Chapter 382 – The Circumstances of Princess Elham

The banquet concluded successfully, and the next day arrived. We decided to hand over the spare magic tools we had loaded on the ship as well.

The items to be given were healing and detoxification magic tools, along with the Amulet of Evil Repulsion. They couldn’t compare to Ashley’s magic, but by incorporating enchanted magic stones, their effects were amplified relative to the stone size and spell formula rank. Having one each in the community would likely prove quite useful.

“The Amulet of Evil Repulsion can perform curse-breaking and negate the effects of magic potions. Well, it also negates beneficial incantations, and overuse can cause it to break, so caution is required when using it…”

I explained about the magic tools. While the Amulet of Evil Repulsion indeed has the drawback of potentially breaking, cases of suffering harm from curses or magic potions probably aren’t that frequent. It would be sufficient if it proved helpful when needed.

“To receive such valuable items…”

“I was involved in the creation of these magic tools.”

I replied as Yumit seemed hesitant.

With magicians or magic engineers involved and magic stones being necessary components, magic tools become expensive due to added value. The base cost isn’t that high. Besides, this was also Alfred’s idea.

When contacting King Melvin via communication device through Alfred to report about Princess Elham and the nomads, he expressed a strong desire to establish friendly relations with the nomads as well. That’s when Alfred made the proposal.

“Were you also a magic engineer?”

“No. A friend of mine is a magic engineer, and we collaborate to create magic tools. Please accept these as tokens of friendship from Verdgar this time. I believe my friend would agree.”

Alfred’s motivation for suggesting this was to establish his position by becoming a useful asset to the country. Moreover, it was presented as Verdgar’s intention rather than my personal gift. Yumit seemed convinced by this, nodding quietly.

“Thank you again and again. There is something I would like you to give to that friend of yours as well.”

Saying this, Yumit handed me a necklace. It was an ornament with delicate, carefully crafted details… but was that a magic stone embedded in it?

“It is an item for which prayers were offered to receive the blessing of the Wind Spirit King. Surely, the Blessing of the Spirit King will be upon it.”

I see. Perhaps it will become an item to protect Alfred.

“Understood. I will definitely deliver it to Alfred—to my friend.”

“I pray for your good fortune on your journey.”

“Yes. Please stay well, Yumit-san, and everyone else.”

After exchanging farewells with the nomads, we boarded the Sirius. Now then—let’s continue our journey.

The Sirius began to ascend. From the deck, we all waved to the nomads and left the plateau behind.

Heading south from the plateau, the scenery changed once more. It wasn’t desert yet, but arid land and plains spread out before us.

As far as the eye could see, there were no settlements, yet we wouldn’t get lost. A road continued along the river flowing from the mountainous region into the plains.

The area around the river showed noticeable greenery, but looking elsewhere, trees became sparse, and even where they grew, they were mostly low shrubs.

Grass grew, but areas of reddish-brown soil were also prominent. Consequently, depending on the season, this land might be more suitable for nomadism than the highland region.

“I have heard that your country continues to fight against demons. I was told that you all have come to investigate the demons…”

As I gazed at the outside scenery from the bridge, Princess Elham inquired.

“Yes. With that in mind, we are considering paying our respects to the Baharzard royal family.”

“The land where you will conduct this investigation into the demons… would that be the southwestern desert…?”

“Do you know something about it?”

According to King Melvin—since it’s unknown what lies in the Sacred Land, they informed the Baharzard side that the specific investigation location would be explained after we arrived on-site. So, I hadn’t expected Princess Elham to ask about the southwest before any concrete discussions.

In response to my reaction, Princess Elham shook her head.

“No. I have no ulterior motive. It concerns my mother. She was originally royalty from a small desert nation. About 30 years ago, her country was destroyed by a demon of unknown origin.”

Ah. So when she heard about the demon investigation, the southwest came to mind. It was an event from her mother’s homeland. It’s no wonder Princess Elham knows. By marrying the current King of Baharzard, the queen’s homeland was likely incorporated into Baharzard.

Perhaps… that might also be the reason she volunteered to welcome us.

Princess Stephania, who had been watching me, nodded.

