I can do it alone…”

Somewhere, when Arnia responds with dissatisfaction to her Lila, who seems to not believe in her own performance, Lila looks back at Arnia and speaks.

“If your right to command is taken away again, that is the greatest loss.”

＂… I understand.＂

When Arnia responded as if she didn’t like it, Lila handed Cleon a magic stone the size of her fist that she had prepared in advance.

“The familiar must be able to transmit Cleon’s voice. And since a familiar is capable of transmitting the voice of the owner to whom magical power is connected, strictly speaking, Cleon’s familiar is needed.”

＂My voice?＂

Why the voice? When Cleon asks that question, Lila folds her arms, and she answers.

“This guy probably said it earlier. The highest commanding authority in Arnia right now is Cleon, you. And, this guy has a homing device implanted in his body that can immediately return to a designated location the moment the highest commanding authority gives an order.”

The return location has already been changed to this accommodation.

“… Indeed. Even during reconnaissance, if she gets caught or is in danger, she will use that device to bring her back.”

Cleon nodded as if Lila’s judgment was right.

Then, Diora looks at those two people and talks.

“It seems like there’s no room for me. Well, since what happened yesterday, I have to stay by Selena’s side in case anything goes wrong, so I have no intention of leaving Asteris. The dragon knight will be guarding the nest, so cheer up, both of you☆＂

She speaks as if she feels a little disappointed.

As Cleon looked into her eyes, she asked a question as if something had occurred to her.

“… Come to think of it, during the day. She ended up talking about you, didn’t she? In the end, the work of Kanan, the dragon slayer, came to nothing… But how did you come to have that part of the dragon’s power?”

“Oh, do you care about that now? Yes, I guess so. Because many things happened~☆”

Diora answered Cleon’s question in a somewhat playful way, then stood up and looked back at Cleon.

“But, I’ll talk about this later. Because women are more attractive when they have secrets☆＂

＂…＂

I see, she said, and Cleon nodded as if he understood, and Lila looked at Diora with an expression that asked her what she was talking about.

“Well, actually. I just don’t want to confuse you by talking about my personal history, which has no place before an important event… However, let me tell you one thing-“

She turns away from Cleon and walks away as if she were leaving her living room.

“Because I will not betray Cleon, who trusted me. For Amelia too.”

“… If I could just hear those words, I would feel safe.”

Diora answered ‘Thank you’ with a smile on her face, without showing her face to Cleon.

And then, she left the mansion with the same light steps as when she appeared.

＂Something. I think I went over it a bit haphazardly.”

When Lila spoke to Cleon like that, Cleon shook his head as if it was okay and picked up the magic stone she gave him.

“Are you okay. I trust this guy.”

＂Well… If Cleon says so.＂

“Lila. Are you feeling a sense of crisis because you think your master will be taken away? Because the red hair attribute overlaps.”

＂You… I don’t like this guy because it overlaps with the homunculus I created…”

The only difference is that she can’t close her mouth right away like that homunculus.

Looking at the two people, Cleon smiled bitterly and stood up to prepare to create his own familiar.

At that time-

＂Cleon… Wait, do you have time? ＂

Perhaps he was waiting for the story to end, when Kuon carefully peeked his face out from behind the door and called out to him.

“Ah, yes. Because I promised. I’m sorry Laila, I have a prior engagement.”

“… Doesn’t care. Anyway, the adjustment to load additional weapons to Arnia was a transfer. At the earliest, departure would have to have been tomorrow.”

When Lila says that, Arnia tilts her head.

＂Additional armament? That kind of story…”

＂Follow me quietly!＂

Arnia answered as if this was her first time hearing it, but then Leila dragged her away and went to her own bedroom and studio.

It may have been a bit of a forced method, but Kuon is grateful to Lila for reading the mood.

Then, Cuon asked Cleon to talk in his room and carefully held Cleon’s hand.

And when the two enter Kuon’s room – the only sound left in the hallway is the sliding door of her room closing with a small ‘thud’ sound.