Mountains with exposed rock surfaces. They towered like giants supporting the world, and the sunlight cast a rainbow over the waterfalls pouring down from the mountaintops. Occasionally, a griffon or an unfamiliar bird would fly nearby, but if they saw us, they would panic, circle around and run away. They were scared of the black griffon. But among them, there was also some griffon who were not wary of us.
“A few of them keep following us. They chirp so noisily.”
“Hmmm…. Oh-, I get it. It’s probably a courtship call.”
Liz looks annoyed as she looks at the griffons behind her. It has been following us ever since we entered the territory of the Dartan Kingdom. It’s a nuisance for her, who enjoys sleeping.
“You can summon a new one.”
“Are you telling me to switch to another homeless griffon? Hmmm, you’re right. In this case, it can’t be helped.”
We descended to the ground and then I summon two new ones. When I ordered the griffons Pero and Rodman had been riding to “live freely”, they rubbed their heads against my face before taking off into the sky. Even though they are my familiar, they also have the right to have offspring. That’s why I have to let them go at some point. I felt lonely, but at the same time, I felt somewhat relieved when I thought that my child had left the nest.
“Homeless griffons are very intimidating. I think they may have been attractive to the female birds around here.”
“I think so too. If possible, I want them to live happily.”
We set off again and headed for Dartan. Then, after a few hours of flying, something that looked like a city began to appear on the horizon.
“It’s been a long while, Perun.”
“Mmm, the sound and smoke of blacksmithing are still rising.”
“Ah! Right. I have to hide the fact that I’m an elf.”
Erna used light magic camouflage to cover her body with an illusion of her being a human. After the illusion took effect, she doesn’t have long ears anymore, which is kind of strange.
We landed not far from the city and then I ordered the two griffons to go free until they were summoned.
“As expected from the capital of a great kingdom. It is incomparably bigger than the Royal Capital.”
“I’m looking forward to it. I wonder what kind of things they sell.”
“It’s too hot! I’m against staying in that city.”
Freya and Pero seem to be having a good time looking out over the city. Liz complains about the ping-pong-clang sound the blacksmiths were making during their work.
“Woah, this is the city that our ancestors built. It’s so moving to see it with my own eyes.”
Rodman kneels on the ground and prays. If I recall correctly, I think he said he was of dwarven blood. When I think of it as the hometown of my distant ancestors, there is indeed something deeply moving about the place.
“My plan is to stay for about a week. There will be plenty of time to sight see here then.”
“I feel like I’ll have to stay here for a month. This is like a sacred place that blacksmiths from all over the world admire. There’s so much to gain.”
I see. He intends to use this as an opportunity to expand his knowledge as a blacksmith. I admire his greedy ambition.
“Alright. Let’s all have our own time today. I also have to prepare to meet the king.”
“I’ll appreciate that. You decide on a meeting place and I’ll be there by evening.”
“Okay. Then, let’s meet at a tavern in the center of the city.”
After a short meeting, we head to the city. After that, we passed through the entrance without any problems, and we all stepped inside the Rock Capital, Perun.
◇◇◇
“Why is it only Rival? Unfair!”
“If you’re feeling frustrated, you should find adamantite too. Ohohoho~”
“Some nerve! I’ll definitely find it.”
In one of the rooms at the inn where we checked in, there were sparks flying between Erna and Liz. I really don’t get it. I am just about to go on a date, which is what I promised Erna.
Liz, who was provoked, seemed to be quietly angry and she looked at us with her eyes squinted.
“We’re going sightseeing. Liz-san is going with us too.”
“I’m not going to give up. I’m going to get the right to ask for a date.”
She was dragged out of the room by both Pero and Freya.
Hmmm, I wonder if dating is that good.
It feels like I missed something.
“Now that there’s no one in the way, let’s go~”
“Oh- right. Then, I’ll be in your care today.”
“Yeah. We’re going to make it a memorable date.”
We left the inn and started walking. Although the kingdom of Dartan has blacksmithing as its main industry, it is still the capital where the king lives so it is quite lively. When we arrived at the commercial district, we find a number of fashionable shops. Me and Erna decided to go into what seemed to be a general store for the time being.
The interior of the store was based on white, and the products were also available in white and bright colors. Perhaps because of this, most of the customers I saw are women. While feeling a slight nervousness, I start selecting some products.
“This is a cute plant pot. It might be a good idea to grow flowers in it.”
“Hmm, gardening huh. Not bad. They seem to be selling seeds too. Why don’t you try growing them?”
I decided to ask the owner of the general store what kind of seeds they have. A middle-aged woman about 150 centimeters tall graciously answered my question.
“I recommend the rose variety. They have small, beautiful flowers and their scent are captivating.”
“What else?”
“Maybe daisy or petunia. They also have beautiful little flowers. I also recommend Cosmos.”
“By the way, what is the ratio of soil? How much humus and gravel should be mixed in?”
“Blending several types of soil to match the flowers is the most basic of the basics, but it’s rare for a man to know this. You’re well informed, young man.”
I started talking about flowers with the shopkeeper, and before I knew it, we were chatting for nearly half an hour. Finally, I noticed that a grumpy Erna is waiting for me on the side with her arms crossed.
“Uh-, which flower do you prefer Erna? I’ll buy it for you.”
“……Sigh. Nevermind. Then, give me this magic carousel.”
