Chapter 29

In the evening, inside the inn in Mannowar.

Since it was a large city, after a little searching, we found an inn where we could stay with a dragon.

It was a detached house with a simple dragon stable attached.

Because it was specially designed to accommodate dragons, the room rate was a hefty 500 reels, but I paid it outright to reward everyone.

The inn was designed with the eaves connected to the dragon stable, and there, I faced the four of them.

Louise was already asleep.

Emma and Colette were sitting in a seiza position facing me, and Chris was lying on her side, using her elbow as a pillow, and looking at me.

"In short, it's doable."

I said that first.

"After that, I casually asked various people, and it seems that if we bring it into the city, someone will take it. Dragon Tears Incense."

"It's a prohibited item, right?"

Emma asked.

"Yeah. It seems that the merchants are a big factor in that. The biggest hurdle is the checkpoint, but once we get inside, the merchants can do whatever they want."

"That's... I don't know... I don't know what to say..."

Emma said with a complicated expression.

She seemed at a loss for words, as if her vocabulary had disappeared.

"Is that okay with you?"

"Yeah, what do you mean, Colette?"

"Getting involved in something like that and making money from it."

"Originally, it's just something that lets you see your favorite dreams, and it's not harmful to the body—"

I paused there and looked at Chris.

Our eyes met.

"Hmm, it's not harmful to the body. I can guarantee that. However, I can't be responsible for headaches from oversleeping."

Chris said with a playful tone.

It's true that it's not harmful to the human body.

"The reason it's a prohibited item is due to the convenience of the authorities. If it's the convenience of the authorities, we don't have to be foolishly honest."

"Hmm, I see. Well, if you're okay with it, that's fine."

"However, the problem is... I couldn't get the recipe for Dragon Tears Incense."

"Of course."

"If we don't know how to make it, it's no good, right?"

"That's the issue."

I paused there.

I had a troubled look on my face.

I had a premonition.

When I look troubled like this—

"Hahaha, don't worry, my dear friend. I know how to make Dragon Tears Incense."

Chris said that.

As planned— or rather.

Chris knows everything.

I had a hunch, but I was still impressed when it actually happened.

"Do you really know, Chris?"

"Hahaha, there is no knowledge in this world that I don't know."

"Arrogant much?"

"No, Tsundere, I'm not 'arrogant,' I'm 'great.' By the way, 'Tsundere' in ancient language—"

"Chomp!!"

Colette bit Chris.

I remembered that she had bitten Chris the moment she said 'Tsundere' before.

Well, that's that.

"How do you make Dragon Tears Incense?"

"Let's start with the introduction. Dragon Tears Incense is a camouflage name."

"Camouflage?"

"What did you think it was when you heard the name?"

"Well, something made from dragon tears, right?"

The flow of the conversation already made it clear that it wasn't, but I decided to give Chris an honest answer to her question.

"Very reasonable. However, that's not the case. Dragon Tears Incense has nothing to do with dragon tears."

"Really? ...Then is it related to dragons?"

"Indeed, my dear friend, you catch on quickly."

Chris continued, even more cheerful.

"That's right. It has nothing to do with dragon tears, but it is definitely related to dragons."

"I see."

"Ugh! You're being so long-winded. Just tell us already."

"Hey, don't interrupt. Listen, I'm trying to bring out the cool side of my dear friend. Even you, Tsundere girl, want to see that, right?"

"W-Why would I—"

I don't understand, but Colette seemed to be at a loss for words and was defeated by Chris.

I don't really get why.

"Well, well, let's move on, Chris."

"Alright, if you say so, my dear friend. Go and get a fruit called Galian. We need three of them."

"Galian?"

"I saw it at a fruit stand in the city earlier. They'll know what you mean if you mention the name."

"Got it, I'll be right back."

I stood up and left the inn.

I remembered passing a fruit stand, so I headed there based on my memory.

I don't remember exactly what fruits were on display, but I found the fruit stand after about five minutes.

The fruit stand in the evening had a sparse selection.

It must be very popular, as there wasn't much left.

"Welcome, what are you looking for?"

"Do you have something called Galian?"

"Galian, right? Here it is."

The old man at the fruit stand picked up a basket of fruit and showed it to me.

It was a black, strangely shaped fruit.

It was about the size of a thumb, and it looked like—yes, two cow horns twisted together.

When I picked it up, the 'horns' were incredibly hard, and the tips were sharp enough to pierce the skin if I wasn't careful.

Chris said we needed three of them.

