In a shop that adventurers utilized.
I who was talking with the owner there asked him to prepare most of the things we needed.
With the existence of the underground dungeon here, there were several shops here that were dealing with all the necessary supply to enter it.
「Two weeks for seven people share? How should I say it, this is unusual.」
Novem who was accompanying me tilted her head at the owner's words.
「Unusual?」
「Yeah, you are entering the dungeon right? I won't think anything of it if you're going outside, but if you're entering the dungeon with seven people, then even the longest usually will be only three or four days. It's unusual to stay for two weeks in the dungeon with that number of people. You guys aren't going to do anything reckless aren't you? I understand your feeling to want to rush because you are young but……」
I turned toward the worried shop owner and shook my head.
「No way. We finally get this chance to enter the dungeon, so we are thinking to get used to it using this chance, that's all.」
The owner scratched his head with a worried look.
「That's fine if that's it but……you guys are paying customer, so I'll prepare the items properly at the promised date. Get back safely you guys.」
I and Novem said our thanks and left the shop.
This shop was near the outer wall and the dust was terrible from the morning.
I covered my mouth and walked toward the next shop.
「Arisan and Sophisan are having tea with Mirandsan?」
Novem nodded in reply to my question.
「Yes. I turned down the invitation because I'm accompanying Lyle-sama, but it seems the three of them are getting along well. It's because in the first place Mirandsan was close with Arisan, and Arisan right now is also close with Sophisan.」
I tried spoke reservedly to Novem.
「Yo, you should also go to have tea together with them.」
Then Novem shook her head.
「Lyle-sama, will you be able to go shopping by yourself? Just now you were also going to buy everything in one shop because the price is cheap.」
「……I'm sorry.」
「No, you don't need to apologize to me. That, I'm saying that it's better to do this with two people rather than just alone.」
Novem's smile was really painful to look at.
There was a shop that put a writing at its storefront that they could provide everything in cheap price, so we tried looking inside. The shop owner who was welcoming as really amiably recommended his products to us. When I was going to purchase exactly what he offered, Novem stooped me. When we checked the merchandises really carefully, shockingly although the food wasn't rotten but they were in terrible condition. The amount was also few and even if we ordered the share of seven people, it would only be enough for six or perhaps five people.
I almost got tricked there. The Third was provoking me.
『Lyle is unreliable, so Novem-chan can't go have fun. I think you better think hard about this. You're really unreliable Lyle~』
It was vexing but I couldn't say anything back.
A lot of the shops that catered toward adventurer were located near the outer wall and guild, because of that we immediately arrived at the next destination.
We entered a narrow alley and found an entrance ahead of us. It was a shop that handled armor related thing.
When we were going to enter, a person who looked like academy student came out from it. The person was female and her face looked really tired. We heard her muttering when we pa.s.sed each other.
「Why was it a failure……haa, I'm barely sc.r.a.ping by this month too.」
I was curious at her words regarding failure, but we continued toward the shop.
The place was even more cramped than the shop at Dalien. Armors were lined up until the limit inside the cramped shop. A demi-human gnome who grew moustache greeted us. He seemed to be the shop owner. He was looking like a child with his short and slender body.
「Welcome」
The owner was tidying up arrows that were lined up on the counter when we came in. His handling of the arrows was really careful. I was curious and asked him.
「What are those arrows?」
The owner's hand stopped. And then he made a slightly troubled smile and answered.
「Aa, this is burst arrow. It's the so called magic arrow you see. Here, look at this arrowhead.」
When I looked closer, the material wasn't metal but something like clay.
Novem seemed to notice something. She put her hands on her mouth in a bit of surprise.
「This sparkling light, is it magic stone? Does it has smashed magic stone kneaded into it?」
The owner looked at Novem in surprise. And then he became all smile and started talking talkatively.
「So you get it! Yes, this thing has magic stone and other thing kneaded into a special clay. But you see……originally this thing is created with the purpose to increase the power by generating fire or causing wind, but the products that are brought here are only failed creations. Though it's given exaggerated name like burst arrow.」
The owner took off one arrowhead and threw it toward thick metal sc.r.a.ps at some distance away. When the arrowhead hit the trash box that was sooty inside, there was an explosion sound *pon* and smoke came out. The Seventh was interested. The Second was also the same.
