Volume 15 Chapter 5 In Baroness Tabasa's Room (But The Lady Is Absent) Part I
As the sun was setting, Al returned to the Levy merchant guild's mansion in border city Parker, leaving the handling of the button-shaped magic tool to Malachi the golem.
He shared not only his own dinner that was brought to his room but also Baroness Tabasa's portion with her servant, Doris.
"Do you usually eat alone?"
Al asked, tearing off a piece of white bread and popping it into his mouth, feeling a bit guilty for leaving her all alone.
He remembered Baroness Tabasa's cheerful smile when she asked him to eat her portion while he was away.
Often, when Al returned at his usual time, Baroness Tabasa was still chatting with Patricia. She probably came back late and had her meal then.
So, Doris might have been eating alone and feeling lonely.
"Yes. But please don't worry about it. It's normal for a servant, and honestly, I feel more comfortable being alone."
She said this with a quiet smile. Her chestnut ponytail swayed gently behind her. It was hard to believe she was only ten years old. He certainly couldn't have responded like that at her age.
Al wondered what kind of hardships she had faced while protecting Baroness Tabasa to come all the way to border city Parker.
"Well, that's good, but... is there anything you're missing?"
"Thank you. Since the madam doesn't spend much time here, there's nothing in particular that I need. I even feel a bit sorry watching the other servants being busy from the window."
That made sense; it was indeed a luxurious life to not have to work much.
"Are you not bored?"
"When I'm alone, I often do embroidery. The madam brings me the materials. When I'm doing that, time flies by. Also, recently, she has been bringing me unusual fruits, and I look forward to that. Just yesterday, she brought something that looked like a potato, but when I cut it open, it was orange. It was really sweet."
"Oh, I see," Al nodded.
About 3 days ago, the path to the island was finally completed, and he had started a proper exploration of the island with a High-Rank Worker Golem as his escort. He had begun to identify some fruits and seafood that seemed safe to eat.
Among them were many strange fruits and fish he had never seen around here, including some that were very sweet. Baroness Tabasa must have brought some of those to Doris.
"Be careful of any strange bugs. I check when I gather them, but there might be some hiding inside. Also, it might be better not to eat too much at once."
"Thank you for your concern. Understood."
Doris smiled and nodded lightly. As the two were talking about this, Al's 'Detect Magic' spell reacted.
'Just like the usual security magic tool, the reaction is the same.'
Glee whispered this to Al.
When using the 'Detect Magic' spell, magic reacts, but the response differs depending on whether the spell is being actively used or if someone has cast it on them, or if it's a magic tool that has some kind of spell effect constantly active.
That said, it can only tell if the magic is affecting a tool, a place, or a person; it can't identify the specific type of spell.
However, regarding the spellcaster, it can read the characteristics of the caster when a spell is used, known as a wavelength.
Of course, this alone doesn't reveal who used it, but if it's a magic tool, it can record that information and compare it with past records.
Using this, the security magic tool identifies those who enter its detection range while holding a magic tool or under the effect of a spell by matching the current user with past entry records.
Glee could instantly compare what she sensed from Al's 'Detect Magic' spell with her own memory and relay the results to Al.
"Someone is coming closer. Is it Sir Naresh?"
The approaching footsteps were multiple. It wasn't clear since they hadn't used the 'Sensory Boost' spell, but it seemed to be 2 or 3 people.
Since they had a security magic tool, Craig must be with them. There might also be one servant acting as a guide.
Even though Al was already there, it didn't seem likely that Naresh would visit alone.
At Al's words, Doris hurriedly stood up and began to clear away the dinner tray.
After a while, there was a knock on the door.
"It's Chris. I've brought Sir Naresh and Craig."
"Please come in."
Al and Doris stood up. Doris responded. The visitors were as expected. The 3 were led into the room. Doris didn't seem to want to ask Naresh to put down his weapon.
"Good, Al is here too."
"Of course. Sir Naresh... ah, Your Excellency Baron Sennett."
Naresh looked sad at Al's words.
