"What do you think?"

　After being kicked out of a store selling magic items, Ray asks Vihela, caressing Seto as he approaches her and rubs her head against her.

"I don't care what you think." Isn't it only natural for a merchant to be wary of his purchasing channels? I don't think there was anything strange about it."
"I see," I feel like I'm just disappointed that the clue is cut off here, but I still feel like I have a clue here. Did you think too much of me?"
"...I don't think it's surprising that Ray's guess is right. But as far as I can see, you have no intention of telling them who you bought from?"
"Yes,"
"Glu?"

　Bune agrees with Vihela's words, and Seth, who had been caressed by Ray, bends her head slightly.

"Well, then I'm going to start over again. What do you do?"
"No matter what you say," It hasn't been long since we came to Gilmoo, either. What should we do you think?

　Now that you mention it, it was only natural that Vihela and Beune seemed to be familiar with Guillum.

"Well... should we talk about Langa or report to Mr. Dusker... there's little clue." ... what? A clue?"

　After muttering that far, Ray suddenly remembers the magic item incense burner he got on his way to the cave.

"Now that you mention it, I have a clue. and there are alchemists who will examine it."
"Oh, was it any clue?"
"Oh, look, I told you in the cafeteria where there are so many dead monsters. That's why I got magic items that seem to have been set up to prevent the smell of blood and rotting from spreading around me. If you look into it, you may find out something."

　Ray muttered regretfully, "I wish I had had the nucleus of Golem, or a pot in the back of the cave..." but Vihela only turned a somewhat dumb look on her face.

"I wonder how lucky I am to have something that might just conveniently lead to a solution when I am often involved in a dispute."
"You may say so," Anyway, let's say we're going to see Azimov. Is that all right?"

　As long as Ray asks me, and I have no other clue, I have no objection to Vihela or Bune, and I immediately nod back.

"Grull".

　Seto agreed with his voice, and thus Ray and his party headed to Azimov's workshop.





"It's a very sparsely crowded place," It's almost evening."

　As evening approaches, people naturally come and go.
　Apart from the actions of city dwellers, such as eating a little earlier, shopping, and returning home from work, many adventurers have returned to the frontier, and the number of Gilm is increasing considerably...but now there are very few people around the house that also serves as Azimov's workshop.
　Passersby sometimes show up, but from here I'm going to sprint away, as if I wanted to go away as soon as possible.
　To Vihela muttering as she looks around, Ray answers the question, recalling what he had heard of Pamidor before.

"Well, it's not strange to think of Azimov's character,"
"... are you sure you're all right? I've only met you once, so I can't trust you that much."
"Yes,"

　Bune nods in agreement with Vihela's words, but Ray gently slaps on the door in front of him, ignoring it.

"Is Azimov there or not?"

　I'll say so, but there's no answer from within.
　At this rate, Ray knocks on the door again, wondering if he has to open it like Pamidor did.

"Hey, Azimov! You're not here! Come out!"

　The sound of a fist pounding on the door grew louder, and it was more appropriate to describe it as a pounding than an already pounding, and there was no doubt that the door would be destroyed before long.

`Come on! It was such a nice place, and all of a sudden!'

　He probably couldn't bear to be disturbed in his studies. Azimov appears with a blood vessel floating on his forehead.

"I think you heard it properly today." I'm glad."
"Ah? ... Ray? What do you want? I'm stuck on your spear now. What do you do if you interrupt me?"
"I'm sorry, but there's something I'd like you to look at. When I said I knew him and he was a skilled alchemist, I could only think of Azimov."

　He must have felt a little better about the expression of skill. The irritation on Azimov's face subsides somewhat.

"Oh, well, that's all right. Get up. I'll listen inside."
"...I'm sorry. Oh, this is just a souvenir. Azimov would love it."

