Chapter 44: 35.1

Chapter 4-35 : Thinking Of A Way Out Ⅰ (part 1)

 

*/TL : We’re back to Sarasa ~(‘-‘~

「Mm… Mmm…」(Sarasa)

「Sarasa-san!」(Lorea)

The first thing I saw when I opened my eyes as soon as I returned my consciousness to my own body was Lorea-chan’s worried face.

「How are Iris-san and the others!?」(Lorea)

「Mmm… I’m sorry. Give me a minute…」(Sarasa)

「O, Okay.」(Lorea)

My head felt dizzy, perhaps because the long-distance synchronization with Kurumi burdened my mind more than I thought.

I slowly raised my upper body and supported my head with my hand. Then I took a deep breath to calm myself.

「Are you alright…?」(Lorea)

I lightly shook my head and replied to Lorea-chan.

「Don’t worry. I’m just feeling a bit dizzy. By the way, why are you… Never mind.」(Sarasa)

「Hm?」(Lorea)

I wanted to ask her why she is still here. Her break time is long over so she should be standing by at the counter but I understand why she can’t work in this situation. I can’t blame her.

Besides, she should notice when customers come because we have a doorbell at the entrance, so she doesn’t actually have to be at the counter all the time.

「Sarasa-san, are Iris-san and Kate-san okay?」(Lorea)

「They are…ーー」(Sarasa)

When I felt that my mind had completely synced with my body, I started explaining what happened to Iris-san and the others to Lorea-chan.

Lorea-chan nodded as I explained but her face turned paler as I continued as if the blood on her face gradually disappeared.

「EEHHH!? They’re trapped in that Salamander’s cave!? Wh, What should we do? What should we do!?」(Lorea)

「Calm down, Lorea-chan. Their situation is not good but it’s not the worst either. They’re trapped inside but at least no one was hurt. They found a path leading somewhere. We still don’t know where it leads but it might lead to the outside.」(Sarasa)

「But what about food and water? Do they have enough?」(Lorea)

「Before they left, I gave Iris-san an emergency box with plenty of portable rations and artifacts that can produce water. Moreover, there are also useful potions and medicines in the box. They’re quite expensive though. As long as they don’t have complaints about the taste of the rations, they should be able to survive in that cave for quite some time.」(Sarasa)

「I see…」(Lorea)

Knowing that they had plenty of food, water, and medicines, Lorea-chan let out a sigh of relief.

「However… If they couldn’t find a way out, it would be tantamount to delaying their death… 」(Sarasa)

「Ugh… You’re right… But, Sarasa-san, I don’t want them to die!」(Lorea)

「Me neither. That’s why we need to think of a way out.」(Sarasa)

There was no point in panicking, so I tried my best to stay calm.

Seeing my calm face, Lorea-chan took a deep breath, pulled back her chair, and sat down.

「Sarasa-san, I think you should go help them. You know the place, right?」(Lorea)

「I was thinking about that too, but… I don’t think the situation will allow me to help them…」(Sarasa)

I could go there and blow away the rocks that blocked the way with earth magic, but first of all, the cave collapsed because the Salamander was rampaging.

If I went to that cave, which was the Salamander’s territory, that lizard would sense my presence and might go on a rampage again which might make the situation even worse.

We might get buried alive before we could go outside.

Hearing my explanation, Lorea-chan’s face turned even paler.

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「I see…」(Lorea)

「Moreover, there’s the possibility that we would have to fight that lizard again. I don’t think defeating a Salamander again would be easy.」(Sarasa)

「That would be very risky… I remember you said that you barely won last time.」(Lorea)

「Yeah. I’m not sure we can win this time. Besides, the cave might collapse before the battle is over.」(Sarasa)

「Then going to that cave is a bad idea… Uhh, Sarasa-san, do we have other options?」(Lorea)

「Hmm… I don’t think Iris-san and the others have any other choice except following the path they found.」(Sarasa)

「But no one knows where it leads, right?」(Lorea)

「Yeah. That’s why they need something to find out where it leads.」(Sarasa)

「Something like… what?」(Lorea)

「Actually, there’s an artifact that can confirm whether the path is connected to the outside or not.」(Sarasa)

「Really? That’s great!」(Lorea)

「Umm… no. I don’t think it’s that great. This artifact will only give you information on whether the passageway you are in leads to an open area or not. When you actually got to the exit, you might find that the path to the outside was actually a small hole that couldn’t be passed through by humans, or a hole at the ceiling that was impossible to reach, or it was in a wall of a deep cliff, or any other places that impossible for a human to get to. Anyway, this artifact can only tell you that there is an exit. Whether you can reach the exit or not depends on your luck.」(Sarasa)

「I see. Still, it will give Iris-san and the others hope. But… How do you give that artifact to them? You can’t go to that cave, right?」(Lorea)

「No. They won’t receive the artifact physically.」(Sarasa)

「Eh? What do you mean?」(Lorea)

「Remember. They have Kurumi with them.」(Sarasa)

「Umm… So… Hmm?」(Lorea)

「You look confused. Alright, Lorea-chan, there’s an additional lesson for you about artifacts. Please listen carefully.」(Sarasa)

I know it’s not the time for a lesson but it’s necessary knowledge if Lorea-chan wants to be an alchemist.

As Lorea-chan nodded and looked at me with a serious expression, I started explaining.

Originally, artifacts are tools that allow anyone to use magic. That means what can be achieved with artifacts can also be achieved with magic.

When alchemists make artifacts, they apply magic formulas to the artifacts by transmuting materials and drawing magical circuits, and these magic formulas are the ones that allow normal people to use artifacts as if they’re using magic.

In other words, if you know the magic formula of an artifact, you may be able to perform a spell that has a similar effect as the artifact itself.

Well, theoretically, it works like that. However, it’s not that simple in reality.

Most of the time, even if you know the magic formula, you can’t perform the spell if it’s too complicated for you. You still need to learn it first.

For example, even if you can make a Floating Tent, it doesn’t mean that you can perform gravity magic. After all, you don’t have to be able to use gravity magic to make a Floating Tent. You just need to know the magic formula and how to put the materials together.

That’s why, unlike magicians, alchemists don’t need to be good at magic.

Lorea-chan nodded and took notes as she listened to my explanation.

「I see… So you will link with Kurumi and perform the spell to find the exit.」(Lorea)

「Exactly. Fortunately, the artifact to find the exit doesn’t require complicated materials, so as long as I learn its magic formula, I think I can figure out how to do the spell.」(Sarasa)

「Hoo~ As expected from a talented alchemist!」(Lorea)

「Hehe. But… There’s a problem…」(Sarasa)

「Hm?」(Lorea)

「Umm… Actually… That artifact is listed in volume 6 of the Encyclopedia of Alchemy, and… I can’t read volume 6 yet because I haven’t completed volume 5…」(Sarasa)

「Th, That means…」(Lorea)

「Yeah. I can’t learn the artifact’s magic formula yet…」(Sarasa)

「Eeehh!? Then what should we do!?」(Lorea)

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