The Mysterious Child: An Adventure Tale Beginning with Numerology

It seems the Maguu Empire is marching towards the small country of Stoania.

Stoania has the world's deepest dungeon. Its defenses are strong to protect it, and the soldiers' levels are incomparably higher than other countries thanks to the dungeon. The strength of the royal knight order and magician corps is rumored to be the best on the continent.

Although it's smaller in area than the Muuteru domain, it's said to have military strength comparable to Bargia.

In addition, the quality of resident adventurers is quite high.

While Bargia has only one S-rank adventurer team and Mataisa has three, Stoania seems to have nearly ten. Two active SS-rank adventurer teams are also staying there. If this turns into a defense battle through emergency quests, their power would be incredibly reliable.

So even if a horde of monsters is approaching, they should be fine unless it's an exceptionally formidable opponent.

"Come to think of it, I wonder how everyone in [Beer Foam] is doing?"

As I picked at my breakfast salad, the cheerful faces of the trio of drunkards came to mind.

They're also subject to emergency quests, so I hope they don't overdo it defending the country... No, I know well that they don't have such a virtuous character.

"Ah, Stoania~ I'd like to go there."

Saaya, eating breakfast next to me, tilted her head while munching on a sandwich.

"It's the country of science, right? How advanced is their technology?"

"I think it was around the level of early to pre-modern era. Their trains aren't the old steam engines this country provides, but proper diesel ones. Moreover, being a city of science, they have complete water and sewage systems, and toilets and baths all work without magic. It seems general households do have some magical devices, but in public facilities, they're only used for some power sources. It looks like they're thoroughly committed to scientific culture, regardless of cost."

"What? That sounds amazing. Take me there."

Nagi bit at the topic.

This house is all scientific devices for Nagi's sake, but both Bargia and Mataisa only have magical devices in their cities. It's always troublesome for her.

However, we don't have plans to go to Stoania anytime soon.

"Well, don't rush. After we finish conquering Bargia's dungeon, next is Mataisa's dungeon. Then we plan to go to Stoania, so it'll probably be about a year from now."

"How leisurely! We'll conquer it right away! Come on, Saaya, stop dawdling and prepare to head to the dungeon—"

"Just calm down, will you?"

Saaya was exasperated.

As we continued talking about Stoania's scientific capabilities,

"Good morning, Master... yawn."

Seori entered the dining room, rubbing her eyes.

Her pajamas had slipped, exposing her shoulder. A maid immediately rushed over to adjust it. She then sat down next to me.

"Master, what are we doing today...?"

"I was planning to take a day off. I didn't wake you up as usual, right?"

"...Day off... A day off! Ugh, what a sweet sound. Calm down... my dark soul."

Seori suddenly became energetic.

There are always people who wake up quickly on days off, huh.

"Then are we off too?"

"That's the plan."

"Got it. Then Nagi, want to go shopping at Luney Trading Company?"

"...Ruruk is a tease."

I was glared at.

How badly does she want to go to Stoania? Well, I used to be the same way, so I can understand.

"Where are you going, Ruruk?"

"I'm thinking of stopping by the guild. Then maybe the Elven village."

"Did you have business with the elves?"

"I thought I'd buy some flowers. I'm thinking of making perfume."

"Perfume? Are you going to wear it?"

"I'm going to give it to my sister. I just met her after a long time, and I realized I hadn't done anything for her. I remember Karmarike had nice perfume, so I thought I'd ask how to make it."

The perfume that Lilith and I have liked since long ago was made from a rare flower from our hometown, but it's too rare to buy here or in the Mataisa royal capital. In fact, it might not be available anymore, so I was thinking of using something else.

Also, I felt a bit odd about giving the same thing to the grown-up Lilith.

"Then Nagi, shall we go for a swim?"

"...If we're not going to the dungeon, I guess I'll go along."

"Yay! Let me know when you're ready to go."

"Sure thing."

So, I planned to go to the guild in the morning and the Elven village in the afternoon.

On the way from the mansion to the guild, I noticed the town was unusually bustling.

The merchants, adventurers, and mercenaries on the streets seemed to be in more of a hurry than usual, and all the shops were quite crowded. Weapon shops, equipment shops, and pharmacies were especially crowded, and it seemed many items were sold out.

The Merchant Guild next to the Adventurers Guild was even busier. Messenger birds were flying back and forth incessantly, and an extraordinary number of merchant carriages were rushing out.

It was as if a big business opportunity had arrived.

"Is a war starting or something... Oh right, it is starting."

Thinking it was quite hectic as if it were someone else's problem, I entered the Adventurers Guild.

...It wasn't someone else's problem.

The Adventurers Guild was beyond my imagination.

First, new quest applications were suspended, and the regular counters were closed. However, receptionists holding specific request forms were finding their assigned parties and desperately asking them to take on quests. Moreover, from what I heard, the rewards were to be paid later.

I had never seen such a scene before.

"What's going on?"

"Hey Ruruk, come here!"

Camlock, who spotted me from the upper floor, was beckoning.

I entered the Guildmaster's room and received tea from the secretary. It wasn't particularly a private conversation, with the windows wide open and the sound of hurried footsteps audible from the corridor.

"Did something happen?"

"Something? It's war! War! We can't afford to be playing around leisurely!"