『Ho, how……amazing-! It's problematic that it's bow and arrow but, if the arrowhead is gathered and explosive──』
『Stupid idiot! It's great because it's bow and arrow! With this thing, then bow and arrow will be even more useful!』
The Seventh was interested in the explosion, but the Second was interested in the existence of magic arrow because his own weapon was bow and arrow. The owner looked slightly dejected.
「As you can see, it explode and that's it. It's quite strong but, it's a dud.」
Novem was looking at the magic arrow seriously. My interest was also attracted at the magic arrow──burst arrow.
「But it's amazing. Surely it will be useful if this arrow is gathered in large amount.」
The owner explained the flaw of burst arrow.
「I won't recommend that. It's a dud no matter how you look at it. The power is also not stable. Besides, transporting them is really troublesome. Normal arrow can be quickly shot consecutively. But, this thing will explode if the arrowhead collide with each other, and it will also explode from any strong impact. It will explode too if it become too hot. Anyway, it explodes too easily. It's useful but it's dangerous to bring them around in large amount.」
The Seventh and the Second were disappointed.
『What, so it cannot be manufactured huh. However, if the way to make it is understood……』
『Who is going to use this scary arrow that will explode in your hand huh. It will be fine if the user is skilled but……it's too difficult if you also have to be careful not to explode it while the enemy comes near. It also look like it cannot be fired rapidly.』
It seemed the arrow would explode just from collision or getting stepped on.
Certainly, I would want to refuse if I was told to walk around while carrying a lot of such arrow.
The owner showed us the tool to store this special arrow. It was a type of item to store every single arrow carefully. The arrow was put into a long and narrow box one by one and then got fixed in place. Inside there was several layer of fur placed around the arrow to become cus.h.i.+on.
「Honestly, you still cannot feel relieved even after putting the arrow inside this. What's more, it's really troublesome to take it out one by one.」
The burst arrow was really troublesome. But the Seventh seemed to think of something while I was thinking like that.
『Lyle. Perhaps this thing can be used well if using my Art.』
The Third was also getting interested.
『Aa, now that you mention it this is a good chance so I'll also teach my Art. Teaching the Art itself is simple but, the problem will be in how to use it. I'll teach you in this chance.』
It seemed the two would finally teach me their Art.
──The place was a stylish café.
Both Aria and Sophia were slightly nervous at the high cla.s.s atmosphere.
Many of the customers around them were woman with pretty and elegant attire. There were also men, but everyone was accompanied by woman. The rank of this establishment was definitely higher by one or two step compared to the café they usually visited.
Sophia visited such café because she was invited by Aria. More accurately, Aria who was invited by Miranda invited Sophia and Novem. Novem didn't come because she was accompanying Lyle.
Aria looked around restlessly.
「Hey, is it okay for adventurer to come here? Like, I heard that Arumsaas is cold toward adventurer.」
Sophia also recalled a certain incident. At their first day in Arumsaas, when they entered an inn searching for a place to stay, they were chased out because the place refused adventurer. It couldn't be helped that she was worried after such thing happened.
「That's right. It will be inexcusable if we cause trouble for Mirandsan.」
Then Miranda laughed.
「You two are worrying too much. Besides, my backer is the academy and my house that is a viscount house. I'll lodge a complaint if we are chased out because of such reason. In the first place, the two of you are also former n.o.ble aren't you?」
Sophia shook her head.
「My house was abolished after causing a problem. Besides, my house was just a house of va.s.sal knight.」
Miranda smiled.
「Don't depreciate yourself. It doesn't matter if it was va.s.sal knight, a n.o.ble is a n.o.ble.」
Miranda said that and drank her tea.
Sophia felt like she was slightly saved by those words. She also drank her tea. As expected from a pricey tea, it was delicious.
Miranda broached a topic.
「Hey, come to think of it we will do work together after this but, I don't really know about everyone. That's why, can you tell me what you can do?」
Aria said 「That's true」 and started talking about herself.
「I'm a vanguard and use a spear. For magic……I'm in the middle of training.」
Sophia too continued the explaination.
「I mostly can't use magic. I'm using a battle axe that is a heirloom of my house but, I'm also using small axe other than that.」
Miranda was listening to the two's story with deep interest.
「Hee……then, what about Novem-san?」
Aria talked about Novem.
「Novem is a really amazing magician. She can use any magic skillfully. Miranda is also skilled but, perhaps Novem is the one more skilled in magic. She is working hard in her magic specialty.」
Miranda looked happy hearing that.
