Chapter 15
Exploring the Treasury
As expected of the Chief Wizard, he was different. So chemical synthesis appears as ‘twisting nature’ in the eyes of this world.
“Do you have any idea where he might have gone?”
At my question, Oswald stroke his long white beard.
“That rat-like fellow. He was staying in this house under the protection of Terrance Ziban. We don’t know where he went. We interrogated Terrance Ziban, but he didn’t seem to know either.”
“Then what should we…”
“Still, we did learn one thing. There must be another guy beside him who knows how to use black magic. The bomb embedded in the wardrobe earlier is proof of that.”
“Could it be that he uses magic himself?”
“That might be possible, but black magic isn’t something a person can learn overnight. It must be learned thoroughly from childhood. How could a fellow who is skilled at making such foreign substances have learned black magic as well?”
It was a logical train of thought, but it was only circumstantial evidence that the sage was not a black magician, and the exact truth remained unknown.
“Old man?”
A chilling voice came from behind. I could see Asel, with veins bulging on his forehead, approaching as he drew his sword from its scabbard.
Oswald replied with a smirk.
“Do you want to get hit once more?”
In the end, Asel got hit two more times and was stretched out flat this time. Saying that it was still far too early for him to challenge him, Oswald casually returned to the Magic Tower.
The soldiers directly loaded Asel, who showed no sign of getting up, into the carriage. Sitting next to Asel, who was barely placed on the carriage after two heavy lifts, I rested his head on my lap.
Although I didn’t see the sage, I still wanted to return if I could. Leaning my head against the carriage wall, I became lost in thought. To return, or to stay. Food processing technology was a domain I didn’t know. To defeat such a villain? Unlike Earth, where you write an explanation letter if things get big, here, if things got big, you might have to give up your neck.
Still… if I came here to save more people and punish the villain.
Dammit. What should I do?
I fiddled with Asel’s hair. Time passed just like that. Up until then, my head throbbed with all sorts of thoughts.
“Ugh…, Saintess.”
A groan burst out from Asel. Did he wake up?
“Is your body alright?”
Regaining consciousness, Asel lowered his head deeply and pulled away from me.
“I am sorry.”
“No, I was just asking if you were hurt anywhere.”
I reached out both hands, grabbed Asel’s cheeks, and raised his head. At my question, Asel’s pupils quivered finely. A single large teardrop welled up and soon dropped down.
For someone crying over being hit with a staff, his eyes were far too… anyway, it didn’t seem to be because of the staff.
“Saintess…, I am.”
Asel could not continue his words and only bit his lip. It felt as if his fresh scent was brushing against the nape of my neck. At that sensation, I quickly pulled my hands away, moved to the front seat, and turned my eyes out the window.
Ah, what is this. Don’t tell me he was moved because I comforted him? For someone built like a mountain, his heart is made of glass! Feeling awkward, I just blabbered out whatever came to mind.
“I-If you don’t pick a fight with the Magic Tower people anymore, I’ll forgive you.”
Asel quietly messed up his shaggy hair. Does he dislike it? If he dislikes it, he should just say so, why is he even showing tears.
A strange silence lingered inside the carriage until we arrived at the royal palace. Asel only looked at the floor while repeatedly fixing his messy hair, and I tried hard to shake off the lingering warmth of his hot cheeks on my palms.
Why is a man crying so spinelessly? Just because he got hit with a staff a bit. However, those eyes welled up with tears and his scent kept lingering in my five senses like an afterimage. Ugh, I don’t know. For now, my return comes before Asel’s mental state.
The carriage stopped, and as soon as I got off, I followed the waiting servant to Princess Elise’s quarters. Looking much more lively than yesterday, the princess welcomed me.
“Lady Ian, you have returned. Was there any success?”
I recalled the notebook in my bosom, but I shook my head for now.
“He had already escaped. However, I saw the traces he left behind. Princess, about the ‘method to return to my original world’ that you promised…”
“In our royal treasury, there is an artifact called the ‘Sanctuary Ring’ that has been passed down since ancient times. However, whether it still functions is something you will have to check for yourself, Saintess.”
As soon as the princess finished speaking, the status window popped up before my eyes like a prompt.
[Main Scenario: ‘Exploring the Royal Treasury’ has been activated.] [Condition: Obtain permission to enter the treasury with a trust of Favorability 45 or higher] [Reward: Obtain an unknown item]
“Let us go. I will guide you myself.”
Following the princess, the treasury we arrived at was firmly closed with a giant steel door. As the door opened with complex sounds of magic and mechanical devices combined, blinding gold and silver treasures poured out from inside.
However, what caught my eye was not the pile of gold coins.
In a corner of the treasury, on a shelf covered in white dust, the system was flashing like crazy.
[Discovery: ‘Ancient Dragon’s Stomach’ (S-Grade Magic Tool)] [Description: A cauldron capable of perfectly purifying rotten ingredients or poisonous demonic beasts]
Madness, that’s it. As I walked as if possessed toward the old, black cauldron among the gold and silver treasures, Asel and the princess following behind showed flustered expressions.
“Lady Ian? The holy sword right next to it would be more valuable, though?”
I couldn’t even hear Asel’s words. What use is a holy sword to a nutritionist? With a sharp knife and a stomach cauldron, one could change the world!
I held that black cauldron tightly in my arms.
“Princess, I want this. No, please give this to me.”
The princess burst into laughter as if it were absurd.
“You are truly… a unique person, Lady Ian. Very well. I will gladly give you that cauldron.”
I hugged the cauldron in my arms and giggled softly. Alright, now the equipment is prepared. With this cauldron, it felt like I could cook and purify even that ‘black magic contamination’ or whatever Master Oswald mentioned earlier.
Even if I returned to Earth, I would be able to run a truly genius restaurant. For starters, I would be able to cleanly eat even the poisonous entrails of a blowfish. Now humans will be able to explain what blowfish entrails taste like while still alive.
Passing by me as I was caught in such delusions, the princess snatched up a box placed on a small altar. She then returned in front of me and opened the box to show it.
“Lady Ian. Would you like to take a look for a moment?”
What was inserted inside was a ring. On top of a surface resembling rough iron, a small crystal was fitted into the ring. Huh? Why is an artifact so pathetic? A sapphire ring where the breath of a dragon surges, worthy of a royal treasury—shouldn’t it be something like that?
Seeing my disappointed expression, Princess Elise pulled my hand and slipped the ring on.
“Even if it looks like this, it possesses the power of the sanctuary. Please close your eyes and desperately wish for the place you want to return to.”
“Uh…, then what happens?”
“You will be able to return!”
“So suddenly?”
The princess tilted her head and asked again.
“Did you not want to return?”
“I want to go.”
The princess smiled brightly, let go of my hand, and stepped back. Thereupon, light began to pour out in multiple streams from the crystal fitted on the ring. Seeing that scene, Asel hesitated.
“So quickly…, Saintess.”
Asel wore a dark face that I had never seen until now. Right, it’s regrettable, but this must be the end. I cleared my throat and spoke softly.
