Chapter 711 - Chapter 11: Beatrix and Gnome
We stayed on the Ice Island for about five days in total, and after promising to meet the Vice Demon Lord again, we left the island. After a sea voyage, when the northern coast of Finis came into view, we parted with Archbishop Price and the ship's crew and flew in the bowl. Usually, we would stop at Finis, but this time we passed through. We had already bought the sake for souvenirs on the way there.
"Are we going straight back?"
Erikson-sama asked as if he were reluctant to leave.
"Let's stop at one more place."
Regarding the method to teleport it, there's one more place to check. Gnome. He's difficult but reliable. However, the power of spirits doesn't reach if they are far away from the White Island. That point is a bit worrying.
"Teleporting a Behemoth, huh. That's quite a big one."
To Gnome's cave, we brought fruit wine made by the beastmen living in the forest southwest of the Royal Capital area. We toasted, and he's laughing pleasantly.
"Yes. Initially, we thought of using Translate, but we were stopped by the Vice Demon Lord. He said if the teleportation distance is too far, the position might shift and it might not reach the Ice Island safely."
"Humph. If it's a human, that could certainly happen."
If it's a human? That means if someone other than a human does it, it can be teleported, right?
"Then, will you wait for it to become smaller after removing the influence of the Magic Stone, as you said before?"
"That's the plan, but Gnome, you are good at Teleport magic, right?"
"Well, yeah."
"Then, could you teach us the control method for Translate magic?"
"Can a human control it?"
"There are also Revenants and ghosts. After that, it's a negotiation with the Earth Dragon. Actually, I also thought of asking Gnome by paying a suitable compensation, but I heard that the power of the Four Great Spirits doesn't reach if they are far away from the White Island. If that's the case, I thought we should at least ask for your teaching on how to use the magic and exert our efforts ourselves."
Eleanor-sama is also clever. She intends to tickle Gnome's pride by saying it as if she's assuming he can't do it anyway. Originally, even the Vice Demon Lord said it could be done. Eleanor-sama said that if it's Gnome, he should surely be able to do it. However, since it's Gnome, if we just ask normally, he might not pay attention to us.
"Don't look down on me so much. I can do it if I want to."
He took the bait! He's simpler than I thought.
"H-However, Gnome. The Ice Island is four or five days by ship... no, that's because it's on the ocean current, and in reality, the distance is even more..."
Usually, this would be the time for a fist pump, but since the opponent is Gnome, I don't relax. Instead, for some reason, Henry-sama is leaning forward with both fists clenched.
"Magic can be used on that Ice Island, can't it? As long as I grasp the position, I can teleport anything. Unlike humans, extremely accurately."
He's completely fallen for it.
The compensation for Gnome was to bring honey wine and Highway Cookies and have a banquet twice a year.
"I think we are having banquets almost every month, though."
"That's the story at Jeanne's farm, isn't it?"
"Then where will we do it?"
"Here. To be precise, the banquet with the Priestess we had the other day."
"With the Priestess..."
When we met the Priestess from a thousand years ago last time, we talked about once every few years, but it seems it wasn't enough. He told us to increase it.
Gnome says that even though she was a Priestess, she's despairing of the world even after becoming a ghost. As a user of light magic, comfort her, he said.
Isn't he kind! Just like with the Dragonewts, he's worried about various things around him.
"There's also Erikson, an old acquaintance. The conversation will surely be lively."
"Then, if the timing is right, shall we also bring Sianya and call the Wetlands Priestess too? She's a ghost who lived in the same era, after all."
"True. That would be helpful."
"How about it, Erikson-sama?"
"Humph. I was also worried about the Priestess. Since we are both people who became ghosts due to the same events, I can at least listen to her talk."
"I understand. I'll talk to the other spirits too, and let's have a grand party twice a year!"
The Henry Party shouldn't have any complaints either. Eleanor-sama is all smiles. If we can get Gnome's help with Teleport for two banquets a year, it's cheap. Besides, I want her to ascend.
"Jeanne."
"Yes!"
"'Grand party', you say?"
"Yes! I'll do my best!"
"At least use an expression like 'splendidly'. For a priest, you have too little atmosphere."
Eh? That side? Sorry. Since I'm a stray, I haven't had much connection with poetic expressions.
Gnome had one more condition. He said he wouldn't do it himself, but would teach a human.
