Information Gathering III
“Well then, leader, I’m off.”
“Yeah. If you find them, try to talk to them as if you share the same circumstances.”
“Understood. What time should we regroup?”
“We’ll meet at the mansion when the sun begins to set.”
“Got it.”
After leaving the dining hall, I parted ways with Fon. To search for the Beast-folk, whose whereabouts were unknown, we decided to split up and search, moving away from the crowded square. Ideally, the best way to maximize efficiency would be to climb onto a rooftop and survey the area, but that would draw too much attention. So, I opted to wander around separately.
“Alright, let’s go.”
I watched Fon dash off, disappearing into the crowd, before heading in the opposite direction. I could wander aimlessly, but I had a few places in mind where I might find them, so I decided to head there. Given their nature, they were likely to be found in a weapon shop or a smithy, as Dwarves typically gravitated toward blacksmithing. Even if I didn’t find them, I could at least gather a story or two about Dwarves.
“Let’s see… this way.”
Recalling the map I had memorized, I walked on. I had spent more time than I anticipated on lunch and gathering information, so I didn’t expect to visit too many places. Still, even a little knowledge would be a boon.
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First stop: a medium-sized weapon shop near the square. There was a larger weapon shop further down with a trading company backing it, so this place wasn’t as bustling. However, due to its specialized staff, it offered better quality items compared to the mass-produced wares of the larger store.
“Excuse me. Is it a good time to talk?”
“…A customer?”
“I’m not a customer today, but I will be in the future.”
“…Then that’s fine. What do you want?”
“I wanted to express my gratitude. I’ve heard that there have been more sightings of Other Races lately. Do you know anything about that?”
The shopkeeper, a burly man with arms about one and a half times the size of mine, wore a sullen expression and spoke in a low voice. He appeared to be a craftsman, gruff and difficult to approach. However, I knew he had a kind side, as he often hired those in need of work or helped them find jobs. I had witnessed this firsthand and heard similar stories from several Adventurers earlier that morning. There was no need to be wary of him; he might even have job leads, which is why I came here first.
“…Ah. I’ve temporarily hired a few.”
“Oh? And where are they now?”
“…I sent them to a friend who might have work that suits them.”
“I see. Can you tell me where that is?”
“…Just wait a moment.”
“Of course, I’m the one asking.”
The shopkeeper disappeared behind the counter, and when he returned, he held a dagger and a short staff. He tossed them to me, and I caught them, giving them a cursory glance. They seemed to be a fine dagger and a short staff, but I wanted to confirm.
“What are these?”
“…They were left behind by a Dwarf and an Elf who were here.”
“I see. And?”
“…They told me to give them to someone I trust and have them come to meet me. They said they would help that person.”
“Interesting.”
“…You understand, right? I sent all three of them to the smithy near the potion shop. You can hear more details there.”
“There’s a flower shop a bit further away? Alright, I’ll head there right away.”
I mentally unfolded the map in my head, and when I asked about the features of the area the shopkeeper mentioned, he nodded in confirmation. I thanked him and prepared to leave the shop.
Before I did, however…
“By the way, do you know what happened to those Other Races?”
“…I wouldn’t know. I didn’t ask because there was no reason to.”
“I see. Well, I appreciate the information. I’ll come back as a customer next time… Oh, and what should I do with these?”
“…Do as you wish. I’ve let them go; they’re yours now.”
“Is that so? Then I’ll come back to sell them later.”
“…Hah.”
I had struck gold on my first visit. With this, my remaining tasks were to gather information about these items and explore the entertainment district after sunset. Once I finished, I would return to the mansion.
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And now, for the second stop.
The lack of a warm glow from the forge suggested it might be a day off, but as I approached the door and touched the knob, it felt like it wasn’t locked, so I decided to enter. There was a presence inside, so I figured it would be fine. If I was told to leave, I could simply head to the potion shop two doors down.
“Excuse me, is the owner here?”
“…Who are you?”
“Oh, a Dwarf, how rare. Is the owner around? Ah, this should prove who I am.”
Upon entering, I was greeted by a stout man with thick arms and legs, sporting a bushy beard and slightly pointed ears. His yellow and blue eyes indicated he wasn’t human, and based on what I had heard, he was likely a Dwarf. As soon as I spoke, he set down the sword he had been inspecting and reached for a hammer with a suspicious look, prompting me to show him the dagger I had received from the weapon shop owner.
“…Where did you get that?”
“I received it from the shopkeeper near the square. Don’t worry, I’m not saying I killed him and took it. I really did just receive it. Like this, plop.”
“…The owner isn’t here; he’s out, and he won’t be back today.”
“Oh? That’s convenient.”