「My, that's great. She seems reliable. Unlike her I am a jack of all trades after all.」
Sophia followed up for her in hurry.
「The, there is no such thing. It's already praiseworthy that you are able to use magic.」
「Thank you. But, the two of you can also use Art correct? I don't manifest any Art, so I'm inferior in regard to the two of you in that. ……And, what about Lyle-kun?」
Aria and Sophia looked at each other. They were wondering how much they could talk about it. Then Miranda solved the misunderstanding of the two.
「Ah, it's fine. I have heard about his Arts when he explained to Professor Damian. What I'm concerned of is if someone lke me who don't know anything is going to be a hindrance to Lyle-kun. You know, it will be bad if I'm being a hindrance when he is using Art isn't it?」
Aria was relieved hearing that.
「Then it's fine. That guy can do anything after all. You're worried that you might become hindrance but……he can do anything by himself.」
Sophia also felt that. Lyle would grasp the surrounding terrain by himself, he would also search and detect the enemy, and on top of that his combat ability was also the best among the four of them.
Novem was a magic specialist but, Lyle was able to do both close quarter combat and magic skillfully.
Sophia spoke about that.
「He is a really amazing person. Certainly sometimes he also has this stupid side but, he is calmer than anyone in the dangerous situation. Compared to him we are really──」
Aria was also hanging her head down. Even though they wanted to be useful, they were unable to do so. They felt vexed toward themselves who were like that. Miranda spoke to the two of them.
「Then both of you──can work harder at what you can do. It's that you know, leaving other thing to others while doing the best you can at the area that you are able to do. I think it's better that way. The two of you have amazing Art right? I'm jealous.」
Seeing the smiling face of Miranda, Aria and Sophia thought that certainly, if they worked hard at what they could do then──.
The night of that day.
I was told to come into the Jewel. The Third and the Seventh led me through a memory door. The memory door was located behind the chair of each ancestor. By entering inside, I was able to learn what each ancestor had seen or felt.
And then right now I entered into the memory door of the Seventh.
The reason was to learn the Art of the Third and the Seventh. Each Art had a form from first stage until the third stage. The Art became more powerful by advancing through the stage, but originally a Gem would teach the name of the Art and how to use it to the user.
However, a simple Gem would stop there. If the user didn't know the name of the Art from the second stage onward, and they also didn't know the way to use the Art, the Gem wouldn't let the user use any further Art than that.
When the Gem became Jewel, the memory of the Art owner would be resurrected into the appearance of their golden age and they would teach the user the name and the way to use their Arts.
Yes──the ancestors in front of me. They were resurrected memory, not the actual people.
While I was thinking about various things, the Seventh chose the Walt House's mansion──its courtyard.
There was engraving everywhere inside the large mansion. The whole building was also decorated. It was mostly the same with the mansion that was in my memory.
The Third whistled and spoke his impression to the Seventh.
『The mansion has become really extravagant. This doesn't look like the mansion of a count at all. ……Yeah, it feels like the mansion of a duke. Did grandpa work hard for the sake of you grandson? No, perhaps it was for your great grandson?』
The Seventh cleared his throat at the Third's teasing.
『……It was decided that someday we would receive royal bloodline and become a house of duke. There would be a gap in my son's time and then Lyle or the generation after him would definitely become a duke. It should be like that. I was only making preparation.』
I was under the impression that the mansion of a count was like this because all that time I was staying in the mansion. But, it seemed this mansion was too big for a house of count.
The Third fell into thought.
『If I remember right, the wife of the Seventh had the bloodline of the previous royal family you said? It's also related with this isn't it?』
『That's right. Well, it's the fact that this mansion was also because of my wife Zeona's strong demand. From the size of our territory we are able to introduce ourselves as duke or archduke without anyone complaining about it after all.』
The Sixth energetically grabbed the surrounding territory and expanded the territory of Walt House drastically. The scale of that territory was only second to the royal family of Bahnseim.
The Third folded his hands.
『Why wasn't our house crushed? From the royal family's perspective, weren't our house already went past being troublesome straight to being dangerous? Your wife was the survivor of a family that took arm against the royal family right?』
My grandmother. The Seventh's wife Zeona came from a family that went against Bahnseim royal family. Even though at first there was a talk of marriage with Bahnseim royal family in order to let the bygone be bygones, it seemed in the middle the family picked a fight.
However, the precious bloodline──the bloodline of n.o.ble was the bloodline of magician itself. There was no way the bloodline could be allowed to disappear, so the Seventh welcomed Zenoobaasama as his wife.
