The Mysterious Child: An Adventure Tale Beginning with Numerology

The Kingdom of Restamia is so focused on golem-related products as their specialty that other countries mockingly call it the Golem Kingdom.

About 100 years ago, a genius in earth magic was born in Restamia, which was originally one of the small countries.

He created and controlled many golems with his abundant magic power, organizing them into an army. With him at the center, commanding an overwhelming number of sturdy golem troops, it didn't take long for him to unify the small countries in the area.

His country, which became the Kingdom of Restamia, would continue to develop golem technology further.

The structure of golems became more advanced and complex, and the use of artificial magic stones even made autonomous operation possible. To stay ahead of other countries, they invited many golem researchers from other nations, improving their technology while monopolizing it.

However, even the path of conquest by this genius magician turned to dew before the mighty Bargia Dragon Duchy.

Ambition awakened in him towards Bargia, the largest nation on the continent, and he foolishly desired to dominate even that country. Yes, he foolishly started a war.

The result was a crushing defeat.

The tens of thousands of golem troops he dispatched were completely annihilated by a single breath attack from the Dragon King.

Even the Dragon King, who usually doesn't leave the holy land, brings nothing but destruction when angered. The dragons under the Dragon King's command flew over the royal capital of Restamia, and the royal family easily lost their right of life and death.

While the Kingdom of Restamia was plunged into despair, negotiations by the ministers assisting the king barely bore fruit, and the dragons withdrew, averting Restamia's destruction.

In exchange, Restamia signed a treaty never to direct golems against Bargia alone.

That's why fortress golems are not deployed at the border with Bargia.

Since then, the Kingdom of Restamia has been developing as an ally of the Bargia Dragon Duchy.

However, the relationship between the two countries is not equal. As atonement for angering the Dragon King in the past war, Restamia offers many artificial magic stones to the Bargia Dragon Duchy every year. The only return is the continuation of their own country's existence.

This period of alliance, which is essentially reparations, is said to last until the Dragon King's lifespan ends—still hundreds of years away.

Because of this, the citizens of Restamia have been harboring growing resentment towards the citizens of Bargia.

They resent having to continue providing their country's proud technological products for free. They resent the attitude of Bargia's citizens who seem indifferent to this situation.

"...And that friction is at the core of this incident. He's a Bargia citizen who, drunk on his way home, snuck into a golem storage facility and destroyed some golems. The soldiers who witnessed it were about to take out their frustrations with Bargia on him through vigilante justice when I stepped in."

Mererosu finished speaking and took a breath.

From what I've heard, it sounds like just a drunk causing trouble.

"I-I really don't remember anything... Please believe me..."

"I believe your words, but I don't know you personally. I can't defend you as innocent. But vigilante justice is wrong. The soldiers need to judge according to the rules, and you need to prove your innocence through proper means."

"Th-That's impossible..."

Of course it is. If he was drunk and doesn't remember, it's like trying to prove a negative.

As the man despaired, a soldier who had finally calmed down interjected. Sorry for scaring you earlier.

"That's right. We saw it. We saw him laughing as he destroyed the golems and ran away."

"Not just you, but other soldiers too?"

I chime in.

I don't dislike playing detective, but I'm a bit of a coward when I think about someone else's life being at stake. Still, I decided to help because I thought the two young girls' stomachs would start rumbling soon as evening was approaching.

Hungry kids' pressure >>> Guilt.

That's just how life is, you know?

Well, regardless of my motivation, I want to resolve this incident for Mererosu's sake too.

The soldier nodded.

"We patrol in groups of three. The ones who saw this guy were me and two of my colleagues."

"What exactly did you witness?"

"We saw this guy coming out of the storage facility. He was laughing as he closed the door, then ran away."

"Why didn't you chase him?"

"At that time, we didn't think the golems had been destroyed. There was no sound. We only realized they were destroyed when we checked the storage, then we hurriedly searched for him. We found him just now, trying to sneak out of town."

"I-I wasn't sneaking! I was just trying to leave normally!"

Hmm.

From the situation described, it seems pretty close to being guilty.

