Magic Gems Gourmet

Chapter 271

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ED: LonelyMatter

Chapter 271 – To the Snowy Ist

“This train from Kingsland has now reached its final destination, Ist. Any lost items…”

In the evening—or rather, late at night—after departing from the coastal city of Strohm, the train carrying Ain and the others arrived in Ist.

Despite the late hour, quite a few passengers were getting off, perhaps because it was the last train connecting the royal capital and Ist.

Everyone was walking around, carrying a lot of luggage. They began to realize that they had arrived at a new place.

“Ain-sama, shall we wait a little while before we depart?”

“Yes, let’s do that.”

They sat down in the train car and spoke while looking out the window at the scenery.

Unlike last time, they didn’t have any magic tools with them this time.

This time, they decided they would deal with it if they were found.

That said, it wouldn’t be easy for anyone to recognize them.

Would anyone recognize Ain if they saw him?

It would be easier in the royal capital, but this was Ist, after all.

(Well, if I’m going to think about it, I should have done the same thing last time.)

However, the situation was different now.

Ain had grown stronger and could handle things better, so it was decided that there was no need to hide like before.

“…It’s been a long time.”

“It’s been three or four years.”

Ain came here when he was a student, and he realized how old he had become.

“It’s getting cold in Ist, so make sure to wear your coat.”

As Chris said this, Ain looked out the window at the station concourse and saw that snow was falling from the sky.

The cobblestones were lightly dusted with a fine layer of white.

When he opened the window slightly, a cold breeze blew in.

Looking out, he saw that the sky was a deep blue, almost black. The night view was different from both Strohm and the royal capital.

“But it’s even colder in Baltic, right?”

“Yeah, but I heard the roads are better maintained now, so it’ll be easier to walk than before…”

They exchanged wry smiles, knowing how difficult the road to the Demon King’s Castle would be.

Ain remembered how heavily armed he had been when he went there before.

“Hoaamm…”

Then, Chris yawned.

Realizing that she had let her guard down, she quickly regained her composure.

“…Are you sleepy?”

Ain, who was right next to her, couldn’t help but notice.

(Maybe I shouldn’t have pointed that out…)

That was also kindness.

He asked out of concern, thinking that today’s journey would be a long one.

However, it made Chris blush shyly.

“Ugh… What are you talking about?”

“It’s about time we went to an inn. I’m tired, and I want to rest in a proper room.”

“…Thank you.”

She mumbled her thanks, and the two of them stood up.

They met up with Katima, who had fallen asleep on the way, and headed out into the city of Ist.

It was past midnight, but the city was still bustling.

In the royal capital, it was common for couples and wealthy individuals to go out at night.

Here in Ist, however, it seemed that most people were out after work.

“It’s an environment where you can get too absorbed in your research-nya. I’m sure most researchers find it a hassle to go home-nya.”

As Katima said, there were many people who looked like researchers.

There were carriages carrying merchants and nobles, and people were walking around, too. That was probably because there were many opportunities to make money in this city.

A city where new technologies are born meant a lot of money was flowing too.

“Katima-san. We’re going to start our investigation tomorrow. What are you going to do?”

“Nyaa? Don’t I have to go with you tomorrow-nya?”

“It’s a sudden decision. For now, I think I’ll just use my own legs and cooperate with the people who are already active in this city.”

“Ah, Warren’s subordinates, right-nya?”

Yes, Ain nodded.

In that case, she would probably go to a bookstore, Ain and Chris thought. But…

“Well, I’ll just wait at the inn and read a book-nya.”

Katima said confidently, with a confident look on her face.

“Huh? Don’t you want to go buy them yourself?”

“I’ve already ordered the books I want-nya. I arranged for them to be delivered to the inn, so it’s not a problem-nya.”

“Ah, I see. So that’s why…”

Maybe she’d go out into town after she finished reading.

If so, Ain thinks, he’ll go with her.

He couldn’t let the princess go out alone.

“Chris, don’t go out alone either.”

“…M-me too?”

“Yeah. You’re in the same position as the princess, after all…”

“No, that’s not it! Seriously!”

Embarrassed by Ain’s joke, she smiled and narrowed her eyes at him.

