Again I heard a woman's voice. Kakuin turned around slowly, expecting to see her again. There was the Dwarf woman who had appeared before.
"May I have some water, please?
He nodded cockily.
◆ ◆ ◆ ◆
"I was thirsty. Thank you!"
Sidi claps her hands and talks happily to the elf who has brought a pot-like object. I could have at least magicked out some water for you. ....... I let out a giggle as I think about it. That's right, I can't use magic.
Sadie is curious about the pot that has been brought in. It is a cylindrical one with no spout, and from my position I can't see how she pours water from it. And there seems to be no cup of any kind. How would one drink the water? Is he going to drink it directly?
But the elf man turned his palm toward the ceiling, and what looked like a glass appeared there. He puts it on the table and points his palm toward the ceiling again. A glass appears. After he produced two glasses, he turned his eyes to me. He seems to be asking me if I want a glass of water too. I give a small nod.
He gave me a look of blatant disapproval. Why do you hate me so much? What did I do?
I look at the elf and Sidhi, stifling my indescribable emotions. The pot seems to have a spout on the ceiling, which he holds in his hand and tilts slowly. Then water is poured into the glass.
"Thank you very much."
Sadie greets him more smilingly than usual. He can smile like that. Seeing her smiling like that, Sidhi is cute. .......
While I was thinking this, the elf left the room without saying a word. Siddee watched him, picked up the glass and drank the water.
"......Yeah, it's delicious. But is this ice?"
She stares at the glass in her hand, observing it. She looks at the glass from every angle, then suddenly brings it to her mouth. She seems to be pressing her lips against the glass.
I'm a little intrigued, so I shift my position. Then Sadie presses her lips against the glass with her eyes closed. It looks like something you would see on a page of a pop idol's photogravure.
At that moment, Sadie's eyes opened and she turned her head to look at me.
"What do you think of this ice, Mr. Linos?"
I take the glass she offers and hold it in my hand.
"It's cold."
"It's just the way it is, isn't it?"
...... Don't look so disappointed. It hurts my heart.
"Can you make this glass of ice, Mr. Linos?"
I look at the glass again. It's very pure ice. It is not simply frozen water. And the ice does not melt when I hold it in my hand.
"I suppose you could make it, but it would ...... take a lot of time and effort."
Even with my water magic, it takes time to make ice this pure. It is impossible to make it in an instant.
"I see. ......"
Sidhi pauses to reason again, thinking about something. She slowly walks around the room in this posture.
"Sidie ......"
"Pure ice is hard and hard to melt. ....... Mr. Linos."
"Yes?"
"How long will it take to melt this glass of ice?"
"Hmm?"
I'm a little puzzled, not understanding the intent of her question, but I think about it for a while as I look down at the glass in my hand.
"If you really try, you can melt it in an instant. No, not just dissolve, but evaporate.
"I see."
She nods and walks slowly around the room, pausing to reason again.
She is mumbling to no one. She seems to have had a flash of inspiration, but I have no idea what she is talking about. In spite of my confusion, she is thinking about something again, staring at the ceiling.
Then I see Meek's hand reaching for the pot on the table.
"Wait!"
At my words, Meek shudders and freezes on the spot.
"I hate to think it, but it could be poisoned. You should not eat or drink anything until you leave this castle.
"I'm fine."
Suddenly, Sidhi's voice is heard. She slowly turns her gaze from her heavenly position to us.
"This water is fine."
"You say it's good."
"No, Sadie. No, Sidhi. You have the Deer God's blessing to resist poison. You should have no problem with ordinary poisons. But Meek doesn't. So be very careful. ......"
"As for this water, it's fine. My gut feeling is that it's probably safe to drink."
"So ...... I see."
Sidi gives Meek a look. With that, she pours water into a glass and drinks it with a gulp.
"Hmm. It's good water.
"How is this water made?"
"It is made by melting snow. The water melted from the snow of this mountain tastes good, after all.
Meek looked satisfied and poured water into the glass again.
"Dear Linos, ......"
Sidi talks to Meek while watching him. His expression is a little tense and somewhat powerful.
"If they are going to take our lives, they will probably poison us. As you pointed out, I have the blessing of the Deer God, but Master Linos and Princess Meek...... especially Mr. Meek are not resistant to poison. We must be very careful."
"Oh ....... Yes, I know. Not just poisons. It could be a poisonous fog or a poisonous needle that kills you."
"Poisonous fog can engulf those around you if not handled with great care. Poison needles seem to be ...... hard to plant. I don't think that's ......."
"I see."
"Let's be very careful about what goes in our mouths."
She looks at me again with a stern expression on her face.
"Don't look so worried, Mr. Linos. I already know who did it. Now we just need to figure out how to lure him out. The only thing left is to make sure we get out of this castle in one piece.
"What? What did you just say?"
So... so... so... so... We already know who did it. But the elves will be more convinced if the culprit himself says I'm the culprit than if we reveal the culprit to them. The question is how to make that happen, but we will find a way. But the fact remains that Princess Meek is the target, so the question is how to protect her. So, Mr. Linos, please be very careful with Princess Meek. It is unlikely, but if she offers you something to eat or drink, be sure to stop her."
"Ah ...... ah."
I was still too confused and anxious to understand Sadie's explanation, but she suddenly softened her expression.
Don't look at me like that. I absolutely need your help to get out of this castle safely. It is only with your help that I am able to concentrate on my contemplation. I will be fine."
"So ...... I see. I'm glad to hear you say that. ......
She smiles at my words.
"Sadie is really cute when she smiles like that. That smile keeps me calm."
"Huh? Is that so? I'd be happy to do that for you.
She turned to me, her expression serious for a moment, and then immediately broke into a big smile.
"Ahem, Linos-sama!"
"Ggh!"
"Ri...... Rinos-sama!"
I involuntarily crouched down, holding my chest. Sadie's smile was so cute that it shot through my chest.
Sadie rubbed my back. I felt sorry for her and burned her smile into my mind. .......