Chapter 151: Perfect Day for Detours

The journey that should have been a straight line to the Lushi Kingdom has been full of detours.

The fact that there’s no need to hurry is a big factor. While the unique, unprecedented dexterity of magic staff craftsman 0933 is necessary to resolve the anomaly occurring in the Lushi Kingdom, it’s not a case that requires urgency to be resolved today or tomorrow.

According to the contract exchanged between the Queen of the Lushi Kingdom and Hiyori, as long as we arrive and start work within the next year and a half, that’s fine.

There’s plenty of leeway for detours.

This route change also comes from such leeway.

Tsubaki took a liking to the oil called “Cheetagi” that she received from the lady at the magic staff shop, and said she wanted to see if Cheetagi’s production area was suitable for her territory.

We turned south from the route going straight west along the great river, heading toward Imphal, a regional city in eastern India.

Imphal is the former capital of a country that was annexed by India several decades ago, and one of the production areas for tiger magical beasts scattered throughout India.

Cheetagi is a refined oil made by further removing moisture and protein from butter made by refining milk squeezed from female tiger monsters. Its unique savory aroma, high nutrition, and resistance to deterioration even when used for frying, making it suitable for long-term storage, are appreciated, and it is treasured in India. It’s quite expensive.

I also received just a spoonful from Tsubaki, but it had a dairy flavor despite being oil, which I didn’t really like. Oil tasting milky is a strange feeling. People who like it probably like it though. It seems to be a matter of preference.

However, Tsubaki seemed to take a liking to it, and unable to be satisfied with just one bottle of oil, decided to storm Cheetagi’s production area.

More excited than usual, she took the vanguard of our traveling party, swinging her Abyss Gold hammer and Salamandra in both hands with gusto as she strode triumphantly along the highway.

“Mi! Mi! Mimi! Tsubaki is amazing, amazing is Tsubaki! I am the most, the most amazing!”

People passing by on tigers stared curiously at Tsubaki singing her adorable original song at the top of her lungs.

Hiyori somehow covered her face with her hand as if embarrassed.

Why. It’s your daughter’s cute song, an 84-year-old child! Show it to the whole world. Though she’s a bit off-key.

“If Imphal turns out to be a town you like, what will you do? Do you have a plan to make it your territory?”

“Mimi, I don’t know. I’ll do lots of tasting, and if I decide to make this my territory, I’ll ask Dairi and the Blue Witch to help me plan. Once I have a plan, I’ll go full speed, full burn toward my goal. Absolutely, absolutely, I’ll snatch the territory.”

Listening to Tsubaki speaking with rough breaths and literally breathing flames, I could easily imagine it must have been like this in Wuhan too.

She took a liking to Wuhan-produced rapeseed oil she ate somewhere, immersed herself in Wuhan, made a plan to snatch territory, worked hard toward realizing her dream… and then had her dream shattered when she was beaten by the suddenly attacking Blue Witch.

Hmm, a traffic accident?

Though there were circumstances on both sides, thinking about it again, it feels harsh.

We departed Tinsukia in the morning, ran the tiger on flat ground, proceeded carefully on rough mountain paths, and arrived in Imphal just before sunset in the evening.

Imphal’s townscape is basically no different from Tinsukia. Open, square-ish houses with good ventilation, and hot wind despite it already being autumn.

However, it’s larger in scale than Tinsukia, with more tigers and bicycles, full of people, and the ground is paved with cobblestones rather than bare dirt. As expected of a regional city.

Seeing Tsubaki immediately pull out her wallet from the pocket sparrow’s belly pouch, hand Salamandra to me, and run off to a food shop with sparkling eyes, I visited a magic staff shop with Hiyori.

Considering the population Imphal holds, it’s natural, but the magic staff shop was more splendid and larger than the one in Tinsukia.

The moment the two of us Asians entered, a bearded clerk with an “oh” face approached vigorously and began a flood of sales talk, so I hid behind Hiyori’s back, focused on the floor’s dirt, and left all conversation to her.