"Originally, it's because humans' handling of Teleport is too sloppy. I shall train one once."
"Is that true!"
Eleanor-sama bit into it.
"You will be instructing successors for decades to come, you know. You are too old. Give up."
Eleanor-sama looked like she wanted to say something, but she seemed to swallow her words. She quietly bowed and stepped back. Surely, she wanted to say she intended to become a ghost.
"Then, how about Wilson?"
She recommended the practically strongest mage.
"This person cannot use Teleport, can he? At his current age, it's impossible to learn it anew. Even if he is a Revenant."
Is that so? Then there's a limit even if he uses Memorize.
"If you think that becoming a Revenant allows one to exceed human limits, that is a mistake. There is such a thing as compatibility with magic. One cannot learn magic with which they have poor compatibility."
"I understand."
Surprisingly, the one who replied was Wilson-san.
"Ho-ho. You, then you are experimenting, aren't you?"
"Yes. I tried it once in the Ruined Town."
"Could you not learn Teleport?"
"Yes. Rare magic, after all, cannot be learned by mediocre people."
"Your talent is not that of a mediocre person. Rather, it is something you should be proud of."
"I am honored by your praise."
Which means there's a possibility of learning it if someone has good compatibility and is young... probably late teens to early twenties, right?
"True. It's a hassle to teach from scratch. Someone who has already learned Teleport would be good."
I unintentionally met eyes with Eleanor-sama. There's one person, isn't there!
"What's wrong? Do you have someone in mind?"
Of course we do, it's Beatrix.
"What, that girl? I thought that girl was a clever girl who used magic widely and skillfully, but she even uses Teleport, huh."
"Yes. She learned it just the other day. I was also present. She's planning to open a magic tool shop soon, so it might be just right in that sense too."
As I thought. Surely, while I was on the Ice Island, she was looking for a shop together with Mary or someone.
In the end, if Beatrix herself said she'd do it, Gnome would teach her directly. It must be an incredible story. As proof of that, I feel like Eleanor-sama's hands are shaking a little.
"Then, there is one more thing I would like to ask for your teaching."
It's Eleanor-sama. Her expression is a bit stiff.
"What is it?"
"Can light magic be learned with Memorize?"
Her expression should be stiff. If she's told it's no good, the lifting of the ban on Forbidden Magic might be in danger.
"It can be learned. If it's a Revenant or a ghost. However, since the dead cannot receive the blessing of the Black Stones, it's only the Beginner Level. Erikson, you should know that."
"Yes. I know. When I was alive, namely, the light magic user of a thousand years ago was someone who died young and became a Revenant."
So that was the case... That's why they couldn't use the High Level of Light. I'm a bit surprised.
"Since they were a user of rare magic, after consulting with the person themselves, we had them become a Revenant."
Eh? Which means...
"Afterward, during the north-south conflict, they were captured and destroyed. Thinking about it now, I think it would have been better to let them die and ascend as they were, without making them a Revenant."
Good grief.
They must have destroyed the light magic user along with the woman Revenant holding a baby. There was no need to forcibly destroy them.
However, only the Beginner Level, huh. I believe it could be used for athlete's foot medicine. Also, it should have been effective for agricultural mold types. Would it work for epidemics? The expiration date of the magic water was also short.
"Then, is it not possible to increase the users of Anti-Sepsis with Memorize?"
Eleanor-sama asked. Her expression is stiff. Presumably, the primary justification for lifting the ban on Forbidden Magic is Anti-Sepsis. If she's told it's impossible, lifting the ban will be in danger.
"Compatibility, right? As I've said until now, a light magic user is one person every two hundred years. However, there should be someone with a certain degree of compatibility. If that person is a ghost or a Revenant, they might learn it with Memorize. It's necessary to find someone with such characteristics."
Can such a person be found? Moreover, Memorize is dark magic. I don't think it has good compatibility with light magic.
"After that, it would be fine if it's someone who belongs to both the light and dark systems."
"Are there such humans?"
"Yeah. There should be. Jeanne, do you not have any memory? Of someone who could use both dark system magic and light system magic."
"Ah!"
There certainly was. The person who could use Lock, which can be dispelled with Light. The First King was like that.
"Ho-ho. It seems you have a memory."
Everyone's gaze gathers on me.
"Yes. There should have been someone. But since I have a Vow of Silence, I cannot speak in detail from my mouth."
