Magic Gems Gourmet

Chapter 299

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ED: LonelyMatter

Chapter 299 – Continuing with Duke Heim and the Klutz Who Has Become More Proactive

After leaving the café terrace, the two of them headed toward the main street.

They weren’t planning to give speeches in a conspicuous spot. They were just walking, part patrol and part stroll.

But they did have a purpose. Ain and Tigre were walking side by side to show that the Heim Autonomous Territory was part of their inner circle.

Smiling and waving as they walked through the festival-filled streets, they continued to exchange updates on their lives recently.

“So, it turns out that guy I thought was weirdly annoying was actually a lady in disguise. What do you think?”

“Don’t know. Don’t ask me for my opinion on that. If it’s such a hassle, you should just interrogate her properly.”

“It’s a gray area, so yeah. Punishing a child just because their parents are criminals is old-fashioned.”

“Typical Ishtalika. If my father had tried to punish her, she would have surely ended up as some perverted noble’s plaything.”

“…Ugh. I don’t even want to think about it.”

Still, Tigre couldn’t deny it, which was painful for him.

“Why not use that female fox’s power?”

“Give me a break. It makes me sick.”

“But that’s a misplaced priority. Your priority should be finding a swift solution, not some trivial issue like feeling sick. Though if it changes the future king’s personality, that would be a loss in itself.”

“Dill and the others said something similar. It’s hard to put into words, but it really puts me in a bad mood.”

“Well, do as you please. There’s no need to dwell on it.”

“…Really?”

“Whether a red dragon or a black dragon appears, sacrifices will be made, won’t they?”

He implied the existence of Ain, as well as the presence of Arche and the other magic stone group.

—But,

“Isn’t that completely useless?”

Trying to avoid sacrifices would be putting the cart before the horse.

Ain tilted his head in disagreement and nudged Tigre’s side.

“Realistically, zero casualties is impossible. Minimizing them is the best we can hope for.”

Tigre said it was a matter of combat strength and that sacrifices were inevitable, just as they were during the Sea Dragon incident years ago.

“If you still want to do something about it, pray to the gods.”

(I’d rather not go back into that dungeon again, if I may.)

“Hey, what are you spacing out for?”

“Nothing, never mind.”

Ain shook his head as if to forget about the other day, composed himself, and flashed a smile.

“Speaking of which, I have some information I’d like to share. It’s about the old Heim Royal Capital.”

“The place where my empty shell remains?”

“That’s precisely the information I want to share. The area around the enormous tree that became Ain’s empty shell is guarded by Heim and Ishtalika Knights. However, a recent report came in about a suspicious figure spotted there.”

“Huh… What could they have been doing there? Looking for treasure that might still be there?”

“That sort of thing was dug up a long time ago. The target, it seems, was your shell.”

“…Huh?”

“A knight who noticed a suspicious shadow near the World Tree’s shell went to investigate and saw several people leaving. It was late at night, so the details are unclear, but they left behind tools for cutting wood where they fled.”

Traces were also found of someone attempting to cut the World Tree’s roots with those tools.

Apparently, it was too hard, and the tree wasn’t cut.

“Don’t you find that suspicious? Honestly, there might be enthusiasts who want wood from the great tree you grew.”

“For me, it’s not just suspicious. It’s creepy. It felt like it was trying to take me with it.”

“Hmph… I don’t know about that. It’s not a major incident, and after increasing security, nothing abnormal has been found. Still, it’s best to keep it in mind. I’ll report it to Warren-dono as well.”

Honestly, if it was going to cause worry, we should just burn it down.

“If you’re going to burn that monstrous tree, though, you’d have to reduce the entire old Heim capital to scorched earth.”

The loss would be immense. Tigre nodded in agreement, and Ain reflected on his mistake.

But the purpose remained unclear.

For instance, mature timber was a premium building material. A single-plank desk, for example, showcased attractive growth rings.

Depending on the species of tree, it could also produce intense flames.

(Could that be the reason?)

Whether burning the World Tree would create such flames was unknown, and the truth remained elusive.

Still, considering Ishtalika’s long history, it was possible someone would know. There was also that tale from Mouton about distant lands.

The concern was: What if that powerful flame is used in a ritual?

“Hey, stop suddenly looking so dazed!”

“Sorry! Wait a sec!”

What could be done now? Ain thought of an experiment to see what kind of flames could be produced.

