Chapter 23

"To sum it up, nothing happened."

As Weiss urged Ale on, Renetta nodded.

It was during dinner.

Today's menu was a rich beef stew, fluffy bread, and a fresh vegetable salad.

"We searched a wide area, but we didn't sense that creepy magic."

"Footprints or something, some sign that they were there. I looked around, but there was nothing."

"Like they suddenly appeared?"

At Livio's words, Weiss nodded.

"I asked the townspeople, but no one noticed it approaching. Is that even possible? With its size. It was as if it suddenly appeared."

Thinking back.

When Livio defeated the first one, the second one appeared immediately. No one noticed the giant body until the monster let out a scream. With its size, it should have made some noise, some flapping of wings. But it really did appear suddenly, with a scream.

"Common sense says it's impossible. But since it happened right in front of us, there must be a reason for it."

"Something that turns the impossible into the possible?"

"Like, keeping the monster locked up somewhere and then releasing it?"

"Can you do that?"

When Sophie asked, Renetta tilted her head.

Her long black hair swayed.

"Probably? I think it's some kind of spatial magic. Something like expanding a container. Like a magic bag or a magic carriage."

"Ah, those are quite expensive and rare. I looked for them today, but there were none."

Magic bags and magic carriages, where you can throw anything in, are the dream of adventurers and knights. It makes sense, as they can reduce their luggage for travel. You can throw things in easily and carry them around. Depending on the size of the container, some are so large that they can move an entire country.

"I can do it. Want me to cast a spell on it?"

"Huh?"

"It's so wide and convenient. Do it for me."

This king's fiancée might be able to move an entire country.

Livio waved his hands frantically at the two who were saying such terrifying things so casually.

"I can't pay the price!"

"Hmm?"

I fled with the bare minimum. Sophie nodded, and Weiss grinned. Oh, what a scary face. His deep blue eyes seemed to gleam.

"So, the monster was in something with that kind of magic cast on it?"

When Sophie brought the conversation back to Renetta's statement, Weiss grinned again. He knows but decided to play along, his face said. It made Livio feel uneasy.

"That would make it more noticeable. Besides, it would be difficult to tame a monster."

"Maybe?" Renetta tilted her head again.

Weiss pointed at Livio with his thumb.

"This guy can store his sword in something. The way he draws it out is smooth, but can't you do something like that? For example, it comes out when you break it?"

"That would be a bomb or a cannonball."

"It would change the course of war."

Weiss frowned deeply. Renetta nodded.

"That sounds interesting."

"It's not interesting."

That's not what I meant, Renetta moved her eyebrows slightly.

"Is the earring you're wearing a magic stone?"

"Huh? Yes. I channel my magic power into my sword and integrate it with this earring."

Livio touched his left ear.

The black magic stone was as beautiful as onyx and suited Livio's black hair well.

Incidentally, these magic stones are processed into various items like necklaces, rings, and bracelets according to the knight's preference when they are issued. The color of the stone changes depending on the user's magic power and weapon, which made the knights who could use them very happy. They said, "I absolutely don't want to match my accessories with a guy!" Sophie could understand but also couldn't.

Renetta stared at Livio's black magic stone.

"Magicians usually don't use organic materials."

"Why?"

"Because it's troublesome. First, you need to channel magic power into the object, so not everyone can do it. Also, you can only store one item per magic stone, so it's faster to buy a bag that can hold two or three items at the same price. No one wants to channel magic power into a cabbage just to take it out smoothly."

"Maybe someone does. Magicians or people who want to hide emergency food."

"Or a weirdo or a villain."

Renetta said casually and took a sip of water.

"Channeling enough magic power into a monster to integrate it with a magic stone is not easy. But if it was tampered with using magic to the point where it would disappear with a purification spell, it's theoretically possible to store it in a magic stone. So, the person who wants to carry a monster around like that is probably a weirdo or a villain."

"Meaning, we should be wary of the weirdo or the villain rather than the giant monster."

Weiss nodded, and Renetta split a round bread roll with her small hands. Steam rose, and she put it back on the plate.

Seeing this, Weiss pushed his own bread, which he had split but not touched, towards Renetta.

"Pass it over."

Renetta looked up and handed her plate with the bread to Weiss.

Livio and Sophie couldn't help but watch the two exchange bread. Weiss frowned.

"She has a sensitive tongue."

"Really?"

The surprised voice was Livio's.

Really. Really.

Rene, who was eating the bread, didn't touch the steaming beef stew. So, it seems she really does have a sensitive tongue, which means she's sensitive to heat and can easily burn her tongue.

Sophie, who was a lady of standing, often ate cold food in large mansions or the castle because it took a long time to transport meals from the kitchen. Hot soup would become lukewarm by the time it reached the table. Bread that was said to be freshly baked was often a few hours old.