……Thinking carefully, it wouldn't even be strange for our house to be crushed by the royal family. Certainly it was just like the Third said, our house was too dangerous.
The Seventh let out a long sigh.
『……The Sixth skillfully made the arrangement in that area. Certainly, the main faction of capital n.o.ble at that time regarded Walt House as dangerous. They were thinking to whittle our territory or even to attack and destroy us. The Sixth who noticed that attacked the feudal lords who were backing the main faction of that time and destroyed them. He also sent money to the faction opposing the main faction.』
The Third's eyes opened wide.
『Eh, what? He kicked down the main faction of the capital n.o.ble?』
The Seventh shrugged and answered.
『At that time it was chaotic everywhere. It was money and strength that ruled in the country.』
It was a really unpleasant era. But, the Sixth overcame such difficulty and won the peace of Walt House. It seemed the Seventh inherited that flow of event.
『Well, because of that we were also recruited to fight a war that wasn't beneficial at all but, I think from the result it was alright. Oops, we got off topic.』
That's right. The main topic was me learning Arts.
The Third also nodded and the two of them put their hand on my shoulder each. When they closed their eyes, my body was enveloped in a gentle blue light.
The name of the Arts surfaced in my mind. I also comprehended the way to use them.
「……Mind and, Box?」
The two's hand left me then the Seventh explained about the Art first.
『Yes, it's convenient that the Art is handed down just by doing this. Well, at my time there was only image flowing into me from the Jewel though……. Now then, I'll show Lyle my Art, Box.』
When the Seventh snapped his finger, a magic circle emerged on the ground right under us. It had a size that could surround us with some room to spare.
Before long several guns were slowly rising up from the magic circle. The Seventh took one of them and grinned.
『My Art is also designated as a s.p.a.ce type. It can store tools and the like in this way. This Art is amazing. Almost everything other than living thing can be stored inside, and the freshness also won't change from the time it's inserted.』
I and the Third gave applause hearing that.
It was a really amazing Art. But, it bothered me why it wasn't taught to me until now.
The Third asked about the circ.u.mstance of that.
『And, it also has a demerit right? Seeing that you didn't teach it until now.』
When the Seventh snapped his fingers, the guns were absorbed back into the magic circle and then they vanished. At the end the magic circle also vanished, and then only the gun on the Seventh's hand was remaining.
『……Well, it's simply that the mana consumption is big. Even the current Lyle will only barely manage.』
He said that I would barely manage but, after experiencing growth once, I managed to obtain quite a lot of leeway with my mana. Previously I would faint just from the ancestors making ruckus inside the Jewel. I believed that I had really grown when thinking back of that.
……However, I didn't want to experience "growth" anymore.
The Seventh looked at me and said 「Try it」.
「Then」
I tried snapping my fingers like the Seventh. After learning the method to use this I thought, this action of snapping finger wasn't really necessary.
A magic circle emerged around me.
But, the size of the magic circle was far smaller than the Seventh's.
The Seventh muttered after seeing that size.
『This size has the capacity of two or three cart I think? But four cart is impossible.』
The Third crouched down and stared at my magic circle.
『Hmm~, it's smaller than the Seventh's. Will this grow bigger later?』
The Seventh nodded.
『Well, it depends on the user's mana. In Lyle's case, there is no problem with his technique of using Art.』
The Third was also convinced.
『Lyle is amazing at that point. He can use our Arts without any effort at all.』
I didn't understand what they were telling me.
「I've been taught the way to use the Arts so, isn't it natural that I can do it?」
The Seventh made a really conflicted look.
『You and also Maizel, why are you two like this……well, doesn't matter. Then, next is the Third's turn. Ah, before that』
Maizel……father's name was mentioned. I looked down. Seeing that the Third and also the Seventh each made a troubled face.
No matter what it felt painful recalling about my family.
The Seventh looked at me and said 「Erase the magic circle」, so I snapped my fingers. Then the magic circle vanished, but at the same time I felt quite a lot of mana disappeared from my body.
The consumption that was too drastic and the unexpected fatigue from it made me fell on my knee. I put my hand on the lawn and calmed down my disordered breathing.
『Aa~, this is certainly dangerous. When using it, you have to check that there is no enemy nearby first. If not it will be scary to use it.』
It was convenient, but thinking of the mana consumption, the most I could use it in a day was twice. That too was only if I used it the first thing in the morning and didn't do anything after that to recover my mana before using it once more at night.
