Roa and I look at each other.
I can see a strong resolve in her eyes behind those glasses. But what they’re actually saying is ‘it’s your job to explain, Rust’.
She doesn’t waver, so I smile awkwardly and turn back to Taula. I tell her we’re here to look for a suitable place to build a new town.
“I see…”
Taula looks pensive for a moment.
“A lot of weird and mysterious things have been happening in the capital, so many are feeling uneasy, and more and more people have been thinking about moving away into Lady Kalin’s land.”
Whispers Taula.
“I can see that being the case, especially since Kalin is a hero known as a demon slayer. Apparently those rumors of a demon appearing in the capital are having a big effect. But what is going on in the capital exactly?”
I ask Taula.
“It was nothing important at first. Harmful animals such as bugs and rats began to disappear.”
Says Taula while looking into the distance.
“But soon even stray cats and dogs began to vanish. And it seems that even people have been disappearing lately.”
“It seems?”
“I heard of people like homeless people with no clear identity and very low class adventurers who just disappeared one day. My acquaintance told me that there was an investigation led by the army, but it was not clear who was disappearing and where or when. This is not good, especially after the scandal with the magic guns and circuit boards. Also…”
Says Taula with a somber tone.
“Also?”
“Well, I don’t know if this is related, but apparently food has been rotting much quicker in the capital. If people leave it be for a while it soon grows mold.”
“That is… Very serious. The capital has a lot of mouths to feed, so depending on how quickly it rots, the food supply won’t be able to catch up.”
“The alchemist association should be helping at a time like this, but they haven’t rebuilt yet. This is part of the reason why people have been steadily leaving the capital. People have been bringing up your name as well. They talk about the great alchemist that was originally from the association and went to the knight Kalin’s Admiral dominion.
They say you solved the issue of the disease running rampant in that new land the day after you arrived, and some even say you have a legendary dragon at your service. I assume more and more people will want to move there.”
Despite how it sounds, the way Taula is talking makes me think she’s praising me, and not making fun of me.
“This is a problem with the latest telecommunications devices, rumors spread very quickly. I quit the alchemist association, so I don’t even have anything to do with it anymore.”
I respond, sounding a little dejected. Taula notices my tone, and lowers hers a little.
“Would it be possible for me to accompany the two of you for a while?”
“I don’t mind.”
I say while turning to Roa, who stays silent.
“Do you think you’ll find clues about the shaman where we’re going?”
I ask while turning back to Taula.
“I don’t know, but I don’t have any concrete clues to begin with. It’s possible that he could be in one of the islands in the archipelago in the northern sea, but I lost my boat, so I can no longer chase that possibility. But there is also a chance that he could be hiding somewhere in this remote region.”
“Hmm. I guess it is possible, but not very likely.”
“Also, if the armored salmon attack was the shaman’s doing, there is a good chance that he’s after alchemists.”
Says Taula while looking straight at me.
“Eh!? No, that’s just based on circumstantial evidence… Is he?”
I start thinking, and Taula presses further.
“So, having that said, I will be under your care for a while.”
Says Taula while bowing.
“…All right, welcome aboard.”
And so, Taula joins our party.
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I feel slightly bad for the shaman, only slightly. He’s being blamed for Rihalzam’s incompetence.