They hadn’t been able to leave the tents for over two weeks.
Musty spaces had devastating effects on a person. Even with a Golden-Eyed’s body, it was hard to endure being with foxes in a place with a hundred percent humidity.
But it wasn’t irritating or anything.
Why, because everything would be over after this. If HEU could be obtained with this much suffering, then it didn’t matter. Rather, it was a small price to pay.
They were nearly reaching the three weeks that Verl had talked about. The rain was gradually lessening, and the vicious winds blowing southwest were not as intense.
Wheeeooooo.
“We should be okay to go now.”
For the first ti in a while, I removed my raincoat and stepped out of the tent. As I stretched out my arms, taking a deep breath, fresh air filled up my lungs.
“Alright, everyone pack up!”
The Youko deftly folded up the tents and checked over the remaining food. Thanks to everyone eating less, there was still plenty of preserved foods. At least, it was enough to last until we returned to the village.
The problem would be afterwards.
“We’ll be going ahead, then.”
“Mom, you co with the other aunts and uncles, okay?”
To quickly reach the County, I had to make full use of the Golden-Eyed physique. Carrying Freyr on my back with only minimal luggage, I cut across the western forest.
It took only a day to arrive at the Fasstrand Village.
“... This is bad.”
“It was expected, but... they won’t be able to live here with things like this.”
The embanknt had definitely collapsed.
“What do you want to do? Do you want to go to the County with ?”
“Go where? This is my ho. I’ll start the repairs by myself so go talk to the Count for us.”
Freyr spread out both hands and proceeded to transmute. She rebuilt the broken fences, found the pole that got blown away by the wind and stuck it back by the entrance of the village. She also hauled up grounds and trees and built several temporary huts.
With a person of her caliber, the village would be rebuilt in no ti. I left Freyr here and headed towards the Saliere territory.
Crossing the river using a relatively intact bridge, I could see the equally damaged western part of the territory.
On the roadside, officials in work uniforms were repairing flood damages with equipnt along with the villagers. I passed them by and walked to the mansion.
“Oh, you’re on your way back?”
A maid was at the entrance working on the garden damaged by the storm. I greeted her and presented a letter.
“I am. It took a while, didn’t it?”
“Not at all, you’re diligent as usual, miss. But what is this letter?”
“I would like to et with the Count; it’s an urgent matter.”
It may be a friend’s house, but I couldn’t just barge in. It was soone else’s place so I should be courteous in this way.
“You didn’t have to write one like this.... But I understand.”
The maid accepted the letter and continued.
“By the way, your hair looks great. Black hair definitely suits you better, miss.”
“I’m sorry?”
What was this about all of a sudden? As I stood there blankly, the maid realized that the conversation went off track and tilted her head.
“Hm? Hadn’t you bleached your hair at Mrs. Camilla’s?”
“Bleach? ?”
I’d never dyed my hair in my life.
“Yes. I thought you changed back before going to the Academy because school will start soon. Was that not the case?”
“I’ve never even dyed it before.”
“Oh, how strange.... Anyway, that’s fine. I wlll go inform the master so please wait inside the house.”
I sat down on any one of the benches within the garden, because I thought it’d be impolite to step into the house without the master’s permission.
Most importantly, I was here to negotiate. From what I’d seen and heard, I knew that Count Saliere was a benevolent man but you never knew.
No matter how honorable a person was, they were bound to look at profits and losses when negotiating. I needed to do the best I could for Freyr’s people, the Youko, and other beastkin. Or else I wouldn’t get the uranium.
[How about you finish learning all the magic first if you want to return to Earth?]
“I’m doing it along the way. Why are you being so pushy?”
[No, well, it just seems like the cart’s ahead of the horse.]
The reason was simple; I obtained a grim piece of info after eting with the transmigrator.
─ The Demon King will return in as early as a year, in two years at the latest. This is sothing inevitable.
If I didn’t work quickly now, then the world would end before I could go back to Earth. And in order to prevent that from happening, I had to prioritize this.
“So this will be one temporary asure for now, and if there’s ti for the rest, I’ll use Flare.......”
“Miss!”
As I was thinking about two different ways to make the hydrogen bomb, the maid from earlier rushed over.
“The Count said you’ve declined eting with him.”
What the hell? Did I hear that right?
“Um, could you explain that....”
“It’s exactly as I’ve said. I gave the letter to him and after deliberation, he said he asked another maid to bring you.”
“I see. And?”
“Did that maid not co here?”
“She didn’t?”
“Anyway, the maid who went to find you seems to have told the master that the letter was delivered wrong! I’m so sorry!”
What’s this? Is soone impersonating or sothing?
It wasn’t likely that the other maid lied. More precisely, she didn’t have a reason to. Why would she make that up and risk getting fired?
But I also didn’t hear from Verl that there would be another Golden-Eyed around here. The only one would be Jǫrmungandr, but that one doesn’t even co out of the mountains.
“Well, that’s fine. Then may I go see him myself?”
“Yes, please follow !”
Ah, seriously. I should’ve just done this from the start.
**Imdiately after the storm.
Count Saliere was overloaded with tasks. He needed to continuously docunt flood damage restorations and petition for disaster relief funds from the central governnt.
“Father, what should we do regarding the flooding of Louvoire Museum?”
“Haa, was that damaged as well?”
The biggest problem was the museum.
The Louvoire located within the Saliere territory was one of the largest museums even in the Empire. This museum played an important role in the Empire as well as the continent in many ways.
“Then we will need to move the seal stone elsewhere until we repair the damages.”
Seal stone, otherwise known as the Lodestone.
It was said that a thousand years ago, the Goddess L’Quinneth sealed the power of the Demon King defeated in the war against the Elentals into five giant magic stones.
The Demon King’s power which murdered the Elental King was so great that there was no other way but to seal it. She then instructed the sealed Lodestones to be divided between the humans and elves to be watched over.
Red, Blue, Green, Black, and Gold.
Of those, the Red Lodestone was the seal guarded by the Fire Mages of the Empire. Not many knew that the Saliere family were in charge of it to avoid the eyes of the Beast.
“We cannot let the Lodestone be ruined by the flood damages.”
Count Saliere quickly drew up and processed an official docunt to move so pieces in the museum to another location.
There was no need to think about where to move the Lodestone; the only other place right now comparable in volu to the Louvoire was the museum at Tilette Academy.
“It’s done, Lorewell. Go take this to the curator and get it stamped.”
“Yes, sir.”
As Lorewell left, a maid ca in. She bowed and handed him a letter.
“What is this?”
“It’s a letter from Miss Lotte’s friend.”
“Why would she write a letter when she’s staying with us?”
“I’m not sure.”
The Count opened the letter, and it talked about how there were urgent matters regarding storm damages and the beastkin so she was requesting that he find a possible ti to et with her.
“How bizarre. I will call her after approving these first.”
After seeing to the urgent matters, it was half an hour later. The Count summoned the maid who had been waiting outside. The clumsy apprentice maid appeared with a bow.
“Bring our Golden-Eyed guest who’s currently staying at our house.”
“Ah, yes, sir!”
Not too long after, the maid returned and hesitantly reported what she’d seen and heard.
“She said she didn’t send such a letter....”
“That’s strange.”
She hadn’t seed the type to joke about sothing like this. Stroking his chin, he was contemplating that disconnect when–
Knock knock.
─ Sir, may I co in, please?
It was that girl’s voice. When Count Saliere gave a nod, the maid who’d been on stand by opened the office door.
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