Won’t sales talk culture die out? When a clerk talks to me while shopping, I normally lose my desire to buy and want to leave the shop as soon as possible.

If there’s something I’m looking for or want to ask, I’ll approach them myself! Don’t come to me, I’ll come to you! Can’t you focus on stocking, ordering, shoplifting monitoring, and that kind of thing instead of talking to me!?

Roaring like a lion in my heart, shrinking like a hedgehog in attitude, my reliable girlfriend handled everything in place of her unreliable boyfriend. The bearded clerk, gripping several gold coins, left with a delighted face, patting Hiyori’s shoulder familiarly.

Hiyori, exhausted from being rained on by a downpour of words, pointed to the back of the shop with her thumb.

“They said we can use the workshop in the back as we like. There’s a furnace too. They said it’s the best workshop in India or something.”

“Sounds fishy~”

Hiyori didn’t nod at my honest impression, but she didn’t deny it either. That reaction gives the answer. Silence has meaning.

Though limited to Hiyori, I’ve come to understand these conversational nuances, and I find it impressive even for myself. You can learn if you study. Especially about a woman you like. That’s obvious.

The workshop, cleared of people, was completely untidy with hellish filth, but surprisingly, the equipment itself was proper. It seemed they had been using proper equipment with sloppy maintenance.

This is wild. Looking at it positively, you could say they take good care of their things, but can’t they do something about this?

Before borrowing the workshop equipment to upgrade the small crust staff Salamandra, I ended up having to clean and maintain the workshop first.

I gathered tools scattered and thrown about in complete chaos by type and put them in boxes, drew conspicuous, easy-to-understand deformed illustrations so the contents could be understood at a glance.

I collected gremlins swept into corners with garbage and dust that looked like they could cause injury if stepped on, washed them clean, sorted them by particle size and quality, and put them in boxes again.

I disposed of moldy wood that seemed to be handle material, probably left there who knows how long, in anger, or shaved off the moldy parts if the core hadn’t been invaded.

I repaired lanterns with cracked protective glass covers by putting fire in the furnace and re-forming the glass, fixed wobbly work tables, removed rust from the press machine, disassembled and cleaned it, oiled it, added wall shelves so things could be properly put away instead of stacked on the floor, and remade the backflow prevention mechanism mold because it had trash-like precision…

As I was remodeling the workshop from one end while getting furious at the increasingly terrible state revealed through maintenance, Hiyori said in amazement while disposing of garbage by burning it with magic.

“Wouldn’t it have been faster to rebuild the workshop from scratch?”

“No, I can’t forgive this. I can’t leave this workshop as it is.

The more I look, the more I understand—it’s not that they left it messy because it’s easy to use or convenient. They just left it messy because detailed things are a pain. They don’t care that efficiency and precision drop. Don’t they have pride as craftsmen, pride!”

Indignant and unable to contain my frustration.

Strange? I should have paid money to borrow the workshop, but what I’m doing is workshop maintenance. Shouldn’t I be getting paid for this instead?

I won’t nitpick about the rental contract with after-the-fact complaints, but something doesn’t sit right.

I got too absorbed in renovating the workshop, and by the time I finished making it clean and usable with a nap in between, dawn had already broken.

Those bastards. Making me waste extra time…! Though I was the one who got angry on my own and started cleaning on my own.

The silver lining is that the original equipment was truly good.

Calling it the best in India would be an exaggeration, but it’s not entirely a lie either.

The large furnace used high-quality refractory bricks, and the press machine was made of alloy containing magical metal (with the logo of an American top manufacturer). The various tools were also made of good metal, and if you replaced the worn-out handle parts with new ones and sharpened them, they were transformed.

The initial equipment investment for this workshop was really done properly. To think they’d use it so sloppily until now, what can I say, it’s a waste of treasure.

Even first-class tools can’t fully demonstrate their specs if the user is second or third-rate. The craftsmen who used this workshop should reflect!

