Volu 3 Chapter 8: Dragon-san and the Artificial Magic Stone
We arrived at lias in the afternoon, and we picked up Nectar right before the city gate.
「It’s been so long, Lava! I missed you!」
「No, wait, I’m happy to see you, too, but stop embarrassing ! People are watching!」
Having been separated from for so long, Nectar jumps onto the carriage and hugs tightly.
Uuuh, I can feel both Ligurila and Kyle giving those nasty looks from behind my back......
「lias was always a famous vacation resort, but I see that nothing has changed over the years.」
Said Kyle who took over the reins, and Ligurila answered while looking around the streets.
「But it’s strange. So of those people doesn’t look like the type who ca here for vacation.」
Certainly, she was correct. Alongside the well-dressed noble-like n and won, the streets were full of Hunter-like looking people, carrying around swords and staffs.
「It seems that a new dungeon was recently discovered near the city.」
Nectar was the one to answer that question.
「Though it was discovered a few years ago. It looks like this new dungeon is the most popular in the entire region, rich in both resources and treasures alike. That is why there is even a branch of Hunters Guild here.」
Dungeons are the ruins left behind by the ancient civilizations, whose defense chanisms are active even today, and entering one of those can prove to be life threatening, just like encountering a monster.
The reason why people would risk venturing into their depths is that the deeper you go, the more valuable magic texts and artifacts you could find, promising you really good fortune.
So far, no one was able to answer the question on how or why the dungeons exist in the first place. But, as soon as the new dungeons are being discovered, the Hunters Guild would usually be the first one to arrive on site, setting up a new branch in the nearby city and getting special permissions for its mbers to go in and explore it. Dungeon exploration beca so popular that a special class of Hunters called “Adventurers” erged on the market.
That’s what I know on the subject.
「Don’t tell , it’s going to be hard to find a lodging for us?」
「That would certainly be a problem.」
Muttered Ligurila, her voice ridden with anxiety.
「Normally, accommodation for tourists and Hunters are two completely different things. That being said, one of my custors has a villa in this town, and so maybe we should try to ask her to stay there.」
「Umm, thanks for the offer, but...... Would it really be okay to bring in so many people?」
「That will hardly be a problem, since the woman in question is a huge Noct mania fan......」
「Excuse , Noct what?」
「No, noting. It’s nothing. I wrote a letter to her in advance, so once we arrive at the villa she should co out and greet us.」
Sohow I was worried about this whole freeloading business, but for now, having no real alternatives, we set our course towards the villa in question.
*********
「Welco, Mada Lily! It is such a pleasure having you here!」
「The pleasure is all mine, and thank you for agreeing to let us stay, even though it was on such a short notice. Mada Chinon.」
「When Mada Lily, one of the most famous designers in the whole Ballow, asks for a favour, you simply can’t refuse! Besides, it the first ti in quite a while when my villa gets so lively! Please, you and your companions, make yourself at ho.」
Mada Chinon, one of the regulars at Ligurila’s shop, bowed gracefully, being happy to be of so use to her favorite designer.
She looked young – really young – and wore a yellow dress over her smooth and pretty body.
As soon as we got to the hotel, we were invited to have tea with Mada Chinon.
Mada Chinon’s “villa” was nothing like the buildings you would associate with the word back on Earth, but it was still rather huge and elegant.
Since it was so huge, it wouldn’t be much of a problem to accommodate all of us here.
And it was just like I thought: in the presence of a true noblewoman, Ligurila was acting and speaking like a prim and proper lady she was posing to be.
And once they began to talk about things like the latest trends in fashion or ways to apply makeup, the male part of our group quickly evacuated themselves sowhere else, under the excuse of wanting to scout the Guild house ahead of ti.
For it was all quite entertaining, and so I decided to stay here and enjoy the small talk whilst enjoying the delicious tea. But after so ti Mada Chinon leaned towards Ligurila and began to whisper sothing into her ear.
「Umm, Lily-san, about that latest specin.」
「I shall present it to you later.」
Next, I leaned over to Ligurila and whispered into her ear whilst wearing a scornful expression.
「What was that all about?」
「A little bit of this and a little bit of that.」
Answers Ligurila while smiling ambiguously. Hmm?
After that, Mada Chinon swiftly changed the subject.
「By the way, Lily-san. I presu that you’ve heard of the latest rumor?」
Of course, Ligurila’s eyes blinked quickly at the ntion of the word “rumor”.
