248 - - The Mission

"Homura, you said before that I'm helping other people on their missions, right?"

Yeah, you said that.

That's a lie. I'm sorry.

"Yeah?"

I was a little surprised when Galahad put down his mug of dumplings and bowed to me just as I finished my dumplings.

"I myself am the one who received the oracle of mission from Asha."

"......Well, I guess that's in order."

If Asha likes Galahad, I think it will be Galahad rather than Kal. I can't imagine that Asha would choose them, even if it is Cal or Gawain in terms of strength.

I'm sorry I didn't tell you.

"No, we've just met, and there are a lot of obstacles that could get in the way. Is there anything I can do to help?"

"I've already had help."

?"

I don't know, I don't remember helping you.

"My mission is to get the incense burner and place it in the center of the round table room. I've done a lot of research since then, and I've figured out that it's supposed to hold a mythical creature.

"I'm glad he didn't get rid of the files."

"You can't throw away old things, especially books, even if they belong to someone else."

Well, that sounds like a good fit.

Galahad says that at first he had no idea what he was looking for because he had been researching <>, but when he reexamined his research with <> in mind, he found a few clues about .

"It's not a lie that the master of the one who took care of me was cursed, but the king of the empire collapsed with the same symptoms, so I was looking for a way to break the curse. The empire has many enemies, and we can't tell them that the king has fallen.

"At first, they thought we were both sick."

Camilla adds.

"An empire and a king?"

"That's what you're worried about. Externally, he is an emperor, but he was so great when he founded the country that even after he annexed other countries and started calling himself an empire, the people still customarily refer to him as king."

The man I spoke to said that the <> was the prime minister of a neighboring country. Like Kalu, he has an that can detect concealment, and he is the owner of the book that contains the record of the 鵺. This is probably the reason why he was targeted. Moreover, it is said that the Prime Minister's illness was before the country turned unstable, two years before Kalu was hunted.

I wonder if it was originally an event where we went to the country together on an errand quest and asked for information. ....... I'll ask the Flame Kings later, but I'm afraid I'll get in the way of a lot of people asking them. I asked for strategies and details of the event, and then the reward for the achievement was lowered!　Gil was unusually complaining about it.

At the same time, it occurs to me that Elias did not announce his name because it is difficult for production workers to hide. While combatants can escape to some extent once they are in the hunting grounds, it is difficult for production workers to escape because of their stores. It seems a bit risky to advertise. I was thinking about this, and then the story was going on.

"Maybe it was Master Merlin. He's been around long enough to have a long life. The changes were too gradual to notice."

"Even now we don't know how to break the curse. The things we've collected have only slowed the progression of the disease."

Eagle, with his eyes downcast, gazing at the cup in his hand, says, "I'm not sure I'd like to be here, but I'm not sure I want to be here.

"You have no idea how many things he keeps an eye on and pulls strings while he lives in his tower in the forest."

"Maybe we shouldn't be too afraid of them.　You're going to be skeptical."

"He's very careful, he's got more than one or two tricks up his sleeve. You can never be too careful."

"Well, that's it!　Now we have nothing to hide!　<

Galahad then took the mug of wine that had been set aside and downed the rest in one gulp. With this, the heavy atmosphere is lifted from the three and the banquet resumes.

So we add crispy and juicy fried tofu and soft salted fried tofu. Beer, white wine with lemon and citrus flavors. I wonder if red wine would be better with meat, and I would like to ask for advice from a sake lover. I drink soda water with berries in it, thinking that I can make a variety of dishes, but the dishes I can serve quickly will be the ones I am used to.

Then I get ready for bed.

"Yes, this is the duvet. We'll send you a three-piece comforter set with more down!　Now add another pair and you've got 100,000 shillings!　If you purchase within a quarter of a year, you will receive another set!　Three sets for 100,000 shillings!"

"Homura, what are you talking about?"

"It's certainly better than before. ....... I'm just not sure how subtle I feel about it considering it's what we use for encampments."

Eagle and Camilla, who are helping me lay out the bedding that also serves as a cover-up camp, look at me with dismay. When we came to the labyrinth before, we didn't have enough for the whole party, but now that we have [storage], we carry enough for the full party. Not only that, but he also has a bed and a bathtub that he removed from his room in the general store, but he's weighing himself down.

"No, well, I'll buy that futon, though."

Galahad, who has finished putting out the fire, joins the conversation.

"I was just imitating a futon seller, but I'm not trying to sell you anything.

Each of them unequipped themselves, lightly cleansed themselves with life magic, and prepared for bedtime. Why is it that the comforters, which were laid out ...... far apart, are now snuggled together?

I'll be next to Homura.

Well, Camilla, you may not know this because you were asleep, but there was an accident the last time you woke up and found the same futon. .......

"Oh!　Let's get the hell out of bed."

"Homura, turn off the light."

"Yeah."

Why don't they care? Is it because the three of us have been adventuring together for so long?　Well, I guess I'm a bit of a gentile sleeper (logged out), so I'm not in the loop on a lot of things.

I crawl under the covers, feeling a little disconcerted. It was pitch black just after I turned off the light, but I became accustomed to the darkness and could see my surroundings vaguely. It seems that I subconsciously turned off my night vision.

"Oh, by the way, Camilla..."

What is it?

"The blonde who said she was with her sister, I think."

"What?"

"Boom!"

"Homura ......"

Three signs of getting up.

"Why drop the bomb right before bed?"

"Why this timing ......?"

What makes you think that?

"An unidentifiable thing with the voice of a man, a monster that has no subject and changes form depending on what it sees - I didn't see the blond boy."

The high, high ceiling is obscured by the darkness, but I look at it as I speak. Silence falls for a while.

"It was Percival who entered the forest to get information about ......<> from his side."

"I guess that's when I got the [inclination]."

"<><>>, I got a hint and even managed to suppress the symptoms of the curse, but that's it."

"I think they are deliberately vague to include the truth. Even if you follow the clues, you may not be able to break the curse.

Three people arguing in the dark. If we are able to suppress the symptoms, it will be difficult to realize that we are going in the wrong direction. Merlin, you're so smart!

"Then where are the real king's children?"

"......Wait, wasn't the rumor about Master Lancelot and Queen Guinevere because she and the king couldn't have a child forever......?"

It's funny, I can't seem to remember anything about it, even though I'm sure there is a "child" in there. I don't recall any security for the marriage and coronation ...... of the heir."

"No, it's weird."

"Thinking in the dark gets creepier and creepier. It's healthier to think in the light, don't you think?"

As the three voices grow serious, I call out to them from inside the futon.

"Whose fault is it?

"Oh, God!　It's terrible!"

Galahad, next to me, bobbed on his pillow, and Camilla, on the other side, rolled off her own futon.

"I hate it when I can't rely on my own memories and perceptions," she said. I guess that's what I've come to expect from the ."

"<> are called gorillas and owls in my world. I've never met Merlin, but he is a wizard, so should I imagine an owl?　If I imagine a gorilla, that definitely changes the story, doesn't it?"

Mixing back the still-thinking Eagle .

"...... please use an owl."

"Oh, by the way, his side of the haircut has hair above the ears that sticks out on both sides like a long-eared owl."

"You guys ......"

Going to bed for now (logged out). I'll think about it another time!