Though I took unexpectedly more time, I managed to create a satisfactory environment and settled down to begin the improvement work on the small crust staff Salamandra.

In this improvement, I will upgrade to version 2 based on knowledge gained from version 1’s operation.

First, changing the contained components. The contents of the reproduced small crust sphere will be changed to a more efficient component ratio.

Next, improving pressure resistance. The heat exhaust mechanism will also be improved to withstand higher pressure.

Gravity mechanism will also be incorporated. Combining Sierpinski icosahedron and Kvant-style chain structure, and also using elastic gremlins to form a pseudo low-gravity small-scale field, bringing the core’s internal environment closer to the earth’s core. Though not reaching zero gravity space, an environment close to it should be reproducible.

Finally, basic silent casting mechanism will also be incorporated. Tsubaki is a close-range fighter who barely uses magic during battle.

However, she can use chanting magic, and in daily life she normally uses chanting magic.

If she wants to become stronger, there’s no harm in becoming proficient in silent casting magic.

If she inherits Hiyori’s blood, Tsubaki’s life will be long from here on.

With the development and spread of silent casting magic led by the Hercules Collective predicted, if Tsubaki wishes to be “the most amazing,” she should start practicing silent casting magic now so as not to be left behind by the times.

…That is Hiyori’s opinion.

After completing the small crust staff Micro Gaia Wand version 2 by secluding myself in the workshop for three days and three nights, I had Hiyori test it, and she made a difficult face and placed an order.

“Wouldn’t she be happier if you made the design a bit cuter?”

“Huh…? The version 1 design was popular. No need to change it.”

“However, even if Tsubaki is happy, what about Tsubaki’s friends? Tsubaki is the type to increase acquaintances and friends. Of course Tsubaki being happy is important, but it’s better for Tsubaki’s sake to make it so that those around her also think it suits Tsubaki, that it’s cute.”

“……………………”

Since I was given a somewhat complex explanation, I took several minutes to chew over the words.

In other words, even if the person likes the design, it’s no good if those around her think it’s “lame”?

If the person is satisfied, isn’t that fine…? Anyone who butts in to deny Tsubaki’s preferences isn’t a friend or acquaintance or anything.

However, the argument that if you can make a design that satisfies the person and also appeals to the masses, that’s the best, is understandable as logic.

It’s like your favorite steak coming with bonus ice cream. A good deal.

After long deliberation, I nodded in understanding.

“I understand the logic. But that’s a very education-mom-like opinion.”

“Shut up, dad.”

“I’m not dad? We’re still just engaged.”

Anyway, accepting Hiyori’s opinion and making some design changes, I ended up leaving the workshop after borrowing it for a full four days.

Tsubaki was half-buried in a small mountain of ash she had made in a room at the city center inn, lying on her back with her belly puffed up full. Beside her were several large empty oil cans rolling around.

When we entered the room, Tsubaki, who had been looking happy and spaced out, made a guilty face when she saw the Blue Witch.

“W-wait, Blue Witch. I did exercise properly. I brushed my teeth too. I just ate too much. Don’t be angry.”

“…I won’t be angry about eating too much, but clean up. Look, the floor is sticky with oil.”

Ah geez, grumbling, Hiyori went out of the room once to borrow a mop from the inn’s front desk.

Taking advantage of the gap when the strict disciplinarian mother disappeared, Tsubaki quickly ran to me, pulled my hand to sit on the bed, and got on my lap.

During this journey, Tsubaki learned that she gets fewer scoldings from Hiyori when she’s attached to me. Smart!

“Good girl, did you eat your fill? How was the oil in this town?”

“It was delicious, but I got tired of it!”

Tsubaki responded energetically while being distracted by the improved Salamandra I handed her.

Huh, you can get tired of it?

“Oil is your favorite food, right? Even that you get tired of?”

“Dairi also said you got tired of bread and ate rice. Same as that. Chita ghee is delicious, but mimi. I ate until full and understood. I don’t want this every day. Junk oil.”

