Volume 2 Chapter 8
We hurriedly made our way back to town without encountering any monsters. It was a miracle that we made it back unharmed, and it's unlikely that such luck will happen again. Since it was already getting late, we decided to head straight to Wallace's shop.
Leanne was holding three books in her arms. They all had the same design, and they looked brand new, but they didn't have the grandeur of ancient manuscripts.
"If we give him all three books, we might get more money."
"We should only show him one book. If we tell him that there might be more, we can negotiate from a position of advantage."
"Negotiate? What if we fail?"
"According to Eric, Albert has been searching for these books for years. We can't afford to miss this opportunity."
We were fortunate to be in this situation. If things went well, we wouldn't need to continue being adventurers.
When we arrived at the shop in the back alley, the door was still open. Wallace was sitting behind his desk, smoking a pipe and reading a thick book. As soon as he noticed our presence, he stood up and walked over to the counter.
"Hey, Leanne, Ark, what brings you here at this hour? I bought some delicious bread for lunch, want to eat together?"
"Thank you, but I have something I want you to see first."
We handed over a book we had obtained. Wallace took the book and immediately opened it. With his thin, wrinkled fingers, he traced the words on the page. After a moment, Wallace looked up.
"Where did you get this?"
From his gaze and words, it seemed like he had doubts. It wasn't unreasonable to think that it might be stolen or something. After all, it was a rare item that we, as rookie adventurers, had managed to find so easily in a single day.
"It's not a stolen item. I can tell you about its origin if Albert-san is willing to buy it from us."
"Hmm... Just wait a little. Let me confirm."
After Wallace sighed, he returned to his desk. He opened another book and began comparing them, as if attempting to decipher something while juxtaposing them.
"Ah, I see. This book is──"
We waited for the next words, hoping it would be a history book.
"It's a diary."
"A diary...?"
"It seems to be a diary written by a young woman. I can't tell the details without reading further, but it's definitely not a book of history."
It seemed suspiciously easy to obtain, and I never expected it to be this kind of item. Perhaps the identical bindings of all three books were the reason.
Despite managing to obtain them through dangerous circumstances, it all ended in vain.
"But, depending on the content, you might be able to sell it."
"Really?"
"Because it's not compiled data, there's a possibility that it's accurately recorded. It might be close to what Albert-sama is seeking. I'll start deciphering it right away, so you should come back tomorrow afternoon."
The two of us bowed deeply and left the shop. He had entered the decoding process, so it would be best not to disturb him.
It was disappointing to find out that the book wasn't a history book, but there was still hope. If it didn't work out, we would have to try giving him two more books.
Maybe it was because the tension had subsided, but suddenly I felt tired. I was also hungry.
"Wow, I suddenly feel exhausted..."
"Well, we worked really hard today. We went to the dungeon for the first time, after all."
"Let's go to the tavern we went to yesterday and get something to eat."
"Yeah, they treated us well."
We headed towards the tavern in the back alley and decided to have a meal there. We then ordered some slightly expensive dishes. The soup had beans and bacon in it, along with a large round bread and thickly sliced and grilled ham. It cost twenty copper coins per person, but today was a special occasion.
After filling our stomachs, we rented a slightly better room at the inn. It cost twenty-five copper coins for one night, but the bed was soft and comfortable. After a few days without washing, we finally got some water and cleaned our bodies. Leanne, who seemed tired, immediately fell asleep as soon as she laid down on the bed. Maintaining this standard of living might be our goal.
* * *
When I woke up, it seemed like it was already past noon. I was so tired, maybe that's why. I woke up Leanne and we left the inn.
These shabby clothes really need to be replaced soon. Regardless, today's outcome is crucial.
We arrived at Wallace's shop. I opened the door with determination, and there was Albert standing at the counter with a bundle of papers. Wallace was still sitting in his chair, snoring away. Had he been decoding all night?
"Hey, looks like you've come."
"Yes. I gave the book to Wallace-san yesterday."
"Seems like it. But honestly, I'm surprised. I never thought you guys would really get the thing I was after."
"S-so, then──"
"Ah, as promised, I'll buy it for twenty gold coins."
It really worked out well.
But from here on, this is where the real challenge begins for me.
"Albert-san, I have a matter to discuss regarding the compensation."
"Oh? If you're unhappy with the amount, I can consider adjusting it."
"I don't need money. Could you please provide a safe place for Leanne to work?"
"Huh? Hold on, Ark. What do you mean?"
Leanne is surprised and flustered. It's only natural for her to react this way.
There's no other choice but to keep her away from danger. If she continues to live as an adventurer, she'll lose her life before long. I absolutely want to avoid such an outcome.
"It would be appreciated if we could work together, but it's also fine if it's just Leanne. I'll give you books. I can also prepare a few more similar items."
Albert listened to my words in silence, arms crossed.
"I see. Then I'll respect your feelings. I'll look for job opportunities for both of you. It might take a few days, is that alright?"
"Yes. Thank you in advance."
Leanne and I bowed deeply together. When I looked at her, she let out a sigh, but then quickly showed a bright smile. It was really good. With this, we might be able to survive a little longer.
"By the way, how did you guys get this book? I've been searching for it for years and couldn't find it anywhere."
"We found it in the dungeon."
"In the dungeon? I can't believe you went to such a dangerous place... I'm sorry."
"No, it was our decision."
I told Albert about what happened in the dungeon. The hidden passage that only Leanne could open, and finding a diary in the room beyond. I also explained why I had hidden the other two books and then gave them to Albert.
"A door that only responds to Leanne-san... There must still be something hidden there."
"There were also monsters, but strangely, there was a forest on the lower floor."
"Yes. There was a sun, and a small river was flowing."
"Wallace-san helped decode the diary halfway. Thanks to that, we've learned a lot."
Albert held up the stack of papers in his hand.
"Seems like that dungeon── or should I call it a facility? It's actually called 'Evrall's Underground Garden.' Once you step inside, 'you're lured into a green maze'── that's what they used to advertise it back then."
So, the eastern dungeon was named like that. It does make sense to call the underground forest a garden. Could it be some kind of artwork?
"This is the part that Wallace-san decoded for me."
I took the paper that was handed to me. It was filled with words.
'I got a younger sister. Her name is Shadiya. She has a reddish-brown skin, long silver hair, and eyes as clear and blue as the sky. She is beautiful and has a presence that makes you want to hug her. She's slightly taller than me.'
"It definitely looks like a diary."
"It says 'I got a younger sister,' but it seems to mean that they're going to live together."
I continued reading the next passage.
'Shadiya is a new type of homunculus created by my father in the guild. Her wolf-like ears and tail are fluffy, and they're so soft to touch. But... she looks so much like the shrine maiden, Sharna-sama. Whenever she walks in the holy city, everyone turns their heads. If I take her to the academy, it will surely cause a big commotion. I wonder what Astal-sama thinks about all of this?'
"This is getting really confusing all of a sudden..."
"At first, I thought it was like a story, but maybe it's actually true. This new type of being, a 'Homunculus' named Shadiya, looks like the Werewolf Tribe that lives nearby, and the holy city is probably referring to Salem. There are just too many points that match up with reality."
"So, does that mean humans created beastmen? Can that really be possible?"
Leanne's point is valid. It doesn't sound like a real story.
"The woman who wrote this diary seems to have been the daughter of the head of the alchemist guild. It might seem unbelievable at first, but if she had the technical skill to create an underground garden, it might be possible."
Suddenly, I'm getting chills. It feels like we're getting into an unbelievable story. Are they really saying that humans created beings that look just like humans?
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