I have no choice but to have Eleanor-sama figure it out.
"Humph. A Vow of Silence?"
"Yes."
"Then this story ends here."
"Yes. I'm sorry."
In the end, it was a conclusion that I understood, yet didn't, but at any rate, it's Beatrix. After saying I would confirm her intention, I left that place.
That Beatrix was at Shop No. 3. Originally, she seemed to have been waiting for Eleanor-sama to return. The candidate site for the shop was already decided, and after that, she was consulting with Mary about what to do with the interior and such.
Even if he's a delinquent old man, we don't do things like pulling up to the shop in the Royal Capital in a bowl. We went in an old-fashioned carriage for traveling incognito that wasn't even for royal use. Incidentally, I had Erikson-sama sleep inside the stone.
"Training at Gnome's place? Sure."
The person herself gave a very lighthearted reply.
"It'll probably be tough."
"More than the Headmistress?"
"I wonder. Maybe about the same."
"Then it's fine."
Is it really fine with that?
"If Translate stops being a dangerous magic, I think magic circles for heavy objects and such will sell for a high price."
"Will anyone buy them?"
"I can teleport your magic water to the continent in mountains!"
I see. The Rank will also go up, so the increase in efficiency is remarkable. As expected, her head turns fast, just as Gnome saw.
"By the way, is the shop decided?"
It's Eleanor-sama. At this rate, it will be training before the opening.
"It's the interior. I'm wondering what to do. Mary and I went to scout several shops on the main street, and everything from the furniture was expensive."
Come to think of it, the main street is full of nothing but first-class shops. I heard that just for the interior, two or three hundred gold coins would fly away. On the other hand, if we fill it with cheap stuff, the customers might run away.
"Leave it to me. Once Beatrix finishes her training with Gnome and becomes able to use the improved version of Translate safely, the Royal Family will prepare it."
"Really!"
"Of course. In exchange, you understand, right?"
"Teleport-related things will be a Sertorian Royal Family monopoly, right?"
"Of course. If other countries find out, they will undoubtedly target you. Regarding Translate, until a successor for Beatrix is found, our Royal Family will protect you. We'll put the coat of arms on the shop sign as a purveyor to the Royal Family. Also, we'll place Paratroop Jaegers as shopkeepers."
Beatrix's eyes widened for a moment. The story is too big.
"Fine. Then I'll give it my best."
In the sudden development, I feel like her voice is also shaking slightly.
We went back to Gnome's cave in a hurry.
"You have done well to come. You are prepared, aren't you?"
"Um, will I die or something?"
"There is no such thing. If I were to kill the practitioner, I would be disqualified as the earth spirit."
"Then it's fine."
"Umu."
With just that, the talk was settled between both parties.
"Specifically, what should I do?"
"Before that, I shall give you this."
Saying that, what Gnome held out was a ring with a yellow stone set in it.
"Is this Gnome's ring?"
"That's right. From today, you are my disciple. It is the proof."
"Thank you."
Looking at the ring, it's the same as the one Will got. She immediately put it on the ring finger of her right hand.
Specifically, what will happen is that once a day, when she calls Gnome, she will be taken somewhere with Teleport. She will train there for about two hours. If it's two hours a day, she can continue while handling her current work. Roughly, a prospect will be established in a little over two weeks, and if it's no good then, it'll be the end. If it's okay, she'll become able to use a more refined Teleport in another little over two weeks. In other words, if things go well, she'll be able to use it within September.
By the way, what she will do is a secret. However, if she completely masters it, Teleport will also be refined as an improved version. Regarding the improved version of Translate aside, it seems she can teach the improved version of Teleport to others, and hearing that, Eleanor-sama said she would hire her as an instructor for young mages in the Sertorian Royal Family.
"Can I also teach in the village where I'm the landlord?"
"Ugh... if it's that village, it can't be helped. In exchange, the opponents will be nobles, so in that case, please take a proper fee."
"Ha-ha-ha-ha! I'll do that."
The counting of chickens before they hatch has already begun.
"I'm telling you, teaching the improved version is limited to those who learned Teleport on their own. The content I'm teaching this time is aimed at young people who have learned Teleport. It's impossible for those who haven't learned Teleport or those who are past their prime. And depending on the person, they might not be able to learn it. Don't rip them off."
"O-kay. I'll be careful."
It seems it's okay to make it a business. She'll surely earn.