“We have the means to travel through the sky, but in truth, is there also a threat of monsters in the sky?”
“...Hmm.”
While putting away the installed table set, Arborea=Heath and Tiariada Elemes continued their conversation, standing side by side.
“Right... There are several kinds of monsters that fly through the sky. Among them, it’s said there are even unbelievable ones, like something out of stories. For example, a giant bird like an eagle. A moth far larger than a carriage. And a silver dragon—the Silver Dragon—which in the history of our country has only a single recorded sighting.”
“I have heard talk of the first two even in our country. But a dragon. Could it not have been a mistake?”
At Arborea’s question, Tiariada gave a bitter smile.
“Even within our country, there are many who share that opinion. After all, it is an old record. People call it fabrication, hallucination, misidentification—every insult you can imagine. However, within our Elders’ Circle, there is a witness from that time. I have heard it was about two hundred and fifty years ago, but certainly, a silver dragon traveling through the sky was sighted.”
“I see. I have reaffirmed that <Demon Forest> is not something to take lightly.”
Matching the conversation suitably, Arborea=Heath drew out more information.
“However, do you live inside the forest? I heard something like that.”
“Ah, that’s right. Tonight’s lodging is at the boundary with the forest. You will be able to experience it a little. From tomorrow onward, we will be traveling through the forest. That said, the highway is maintained, so you likely will not be conscious of it.”
“Thank you for your consideration. Then, the cleanup is about finished. Please lead us again.”
“Yeah. See you.”
And so, boarding their respective vehicles—
The group began moving again.
*****
“We welcome you today. This is our inn’s specialty, the tea hot pot.”
“Oh, I’ve been waiting for this. Ah, you. Please serve it out for us.”
“Understood.”
Around a round table, Tiariada Elemes, Arborea=Heath, and Alistarta=Heath began an early dinner.
The itinerary was already on its third day.
They were told that by tomorrow night, they would be able to arrive at Aaran Port, the port town on the Lanta River, the great artery of the Forest Kingdom of Levresta.
However, because the distance was awkward, they needed to rest early today and depart tomorrow morning.
“This isn’t a place for difficult talk. Let’s keep it easy.”
Because the inns on the first and second days had not been very large, their meals had been in separate rooms.
Today was an inn with a VIP suite, and they could take their meal in a room befitting it.
The interior decoration was very much like the Forest Kingdom of Levresta, adorned with ornaments that used plants.
A large wreath woven with dried flowers, wooden carvings, tapestries.
The furniture used had carving work done down to the details, and though subdued, it produced a sense of luxury.
And the meal being served was placed at the center of the table.
“Will fruit water be fine for your drink?”
“Yeah.”
Arborea and Alistarta also nodded silently.
Before that group, dishes were prepared one after another.
“This dish is made by stewing round-pig meat, a specialty of the Lanta Region, and various vegetables with tea leaves, homemade Ungets Miso, and herbs. Excuse me, I will light the fire.”
Under the pot, heaped high with ingredients, there was a magical tool that appeared to be a magic cookstove.
When the server moved a lever, a flame lit between the pot supports.
Use of the magic cookstove has also been confirmed within the United Kingdom of Aphrasia.
It was an absurdly fantasy-like tool whose mechanism was that fire occurred when some kind of magic stone was brought near a central stone called the fire magic stone.
From the investigation results so far, it was predicted that the fire magic stone had the property of igniting when mana density became high.
Incidentally, it seemed that every magic cookstove within the United Kingdom of Aphrasia was an imported item from the Forest Kingdom of Levresta.
It appeared to be used in reasonably wealthy households, and a considerable number had been imported.
In other words, naturally, it was a magical tool used extremely commonly within Levresta.
“Excuse me.”
A dish that seemed to be an appetizer—ingredients set in gelatin—was served. At the same time, fruit water was prepared.
“Then, hoping for our good relationship going forward—Uranta.”
““I agree—Uranta.””
Arborea and Alistarta chanted in unison the word equivalent in meaning to a toast.
The meal was extremely delicious, <Heath> recorded.
Because it predicted that Commander Eve would want to eat it, it obtained information on seasonings and the like.
In particular, fermented foods depend on their specific bacteria. It would be necessary to obtain the actual item and separate and culture the fermentation microbes.
However, because it was perishable, they could not carry it on this journey.
It was settled that it would be imported to East Gate City together with ordinary trade goods.
While continuing a conversation that was indistinguishable from small talk and trade negotiations, <Heath> continued probing for information. The opponent was a seasoned diplomat, but this side was a super-intelligence capable of recording and analyzing all surrounding information.
From slight words and gestures, it combined all kinds of information and extracted the truth.
“Ah, that was delicious. Thank you. It’s been a long time since I enjoyed something like that.”
“It has been quite some time, Lord Tiariada. And it is a pleasure to meet you for the first time, young ladies. I am Lacradin, the head chef of this inn.”
“It was delicious. Thank you.”
They summoned the head chef and had light small talk.
Within that, they overheard information that some ingredients were becoming scarce.
Most likely, the production areas, or distribution hubs, and the like, were suffering damage from monsters.
Because this highway ran quite far to the south, the butterfly monsters in question had not come here.
But their influence was certainly eating away at the Forest Kingdom of Levresta.
*****
They returned to their assigned room.
A servant switched on the installed lighting magical tool, prepared a water pitcher and the like, bowed once, and withdrew.
After confirming that the servants were gone, Arborea=Heath and Alistarta=Heath began inspecting the room.
The lighting magical tool.
It used some kind of glowing magic stone. This too seemed to emit light depending on mana density.
By moving a lever attached to the magical tool, one could adjust the brightness.
The type of light resembled what would be called a fluorescent reaction.
They would not know what wavelength it was without examining it with high-sensitivity sensors, but because it was not very important, they set that aside. They would likely be able to obtain an actual sample if they requested it.
The bed’s construction, and the sheets and blankets laid over it, were of decent quality. The weave was fine, and the feel against the skin was good.
Likely, the quality of the thread was good.
The weave itself was slightly uneven, and it was inferred to be produced by hand work or by a low-precision weaving machine.
Even so, because much fabric itself had been observed along the road, there was no doubt it was being mass-produced by some means.
At the very least, within the observed range, there were no laborers like a slave class.
If so, it was judged to be not hand weaving, but mechanized to some degree.
The furnishings were also high quality, and overall, Levresta ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) could be judged to have surplus national strength.
Furthermore, though limited, it was using some kind of mass-production method.
If it continued developing smoothly as it was, it could become a powerful nation.
While inferring such things, <Heath> put the Android Communicators to sleep.
*****
What was served for breakfast was soft white bread and butter, a salad of fresh leafy vegetables and grilled sausage, and a soup that looked like corn soup.
White bread meant that wheat milling technology was excellent.
Softness meant that fermentation technology using yeast and the like was widespread.
From the salad, one could see that there was a custom of growing vegetables and eating them raw. Dressing was also applied, and one could feel an insistence on food.
The sausage was also properly seasoned, and it seemed to have even been smoked. By some means, it could be predicted that it was distributed as preserved food.
The soup was thought to use corn, or a similar grain, as its ingredient. If so, it meant that with some kind of tool, they could crush and stir it until smooth. Cooking tools were also developed.
After all, the fact that they did not need to allocate resources to war likely contributed greatly to the growth of national strength.
As a neighboring country, being able to take countermeasures early was a stroke of luck.
