Act 2: Chapter 14: Exploring 《Mithril''s Cane》
After receiving the pass, we were guided by Ga for a tour around 《Mithril’s Cane》.
The floor was covered with thick carpet, and the wall was decorated with elegant drawings. The items that were encapsted into cases lookpletely like works of art.
Different from all stores that we visited so far, this ce was obviously dominated by silent, researcher-like people.
Though they obviously nodded toward Ga upon seeing us, they didn’t seem to mind Pomera and I who were clearly out of ce.
Maybe because Philia was really shocked hearing receptionist say, 『How can we give a pass to this underage kid.』, she became more obedient than usual.
「… Philia is a good child.」
「Thanks Philia, that helped me a lot. Sorry for doubting whether you can act obediently or not…」
I thanked Philia and patted her head.
She shut her eyes, seemingly enjoying it.
「Ehehehe, Phili, got praised by Kanata.」
Judging from the receptionist’s reaction, leaving Philia behind might have been the better option, but honestly, it was nerve wracking since who knows what she was going to do once she starts throwing a tantrum.
Since Pomera had never seen 《Adamant Ore》 before, even if I lend her the 《Akashic Record》 in case that they didn’t have the thing I was looking for, she might not be able to find the item that could be used as its substitute.
On the other hand, the situation in which Pomera was left behind to take care of Philia while Ga took me on a tour wasn’t an option either.
I mean, the whole reason we got the pass was because Ga wanted to get on the good side of Pomera after all.
Though the second option was possible, I don’t think it was a good idea.
… In addition, leaving Philia behind with aplete stranger was not an option either.
The girl herself was apletely innocent child, but it didn’t mean that she wouldn’t summon the Progenitor Dragon out of nowhere once she threw a tantrum.
When I was in the middle of praising Philia, Pomera was talking about various things with Ga.
Pomera kept sending a nce towards me as if asking me to save her while she did her best in replying to Ga.
… M-Maybe I’ll have to wait for a while longer before entering into their conversation.
The one Ga wanted to talk to was Pomera. He might regard me as a nuisance if I entered their conversation by force. Offending a big shot like him was thest thing I wanted to do even if his level was far below mine.
I looked around at the disyed items while walking.
The details of the items kept in the cases were written on a board attached to the case.
《Mithril’s Cane》waspletely differentpared to all the stores that we’d visited before. All of the items disyed in this ce were rare, genuine articles.
Since that was the case, I might be able to find the item I was looking for in this store.
But… there is one thing that I’m worrying about.
「Uhm… Ga-san, we’re actually looking for a certain item but, the problem is, we might not have enough money to buy that item right now. That’s why we need to apologize to you since you’ve been guiding us for a round tour despite your busy schedule but…」
I mean, even a D-rank item was priced more than three hundred thousand gold.
The price for an S-rank item, 《Adamant Ore》, might be more than double the above price.
At worst, it might even go up to one million gold.
And when ites to those numbers, I’m afraid that we’re far from having enough money.
「I see. But, if Pomera-dono is okay with it, you can pay it the next time you visit this ce. I want to build a long rtionship with you after all.」
Ga spoke while maintaining a gentle smile on his face.
That’s a nice suggestion but… My guts is telling me that it would be much better if we didn’t have too much debt of gratitude towards this person.
「Well then, what is the name of the item you’re looking for, Pomera-dono?」
Ga asked Pomera.
「E-Eh… it’s an ore. Right, Kanata-san?」
Pomera nced toward me, asking for confirmation.
I nodded lightly.
Ga sent a doubtful look upon looking at Pomera and I.
It seems he was trying to guess the rtionship between Pomera and I.
When Pomera was looking at Ga again, his face was already back to the face of a kind smiling uncle as if his expression from before was a lie.
「Oh is it, leave it to us. Here at 《Mithril’s Cane》, we are confident in our collection of ore. Anyhow, the quality and the quantity of mage in our ce is said to beparable to royal pce after all.」
Ga spoke with a proud look on his face.
We followed Ga from behind and climbed up the stairs and then entered a certain room on the third floor.
「Normally, only those who have possessed a pass for more than a decade can enter this room but… let’s use my authority to give special permission to Pomera-dono and co.」
There were numerous ss cases inside the room, and in each ss case was a sample of many ores.
The colorful ores that were lined up aesthetically was truly a wonderful spectacle.
「W-Wooow..!」
Philia couldn’t hide her admiration, and then, she closed her mouth in a hurry.
「Right? We arranged it to make it a sight for sore eyes. If you find one that you like, I’ll make it as a present in the form of a ne.」
Ga lowered his line of sight as he spoke, looking at Philia.
「Really?」
Philia’s eyes were sparkling upon hearing that.
At that moment, I could feel the color drain from my face.
The ores in this ce were sold for at least a million gold at minimum.
As expected, I couldn’t allow myself to have that much debt toward Ga.
「Y-You can’t trouble Ga-san like that, Philia-chan. Please be patient for now, okay?」
「… I see. If Kanata says so, Philia will be a good girl.」
「Let’se again to buy one for you once we save enough money…」
「YAAAY, KANATA GOING TO GIVE PHILIA A PRESENT!!」
Philia was making merry, pping her arms around happily upon hearing my remark, and then, she suddenly blocked her mouth with her hands the moment she noticed that she was getting too excited.
「Hohoho, we don’t mind a slightly louder voice here. This is a soundproofed room after all.」