The surface was green with multiple protrusions and, although seemingly gelatinous, appeared inelastic.
I reached out and touched it with my fingers.
A hole was easily punctured and a foul odor was emitted from the inside.
"Ugh, this thing is rotten!"
"Was it in bad shape? The assessment says it's dead. I can't stand the smell - ugh!"
Kaede walked away from the egg.
It was more complicated for her to be close because her sense of smell was superior to mine.
I looked around me; Frau and Alusha were also moving to the corner, holding their noses.
"Kyui..."
"I'm sorry to hear that, buddy."
I petted Panda, who looked depressed. It is so large that it must have been the egg of a very powerful animal.
He is quite sad that he could not become your friend.
However, is there only this in this tower?
"Lord, there are stairs over there."
"Really? We're going up."
All of us climbed the stairs.
"Aaaaah!"
The second floor was full of water everywhere.
The entire floor appeared to be a shallow water tank.
Clean water flows from the wall. On the other side of the floor, a scaffold led to a stairway to the bottom.
"There don't appear to be any living creatures. And it looks like it can be used as drinking water."
"Have a sip."
I drew water with both hands and drank it.
"Yes, it's drinking water."
After getting confirmation, Frau, Kaede and Alusha decide to take a sip as well.
I wonder if it is extracted from underground. It is cold and refreshing.
"I feel like taking a dip in this water."
"Stop Frau, this water is important for my people."
"Really?"
Alusha drinks water again and again with a big smile.
It's a little creepy.
"In this village, we have to walk a long way to fetch water. I had no idea there was such an abundance of drinking water right under our noses."
"Good to know - but what's wrong with this place?"
"The story goes that the treasure of the elves is to be found here."
Hmmm, treasure.
The "Great Thief's" sense of smell certainly tells me that there is treasure.
There is something big here.
We went up to the third floor.
"Haaah!"
A scream escaped at the spectacle before us.
The third floor was lined with countless shelves, each containing an overwhelming number of scrolls.
Each shelf was marked with a plaque describing the contents of the scrolls.
But I can't read the ancient scripture.
"Appraisal, detection, clairvoyance, dissolution? It seems there are skills I've never heard of."
"Can you read ancient writing?"
"Yes, that I can."
Ancient writing is writing that can only be read by highly intelligent scholars.
What kind of beautiful slave do I have who can read and understand it so easily?
"There is a magic scroll here."
"Really!"
Kaede runs when Frau calls her.
......Maybe I'm the only one who can't read ancient script in this party?
I looked back and saw Alusha with wrinkles between her eyebrows.
Looking at the shelf again and again, he wondered, "What kind of parchment is this?"
You can't read either, can you?
For the first time since I've been here, I feel close to you.
"So many scrolls, it's a real treasure. As an elf you must be happy."
"That's right. I know it's late, but I thank you. If you hadn't opened the door, we wouldn't have had so much drinking water or this pile of scrolls. Toru-Sama is a good human."
"Thank you."
Apparently my actions have made her trust me a little.
But I guess even I'd be tempted to say that with all these scrolls.
The power to protect the village lay dormant here, no doubt it is the treasure of the elves.
"Master, there are still stairs."
We will now go to the fourth floor.
There was a heavy door at the bottom of the long stairs.
In addition, it is locked.
Here again, the super versatile key comes into play.
I pulled out the wire and inserted it.
Glank
The lock was unlocked and the door opened silently.