Chapter 61

Around noon in the capital city.

I returned to Kou's dungeon.

The exploration of the demon world ended quickly, and I obtained the princess's soul and the long-desired "Philosopher's Stone."

When I brought Lillia to the shop, Tety was sitting at the counter.

"Ah, welcome back, Sir Alec."

"How's the shop doing?"

"It's starting to sell a bit more—though only the puchi Ely."

She reported happily, wiggling her long ears.

I nodded in response.

"That's good. ...By the way, it's still noon. Should we take on a herb-gathering quest, Lillia?"

"Yes, since I live in the forest, it would be better to take it. It will be over quickly."

Lillia's words made Tety smile and raise her hand.

"Sure! I want to learn about herbs too!"

"Alright, then let's go to the Adventurer's Guild. Tety, can you watch the shop for us?"

"Sure thing!"

With Tety's cute voice in the background, Lillia and I left the shop and headed to the Adventurer's Guild.

◇ ◇ ◇

We walked for about five minutes through the back alleys of the capital to reach the Adventurer's Guild.

As usual, there were few people.

I looked at the requests, but there were only a few low-rank ones.

It seemed that the fields around the capital were being ravaged by monsters, and there were requests to exterminate rats and great boars.

—I'd like to take on a forest quest.

For now, I only took on herb-gathering quests.

I also asked the receptionist at the counter to pass a message to Edgar, telling him that I had obtained the item he desired.

When we returned to the shop, Edgar was already there.

He was standing in front of the shop, fidgeting a bit.

I could only sigh.

"Seriously, why? That's too quick."

Edgar scratched his messy hair and smiled.

"I've given the guild a magical device to ensure that I receive messages from you quickly."

"You're well-prepared."

"...To me, Sir Alec and Lillia are my last hope."

Edgar's eyes, hidden by his hair, gleamed. I could see his determination.

I sighed and nodded.

"I understand. ...Lillia, do you have the princess's soul?"

"Yes, it's here, safely."

Lillia placed her hand on her large chest.

Edgar's face relaxed into a smile.

"Thank you! ...Can you come with me to the slave trader right away?"

"Huh? Now?"

"Please, virtue is urgent!"

Edgar struck a pose, raising his thumb and winking.

It was unlike his usual quiet self.

"You're in a hurry... I guess that shows how long you've been waiting."

"That's right! The princess is my dream!"

"Alright, let's go."

"Thank you!"

We were hurried along by the oddly energetic Edgar and headed to the slave trader.

◇ ◇ ◇

In the late morning of the capital city.

Edgar, Lillia, and I were meeting the witch Cordelia in the slave trader's reception room.

The three of us sat on a sofa, while Cordelia, sitting opposite us, had a creepy grin on her face.

"Hehehe. What an odd combination, isn't it?"

"I'm here to accompany Edgar today."

"That's right. I finally got it! I have the money ready, so please help me!"

Edgar bowed deeply.

Cordelia took out a notebook from her pocket and licked her fingertips.

"Some materials have increased in market value, so the price is much higher than what I told you before. Is that acceptable?"

"Of course! I've earned more than enough to cover it."

"Hmm... Then it's fine. Let me tell you the fees for a resurrection request: the basic fee is 14 million for a week, the technical fee is 45 million, and the fatigue allowance is 18 million. In total, it's 77 million goats."

"Okay."

"What's the fatigue allowance for?"

The old woman snorted through her hawk-like nose.

"When I use this spell, I can't move properly for three days. That includes income loss, nursing costs, and magical healing fees... If you don't like it, you can go elsewhere. Is there anyone else who can resurrect the dead besides me? Hehehe!"

"You're really overcharging."

"It's fine, I'll ask you to help me!"

Edgar vigorously bowed, shaking his messy hair.

Lillia smiled with a hint of concern.

"Edgar, you're really determined, aren't you?"

Cordelia nodded and began writing numbers on a piece of paper on the table.

After calculating, she said:

"Hmm. Right now, the total cost is 1.24783 billion."

"Wh-What!? Over 1.2 billion? I've saved 1.1 billion..."

Edgar's face twisted with worry, and he glanced at me.

He quickly shook his head.

"No, no, I don't have that kind of money."

