The Mysterious Child: An Adventure Tale Beginning with Numerology

We were greeted by Branch Manager Tamerik when we returned to the guild.

"How was Viscount Montarc's named request?"

"It ended without any problems. As requested, there's not a single scratch on the body."

"Oh! As expected of Ruruk-san. Look forward to the reward."

Knowing that we had item boxes, we were guided to a private room without any doubt, even though there was no visible sign of the defeated monster.

However, this time we've brought back not only the huge Ophiotaurus but also an even larger Star Grizzly. I wonder if the guild has a place to display them.

"The butchering will be done at Viscount Montarc's mansion, so please wait as you are. I'll bring the quest reward first."

Branch Manager Tamerik left us in the room and hurried out.

So that means we'll have to go to Viscount Montarc's mansion afterward. What a hassle.

Well, since they made a named request, I guess we should at least meet face to face. They've invited us to the party too, so let's get the greetings over with.

"Sorry for the wait! Here's the reward for the named request."

What Branch Manager Tamerik brought was a bag of gold coins about twice as large as I had imagined.

"This was an urgent request, so there's 50 gold coins including expenses as a time-limit request fee. Since Ophiotaurus is a B-rank monster, there's 50 gold coins as a reward for a conditional B-rank subjugation request. 20 gold coins as a nomination fee, 50 gold coins for purchasing the meat of one Ophiotaurus, and an additional 25 gold coins for perfectly achieving the high-difficulty condition of no damage to the body. That totals 195 gold coins, but as a special allowance to show our gratitude for your care of the guild, we've added 5 gold coins to make it 200. Please accept this."

"Eh, is this really okay? Just for an Ophiotaurus?"

I feel like we're receiving too much.

200 gold coins is a huge sum, about the total reward for one A-rank monster.

And this doesn't even include the price for purchasing materials other than the meat, so it will increase even more.

"What are you saying? Do you think anyone other than Ruruk-san and your team could take down a B-rank monster half a day's walk away, exactly as requested, and return before noon? Besides, what Viscount Montarc wants this time is the meat. There aren't usually adventurers in this town who can transport materials fresh using the best preservation method, an item box."

"But is Viscount Montarc okay with this amount?"

"Of course. Listen, Ruruk-san, it's we guild staff who receive quest requests from clients. It's the guild's job to issue quests to adventurers based on appropriate difficulty and rewards. And of course, it's also our duty to properly assess the value of our affiliated adventurers."

The branch manager's eyes gleamed as he spoke passionately.

"It's our responsibility as guild staff to properly explain to clients and get their understanding that named requests for Ruruk-san have that much value. The deal was closed at 200 gold coins, but honestly, I feel we should have asked for a bit more. So Ruruk-san, please accept this without hesitation."

I thought he was just an intellectual hothead, but it turns out he's even more dedicated to his work than that.

If the top of the branch thinks this much about adventurers, this town's guild must be in good hands.

I deposit the bag of gold coins in Elen's bank.

"Thank you very much, Branch Manager Tamerik."

"Not at all. Now then, if you could please come with me to Viscount Montarc's residence."

"Please guide us."

Well, next is an encounter with Viscount Montarc.

I wonder what kind of person they are.

"H-h-hello. I'm Casijas Montarc..."

"I'm the adventurer Ruruk. This is my companion Elenora, and this is my familiar, the slime Punisuke."

Casijas Montarc, the Viscount.

He's the head of a viscount family that owns a small piece of land northeast of this town of Shaboom.

The land they own is plains and swamps that haven't been particularly developed, and their main source of income seems to be the pharmaceutical business they've been running for generations. The business seems to be doing well, as the mansion is clean and well-maintained.

They own several medicinal herb farms and have a stable income from managing pharmaceutical and merchant businesses. With solid management and a warm pocket, along with their position as people who deal with medicine, they have a good reputation.

The family consists of the retired father, the viscount himself, two wives, two sons, and one daughter. There are several slaves working as servants in the mansion, but they're all economic slaves and adult women.

This is about all the information I got from Roze. Since we're going to meet directly at the appreciation party anyway, I didn't bother to dig too deeply into the details.

As rumored, he seemed like quite a good-natured man.

