Chapter 569: Meeting and Departure
“Alright, alright. We’re going to【Teleportation】 to Naruadeid, so gather around, gather around!”
Even though I could【Teleport】 without gathering everyone, it just feels better this way.
“Ugh… such a casual【Teleportation】.”
“Are you already feeling the damage before we even go? Are you going to be okay? Once you get used to it?”
“Shut up!”
Haulon and Dinoss were bickering.
“Ah, for Haulon,【Teleportation】 is like Note’s ‘King’s Branch,’ right?”
“Please don’t dig into that.”
The butler got caught in Retze’s follow-up!
“It’s not about getting used to it; the more you do it, the easier it becomes, the more it digs into you…”
Haulon looked utterly exhausted, or maybe just disheartened? Let’s call it a mix of both.
We【Teleported】 to Naruadeid and headed towards the port where Captain Cat’s ship should be waiting. It would have been easier to【Teleport】 directly to Captain Cat’s ship, but even though we had a silent contract, it felt a bit too much.
I had a feeling my cheeks were at risk too.
“Naruadeid is as vibrant as ever. —The smell has improved too.”
“The main street with the big shops is even better.”
The butler and Haulon chimed in.
Haulon seems to come to Naruadeid often for business. While his main dealings are with Es, this place has what he can’t find there.
“Maybe I should buy a souvenir for my wife. Something small, a hair ornament, or maybe some fabric for clothes.”
The only married man around was looking quite cheerful…
“Bright blue cloth is in fashion right now. And diamonds are a bit pricey.”
“Isn’t it because of the new cut that’s trending?”
What the butler mentioned was likely the brilliant cut that the heroes, or more specifically, my sister, had commissioned. If the venue for the ball had incandescent lights, they would sparkle even more, but for now, it was still candles or magic, or the Spirit Lamp.
“Not quite yet. Brightly colored stones are still more popular.”
Haulon shrugged.
“Oh. The diamonds might be my fault. I told Soleil to buy some cheap ones if he found any.”
At first, I was looking for all sorts, but the prices went up, and Van wasn’t particularly picky about clarity, so I went for the cheaper options.
“Oh? Why’s that?”
“For Van’s snacks.”
“…”
“…”
“…”
“The God of Fire, Power, Destruction, and Rebirth, huh? As expected, the Gods have different tastes…”
The three of them fell silent, and Retze muttered with half-closed eyes.
“Gene.”
“Yeah?”
“Gene.”
“Yeah?”
Haulon was looking down, trembling slightly.
“Think about how you say it! There are various terms like offerings or tributes, right?!”
Haulon suddenly looked at me, voicing his complaint.
“Offerings? Like popcorn?”
“Well, price-wise, I guess you could call it a tribute.”
Lately, I’ve been pondering whether diamonds could be artificially or spiritually created.
“Ugh, it feels like I’m handing bones to the God of Storms and War…!”
Haulon looked like he was about to bite his handkerchief.
“Wait! Stop!? You’re mixing dog ears into my image of Van!”
Dinoss protested against Haulon.
◇ ◆ ◇
“…Why do you look so worn out?”
“It seems there are many things in this world that don’t sit right with me.”
I answered Captain Cat, who welcomed us on deck.
“Not the world, but your surroundings, right?”
Retze chimed in.
Why is Captain Cat fine while I’m not?
“Great Sage Haulon and Note, Soleil. I’m glad to see you again. —Could you introduce the other two?”
Soleil said with a cheerful smile.
Faramia and Kiel were also present, but since they were treated as servants, they weren’t introduced. Faramia was acting as a bodyguard and was with Soleil. It seems rare for Kiel to come out from the island, but he occasionally accompanies Soleil for business.
I wondered if it was okay for Kiel to be involved in business discussions, but he seemed concerned about Soleil, so he was probably in a protective role. He looked like a sharp-witted attendant.
Kiel was staring intently at the butler, who was smiling back with narrowed eyes.
“I’m Retze, just a mere adventurer, unlike this gentleman.”
Retze said while looking at Dinoss.
“Hey, I’m Dinoss—should I introduce myself as Balmoa for easier recognition?”
“You are… the Gold Rank adventurer that Nii-sama mentioned, the King Wolf! I was filled with anxiety about what might happen, but now I feel at ease. And you too, Retze-sama!”
Soleil beamed at Dinoss, extending his hand for a handshake.
“The King Wolf…?! Soleil is smiling like that!”
Kiel shifted his gaze from the butler to Dinoss, whispering in a barely contained tone.
“Well, you can’t really feel at ease about that…”
Dinoss made a face as if to say ‘oh no’ while whispering.
“To think the King Wolf and Great Sage Haulon are both here…”
Captain Cat pondered with his tail raised.
And don’t forget the Shadow Wolf is here too!
Dinoss shook hands with Captain Cat, and the introductions were complete. I wanted to shake paws too.
“Then let’s set sail.”
After Captain Cat made eye contact with the crew, he wagged his tail vigorously, and the sailors shouted, setting the ship in motion.
“I had Captain Goat load the necessary supplies for the time being. I hope we can successfully improve the land and create a port.”
Soleil said to me.
Did he gather all the necessary supplies in such a short time? Sorry, but if it’s tools for land improvement, I might not need them. No, wait, we will need them for creating fields later.