Ch.153Chapter 153 – Destination and Bad News

It was the day after we recovered the journal left by Sera’s grandmother and the cores of some surviving golems.

While Sera was preparing breakfast and I was spending time patting Muu, Eve approached me.

“There’s nothing more for us to do in Count Metis’s territory.”

“That’s right.”

From the holy site Christina wanted to visit to Sera’s grandmother’s hometown.

We had accomplished all our objectives for visiting Count Metis’s territory.

“So about our next destination, where should we go?”

“We need to decide now. Time is money.”

Eve unfolded a map she had brought, apparently intending to discuss our next course with me from the start.

Suddenly, I heard Christina’s voice from behind me.

“You two, what are you doing with that map?”

“We were deciding where to go next.”

“Perfect timing, Miss Christina. Come join our discussion.”

Christina approached without a word and sat down beside me.

The three of us huddled around the map.

“First, I think we should head to where the next seal is located so Miss Christina can absorb more holy power.”

“Should I mark the locations?”

Christina asked, and Eve and I nodded.

She took a pen from Eve and began drawing circles on the map.

“First, here’s where we’ve already been.”

Christina drew a circle at a point between the Kingdom of Mikea and the Kingdom of Firenchena.

Looking at the location, it was almost the center of the continent.

Then Christina drew circles in four places around that central point.

“I’ve marked them all.”

“They match almost exactly with the locations we’ve heard about.”

Eve said as she examined the map.

Then she pointed to one of the spots.

The western part of the landmass on the map, somewhere in the middle of the green area.

“I think we should go here first.”

“That’s the Forest of the World Tree.”

Christina added, and Eve nodded.

“Yes. It’s the capital of the elven territory, said to be the longest-living Ein race on the continent.”

Eve explained.

“So elves do exist after all.”

I hadn’t heard about them before, so I thought they didn’t exist.

Eve added, as if just remembering:

“They’re geographically distant from the Kingdom of Mikea. People don’t usually talk about them.”

“Actually, I’ve only heard they live far away, but I don’t remember seeing any in the capital.”

If Christina, who preached almost daily in the capital, had never seen one, they truly must rarely come to the Mikea Kingdom.

No wonder the residents didn’t mention them often.

“Is it a place we can enter without problems?”

I asked this question because when I thought of elves, I imagined them shooting arrows and shouting “Go back, human!” if you so much as set foot near their forest.

Eve laughed at my question.

“In ancient times, they were extremely exclusive and would shoot arrows at anyone who approached the edge of their forest.”

“Ancient times, so not anymore I guess.”

“Of course not.”

Eve said with a smile.

“I hear they trade normally with people now. Elves tend to settle in one place and rarely leave their territories, but occasionally there are elves who travel as merchants, bards, or adventurers.”

“Have you actually seen one?”

“I remember seeing some while doing business abroad long ago.”

But it seemed Eve had only glimpsed them in passing.

“But why do you want to go there first?”

“Because of your lifespan issue.”

Eve said with a serious face.

“Elves are an extremely long-lived race. They likely possess knowledge that we alone cannot access.”

“Perhaps they might know a way to treat or at least improve your condition, sir.”

Eve and Christina said, gazing at the elven territory on the map.

“Are elves our only option?”

“Essentially, yes.”

Eve nodded and continued her explanation.

“Dwarves are also long-lived and possess remarkable skills, but not the kind of skills we need, and they’re not a race that diligently keeps records.”

“There are also beast-folk, but I’ve heard they don’t keep thorough records either.”

They do keep some records, but not as extensively as humans or elves, Eve added.

“Plus, both races are more exclusive than elves.”

“Dwarves are difficult to approach at first and less communicative than elves, though once you start talking, it gets easier. But I’ve heard beast-folk mostly keep to themselves in their own country.”

It seemed the beast-folk territory would be difficult to access.

“So the elven territory is the easiest to visit.”

Eve nodded.

“Kay, what do you think?”

“Let’s go to the elven territory first. And…”

I mentioned something to Eve that had occurred to me when we were talking about dwarves.

After hearing me out, Eve nodded.

“I should remember to send a message to Miss Beatrice later.”

“Right. She has connections with your merchant guild.”

