Ch. 56 Sky Detective Liza
by AfuhfuihgsChapter 56 – Sky Detective Liza
Lili kept chattering as we walked. She seemed so happy, talking and laughing to herself.
But it wasn’t annoying. The voice of the small, cute Lili sounded like a song to me.
“So, you’re saying you came up from the lower world?”
“Yes.”
“Hmm… I don’t get it. People living under the sky? Do they have wings like us fairies?”
“No… not really…”
Lili, who had lived her entire life on this sky island, had no knowledge of the lower world. It seemed she hadn’t even considered the possibility of land existing below.
The more I explained about the lower world, the more Lili tilted her head in confusion.
After walking for a while following Lili’s guidance, we came across a well-maintained, wide path.
Judging by the wagon wheel marks here and there, it seemed to be a forest path frequently used by people.
Lili stopped in front of it and spoke, as if her role ended here.
“Alright, if you follow this path, you’ll reach the human area. I hope you find your friends!”
As Lili finished speaking, a system message appeared, notifying me of experience points gained and various rewards. I pushed all that aside and looked at Lili.
It was such a shame to part ways with this small, cute girl. If I hadn’t lost my party, I might have suggested traveling together.
Lili was that charming.
“Can we meet again sometime?”
At my words, Lili’s eyes widened in surprise for a moment. Her transparent wings fluttered, and a bright smile spread across her face.
It felt as if the entire forest brightened with the fairy girl’s smile.
“Of course!”
Before parting ways with Lili, I received a small flower ring as a quest reward.
[Fairy’s Friend]
- Level Requirement: 0
- Equip Restriction: All Classes
- All Stats +1
- ※Owning this ring grants the favor of the fairy tribe.
- -Now you and I are friends!-
- -A little fairy who believes in humans.-
The ring’s value lay more in its ability to gain the favor of the fairy tribe rather than its stats.
A faint floral scent wafted from the hand wearing the ring.
“Well, I’ll be going now! It was nice talking to you, Lili!”
“Take care!”
After bidding farewell to Lili, I walked along the well-maintained forest path.
I kept glancing around, hoping to encounter other residents of the sky island, but no one else was in sight.
The forest was peaceful. Aside from the occasional winged rabbits, Fluffy, fluttering by, there were no monsters in sight.
After walking for a while, as the sun began to set and the sky turned golden, I reached the end of the forest path.
“Wow…”
I couldn’t help but gasp at the sight of the sunset-colored clouds before me. A gentle breeze blew through my slightly parted lips, but I couldn’t close my mouth.
The scenery before me was that beautiful.
The sunset-colored clouds and the tall bridge made of clouds. The peaceful fluttering of Fluffy looked like a painting.
Gulp—
I swallowed hard and carefully stepped forward. Placing my small foot on the sunset-colored cloud, I tested its weight.
Poof—
“Gasp…!”
The slightly indented cloud cushioned my body softly. My assumption was correct. The cloud bridge before me was made of a special type of cloud that defied common sense.
Once I confirmed the cloud bridge was safe, I quickened my pace. The sensation of walking on a soft bed made me lose my balance slightly.
Running along the cloud bridge, I clutched my chest. An indescribable emotion welled up from deep within my heart.
It was affection. And awe. And anticipation.
A bright smile spread across my face, and my steps became incredibly light.
After crossing the cloud bridge, what appeared before me was a flat land where soil and clouds were mixed.
Tall trees reaching into the sky and their unknown fruits shimmered under the sunset. The trees had thick roots extending beneath the sunset-colored clouds.
It seemed the special clouds of this island served a similar purpose to soil. I hopped around on the fluffy clouds.
That’s when a large village came into view. Walls made of clouds and a towering windmill beyond them.
The faint, savory aroma blended with the sunset, creating a cozy atmosphere in the village.
As if entranced, I approached the cloud-covered village.
[New Area Discovered: ‘Sheep Cloud Village’!]
Of course, the entrance to the cloud village was guarded by a gatekeeper. I approached the gatekeeper.
“Hmm. An adventurer? It’s been a while since I’ve seen one.”
[Level 30]
[Gatekeeper Yonet]
The gatekeeper was a middle-aged man. His casually worn leather armor and the lazy aura he exuded indicated that this village was very peaceful.
I smiled brightly and spoke.
“Hello!”
“Welcome to our village. Can you tell me your purpose?”
