Edgar’s Report And Naming

Dusk in the Royal Capital.

While I was watching the shop, Edgar came by.

I was honestly surprised.

No matter how skilled he was, there should have been more than two thousand possible places across the world to check.

“Wait—Edgar, you already finished checking?”

“No way. Not even close… But something bothered me, so I figured I’d report it.”

“What is it?”

Edgar came up to the counter and spread out a map and some papers.

“I heard the big circles on the map were strong mana, and the small circles were weak mana, but when I actually checked, it was the statue size.”

“So it was just showing size… Hm? The bust should be something you can hold or set on a table, right?”

“No. The big ones were like, as tall as a two-story house.”

“Then the small ones are the busts…”

“But doesn’t that seem off? It’s supposed to be an item on par with the Philosopher’s Stone and the Jewel of Light, right? The mana feels way too weak.”

“Yeah… that is weird. Why would that be?”

“I can’t say for sure since I only checked this country and the surrounding ones, but… maybe like before, it’s either not in this world, or it’s being hidden with a barrier or a seal.”

“I see… so no clue, then.”

I frowned.

I’d thought if he checked everything thoroughly, we’d find it eventually.

That assumption had just collapsed.

Edgar flashed his teeth and grinned.

“But it’s still too early to give up—look at this.”

“What is it?”

He showed me a sheet of paper.

It had a signature that looked like a stylized version of the name “Skra.”

“This signature is carved on the back or the base of the evil god statues. Not all of them, but some. I think it’s from the legendary sculptor, Lady Skra.”

“Is she famous?”

“Oh yeah. She’s famous as an artist whose work makes you feel primal fear. Supposedly every museum owns at least one.”

If she worked alone, that would make things simple.

“Then if we meet this Skra person, we might learn something about the Bust of the Evil God.”

“I’m thinking she might have the real thing, and she’s just making replicas of it.”

“I see.”

“What do you want to do? Want me to go meet her? I haven’t pinned down where she lives yet, but—”

I thought for a moment.

“I want you to keep investigating—but a different urgent problem came up, and I need you to prioritize that.”

“What is it? I’ll do anything.”

Edgar leaned in, fired up, so I briefly explained the counterfeit Puchi Elixir issue.

His black eyes, half-hidden behind his bangs, sharpened.

“That’s bad. It’s easy to imitate the bottle and thickness and stuff. Waiting until there’s damage is too late. It’ll hit you too, Alec-san.”

“So it is… Is there any way?”

“What I can do is find those guys and make them behave.”

“But someone else might be planning a second or third counterfeit scheme… That’s what bugs me.”

“My method is just treating symptoms. Think of it as a last resort.”

“So that’s why it bugs me—it’s not a fundamental solution… Then for now, find the people plotting this. Also, see if you can find a merchant we can trust with Puchi Eli.”

I groaned while making the request.

It would be great if we found a merchant, but something still felt off.

I was dissatisfied, but I didn’t even know what I was dissatisfied with.

“Got it! —Then I’ll go investigate—”

Before Edgar could finish, the sub-device vibrated.

When I pulled it out, the screen was glowing red.

I sucked in a breath and spoke immediately.

“What is it, Kou!?”

“Warning! An enemy dungeon is attacking! Danger is dangerous! Waaarning!”

“Seriously!? I’m coming now! —Edgar! Sorry, but close the shop for me!”

“Got it.”

I didn’t wait for his reply—I was already sprinting to the wardrobe in the back of the shop.

I entered Kou’s dungeon and rushed to the front hall.

Sophiecia was already there in a priest’s robe, holding a staff.

Next, hurried footsteps came from the corridor leading to the mansion, and Liricia came running in.

Her silver flail glittered as she moved.

“Master!”

“I made it in time, Liricia. —Kou, how big is the enemy? Like last time?”

“No! It’s Tier 6, power 2.74 billion! Super strong!”

“How long until it attacks?”

“Less than five minutes!”

“Got it.”

I drew my sword and took a stance.

Then a loud, explosive sound went BANG! from behind me.

It sounded like the door to a private room in the back hall had opened.

“Kyu!”

From the back hall, a Sacred White Dragon girl who looked about five years old burst out.

Her white one-piece dress fluttered as she ran into the front hall.

She stopped right beside me, clenched her tiny fists, and furrowed her thin brows. Her cute mouth was set in a brave little line.

“You’re going to fight with us?”

“Kyu!”

“Thanks… Oh, and this might be a weird time to say it, but I thought of a name for you.”

“Kyu!?”

“How about Dodogon? It sounds strong and cool, right?”

I said it with a little pride, but the little girl scrunched her brow with a deep frown like she absolutely hated it, and she made a sound I’d never heard before.

“Gyugyuuuiii!!”

“You really hate it, huh…”

From the side, Liricia said in an exasperated voice,

“Master. She’s a girl, so you shouldn’t give her a strong, cool name. You need to give her a cute name.”

“I see.”

“Kyu!”

The girl happily moved away from me and over to Liricia’s side.

She clearly agreed.

There, there—Liricia patted the girl’s head.

I couldn’t think of a good name, so I asked.

“Then what kind of name is good?”

“Well… She has blue eyes, so Lapis-chan, Lapicia-chan. She has white hair, so Whytia, Snow, Alba…”

As Liricia thought out loud, Sophiecia spoke, her blue hair swaying.

“Or you could shorten ‘dragon’ and call her Ran-chan.”

I nodded, impressed.

“That’s pretty cute. Ran… ran… If I twist it a bit, how about Rāna?”

“Kyu!? —Kyuu~!”

The girl froze at my suggestion, then threw her arms wide and leaped into my arms.

She buried her face against my stomach and nodded over and over.

“Got it. You like the name Rāna?”

“Kyu, kyu!”

“Then starting today, your name is Rāna. Nice to meet you.”

“Rāna-chan, I’m happy for you.”

“Kyu!”

Rāna bounced with joy, her white hair shaking as if it were hopping.

I gently pushed Rāna back to set her down.

“Alright. The dungeon is coming. Let’s do our best.”

“Kyu!”

“Yes!”

“I’ll do my best!”

Then, from the corridor leading to the shop, a tall, skinny man wandered in.

He was fiddling with a knife in hand and grinning with a breezy, casual air.

“Guess I should help too, yeah?”

“That’d help, Edgar. I’m counting on you.”

“Roger that.”

Even though he had an unreliable vibe, he strode into the hall with ease.

His shaggy hair, hiding his eyes, swayed calmly.

To the side and behind us came the flapping sound of wings opening.

When I glanced over, Liricia spread her white wings beautifully, and Sophiecia spread wings that were white on one side and black on the other.

Liricia stared grimly at the spot where the dungeon corridor would connect, but Sophiecia held her right hand and muttered, “Sink… be still… my one wing…” under her breath.

—She’s kind of scary.

But that didn’t matter right now.

Focus on the attacking dungeon.

Kou’s voice echoed through the dungeon.

“Connection in five seconds! —3… 2… 1… It’s coming!”

The next instant, blazing red light flooded my vision.