Chapter 264 - Chapter 234: Something More Important
First, a refill... Oh, that's right!
"This is a new creation, so please try some if you like."
What I took out of my inventory was blue warabi mochi. I'd kept it in my inventory, thinking it might deteriorate even in the Ancient Magic Storage.
"Gasp!"
"Alright, alright. There's some for you too, Sweee."
I took out two plates. There was one more plate, which I wanted to give to True.
"What a strange food..."
"Looks like slime~"
"Nom nom nom!"
Argenta-san looked at it with curiosity, the Princess gave her frank opinion, and Sweee just started eating without a care.
"Hii-sama, it seems to be delicious."
"Mhm!"
Perhaps reassured by Sweee's enthusiastic eating, the Princess also poked it with a fork and put it into her mouth...
"Delicious!"
She said, then began eating in silence. Both she and Sweee had kinako all over their mouths, which were now stained blue.
"Um, please continue your story."
"Ah, I apologize. To what extent can the Ancient Ruins be controlled by a manager?"
"Well, all I did was inject mana into the Emergency Magic Crystal Stone to restart it. After that, the Ancient Ruins seemed to self-repair..."
As I said that, Argenta-san flinched, and simultaneously, a white, transparent light overflowed from the Princess.
"Hii-sama."
"I'm fine."
Ehhhh...
The face that replied now exuded beauty, in addition to the innocence of a young girl. ...Though her mouth was still covered in kinako and bluegaris syrup.
Noticing this, she muttered something, and the mess around her mouth completely vanished. Some kind of cleaning magic?
"Shou-sama. This is White Dragon Princess Althena-sama's true form. As a reaction to stopping the calamity, she only awakens for a brief time each day..."
"Ah, um... hello..."
"You're the one who gave me sweets, aren't you?"
Even as she said that, her eyes were on Sweee. The oblivious Queen continued to enjoy her blue warabi mochi, unfazed by the change.
"You said the Ancient Ruins self-repaired just now? What did you mean?"
"Yes. In this case..."
First, I explained that the Mana Transmission Line had been repaired with the mana from the Emergency Magic Crystal Stone, and thanks to that, the collapsed passage had also been fixed.
"I see..."
She sighed, leaning against Argenta-san, the Princess—no, the White Dragon Princess-sama. I wondered what she was worried about, but then...
"Shou-kun. The facility in the Necropolis that caused the calamity might also..."
"Ah!"
"You've noticed, haven't you..."
If I carelessly restart the Ancient Ruins in the Necropolis, is there a chance the calamity could happen again? What kind of MMORPG involves a calamity that could engulf not only NPCs but players too...
"Nom nom nom!"
"Mhm."
Sweee, for some reason, brought a piece of blue warabi mochi to the White Dragon Princess-sama's mouth. The White Dragon Princess-sama took a bite. Aren't they at odds? No, it's not that.
"What do they intend to do?"
"Um, what will you do?"
"For now, I suppose we'll wait and see. The Necropolis should be properly liberated, and by now, curiosity cannot be stopped."
"When Shou-sama became the manager of the Ancient Ruins, you mentioned needing a ring, didn't you?"
"Ah, it's this."
I took off the ring and handed it to Argenta-san, thinking it was fine even if it was confiscated. They both stared at it intently. Were they Appraising it?
"This appears to be a 'Highest Administrator's' ring, but are there others?"
"Ah, no. I haven't been able to thoroughly search the Data Room where this dropped yet. The fairies did pick up some things, though... would you like to see them?"
I was planning to Appraisal them later, so I had just tossed them into a mini-chest.
"No, that's fine."
"I hope this ring is the only one that can make someone a manager. Thank you."
"Ah, yes."
I was a bit surprised when Argenta-san returned the ring so smoothly. Well, I'll take it as a sign of trust.
"I may ask you for a favor someday, so I'll give you this."
What she placed on the table was a pure white medal. Ah, right, a White Dragon Coin, that's what it is...
"Having to use this... that would be when I go to the continent, right? I have absolutely no intention of doing that..."
"Oh, really? Then why is this child here?"
The White Dragon Princess-sama chuckled and looked at Sweee. She knows about the Divine Tree hollow...
"..."
Sweee pouted and pretended not to know. On second thought, since she's the Queen of the Fairies, it wouldn't be strange for her to be acquainted with royalty of other races. Her usual childish behavior made it seem impossible, but could she actually know True too?
"We will provide as much support as possible from our side, so we humbly request your assistance..."
"Haa... But I don't think there's much I can do. If I ask Sweee, I can go to the mainland through the Divine Tree, but the location isn't clear..."
It used to be the south side of the Republic. It's quite far, and getting from there to the Necropolis without encountering anyone seems impossible. In that case, I'm sure some players would definitely notice me. My character identity is already exposed...
"Woof."
Perhaps sensing my dilemma, Lupi rested her head on my lap. I'll calm my mind by petting her fluff...
Lupi would definitely come with me, but that would also be a sure way to get noticed.
"I heard there's a Transfer Magic Circle on the first floor of this mountain cabin. I was also told its location..."
Ah...
"Does that perhaps go straight to the Necropolis?"
"Yes. The Central Advanced Magic Research Institute; there is a place once called that at the heart of that land."
I just want to retrieve the Transfer Magic Circle...
Perhaps she saw the look on my face, because Argenta-san offered a follow-up.
"Please rest assured that Transfer Tower #11, Unit 3, where the Transfer Magic Circle is located, will be occupied by the Dragonfolk Tribe as soon as it is found. If nothing untoward happens, the Transfer Magic Circle will be brought here."
She continued,
"Even if I ask you for something, it would be a last resort. Let's think of other ways. Understood, Arge?"
"Understood."
"There's something far more important I'd like to ask of you."
"Nom nom nom!"
The White Dragon Princess-sama's and Sweee's gazes were fixed on the empty plates. Alright, I'll put out some Dried Grapeful...