Chapter 24
＊ Duke Achenbach's Mansion ＊
Making no attempt to conceal his irritation, Daniel Achenbach, the duke's eldest son, could not stop jiggling his leg. He cast his gaze between the knight in gleaming armor and the butler.
"There still hasn't been any word from Six Mine!?"
"No. The advance party should have arrived by now, but perhaps setting up the magic communication device is taking longer than expected. Conversely, it may mean that the communication device at the mine cannot be used."
"I know that! The problem is the dragon and the six-star Talent Gem!"
Though he was over forty, Daniel spoke in a petulant tone and wiped his forehead with a handkerchief.
"Young Master. According to the mine soldiers' report, the six-star Talent Gem has already been used, and a girl is on the run. If that is the case, she will have to stop in some town eventually, or starve to death. All we can do is wait patiently..."
"I know that, I said! There aren't many children at the mine, are there!? So why haven't they found her!?"
"The notice was sent throughout the entire duchy yesterday. So it would take some time... No, wait a moment. There really aren't many children..."
"Hm? What is it? Did you think of something, Head Butler?"
The butler rapidly flipped through the records in his hands.
"As you say, there were only two children working as mine slaves."
"Yes, yes, and?"
"Wouldn't children naturally become friendly with each other?"
"Of course, but... so what?"
"The other child is unnamed. However, the child has black hair and black eyes. Children do not travel alone, so perhaps the two are traveling together? The escaped slave named Lark has an ordinary appearance, but someone with black hair and black eyes would be easy to find."
"I see! —Wait, are you sure about the black hair and black eyes?"
"...Yes, that is the truth."
Daniel slammed his fist down on the table.
"It's the 'Child of Calamity'...! So the legend really was true!"
He glared at the knight.
"Search for the black-haired, black-eyed slave too! Once you find them, make them tell you where the six-star Talent Gem is, then kill them as soon as possible!"
"...Are you sure?"
"Of course I am! This is a ducal order! Go!"
"Understood..."
Though he was clearly reluctant, the knight left.
"Damn it. It will be a disaster if His Majesty Geffert learns that we lost the six-star Talent Gem."
It would be another half day before the knight received a report from the guards that a black-haired, black-eyed slave was in the domain capital.
Meanwhile, the butler rushed around preparing the magic airship's landing site. An airship carrying a Mithril-ranked adventurer was scheduled to arrive that evening.
＊ ＊
When Mimino-san and I, summoned by Non-san, hurried back to the warehouse behind the Adventurer's Guild, we found an astonishing sight waiting for us.
"You're kidding..."
"Good grief..."
The mustached man and the one-armed appraiser stood there, dumbfounded.
"Hmm. Was it really all right to bring this here, Chief?"
"Y-yes..."
"All right, I'll go put away the paperwork inside!"
With that, the scruffy-bearded "useless" guy went into the guild.
This was the same man who had been staggering around just an hour ago.
"You!"
The mustached man turned toward me.
"We'll buy all of that herb! How much do you want!?"
"Huh?"
"It works wonderfully against hangovers! From now on, let's have the guild put out gathering requests too! I'll see to it personally!"
"Oh, uh..."
Apparently, the yellow medicine I'd given him had worked perfectly. That was good, but could it really be that effective...? When I checked with 【All Creation】, all it told me was that it "enhanced liver function."
...Well, as far as enhancing its function went, that wasn't wrong, was it?
Even in Mon●Han, the same "health recovery" comes in "large" and "small," and they're worlds apart.
Maybe that "large or small" distinction was the important part...?
"!"
As I stared intently at the root of the herb, an image of "greatly enhancing liver function" suddenly appeared in my mind.
You can do that much after all! Then why didn't you do it from the start?!
Wait, hold on. Maybe it turned out this way because I hadn't tried to check in that much detail...?
"By the way, what is this herb called?"
"Oh, you mean this turmeric—"
I caught myself just before I finished. No, no, it wasn't turmeric! Not that I knew what real turmeric looked like!
