Chapter 67

After meeting with the Casper sisters, we disbanded for the day.

The next day, after a day of preparation, we gathered again at the Adventurer's Guild.

When I arrived at the meeting place, the three sisters were already there, but despite the long journey ahead, they had no luggage.

"Eva and the others seem to be quite light on their feet. No luggage for a long journey?"

"I can use spatial storage. I'm sorry, but there's no room for your luggage."

"It's fine."

Being able to use spatial storage alone is a sign of considerable skill.

Especially when it can hold the living essentials for three people. I had intended to carry their luggage, but it seems unnecessary.

Indeed, the rumors about the top young adventurer are not exaggerated.

A corner of the guild hall was being used as a meeting place by other adventurers, just like us.

It's a daily routine for everyone to check their weapons and luggage, and to have a pre-meeting discussion.

Today, however, all eyes were on us.

Then Raidock's party arrived.

"Are we late?"

"No, we're early. Reifan went to greet Kyle, so he might be a bit late. Jitaro... if he's late, we'll leave without him."

"Haha. It's better to have Jitaro along. He's reliable in the forest."

"True."

As Raidock and I exchanged light banter, the ranger Soral, the priest Bepp, the magician Bardack, and the warrior Morda were greeting the Casper sisters.

It seemed they were meeting Raidock's party members for the first time.

"Craft, this is our luggage."

"Got it."

Stacked in the corner of the wall were not only essential items for the adventure but also cooking utensils and spare weapons.

Seeing this, Eva was taken aback.

"Wait a moment. I heard Raidock is an excellent adventurer."

"Raidock is excellent. I vouch for him."

"Do you mean in terms of combat power? From the looks of this luggage, it seems he lacks exploration skills..."

She was subtly saying that we don't need dead weight.

But that's a complete misunderstanding.

"The Adventurer's Guild isn't that lenient. You can't become B-rank just with combat skills. This is what I mean. 'Spatial Storage.'"

I quickly used magic to store the piled-up luggage, and this time Eva's eyes widened.

"You can use spatial storage too!?"

"Yeah."

"No... it's a rare magic, but some people can use it... but the capacity is impressive."

"Yeah. There's a bit of a story behind it. Originally, I had the emblem of a magician, not an alchemist."

"Really? You changed your emblem?"

"Yeah. To put it simply, the magician's emblem didn't suit me."

"I heard that emblems that don't suit you can't be inscribed."

"Usually, that's the case. But sometimes, bad luck can make it happen."

Eva folded her arms in thought.

"Is that related to the capacity of spatial storage?"

"According to my teacher, Mr. Jabeel, it's because I forced my magic power into my body as a magician, which made me good at compressing and efficiently using magic power."

This is Mr. Jabeel's hypothesis, but it can't be proven or experimented with, so he hasn't published it in a paper.

"Jabeel... the famous Jabeel!?"

"Yeah. Mr. Jabeel is currently the dedicated alchemist for Kyle's brother, Zaid. I met him by chance and became his disciple."

It's a bit different, but this is easier to understand.

"That's impressive... He's famous for his theories on magic."

"He's active in a new organization called the Academy."

"He's a great person... But why do you call the nobles by their first names?"

"Oh!"

Oops! I did it out of habit!

"Ah, well, Kyle and I are particularly close. Keep it a secret."

"I've heard the rumors. Kyle trusts you completely. But what about Zaid?"

"Ah, this is also a secret, but honestly, I can't stand Zaid. There are reasons."

"I see. I understand. I'll keep it to myself."

"Thanks."

Eva can sometimes be blunt, but she seems to be a good person.

It might be a bit rude to say this about someone older, but...

"Raidock, I'm done."

"Ah. So, are Reifan and Jitaro still not here?"

"Reifan might be late, but what's Jitaro doing?"

"Craft, can't you contact them with magic?"

"Can't. As far as I know, there's no such magic. Eva, do you know anything?"

"No, but I heard from my teacher that such a device exists."

Hearing about a device, I remembered something.

"By the way, I heard from Mr. Jabeel that there's a device that allows conversation no matter how far apart you are."

"That would be convenient. Can Craft or Reifan make it?"

"Impossible. It's a very rare artifact, and only a few exist in the country. Plus, there are restrictions on its use."

"I see. That's a shame. It would make communication easier."

"If it could be mass-produced, the world would be turned upside down."

"True, but there's no point in thinking about something that can't be made."

