"Typically, it's impossible for corpses to transform into spiritual apparitions unless left unattended for several decades. However, in this case, likely, the combination of the lake's magic and the Magic Dragon's abundant blood acted as a catalyst for this phenomenon," (Leela)
Listening to Leela's analytical explanation, Tatsuro's mind started to clear up as well. He recalled the earlier situation.
"Could it be a form of magic?" (Tatsuro)
"Yes, it appears to be. I can't say for sure without a more detailed analysis, but it seems to be a curse-type magic." (Leela)
"So, can it be undone with magic?" (Tatsuro)
"If we use a mixture of dispelling magic and water magic, it should be possible." (Leela)
"Water magic…" (Tatsuro)
Tatsuro used dispelling magic to analyze the lake and gather precise information about the situation. It became clear that the magic was formed from a mixture of curse and dark magic. However, the level of this magic seemed high, making it difficult to discern the wavelength of its magical energy.
Tatsuro then decided to increase the level of his [Information Magic] through the system. After increasing it to Level 7, he finally succeeded in reading the wavelength. According to his analysis, to construct a counter-magic for this spell, they would need [Water Magic Lv.8] or higher and [Light Magic Lv.4] or higher.
Tatsuro immediately checked if he had enough SP to raise his [Information Magic] to Level 7, which would require 91 SP. Even with the expenditure, he still had 231 SP left, including the SP from the Bullhead, Magic Dragon, and level-ups, which was more than enough to achieve it."Ai, we might be able to do something." (Tatsuro)
"Really!?" (Ai)
"Yes. It seems like our responsibility, so let's give it a try." (Tatsuro)
"Yes, please!" (Ai)
The two of them were determined to use their magic to try to undo the curse.
Worried that they might celebrate prematurely if they could not undo the curse, Tatsuro discreetly informed Ai of their plan. Then, they took action.
First, they aimed to acquire the [Water Magic Lv.10] to obtain the associated title.
|Acquired the title ‘Master of Water|
(As expected, it seems like reaching Level 10 is the requirement for the ‘Master' series titles.) He thought.
With the conditions for acquiring the title clarified, Tatsuro discreetly called Ai and Cardina closer, away from prying eyes. They held hands with Ai, boosted their abilities, and prepared extensively with Cardina's magical assistance.
Then, they gathered magic power at the tip of their staff and prepared to dispel the curse magic cast on the lake using a combination of dispelling, water, and light magic.
"Tatsuro, you can do it!" (Ai)
"Yeah, I'll give it my all!" (Tatsuro)
Ai gripped their hand tightly, her face displaying unwavering confidence that she did not doubt Tatsuro's abilities.
In response, Tatsuro squeezed her hand back and gave a determined smile, ready to meet her expectations.
With the image of erasing the sludge in their minds, along with Cardina's support, they completed the magic construct.
"I'm sick of dealing with you. I'll erase every trace." (Tatsuro)
The finished magic took the form of sixteen glowing blue orbs, which they evenly distributed across the lake. After placing all of them in their designated locations, Tatsuro struck the ground with their staff, signaling the start.
In response, all the orbs vibrated and created ripples. The ripples generated from sixteen points gradually overlapped, covering the entire lake. As a result, the black color of the lake began to fade, and it eventually returned to its original beautiful state.
"It should be truly over now." (Tatsuro)
"That was one persistent stalker, even in its stubbornness." (Ai)
The two of them peered into the lake and even touched the water just to be sure. However, the water was once again crystal clear, with no signs of the previous curse. They also used [Information Magic] to analyze it, but there was no longer any saltwater blockage due to the curse; the water flowed freely.
As they confirmed this, the others around them began to notice and shouted in astonishment.
"Shall we slip away quietly?" (Tatsuro)
"Yeah," (Ai)
Amidst the commotion, they made their way back quietly. When they made eye contact with Leela and gestured to keep it a secret by placing their index fingers to their lips and saying "shh," Leela understood their intention and nodded in response. It seemed that a high-level mage like her had figured it out as well.
They both smiled, briefly bowed their heads in acknowledgment, and then squinted their eyes at the sunlight reflecting on the lake.
"The sun is rising." (Ai)
"We pulled an all-nighter." (Tatsuro)
"Yeah, I'm physically fine, but I want to rest properly." (Ai)
"Once we get back to town, we can take it easy. There's no rush to set out again." (Tatsuro)
Tatsuro agreed and pulled Ai closer, embracing her. They admired the lake, illuminated by the emerging sunlight, which would likely be their last glimpse of it.
As they enjoyed their leisurely time, the salt workers, who had initially rejoiced at the lake's return to normal, regained their composure. They started preparing for their journey back.
They had considered flying back, but upon Zendo's invitation, they opted to ride on the cart's cargo bed, just like when they had first met.