So, Sophie had never burned herself on food, but since she left the castle, she had eaten freshly made dishes without any issues, so she wasn't a person with a sensitive tongue. She couldn't understand the struggles of someone with a sensitive tongue, so she couldn't say anything.

It's hard to sympathize with someone who can't enjoy warm food, so she had no right to tease them.

It made her a bit uncomfortable.

But it was fun to watch.

"Anyway, we're leaving the town tomorrow. What about you two? Do you have any plans?"

"No, we're thinking of traveling to the eastern country for now."

"East?"

"Why?"

"Do you know about the red and spicy soup in the eastern country?"

"Ah, that's delicious."

"!"

Sophie's eyes widened, and Livio exclaimed in surprise next to her.

"We have someone from the east in our castle. He sometimes serves us his hometown dishes."

"It's more like he invites himself to the kitchen when he hears Xiaoyun is there."

"That's because he knows I'll get my share."

Weiss replied with a disgruntled look, and Sophie was surprised.

It wasn't just that he had eaten the soup she had been dreaming of. No, it was more than that. The fact that he was so close to a foreigner! "The usurper king doesn't let go of talented people he wants," and he places them regardless of their background or race. While Sophie was daydreaming about the foreign soup, he had already tasted it.

"So, are you going there for the soup?"

"Don't make fun of me."

Sophie felt embarrassed about how narrow her world had been, and Weiss frowned deeply.

"You could have eaten it at my castle, but that's not the point. The reason for your journey can be as trivial as you want. The more trivial, the more interesting. If you get laughed at, laugh it off and enjoy it."

Weiss smiled, and it made him look handsome. Sophie felt a bit flustered, and Renetta nodded.

"Right, I came to this country to eat the Dead Ripper steak."

"Ah, I'm looking forward to it."

"Eh?"

The evening gathering. The meeting. The diplomatic relations.

When Sophie blinked, Weiss seemed to realize what she was thinking and raised his Ale as if it was nothing.

"That's just a side trip."

"Side trip?"

Sophie inwardly sighed.

Guests invited from afar usually stay in the castle for a few weeks, rest from their journey, attend the evening gathering, and then leave after a leisurely stay.

But this king only stayed the day before the gathering.

Sophie had been worried if there was some mishap or distrust towards their country, but it was just a side trip. He was only interested in things outside the castle.

After the gathering, Sophie wasn't in the castle, so she didn't know, but it seemed he had left early.

"We traveled on the main road and couldn't stop at Ritzdo. This is a separate trip for that."

Ritzdo was a small town next to this city.

While there were many prosperous towns along the main roads, there were many small, quiet towns in the forested areas. Ritzdo was one of them.

"Eh, I didn't pry into your reasons. You're moving around just to eat monster meat? You're still crazy."

"Leave it alone."

It's not something a king should do, and Weiss didn't get angry at Livio's blunt words. He waved his hand.

"My country isn't so weak that a short absence would cause problems, and do you think anyone can kill me and Renetta?"

"Probably not."

That's right, Weiss urged Ale and placed the glass silently. Despite his unkingly behavior, he had a certain grace.

"Are you interested in that meat, Renetta?"

Despite her small appetite, Renetta shook her head.

"I'm curious about the interesting herbs."

Sophie nodded. A magician's response.

"Since that's the case, why don't you come with us?"

"Eh?"

Sophie and Livio exclaimed in unison at Weiss's sudden words.

Weiss grinned. Oh, a bad feeling.

"If you're going east, stop by my country. The sea voyage is nice."

Weiss's country had a large port. It was a grand port where not only merchant ships but also passenger ships came and went. It seemed like a good idea, but it didn't seem purely out of kindness.

"What's your aim?"

Thinking the same thing as Sophie, Livio asked cautiously, and Weiss grinned.

"I want to see Osniel Worian's displeased face."

"Terrible."

"Hopefully, I can hire you two at the castle."

"It's a job offer."

Livio made a displeased face, and Weiss laughed.

"Just think of it as a bodyguard and maid job for the journey to my country."

"Whose bodyguard?"

Weiss reached for Renetta's bread. He put the half-eaten piece directly into Renetta's mouth, who groaned. "Don't leave any," Weiss frowned.

"How about paying with Renetta's magic?"

Indeed. It might be a sufficient reward for a king's bodyguard and his fiancée's maid.

Livio made a displeased face, but it wasn't a bad deal.

Probably, he just doesn't get along with this king.

Still, it was annoying that Weiss didn't forget the conversation. Being toyed with like a child by an adult was not a pleasant feeling.

Sophie laughed at her own immaturity.