The day after the Tako Party.
Early morning. As I sat outside the Log House, enjoying breakfast and sipping my post-meal coffee, something caught my attention.
“……” Piyoko!
It was my Familiar, Konohamaru, whose head was adorned with leaves. He was supposed to be in the Dead End Territory as my Body Double.
“What’s wrong?”
I had lent him my Smartphone.
Pikon!
“【Lord Lisia has summoned you. This matter is beyond my capabilities, so she requests your presence.】”
Konohamaru knelt before me. It seemed like a friend was in trouble, so I decided to help.
“Got it. Let’s disguise ourselves and head to the Dead End Territory.”
With that, I prepared to set off alone… but then,
“What do you think you’re doing, going out alone?”
Hermes Vlad Tepes, a member of the Twilight Dragon, approached me.
“Good morning! You’re up early.”
“Good morning. So, Mika, where do you think you’re going all by yourself at this hour?”
I explained that I had been summoned by Lord Lisia.
“You were going to head out without any escort…?”
“Well, it’s early morning, so I thought it might be bad to bother anyone.”
“I’m coming with you.”
“Oh? Well, thanks!”
And so, the two of us set off for the Dead End.
“So, how are we getting there? Walking?”
“Of course not. Greater Teleportation!”
In an instant, our surroundings shifted. We teleported to a location just outside the capital of the Dead End, Averell.
“Alright.”
“‘Alright’ doesn’t cut it—!!”
Hermes’s voice echoed through the early morning.
“What was that!?”
“It was Greater Teleportation, of course?”
“Um… that’s a seriously dangerous skill, you know.”
“Dangerous?”
“Yeah. There are only a handful of people in this world who can even use teleportation magic. And those who can use Greater Teleportation? They don’t exist in this world.”
“I see. I’ll be careful.”
Hermes looked at me as if I were some strange creature.
“Why are you so oblivious or indifferent to your own power?”
“Well, I’m not really interested in power. To me, it’s all just convenient tools.”
Just like Omniscience and Omnipotent (Internet) and the ■ (box).
As we made our way to Averell, I recounted the story of how I met Lord Lisia and how Adventurer Mika was born.
“So, that’s why I don’t want to stand out.”
“Not wanting to stand out…? That’s impossible.”
“Why not? I plan to conserve my power while in this form.”
“…………………”
What’s with that suspicious gaze…?
Before I knew it, we had entered the town of Averell.
“Is it just me, or do the houses look more impressive now…?”
The last time I visited Averell, all the buildings were in disrepair. I remembered there hadn’t even been any outer walls.
But now, there were sturdy stone walls surrounding neatly arranged houses.
“What’s going on?”
“Why are you so clueless about the situation…?”
“I left everything to Konohamaru.”
On my shoulder, Konohamaru puffed out his chest with pride. He must have felt accomplished for being entrusted with such a task.
After a while, we arrived at the vacant house that I used as my base…
“What is this mansion!?”
Where there used to be a vacant house, now stood a magnificent two-story brick house. It completely stood out compared to the surrounding buildings.
“Konohamaru? What’s going on here?”
I had also requested the Vegetable Familiars to assist in repairing the building.
They had rebuilt the outer walls as well. Apparently, my living space had been completely renovated.
“Did I ask for that much…?”
“Weren’t you given a request as an adventurer? To fix the house and repair the outer walls?”
Konohamaru nodded vigorously.
“Could it be that this little guy was quite active as an adventurer…? You’re impressively capable, aren’t you…?”
“…………” Tete-tete.
Now that I think about it, I had heard that even a single Vegetable Familiar could possess the strength of a high-ranking adventurer. Plus, Konohamaru could use a body double technique.
So, he had been handling simple quests all on his own. I was grateful…
However, such a capable Konohamaru had summoned me. That meant something troublesome was happening that he couldn’t handle alone.
I hoped it wouldn’t be too much of a hassle.
After a while, Lisia arrived at my house (which I decided to call my Second House).
“Sorry for coming so early. It’s an urgent matter.”
“No problem at all.”
Lisia stared intently at me… or rather, at Hermes, who was sitting next to me.
“Lady Mika? That woman in the cloak and mask… could it be…?”