“Huh? What do you mean by that?”
Feeling a bit annoyed by the Dwarf’s suspicious demeanor despite my explanation, I wanted to get to the point and wrap this up quickly. It was fortunate that the owner wasn’t around; explaining my reasons for being here would be a hassle, so it was easier to ask him directly.
“Let me ask you plainly: why are you out in human territory?”
“…What do you mean by that?”
“Oh, I know something’s going on. And I fully understand that something unusual is happening. So, I’m asking you: what happened?”
“…”
“Silence. Ah, a wise choice. Not giving information to a suspicious person is a valid strategy. But I know a way to make you talk.”
“…”
“Now, answer me before I resort to extreme measures.”
“…Hey.”
“Yes?”
“I don’t know.”
“…Oh?”
“I don’t know anything, and I can’t figure it out. Even if I wanted to return to my village, my body rejects it. I can’t go back to my old life because my head is pounding. So, I have no choice but to change how I live, or else I might just want to die.”
…Interesting. This is quite peculiar.
Is it a memory distortion? A memory seal? Either way, it wouldn’t be surprising. Depending on whether it was self-inflicted or done by an external force, the nature of the trouble could vary.
“Ah, I see.”
“…You don’t find that strange?”
“Why would I? In a situation where the Demon Race is appearing left and right and causing chaos, what’s strange about that?”
“Huh?”
“The fact that you’re experiencing a rejection response suggests something was implanted in you. A massive trauma or perhaps behavioral suppression… Can you still forge weapons?”
“…I can’t. I can light the forge, melt the iron, stand in front of the anvil, and grip the hammer, but the moment I try to forge a weapon, I feel nauseous.”
“Hmm, there are too many similar cases for me to pinpoint this.”
“…What?”
Even if I considered it behavioral suppression, the types of magic the Demon Race employs are far too varied. Killing the root Demon would typically resolve or lift the curse, but this isn’t a disease or a curse that can be treated with a Potion. I’ve heard that the Saint’s healing powers can cure such things. However, I’ve neither used nor witnessed it, and honestly, if I had to go through the trouble of begging that Saint to save me from the brink of death, it would be far easier and quicker to just kill the user first.
“Will I be able to recover?”
“I think it’s possible to heal you, provided that your inability to forge is due to external interference rather than trauma.”
“Trauma? Why would that come up?”
“Because a rejection response is a symptom of trauma. Memory sealing, rejection response, and perhaps avoidance? These are common manifestations among those who carry trauma, and I’ve seen countless people on the verge of death because of it.”
“…I see.”
Well, it’s probably not trauma.
If he were truly traumatized, his eyes would be far more lifeless, and he wouldn’t be able to stay in a smithy at all if he had such a strong rejection response.
It was clear that the momentary rejection he experienced when wielding a weapon stemmed from something beyond ordinary trauma.
“So, I want to ask you something,” I said.
“…What is it? I don’t know anything,” he replied, a hint of defensiveness in his tone.
“No, I mean, where is your homeland?”
“I’d rather not think about it… It’s a volcano. A place where the mountains are carved away, and magma flows nearby.”
“Hmm… Did you have any beliefs there?”
“…I can’t remember. It was something related to fire, I think.”
“Hmm. Well, you don’t have to force yourself to recall it.”
…It’s confirmed. For an Other Race that must have lived in a closed-off space, forgetting the faith that spread within it is simply impossible. This means that the reason he is trapped here is not due to trauma, but rather something imposed from the outside.
“I see. Understood. Can I ask one more thing?”
“What is it?”
“I believe there was an Elf who helped us at the weapon shop near the square. Where did he go?”
“Ah, I don’t know.”
“You don’t know?”
“Yeah. He stayed here for a few days, but then there was talk of him going to a nearby apothecary.”
“And then?”
“He said he was going back to his homeland and just vanished.”
“…I see.”
“He said he couldn’t return home and had to change his way of life. Then, out of nowhere, he left those words behind and disappeared that very day.”
“Did he seem odd at all?”
“…I felt like there was no light in his eyes. But I can’t be sure; he said that in the dead of night, so it might have just been the darkness playing tricks on me.”
“No, that’s enough. Thank you for sharing all this; it’s been helpful.”
“Thanks for listening. I feel a bit lighter now.”
“That’s good to hear.”
I believe things will get easier within a year. As for the Elf, I might do some more digging. The fact that he vanished after leaving those words in the night suggests he might not have been seen by anyone… I should ask the Knights at the gate.
“Well then, take care.”
“Yeah. You too.”
It was almost evening, the time we were supposed to regroup. The gate was a bit of a distance away, so I should hurry a little.