CH 104

Chapter 104 – Red Jade Eyes & Golden Eyes

“You’re completely recovered, aren’t you?”

“Fully recovered.”

The next morning.

Finally, the indication of poisoning disappeared from my status abnormality list, and I felt completely well. Amalie-san’s examination showed no problems as well. I was finally able to go outside.

“Oh, I hope they didn’t get rid of the luggage I left at the inn.”

“Don’t worry. We already took it with us.”

“Seriously?”

“Yes. When we investigated you, we found out that you were staying at Ruffin’s inn.”

“I’m impressed with your investigation skills.”

“You’re very conspicuous, after all.”

I was convinced that was the case. There are not many people with black hair, to begin with, and if you look at my outfit, it should have been obvious that I was a mercenary or an adventurer. The rest was just a matter of asking the gatekeepers, and they would be able to trace my steps. If they could catch the boy who led me here, they could get information about me for a few copper coins. Then the rest will follow like a vine.

“This is what you wanted, isn’t it?”

Ellen took out from somewhere a silvery-white rosary with a shining light cross. That luster is probably mithril. That’s what I was looking for.

“Yes, it is.”

“Why? I don’t think it’s something you need, given your position.”

“I’m sorry, I can’t talk about that now. But it’s necessary.”

Even to Ellen, I can’t talk about the Golem communicator. It is a strategic weapon that is more important than crossbows and air bombs for harpies.

“I heard that you use an alloy of mithril and copper to make the golem communicator.”

“That damn fox!”

“Yeah, that’s what I heard from the damn fox. Although he didn’t seem to be able to get the blueprints or the actual product.”

“That would be impossible.”

The golem communication device is thoroughly controlled. Blueprints exist only in the minds of engineers. As for the golem communication device, I firmly insisted on leaving absolutely no more than a memorandum, and Isla agreed to it, so that’s how it was handled.

I can’t imagine what horrible things would happen if the enemy were to take it and mass produce it. I don’t even want to imagine a situation where enemies outnumbering us would attack us in organic coordination.

“Well, that’s fine. I’ll give it to you.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes. For two large gold pieces.”

“Ah, yes.”

I took out two large gold coins from the wallet that had been left by my bedside and handed them to Ellen. Even if she is a saint of the Adel religion, it is not good to give away the rosary of mithril for free.

“I’ll also give you this.”

Then Ellen took out a piece of paper. It seemed to be some kind of document with a short sentence and a seal stamped on a piece of high-quality paper.

“It’s a letter of invitation to see me. As long as I am not too busy, you will have first priority.”

“Oh… that would be great.”

“Are you happy?”

“I’m happy. Now I can see Ellen whenever I want, right?”

“I see. That’s right.”

After saying that, Ellen turned her face away. It seems that her ears are getting a little red. She was embarrassed when I told her I was happy or something like that.

“I’ll give you something too… Hmm, ah, yeah.”

I can’t think of a single item that would give someone a free pass to see me. The only thing I can think of that I can make is bullets for guns… Well, it might work if I gave her something with my name engraved on it, minus the ammunition and detonator, and made a letter in the same way.

“Can you get me a similar piece of paper and a pen?”

“You’re going to write a letter?”

“Yeah, something like that.”

“All right. Give me a minute.”

While watching Ellen get up from her seat and walk briskly to the door, I manipulated the crafting screen to create a pendant top out of bullet ammunition and a small bullet pendant out of it, and a leather strap.

“Hmm?”

Will this work? Should I engrave my name on it? It’s a little embarrassing to give her a pendant with my name engraved on it… Having her wear a pendant with my name engraved on it around her neck is a little weird, isn’t it…? Doesn’t it kind of show possessiveness or something like that? But you know, in case something happens, it might work as a pass to meet me.

Yeah, I’ll engrave it, just in case.

I put the finished bullet pendant back into my inventory, registered the bullet pendant with my name on it using Item Creation, and crafted it again.

