Chapter 99 Heritage
It can be said that the journey was completely peaceful. Everyone is spending their time in their own way, drinking tea and picking sugar sweets.
"Mr. Marlene. What do you think about this?"
Marlene is trying her hand at embroidery. Grace and Ashley also work on their own embroidery, occasionally giving advice to Marlene. Although Marlene was nodding her head with a serious face, she seemed to be enjoying her work as she continued to work.
Irmhild was playing a slow tempo song on the lute, and Sheila seemed to be tending to her own weapons and lockpicking tools.
Caduceus, Lavine, and Ouroboros gathered in one place and closed their eyes. Ilmhild's lute playing probably feels good.
Overall, it was a relatively relaxing time. Since it's an air trip along the highway, it's not something that happens often. It's a good thing that things are going well.
“Theo-kun. How are you doing there? ”
``We just passed over the Barony of Shirn. By the way, I have an idea about a new magic tool.''
“Ahaha. You really have a lot of bills on hand.''
replied to the message sent by Alfred. Dodge regular interactions.
As for the magic communication device, it can be said that it is in good condition, although it has come a long way from Term Wills. I am able to communicate with the other side without any problems.
Since that alone leaves me with a lot of time, I also write on paper with a quill pen. It's about a new magic tool that Alfred is being asked about.
It's a privilege to have my own personal flying dragon, and I think it would be convenient if I could make a contract with Lindblum like a summoned beast and call him when I need him.
I'm currently transcribing the basic summoning and repatriation magic chants on paper.
It would be good if we could solve the problem of not being able to perform summoning magic unless you have the right magical qualities, so by having Marlene pour magical power into the magic stone, you can create a magic tool for summoning.
This is because once the magic power stored in the magic stone is consumed, it has to be refilled, so normally the request fee to the magician is not ridiculous... Well, I guess it's because I have a summoner in my family.
...If I do that, I think I'll be able to use the magic stones imbued with my magical power to create magical tools for attack, and use Ashley's magical power to create magical tools for healing.
Hmm. As expected, the magic stone must be charged with magical power, so it can only be used once each time. I guess it's used when you say "this is it".
You have to prepare a separate magic stone to engrave the magic formula, but...you can't engrave very complicated magic formulas, so you can't put great magic into it, so it's a little difficult to use.
As I was thinking about the balance through trial and error, Lindblum chirped outside.
When I checked outside, I saw the familiar cityscape gradually approaching.
“It looks like the earldom has come into view.”
``It looks like there's no problem with communication up to that point. I don't want to get in the way, so if there's nothing else, I won't send you any texts for a while.''
"Do you get it. Just in case something happens to either of us.''
With that, I finished my exchange with Alfred for now.
"Lindblum. You can see a lake and a big tree in the nearby forest, right? Please go over there."
Lindblum raises a small voice. Among the three flying dragons, Lindblum seems to be showing leadership despite being younger, and the dragon cage descends in the direction I instructed.
The exact location is outside the earl's territory, but... In the forest, on the shore of the lake, lies Count Gartner's second home.
The separate house is only in name. It is said that a spiral staircase is attached to the trunk of a gigantic tree of ridiculous thickness, creating a living space above the tree... It is a house with a rather unusual design that seems to be integrated with the tree.
It's a house made using wood magic and earth magic. The construction itself is solid, but it would be different to call it a villa or villa for an aristocrat.
I've heard rumors from the children of the earldom that it's a witch's house, but...well, to someone who doesn't know the situation, it might be something like that.
Still, if we were to talk about it officially, it would be ``Count Gartner's villa.'' In fact, it was my mother's house, and the current manager is my father.
In front of the house. A dragon cage is gently lowered into a corner of the cleared forest.
When I lightly stroked the tip of Lindblum and the other flying dragons' noses, they let out a small purr.
"It's a nice house."
"interesting"
Sheila and Marlene nodded at Irmhild's words.
"...Really. It's a cute house that looks like something out of a story. Did you and Lisa-sama live here?"
Ashley looks up at the house with interest.
"Yeah. It's been a long time since I came here."
Grace narrows her eyes and whispers. Indeed... ever since I was taken over by my father's mansion, I rarely visited there. There are so many different memories. Well, I used to come to visit his grave every year.
As usual, I made a snow golem and cleared the snow around the house. Leave the snow removal work to them and bring in your belongings.
Climb the spiral staircase, touch the entrance door, and mutter the password. It's a door locked with a magic key. The only people who know the word for unlocking now are me, Grace, and my dad.
The password is my and my mother's birthday. Then there's the total number from the day I first met Grace. Speaking of being like my mother, it seems like it.
Open the door and enter the house. When the room was illuminated with magical light... I felt a slight sensation similar to dizziness. This was because the scene was so fresh from my memory that it was the same as before.
A living room with the scent of wood. A table that looks like a large stump. kitchen space.
At the back, there is a door leading to the bedroom, a staircase leading to the open-air bath in the tree, and a staircase leading downstairs to my mother's study.
