Volume 15 Chapter 3 Consultation At The Research Tower Part I
"I'm sorry, but it looks like Ms. Tabasa will have to completely move here at least until the New Year."
After returning to the research tower, Al explained his interactions with Naresh and Kane to Baroness Tabasa, who was talking with Patricia on the 8th floor.
"I'm fine with it. I don't have anyone close in Viscount Parker's territory, and I only check back about once an hour to see if there are any urgent messages. Most of the time, I'm here at the research tower with Lady Patricia. There's nothing to worry about."
Baroness Tabasa said this with a bright smile.
"But there's something a bit difficult to talk about... The time I come here is officially supposed to be in Ms. Tabasa's room, so there are some, um, strange rumors..."
Saying this, Al scratched his head while looking back and forth between Patricia and Baroness Tabasa.
"Eh?"
Patricia raised her voice, not quite understanding what was going on, but Baroness Tabasa gently patted Patricia's shoulder and smiled again, as if to reassure her.
"Ah, I see. Actually, when I offered to teach Sir Al about manners, I was also worried about by Mr. Craig, who is Sir Naresh's attendant."
Baroness Tabasa explained.
"At that time, I told him that I had no feelings other than serving Lady Patricia, so there was no need to worry even if such rumors came up. However, from his reaction, I suspect that Mr. Craig might have realized that the teaching was some kind of disguise."
"I see..."
Of course, that was fine, but why did Craig know from the beginning that it was a disguise?
"Perhaps he knew that Sir Al was not in the room."
Malachi, the golem who just brought tea, explained to the puzzled Al.
"When Lady Patricia teleported, Sir Al was on guard, and it was a sudden move. I don't think Sir Naresh or Mr. Craig noticed at that time. However, after that incident, Sir Al and Baroness Tabasa were frequently traveling between the research tower and Viscount Parker's territory. Their daily comings and goings might have raised Mr. Craig's suspicions."
The golem continued,
"At some point, Mr. Craig might have placed a surveillance magic tool near Baroness Tabasa's room. He probably didn't realize it was a teleportation magic tool, but it's not hard to imagine that he connected Sir Al's frequent absences with the teaching sessions as a cover."
Al realized that even though he wasn't peeking into the room, he could tell that the magic tool Al had was suddenly gone by looking at the display of the 'Detect Magic' tool.
He had done something similar when he took Patricia out.
He thought he was okay since he knew where the detection magic tools were set up in the Levy merchant guild's mansion, but detection magic tools can be moved around.
This was similar to what Lord Zora pointed out the other day. If Al had been using 'Detect Magic' all the time, he might have noticed something was off.
That's what proper security is all about.
Also, the mansion's owner, Guildmaster Levy, knew about the teleportation magic tool. Although he kept it a secret, it wouldn't be surprising if the mansion's manager, Desmond, Naresh, and even Craig, who was always with Naresh, knew about it too.
Al bit his lip, thinking he should have been more careful.
Next to him, Baroness Tabasa was whispering something to Patricia.
He couldn't hear the details, but it sounded like she said something about how this way, bad rumors wouldn't stick.
If Patricia knew and Baroness Tabasa was thinking the same, then they probably didn't need to worry about the rumors. Al pretended not to hear their quiet conversation.
"Well then, it's fine. For now, I'll just leave the rumors as they are."
Al lightly bowed, and Baroness Tabasa nodded back with a smile.
"Also, Malachi, I have a little question. Ah, Glee is also a doll golem..."
Al placed the Glee assistant around the neck of the doll golem.
"During Sir Tempest's time, was there a good way to teach those who couldn't use spells well?"
Saying this, Al explained his interaction with Naresh to Malachi the golem.
"How to teach those who can't interpret symbols well...?"
Malachi the golem thought for a moment.
"Even in Sir Tempest's time, there were differences in how well people could interpret," he began thoughtfully. "However, since magic tools were common, it wasn't a big problem if someone couldn't do it at all. So, I don't know much about teaching methods for that."
He paused, a hint of regret in his tone.
"Also, it seems there is no information about it in this tower's library. I'm sorry. Guiding through the assistant device, as Sir Al and Ingrid mentioned, seems like a good method."
I see... There were differences in interpretation even in ancient times.
"If it's just for Sir Naresh, I have a suggestion."
With that, Malachi the golem raised one finger.
"Previously, there was an assistant device owned by a goblin mage. Most of the information it held has been analyzed, and while not everything is complete, the necessary data has been saved in the tower's library."