The result was a small bullet pendant with the word “Kosuke” engraved on it in this world’s language. What can I say? It’s rather plain. There was no trace of elegance or glamour. It was a pendant with a disturbing atmosphere.

“What is it?”

“Oh… it’s a special arrowhead that only I can make, and I made it into a pendant.”

“What kind of arrowhead is it? It’s a big arrowhead.”

“The only part of the arrow that flies is this tip. Well, it’s dangerous, so I’ve removed the power to make it fly.”

“Is that so…? It looks like your name is engraved on it.”

“What’s the point if you don’t know I made it?”

“Hmm… You want me to wear a pendant around my neck with your name engraved on it, huh?”

“It’s like an ID in case of emergency…”

I then handed the bullet pendant to Ellen, who took it and held it out to me again.

“You should put it around my neck with your hand.”

“Eeh…”

“Come on.”

“…I understand.”

She seemed to have no intention of giving up, so I took the pendant from her hand and put it around her neck. As we get closer to each other, I can smell something that smells good. I wonder why girls smell so good. It’s strange.

Perhaps it wasn’t a good thing that I was thinking about it, but suddenly Ellen hugged me tightly.

“H-hey?”

“You’re going to leave, aren’t you? Leaving me behind.”

Her red jade eyes peered into mine from close range. I feel like I’m being sucked into those deep red eyes.

“That’s… yes, that’s right.”

There is no point in telling lies. I’ve got to get back to Sylphy and the others. The place I should be is next to her.

“So please allow me to do this.”

Ellen hugged me more tightly and rubbed her head against my neck as if she was marking me.

I finished tying the leather strap of the pendant and wrapped my hands around Ellen’s body to hug her gently. She has a delicate body. It was nothing compared to Sylphy’s. I felt as if I could break it with just a little effort.

Ellen looked up at me and gently closed her eyes. I put my lips on hers as she asked me to.

“…How many women have you put under your poisonous spell like this?”

“I don’t think I’ve ever had a sweet and sour feeling like this before.”

Sylphy, Isla, and the Harpies are all too passionate to jump through hoops like this.

“Is that so?”

“Yeah. It’s also the first time I’ve ever given an accessory, even though it’s such a rugged item.”

“Is that so?”

“Yeah.”

“You’ll come and take me, right?”

“I will.”

“Promise?”

Ellen smiles softly. Hmm, very cute. What is it about me that really makes me so popular since I came to this world? Is it the divine guidance that threw me into this world? I don’t know if it’s Adel or what, but I’m about to develop faith in God, even though I’ve never prayed to them properly.

As I was thinking about this, Ellen gently released her arms from her embrace, and I released mine, and we both separated ourselves.

“Um… I’ll write you a letter.”

“Yes. I wish there were some other way to contact you.”

“Contact… Contact… Oh.”

I have an idea. I have an idea, a means of communication.

“You have free access to the castle, don’t you, Ellen?”

“Yes, of course.”

“Can you go to the frozen compartment where the royal family of Merinard lives?”

“Yes, but…”

Ellen gives a dubious look. That’s as expected. It is a very dangerous area that is heavily guarded by Lime and others. It was supposed to be an area that no one from the castle would even attempt to get close to.

“Actually, I made friends with some slimes in the basement of the castle.”

“That dangerous monster…? I find that hard to believe.”

“They’re some kind of spirits that made a contract with the royal family and incarnated as slime. They are very intelligent and can even talk normally. Though they seem to be merciless to their enemies.”

“Is that so?”

“That’s right. And, you know. I’ll give them a way to contact me, so if you have anything you want to tell me, you can do it through them. But don’t make them angry. I’ll tell them not to attack Ellen, but if you try to mess with the royal family of the Merinard Kingdom, they’ll attack you without mercy.”

“Understood.”

I don’t know if it will work, but I write on the paper that Ellen prepared for me that the person with the bullet pendant is someone I care about, that I want them to treat her with respect, and that they should contact me.