Right. We would like information from Princess Elham and the Baharzard Queen as well.

That said, calculating backwards from Princess Elham’s age, the Baharzard Queen was probably still a child at the time. It might be better not to expect too much.

“Do you know of a demon called the King of Ignorance? Based on information gathered from various places, we have repeatedly inferred and suspect that the leader of the demons hostile to Verdgar might be that demon.”

When I answered, Princess Elham closed her eyes as if expecting this, took a deep breath, then looked at me and said.

“That demon is the very one who destroyed my mother’s homeland. I have heard that it enveloped the castle in darkness and obliterated everything.”

…That settles it. We might be able to learn various things about the incident back then and the local area.

“What is the state of that castle and its surroundings now?”

“Fearing it as ill-omened due to its destruction by the demon, it has been abandoned. The large stronghold nearby holds strong merchant influence, and being distant from the center, Baharzard’s power doesn’t extend there much either.”

I see, so it has become ruins. Even though incorporated into Baharzard, effective control isn’t exerted.

In that case, it seems better to utilize Auria’s connections through the Adventurer Guild locally.

“Theodore. The preparations seem to be finished.”

At that moment, Rosemary showed her face on the bridge.

“Mhm. Well then, shall we begin?”

Nodding at Rosemary’s words, I directed my attention to the Five Senses Link with Caduceus, who was monitoring the ship’s hold.

The interior of the second hold could be monitored not from the bridge, but from a separate small room.

If a speaking tube were installed from the bridge to the second hold, our conversations here might be transmitted to the second hold side.

The preparations Rosemary mentioned concerned the plan to infiltrate Ambrum the Doppelganger among Dahl and his men. Of course, it was to guide the direction of the conversation and elicit various confessions.

For Ambrum’s transformation, we gave the captives water and light meals—and under the pretext of treating those with severe injuries, moved them to a separate room where we collected blood samples. After that, we had Ambrum transform, covered him with a stone box, and returned him to the hold, completing the setup.

While viewing the interior of the second hold through the crystal panel, I listened to the voices coming from the speaking tube.

“Dahl-sama… What will become of us from now on?”

Ambrum, under Rosemary’s control and in the form of the deputy, uttered a timid voice.

“H… How should I know…! In this state where we don’t even know where we’re being taken…! What in the world is this bizarre vehicle anyway!”

Dahl, bound and packaged, roared with irritation while grimacing in pain. We had at least reconnected his ribs to allow speech, but his arm fractures only received emergency treatment with splints.

Well, with Dahl being this irritable, his subordinates were too intimidated, and we hadn’t obtained much useful information. Hence, using Ambrum to shake things up.

Ambrum cowered at Dahl’s shouting but had no intention of stopping the guidance.

“If we are taken to the capital… do you think Kahar-sama will come to rescue us?”

“That’s why—I’m telling you not to ask me! Guh, guooooh…!”

Dahl hysterically shouted before writhing in pain. Seeing this, the cult follower shook his shoulders in amusement.

“Kukukuku. If you had that much leeway, you wouldn’t have embarked on this operation, would you? Do you really think that Kahar would come to rescue mere foot soldiers?”

“You bastard…! Are you mocking us!?”

Dahl, his face flushed red, tried to turn his head to glare at the follower, but lying down and bound made it difficult to direct his gaze.

“Even if there were the military strength or reason to recapture you, who knows when news from the north will reach the southwest. Right?”

Oh… So Kahar’s hideout is also in the southwest?

If Baharzard’s power doesn’t reach there easily, perhaps that’s the case. Or maybe there’s another reason. Causing disturbances in the north might have been to draw attention there while building up strength with the southwest as a base.

At any rate, we’ve obtained a perfect gift story for the King of Baharzard. While listening to their exchanges, the Sirius advanced towards the capital of the Kingdom of Baharzard.

Thank you as always for reading my work.

In the activity report, I have posted rough illustrations of characters from the book edition of “Boundary Labyrinth and the Magician of the Otherworld.”

I have also posted roughs of characters not on the cover, so I would be happy if you could enjoy them along with the updates. m(_ _)m