CH 90

"Tia, , it's just up ahead."

"Yes, okay."

Chris led me to a place on the outskirts of town in a different direction from the store where the two dwarfs were.

Why is the place of destination always on the outskirts of town?　

I wondered, but we finally arrived.

Chris pointed to the sign.

'Here it is."

.".....Nikkiak Dealer."

......Nikkiak Dealer."

Standing in front of the store, I was a little surprised at the appearance of the store.

In other words, it was like an old house, but it was in bad shape.

As expected, Deanna looked a little uncomfortable.

Chris, perhaps noticing the indescribable expressions on our faces, looked a little flustered and said she would try to fix it up.

"The store is not very good in appearance, but the knowledge and skill of the staff at the store is very good, so it's okay, ".

......."

Chris shouted suitably loud, but there was no answer, was he away?　

Just when I thought he was, the door to the store was opened and I heard him yell in reply.

"Don't make that big voice, you'll mess up the concoction!"

"Oh, Mr.Nikkiak , I knew you were there."

The sudden yell made both Deanna and I a bit nervous, but Chris was not concerned and walked into the store.

We hurriedly followed Chris.

It was a little dark inside the store, and I could smell the medicinal herbs, which smelled a little green to my nose.

As our eyes adjusted to the darkness, we noticed that there were a lot of dried herbs here and there in the store.

Nikkiak and Chris seemed to be in the back of the store, and Deanna and I went to the back of the store.

In the back of the shop, Nikkiq was preparing medicines and talking with Chris about something.

"Chris, did you end up going to the dwarfs after all the advice I gave you?　I told you not to do that because they are being watched by Marein."

"Yes, but I also told you that I had their backing and that as long as I had the information in advance, they would be fine.'

'Backup?　You don't mean those two guys you just brought?"

Nikkiak  at me and Deanna as he spoke.

I would normally be scared of him, but to me, his terrifying face without any deadly intent looks rather cute.

I responded with a smile.

Nikkiak was   little surprised at that and said

"You're a creepy little girl, aren't you?

'I'm sure Tia and Deanna won't be fazed by it for a moment. You know, both of you.'

The two of us laughed as Chris waved us off.

.  Nikkiak who had been watching the exchange between the three of us, stopped mixing and looked at us and said,

'...... Hun. Well, if Chris trusts you, you're better than Marein. What brings you here?　Tell me."

"Oh, I didn't know you could say that much with one glance "

Chris teased Nikkiak words.

He blushed and yelled.

"I'm a sucker for beautiful women and pretty girls."

When he said "pretty missy, felt indescribable.

They both laughed again, "cough cough," when they heard Nikkiak words.

I changed my mind, cleared my throat, and then said.

then, have you ever heard of a medicinal herb called 'lute grass'?　Perhaps you can get it in the demon Forest.

"I've never heard of ...... 'lute grass', but I'm sorry. If I have never heard of it, I don't think anyone else has."

"So it' s ......?"

I turned my head to listen to Nikkiq's words.

But there might still be some clue, I said to Nikkiq with a desperate look on my face.

, "...... anything, anything at all⁉ I think there are some medicinal herbs that can be found only in the Demon Forest."

Nikkiq looked at me suspiciously and asked me in a low voice, "

"I'm not going to tell you anything without knowing the details,....... If you want to rely on me, you have nothing to keep a secret from me. If you can't do that, I'm sorry, but you'll have to leave."

As he finished, Chris told me about Nikkiq, as if to add to what he had said.

...... Tia, Mr. Nikkiak has a bad mouth and attitude, but he is a trustworthy person. The reason the store is so rundown is because he doesn't take more money from his customers than he has to. He may be bigoted and stubborn, but rest assured, his mouth is as tough as his head.

".... Hey, Chris. You think I'm stupid, don't you?"

"No, , I don't think so.　I have nothing to hide."

The two of them were making fun of each other, and I had a question for them.

"..., you two seem to be very close, have you known each other for a long time?"

'No. We met for the first time yesterday.　"

Chris answered my question with a blank expression and then told me about his communication with Nikkiq into my ear.

On the day when I had a difficult time due to the match, Chris went to Nikkiak's place after asking him about the information, including the confirmation of the information that he had researched in advance.

Chris was turned away at the door, just as we had been, but Chris's fighting spirit was ignited.

She didn't mind being turned away at the door, but he just kept going into the store.

At first Nikkiak yelled at her, "What do you want with a girl from another country who doesn't know anything about drugs?"

However, she soon realized that the medicinal herbs in the store were in very good condition.

Using that as a springboard, she opened up a conversation with him, and he took a liking to her.

"Every country has stubborn old men,people tend to like to talk, so they're still easy to deal with."

I couldn't help but chuckle at the last words Chris overheard.

From Nikkiak's point of view, I guess he is aware that he has recognized Chris.

But in reality, he is in Chris's hands.

"...... Hey, what are you sneaking around ? 　I don't have time for this. If you can't talk, leave."

No, I'm sorry. Then, I will tell you the truth too.

Nikkiak must have noticed the change in my expression.

He was no longer swearing, and his eyes were fixed on me.

After taking a deep breath, I said, "I'm sorry.

"I'm sure there is a herb in the Demon Forest that will lead to a medicine for ...... magic depletion. The name should be 'lute grass,' but perhaps it has a different name. Do you have any information on any similar product or anything ......?"

Deanna rolled her eyes in surprise at my words.

I had not told her about this, so I guess it was a natural reaction.

Chris already knew, so she didn't seem surprised.

After hearing my words, Nikkiak turned head down, arms crossed, as if lost in thought.

After a few moments of silence, he looked up and said, "

"I've never heard of ...... 'lute grass,' after all."

'I had never heard of . that "

Hearing his words, I turned my head down, clenching my fists. But he was still talking.

"....., but I do have one idea about that ."