Chapter 21
＊ Keesgran Federation, Capital Valhalla ＊
The towering white castle was even called a work of "art."
The "king" of Valhalla, the capital at the heart of the vast Keesgran Federation, was also the federation's leader.
The king's name was Geffert. He made the white castle, a work of art, his residence.
"Your Majesty. We have received an urgent magical communication from Daniel Achenbach-sama, the son of Duke Achenbach."
The castle looked like an old-fashioned fortress, but its interior was somewhat different.
Of course, the grand hall where guests were received and the audience chamber were furnished with sumptuous items that matched the castle's exterior, but the administrative areas were equipped with the latest magical devices.
At the push of a button, hot water at the desired temperature flowed out, and even the pot used to brew King Geffert's favorite tea was a magical device. These devices operated using "magic stones" obtained by defeating monsters.
Magic stones were what powered magical devices.
It was not all that different from electricity powering the various tools of modern Japan.
The only difference was that magical devices were prohibitively expensive, meaning only certain people could use them.
"An emergency...? Daniel was the duke's eldest son, was he not?"
"Yes."
"Now that I think of it, did we grant the duke's son permission to use emergency communications?"
A gaunt old man replied.
His hair was completely white and slicked back, and his magnificent, long beard nearly reached his navel.
This old man, who looked as though he might be crushed beneath the weight of his jeweled crown and crimson cloak, was none other than Geffert.
"Yes. The thing is... His Grace the Duke has passed away."
When the attendant reporting this lowered his voice, Geffert's eyebrows twitched.
"Then I must hear what the new duke has to say."
The staff gleaming with a deep silver sheen was light enough for the gaunt old man to lift effortlessly. He used it as a cane and left the room.
The legs carrying him down the long corridor were surprisingly sturdy for someone of his appearance. Bright sunlight streamed through the windowpanes, polished until they were free of even a speck of cloudiness.
The room the old man soon reached was as large as the previous one. However, numerous metal panels were mounted along its walls, with chairs lined up before them as operators recorded the incoming communications.
This was the place connected to every corner of the Keesgran Federation by magical communications.
Geffert had declared that the thing most essential to governing the vast Keesgran Federation was "information," and had spent ten years building a magical communications network.
Twenty-five years had passed since then. Even now, information from every region was collected and delivered to Geffert's ears.
Geffert passed through the room, where the only sound was the soft scratching of pens, and entered the adjoining chamber. When the attendant flipped a switch, a sensation like the air itself vibrating ran through the room, and a sound-suppressing magical device activated.
A chair for Geffert stood in the center of the small room. Facing it was a crystal ball mounted on a stand.
"So, you are the new duke. I hear this is an urgent communication?"
The crystal ball displayed a stout man repeatedly wiping sweat from his brow. His triangular, slanting eyes looked exactly like those of his father, Duke Achenbach—the former duke—even though that was hardly a feature one needed to inherit.
'Your Majesty Geffert, I hope you are in excellent spirits today as well...'
"Is this an emergency communication just so I can hear you make a pointless greeting?"
'Yes. I-I apologize...'
Daniel Achenbach wiped his brow with his handkerchief yet again. His father had handled all official duties until now, so he probably had no idea what to do or how to do it.
Geffert clicked his tongue inwardly. This was the heir? That duchy was finished.
"And? Your message must concern Six Mine, does it not?"
'Th-that is correct. I am deeply humbled by Your Majesty's insight.'
"No flattery. Get to the point."
His irritation slipped into his voice. The new duke wiped his sweat again. Time was being wasted.
But even Geffert had not expected the words that came next from the duke's mouth.
'The Six Mine has collapsed.'
"I see. A collapse... What?"
'Quite literally—it was buried beneath a pile of rubble. My father is presumed to have been caught in it and killed.'
While the old man blinked repeatedly, the duke continued explaining.
There had been a slave revolt. A huge creature resembling a "dragon" had appeared, causing the mine to collapse. And his father had died.
(The order is wrong. The slaves are bound by contract magic and cannot revolt. The duke must have died first... Did someone kill him? No, that doesn't matter right now.)
Geffert's voice grew harsh as well.
"And the mine's operations?"
'The so-called "dragon" seems to have taken up residence there, so no one can enter... We are still investigating whether it is a real "dragon," but we have also lost contact with the adventurers who were excavating inside...'
"I don't care about the adventurers! Can't the domain soldiers handle this!?"
'Y-yes, Your Majesty. We are currently sending all our forces to reclaim the mine.'
"Grr..."
At least he gets a passing grade for that, Geffert thought.
"A 'dragon'...? A monster on the level of a natural disaster was in the mine...? Listen. Find out immediately whether anything similar has happened in the past. Make it the highest priority."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
One of the attendants heard this and dashed out of the room.
"New duke. Send me every detail about this so-called 'dragon'—what it looks like, how large it is, everything."
