After capturing a lowly fairy named Chiple, along with everyone else, I was on my way to the center of the Kingdom of Filianis.
In order to meet the fairy king, I had to go to the “Fairy Kingdom”.
Before going to an unknown place, I thought we should be prepared.
From the “water area” located in the northwest of the kingdom, there is a section called the “earth area” down the river to the southeast. That was the center of the kingdom, both in terms of location and politics.
The people call it “Capital”.
Incidentally, if you break through the “Earth Region” and go further down the river, you will reach the “Fire Region,” and if you pass through there, you will pass through another country and eventually reach the sea.
After taking a break at the royal palace, we decided to go out to the city center.
Sylphy has volunteered to be my guide, so the two of us are going out together. The princess will be protected by a hero !
“But there’s a bug in the way, isn’t it ?”
“Who’s a bug ?” Chiple, who is very angry and peevish, is running amok in the insect cage, or rather bird cage, that I hold under my left arm.
It is a birdcage enchanted with magic to keep her from escaping to the “boundary” where she can freely travel.
“Hmph.. I won’t let Mel be alone with another woman !”
“I thought Chiple didn’t like me.”
“Of course, it is. I’m locked up in a cage like this. But you’re going to pay for making Chiple fall in love with you.”
Well, put it this way.
Me and Chiple had become friendly enough to call each other names, even though we were at odds.
“Sorry, Sylphy. Strange as it may be to be together.”
Sylphy, squeezing my right hand, shook her head, “I don’t mind. I’m really happy to be able to go out with Mel-kun.”
“Hmph. What the heck is that? Don’t act like you’re his girlfriend. Bleehhh.. dash”
“I want to be friends with Chiple as well.”
“What a cute little girl…if you insist that badly, maybe I can be a good friend to you?”
This fairy is really a tough one.
After being put in a bird cage, she was in MAX bad mood and wasn’t in a mood to ask me to take her to the “Fairy Kingdom”.
Well, if I said something like, “I’ll have a hard time if I go to the fairy kingdom,” I’m sure this innocent fairy would be more than happy to show me around.
I’ll try that when I’m ready.
We walked down the main street and arrived at a place crowded with stalls.
It is a bustling place, as one would expect from the capital of the country. However, my impression was that it was very “chaotic”. Even though the area is clearly divided into sections, stalls are set up all over the place.
The stalls are not small, mobile ones, but rather simple wooden stores built on the streets, so that visitors can enter the stores and browse for goods.
The houses are typically low-rise, with almost no buildings over two stories tall. All the buildings have wooden or mud walls. Sylphy explained to me that the buildings are used as houses and the stores are used as stalls.
A man carrying a birdcage is strolling down the street, holding hands with a girl. And the birdcage is empty in the ordinary person’s normal view.
It’s very eye-catching.
Fairies are ‘invisible unless you are sure they are there and focus your attention,’ Queen Eleonora said.
Sylphy also wrinkled her brow and concentrated when she spoke to Chiple.
“Mel-kun, first of all, the weapons shop, right?”
“I’ve had enough of having a bare sword at my hip.”
“I agree. It’s dangerous.”
On the way to the Kingdom of Filianis, I had looked for a sheath that would fit the “Sword of the Hero”. However, this sword is a little larger than most medium-sized one-handed swords, and small for a two-handed sword, so it was difficult to find the right one.
I was told it would take two or three days to order one, and in my haste to get on my way, I gave up in tears.
A voice of dismay came from the side of my hand.
“The “Sword of the Hero” has the perfect sheath.”
“I know. But your king took it.”
I was the first one to search for it. I found out that the body of Earth Drago had been taken to the “Fairy Kingdom” along with that as well.
The sheath of the “Sword of the Hero” is a magical tool in itself. It must have had a useful function.
“Is that right ?”
I thought it was just a scabbard, so I didn’t look into it that much.
When I go to the fairy kingdom, I’ll get it back somehow. The ownership of the “Sword of the Hero” belongs to me now. I have no problem claiming that the sheath is mine, too, right?
Sylphy took me to a secluded place.
Amidst a row of stores selling equipment, Sylphy enters a small, old-fashioned store.
“Welcome….. What are you looking for ?”
At the counter in the back was a small man with a long beard. He was a Dwarf. He was napping, probably because there were no customers coming in.
“I need a sheath that fits this sword.”
He stared at the sword I held out with narrowed eyes, then suddenly his eyes widened.
“This is amazing. This must be the “Sword of the Hero”.”
“Do you recognize it?”
“It was about 30 years ago. I saw it once when I was a peddler in the Holy Kingdom of Grandelia. It was a beautiful sword with no unnecessary decoration. I never thought that I would see it again while I was still alive, after it had been pulled out of the big rock.”
The dwarf uncle looked at the sword lovingly, but suddenly started fumbling with his feet.
“I’m sure it will be just fine with a little work on this one.”
He took out a rather large, rusty metal sheath. To be honest, it is not very good looking. However, the material was worth the price.
“Um, I don’t want to spend too much time on this.”
“What, I can finish it in an hour !”
In such a short time ?
“Oh, but I can’t leave this sword here.”
“Just one glance is enough for me to tell the dimensions. Never mind, just wander around and pass the time.”
What a craftsmanship.
The price was reasonable, so I paid the dwarf uncle in advance and left the store.
“What’s next, Mel-kun ?”
“I wonder, well….”
We have plenty of time, so why don’t we try something we didn’t get to do before.
My unique skill is “Appraisal”. I’m going to get rich by finding the best treasures!
But then, I thought to myself.
As far as I could tell, most of them were sold at reasonable prices.
Some of them were selling at low prices, but they were only peddlers who wanted to sell out because they had to leave this place by the end of the day.
Disappointed and staggering along, I entered a section of stores selling magic items and the like.