If it could produce powerful enough flames, maybe they should burn down the old Heim capital city.

Ain didn’t want to consider the potential damage, but he felt that human lives must be the top priority.

He wondered what kind of face Sylvird would make if he told him it was just a huge campfire.

“How about we burn it all down? As a way to send the turmoil of the capital city to the heavens?”

“I don’t know what you’re thinking, but depending on the situation, it might not be a bad idea. If it’s going to be a troublesome mess, burning it down quickly would be easier.”

“Huh? You’re not objecting?”

“…Personally, I have my share of memories I’d rather forget about that capital. It might be an escape, but I can’t bring myself to oppose it either.”

Unfortunately, the great tree was probably mostly green wood, so even if it caught fire, it would likely burn out halfway through.

“We’ll need to consider that aspect later.”

“Still, the royal family should keep some for themselves. Increasing wealth is a good thing.”

“Hmmm, thanks for the advice. I’ll discuss things with the elders later.”

“But why are you so drawn to turmoil? You were disinherited from birth in the count’s household. You made the woman the third prince had his eye on fall for you at your first party. You crossed the sea to a great nation that very night, and by morning, you were crown prince. If there was ever a quiet period in your life, let me know.”

“…”

“I see. Apparently not. Well, I was involved in Ain’s incident, too, so I can’t speak about it lightly as if it were someone else’s business.”

In hindsight, the gacha he pulled was extremely rare.

It probably encompassed his entire life up to that point, but it only brought back memories of narrowly escaping death.

“Hahaha… That’s just like you, Ain-sama.”

“Di-Dill, you too?”

“It’s fine. I’m equally guilty of defying His Majesty’s will during the Sea Dragon incident. Ah, we’re approaching the guard change point.”

Suddenly wondering what this was about, Ain looked ahead and saw Chris and several other Royal Knights waiting.

“I must now step away and head to the command post. I’ll hand over the guard duty, but…”

As Dill spoke, Chris, having noticed Ain’s arrival, approached.

“Ah! Ain-sama! You must be exhausted from your morning duties!”

“Morning. We didn’t get to see each other at the mansion. Huh? Is your hair styled differently today?”

“I-is it strange?”

“Nope. I think it suits you well.”

“Ah, um… I-I’m glad to hear that.”

Her hair featured elegant waves reminiscent of the party in Balt—a lovely, yet not overly coquettish, style.

Ain didn’t point it out, but the sheen on her lips revealed a freshness that was more likely to attract the attention of the opposite sex. She flushed slightly at Ain’s compliment and lifted the corners of her mouth.

As the two stood side by side, Tigre pursed his lips, folded his arms, and narrowed his eyes as if etching the unfolding scene into his memory. Deep in thought, he tapped one foot, tap, tap, tap. Watching them converse, he reached a conclusion.

“Dill-dono. May I speak?”

Seeing Chris, he realized his earlier concern at the café terrace had been unfounded.

“Yes, what is it?”

“This advice is for today only. As with His Majesty, it might be wise to let those close to you know that watching over someone too closely can be poisonous in many ways.”

“…Haha. That’s a painful truth.”

Today was Tigre’s day for offering sharp advice.

Dill nodded in agreement and clutched his head at his lord’s demeanor.

“I never imagined I’d receive advice from you.”

His astonishment was genuine, not sarcastic.

Keeping a slight distance from Ain and the others, who were cheerfully exchanging greetings, he lowered his voice as if sharing a secret.

Amidst the lively festival, a woman named Chris was drawing the attention of the opposite sex. Ain, who inherited Olivia’s charm, was radiant. Tigre was also quite handsome, and by Cait Sith’s standards, Dill was no different.

This corner alone felt like an elegant soirée hosted by nobles.

Chris directed her passionate gaze only at Ain, filled with diverse affection and a desire for her feelings to be noticed. Even Tigre found her captivating; she conveyed a different stature than Krone.

“So, what about you, Dill-dono? Are you in favor?”

“I doubt there are any voices in opposition. The people likely feel the same. If it’s the child of Ain-sama, who is hailed as the reincarnation of His Majesty the First, then the small number of them is a loss to the nation.”

“…I see. So that’s why my words proved useful.”

“It’s only a matter of time,” Tigre murmured, finally sharing a gentle smile laced with wry amusement with Dill.

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