“What are you doing with that knife out?”

“For this.”

I scratched my fingertips, smeared the oozing blood on my right thumb, and stamped it with a blood seal. I might have cut myself a little too much.

“That’s very thoughtful.”

“It might save Ellen’s life in a pinch, you know. I’ll do everything I can.”

When I say in case of emergency, I mean in case the Liberation Army captures Ellen or something. When I get back to the Liberation Army, I will try to prevent a deadly conflict from happening.

“Thank you very much. So, regarding our future moves…”

“Yes.”

“In the meantime, I’ll try to contact the headquarters of our denomination, but… it will take quite some time.”

“Yeah.”

I don’t know how far it is from Merinesburg to the capital of the Holy Kingdom, but I think it would be a week or two each way, even by carriage.

“But I don’t know exactly what to do.”

“Politics is involved, you know. In any case, I think we need to have a discussion. I think we should set up a meeting in about a month or two.”

“I agree. The curtain has to be drawn at some point.”

“Yeah.”

Both sides can’t fight each other until either one of us is dead. No, it might be possible if there is an overwhelming difference in national strength and war potential, but at least the situation between the Holy Kingdom and the Liberation Army will not be like that. I can’t let that happen.

“It looks like we’ll have a hard time. Both sides.”

“Yes. Let’s do our best.”

We nod at each other. The key to this is how far we can get a compromise… Well, it will be difficult. The Liberation Army will demand a total withdrawal from the Merinard Kingdom, and the Holy Kingdom will find it outrageous to give up the Merinard Kingdom, which they have effectively controlled for twenty years. Where can we find a compromise…?

“I’ll have someone bring you your things.”

“Oh.”

Ellen leaves the room, and a little while later, two church knights bring me my armor, shield, helmet, spear, and so on. It feels strange to put on my armor while being watched.

After I finished putting on my equipment, the church knights led me to the cathedral.

“Should I pray before I go?”

“I think it would be a good idea.”

“I don’t know how to pray, though.”

“All you need is a praying heart.”

Ellen then folded her hands and began to pray with her eyes closed. I followed suit and closed my eyes, praying to the unknown god who had thrown me into this world. There are many troubles, but ever since I came to this world, I feel a strong sense of being alive. Thank you.

After finishing my prayer, I made final, firm eye contact with Ellen. Her red jade eyes seemed to be filled with determination. The bullet pendant I gave her shines with a dull light on her chest.

“Well then.”

“Yes. May God bless you.”

I turned on my heel and left the cathedral.

It took me an unplanned amount of time to procure the mithril. I had to hurry back to the underground passage to meet up with Lime and the others and make the golem communicator.

Passing through the main street, I hurriedly headed for the castle gate. Speaking of which, my pass has expired, but will I be okay? I doubt I’ll be taken to jail, but I’m sure I’ll be asked to pay some additional taxes.

As I was walking along, someone grabbed my arm tightly.

“What?”

It was a tremendous force. While I was thinking this, I was pulled into a dimly lit, narrow alleyway, my arm was grabbed, and my body was pressed against the wall. Oh no, I let my guard down. What the hell was this? It can’t be Qubi!

I’m confused, and the attacker puts their mouth to my ear. I can smell the sweet scent of something seductive. A woman?

“Hey, Kosuke-san.”

“Hyii…”

The familiar voice sends shivers down my spine. T-this voice is… the voice of someone who makes me grind the millstone all the time! C-could it be… why is she here?

“Me-Melty…?”

“Ara, you figured it out right away?”

The force that was pressing me against the wall from behind loosened, and I turned around.

“Eh?”

At that moment, I felt a chill run down my spine. The golden eyes with vertically split pupils were staring right into my eyes.

“It seems that you have been getting along with the Adel religion people quite well… Kosuke-san?”

Her voice was as cold as ice, and it was clear that she was harboring doubts about me.　

“Oh, geez…”

I had no choice but to say so and look up to the heavens.