334 - - The Old Friend?

I was out of bed and Cal said good morning, but now it was night, almost midnight.

"Do you want to go to bed?　Want a drink?"

I ask them if they still want a drink, even though they are probably tired.

"I'll have a drink!"

"Bon appétit!"

The answer comes back with a happy face.

I probably have a similar look on my face. I don't put it into words because I'm embarrassed, but you can tell that I'm pleased. This is embarrassing.

"To our return."

"To the general store."

"Lord."

We each make a toast and sip our wine. The place is the living room on the third floor of a liquor store, and the table is lined with snacks.

"Ha, it's over, it's over!"

Galahad drinks it all in one gulp, exhales, and says in a voice full of openness, "I'll be back in a few days.

"Good night."

"This is delicious and crunchy on the outside. I like the saltiness on top.

< into his mouth. It is covered with Parmigiano cheese.

"This one is very refreshing," he says.

Cal is eating Carpaccio of Shiraiwa Flounder.

Juice of green citron and grapeseed oil, peel of green citron for aroma and a hint of bitterness. <

I once served chocolate as a snack, but it seems that salty food is better with sake. Spare ribs and risotto for Galahad, who said he was hungry.

"By the way, what does it mean to kneel on either side of your knees?"

"Ah. It's easy to draw a sword or not. ......"

Galahad answers without making subtle eye contact.

"Hmm?　Then wasn't it dangerous to kneel in front of the Spider?"

The left front is more likely to catch the sword. No, it is dangerous to kneel in such a scene full of demons.

I would have preferred to kneel on both knees. ......

Cal says with his usual spring smile.

"Stop it, it's more dangerous. I'm glad Cal recognizes me as an employer, but don't put your life on the line for some strange stunt."

"Hmmm. This time it was a great pleasure.

Cal smiles with a very happy reminiscent smile.

"I hate this old man, he's going to open all his defensive skills just to kneel down. ......"

Galahad's face is unusually half-crying.

Cal, do you like the direction?　Falling from the sky on a sky horse, falling stars--that's very much what I'm thinking of!　I'm a little late to notice that, aren't I!

"...... Lord, a message from the new emperor. He wants to reward you in some way."

"No?　I just wanted to fight the Spider, and I don't need it."

Both Kal and Galahad say they left their personal wealth behind. Reparations to neighboring countries, importing food so that the people of the empire would not starve. The empire will probably never have enough money.

"Not only about the sealed beasts, but also about the change in the range of the golden dragon Paltin, and perhaps in a few years' time, wheat will be harvested in the imperial lands. It seems that those close to the center of the empire who were entrusted with the task were delighted. Patience with the future in sight is different from patience with the future out of sight.

"Yes. Until now, the influence of the golden dragon Parthin has been so great that the area where plants grow has been reduced. We've been able to get more minerals instead, but we can't survive without food. When I was there, the air in the empire was full of weapons manufacturing because they wanted to get their hands on the rich land around them. People said the empire was strong, but that was a reflection of the uncertainty of the future of all the people.

Galahad stares into the air with his glass in his hand.

"It's subtle after getting along with Paltin, but with Cal, I'm sure we'll be able to defeat him somehow. ......"

Partin, who had weighed himself against influencing Mistiff . As a human being, he would have wanted others to weigh in, but he had no right to choose inconvenience for Paltin and to stay cooped up all the time.

"When Pertin defeated the dragon and received the heart, his strength increased.

Cal says and raises his glass to his lips.

"Retirement ......"

How old are you really?

"Give him something, he's got his own problems. It may be a flash in the pan now, but the empire will be disgraced without something for Homura, who contributed so much."

"I see. So, what do you think? Liberation of the gateway or permission to travel to the continent of the elves?

He is convinced by Galahad's story and makes a proposal that does not seem to cost a lot of money.

"You can go to other continents on your own, can't you?

"Isn't it nice to be able to go there with an open mind?"

He replies to Galahad, who looks stunned. I can't think of anything!

"Permission to use the transfer port will likely be granted to those who have contributed to the defeat of the Spider this time. Considering the balance, it will not be enough.

You say that, but I took Kal and Galahad, Eagle and Camilla. Too much.

I don't want to say that I took them, because that would be disrespectful to the will of the two who came back to me, but emotionally... If I told them, they would say "I am not from the empire" or "I am far from being a knight".

"In the imperial treasury, in addition to jewels, there are wands and swords. Why don't you choose one of them?

