Chapter 66

Thank you for visiting today.

The time of my appointment with Professor Oz is early.

Although it's early, it's not much different from the days Ain goes to the academy. On this day, there was something to do in the morning.

"How was it?"

Ain asked Chris, who had just checked the room.

"Still sound asleep. She was in the exact same position as yesterday..."

The place they were going to first was where the sisters Bara and Mei were staying. Ain thought they might be awake by now, but it seemed they were still sound asleep, just as before.

Incidentally, according to Chris, the note they had prepared last night had not been opened yet, so they must not have woken up.

Chris placed another note they had prepared and left the room where the sisters were resting.

"Well, I've placed the note I prepared, so let's meet up with Katima."

"Right. Let's go."

Katima and Dil were already outside the inn. Katima had said she wanted to breathe the fresh air and had hurried out.

Ain and Chris also went down the stairs and headed outside.

Since it was still early, the inn was enveloped in silence. The walls were thick, and no voices could be heard.

"Ah... Master Ain, please wait a moment."

"Hmm?"

As they were going down a few stairs, Chris called out. They stopped at the landing, and Ain turned to Chris.

"...Here, it's cold outside. Please wrap this scarf around your neck properly."

Chris wrapped the scarf she was holding around Ain's neck. The scarf was made of a soft, high-quality material from a monster, and it felt especially good.

The region of the magic city Isto is colder than the capital, and many warm items were prepared for the journey. If they caught a cold, it would be a waste of time.

"A, ah... thank you."

Ain tensed up when Chris's face got close. Well, even if it wasn't sudden, he would still be nervous... He had come to a conclusion on his own, but when Chris wrapped the scarf around his neck, she was so close that his body stiffened for a moment. After that, he tried to hide his embarrassment by quickly going down the stairs.

"Hehe... You're welcome."

Chris has felt closer lately. It's not that he dislikes it, but it's quite embarrassing to see her blushing. She seemed to understand Ain's embarrassment and was stifling a laugh by putting her finger to her mouth.

"(Dear Mother, women are really complicated...)"

*

"Are you awake, nya?"

"I was sleeping. I prepared another note, so I think you'll read it when you wake up."

"Got it, nya. Well, let's go, nya."

Katima started walking, humming a mysterious tune. Her laid-back attitude was nothing new. Ain and the others followed her.

"Hey, Katima."

"Hmm?"

"Did you get any message from the castle?"

"Yes, nya. Not exactly a message, but a royal train will come in a few days, and Dil and I will take it back, nya."

They had used a regular water train... a noble car, but not the royal train. So why did the royal train suddenly come?

"Why is it coming specially?"

"It's convenient for various reasons, nya. It also has a half-escort meaning, nya. It's perfect for taking those two, nya."

"Seems pretty cautious or grand, doesn't it?"

"Oh, Father sent a message, nya. He said he'll give you a reward later, nya."

The flow of conversation was hard to understand. While they were on their way to the Great Magic Academy of Isto to meet Professor Oz, talking about the royal train and rewards didn't make much sense for what happened in this one day.

"Why is there talk of a reward?"

"Normally, it would be best to verify it first... but this time, the situation is irregular, so it will be upon arrival in the capital. The verification is about Bara's healing magic. Although she's from the slums and may still be inexperienced, her value is so high that it's worth a fortune, nya."

Dil answered Ain's question. Compared to Katima's vague "nya-nya" explanation, his was much clearer and more informative, which was helpful. Ain wanted to give a sidelong glance to Katima, but she was still walking happily.

Katima must be looking forward to meeting Professor Oz.

"Thanks, Dil. But is that the case...? Well, even if I get a reward, I don't really have a use for it, but I'll think about it."

"It's good to keep it on hold, like I do, nya. Sometimes you can use it freely, nya."

"That's a good idea."

Katima was allowed to accompany them as a reward for her work on the demon lord investigation. Seeing this, Ain thought it would be better to keep it on hold, thinking there might be an opportunity to use it somewhere.

"...Just don't use it for anything strange, okay? You have a criminal record, you know."

"That's harsh, Chris."

Chris was wary of Ain's thoughts, but it was understandable.

As they were talking, they finally arrived at the station in Isto. They would take this train to the place where Professor Oz was waiting.