He's probably in his late 30s. He acts a bit suspiciously, always wearing a timid-looking smile. However, perhaps due to his noble duties, his body seems well-trained despite his thin frame, with well-balanced muscles.

He's a noble without many distinguishing features, for better or worse.

Well, maybe it's just that certain nobles (like a certain Overlord) are too distinctive, and this is actually normal.

We exchanged brief greetings in the reception room we were shown to with Branch Manager Tamerik, and then over a cup of tea, we touched on topics like the town's reconstruction status and my donations and support for reconstruction.

After the pleasant chat, Viscount Montarc got down to business.

"W-well then, Ruruk-dono. I would like to request the delivery of the Ophiotaurus."

"Certainly. Where shall we do the butchering?"

"Th-th-this way, please."

The viscount's complexion doesn't look good up close.

I wonder if he's not feeling well.

The nervous viscount led us to a large warehouse-like place behind the mansion. It seems they usually display various items here, but now everything has been pushed to the walls, leaving a very wide space. In the center is a huge iron table, there are drain holes in the floor, water magic devices with hoses on the walls, and wind magic devices for ventilation on the upper parts of the walls.

This is quite well-equipped for a noble's warehouse.

Branch Manager Tamerik, noticing my observation, explains:

"The viscount usually conducts pharmaceutical experiments here. With such comprehensive equipment, it seems you can do all sorts of things."

"Y-yes. We have d-dangerous drugs too, so..."

"I see. I couldn't help but be impressed."

After I also expressed some polite admiration, I look at the central table.

Several men who appear to be butchers were waiting near the table.

"May I bring out the Ophiotaurus there?"

"Y-yes, please do."

As the viscount nods, Elen brings out the Ophiotaurus from the item box without hesitation.

The table creaks and shakes under the enormous weight.

The bull's upper body fits entirely on the table, but of course, the lower body of the great snake hangs off. Looking at it again, it's really huge. I guess we can't bring out the Star Grizzly here.

One of the butchers exclaims happily:

"Amazing! This is gonna be worth butchering! And there's really not a single scratch on the body. Alright, let's start draining the blood quickly!"

The butchers begin their work immediately, following their colleague's instructions.

Branch Manager Tamerik quickly interjects:

"The meat belongs to Viscount Montarc, but all other materials belong to Ruruk-san. Please take care of the storage and appraisal of the butchered materials as well."

"You got it! Leave it to us!"

The butcher flexes his thick arm.

Depending on his skills, I might personally ask him to handle the Star Grizzly later.

"W-well then, we'll lend you a guest room while the butchering is being done, so p-please make yourselves comfortable."

The viscount led me, Elen, Punisuke, and Branch Manager Tamerik back to the main building.

As we walk, I overhear Branch Manager Tamerik and the viscount talking:

"By the way, Viscount, I heard your first wife is feeling unwell?"

"Ah, y-yes... she's not feeling too well..."

"My condolences. If there's anything you need, I'd be happy to help in any way I can."

"Nothing! Ahem... n-nothing at all. It's just a common cold that should pass in a few days."

"I see. Please give her my regards and tell her to take care."

"Th-thank you for your concern..."

Hmm, so the first wife has a cold.

Is that why the viscount looks unwell too?

Elen and I have excellent healing skills, so we don't need to worry about infections, but I suppose illness is the scariest thing for ordinary people.

Though, since Viscount Montarc himself is in the pharmaceutical business, I'm sure they're being careful.

The guest room we were shown to was clean, with a spacious layout including three sofas.

"W-well then, we'll call for you when the butchering is finished. I'll leave one servant here, so please don't hesitate to ask if you need anything."

After we settled in, the viscount excused himself, leaving a middle-aged female servant.

We receive some tea from the servant and relax as instructed.

But well, since it's boring to do nothing,

"Elen, Punisuke. Shall we study some theoretical magic while we wait?"

"Mm."

"Yes nano! Study study!"

I have Elen take out some paper and pens and place them on the table.

Branch Manager Tamerik looks on with interest from the side, but I'll ignore that for now.

"Let's start with Elen. The gravity manipulation magic you used earlier, is the direction of gravity fixed?"

"Mm, yes."

"Why?"

"Mm... why? Gravity... goes down."

Elen tilts her head.

Well, I suppose that's natural.