However, the part about destroying golems without making any sound is odd.

"Is it easy to destroy golems?"

"Of course not. It depends on the skill of the craftsman who made them, but the golems supplied to the national guard are for combat. They meet the standards to withstand a certain level of battle."

"Then, how do you think they could be destroyed without making a sound?"

"That's... well. If someone could use earth magic at a higher level than the creator, they could easily crumble them without making much noise."

"W-Wait! I can't use earth magic!"

The man hurriedly protested.

Of course, the soldier wouldn't believe him. While proving he can use magic might be possible, proving he can't is impossible. It's truly trying to prove a negative.

...Well, it doesn't matter to me.

I secretly check the man's status with [Eyes of Fiction].

Yes. Earth magic aptitude, confirmed.

Moreover, his magic proficiency is close to 2000. A magic proficiency of 2000 is quite high even for adventurers. It's not just the level of craftsmen making mass-produced golems, but closer to that of a skilled golem artisan.

This guy isn't just an ordinary magician.

It's clear that the man Mererosu was protecting lied, but that doesn't mean he destroyed the golems. Just because he can doesn't mean he did.

He might have lied about not being able to use earth magic on the spur of the moment because he truly doesn't remember due to being drunk.

So let's change perspective and ask a different question.

"By the way, was anything missing from the golem storage facility?"

"Well, we recovered the stones used in the destroyed golems, but there shouldn't have been anything valuable in there to begin with since it's just a warehouse for golems. If he was after valuables, he'd have broken into a rich person's house."

"But the fact is, he went all the way to the warehouse to destroy golems. There must have been a purpose."

"Purpose, huh... You should just ask him directly."

The soldier cracked his knuckles intimidatingly.

The man turned pale and hid behind Mererosu's back.

Mererosu, uncomfortable with being touched, brushed off his hand.

"Don't touch me. Hey Ruruk-kun, what do you think we should do about this?"

"Personally, I think arrest is fine at this point."

"That's right, boy. You get it."

"No! Please, defend me somehow!"

The soldier agreed, and the suspect (provisional) cried out desperately.

Hmm, I'm not happy about receiving such intense stares from two middle-aged men.

"Well then, suspect (provisional), how much do you remember? Where did you drink, and how did you get back to your inn?"

"Um, I remember drinking at a bar in the south district, but... I don't remember leaving the bar or returning to the inn. When I woke up in the afternoon, I was sleeping on the floor of my room."

"Which inn were you staying at?"

"Boy, there are only inns in the central district of this town."

"I see. We just arrived so I didn't know... Wait, why did you go all the way to a bar in the south district from the central district? I don't think it's possible that there are bars only in the south district."

"Th-That's..."

The man stumbled over his words for a moment.

"I-I hit it off with someone yesterday who was from the south district, and we promised to drink together, so I went there to drink."

"I see. Then can you tell me that person's name and what they looked like?"

"A name... I didn't ask for one..."

"Oh? You go drinking with someone whose name you don't know? You have quite a low sense of security."

"Oh, I remember now! I think his name was Carter. He had blonde hair, was average height, and his face was pretty unremarkable... except for a big nose."

It's obvious he's making this up, so I won't press further.

Instead...

"One last question. It seems you were trying to leave town earlier."

"Ah, yes..."

"At this hour? Where... *ahem* Where were you planning to go?"

I tried imitating a voice for a line I've always wanted to say. Note that I'm not joking around.

The man's face turned even paler as he realized something.

By the way, Saaya behind me was clapping and saying "It's the Colonel!" 

Thanks for getting it.

"In the first place, what was your purpose for coming to this town from Bargia?"

"That's because I'm a merchant... I have a guild card, see?"

"Then please tell me the items you purchased, where you bought them, the purchase price, transportation costs and who you commissioned, and the location and name of the merchant you're selling to."

"Wh-Why do I have to tell you such things--"

"Do you understand your position? I'm sorry, but we have no intention of cooperating with someone who isn't cooperative. Please be judged by this country's laws."

