Chapter 655: The Continuing Ones
After finishing our meal, we moved on to drinks.
Dean and Chris have recently become obsessed with karaage and beer. I think it’s surprising how well it goes after a meal, but it seems they really enjoy the crispness of the beer.
That said, the beer around Kanum has a rather dull taste; it’s just average. The default beer here is made with whole grains, and it’s kind of like a non-sweet version of sweet sake, or maybe a source of calories.
As for wine, there might be some that aligns more with my sense of what wine should be. The quality varies greatly; depending on how it’s stored, the older it gets, the more spices are added. Some places even call the leftover grape pomace mixed with water “wine,” so the quality really is all over the place.
But putting that aside.
Ash and I, along with the Butler, are having tea and cream puffs. We already drank during the meal, so this is Ash’s snack time.
Haulon chose karaage over sweets today, and his choice of food and the way he eats it is quite manly.
“Now, here it is,” I said, placing a black, opaque stone embedded with a gem-like blue stone on the table.
“Oh? Isn’t that the protective stone of the Tenka Clan? How nostalgic!” Dinoss said happily, holding his beer.
“The Tenka Clan…?” This is the “Blue Light Stone.”
“They’re one of the clans living in the Northern Lands, hunting demon beasts that have transformed into monstrous seal-like creatures around Kokuzan to make a living. They’re all incredibly strong,” Dinoss said with a smile.
“Ah, it seems the people of Chrisdrum and those rooted in the Northern Lands were originally the same, so it wouldn’t be strange if they remained there,” I remarked, observing Dinoss.
Just like the People of Esha had the Blue Ring, it seems that this wasn’t lost but rather transformed in name and role, yet something continues on.
“What, this is the ‘Blue Light Stone’?” Dinoss looked surprised.
“Yeah. I confirmed it with the spirit sleeping inside, so I’m pretty sure,” I replied.
“Wow… If I get the chance, I should tell the Tenka folks. They might be happy to know their roots, and it could be a good conversation starter,” Dinoss said, staring intently at the Blue Light Stone.
“I’ll give you one. Compare it with the current protective stones of the Tenka Clan,” I said, planning to check it out later.
“Are you sure?” he asked.
“Yeah, everyone can have one. In commemoration of protecting the Weather Vane of the Land of Ruin,” I said, lining the stones up on the table.
“Oh, this white symbol is quite an old script. Directions and spirits… what could this be?” Haulon picked it up and examined it closely.
“It seems each mark here is different?”
“This one is the same,” Retze and Chris chimed in.
“This one seems to be the same as well,” Dean and Ash said, showing each other their stones, along with the Butler.
“I can’t tell which is which, but I think it was said that they inscribe wishes or goals? There are several patterns, and they seem to be simplified symbols,” Dinoss said, stroking the stone with his thumb while holding his mug.
“I never thought I’d hear an explanation from Balmoa…” Haulon looked shocked.
“Hey! What do you think I am? A Gold Rank? A legendary King Wolf?!” Why does Dinoss sound a bit feminine at that moment?
“Balmoa is cool!” Dean said, his eyes sparkling.
“Blind faith isn’t good, you know?” Retze said with an exasperated expression.
“Admiration is something special!” Chris replied, also sparkling with excitement.
“Indeed,” Ash said, nodding while focusing on the new cream puffs.
Watching them, the Butler also brought a cream puff to his mouth. Even though both karaage and cream puffs might be a bit outside his usual preferences, he seems satisfied as long as Ash is happy.
“Is this the same as what Captain Goat has?” Retze asked, holding the Blue Light Stone up to the light.
“Yeah. It’s a tool to know the position of the sun by holding it up when the sun isn’t visible. When the two lines inside the blue stone overlap, that’s where the sun is. Since it has a spirit inside, I think it’s more accurate than what Captain Cat has,” I explained.
“If you can’t tell the time, you can’t figure out the direction,” Ash added.
“There was something like a disk with it, so maybe that’s for telling time?”
“‘When the king raises the stone to the cloudy sky, light is released, revealing the hidden sun.’ This one fits the image of the story better than the one I got from Captain Cat,” Chris said, looking pleased.
“There’s a story like that?”
“‘The King of the Cove’ and ‘The Tale of the Northern Conqueror.’ You might not be familiar with them here in the inland,” Chris said, tilting his head with a smile.
Chris’s homeland seems to be overflowing with various stories, and I’m looking forward to visiting.