Magic carousels are a type of so-called miniature roses. It is a plant of the rose family that is relatively suitable for potted plants. However, it is also a flower that is difficult to grow and is said to be for advanced planters.
“It’s quite difficult to grow, but can you do it? It looks like this is your first time gardening…”
“It’s okay. I have an environment that will never let it wither.”
“?”
The shopkeeper tilted her head in confusion and thinks about something. She must be thinking about the meaning of Erna’s words. Of course, there’s no way she’ll get it. The soil on the dungeon could easily grow any vegetation. Eventually, Erna bought a plant pot and plant seeds.
We then decided to head to the next store.
“Do I really have to do it?”
“Of course! This is what dates are all about. If you don’t want to, give my adamantite back.”
Feeling embarrassed, I hold hands with Erna. The small, slender hands were soft and felt good.
“Shinichi’s hand and mine are at last…… Mufufu~”
Erna smiles creepily as she looks at our linked hands. If this makes her happy, then I’ll just go with it. However, it is limited to a place where it is somewhat private. This time, she decided to enter a certain store. The shop is crammed with carved wooden figurines and furniture. Apparently, this is a store that specializes in interior design.
A dwarven male shopkeeper greets us while rubbing his hands together. Suddenly, a certain figurine caught my eye.
“Shopkeeper, this is……?”
“This is Jilva-sama. The sacred beast of this kingdom.”
It was a wood carving of a monkey. With thick arms and legs, and a fearless face, it looks like a monkey, but it also looks like a gorilla. Yet, the rough hair that covered its whole body expressed strength. It is a figure worthy of a beast that protects a kingdom.
“Is that Jilva you are talking about around here?”
“Who knows? He’s free-spirited and I don’t think anyone knows where he is. Sometimes he comes to see what’s going on in the City, sometimes he’s fishing in the river, sometimes he’s taking a nap at the top of the mountain. There is no fixed place.”
That’s exactly what a monkey is. It seems like it appears at its own pace, like the death god.
Then Erna brought a figurine.
“Hey look, don’t you think this is cute?”
“……..…”
It is a bipedal pig with a wine glass in one hand and it got a fearless smile on the face.
Is this cute? She’s kidding, right?
Is there something wrong with my sense of art? Or is Erna just weird?
As expected, there are too many things that I can’t understand about women.
“I’ll get this figurine of the sacred beast.”
“Thank you for your purchase, and the young lady—.”
“Not buying.”
I didn’t buy the pig figurine chosen by Erna. This judgment must be correct.
She was frustrated and quipped, “Shinichi doesn’t understand this wonderful sense.”
After leaving the store, the next step is to head to the sake brewery. Dwarves are notoriously fond of drinking. Naturally, there are alcohol breweries everywhere in the city, and I can see countless alcohol breweries. When we entered a random shop, I saw a few dwarves with red faces chatting.
“So, that human single-handedly slew five generals. Or maybe it was four. Anyway, that guy is amazing. Even General Gril couldn’t fight back.”
“Is that for real? You must have mistaken him for the Beast King.”
“It’s not a lie! There is a human in the kingdom who look like a demon! I’m the one who went to war, so I won’t be mistaken!”
A man who appeared to be a soldier seemed to be telling the other dwarves about the war. We pass by them to meet the shopkeeper.
“There’s no way that humans, the most powerless of the six races, could have led the Allied Forces. You must have been forced to hold onto money and say things like that. It’s something a cunning kingdom would do.”
“No! I saw it with my own eyes! That’s right, someone just like that guy over there—”
The man points vigorously at me and then his eyes widens. He must have remembered my face. His hands trembled slightly.
“What that person said is true. I am the man who led the Allied Forces. I’m Shinichi Tanaka.”
I activated the Crushing Skill, which is the highest level of intimidation. The dwarves fell to the floor in a cold sweat, unable to breathe as the pressure of my presence weighed on their entire bodies. As expected from a determined dwarf. A standard human would have fainted by now.
As soon as I stopped the skill, they all run out of the store at once.
“You shouldn’t have scared them.”
“But now that man will no longer be called a liar.”
Well, this is just a bit of a whim. I just happened to hear the story and thought I’d tell them the truth. When I went to the back of the store, I found the owner sitting on the floor. Moreover, he is trembling while holding a bottle of liquor. It seems that he was barely within the sphere of influence of the Crushing Skill.
“Y-you, please don’t let that horrible presence out in the store. Thanks to that, I fall on my hips.”
“I’m sorry, my bad. Let me help you out.”
I lend my shoulder to the shopkeeper and let him sit on a chair. When I looked closely, the bottle he was holding was a dwarf killer.
“I would like to buy this liqour, but would it be possible for me to get the whole barrel?”
“I don’t mind…… but we specialize in high-strength liquor. I think it’s too tough for you humans.”
“Don’t worry about that. It’s our dwarven friends who’ll drink it, not us.”
“In that case, it’s fine. Wait a minute. I’ll prepare it right away.”
The shopkeeper had a young clerk help him prepare ten barrels of Dwarf Killer. I bought them with gold coins and stored them all inside the bangle. This secured the tribute to King Dartan.
“Well, now that we’ve finished Shinichi’s errands, let’s continue our date.”
“Oh-,right. Let’s go then.”
After thanking the owner, we left the brewery.
This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.
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