"Dil! Distribute the things I prepared yesterday, nya!"

"Understood."

Katima suddenly raised her right arm, which had a paw-like texture. ...When she did this, she ordered Dil to hand over two cards to Ain and Chris.

"What's this?"

"Um... What is this, Lady Katima?"

The cards they were given were blue and seemed to be made of a light metal like stainless steel. On the surface was the emblem of Isto... a mark of a hand reaching out to a magic stone, and at the bottom, it said "14 days remaining."

"It's a half-month free pass, nya. Since we'll be riding multiple times, I bought this as a more cost-effective method, nya."

"Ain, I bought four of these yesterday. I think our free passes will have a few days left."

"Don't worry, nya! If more than half is left, you can get a refund, so it won't be wasted, nya!"

It seems to be a pass that allows unlimited rides for a certain period. They can ride the water trains freely in Isto for half a month.

Since they bought a half-month pass yesterday, Ain and Chris will have one extra day, but it's still a good deal.

Considering the hassle of buying tickets each time, this will make it easier to get on and off freely. After all, there are no ticket gates at Isto's stations, so with this free pass, they can move around freely.

"Let's go, nya!"

After finishing her explanation, Katima started walking briskly again. ...To be honest, her consideration was appreciated. It was cheaper and more convenient.

"Just saying thank you honestly feels annoying. That's all."

"A, Ain..."

Ain's sarcastic remark reached Dil's ears. Considering the relationship between Ain and Katima, it was just playful banter, but it felt a bit tiring.

*

The water trains in Isto had several distinctive features. First, they were quiet and had little vibration. Compared to the noble car they had used, there was little difference. Thinking about the future when these trains will run throughout the capital, it's not a bad prospect. The quiet sound of the door opening was also surprising.

There was one more difference, which was the presence of an announcement system. They passed through several stations and arrived near the Great Magic Academy of Isto, and during that time, they heard the announcements multiple times. It was indeed convenient to have them.

"Hey, Katima. How long will it take for these water trains to become widespread here?"

"Currently, the test water trains are aiming for a transition in five years, nya."

"That's pretty soon, isn't it?"

"Well, considering it took nearly forty years to develop, it's not that soon, nya."

"...I see."

On the way to the research institute, Katima gave a brief explanation. It wasn't just the visible parts that had evolved, but also other areas.

For example, safety and the durability of the vehicles... the lifespan had improved significantly. Considering this, it wasn't as if it took too long.

"And so, it's good to sometimes think about the invisible parts, nya."

"I don't want to admit it, but it's educational."

"...Why don't you want to admit it, nya?"

Her words were often educational. Katima, despite her quirks, was indeed an excellent researcher, as Ain reaffirmed.

"Dil, please tell the guard that we have an appointment with Professor Oz."

"Y-Yes, sir..."

"Ignored, nya... This nephew becomes more arrogant with age, nya."

"Here, I still have this, so I'll give it to you, Katima."

What he took out was a snack that Katima had been given when they boarded the noble car, mistaking her for a pet. He had secretly kept a few pieces in his pocket.

"Ain is a good person, nya."

"Yeah, I know."

One is the crown prince, and the other is the first princess... No one would think that such important figures of the country would be having such a conversation. But Chris, who saw this, of course, held her head as usual.

"Ain, let's go... Hey? What's wrong with Lady Chris, holding her head..."

"Huh, what's wrong with Chris? Does she have a headache?"

Ain was eating the snack next to him, and it was almost gone, as she was chewing at an incredible speed.

"No, it's nothing... Let's go."

When will I get used to these two's conversations? I hope I can get used to them someday... With this wish in her heart, she continued to guard Ain today.

After that, they went to the research institute in the back, just like the day before. Since the guard recognized their faces, they were able to proceed smoothly today. One of the guards led them to Professor Oz's room.

"Head Professor, I have brought the guests."

After knocking on the door, the guard announced, and a response came from inside.

"Thank you for the escort. Please show them in."

"Yes! ...Please come in, everyone."

Upon hearing this, the guard immediately opened the door and let Ain and the others in. The room was warm, and after walking through the cold town, it felt like a cozy embrace.

"Good morning, Your Highness. Lady Katima."