Wait, is Hermes wearing a mask? When did that happen?
“Oh, this is Hermes from the Twilight Dragon.”
“I knew it! Why is Lady Hermes from the Twilight Dragon here!?”
Now that I think about it, the Twilight Dragon was the number one adventurer party in Geita Niiga.
Ah… how should I explain this? I can’t just say I’ve become her subordinate.
“We’re friends.”
This way, I could avoid the shock of “You’ve made the Twilight Dragon your subordinate!?”
“Eh!? Lady Mika, you’re friends with Lady Hermes!? That’s amazing…!”
…Wait, just being friends is enough to be considered amazing?
“You’re friends with Lady Hermes, who is famous for having spent years in solo activities and never opening her heart to anyone outside the Twilight Dragon!”
Could it be that Hermes and the others are treated like idols here…?
Wait, am I not standing out enough for being friends with an idol…?
“Well, putting that aside, Lisia, what’s the urgent matter?”
“Ah, yes. Actually, I would like to request your protection, Lady Mika.”
“Protection…?”
“Yes, I need you to take me to the OTK Trading Company in the Maduukas Empire.”
～～～～～～
Maduukas Empire
→ A country neighboring Geita Niiga.
It has a small land area and a short history, but it is a meritocratic nation with many talented individuals. The technology for Magic Tools is highly developed.
～～～～～～
～～～～～～
OTK Trading Company
→ The number one trading company in the Maduukas Empire.
～～～～～～
“Why is Lisia going to a neighboring country?”
“I want to ask them to send merchants to us.”
Apparently, due to the Dead End being a remote town, filled with Monsters and two nearby magical realms, merchants rarely come to visit.
Lisia had been sending letters to various commercial guilds to procure food and clothing for the people living here.
One of those guilds, the OTK Trading Company, had responded positively, so she wanted to go meet them.
“Since Maduukas is far away and we have to cross the Terror Mountains…”
“Terror Mountains?”
“The dangerous mountains next to the Dead End, where Monsters roam.”
Oh, could it be that…?
～～～～～～
Terror Mountains
→ Another name for the Sapphire Silver Dragon Mountain where Mika lives.
Locals fear it as a mountain from which no one returns once they enter.
～～～～～～
I live there, though…?
“Is it really that scary…?”
“To a brave adventurer like you, Lady Mika, it might not seem frightening. But for low-level individuals like us, it’s a terrifying place.”
In other words, she wanted to request Adventurer Mika’s protection because we would be traveling far and passing through a dangerous area to reach the empire.
“Okay.”
“Thank you so much! I don’t know how to express my gratitude…!”
“The payment will be in crude oil, please.”
“Yes!”
We stepped outside my Second House.
“Then, I’ll head back to prepare for the journey.”
“Eh, can’t you just go and come back quickly?”
Hermes poked my shoulder with her finger.
“Do you have any idea how far Maduukas is? It’s a ten-day journey by carriage!”
Even though it’s a neighboring country?
I can’t use Greater Teleportation…
I just learned from Hermes that using that power would draw attention.
“Then, I’ll use Flying Company.”
With a gentle lift, Lisia and Hermes floated into the air.
“Here we go!”
“W-Wait, Lady Mika!? W-Whaaaaaaat!?”
I took Lisia and Hermes with me as we soared toward the Maduukas Empire. Flying Company is a magic spell that allows you to fly with companions.
Gyuun! The scenery rushed by at an incredible speed.
Thanks to Omniscience, I knew the location of Maduukas, so I wouldn’t get lost.
In about an hour, we arrived near the Imperial Capital Carter of the Maduukas Empire.
“Haah… haah… this is incredible…”
“Huh? What’s so amazing?”
“Flying Company is an ancient magic thought to be lost!”
Ancient magic…?
“It’s classified in the same category as Greater Teleportation!”
“Wait, this is too?”
I thought I had chosen a spell that wouldn’t draw attention…?
“You’re friends with Lady Hermes, and you can use ancient magic… Lady Mika, who exactly are you…?”
“I’m just a humble adventurer.”
“Which world has adventurers who can master ancient magic…?”
【★☆ A Special Request ☆★】
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or
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