"Yeah, if he chose it, people won't say anything about what he chose."

So let's do it."

I don't really want anything in particular, and the fact that it's from the treasury bothers me, but if it makes it all go away, all the better.

"Speaking of which, the drop of a mythical creature..."

Rummaging through his belongings. Oh no, I have to get my things in order.

"It was a bell, but it had a disturbing name.

"Disturbing?"

They tilt their heads.

"<>"

The bell he took out makes a hard sound.

Purple smoke falls to the floor from under the bell, forming a human figure. This is both a bell and an incense burner. The smoke is supposed to go up, so there is no smell, and it reminds me of dry ice.

"You wanted to see me?"

A blond boy appears.

"Wow. A man of the world!"

Galahad, the stick figure.

"I had expected this from Liddell and Kulurkan, but you have been made a messenger beast."

Kalu smiles and remains smiling.

"Hmm. I don't expect to see you kneeling before a man."

A man with a childish expression on his face.

"...... Merlin, is that you?"

Cal pulls back his smile and makes a straight face.

"Ugh."

Galahad stands up and moves away.

"He was a wizard, but now he's a muscle gorilla and a definite shorty!"

I'm surprised.

"Lord ......"

"How do you feel about that?"

Two people look at me like I'm a disappointment.

"You serve a pleasant one, I see. I'm about to be used by the same master, and it seems I'm never bored looking at him.

He looks at Cal with a nasty smile.

"As usual, you're a bad person."

Cal smiles in an unusually troubled way.

"I am Spider, and I am Merlin. All I can do for the Lord is to keep the storehouse and offer this knowledge. I hope you will make use of it for many years.

The boy, Merlin, kneels down on both knees in worship as he faces me on the sofa, his expression serious.

Blonde hair, darker than Cal's, shoulder-length bob?　Prince cut. Thin limbs - will they turn into muscular gorillas again when they use magic?　At least the owl is gone.

"Wow. ......."

"......"

Is it my imagination that cold air is coming from the smiling Cal?

"Uh, storage and knowledge?"

"Yes, for a price, but as a warehouse that can be called up at any time if not in the middle of a battle. It is also possible (・・・・・) to produce (・・・・・・・) with production equipment (・・・・・) inside (・・・・・・・). If you can connect it with the storage for store sales, the warehouse of this house will be unnecessary."

Merlin, the smiling boy.

"Maybe you could even put in a production facility?"

I look toward the kitchen and say.

Even though we can carry around much larger items than in the real world, we can't keep some large items in item pouches or storage, but have craftsmen set them up in our rooms.

"Yes."

"Oh, please!"

I reply, and the boy Merlin bows and stands up with a smile.

I like to do things by hand, so I don't intend to leave them stored away, but if I can put them in and out of the production room, the three rooms I have now for [mixing], [alchemy], and [decoration] will become one, and it will be much easier if I don't need a warehouse. The kitchen is left out. Oh, but can we use the kitchen outside?

"This will give us more room. For now, let's just destroy the warehouse on the third floor on the general store side and make room for Cal or Leno to move in."

"By all means. I'll move in.

"Yeah, let's do that."

Cal looks so happy that flowers almost fly in the background.

I felt a little sorry that the room was too small for a man nearly two meters tall. But when I told him about the idea of building a room on the fourth floor of the liquor store, he didn't seem to be interested. I have to contact Trinh, who designed and built this place.

"I was going to make fun of ...... who is that?"

"Stop messing around with the old man and pulling your punches! His enthusiasm and good mood are bad for my heart.

Merlin and Galahad are talking together. The person who had been targeted looked as if he had no idea what was going on. I am not sure if Cal and Merlin are getting along well or not, but I am sure they will get along. Maybe.

Afterwards, the two of them join in the discussion and decide on the layout of the rooms in the house. It's not final, as we'll hear other requests later, but it reflects the preferences of those who are away, so I don't think there will be any major changes.

"Wow, this is tasty again. In all my years of living, I don't think I've ever tasted anything like this without using special ingredients."

I'm glad the food suits Merlin's palate as well.

We spend the night drinking until Galahad falls asleep, and then we split up. It's a strange feeling of regret, knowing that we will see each other again anytime. Merlin has set out his belongings and formed a nest in a large, empty room on the fourth floor of the liquor store. Yes, it is more aptly described as a nest than a room, with miscellaneous things placed in a motley manner.