"That's right... The remaining 140 million... It will take more than a year. Oh, I was told it would be 550 million, so I saved double, but it's impossible..."

Edgar slumped his shoulders.

—Actually, he came to this country 8 years ago.

Did he earn 130 million every year?

I felt bad for him, having worked so hard only to be delayed again.

Lillia, sitting next to me, also looked sad.

So, I decided to help Edgar and asked the old woman.

"Isn't that a bit too much?"

"If your neighbor died and could be brought back to life for 1.3 billion, would you think it's cheap or expensive?"

I looked at Lillia, who was sitting next to me.

Her straight nose, large, slightly droopy eyes, and abundant silver hair that fell over her porcelain-like cheeks.

Her long lashes and violet eyes blinked.

She had a beautiful smile, like an angel.

I nodded and said definitively.

"Is that all it takes? It's a steal."

"Indeed?"

"Thank you, Master."

Lillia smiled happily.

However, the problem wasn't solved.

I tilted my head in confusion.

"But isn't 1.1 billion enough? Are there really materials that expensive?"

"There are materials that cost over 100 million. It's expensive for a reason."

"What are they?"

"Like rejuvenation, I can't tell you. Hehehe."

"Of course, that makes sense... Wait a minute?"

I had a sudden realization.

Resurrection is a forbidden spell, just like rejuvenation.

So, if that's the case...

I rummaged through my magic bag and took out the Philosopher's Stone.

A transparent green octahedron, emitting a faint light.

I placed it on the table.

It began to float and slowly rotate, with the pointed end as the axis.

Cordelia's cloudy eyes widened, and she gasped, her hoarse voice breaking.

"Y-You! That's...!?"

"It's the Philosopher's Stone. I found it. ...Using this, can't we make Edgar's resurrection cheaper?"

"O-Oh, oh, oh! This is... This is the Philosopher's Stone...!"

Cordelia's trembling hand reached out, so I quickly snatched it back and hid it in my hand.

"Are you listening? Using the Philosopher's Stone can make it cheaper, right? It can be used multiple times, right?"

"Indeed, the Philosopher's Stone is an immutable item that can be used multiple times... To make it cheaper, we can reduce the use of the Emerald Tablet... We can use leaves instead of World Tree petals... And this... This way, it won't take a week... If the Philosopher's Stone can be used, it will cost 874,810,000 goats."

"Then I have 900 million. No change needed!"

Edgar took out large, coin-like pieces of gold, about the size of the back of his hand, emitting a bluish-white light—Grand Holy Coins—and placed nine of them on the table.

Cordelia took them with a sly smile and put them in her pocket.

"Hehehe, that's the spirit! I've accepted it. I'll make sure it succeeds."

"Thank you! I'm asking you to help me! ...And thank you, Sir Alec, for lending me the legendary item! I'll do anything you ask, anything!"

"Of course. I'll rely on you. ...But, isn't that too much to give as change?"

"Probably because this spell is a one-time thing. I want Cordelia to work on it comfortably."

"I see. If it fails, it turns to ashes."

"I understand, Edgar."

"That's good. I wanted to do everything I could."

Edgar spoke with determination in his voice.

Cordelia nodded and looked at me.

"Bringing the Philosopher's Stone shows that I chose well—indeed, Alec, are you sure it's okay to lend such a significant item so easily? You can't come with us, you know?"

"Huh? Why not?"

"Of course, if you're around, it will fail. Leave the woman and the stone in the forest outside the capital... and wait there."

"I don't understand, but okay. With Edgar and Lillia here, it should be fine... I'll contact you when we reach the forest. Lillia, if anything happens, use the communicator."

"Yes, Master."

I handed the Philosopher's Stone to Lillia, who was sitting next to me.

—Actually, if my presence in the capital causes failure, how did it work before?

Did she know my schedule?

I was about to ask, but Cordelia slowly stood up from the sofa.

"Let's start the preparations. Follow me—let's go."

—Well, it doesn't matter.

I also stood up.

"See you later."

"Yes, Master!"

"Thank you! Really... really, I'm deeply grateful!"

Edgar quickly stood up and bowed to me as I left the room.

He continued to bow until I left the room.

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The next chapter will be updated tomorrow (it might be split into two parts)

→ 62. Boredom and the Rose Princess