She may have been dissatisfied, but that gesture was still adorable.

Her proud, blonde hair sparkled in the streetlights as she leaned in close to Ain and said that.

“…Nyaa. Chris is getting more aggressive, isn’t she-nya?”

Katima muttered, shaking her head in exasperation.

She waved her hands a little exaggeratedly and laughed at the two of them.

Then, as if she had remembered something, she clapped her hands.

“Oh, the documents and details from the research institute will arrive soon-nya, so make sure you read them carefully, okay-nya?”

“Really? Did Krone do that?”

“I did-nya. I asked some acquaintances, and they sent them to me-nya.”

“…That’s very kind of you.”

“I think Lili said it, too-nya. But we’ve already looked into everything we can through official channels-nya. After that, we’ll just have to rely on Ain’s quick thinking and a certain amount of force-nya.”

Hearing her say that meant it was almost certain.

That the gray that was close to black was actually black.

Even now, there was more than enough suspicious evidence.

Everyone was wondering how Ain would act and achieve results.

“Well, if it comes down to it-nya, maybe you could use the fox’s power-nya?”

“It’ll be fine. There’s a way to drag them out even without that power.”

Chris and Katima heard this for the first time.

“A-Ain-sama? We didn’t hear anything about that…”

“It’s because I didn’t tell anyone. I just thought of it on the train.”

“I see-nya. So, what are you going to do-nya?”

“I’ll tell you after I work out the details. Don’t worry; it’s nothing weird.”

Was he really telling the truth? Unfortunately, the two didn’t trust Ain.

Given what had happened before, they were cautious about what he said.

“But don’t you think gifts are nice?”

Ain said with a grin.

“You’re not going to give them money, are you-nya?”

“Of course not. I don’t plan on giving them anything, not even my sword.”

That was contradictory.

Chris tilted her head in confusion, wondering how he could give them a gift without giving them anything.

“Um… Can you tell me what it is?”

“You mean the gift?”

Seeing her nod, he could tell she was curious.

“I’d like to tell you, but I have to try it out first. I don’t know how well they’ll listen to me.”

“…What will you say?”

“Yeah. From how they acted last time, I can tell they’re surprisingly determined. I don’t think there will be any problems with me talking to them.”

Chris became even more confused, but Katima understood.

She realized what Ain was trying to do.

“I see-nya… You’re being forceful but not too forceful-nya. Everything after that is your responsibility. Is that right-nya?”

“That’s why I have to make sure to tell them that when I give it to them. If they don’t accept it, I’ll have to think of another way.”

The two spoke with knowing looks on their faces, and Chris ended up looking even more sullen.

Some might wonder if this was appropriate for a master-servant relationship, but this was simply how they interacted.

The important thing was that the three of them were comfortable and satisfied.

Eventually, Chris, who was pouting, received a gentle pat.

“H-huh?”

“I’m not leaving you out. It’s okay. I’ll tell you tomorrow night… Just wait a little longer.”

“That’s so unfair! You’ve grown taller than me without my noticing, and now you can do things like this.”

Despite her words, she looked joyful.

Her cheeks were slightly reddened—was it from dissatisfaction or the cold?

Regardless of the reason, Katima, standing nearby, continued to watch the two of them with a knowing smile.

◇ ◇ ◇ ◇

The street after the two passed by.

A man and a woman emerged from a store on the street.

“Hahahaha! Hey, hey, I reserved the new furnace!”

“You’re so brilliant! Now we’ll be really efficient!”

“Oh, I knew it! It wasn’t the time to pretend and hole up in that shabby house!”

One of them was short, but had thick, log-like arms.

The other was a woman with wings for arms and sturdy claws for feet.

She walked energetically beside the man with long strides.

“That’s right! I like our current house better, too!”

“What!? Are you making fun of my house? I’ll turn you into grilled chicken!”

“E-eh… Didn’t you say that yourself?”

How unreasonable!

Although this was normal for the two of them, she was taken aback.

“Oh…? Right! Haha, haha!”

For a city of researchers, they were a lively pair.

Like Ain and the others, they headed for an inn in the city.

A strange bustle was slowly spreading through the usually quiet city.

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