138 - Letter
When I returned to the inn, Alette-san was waiting for me.
She belongs to the knight order of a small nation called Rolfis, but she is also the captain of a group of people with the unusual tradition of working as adventurers in Beim.
I had heard rumors that if she returned to her country, the position of vice-captain was guaranteed to her.
That Alette-san had come to visit me.
"...I didn't think we would meet so soon," I said with a subtle expression, and Alette-san also let out a sigh and wore a somewhat shadowed smile.
"Me neither. I understand that it would be better for both of us to leave a bit more time. But, I simply must speak with you."
Alette-san had visited the inn accompanied by her adjutant.
When I tried to confirm the details, Alette-san invited us to a meal.
"—So, then. Could you make some time? I know it's a bother, but this is urgent on our end as well. I'll treat you to dinner."
The one handling Alette-san was Miranda.
Sitting in a chair, she crossed her legs again and nodded at me.
(She's saying I can decide on my own. Maybe I should mention that Mei eats a lot.)
I prefaced my answer by saying I would only listen to what she had to say.
"I'd be happy to have a meal. However, there's someone in our group who eats a lot. I want you to be prepared for double the amount."
At that, Alette-san seemed relieved that I agreed to listen.
"That's a help. Well, eating a lot is the same for knights as it is for adventurers. I have a regular place, so I'll treat you there. As for the business, it's the recruitment I mentioned before. But that's not urgent. The main point is a letter of introduction. Well then, I'll send someone to pick you up in the evening."
Hearing "letter of introduction," I wondered who it was for, and only one person came to mind.
After Alette-san and her group left the inn, Miranda stood up from her chair and came to my side.
I had gone to the guild with Aria, but since I returned alone, she seemed a bit exasperated.
"I'll tell the other members about dinner. More importantly, aren't you with Aria?"
I had taken Aria to the guild for her education, but upon leaving, Aria had been a bit delayed as she went to pick up her equipment.
"Today was the day to pick up her equipment, so I had her go straight there. If she came to the inn first, she'd have to go back out again."
Hearing that, Miranda looked at the door Alette-san and the others had exited through.
"It's probably about Professor Damian. Certainly, he might show interest if it's a letter of introduction from Riel. Are you going to write one?"
Among my acquaintances, the person Alette-san would likely be interested in was Damian Barre, who is a professor at the academy in Alamsars.
He is an eccentric known as one of the Seven Sages of the Academy, but he is also an excellent scholar.
It was Damian who repaired Monica, discovered in the labyrinth, and put her in a state where she could move.
And now, it is said that he used magic called Golems to develop the luggage-carrying golem, [Porter].
To be precise, it was me, but since I learned magic from Damian and also listened to his opinions, it's something of a joint development.
"Porters are convenient. If you belong to a knight order, you'd want one even if you hated to admit it. I refused to teach them, so..."
Seeing my mood darken, Miranda gave a wry smile. She crossed her arms and leaned a bit of her weight on the table.
"Well, it was the right decision. Making money by teaching is fine, but I think it's a bit questionable for the final goal. So, are you writing the letter of introduction?"
From the jewel hanging around my neck, I could hear the airy voice of the Third Generation.
'Shall we write it to put her in our debt? Also, shall we tell him about Monica and the events so far... It's possible Celes might take an interest in Damian, so it's important to make him wary.'
The latter half was in a serious voice.
I gripped the jewel to show my agreement and spoke to Miranda.
"I'll write it. I want to convey various situations as well. Miranda, as a former student, is there anything you want to convey?"
At that, Miranda laughed.
"He probably doesn't even remember my name anymore. The professor is that kind of person. Now, I'll go tell the others. To keep their evening free."
Watching Miranda head toward the inn's stairs, I thought about what to tell Damian.
(I'll write the letter of introduction, and then... as I thought, I can't leave out the matter of Celes. Also, the events in the labyrinth the other day. Would Damian understand something about it?)
Recalling the words of the automaton who claimed to be Monica's older sister, I decided to tell Damian.
The dinner Alette-san invited us to was good in both quantity and quality.
They had rented out a room, and perhaps to reward the success of the labyrinth subjugation, Alette-san's subordinates also participated.
Since the shop was rented out, we were able to participate and talk about various things.
Among that, I also had an introduction to the knights heading to Alamsars.
As we returned to the inn, Monica was carrying the exhausted and sleeping Shannon on her back. She came next to me and, unusually, made a request.
"Chicken coward, when we get back, I'll look up at you cutely and make a request, so please grant my wish."
Looking at Monica saying such things with a look of disgust, I looked around.
Mei, seemingly satisfied, was talking about the meal with Aria. I could hear the content of their conversation, such as "Which one was the tastiest?" and "I didn't eat that one!"
As for Eva, she was listening to Miranda about the events in Alamsars and was taking notes.
Clara was talking with Novem.
On the way back, where it was still cold at night, I looked at that sight and thought.
(I wonder if things have gotten a little better?)
Returning my gaze to Monica, I decided to listen to her request.
"Tell me within the possible range. So, what is the request?"
Monica, supporting Shannon with one hand, put her other arm into her apron and pulled out a small, thin, black board.
"...What is this?"
"It's a memory. Inside this, content that can be read by automatons is written densely. Please put it inside the letter of introduction so it's clearly visible."
When I received it, Monica supported Shannon with both hands.
Holding it, I looked at the small board-like thing.
"It's better to give it separately. Knowing Damian, he might not check the contents of the letter of introduction very carefully. I'll write a letter too. I'll put it in there."
It would be better to give it to the knights heading to Alamsars and have them deliver it.
However, there was something that bothered me.
