Midnight.
Exhausted after teaching me, Celica is sleeping in the big bed.
Her clothes are in disorder, her white skin and collarbone are peeking. Her blond hair is spread.
I kindly pat her head with my hand.
"Dear....mother...."
When Celica talked about the histories of countries and demon king's deeds, there were times when she creased her forehead.
It was about Adelstein Kingdom.
It was able to keep its independence since it was situated in a hard-to-approach location. Rather, it seem it was deemed unworthy to be occupied.
Unlike before, her face is smiling beautifully.
A voice that sounded spoiled leaked from the red lips.
Since she seems alright now, I separate my hand.
"Now then."
I'm going to investigate the reason for Gaff's composure.
Magical lights are illuminating the stone pavements at equal intervals.
I peeked at several taverns and diner that were still open, but I only saw the underlings, not Gaff himself.
And then I arrived at the hero registry. A massive building that looks like a temple.
I check that there's no one around. There's no presence either.
I put some strength in my legs and fly
I jumped to the stone roof at the third floor.
This seems to be the exam room.
I look at another room.
It's the staff room.
There are two men in a large room with only a desk on the back of the third floor.
They're talking about something.
--<
"I've got you the money right. You can arrange that much."
"I want to kill that guy asap! I ain't gonna forgive him."
Rather, he bought the hero qualification with money huh.
"Then we can just make you two meet in the first round of the tournament."
Hoo. He's got good eyes even though they're rotten.
The bald old man shakes his head.
"How about this!"
The bald old man smiles while picking up the gold coins.
"Damn! Looking down on me!"
The bald old man speaks while pulling them.
"Ou. I paid a lot 'fter all! Do your job!"
Gaff left the room. And then he left the registry from a back door.
It really makes me recall just how much of a quick tempered malevolent god I was in Japan.
Instead, I keep watching the bald old man with good physique.
There's a big iron box as tall as a person. It's probably a safe.
"I just need to reconstruct one place. It's cheaper that way."
This raccoon dog seems to be one step ahead the other one.
It's probably either crushing by walls, poisonous gas or drowning.
Judging by the date, the reconstruction should start tomorrow.
I'll go see it just in case.
Exam papers.
Then I went back.
The next day.
Celica is beside me. Her blond hair bathed in the morning sun looks like it's shining.
I call at her small back.
"N-no... I'm fine."
Celica puts her face beside mine and whispers. Her breath tickles my ears.
I got what she was trying to say since she taught me many things yesterday.
"That's right, Keika-sama."
I stared at Celica's blue eyes. Stared by me, her big eyes blinked.
"Do you hate beastfolks?"
"Is that right. I'm sorry for doubting you."
Her words had no lie.
After a while, Minya stopped before an open space that looked like a public park. The place with Fido Grill stalls.
"Keika onii-chan.... there."
Beyond a water fountain, there's a round building that looks to be two-story high by appearance. There's a flag on its flat roof. There's an exit on the second floor.
"The inside is put under magic so... wide."
I patted her straight black hair while thanking her. She, who was feeling tense, squinted her eyes and purred, funya~, looking comfortable.
"However, why did Keika-sama suddenly want to come here?"
Not might, it actually does.
"As expected of Keika-sama. You haven't neglected the measure for the exam."
"Yes, please. I'll go with you."
We approached the tower.
After circling the tower, I see that there are several entrances along the outer wall. There are numbers stuck on the entrances. From 1 to 32.
"I wonder? I just learned of this now."
Minya shook her small head. Her shoulder-length black hair swayed.
"I see.... No wait, I see."
--Oh.
It stopped beside the tower and then men wearing worker clothes begin to work.
I can see malice-like negative aura just by squinting at that stone box.
--What the heck is that. No, it's probably the instant death trap, but it's way off than I expected y'know?
<
『!!! Don't look!!』
I got goosebumps the moment it reached my brain.
--Giving this much mental damage to a God like me.
In other word, the owner of this voice should be a 『God』.
『Don't look! Don't touch! Please, run away!』
I looked around the open space with fountain, at the crowd walking on the main street beyond that, at the surrounding houses, and then at the water tower-like round tower--and I finally found it.
.....Are you confined together?
--Yeah. Who are you?
I tried to ask other things, but it single-mindedly said, "Don't look", I couldn't hold a conversation.
--Okay.
But then the situation won't be resolved.
I used <
【Coffin of Lapisia】
An absurdly troublesome existence.
Or rather, I'm just too weak since I only have one believer.
As I groan, Celica puts her hand on my forehead. I'm healed by the soft kind warmth.
"Ah, right. nothing I can do worrying about it alone. Does Celica know a God called Lapisia?"
"Then, is there any place where we can investigate myths?"
Celica looks straight at me with her blue eyes.
Right at that time, several workers lift the stone box and enter the third door.
"I also want to see the appearance of a monster called Octopus Ton."
"Alright. Let's go there."
"I, have job, so...."
"I'm fine...."
Celica and I are walking on the stone-paved main street in the refreshing morning air.
I continue to be deep in thought.
Now then, could we find the way to deal with it before the exam?
No, that's wrong. I absolutely have to find it!
I walked while biting my molars.