"I know that, but it doesn't concern Bargia, right?"

"You fool. Even just rumors of war make weapons, armor, potions, and metals all scarce. What are you saying? This country isn't neighboring Mataisa or the Maguu Empire, but it directly affects distribution."

"Ah~ So that's why the merchants are in a panic?"

"Listen, Ruruk, it's not just about merchants. Think about this country's population. How many people do you think would starve if incoming goods decreased by 20%? Right now, nobles and large organizations are all in a panic, and we're no exception. We need to secure as much funds as possible now, or we'll leave adventurers out in the cold."

I see, so that's the kind of impact it has.

"What about you? Could you go defeat a dungeon boss and bring back some rare materials? The reward will be paid later, but..."

"I'm in the mood for a day off today, so I'll pass."

"Hah... I guess so. You've got the Dragon King backing you, so you've got the best treatment in this country."

"That's not my intention, though."

Besides, I don't want to rely on that doting parent even if something happens.

If I were to owe him a favor, he'd probably brag with a smug face.

"...So, you who have no interest in the war or the guild's future, what did you come to the guild for?"

"Don't say it like that. I took a special quest in Mataisa yesterday, so I came to submit the report. I verbally reported to the Guildmaster there, but since it was a request from the royal family, a written report is mandatory. Please send it later using the [Copier]."

"You have teleportation, so why don't you deliver it yourself?"

"We had a bit of an argument, so I want to show that I'm still angry."

"Ah, I heard about that too. Geez, can't be helped."

Camlock grumbled as he took my report and went into the back room.

Immediately after, he rushed back for some reason.

"Hey Ruruk! This is bad!"

"What happened? Did the [Copier] break?"

"No, that's not it! Last night, the Mataisa Dungeon had a stampede! Damn, I was so busy I didn't check earlier!"

"...A stampede?"

Even I stood up at that.

Camlock, while looking through the documents that had been sent, said:

"Yeah. It's been about half a day since it started, and B-rank monsters are beginning to appear. Apparently, they've covered the dungeon plaza with multiple walls, and the Adventurers Guild is at the center, holding them back. At the current pace, they can defend for at least another day, but beyond that is unknown. Requests for support have been sent to guilds in each area for parties capable of long-distance travel... Hey Ruruk, what are you going to do? Want to go help?"

"Well, I can't choose to not go at all."

Even though it was just yesterday, I'm still a citizen of Mataisa. Also, I can't allow harm to come to Lilith and the others.

Although adventurers are currently holding them back without major damage, that will probably only last for a few days. I've never seen a stampede, but I hear they can last up to a month at the longest.

"By the way, Camlock-san, do stampedes ever stop midway?"

"A stampede is the dungeon core going out of control. Of course, if you can control the dungeon core, you can stop it. If that's not possible, it'll continue endlessly until the accumulated magical power is exhausted."

"Control, huh."

Then Cardel at the royal palace must be trying to control it.

If it stops because of that, reinforcements might not be necessary.

"What will you do? I can reply to the support request while sending your report."

"My team and I will join the fight."

"That's a relief. I'll let them know you're coming, so please go when you're ready."

"Yes. If it doesn't seem too urgent, we'll go tomorrow."

"I'll let them know."

Camlock went back into the inner room.

I sipped my tea while pondering a bit.

A stampede at this timing...

It's clearly unnatural. This might be another Maguu Empire plot.

But even if it is, do they have the technology to intentionally cause a stampede? It might be possible for the Stoania Kingdom, but it's hard to believe it could be done so easily to another country's dungeon, especially an enemy country.

"No... could this be their aim?"

I remembered the dungeon core theft incident from a few days ago.

If they had already set the dungeon core to go out of control and prepared for a stampede at that time...

"The Maguu Empire is serious."

From the royal kidnapping to war, and now a stampede.

Even though Mataisa is a large country, it's been a peaceful nation without war for several hundred years.

They probably don't have a large standing army or military equipment.

It's easy to imagine that everywhere will be short on manpower. However, due to the kidnapping incident, they can't reduce the castle's defenses.

We want to join the fight and stop the stampede as quickly as possible, but— as I was thinking this, Camlock burst in again.

"H-Hey, this is bad!"

"What is it this time?"

"An emergency request from the Stoania Guild. There was a report from the Stoania army, take a look at this."

Camlock slammed a scout's reconnaissance report on the desk.

It seems the Stoania army's scouts include someone with appraisal skills. The results of that scout's observation of the enemy forces were sent to us as well.

[Reconnaissance Results

Enemy Force Size (estimate): Approximately 100,000

Enemy Force Type: Monsters only

Average Enemy Force Level (approximate): 60 or higher]

"Level 60 means B-rank or higher, right? And they've brought an incredible number of monsters. Isn't this worse than the stampede? At this rate, Stoania might seriously be destroyed."

Camlock's voice trembled.

This might not be the time for me to be talking about a day off.

"Please reply to the Stoania Guild immediately. I'll head there for support."

"Are you sure? But what about Mataisa?"

"I'll have Elen and the others go there. If dungeon core control is needed, Elen is the most suitable for that."

"That's true. Alright, I'll relay that information. Be careful out there."

"Yes. I'll be going then."

I immediately returned to the mansion.

It was around noon when we departed from Bargia, after waking up Seori who had fallen back asleep.