"Content that can be read by automatons... weren't you on bad terms with the three at Damian's place?"
Is there something to convey at this late stage? While I was thinking that, Monica had a serious expression, unlike her usual self.
"...It is to brag that I met my sisters, and that this Monica has approached a complete form. Oh, it's not just bragging. I've written the situation at that time in detail, so it will overlap with the chicken coward's intentions."
"You've become quite malicious lately. Well, I'll just put it in the letter."
Even if it's just a bragging story, it's fine for Monica to send a letter. Or rather, I thought.
(Monica, in this world, the only ones of her kind are the three activated automatons at Damian's place, right? I wonder if she's lonely.)
Tucking the small black board carefully into my pocket, I walked the way home.
The next day.
After gathering everyone and confirming the requests we would take, I left Clara in the room.
Clara Bloomer had temporarily served as a library staff member in Alamsars. Moreover, she possessed a beneficial skill.
Novem and Miranda were present in the room, and Monica was preparing tea.
Clara, with her navy-blue hair, held her staff as if hugging it, and her usually sleepy, half-open eyes became sharp, narrowing even further.
Her red eyes seemed to glow, and I felt as if Clara was faintly glowing within the room.
To Clara, who becomes the final stage of her skill [Walking Library], I asked a question.
"I have a question about the femme fatale who brought about the fall of the Kingdom of Centras three hundred years ago."
"Yes. There are several theories, but there are records of a woman who appeared in the late period of the Kingdom of Centras and fascinated many men. Currently, it is considered an example of the internal corruption before the collapse."
Clara answered more flatly than usual, in a voice devoid of emotion. And Clara's will was not there.
Despite it being her own skill, she could not utilize it effectively herself.
Clara considered that a defect.
"The one who defeated her was the First King of Beim, right?"
To my question, Clara replied flatly—.
"The recorded materials and stories are written that way. However, there are also materials where the existence of others is involved in some parts."
—So far, so good. The problem starts from here.
"How did the First King of Beim defeat the femme fatale? How did he fight the Kingdom of Centras?"
When I asked the two questions, Clara closed her eyes. And when she opened them again.
"Records show that internal corruption had become severe, and the First King of Beim, who was one of the surrounding lords, sought cooperation from those around him. Even now, many of the heavyweights are descendants of those who lent their strength to the First King of Beim at that time. However, while the result of defeating the femme fatale exists, there are no records regarding the process."
Clara, who reads any book, has read almost every book that can be read in the giant library of Alamsars.
Whenever a new book came out, she read them.
There were books she couldn't read, but those were only a few books that were not available for browsing.
Novem, who was sitting on the sofa, looked down slightly with a hand on their chin. They seemed to be thinking about something.
Conversely, Miranda, sitting on my bed, asked Clara a question.
"There are no records of how she was defeated, right? Or is it just that Clara hasn't read them?"
To that question, Clara replied flatly.
"It is a possibility. However, Clara Bloomer had read through eighty to ninety percent of the library's books with that skill. I judge that within the range a common person can read, there are no further records."
Once she said that, Clara's condition became strange.
I stood up from the chair, went to Clara's side, and supported her as if embracing her shoulders.
"That's enough. Let's lay Clara down."
When Monica placed a pillow on the sofa in the room, I laid Clara there. Since she is petite, it was not difficult to lift her.
I had confirmed several times, but the answer was the same.
I shifted my gaze from the sleeping Clara to Novem and Miranda in the room.
"Now, do you think there are no records of how the femme fatale was defeated, or that there was no need to record it... which do you think?"
To my question, Miranda shifted her legs.
"Well, I wonder. Even if seducing men is the same as Celes, I can't say that her strength was the same as the femme fatale of that time. As for me, I can't make a judgment."
Novem looked at me.
"I think the queen of that time, who continued to commit atrocities, also had strength. I confirmed how miserable the things she did were when Clara-san used her skill before. To do that, I believe she certainly possessed a corresponding amount of power."
The cruel and extreme femme fatale was a person who seemed to walk a path made of blood.
I confirmed with Clara using Walking Library, and her actions were exactly like Celes, no... even more so.
Stories that made me feel sick continued, to the point where I stopped halfway.
However, there are many unknown parts regarding her strength.
Even if there are descriptions that she beheaded people, whether she did it herself or had subordinates do it... the content differed depending on the book, and Clara's skill could not state it definitively.
What can be said here is.
"The method of defeat was not passed down. It's fine if there was no need to pass it down, but it feels somewhat intentional."
I felt like complaining to the King of Beim of that time for not leaving records.
However, inside the jewel, the successive heads were already showering him with abuse.
'Useless, isn't he? This is why you can't trust people of the royal family.'
'It's suspicious. At the very least, the end of the femme fatale who made so many people suffer... I think it wouldn't be strange if it remained. How she was defeated, perhaps she was even tortured. Or, did the opponent take their own life...'
'Could he not write it, or did he choose not to? Either way, there might be some guilty circumstances. Nobles are like that to a greater or lesser extent, and with the royal family, there could be any number of such things.'
'I learned that the King of Beim of that time defeated her and became the representative of the participating lords... well, the parties involved are not alive, so the truth is in the darkness.'
'Useless.'
To the Seventh Generation's "useless" comment, the Third Generation made a correction.
'You're not talking about Clara-chan, right? The ones who are useless are the royal family people, right? Right?'
The Seventh Generation, looking a bit troubled.
'O-of course.'
He replied.
(I tried to use old records as a model for dealing with Celes, but it's not that easy.)
Looking at Clara, who had fallen asleep from the fatigue of using her skill, I put my hand on my head and thought of another method.