'O-of course, Your Majesty.'
"A 'dragon'—a 'dragon.' In that case, adventurers would be the quickest to deploy..."
Geffert said this almost to himself, then continued,
"New duke. I will send some of Valhalla's finest adventurers aboard the latest magical airship. Keep the airship port clear and ready for use at any time."
'Understood! B-but... adventurers?'
"When they weigh danger against fame, they choose fame. My treasured knights are away on an expedition and cannot move immediately. If this has not been resolved in one month, I will dispatch the knights. That will suffice, will it not?"
'Y-yes, Your Majesty.'
And with that, the communication was cut off.
"This is bad. This is very bad..."
Geffert stroked his beard with his wrinkled fingers.
"The only place besides Six Mine where Talent Gems can be mined is Third Forest, my direct domain... The high elves there are reluctant to hand over Talent Gems..."
Then Geffert suddenly turned toward the attendant who remained.
"Speaking of high elves, that adventurer called the 'Crimson Dragon Slayer' is in Valhalla, is she not?"
"Yes, Your Majesty. We have information that Krista-la-Krista, a half-elf and Mithril-class adventurer, is currently staying at the capital guild. At present, they are participating in an operation to wipe out the Dark Fang Mercenary Band at the request of the guild and the mayor of Valhalla."
"A dragon slayer, you say?"
"Yes. They have defeated a dragon in the past."
"Then send that adventurer to Duke Achenbach's domain! The mercenary band can wait!"
"Understood."
"Hurry! If word gets out about the Six Mine, the other federation states will start making a fuss. Conceal as much information as possible!"
Another attendant dashed out of the room.
The riot at the mine where Reiji had been was already becoming a problem for the entire Keesgran Federation.
＊ ＊
Watching the domain soldiers leave the domain capital in a murderous mood, we took the back streets toward the Adventurer's Guild.
The Adventurer's Guild occupied a large, three-story building facing a broad, cobblestone-paved street. Its double iron doors stood wide open, as did all its wooden windows, so the hubbub inside could be heard clearly from outside.
——They say there was a riot at the mine.
——The slaves are attacking the surrounding towns. The settlements might be in even worse shape.
——They say there are places where everyone was slaughtered. How terrifying.
——No wonder they mobilized the domain soldiers. A slave hunt, huh.
Every time I heard the word "slave," I felt as though cold water had been poured over my heart.
Just then, a warm hand took mine.
"Reiji-kun, you're all right, aren't you? You're a member of the 'Silver Scales,' after all."
"Mimino-san..."
Why was Mimino-san being so kind to me? I had almost nothing to give in return.
When Dantes-san went in first, followed by Raikira-san, the guild fell silent.
I followed them inside. The ground floor was spacious. Its floor was cobblestoned like the main street, with wooden tables and chairs scattered around. A long counter stood directly opposite the entrance, and several people who appeared to be guild employees, all wearing the same uniforms, glanced our way.
The adventurers stared at us rudely. Their genders and ages varied widely. Anyone aged ten or older could register, and there was no retirement age. They ranged from bottom-rung adventurers who barely scraped by from day to day to adventurers clad in glittering armor that could be mistaken for a noble's.
The Adventurer's Guild was also a microcosm of society.
When Non-san entered last, a wolf whistle sounded.
"What brings you to the Adventurer's Guild?"
"We'd like to sell some materials and register this child with the guild."
Dantes-san's hand was placed on my head—wait, me?
The man attending to us was an older gentleman with graying hair. He wore a monocle over his right eye.
"...I'm sorry, but guild regulations require registrants to be at least ten years old."
"He's already ten."
"I mean no offense, but he certainly doesn't look ten. In that case, we would need proof, such as a citizen registration certificate."
"We don't have anything like that."
"Then I'm afraid we can't register him here... Wait. Could you perhaps be suffering from the petrification curse?"
"Yes, I am."
Dantes-san pulled up the inner shirt covering his neck and revealed his petrified skin. A stir went through the guild.
"—Gah, that's petrification!"
"—This is bad! That thing's contagious, isn't it?"
"—It isn't."
"—Still, let's keep our distance."
"—That sounds good to me."
The adventurers who had been lounging around the tables hurriedly left the guild.
"Ahh... This is a problem, Dantes-sama. This is practically obstructing business. We're already terribly busy, and the guildmaster has been summoned by His Grace the Duke, leaving us in complete disarray."
The guild employee said this while checking the guild card Dantes had handed over.
"The Medusa's curse isn't contagious. You know that, surely?"
"I know it, but there are people who don't."
"That's something the guild should educate them about."
"In any case, I'm telling you this is a problem. Some people follow a faith that rejects petrification. We will purchase your materials, but I recommend that you leave the domain capital as soon as you've finished your business. ...After all—"
The guild employee cast a sidelong glance at Raikira-san and Mimino-san.
"The domain capital is in turmoil right now."