Chapter 31

Thank you for the bookmark.

It's a day off.

I was heading to Altria Academy in a carriage with Tütte. I was doing so because if everyone was gathering, it would be the quickest place to meet.

"Compared to Japan... it's like going out to the city with all your friends on a day off... it would be fun, but thinking about touring a formal place with the Crown Prince makes my stomach hurt."

"Come on, Miss. Isn't this something you do all the time? You should get used to this pattern... Besides, it's a sword! Maybe we'll find out the truth about the legendary sword!"

Thanks to Tütte, who tried to comfort me with a half-given-up attitude while I was looking out the window with a gloomy expression, the dark aura around me was slightly alleviated.

"That's right! I shouldn't be gloomy! If I can uncover the truth about the sword and maybe even get it or have it made, my future will be secure!"

"That's right, Miss!"

I forcibly raised my spirits, imagining a future where everything goes well, and smiled to myself.

Just then, the carriage stopped, and we arrived at the academy.

(Are they already here?)

I led Tütte to the café terrace outside the school building, which was an open café with many tables and chairs set up outside.

(There are fewer people than usual on a weekday.)

Usually, there were quite a few customers, and it was difficult to secure a seat, but since it was a day off, there were fewer people, and I quickly spotted Magilka, Zaha, and Safina sitting around a table.

(Thank goodness... I managed to get here before the prince... Even if it's before the meeting time, it would be a disgrace to arrive after him.)

Seeing that the prince wasn't in the group, I felt relieved and headed over to them.

(Oh! Wait a minute! Could it be that it's time for me to say the lines from the legendary meeting event?)

Realizing the cliché lines I was supposed to say, I was nervous and a bit flustered as I lightly ran over to them.

"Sorry! I kept you waiting...aaaah!"

I was spreading a bright smile and heading towards the table where everyone was sitting, but as I passed by someone who had just come out of the store, my expression stiffened.

Needless to say, it was the prince.

"No, not at all. I just got here a little while ago."

The prince's cheerful response to my awkward lines only made me feel worse.

"I'm so sorryyyyyy!"

I almost prostrated myself but thought it wouldn't be appropriate here, so I bowed as deeply as I could. I meant it in every way...

"No, no, I was just excited and came early. There's no need for you to apologize, Mary."

"No, I'm sorry in every way."

The prince, a bit puzzled by my sudden actions, tried to reassure me, but I was in a panic, my ears turning red as I continued to apologize.

"Since everyone is here... shall we go to the city, Your Highness?"

Magilka, who had been holding my shoulders, gently lifted me up and suggested to the prince, who nodded and started to move.

"Thank you, Magilka."

"Not at all... When you came running over, you looked so cute, Mary!"

"Let's forget that..."

I whispered to my supportive friend, who mischievously laughed and poked at my embarrassment.

And so, we all headed to the city.

――――――――――

I walked through the bustling city, occasionally tempted to veer off by something interesting, but I held back and headed towards our destination.

"Here it is."

While I was struggling with temptation, the prince stopped and introduced a store. I was so surprised by its size that my mouth dropped open.

(Large... I thought it would be a small weapon shop like in RPGs, but this looks more like a large factory, not a store at all.)

Surrounded by sturdy walls, we followed the prince into the factory, and a well-dressed man approached us, looking tense.

"We have been waiting for you, Your Highness... Your personal visit today is a great honor to us all."

"Um... I came today because I have something to ask the 'Master'... Is he here?"

(I wonder if he's the one in charge... Oh, right, he mentioned he's a dwarf... He's human, so it must be someone else...)

I was so interested in everything that I only now remembered the important matter of the dwarf.

"Oh, who's there? Is it the young master?"

A voice from the back of the building called out, and as the person appeared, I was so amazed that I held my breath and stared.

It was a woman. She had short, red hair, sun-tanned skin that was almost brown, and a muscular build that exuded strength. However, despite her adult-like appearance, she was incredibly small, about the same height as me at 10 years old.

(Oh, this is a dwarf! And a woman! No beard, but her face looks just like the ones in games! Wow, it's real! Camera! I don't have a camera!)

I was internally excited. Everyone else, seeing the dwarf for the first time, had their mouths open in amazement, while the prince approached with a wry smile.

"Ha ha ha, can you stop calling me 'young master,' Deodora... I'm 10 years old now, you know."

"You'll always be 'young master' to me, ha ha ha."

The dwarf woman, Deodora, laughed and patted the prince's back like a friendly aunt.

(What a great honor... as expected of a dwarf.)

I was moved by some incomprehensible logic and wanted to get closer to observe her.

"Oh? You've brought some very cute kids, they look just like the king, you picky one!"

"No, that's not it! They are my friends."

While the prince blushed and corrected her, Deodora approached us, and I nervously performed a lady's bow.

"Nice to meet you... I am Mary Legaria."

"I'm Deodora... I'm not fond of the formal greetings of humans, so I'll speak casually here. You don't need to worry about me, either."

The small woman, who now looked like a friendly aunt from a lower-class neighborhood, smiled and led us to her workshop after greeting the others.

"Alright... I heard about your purpose in the letter, but what exactly do you want to know?"

She sat in a chair and started the conversation, telling us to make ourselves comfortable.

Incidentally, Magilka and Safina, who were very interested in the White Knight, stood behind me to listen, while the prince looked at me from beside me, waiting for me to ask. Tütte was preparing tea and snacks for everyone, and Zaha was casually examining the weapons Deodora had made, which were scattered around.

(Hmm? Is this a task for me? Well, I did initiate it.)

Noticing that everyone's attention was on me, Deodora also looked at me, waiting for my response.

"Um... I came here to ask about the Eternal Sword... If you know anything about it, I would like to hear it."

"Hmm... the Eternal Sword, huh... Is it that one? The one the king asked my father and other blacksmiths to make, a sword strong enough to pierce a dragon?"

Deodora spoke with little interest, but her words were exactly what I wanted to know.

"Yes, that sword! The one that was to be given to the White Knight!"

"Ah, that one... that one..."

As I looked at her with hopeful eyes, Deodora scratched her cheek, looking a bit uncomfortable and hesitant to speak. Then,

"That one was a failure."

Deodora's hollow laugh made my thoughts freeze for a few minutes.

This time, it's a bit long, so I'll cut it off here. Thank you for reading this far.