This was a conversation we had after thinking about dwarves.

And so our next destination was decided.

Then, looking at the map, I quietly said:

“By the way, the other seals look hard to reach.”

I was looking at the other three locations marked on the map.

To the south was an area near volcanic terrain.

To the east was a spot in the middle of the sea.

To the north was a circle Christina had drawn in a glacial region.

‘They’re remarkably well-distributed.’

It’s even more amazing that there’s no overlap in terrain types.

“The volcanic area is near the dwarven country, and the glacial region is close to the beast-folk territory…”

Christina said worriedly.

“…Let’s put those two aside for now. We might find another way.”

“If we have no choice, we’ll find a way to approach them, even if it’s a longer route.”

Eve seemed to have something in mind.

I focused on the eastern sea area.

From my perspective, it seemed to be in the most difficult location to access.

“Of all places, it had to be near the New Kingdom.”

The circle marked in the sea.

The closest country to that spot was the Triagiena New Kingdom.

‘We definitely can’t go through the New Kingdom.’

Going through the New Kingdom would be essentially suicide.

So, the next best option.

I looked at the Kingdom of Firenchena, which was the next closest.

“If it’s the Kingdom of Firenchena, maybe I should ask Beatrice.”

Since she’s from there, she might be able to offer better suggestions or help arrange a ship to take us there.

After deciding our next destination and thinking about what to do next:

“Meal’s ready!”

Sera had finished cooking and was setting the table.

“Let’s go eat first and then continue our discussion.”

“Yes.”

Eve folded the map and put away the chairs we had been using.

Soon we gathered around the makeshift table to start our meal.

“Where’s Beatrice?”

“Should I call her?”

Just as Christina asked, the carriage door opened.

“It’s here!”

“Huh?”

Beatrice suddenly exclaimed with excitement.

Seeing her happy face, I quietly asked:

“What’s here?”

“I got a message!”

Beatrice said, bringing something like a crystal ball.

When she applied magical power to it and manipulated it somehow, a screen appeared.

“What is this?”

“It’s a magical tool that lets you send written messages to others.”

So it’s like email.

After manipulating the crystal ball for a moment, Beatrice displayed a message.

“Asam sent this late last night. He told me where we can use a warp.”

Beatrice said with a smile.

Eve quietly commented after seeing the message:

“Sestas would be the city governed by Lord Teywell Sestas, a vassal of Count Metis.”

“The city and the family name are the same.”

Eve smiled at my comment.

“A very long time ago, they were a knight family entrusted with managing the city for generations. Since then, the city has been called Sestas.”

Eve added that it was the second or third largest city in the count’s territory.

It seemed to be an important gateway city located at the border with other territories.

“Apparently a mage dispatched from the magic tower is temporarily staying there. The preparations should be complete by the time we arrive.”

“Can we go anywhere?”

“Where do you want to go?”

After I told her about our next destination, Beatrice nodded.

“Then we’ll ask to be sent near the forest.”

“They can’t send us directly there?”

“If you’re not a native of that country, it’s customary to send you near that country’s gateway. It’s a kind of protocol, and there are barriers anyway.”

There seemed to be rules about using warps between countries.

Still, even being sent to the vicinity would drastically reduce our travel time, so I had no complaints.

“We’ll just need to travel north for a few more days from there.”

“Let’s go right after we finish eating.”

Beatrice said as she sat down beside me.

For some reason, Christina was sitting on my other side, and Eve and Sera briefly darkened their expressions, but they soon focused on the meal.

I was about to pick up my soup bowl when:

[Kay, listen quietly.]

Beatrice suddenly spoke to me, so I glanced at her.

Her expression had darkened a bit.

[Let’s talk privately later.]

Her tone suggested she was being cautious.

I looked at her face, trying to get a hint about what this was about.

“…Kay seems to be looking only at Beatrice.”

“How unlike me to forget to secure a position…”

Ignoring Eve and Sera’s strange comments, I began to wonder what this could be about.

+

After the meal, Eve started driving the carriage, and I went to my room.

Beatrice had told me during the end of the meal that she would come to my room when she got the chance.

-Knock knock

‘She’s here.’

I quietly went to open the door, and sure enough, Beatrice was standing there.