"Oh, so it's called turmeric...?"
"Ah, well, I'm not sure. I mean, its official name is... I just thought it looked like turmeric, so I called it turmeric..."
"Well, if we ever learn its official name, we can worry about that then."
"Then perhaps we should give it a somewhat different name?"
"Hmm... In that case, for convenience, let's call this herb 'Reikon' here at the domain capital guild."
"...Huh?"
"It's named after its discoverer."
"Uh..."
I hesitated. Was it really all right to spread the wrong name for turmeric in another world...? Not that I even knew whether turmeric existed in this world... Still, maybe it was fine...?
It was okay.
It should be, right?
Someone had probably already given it a scholarly name.
"I understand. Then Reikon it is..."
"Very well. As for the price, would one small gold coin for the entire lot be acceptable?"
I was unexpectedly going to make a fortune. It was easily more than I'd paid for the Leaf of the Tree of Life. Score.
Just as I was about to nod—
"Waaait just a minute!"
"Mimino-san?"
"A medicine that effective is way too cheap at one small gold coin."
At that, the mustached man said,
"No, no. Hangovers can be cured to some extent with healing magic, you know. In that case, this is actually on the expensive side."
"But this can be used differently from healing magic, can't it?"
"Used... differently...?"
"Taking it in advance."
When Mimino-san said that, the man exclaimed, "Oh!"
"Unlike magic, which can only be used afterward, this can be taken in advance! In that case... I see, I see! This could be huge...!"
The man seemed terribly excited, but I didn't really understand why.
"What does that mean, Mimino-san?"
"Hmm, I think you'll understand when you're an adult, but people in high positions often find themselves in situations where they have to drink alcohol. But not everyone can hold their liquor, right?"
"Yes."
"On the other hand, lots of arrangements and business deals are settled over drinks. It's a weakness for people who can't hold their liquor, and a strength for those who can. You can't negotiate with a head clouded by drink."
"Ah... I see. If you take this medicine beforehand, you won't get drunk as easily!"
"That's only a possibility for now. We'll have to test it from here on out..."
"No, no. I've seen quite a few people take it before drinking. So it works."
"...Um, that's something from Reiji-kun's homeland, right?"
Oh, crap.
I'd let some half-learned knowledge from Japan slip out. At drugstores, they sell products like "U●kon no Chikara" and "Hepa●ze" with signs saying "Before your drinking party."
"I see."
As I fumbled, the mustached man took a gold coin from his pocket.
"Let's make it one Federation gold coin. This is an investment up front, and I really can't pay more than that. I'm offering this much because it's been a long time since I've seen a medicinal effect this exciting."
"That's plenty! 'The god of trade watches over us fairly,' after all."
"Let's report it as 'a deal good for the seller and good for the buyer.'"
The man and Mimino-san shook hands. I learned later that this exchange was apparently a greeting phrase commonly used by merchants.
"Ah, sorry, Reiji-kun. I went ahead and closed the deal..."
"No, no. I never thought of the possibility of taking it in advance, so I'm grateful."
"Here is your money, Reiji-kun."
"Ah..."
The Federation gold coin I was handed was larger and heavier than a small gold coin. It was worth about a hundred thousand yen.
"Looks like it turned out well. The guild people were in such a panic that I thought maybe something had gone wrong."
"Dantes-san."
"Knowledge is power. I hope the knowledge Reiji-kun brought will benefit many people."
Non-san stood beside Dantes-san and said that. Neither of them had asked where I'd gotten this information or anything like that. They were being considerate and choosing not to ask.
...Will the day come when I tell them everything?
I don't know...
"Hm."
At that moment, I heard a cheer. There was a similar building beside the warehouse, and it seemed to be coming from there.
"What is that place?"
"Ah, that's a training ground. Adventurers train there... Want to take a look?"
"I'd like to!"
"—But first, food. We haven't eaten a thing yet."
At Mimino-san's words, I put a hand to my stomach. It gave a small, gurgling rumble.