Chapter 30: A Man Named Zegal

Afterward, I met up with Eve and we exchanged what we’d learned.

“I didn’t find any information that seemed useful. I’m sorry.”

“Learning that the Adventurers’ Guild doesn’t know is enough. We have no other leads, so why don’t we visit this alchemist who supposedly makes explosive items?”

“Yes, let’s go!”

Eve smiled brightly. Having someone beside me who could keep looking ahead even in this situation was a blessing. To repay her kindness, I would persuade that alchemist no matter what!

Or so I once thought.

“Excuse me! Mr. Zegal! We need your help to defeat a monster that’s going to attack this town! Would you please hear us out?”

When we reached the location we’d been given, we found a solitary house on the outskirts, just as we’d heard. It was a small, round, three-story building shaped like a tower. Its roof was red, and smoke constantly rose from the chimney. We knocked on the door and called out, but didn’t receive so much as a reply.

“Excuse me! Won’t you please listen to us?”

Eve raised her voice and called too, but the result was the same. Was the alchemist Zegal even inside?

『Is Zegal inside this house?』

『Yes.』

So he was pretending not to be home after all.

“We’re not here out of idle curiosity! Please, at least listen to us! I’m begging you!”

I raised my voice and pleaded desperately. We continued calling for more than thirty minutes, but there wasn’t a single response.

“Should I break down the door?” Eve asked urgently, rapier in hand.

『Would negotiations go better if we broke down the door?』

『No.』

That was obvious, but apparently it was still a bad idea.

“No. If we do that now, negotiations will completely break down.”

“But we don’t have time.”

“I know.”

We could remain stubbornly planted in front of the door, but we didn’t have time. The monsters would be here the day after tomorrow.

Should we give up and search for another path? But was there anything else that would work? Even if there was, could we find it within two days?

Despair began spreading across my face.

“Sibyl, whatever this man makes can’t be the only thing that will work against the grand crocodile. There must be something else.”

Eve spoke out of concern for me.

“Yes, you’re right. It can’t be helped. Let’s think of another way.”

I reluctantly turned to leave, only to see an old man walking toward us. His face was familiar.

“Why, aren’t you the merchant who sold me my daughter’s keepsake? You truly helped me that day.”

The old man bowed to me. He was the man who had bought the ring some time ago.

“Not at all. I merely sold you an item, so please don’t worry about it.”

“You knew its true value and still did that for me, didn’t you? You’re a kind man. But what brings you all the way out here? Has something happened?”

Perhaps my despair was visible, because the old man became concerned.

“This is embarrassing. The truth is…”

I briefly explained our circumstances.

“What a terrible situation! Leave it to me! I’ve known Zegal since he was a baby. I’ll get him to listen!”

The old man thumped his chest.

“Th-thank you very much.”

He stood before Zegal’s door and bellowed.

“Zegal! It’s me! Nomos! Open this door at once!”

When the old man named Nomos pounded on the door, a sudden clatter erupted inside. After a short while, the door opened and a man poked his face out.