I draw a large circle on the paper and sketch a person standing on it.

"The force that pulls a person towards a star is gravity. I think you learned that from the master. But Elen, in fact, there's no special force called gravity."

"Mm...?"

"Strictly speaking, gravity is a calculation of the combination of the 'force that attracts other matter' -- gravitational force -- which all objects with mass have, and the centrifugal force of a rotating star. To put it simply, we have the same force as gravity. It's just too small for us to notice."

"Mm, gravitational force."

"That's right. Our perception isn't sensitive enough to observe the gravitational force unless it's from something as massive as a star. But the gravitational force itself is something that everything has. So, the idea that magically manipulated gravity can only act in the same direction as a star's gravitational pull is probably just a misconception."

According to the master, increasing gravity is intermediate magic. Decreasing gravity is advanced magic. Nullifying gravity is royal-class magic. And freely manipulating gravity is forbidden magic -- above extreme-class magic.

The formula for levitation or flight magic should be unattainable without learning the concept of gravitational force. Even in Stoania, where theoretical magic is advanced, I haven't heard of any research on gravitational force.

Of course, the developer of the forbidden magic "Gravity Control" must have reached this understanding.

"Gravitational force always exists in matter that has mass -- weight, and its strength varies depending on that mass. This means there's no need to align it in the same vector as the star's gravity. An apple falls downward, but that's just because it's being pulled by the star. If you're manipulating gravity, I think it's good to imagine interfering with the falling apple by pulling it sideways."

"Mm, I see."

Elen takes notes on what she's heard, in her own way.

Well, even though I said all that pompously, my magic proficiency is of course zero.

I know the answer we should reach, but I have no idea of the path to get there. I don't know what to do to deepen the understanding of magic, so I'll leave the rest to Elen. Just toss it to her.

Well, that's how it always is, so Elen doesn't ask anything more.

"Now, Punisuke. How did your skills feel when you stabbed all those monsters earlier? Were you able to use them well?"

"Yes! Compared to the beginning, my body felt lighter nano!"

Oh, so the level did increase after all.

I'll have Roze check it later, and...

"How about anything else? Your tentacles seemed quite hard too."

"You know! I did my best with the 'elasticity' thing you told me about, nano!"

"How did you do your best?"

"When I hit the enemy, I tried to make it hard nano! Then it went 'stab' nano!"

Oh, so you used shape-shifting and elasticity control simultaneously.

No wonder it could pierce even a Star Grizzly.

But, does this mean you could suddenly do it when your level increased?

...Does monster skill improvement depend on level?

No, if that were the case, it wouldn't be strange for high-level monsters to use more skills.

Maybe Punisuke just has good intuition.

"Am I amazing? Am I amazing nano?"

"Yes, you're very amazing. Good job, good job."

"Hehehe~ hehehe nano~"

I hug and pet him thoroughly.

Punisuke trembles with joy, so cute.

Well, I'll put the relationship between skills and levels on hold for now. Either way, it's not a loss to keep practicing, so let's continue leveling up.

"Mm... praise me too."

"Alright, alright. Elen is amazing too."

"Mm."

Elen sits down next to me, so I pet her the same way as Punisuke.

Then Branch Manager Tamerik, who had been observing until now, asks in a trembling voice:

"Um, Ruruk-san... I heard you mention gravity manipulation earlier..."

"Yes. Is there something wrong with that?"

"No... Are you perhaps challenging Elenora-san to learn forbidden magic? Not satisfied with advanced or royal-class magic that surpasses first-class, but extreme-class magic that even specialized researchers can hardly reach?"

"Well, yeah."

I mean, she can already use several of them.

Of course, there's no need to say that, so I keep quiet.

Branch Manager Tamerik lets out a dry laugh. His eyes seem distant.

"Haha, an adventurer acquiring forbidden magic... Where are you aiming to go, Ruruk-san and your team... And at such a young age... Common sense is... what is it... Oh, but maybe that destruction site... Could it be that already... Oh, oh...?"

"Hey, Branch Manager Tamerik~"

He doesn't respond even when called.

This is no good.

Leaving Branch Manager Tamerik, who has mentally checked out, we resume our study session.

The branch manager remained in a daze until we received word that the butchering was complete about two hours later.