"Right... and they're here."

It seems Raidock sensed their presence and looked towards the guild entrance.

Shortly after, Jitaro, carrying a large load, burst in.

He was a bit late, but I'll let it slide.

"Sorry! I was buying stuff at Shiera's shop!"

"That's fine, but... never mind."

Jitaro's bag, bulging with Shiera's shop items, was a sight to behold.

Shiera's shop, run by the widow Shiera, has been operating since the Golden Dawn moved here.

And it seems Jitaro has a crush on Shiera.

I silently thought to myself:

You're so fickle, Jitaro!

But, live as you please.

He had bought iron arrows, bird feathers, and food that would last for a while.

There were also sharpness oils and stamina potions, which he should know I can provide, but it seems he and Shiera had a conversation about it.

"Jitaro... this isn't coming out of the budget."

"I'm not asking for it! I need to show my sincerity by spending my own money!"

"Serious or not, I'm not sure..."

I sighed as I stored Jitaro's luggage in spatial storage, and Eva looked amazed.

"How much can you store...?"

If I said I could store a giant dragon, what would her face look like?

But I won't say that.

As we chatted, the entrance to the guild started to buzz.

"Kyle-sama!"

"Hey! Kyle-sama is here!"

"Good morning, Kyle-sama!"

"Yes, good morning."

"Great! Kyle-sama responded!"

"What!? Kyle-sama! Good morning! Welcome!"

"Yes, good morning everyone. I'm sorry for the disturbance. Please continue your work as usual."

Kyle's voice could be heard amidst the excited adventurers.

"Meow!? Kyle-sama is here!? Back up a bit, everyone!"

"O-Okay."

"Kyle-sama! If anything happens, just let me know!"

"Back up, meow! Kyle-sama, welcome, meow!"

The adventurers who had gathered around Kyle were scattered by Mika, the receptionist, who ran out.

"Good morning. Is Craft-nii here?"

"Yes, meow! He's over there, meow!"

The short Kyle finally spotted me as the adventurers moved back.

Kyle was accompanied by Persia, Mina, and Reifan.

"Kyle, aren't you busy?"

"Yes, but Mina wanted to see us off."

"Mina?"

Kyle's twin sister, Mina, is a bit of a mystery. I'm not sure if she likes me or not.

But if she came to see us off, she must like me to some extent.

"Thanks, Mina."

I treated Mina like a sibling, not a noble, and ruffled her hair.

"..."

Mina held something out to me.

"..."

"What?"

"Kyle says you should take it."

Kyle chuckled.

Indeed, Mina's hand held a small object.

"Scary!?"

It was a rabbit. A small, patchwork rabbit with one eye and a blindfold, a nightmare-inducing rabbit.

"!"

Suddenly, I received a kick from Mina. It didn't hurt, but it was painful.

"Kyle, this is a matching rabbit doll that Mina tried to embroider."

"Really?"

Indeed, upon closer inspection, it was similar to the large rabbit doll Mina always carries, though smaller.

"How did it end up like this..."

Another kick came.

Do I hate this much to receive such a cursed item?

"Hehe... Sorry, Kyle. When Mina said she wanted to give it to you, I said it might be too cute for a man."

"Really?"

So, what does that mean?

"Mina wanted you to have a matching rabbit doll as a good luck charm."

A good luck charm... I finally understood.

Mina wanted to give me a good luck charm, and since she only had her doll, she tried to give me hers. But because of Kyle's comment, she attempted embroidery, resulting in a rabbit that looks like it's been through numerous experiments.

"Okay... I'm sorry. Mina worked hard on it, right?"

"..."

Mina nodded slightly.

I attached the one-eyed rabbit to my belt.

"How does it look? Does it suit me?"

"..."

"Looks like you have a cursed scarecrow on your belt."

"Air Bomb!"

"Kyaah!?"

I blasted Jitaro with magic without a word.

"Poor guy..."

Raidock looked at Jitaro with pity, but when he saw Jitaro getting up, he was amazed.

Eva was also impressed. Jitaro needs a bit more to be affected.

"Thanks, Mina. I'll take good care of it."

"..."

It seems she's in a better mood now.

It may look scary, but she put her heart into it. I need to take it with me.

"Take care, Kyle."

"Sure. Leave it to me."

And so, we set off for the uncharted territory.

By the way, Kyle is now calling me 'nii-sama' in public... I've given up on it.

"Don't leave me behind!"

Should I blast him again?