「What kind of rumor?」
「Ara, and here I thought the purpose of your visit was that you wanted to see the artificial magic stones with your own eyes.」
「Artificial magic stones?」
When I ask her about that, Mada Chinon’s eyes brighten as she leans over to .
「It is a story that is still known only to so of the upper class of this country. It says that apparently, a certain magician was able to create and successfully mass produce the magic stones! And they are as good as the normal ones! What’s even more interesting, is that up until now everyone was sure that such a task is nothing short but impossible!」
「You say all that, but did you see that artificial stone with your own eyes?」
「Of course. However, the stones are going to be officially presented during one of the garden parties here in lias. But only the ones who received an invitation are permitted to attend. It seems that the rchant who deals with them is also going to attend, so lots of questions are bound to be asked. Ahh, what a wonderful thing, a magical stone like that!」
I was trying my best to maintain a poker face in front of Mada Chinon and not show just how surprised I actually was.
We were going to investigate the reason of the magic stones prices drop in this area and the probable causes of that, but suddenly to discover such a big clue. But still......
“Hmm, the more I hear about it, the more this slls like a fraud. Still, it is a lead at the very least.”
Hearing about the artificial magic stone from Mada Chinon, Ligurila instantly sends a telepathic ssage.
“That woman is one of the most renowned gem collectors in the whole Ballow. It is not easy to be accepted as one, but since her family owns a lot of money and land, they were able to buy the title for themselves.”
Oh well, let’s just leave it at that and pretend that there’s no issue.
“Nevertheless, that artificial magic stone is a matter of concern. If it is circulating on the market, it only goes to prove Kyle’s suspicions. A trendous amount of magical power are needed to create a single magic stone, not to ntion mass producing them.”
“Well, we still don’t know whether or not it is related to the increased activity of monsters in the area, so for now we can deem that as irrelevant. But still, if this magic stone is indeed as flawless as the real one, I wonder just how many nobles, magicians and rchants are going to fight for it?”
It’s just as Liguria says, there are those who might treat the magic stone like yet another piece of their precious stones collection.
Magic stone is nothing more but a raw magical power that solidify over ti.
In the past, the magic stone was excavated from mountains and found laying on the beach, basically to be found anywhere where the concentration of magic power was dense enough. But since its amounts as a natural resource were rather scarce, the best way to obtain it was through killing monsters.
And this fact is an irony, since monsters were nothing more but huge clusters of raw magical power.
Its color was dependable on the amount and quality of magic used to create it, but each and every one of them is characterized by its center, looking as if a small spark of light was trapped inside of it.
However, being obtained either by ans of mining or monster hunting, their surfaces were often chipped or scratched, making it difficult for them to be used as jewelry.
Moreover, magicians were using the stones as a power source, so when a large quantity of magic stones was going to hit the market, the war over the stones between nobles and magicians would only be a matter of ti.
...... People’s desires can truly be a terrifying thing.
While we were exchanging ssages like that, Mada Chinon was speaking all the ti, but suddenly clasped her hands together, as if rembering sothing.
「That’s right! A few days ago I received an invitation to that garden party! It is going to be held at the capital city, but if you don’t mind, Mada Lily, would you like to go to that party together with ?」
「It would be my pleasure to accompany you, Mada Chinon, but are you sure? Wouldn’t I only be a bother to you?」
Ligurila was cautious about this sudden proposition, but isn’t that a chance that we could use?
But before Ligurila could say or do anything more, Mada Chinon smiled confidently and said:
「It’s quite alright, I assure you. Count Avar likes to boast about basically anything, and so he throws those garden parties all the ti. And it would be such a waste to let it pass you by, Mada Lily, one of the best designers in Ballow. Also, please bring so of your friends as well.」
Realizing that the prey swallowed the bait, Ligurila had a smile full of satisfaction on her lips.
「I’m glad to hear that. If that’s the case, will you allow to accompany you together with my friends?」
「Of course I do not mind at all! I welco you all with open arms!」
「Thank you very much, Mada Chinon.」
「Ufufu. Well then, Lily-san? Will you please advise as to what dress should I wear to the party?」
「It would be my pleasure.」
By the way, it looks like it has been decided that I am going to attend to the party as well. I cocked my head thinking about how this turn of events develop so quickly.
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