He paused, considering his next words.
"How about we restart it and bring it back as a new assistant device for Sir Naresh? According to what Sir Al and Baroness Tabasa mentioned, Sir Naresh is usually very busy, and if he becomes a baron, he will be even busier. From what we've discussed, it seems the only issue is Interpretation."
Malachi nodded to himself. "If that's the case, he might be able to practice spells for a little while before bed, and the assistant device could give him advice."
"I see. I can't keep borrowing Glee's pendant forever, so this way, Naresh can practice spells in his free time."
"Still, is it really okay to spend his little bit of relaxing time before bed on practicing spells...?"
"If he has time, he can practice spells. Just like Ally."
While Al was deep in thought, Glee murmured. Right, he couldn't really say anything about others. Al smiled wryly and decided to leave it up to Naresh whether to do it or not.
"Got it. So, Malachi, please restart (reset) it. After that, if there's any knowledge needed for Interpretation (deciphering), please download it to that assistant device."
At Al's words, the Malachi golem nodded. However, as Al looked at the side profile of the Malachi golem, he suddenly realized something.
"Since the analysis is complete, it means that the usage of this button-shaped magic tool might be a magic bag, right?"
At Al's words, Malachi the golem lightly shook his head from side to side. Since he had no expression, it was hard to tell what he meant, but Al felt like he was smiling wryly, as if to say, "That's correct."
"You noticed well," Malachi the golem said. "Actually, I understand. However, I think it's a good opportunity to gain experience in analyzing the activation commands of magic tools as part of studying them."
He paused, his expression thoughtful.
"There is a risk that it might break, but you are going to explore ancient ruins, right? It's essential to be familiar with the magic tools you manage. Especially, the activation commands are important, don't you think?"
Hearing this from Malachi, Al reluctantly nodded. The button-shaped magic tool was only about one centimeter in diameter, yet it was packed with magic circuits.
While deciphering the magic circuits was enjoyable, it seemed quite difficult to analyze the activation command when he already knew it.
"By the way, has the analysis of that round magic tool been completed?"
Malachi the golem asked, pressing further.
The round magic tool Malachi referred to was the mysterious black, round magic tool that Al had bought for ten silver coins when he first met Lara at the magic tool shop in the remote city of Lester a long time ago.
It was a sphere slightly smaller than a fist, about 5 centimeters (2in) in diameter, with only 2 vertical cuts on its surface.
He had been trying to analyze a magic tool for a long time, not knowing what it was, while getting various explanations from Malachi.
"I could read some of the magic circuit. But it's really complicated, and I can't figure out what it's for."
Al also used the 'Sensory Boost' spell to enlarge the magic circuit and found that many symbols were similar to those used in the 'Extract' and 'Telekinesis' spells.
From what he could guess, this magic tool seemed to roll around within a certain range, extracting specific types of materials that were close enough to touch and storing them in a tank-like area inside the sphere.
"What kind of specific materials are we talking about, Sir Al?"
"Well, there are a lot of them," Al replied. "To give a simple example, it's quartz, which is a mineral about 2 millimeters (0.08in) to 0.1 millimeters (0.004in) in size. But there's a substance index, so I know the names and classifications, but I'm stuck on what they actually are. Most of them are also under 1 millimeter (0.04in) in size."
"I see."
Malachi the golem nodded at Al's answer.
"Quartz is probably sand."
Sand? Is quartz really sand? A magic tool that rolls around collecting sand and tiny things? If it rolled in a desert, the small tank inside the sphere would fill up quickly.
No, but maybe in a room...
"Could it be a magic tool that moves around the room and cleans by itself?"
At Al's question, Malachi the Golem nodded vigorously.
"In this research tower, the broom held by a High-Rank Worker Golem is a magic tool similar to this one. However, it can't move on its own, so the High-Rank Worker Golem has to do the sweeping. This magic tool is more advanced than that."
To think they could make a magic tool do something like this... Al was amazed.
"Probably, if you use that magic tool to brush your clothes and shoes, it can clean those too."
Indeed, in terms of removing dirt, the floor and clothes are the same... Ancient humans used magic tools for many things. Al was once again impressed by Malachi the Golem's words.
Please bookmark this series and rate ☆☆☆☆☆ on here!
Donate me
Support Me with USDC
(ERC20)
Support Me with XLM
(Stellar Lumens)