"I'll take all of these."

"Sure thing, sir."

The old man put a basket full of Galian into a bag and handed it to me.

I paid and returned to the inn with the bag.

"...What are you doing?"

When I returned, I saw Colette biting Chris's tongue, and Emma trying to calm her down.

How did this happen?

"Hmm, hahaha, hahaha, hahaha."

"I don't understand what you're saying."

I can imagine, though.

"I don't know what happened, but stop it, Colette."

"Hmph."

Colette showed a slight pout and stopped biting.

I took out the items from the bag and looked at Chris.

"Is this Galian?"

"Yes, it's also known as the 'cow horn' fruit."

"It looks exactly like that."

"Apparently, humans break the shell and eat the inside, but that's not important right now."

"True."

How to eat Galian wasn't important.

We needed to talk about Galian and Dragon Tears Incense.

"Tsundere and Emma, swallow these whole—"

"Chomp!!"

"—it's best."

In a flash.

Colette bit Chris at an incredibly fast speed.

Chris continued explaining without flinching.

"Once you swallow them, keep them in your stomach. Ah, Tsundere, keep them in your first stomach."

"Um, keep them in the stomach?"

"Exactly."

Emma tilted her head slightly and asked.

"Chris, aren't you going to do it?"

"I can't. I am the only perfect, immortal being. I don't need to maintain my life through food, so I don't have the function to eat."

"Hmph, useless."

"Hahaha."

Chris laughed happily.

She even seemed to enjoy Colette's insults.

"So, what do we do after swallowing them?"

"Just wait."

"How long?"

"About a month."

"A month!?"

I was genuinely surprised.

"Really, that long?"

"Yes, after a month, what would normally be excreted as waste—"

"Wait a minute. What did you just say?"

"Yes? I said it would be excreted as waste."

"What? I didn't agree to that!"

Colette protested strongly.

I can understand her reaction.

If someone suddenly said 'waste'—'poop'—you'd probably protest too.

"Hahaha, of course, that's what we're doing now."

"Why poop? And, you mean—"

Colette glanced at me.

Yeah, that's right.

If it involves poop, and probably touching it, I wouldn't like it either.

"Listen to the whole story. Normally, a dragon would excrete it as waste, but thanks to me and my dear friend, we can give detailed instructions. When the time comes, I'll tell you to spit it out through your mouth."

"Oh, that's fine..."

Colette sighed in relief.

I'm not sure if that's better.

Is poop bad, but vomit is okay?

Well, since they're Mushufushu, I've seen them spit things out of their mouths many times, so maybe it's not a big deal.

"Will it become Dragon Tears Incense after a month in the body?"

"Yes, these spiky things apparently pierce the stomach."

"Of course they would."

I picked up a Galian and felt it.

It was hard, and the tips were incredibly sharp.

If it was in the stomach, it would definitely pierce it.

"The body reacts to the foreign object, and to prevent it from piercing, the stomach secretes something to coat the Galian."

"Ah, like a pearl?"

"Exactly, my dear friend, you catch on quickly."

Chris smiled contentedly.

"As the secretion coats the Galian, it matures and transforms into a solid substance, which is Dragon Tears Incense."

"I see. But, is it really that simple?"

"Hahaha, my dear friend, you're being naive."

"What do you mean?"

"It might be simple for you, but what about other dragon knights? How do you tell a dragon that doesn't understand words to keep it in their stomach for a month without spitting it out?"

"Oh..."

That's true.

Normal dragon knights use commands, not words, to control dragons.

So, telling a dragon to keep something in its stomach for a month would be difficult.

"I see... I'm sorry, Colette, Emma."

"What for?"

"Swallowing it for a month. It must be bad for your stomach—"

"Don't worry, Sir Cyril, this is nothing for us."

"Really?"

"Besides, who do you think I am? I'm Colette the Mushufushu. Manipulating things in my stomach is a piece of cake."

"I see. You're amazing."

"Hmph, of course it is."

While praising them, I thought for a moment.

"What's wrong, dear friend?"

"This method of making Dragon Tears Incense seems well-known."

"Probably."

"If I, a dragon knight, keep handling Galian, I might be suspected."

"Likely."

"Then, I should be able to make Galian myself, secretly."

"Hahaha, excellent, my dear friend."

"What do you mean?"

"The idea of controlling the production, processing, and distribution of the raw materials. You have the makings of a great merchant."

"Is that what it means?"

I don't really understand, but I was highly praised by Chris for trying to figure out how to get the necessary items.