She quickly entered my room and sat on my bed.

“Hey, if you sit there, where am I supposed to sit?”

“Just sit next to me. Or do you want to lie down? I can offer my lap.”

Hearing her say that, I just quietly leaned against the wall.

Seeing me, Beatrice added that she wouldn’t stay long anyway.

“So, what’s this about?”

“…I thought it would be better to show this to you privately.”

Beatrice took out her crystal ball.

As she manipulated it, a message appeared just like before.

When I saw the title, I was momentarily speechless.

“It’s for me?”

“…I thought it would be better to deliver it directly rather than talk about it.”

Beatrice added that she didn’t want to discuss it with the others because she wasn’t sure how they would react.

“Let’s keep this between us.”

“Alright.”

I nodded and read the message Asam had sent me.

My hand trembled slightly without me realizing it.

“…The research is facing difficulties.”

The dimensional magic I had requested instead of compensation, to help me return home.

The news was that the research was facing difficulties.

“They’re continuing to research and try various methods, but progress isn’t great.”

Beatrice said they were experimenting and researching whenever possible.

Looking at the number of failed experiments listed, I couldn’t help but sigh.

‘I knew it wouldn’t be easy, but…’

Still, hearing that they were only experiencing failures made my shoulders slump involuntarily.

“Well, fortunately, Asam seems to be fired up about it.”

“Really?”

“He’s the type who loves solving difficult problems.”

That’s why he works in research, Beatrice explained.

But failure was still failure.

“…Is there any way we could help?”

Beatrice fell into thought at my question.

Then she quietly said:

“…There is one way, but I don’t really want to recommend it.”

“What is it?”

Beatrice silently stared at me for a moment.

Then she spoke:

“Stealing it.”

“Stealing?”

I was confused until I noticed her gaze fixed on me and realized what she meant.

“…You mean stealing their research materials.”

“You’re an experimental subject who crossed dimensions. Among the materials related to you, there must be information about dimensional crossing.”

However, there was only one place where such materials would be found.

“…Going to the New Kingdom just for that.”

“That’s why I don’t want to recommend it. It’s too dangerous.”

Beatrice was right.

While obtaining research records about me and the other subjects would be valuable, it was questionable whether that alone would be enough to complete dimensional magic.

Plus, it was uncertain if the records even still existed.

“The risk is too high.”

I sighed without realizing it.

“Come to think of it, Kay, do you not remember the location where you were experimented on?”

“No, I do remember.”

Near Gema Port, that much I recall.

Though my memory is a bit hazy now, I think I could find it immediately if I went to that area.

The problem is that I don’t want to go there.

“Tell me the location later.”

“Why?”

“Why do you think? If all else fails, I might try to infiltrate it myself.”

Beatrice said, but I shook my head.

“No, it’s too dangerous.”

“…Still, tell me the location later. Before you completely forget.”

I reluctantly nodded at Beatrice’s words.

If I forget the location entirely, we won’t be able to do anything.

It might be better to record the location in advance.

“For now, let’s focus on going to the elven country.”

“How long will it take from here?”

“About a week to Sestas.”

I nodded at Beatrice’s answer.

So we were confirmed to be traveling for a week.

“Don’t forget to tell me the location later.”

“I will.”

I answered Beatrice.

Just as I was about to show her out, feeling a bit dejected:

-Knock knock

“Sir, are you there?”

“Kay, I brought some tea and snacks.”

Hearing Sera and Christina’s voices suddenly, I nodded.

“Let’s end our conversation here and go out.”

“Hey, wait, don’t open the door—”

Ignoring Beatrice’s words, I opened the door.

“Oh, Kay.”

Sera smiled at me.

Then her gaze moved into my room.

“Oh.”

Sera’s eyes fell on Beatrice, who was sitting on my bed.

Then she quietly looked at me.

She looked back at Beatrice, then at me again.

“Why are you two together?”

Sera said with a smile.

No, she was smiling only with her mouth.

“…Miss Beatrice?”

Sera slowly approached Beatrice.

I could see Beatrice looking at me as if telling me to do something.

Meanwhile, Christina was already backing away and escaping.

As Sera slowly grabbed Beatrice’s shoulder, I quietly closed my eyes.