Once everyone was ready, they moved away from the lake together. In the midst of it, Zendo, who suspected that the two of them were responsible for restoring the lake, turned back from the driver's seat to express his gratitude. When he made eye contact with Leela, she shook her head, indicating that they should not say anything. (T.N: the raws says Cardina, but I don't think she is that very intelligent, so I changed it to Leela)
As Zendo observed the back of the cart, he noticed that Tatsuro and Ai were sleeping soundly, holding hands and leaning against each other. A soft smile formed on Zendo's lips, and he quietly murmured, "Thank you."
The two of them continued to sleep peacefully as the cart swayed. When they reached the town, Zendo woke them up. They were surprised to see that they had already arrived, and outside the cart, the townsfolk were bustling about, seemingly unaware of their return.
"Oh dear, we still need to inform the townspeople," (Leela)
"It would be different if they could use telepathy like us, but they mainly rely on letters or oral communication here. Maybe they have messenger pigeons, though." (Tatsuro)
Feeling the townspeople didn't have to be so busy, they finally reached the town gate. After reuniting with the others and making a promise to pay a visit to Zendo before leaving the town, Tatsuro and Ai headed to the Adventurer's Guild with Leela.
Respecting their desire not to draw attention, Leela sneaked into the guild through the back entrance for staff. Tatsuro and Ai were escorted to the reception room, where they were offered tea. Leela excused herself and left the room.
"I wonder what this is about" (Tatsuro)
"Maybe it's about buying the materials again?" (Ai)
"Well, considering how much we have… It wouldn't be a problem." (Tatsuro)
Between the numerous scales and pieces of meat that Ai had cut and scattered about, the three heads, the huge body, and a half, were carrying an overwhelming amount of material. They could easily part with it if someone wanted to buy it.
As they chatted and waited patiently, the door creaked open, and an elderly man, trembling slightly, entered the room.
Behind the elderly man, Leela followed like a caregiver.
"We're sorry to keep you waiting." (Leela)
"No, that's quite alright…" (Ai)
"Who is this elderly gentleman?" (Tatsuro)
"Well…" (Leela)
"Fashifofufufufufiifufouffofofofofofof…"
""…………eh?""
The voice that interrupted Leela's words was incomprehensible, and neither Tatsuro nor Ai could make out what was being said. Leela, sighing, forcibly guided the elderly man to sit on the sofa, implying that he should remain silent.
With increasing doubts about who this person was and why he was treated so brusquely, Leela revealed an unexpected fact.
"This gentleman is the Guild Master of the Adventurer's Guild Obsul Branch. As you can see, he is quite elderly and cannot speak without his dentures, but he refuses to wear them… Hence, this situation. I apologize." (Leela)
"Ah…" (Tatsuro)
"I see…" (Ai)
Leela had no reason to lie, so Tatsuro and Ai decided to accept the situation for now. They had more pressing questions.
"So, why did the Guild Master come to meet us personally?" (Tatsuro)
"Fufufufu…"
"Please be quiet! I apologize for the interruption. The reason I brought him here is to raise your adventurer ranks. It's not within my authority." (Leela)
"Adventurer ranks?" (Tatsuro)
Despite feeling as if they were slowly gaining knowledge of the world, the mention of adventurer ranks left Tatsuro and Ai puzzled, and they both tilted their heads in unison.
"An adventurer rank is similar to the credibility score of the Adventurer's Guild," (Leela)
"And if it's high, that's a good thing?" (Tatsuro)
"Yes, indeed. A high rank comes with benefits. It allows you easier access to restricted areas, eliminates the need for introduction letters to bring in materials, and overall, it indicates that the Adventurer's Guild trusts you. This trust can extend to other institutions as well," (Leela)
"That does sound like it would make things easier," (Ai)
As they delved deeper into the conversation, they learned that the Adventurer's Guild had branches worldwide, and the effects of the rank could be applied in a broad geographical region. While increasing their rank might lead to more individual requests, being an adventurer was about freedom, and they were not obligated to accept any requests if they did not want to, without facing penalties.
With that in mind, Tatsuro and Ai decided to accept the offer.
"Alright, Guild Master. Please give that to both of them," (Leela)
"Fufufufu…"
Still unintelligible, the Guild Master took out a transparent smartphone-sized device and handed each of them two glowing blue plates.
Once they accepted them, the system activated:
|Adventurer Guild Rank-Up Request: Confirm. Do you wish to increase your rank?|
Yes/No.
Naturally, they chose "Yes," and the plates disappeared.
After witnessing this, Leela explained the status of their ranks. Their adventurer's guild cards displayed their ranks, with their individual ranks set at 6 and their party rank at 8. However, if they made a grand announcement about defeating the Magic Dragon as a party, they could claim individual ranks of 8 and party ranks of 10. Politely, they declined the offer.
As they continued to talk, they learned that the highest current rank issued was 11 for individuals and 12 for parties, with only one party worldwide holding this rank. The offered individual rank of 8 and party rank of 10, which they accepted, currently belonged to only three parties. Joining this exclusive group would surely attract attention they did not necessarily want.
