episode_0022

“···It’s here, right?”

“It’s definitely correct on the map, but…”

Yuna checks the map and the building in turn to confirm that the requested location is correct.

But ironically for Yuna, she didn’t come to the wrong place.

“The receptionist said you can’t go wrong if you go there…”

That was certainly correct.

Among the rows of medieval European-style buildings, there was a building that looked strange to anyone.

A large building made of iron standing alone among wooden buildings.

It’s a research lab.

Why on earth is a research center located in the middle of a medieval village?

“Ah, are these people who came to you after receiving a request?”

As we wandered around and stared at the building, a woman in a white gown approached us.

“Yes, that’s right. What about this building?”

“Ah, it looks like you’ve been in this city for a while. This place is like a legacy of an ancient civilization.”

It came out again.

That damn ancient civilization.

Why on earth do game creators want to put machines in a fantasy world and set up an ancient civilization?

I don’t understand.

“···is it?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

Yuna and Jupiter also went inside, saying, ‘If it’s an ancient civilization, there’s nothing we can do.’

What on earth is the ancient civilization of this worldview?

I just can’t figure it out.

“Anyway, what kind of request did you receive? There are so many people applying for requests.”

“Ah, I came after receiving a request from Kimia!”

“Kimia’s request? Are you sure?”

“Yes, yes? Wait a minute… Yes, the client, Kimia. Is that correct?”

“Okay. This way.”

As soon as the client’s name came out, the atmosphere changed.

From the eyes that look at ordinary customers, to the eyes that seem to look at pigs being dragged to the slaughterhouse.

I feel like I’m looking at a poor person.

Is there something?

The two people who chose the request also became restless after noticing the atmosphere that they had no intention of hiding.

“So my request was good…”

“Ah, anyway, I have no intention of accepting such a suspicious request!”

“That’s right, sister. Compared to that, hunting monsters and gathering materials is much healthier.”

I complained briefly, but only heard strong opposition.

joy! I’ll also complain if it’s a strange request.

In the first place, the only request was for me to drink an unknown potion without knowing what would happen.

“This is the place. Don’t be surprised if something happens inside.”

With those words, the woman hurriedly disappears.

He was running away as if he didn’t want to be involved anymore.

“Well, what kind of person is he…?”

“You’d better be careful, sister.”

I opened the door, listening to the two people’s words.

Quang!

And closed it again.

“Huh, sister? What was in there?”

“Could it be that you are the enemy?!”

He spoke to the two people who hastily took up a fighting stance.

“Just spend some time around. It’ll take an hour.”

“···Yes? But, if it’s dangerous, it’s better to solve it now…”

“No, it’s not dangerous. It will be resolved quickly over time, so let’s wait and go in.”

The two people inside seemed to have realized that I had hastily closed the door, as I heard the sound of people tidying up inside.

“What do you think is inside?”

I couldn’t clearly answer Jupiter’s question.

“Well, two people were working on it. It looks like everything is finished, so we just need to clean up. It will be over soon.”

I could only speak in moderation.

***

“Ah, ahaha. Welcome, sir. What’s going on here…?”

“I came here after receiving a request.”

“Ah, ah! That’s right! I understand. I’ll get ready right away, so just wait!”

“Yes. From now on, please choose the time and place.”

“Hehe, hehe… I’ll take it to heart.”

After about 20 minutes, a woman came out from inside and led us into the living room.

I thought it would take about an hour.

There was a very loud noise coming from inside, and it seemed to have been resolved in an instant.

Still, as if it was impossible to get rid of everything, a faint scent of chestnut flowers lingered at the tip of my nose.

“···What on earth happened?”

“Well, choose the time and place… ah.”

While both were confused as to what had happened, Jupiter’s face suddenly turned red.

Did you notice?

“Oh, does Euphy know? Please let me know!”

“Uh, well, that’s… that, so…”

Yuna began to cling to Jupiter.

Did you decide that I would never teach you and immediately change your target?

It’s smarter than you think.

Jupiter began to send me a rescue request.

I was a little offended that he didn’t accept the request, but should I help him?

He estimates the expected appearance time by listening to the footsteps of the woman who disappeared into the kitchen, saying she would bring tea and refreshments.

“Yuna, listen carefully to what I say from now on.”

“Uh, can you please tell me?”

Yuna’s attention turned to me.

hmm. You’re extremely focused. Perfect.

