f*ck. ...... What's going on here?

　Garnett, who has been silent throughout the entire conversation with the duke, opens his mouth to spit.

　My honest opinion is the same.

　Just the fact that Alfazul was named in the name of the Wise Man (Wiseman) under the alias Wisdom Man (Wiseman) was a surprise, but the problem didn't stop there.

　It is unreasonable to expect that the land worshipped by Wiseman included the Duke of Kingswell, and that the Millennium Corridor of the Abyss was said to be a dungeon closely related to Wiseman.

　Of course, it is possible that they are not related just because they are both called Wiseman.

　However, I am not so much in a hurry to escape from such optimism as I am now.

I can't ignore it if it's true, but at least there's nothing I can do about it under the current circumstances. It's probably not something we can find out by looking into, and I don't know how to find out in the first place.
...... Well, that's true, isn't it? I'll just have to remember that when the time comes.

　Currently, we are still only at the stage of 'finding out new facts'.

　This doesn't mean that something will change right away, nor does it push us to change anything.

　Anyway, the only thing we can do now is to imprint this new information in our memories and do what we can do in order--

"Excuse me, Master Luke.

　As I was thinking about this, one of the Duke's guards approached me.

''His Excellency the Duke has asked me to give this to you. Please accept it.''
...... What is it?

　It was like a folded piece of paper.

　Unfolding it out, it contained a short message, the Duke of Kingswell's signature, and a small seal.

'Request to the Temple Warden's Hall ...... these men have been granted permission to see the Iris Crystal and ......?'
It is said to be one of the crown jewels of the kingdom, enshrined in the north wing of the Temple of All, the royal capital.
North Wing?　I think there was only a west and east annex on the map.
The temple's treasury and the priest's residence are not open to the public.

　Next to me, who wasn't quite sure what I was thinking, Garnett looked surprised and shouted out.

'Iris Crystal is that thing?　I've only heard of it in passing, but it's usually only open to the public once a year: ......
'Yes, sir. Master Luke has taken the trouble to travel all the way to King's Landing, and I wanted to take this opportunity to show you the show.
Seriously, you're beyond generous. That's what I'm talking about.

　From Garnett's reaction, it seems that Iris Crystal is extremely rare to even have the opportunity to visit, and it's not normal to be able to flex that opportunity with a single note.

　If it was just an explanation of the guards, it would have raised eyebrows, but if Garnett said it, it must be so.
　He's not the kind of guy to exaggerate in these situations.

　This time, after the Duke and his guards have left the West Wing, I look down at the note with the message again.

It's a good idea to go and see ...... the treasure of the kingdom.
I know!　We've still got time today, so let's go.

　If Garnett was also willing to go, there was no reason not to go.

　Originally, he was planning to spend the rest of the day sightseeing in the capital.
　This is an opportunity to see a precious object that is called a treasure. It would be worth it to spend the precious time.

　Therefore, we decided to move to the North Hall of the Temple of Ten Thousand.

　Perhaps because of the special purpose of the building as both a treasury and a residence, the building of the North Wing was connected to the main building by a covered walkway, which was a little bit apart from the West Wing and the East Wing, which were directly connected to the main building.

　As we were about to enter the passageway, the knight on guard stopped us.

Stop, you two. It's not allowed to enter from here on out except for those involved.
'I was referred to you by the Duke of Kingswell, sir.
Hm?　...... It's that guy again. Wait a minute.

　When I showed him the note given to me by the duke's guards, the knight on guard raised his eyebrows with a troubled face.

　The knight on guard made us wait at the door of the passage and then opened the door of the connecting passage after calling for a replacement guard.

'I will lead the way. Do not step into any areas where you are not allowed.
Yes, I know.

　Walking down the connecting corridor, led by the knight on guard, he had a whispered conversation with Garnett.

''The guards are done by knights? I've heard of knights being sent to local temples that don't have the manpower or funds to spare, but this place seems to be able to handle itself.
This temple is special in many ways. I heard the Knights insisted on having this place to themselves.

　To varying degrees, the temples are filled with donations from the faithful, as well as divine treasures that have been passed down through the ages.

　It's not surprising, or rather, that there are people in the world who go after such possessions and treasures.

　I heard that there were some people who aimed at temples different from their own gods, or even tried to steal from the temples of the gods they believed in, not to mention stealing with the intention of attacking them because of the hostile relationship between them since long ago.

　Of course, the temples are not inept, and they are trying to prevent thieves from stealing by devising various ways to do so.

　It's the least expensive thing that the people working at the temple can handle with their skills, and if they have the funds to spare, they hire adventurers and other personnel.

　And where neither of them are likely to be able to do so, forces will be sent from specialized knightly orders.

''So King's City of Ten Thousand Temples is an exception?
We've seen it all before. It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for. It's a matter of human nature to protect them just in case something goes wrong.

　Even in the short time we passed through the connecting passageway, we passed many knights.

　Looking out the windows of the passageway, one could see that even the courtyard was heavily guarded.

　The Iris Crystal, the supreme treasure of the King's Capital stored in such a building - after all this time, my expectations are rising.

　In fact, it's impossible that adventurers wouldn't be interested in this treasure or anything else.

　Unknown. Rare. Precious treasures. Legendary.
　Most adventurers are attracted to such things, and I was no exception.

"Huh?　You look like you're getting excited too.
Of course it is. People who aren't interested in that kind of thing don't become adventurers.

　You, too, which means that Garnett can't help but be interested in you, it seems.

　Eventually you pass through the connecting passageway and follow the knight's lead to the back of the heavily guarded north wing, stopping in front of a large door at the far end of the first floor.

'This is Iris Crystal's morgue. Don't think to touch it by mistake. The guard knights, including me, are allowed to kill her at their own discretion.

　The knight gave his advice with a serious look and tone of voice, and then pushed open the large door.