There is also a hollowed-out space inside the tree, and the inside of the house is larger than it looks.
I'm staying here for one night today. The visit to the grave is scheduled to take place tomorrow after the sun gets high.
Bring in the luggage and blankets that were loaded into the dragon cage. Light the fireplace, use magic to create water, and fill the bucket.
"Theo"
While I was doing those chores, my name was called. When I looked up, I saw Grace and Ashley.
"Hmm? What's wrong?"
“Theodore-sama, please take it easy. We will take care of the rest.”
"yes?"
"We're going to do a little hunting in the forest before the sun goes down. We can have a fancy dinner."
With that, Sheila and Irmhild took Lavine with them and left. It's as if that member is guaranteed a big hunt, but...well, most likely, what they can't eat will be used as food for the flying dragon.
Now. It's been a while since I've had one on hand. --Isn't it a bad idea to look around the house?
"Okay. Well then, I'm going to look around the house and the surrounding area."
"yes"
First, let's go to the open-air bath in the tree. It has a terrace-like structure that allows you to enjoy a panoramic view of the mountains in the distance beyond the fence.
"It's true...it's nostalgic."
Those words hit my lips involuntarily.
The view of the mountains seen from here hasn't changed at all.
……ah. Come to think of it, it's true that when I was little, I used to take baths with my mother and Grace.
I shake my head slightly to get rid of the vague memory.
I thought about filling the bathtub with water, but decided against it. I said I'd leave it up to everyone. It's Ashley's specialty, so she'll probably handle it here.
She descends the stairs and heads to her mother's study.
Here, the books had been carried out...the bookshelf was empty.
There were also magic books, so they couldn't just leave them alone, so they were brought to her father's study.
My mother was a person who cared about her children, but she didn't seem to want anyone to enter her study. Of course, she had books related to magic lying around.
...Even if you take that into account. In retrospect, when I say defenseless, I mean defenseless.
If you didn't want children to enter, you could have just added a lockable door. In fact, she was only mildly warned when she entered.
When you come down the stairs, there is only a simple space with a bookshelf and a work desk.
I don't think there were any books that were that dangerous. My mother's books that were brought to Count Gartner's residence were all for beginners, like magic textbooks, and they didn't have very advanced content.
"Hmm……"
Is there such a thing?
My mother was a highly skilled magician. She must have been doing research and studying. She especially researched. As far as I remember, there were no traces of that at all.
If it were me, I'd create one or two hidden archives. If such a thing existed, it would be somewhat problematic to leave it in an empty house... But...
Should I touch it or not? think. think.
Isn't it just out of curiosity? I think there are some places that even family members should not enter.
But. What if I don't look for it here? Will it remain buried like this forever? Or -- will someone else touch it?
"...Caduceus. The ceiling and floor. And behind the bookshelf."
Link your five senses and explore every corner of the study.
A small magic stone is stuck in the corner of the ceiling.
……i got you.
I found it and put it away.
Now. I returned to the living room and called out to Grace, who was preparing food.
"Grace. Would you mind?"
"yes?"
Grace comes over with a smile on her face.
"Let me see"
I hesitate to say anything, but Grace doesn't urge me to proceed and waits for my next words.
"Let's talk about what to do. If there was a hidden door in your mother's study, do you think we should look inside?"
Regardless of whether you go inside or not. I would like to hear Grace's opinion. By turning it into a what-if story, you can pretend that the two of you never saw it.
Grace's eyes widened at the sudden mention, but then she said something.
“…If there is something that Lisa-sama left behind.”
Look me in the eye and say it straight.
“I think Theo is the only one who can take over.”
"Really"
Grace suddenly gave a soft smile, and he bowed his head and went back to making dinner.
yeah. Yes, that's right.
He goes down to the study again.
"...Mom. Please excuse me."
Use Levitation to reach the top of the bookshelf and send magic power into the magic stone.
One of the bookshelves opened with a creaking sound, revealing a staircase leading further downstairs.
After taking a deep breath, I descended the spiral staircase. No magical tricks were used.
...Perhaps, even if Grace or I made a mistake and walked in, nothing would happen.
Descend the stairs and illuminate your surroundings with magical light. That was my mother's real study.
The ceiling is low. In terms of height, it's probably already underground. A bookshelf lined with advanced magic books. A large pot. A desk lined with laboratory equipment.
I found a well-used notebook on the desk.
I took a quick look inside. As expected, it was encrypted properly. All I can read is the date. I can roughly guess that it's probably some sort of encrypted magical chant, but... it's not like I can decipher it here.
It's probably a magical research book. There is a prank scribble on the corner, or rather, it seems like it was drawn for the sake of mindless comfort, which is typical of my mother.
I laughed a little and then slowly turned over my notebook.
Grace's ring was drawn as a picture. It seems that the manufacturing method is also written. Of course, it's encrypted.
……yeah. That's enough. There may be something else as well.
I will be responsible for taking over the things here.
Still holding my mother's notebook...I closed my eyes for a while.
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