“There are two ways to make someone angry instantly. The first is to stop talking.”

“Yes, yes? What are you suddenly saying…”

Yuna was embarrassed, but listened carefully to what I said.

Because I suddenly started talking nonsense, my interest in what was going on inside changed to interest in what I meant.

I pretended to pause for a moment and checked the sound of footsteps.

3, 2, 1···.

Now!

“second is···.”

“Hey, here are cookies and drinks! If you don’t have enough, please tell me more!”

“Ah, thank you. Now, Yuna. Let’s take your time and listen to the explanation of the request while you eat.”

“···What about the second?”

Ignoring Yuna’s question intentionally, I picked up a cookie filled with chocolate chips and took a bite.

Mmm, these cookies are delicious.

“Uh, sister… what is the second one?!”

Is it because I didn’t mention the second way to make you angry?

Yuna instantly got angry at me.

My interests changed in an instant, so I raised my thumb towards the liberated Jupiter.

Am I right? Performance is solid.

Ignoring the puzzled Jupiter and the angry Yuna, I drank iced tea this time.

Well, this is pretty good too.

“···So? I’d like to hear the details of the request soon. Do you mind if I listen to the man hiding over there?”

Seeing that I didn’t say anything no matter how much we clung to each other, Yuna gave up and was enjoying the refreshments.

Since there is no second part in the first place, it is a complete sentence, so I can’t tell you.

I spoke to him because I wanted to progress the story slowly.

“D-Did I get caught… I’m sorry. Kennel! You can come out!”

No, no one left, but there were two people earlier.

Of course you’d think he was hiding.

“Ugh, ugh… Huh, my back hurts so much.”

A man called Kennel slowly crawled out of the closet.

Perhaps because he was crumpled up like a shrimp in the closet, he was complaining of back pain.

“···So, why did you hide that person?”

“Uh, how did it happen?”

Ah, I see.

Someone suddenly opened the door and came in, so you panicked and hid?

···I think they are a bit foolish.

Aside from being radical.

“If that man is not Kimia, then you must be Kimia.”

“Yes, that’s right. Did you receive a request to exterminate sandworms and retrieve materials?”

is it?

When I glanced at Jupiter, he smiled brightly and continued speaking.

“That’s right, sister. The material is embalmed meat, not carapace, correct?”

“Yes, it’s perfect. If you bring me the shell, I’ll pay you more. Is that possible?”

“It’s possible, but if you don’t mind, why do you want meat? I heard that sandworm meat doesn’t taste very good.”

“I see? I heard that the carapace is strong and used as equipment material, but I heard that the meat is thrown away.”

Kimia grinned when she heard that question and took a stance.

He held one hand up and waved the other hand in the air as if he was holding something.

“Well, the meat of sandworms is very chewy. Oh…”

“Please, be quiet, Kimia!”

oh my god.

No matter how many different tastes exist in this world, there are also monsters.

After all, the world is wide.

Since she’s a woman, she won’t be using it for herself, so is she using it for someone else?

Come to think of it, the man complained earlier that his back hurts.

···Poor man.

“By the way, is this sandworm monster nearby? I know there is no desert around here.”

When I briefly looked at the map of the continent at the Adventurer’s Guild, there was no desert around here.

It must have been somewhere far away.

“It’s not here, but we recently created something very groundbreaking. It’s called a Warp Portal!”

“···Warp portal?”

“Yes! To tell you how amazing this thing is, this thing is ancient…”

I ignored Kimia’s words and got lost in thought.

Tsukur games usually change the terrain so drastically that it’s hard to understand how they got there in such a short period of time.

Perhaps something like this was created as it became a reality.

“···So, it’s a very groundbreaking invention! There are only four of them so far.”

“Can I just use that thing to catch a sandworm in the desert and come back here?”

“Just as you said! The reward depends on the amount of carapace and meat….”

Tuk-tuk.

Someone touched me, so I turned around and saw a man named Kennel who seemed to have something to say to me.

···what?

He looked at Kimia and whispered to me.

“If you find a flower from a plant called Catus in the desert, please bring it to me. I will reward you handsomely.”

“Why are you telling me that secretly?”

Kenel hesitated and spoke to me.

“···It is an ingredient of an aphrodisiac.”

I was speechless for a moment.

“···I get it.”

“thank you.”

The way he smiled as if he was wishing me well looked somewhat gaunt.