Judging by Gatekeeper Yonet’s reaction, the village didn’t seem hostile to outsiders. I put on my most pitiful expression and briefly explained what had happened.
How I had suddenly arrived on this sky island and how I had been separated from my party.
I asked, just in case. Perhaps my party members had come to this village.
“By any chance, have you seen any other adventurers besides me?”
“Hmm. You’re the first adventurer to visit this village in the past three years.”
“I see… Then, I need to find my party. Could you help me?”
“Well… I’d like to help, but my job prevents me…”
Yonet clicked his tongue at my question. He pointed to a large building inside the village and said:
“Alright, go to that building and say you’re looking for the ‘Great Detective.’ If you mention Yonet sent you, they won’t turn you away.”
“The Great Detective…?”
“He’s a bit eccentric, but he’s not a bad guy. Anyway, he’ll be a big help to you.”
The kind gatekeeper’s words were likely true. I nodded and dashed toward the building.
[Sky Detective Agency]
The largest building in the village was a detective agency. Its grand signboard and lavish decorations made it a bit intimidating.
Someone who placed a large golden carp with wings on the roof clearly didn’t have a conventional sense of aesthetics. Feeling an inexplicable sense of foreboding, I knocked on the large door.
Knock-knock—
“Hello…? Is anyone there…?”
After knocking, I waited for a while. Just as I pressed my ear against the door, I heard a commotion.
Crash—! Clatter—! Bang—!
The sound of piled-up junk collapsing, followed by footsteps, and then the firmly closed door swung open with a bang—!
“What now? I finished repairing the cloud collector yesterday… An adventurer…?”
The one who opened the door was a woman with long, flowing red hair. She was about 175 cm tall, quite tall for a woman, and I had to crane my neck to look up at her.
[Level 27]
[Liza]
Her sharp eyes and slightly upturned lips gave her a fierce expression. She seemed strong-willed overall. I swallowed hard and spoke.
“Uh, uh… I’m looking for the Great Detective…”
“The Great Detective…?”
At my words, the woman’s lips twitched. She leaned against the large door and pulled out a cigarette from her pocket, lighting it.
“Ahem… If an adventurer’s come looking for me, I must be getting famous. Well, you’ve come to the right place. I’m the renowned Great Sky Detective, Liza.”
“The Great Sky Detective…”
“I can’t leave a client who’s come all this way standing outside. Come on in.”
Liza gestured for me to enter. It seemed she wanted to discuss the details inside.
For some reason, she seemed excited.
Following Liza into the building, I noticed all sorts of junk scattered around. Complex machinery and diagrams filled with magic circles were strewn about.
The room Liza led me to was relatively clean. It seemed to be a reception area prepared for visitors.
“Now, let’s hear the details. Why has an adventurer like you come looking for me?”
“Ah, well…”
Just as I was about to start explaining, Liza, seemingly excited, shook her head and spoke.
“Wait… I think I can guess. You’ve brought an old treasure map, right?”
“Uh, no…?”
“Hmm. Then, a dungeon with an ancient weapon buried inside?”
“That’s not it either…”
“Ah! I got it. The apex of sky island lifeforms! The hunt for the Sky Whale!”
“That’s not it either… I just want to find my friends.”
At my answer, Liza’s mouth hung open in surprise. She slumped into her chair, resting her chin on the armrest and crossing her legs.
“Ah… I see. A relatively simple matter.”
“Is it possible?”
“Of course it is.”
In response to my question, Liza pulled out a crumpled piece of paper from her pocket and handed it to me.
“Fill out the request form there… But do you have the fee?”
“Uh…”
At Liza’s question, I rummaged through my inventory and pulled out items that could serve as payment. Bundles of monster hides, gold ingots, and equipment I hadn’t sold yet were spread out on the table.
“Oh. What’s this…?”
Among them, Liza showed interest in a small leather pouch. It was the fairy dust I had received as a gift from the fairy Lili before arriving here.
“If you hand over this powder, I’ll officially take on your request. How about it?”
Liza seemed to like the fairy dust, shaking it as she made her offer.
I nodded. If it meant finding my lost friends, I wouldn’t hesitate to give up all my items.
Without hesitation, I handed the pouch of white powder to Liza.
Isolin, Gladys, and Nyongmom were more precious to me.
The images of the small girls seemed to flicker before my eyes.
I licked my lips, savoring the moment.
Vrslop_translator
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