With their ranks upgraded, they moved on to discussing the materials they had collected. They sold 150 Dragon scales, each fetching an average of 30,000 Shis, for approximately 4.5 million Shis in immediate cash.
While they initially considered selling materials from other creatures, they discovered that Dragon species' corpses remained preserved for over a millennium without decay. Combined with their [Item Box] time dilation, this meant they could carry a considerable amount of fresh meat as an ideal travel food source. This was a game-changer for them, ensuring a steady supply of fresh meat during their travels.
"Starting tomorrow, we'll likely be busy dealing with the monsters that have appeared due to the influence of that Magic Dragon. But you two will be leaving this town, right?" (Leela)
"Yes, although we enjoyed our time here, we have things we want to do," (Tatsuro)
"And even if we're not here, it won't be a problem, right?" (Ai)
"That's correct. Thanks to the recent events, information has spread everywhere. Adventurers from other places will come here to earn money," (Leela)
Feeling reassured, they left the Guild Master sitting on the couch and discreetly exited through the staff entrance.
"Well, this is goodbye. Thanks to both of you, this town has been saved. Thank you," (Leela)
"No, we just did what we wanted to do, the way we wanted to do it," (Tatsuro)
"Exactly. In addition, our adventurer rank has gone up, and we have obtained a substantial amount of long-lasting preserved food. We couldn't ask for more," (Ai)
"Is that so?" (Leela)
Leela could not help but be curious about them until the end. Even among the intellectually curious elves, her curiosity was particularly strong. She had initially thought about getting closer to them and finding out their secrets, but after witnessing their abilities during the battle with the Magic Dragon, she realized she should not follow them.
"It might be a good idea to return to being an adventurer," she thought. Having traveled the world and satisfied her intellectual curiosity, she felt it was time to return to her adventurous roots. However, she would never forget the exhilarating feeling of those days. That is why she decided to become a guild employee in a guild where many adventurers came. She hoped to find something that would remind her of those exciting times.
With that feeling in her heart, she had become a guild employee and had been doing the job for several years now. For Leela, quitting was not a regrettable decision.
"Now, I should join Mr. Agra bite's party and take some time for rehabilitation. If I can become stronger than I am now and meet the two of them again, then—" (Leela)
Leela headed towards the Guild Master to return to her life as an adventurer.
After parting ways with Leela, Tatsuro, and Ai went shopping first and purchased items that would serve as ample provisions for their journey. Then, they returned to their luxurious inn, took a long bath, and fell into a deep sleep.
When they woke up, it was just about sunset. They spent the rest of the day leisurely, cuddling together and enjoying each other's company.
Finally, they reached the morning of the 16th day since arriving in the other world. They woke up unusually early, had breakfast, and set out to find Zendo's house.
"This should be it," (Tatsuro).
"Yeah, no doubt about it," (Ai)
Making sure, they had the right place, Tatsuro knocked on the door early in the morning. A woman who appeared to be of a similar age as Zendo's answered the door.
"Yes, who might you be?" she asked.
"Well, I'm Tatsuro. Is Zendo-san here?" (Tatsuro)
"Oh, a friend of our husband? Just a moment!" she called out before disappearing inside.
"What is it? Who's—oh, it is you guys. Does this mean you're leaving?" Zendo asked with a slightly saddened expression.
Tatsuro and Ai felt tears welling up in their eyes. Zendo was the first person they had spoken to in this world, the first to be kind to them, and the one who taught them about this world. If they were about to embark on their journey, they might never return here, which meant they might never see him again. That thought filled them with a profound sense of loneliness.
However, they did not want to cry and trouble him, so they held back their emotions and exchanged a few words with a smile for their final farewell.
"Thank you for everything. Please take care." (Ai)
"You're getting up there in age, so don't push yourself too hard." (Tatsuro)
"Hmph, I'm still in my prime. I will not lose to you younger people! Hahaha. Well then, see you later, Tatsuro, Ai." (Zendo)
"Yes, see you!" (Tatsuro)
"Goodbye!" (Ai)
With those words and an uncertain "goodbye," they parted ways with smiles. The three of them waved to each other, even though there was no certainty of when they might meet again.
The elderly woman, who had been watching them from a distance, turned to Zendo after Tatsuro and Ai disappeared from view.
"You had such young acquaintances. They are well-dressed and seem nice. Who are they?"
Zendo responded with a mischievous smile and said, "They're just my buddies, lifesavers, and the saviors of this town."
"Huh?" The elderly woman raised an eyebrow in surprise at his unexpected answer.
Zendo simply laughed heartily, leaving the woman with a baffled expression as he said, "Hahaha!"
This concludes the second Arc. Thanks for reading so far.
The update frequency may change, depending on how fast I can translate chapters per day.
The Third Arc starts in the .
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