“Like junk food…”

“Dairi, did you change Salamandra’s design? It got cuter! I like this. Thank you!”

The gourmet salamander seems to have already lost interest in chita ghee, and is now absorbed with Salamandra.

Well, Mokutan also treasured Okutama as her territory, and Sekitan said she would do her best in Shinagawa, so for salamanders, territory seems to be something they decide on once and never move from for life.

There’s nothing wrong with being too careful in choosing territory.

While tickling Tsubaki’s side who was on my lap, Hiyori returned with a difficult face when she should have gone to borrow a mop. She glanced at Kyanos with an indescribable face, and spoke to me hesitantly.

“Ah, Dairi?”

“Another troublesome story?”

“Troublesome… well, yes. There’s a cooperation request from an International Order Alliance Chief Independent Investigator.”

“What?”

“Ah, in other words, an international police investigator. You can trust them since they hold the same high-rank card as me.”

Saying that, Hiyori took out and waved a vacuum silver Hollow Silver Transcendent certificate.

Hohou. That must be quite someone?

There are ranks or classes in Transcendent certificates too. Credit cards have grades even within the same card, with the status difference between a black card with unlimited limit used by billionaires and a normal card used by ordinary company employees.

Hiyori’s Transcendent certificate card is the highest rank. If a Transcendent holds the same card, they’re the cream of the crop among Transcendents.

According to the story, the International Order Alliance is an international organization established to replace the UN that naturally dissolved in the gremlin disaster chaos, with the purpose of maintaining world peace and security, and development.

In other words, it’s the same as the previous era’s UN. The abbreviation is the same too.

“Like international police, Interpol? If there’s a cooperation request, shouldn’t we respond to it?”

“Ah…”

If someone of equal standing to Hiyori is asking her for help, it must be quite a major incident.

I don’t understand why Hiyori is being so hesitant.

To begin with, if it were a cooperation request from someone she’s not interested in, she would have firmly declined without even bringing it up to me.

This reminds me of the mess with the Stuart family dispute.

“Another troublesome matter? I don’t mind, why don’t you do as you please, Hiyori?”

“N-no, I don’t like him, I don’t like him! He’s just a friend! Don’t misunderstand! It’s just, he is an old friend, and a good person too.”

Tsubaki looked up at Hiyori in surprise at her suspicious behavior and loud voice.

Noticing Tsubaki’s puzzled eyes, Hiyori explained in a muddled, half-boiled manner.

“That is, um, he’s a man. That friend.”

“Huh…? There’s a 1/2 probability that a friend is a man.”

If you lump together humans, demons, and Transcendents, the male-female ratio in the world is roughly half and half.

What’s the problem with a male friend? Even I have a male friend, Mamono-kun. It’s not strange at all.

“Also, unlike Arthur Stuart, he’s not married. Unmarried, and, ah, a young man. In appearance, at least, regardless of actual age.”

“And that is…?”

“That is. Um, so, that’s right. If I don’t say it straight, you won’t understand since you’re so dense. In short, I don’t want to meet him alone and, um, have you suspect me of cheating. He is a man I’ve been fairly close to since long ago, and quite popular, especially with the opposite sex. But I have no such intentions toward him at all, and I’ve repeatedly said I don’t see him as a man, and even said I can’t return his feelings because I like you, Dairi. It’s not like he’s being persistent, but he’s slow to give up, and if I go meet him leaving you behind, it might cause unnecessary misunderstanding, and I just hate that so much I can’t stand it—”

“Your story is long. Make it short. So who from where is what?”

While pressing her fingertips together and piling up evasive, poorly worded excuses, she couldn’t get to the point at all.

When I cut off her story and demanded a summary, Hiyori said timidly.

“Conrad Williams. A cooperation request has come from the former Demon King Subjugation Squad leader, America’s hero. I want to go help as a friend. I’m sorry to you, Ollie, but I want you to come with me.”