In practice the limit of using it was once a day.
『Now then, next is my turn. Then, it's nice that Lyle is tired right now so let's try using it on you while we are at it. My Art Mind, to put it bluntly its convenience of usage is bad compared to other Art.』
The Seventh muttered in a small voice at the Third's a.s.sertion.
『Liar, this wily guy.』
The Third seemed to hear that, but he ignored the Seventh and continued talking.
『Even if my Art is used normally, a lot of people will resist it and it won't have any effect. That's why, there is important prerequisite to use it is by making the opponent tired or feeling confused mentally beforehand. Just like Lyle right now.』
It seemed the Third had used his Art, but I didn't know what it was doing.
「E, eh? Third? Seventh?」
Even when I looked around, I couldn't find the two. But, in exchange a single person──Celes was there. She was chuckling scornfully and approached me.
「Stop. Don't come……don't comeee!」
Celes laughed at my voice.
『Ahahaha, how unsightly! You are crawling on the ground and even scream pathetically……you, just die already.』
At the end Celes expressionlessly declared with a really low and terrifying voice, then before I noticed she was taking a stance with her favorite rapier. When the tip of the rapier approached until before my eyes, someone tapped my shoulder.
「……Eh?」
The Third's face was there.
『Yaa. Did you see a good dream?』
I grimaced at that sarcasm and answered with a dissatisfied look. The Seventh was also exasperated and warned the Third.
『That's overdoing it.』
However the Third spoke bluntly.
『It's important to experience it yourself once. My Art is something that show illusion and interfere with the mind. It will change to a really terrifying Art if it's effect is taking hold. So much that a certain someone even call it wily.』
The Seventh cleared his throat and then he lent me a hand. I took my hand and stood up, then the Seventh said to the Third.
『That's the most troublesome Art among all the ancestors' Arts after all. It became useful many times during my lifetime but, all that time I was thinking that perhaps the Third who was manifesting that Art was an utterly wily villain. And in fact it seems you're really a black-hearted person.』
The Third was laughing.
『How cruel. Well, but……if it's Lyle then you surely won't do it for anything strange, I thought it's fine even if I teach you it. After all it will be used for bad thing if it's handed to anyone carelessly.』
I was feeling my heartbeat that was still beating fast while looking at the Third.
「You were making sure of my character until now?」
The Third honestly nodded.
『That's right. But, I have been thinking from some time ago that it might be alright to teach you the Art, and yet the timing never came. That's why I used this chance to teach you. You know, there is also that troublesome girl Shannon-chan. I'm thinking that this Art might become a trump card.』
Trump card? However, if the story of the Sixth and others was right, the possibility that she would be able to break the Art itself was high. Was there another way to use this Art?
「Is there other way to use this?」
『Hm~, I don't know if it will work but, my Art is emitting a really feeble mana to the surrounding. From that, it doesn't really do anything to magic or other Art but, it will become a real hindrance for Art that is related to the mind. Well, perhaps there is a possibility of it becoming a trump card. Use it when the time comes. Though it might not do anything.』
If possible I wished that it wouldn't become a situation where I had to use this trump card.
But, there was a problem with this Art.
「Err, how should I exhaust the enemy or disturb their mind?」
The Third folded his arms and laughed.
『That depends on how you do it. It's fine if you make your opponent physically tired, and you can surprise them or corner them mentally or the like?』
The Seventh looked at my face and demanded agreement.
『You understand don't you, Lyle? Just how horrible this Art is. If you use Mind to a weakened opponent, you can also extract information from them. It's extremely useful if you can use it well but, it's also a dangerous Art.』
Certainly, I could understand why the Third would ascertain my character first. Perhaps this Art by itself was in the weak category, but it was extremely powerful if it was taking effect.
In fact, the beating of my heart was still racing even now after seeing Celes's illusion. It was like the real Celes was there…….
While I was thinking that, the Third taught me one more method to display the effect of the Art.
『Also, there is an effective method to use it in case the opponent isn't weakened or disturbed mentally. That is, by conversation.』
「Conversation? Why is conversation effective?」
『Who knows? But, the more you talk the more the other side will fall deeper into the Mind's trick. There is no doubt about it because I had experimented many times in the past. You can trust me.』
……Just who did you experimented on!? I wanted to ask that but, it was a bit scary so I didn't.
