At night, when I was in bed, I noticed a tapping sound on my window.
Did the squirrels come to play?
I was already sleepy, so I decided to leave it alone, but the tapping sound came again.
“Really….…?”
Being careful not to wake up Char, who was already asleep, I went over to the window with the magical lantern in one hand.
When I opened the curtains of the window where the sound came, my eyes met the owl’s large eyes, and I was so surprised that my heart jumped.
The owl doesn’t even blink, but stares at me with its round golden eyes. Then as if to break the silence, its yellow beak began to knock on the window again.
“Do you need help from me?”
“Hooho!”
When I held up the magic lantern, I saw that there was an envelope clutched in the owl’s sharp claws.
“You came to deliver the letter?”
“Hoohoo!”
Apparently, it was the right answer.
The owl stepped aside so I could open the window. It probably meant no harm. Deciding so, I slowly opened the window, then the owl dropped the letter and flew away right after.
Using an owl to deliver a letter is not something that a normal person can do.
Maybe it’s Lebon’s Sambabano?
I thought so, but when I looked at it, the sender was the cave art dealer, Farh Jarg. The address was written in round font, “Baron Cedie Dantes”. Looks like the message is for me. I was sleepy, so I thought I’d read the letter tomorrow, but if I didn’t read it right away, he might send a second or third owl.
I had no choice but to cut the envelope open and read the letter.
| I would like to consult with Baron Cedie Dantes. I hope you will come as soon as possible. —Farh Jarg |
It was such a short sentence, there were nothing else written on it.
What could it be that he had to call me in the middle of the night?
This is just a guess, but I don’t think it’s a big deal anyway. If it really matters, Farh Jarg will come by himself.
I can just go tomorrow. I decided so.
I folded the letter, put it in an envelope, sighed a little, and went back to asleep.
The next day.
I could have ignored it, but Farh Jarg is also a resident of the island of Gandalcia after all. Observing the courtesy of a neighbor, I took Char to Jarg’s shop in the cave.
“Hey! You’re late!”
That was the first thing he said.
“You are asking for my help and yet you still say that? If that’s your attitude, I’ll go home.”
When I tried to turn around, Farh Jarg immediately pleaded.
“O-oh, I’m just kidding, Baron. Don’t be so angry.”
This guy is really…….
“What do you need from me?”
“Actually, someone I know is in trouble, and I need you to help me.”
“How can I help?”
I can use fire magic, but I’m not that good at fighting.
“Well, listen to me first.”
“Alright then. I’ll decide whether to help or not after listening to the story.”
“Yes, yes, that’s fine.”
We sat down in the chair he offered and listened to Farh Jarg.
“Actually, one of our regular customers is a lady called the Night Queen, and she got into trouble.”
“What kind of trouble is it?”
“Her lover was kidnapped.”
Kidnapped? That’s not an easy matter….
“The Night Queen was living happily with her lover on the Night Island. But then a giant named Argo appeared. He also went to live on the island. Argo is a monster with a hundred eyes, but he fell in love with the beautiful young man who was the Queen’s lover.”
“So he kidnapped him?”
“Mm. That’s what happened.”
It’s a sad story to hear. It’s too bad to forcibly separate a couple who love each other.
“Argo is a monstrous monster, and his strength is comparable to that of Miss Char.”
“He’s as strong as me!?”
“Moreover, he closes each of his hundred eyes in turn to rest, so he’s never completely asleep. So it’s impossible to ambush him even while he’s sleeping. That’s where Baron comes in.”
Okay, now I understand why he asked for my help.
“So you mean, I should put Argo to sleep with the deep-sea flute. Is that it?”
“As expected of the Baron. Your mind is quick!”
“Don’t flatter me. I won’t kill anyone.”
“T-that, if you can take the young man out while Argo is sleeping, that’s fine. The Night Queen will take care of the rest.”
It’s pretty much that I’ll only have to put Argo to sleep, but it’s not entirely without danger.
Hmmm, what should I do…..?
As I struggled, Farh Jarg slapped his chest.
“Of course, I won’t ask you to do it for free. The Night Queen will reward you for that, and I, Jarg, will also give you generous reward!”
“You are going to give me a reward?”
“I’ll give you this statue of 「Strong Young Man」!”
Farh Jarg pointed to a marble statue that had been placed beside him.
“Come on, it’s a fake, isn’t it? If it’s real, it won’t be sticking its middle finger up.”
Why would he make something that is obviously a fake anyway?
Oh well, I guess it’s less sinful that way.
“A-anyways, help the princess of the night in her trouble. She’s a poor lady after all.”
“That’s fine with me, but how do I get to the Night Island?”
“Hey, Baron has never been to another island yet? Oh well, you can use the teleporter that connects special places like Gandalcia.”
That’s right!
I had completely forgotten that I could use a teleporter machine to go to a friend’s island at Island Maker. Apparently, this system works here as well. There are materials and plants on other people’s islands that I don’t have on my own island. There are items that could only be made with materials obtained from other islands as well.
If I help her lover, the Night Queen may give me such materials.
“By the way, where is the teleporter?”
Farh Jarg pointed to the ceiling.
“Upstairs?”
“No, no. It’s on the top of this mountain.”
Well, I’ve been so busy that I’ve neglected investigating the island. The summit is still unexplored till now.
Oh, there’s an alert on the status screen.
| The conditions for the construction of mountain trails have been released. Condition: Listen to the story about the teleporter. What can be made: Mountain trails Description: A narrow path leading to the summit of Mt. Gandalcia. Points Required: 6 |
Alright. I’ll make the mountain trail and go to the Night Island in the afternoon.
This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.
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