"W-Wait! Please, Elf lady, you too, please. You're adventurers, right? I'll pay a lot, so please take me to Bargia! Help me escape!"

The man clung to Mererosu, crying.

He's reached the point of using any means necessary. Of course, as adventurers, we can't cooperate with illegal activities.

"Hey, I told you not to touch me."

"Please~ Please, please!"

"That's enough."

I couldn't stand watching anymore, so I grabbed the man's arm and twisted it lightly.

Because my status is ridiculously high, even with the strength of twisting a baby's arm, the man flipped over.

I might have strained his arm a bit, but I hope he'll accept that as punishment for clinging to a reluctant beauty. It's certainly not because I misjudged my strength.

But at this point, he's completely guilty.

I was going to let it go if it was a grey area, but if he's engaged in illegal activities, there's no helping it.

It's like cheating for a detective, but let's get him to confess.

I brought my mouth close to the man's ear as he was pinned to the ground, and whispered softly so only he could hear.

"'Tell the truth honestly'"

The greater the level difference, the stronger the influence of [Word Soul].

This man's level is 19. He's leveled up quite a bit, but the difference between us is infinite.

Of course, he couldn't possibly resist.

"...I'm actually from Restamia. I was working as a golem craftsman, but I messed up on the job and got fired. Then, a nobleman's messenger came and told me to go to Bargia once and register as a merchant... I registered as a merchant in Bargia and came back. Then that guy came again and told me to destroy golems in the golem storage facility in this town. I pretended to be from Bargia and did as I was told. I have no idea why they went through such trouble... Anyway, the pay was good. I just wanted money. That's all it was..."

After saying that much, the man came to his senses.

Looking up at me as if seeing something terrifying, he said,

"Y-You, what did you do to me..."

"I just appealed to your conscience."

I shrugged.

The soldier was frowning as if he had a headache, but a crime is a crime regardless of country of origin. He firmly apprehended the man.

Mererosu doesn't know about [Word Soul] and didn't seem to hear it, but she probably noticed the use of mystical arts from the reaction of the spiritual particles. She had a face that was both impressed and exasperated.

Well, that settles this case.

It seems there's some unclear conspiracy involving a Restamia nobleman, but that's obviously unrelated to us, so we don't need to worry about it.

"Ruruk~ I'm hungry~"

"Mm. Starving."

"Master! I'm hungry too, nano!"

"Eh? The slime talked!?"

Mererosu was startled.

As the people around us started looking at Punisuke with great interest, it seems like it's time to leave.

"Mererosu-san, would you like to join us for a meal? It's not a date, unfortunately."

"Pfft, hahaha! Ruruk-kun, you haven't changed at all. Yes, I'd be delighted to join you."

"Come to think of it, is this the Elf onee-san Ruruk mentioned before?"

Saaya finally realized.

She had heard the name called many times, but apparently didn't remember that much.

"Oh, you were talking about me? What kind of things did you say?"

"I was talking about my type."

"I'm flattered."

Her completely unfazed, casual response hasn't changed either.

I like this kind of dry attitude.

"But Ruruk-kun, it's just because I'm an Elf, right?"

"Yes, it's because you're an Elf."

"Eh?"

Mererosu looked surprised when I answered honestly.

"What's wrong?"

"No... I didn't expect you to be so honest. All the humans who've approached me before have said things like 'It's because it's you!' or 'I'm only interested in you!' Even though they're obviously approaching me because I'm an Elf."

"Well, it can't be helped because Mererosu-san is an Elf."

"That's right! Elves can't be helped!"

Saaya strongly agreed too.

All Japanese people love Elves, so it can't be helped, right? (Prejudice)

Mererosu's eyes widened again,

"You're saying the same thing too, young lady."

"I'm Saaya. Just to let you know, don't get carried away just because you're Ruruk's type of Elf, okay? Ruruk is mine!"

"Mm, wrong. Mine."

The young girls cling to both my arms.

I don't belong to either of you.

"Hahahahaha! Ruruk-kun, you really are interesting. But I can't approve of you trying to hit on me when you've got a girl on each arm."

Mererosu laughed heartily, with tears in her eyes.