"Yes, good morning, Professor Oz."

Following Ain's greeting, Katima also greeted Professor Oz. At Professor Oz's invitation, they all sat on the same sofa as before.

"I have prepared the materials as promised. I will also provide an explanation."

Oz had prepared the same documents for four people. After distributing them, he said he would explain while they read. The first page had a brief summary of the red fox... and at the bottom, it said "Author: Oz."

"Let's start with a brief overview of the cover, and then we'll move on to the first page."

Following his words, Ain and the others lightly looked at the cover and then opened the first page. The first page read, "Considerations on the past appearance locations and movement paths of the red fox."

The materials prepared by Professor Oz seemed to contain more information than Ain had expected. The sound of swallowing saliva echoed in the room.

*

The scene shifts to the inn where Ain and the others were staying.

Around the time Ain and the others received the materials from Professor Oz, Bara, the older sister, finally woke up. For a moment, she looked around with sleepy eyes, thinking, "What? Where am I...?" but gradually her consciousness cleared.

"...Right! I was asked by a noble and followed them... I really, really ate until I was full...!"

When was the last time she had eaten until she was full? She couldn't remember, but it must have been years ago. Born this year, she was probably 17 years old. She had never thought to count, but she somehow remembered the number.

Since being brought to this inn, it had been a series of experiences she had never had before.

She had never taken such a warm and comfortable bath, never slept on a soft bed, and never seen such clear water. She had received a lot of food, and the taste was something she had never experienced before, so she ate it greedily.

Feeling a sense of fulfillment she had never felt before, she lay down on the bed that was prepared for her. The bed felt like it would sink forever, but it stopped at a comfortable point, gently supporting Bara and Mei. The comfort was a new experience, and they quickly fell into a deep sleep.

"Even if it was a trick, I might be satisfied..."

There's no way such a good thing could happen. Even if she had grown up in the slums, she could easily think that. But she was tired of struggling to survive every day. ...She couldn't tell her sister Mei, but she had just been going through the motions. "Maybe it's okay to die?" She couldn't deny that she had thought this.

"Hmm... Big sister?"

"Ah, sorry, Mei. Did I wake you up?"

"No, it's okay... Hey, where are we...?"

The small, old shack they had been sleeping in until yesterday was about to collapse at any moment. The bedding was insufficient, and the house was more like a wind tunnel, but it was still their precious home to return to.

But yesterday, they were suddenly brought to such a luxurious and comfortable environment, so it was understandable that they were confused at first.

"Remember, we were brought here yesterday? That noble wanted us to work for him."

"Yesterday... yesterday... Ah! The brother who helped us!"

"Brother... No, Mei, don't call him that! You'll get in trouble!"

"Ugh...! But he is a brother!"

For the young Mei, it was difficult? Because she hadn't received proper education in the slums, it was hard for her to understand the concept.

"What should I say? It's hard to explain... Hey, is this... a letter?"

Bara put her feet on the floor and sat on the bed, thinking about how to explain. Then she noticed two letters on the side table. These were the letters Ain had prepared to convey his message to them.

"To Bara...?"

It took some time, but Bara read the words on the cover. In the slums, many pieces of garbage ended up there, and from the few newspapers she found, Bara had learned to read.

When her mother was alive, she had taught Bara a little bit of reading. Thanks to this foundation, Bara had gradually learned to read, though not perfectly.

There wasn't much she could do in the slums, but learning to read a little bit didn't seem very meaningful. But now, thinking about how useful it was, she felt a bit proud.

"What is it? Did the brother leave something?"

"Yeah, it seems so. ...Um, what does this say again..."

She opened the first letter and started reading the contents. She didn't understand all the words, so there were parts she couldn't make sense of.

"I should have studied a bit more..."

But it wasn't easy to find someone who could read well in the slums. After her mother died, learning to read became much harder.

"Big sister, big sister. What is it? Did the brother write something?"

"Yeah, Mei. Wait a moment? ...I'll try to read it."

Ain and Katima probably didn't think about it, but they hadn't considered that Bara, being from the slums, might not be able to read.

Even if it wasn't something they usually thought about, it should be a lesson for Ain and the others.

It took Bara about ten minutes to "decode" the first letter. There were some words she couldn't read, but she understood the