"I'm sorry, but I'd prefer if you didn't call me Your Excellency Baron Sennett. With this group, I'd really like to just be called Naresh..."
"Sir Naresh..."
Craig spoke up in a slightly troubled tone, and Naresh shook his head.
"Since Craig said that, I guess at least Sir Naresh... For now, let's skip the Your Excellency part."
Al nodded lightly.
"Then, I will take my leave."
Saying this, Chris closed the door and left. Doris served tea to the two.
"Is Baroness Tabasa not here?"
"I'm sorry. She's not feeling well and is resting."
Craig's question made Doris answer, and Naresh and Craig exchanged glances, but it seemed they wouldn't say anything more. They were curious about what each other was thinking, but asking felt awkward.
But Craig was in the same boat... That made Al hesitate about whether to talk about the assistant device.
'Should I tell Tess not to say anything?'
Glee whispered to Al. It seemed Glee was thinking something similar.
Tess was the name given to the assistant device they got after defeating the goblin mage and rebooting it.
Assistant devices could communicate in a one-on-one way without using voice, like 'Telepathy', as long as they were within about ten meters of each other. So, it was possible for Glee to convey something to Tess.
Al thought it might be okay to tell Naresh about the assistant device, but he wasn't sure if he should tell Craig too.
If he thought about it for Naresh's sake, even if Al made a promise here, Craig might not keep it.
Lord Veil of the Marquis Prentis family knew about the existence of assistant devices, so Al thought it would be better for Naresh to know, but in this situation, it was probably best not to reveal it from the start.
To convey his agreement, Al tapped his thigh.
'Tess understands. Also, instead of conversation, sounds like ping or pong can be used for this kind of communication.'
"I was thinking of greeting Baroness Tabasa, but it's a shame. Well, it can't be helped. Al, about the spellbook interpretation we talked about during the day, what should I do?"
Naresh's words made Al nod.
"Yeah, for now, I've prepared the 'Light' spellbook. First, I want you to interpret the symbols drawn here in front of me. I'll lend this to you, so I want you to wear it at that time."
Saying that, Al took out the assistant device that the goblin mage had used.
The goblin mage wore it as a collar, but it felt strange for a human to use, so it had been remade into a metal bracelet using the 'Soften Metal' spell.
"What is this?"
"Maybe you could call it mana? It's a magic tool that measures how much the wearer can faintly feel that power when interpreting the symbols. If they can feel it even a little, a faint sound will be heard only by the wearer, according to the degree."
Al hoped that Tess would hear this explanation and act accordingly.
'It seems okay. She says she understands.'
Glee's whisper made Al feel relieved.
"Is there really such a magic tool? Where on earth did you get it?"
Craig asked in surprise, but Al shook his head.
"I can't say that. For now, you'll just have to trust me."
Al stared intently at Craig. It was unclear whether Craig understood, but he fell silent for now.
"I want Sir Naresh to use that magic tool and see if he can feel anything while interpreting the symbol. I mentioned it at lunch, but how to sense that power is so abstract that I can't put it into words. However, that magic tool should be able to measure it."
Naresh pondered Al's words deeply.
"In the past, my master would watch how I swung my sword and say things like, 'No, swing it more broadly,' or 'No, make it more precise.' At that time, I wanted him to teach me more clearly, but at least I learned what was right and what was wrong."
He sighed.
"With the spellbook's symbols, I don't even have that. I have to keep trying without knowing if I'm doing it right. I thought only one in ten people could interpret it in that state. And I believed I couldn't do it."
Al nodded at Naresh's words.
"Yeah, I never struggled with this interpretation," Al said thoughtfully. "I thought it was normal to be able to interpret things since I was a child."
He looked at Naresh earnestly.
"That's why I want Sir Naresh to try this bracelet. I really wish I could explain everything to him myself, but Sir Naresh is probably too busy. But with this, there is a possibility."
"Sir Naresh, if there is such a bracelet, you should report it to the magician's guild. That way, you could get significant support from them."
Craig interjected once more.
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