　What I offered was the hair and feathers that came out when I was stroking the set on my way here.
　For Ray, it was something that could be prepared in any way, but for Azimov it was a very rare material for alchemy.
　While some people living in Gilm are getting used to the set and not feeling real, Gryphon is originally a very rare and rare Rank A monster.
　There are many who risk their lives to obtain the material and lose their lives.
　Given that such materials are readily available, guillem is a very useful place for alchemists, smiths, and pharmacists.
　Gillum was becoming a special place for alchemists in the Kingdom of Milliana, as it was originally a frontier and rare gathering of materials.

"Is that all right?"
"Oh, help me."
"... well, that's all right." I just wanted to relax. Come in a little."

　Ray, Vichela and Bune go into the building, laughing bitterly at Azimov's sudden change of attitude.
　Naturally, Seto lies outside, watching out for others, waiting for the Reys to return.

"Well, why did you come all the way at this busy time? I've already heard an errand from the lord that the hammer should not spread the word that it was made by an alchemist in the Westian Empire."
"No, that's not it. Actually, there's something I'd like you to see.""Huh?"

　Rey's words take a turn from his troublesome appearance and give him an interesting look.
　After all, Cyclops must have had a big hammer last time.
　I'm afraid he brought something similar again. As Azimov glances at her in such anticipation, Ray hands over an incense burner from Mistilling.

"This is... not such a complicated thing,"

　As he touched the incense burner, Azimov muttered in a desolate tone that made him want to say what his expectations were a few seconds ago.

"Is that so?"
"Oh, the hammer you brought was a very elaborate thing, but it was a very poor workmanship for the same man. It's not that they don't have technology, so they probably hurriedly made it out of necessity."
"Wait,"

　After Azimov muttered as if nothing had happened, Ray realized that there was information he couldn't ignore and stopped Azimov saying.
　Not only Ray noticed it, but Vihela also had a keen eye on Azimov.

"Huh? What's wrong?"
"It is said that the same person made the incense burner and hammer, but is that true? Is it possible that the alchemist of the Westian Empire made it by someone else?"
"No,"

　Without thinking about it, he opens the incense burner lid and shows it to Ray.

"It's this part. Do you understand this? Here's the heart of a lizard, the thing that doesn't take out the magic stone, soaking it in magical water and then drying it into powder to make it flow through the magic. This habit is the same as a hammer. This is a priceless thing in its own right."
"Isn't there anyone else who uses it?"
"Yes, but it's characteristic of the magic part. It's a magic item that uses the same materials and has similar characteristics. I don't think there are many people who intentionally break the balance between the left and right. No, it may not be that there are none at all, but it is quite inconceivable that such a person should be near Gillum."

　Perhaps the excitement gained while talking, Azimov raises some other similarities between the hammer and the incense burner.
　Listening to it, Ray found himself mysteriously convinced.

(It seems to have been the alchemist who used monsters as a laboratory in that place.)

　I had expected it, but there was still no proof. It's mostly a matter of circumstantial evidence and intuition.
　That is why we have been able to obtain confirmation step by step, but surely we are getting closer to being an alchemist.

(Then next time...if possible, I'd like you to see who made the Seymour magic item.) No, Azimov is in a good mood right now, and can he go?）

　Once I thought about it, Ray's actions were swift.

"I'm sorry, Azimov, but will you go out with me? There's one more magic item I want you to see." If it were clear that the magic items were made by the same person who made the incense burner and hammer, this case would go a long way."

　Ray's words give Azimov a moment of disgust.
　It's only natural. If possible, Azimov would like to do his research... specifically, make a spear for Ray.
　But... a glass bottle at a distance. It was precisely directed at Seto's hair and feathers in the glass bottle.
　If you refuse here, you may not be able to get materials such as Gryphon's hair or feathers from now on anyway.
　Rather than spare a little time and regret it at a later date, I think it would be better to take the time now.

"All right. So where should I go?"

　Ray always thought that he didn't want to go, but Azimov seemed surprised because of the unexpected sensitivity, but as soon as he came back to himself, he immediately stood up to start moving.

"Well, let's go at once."

　After Ray, Vichela and Bune stood up, and thus they made their way to the Seymour stall.





"Well, I think it was about here,"

　It's already evening.
　Ray, Vihela, Bune, Azimov and Seto were walking in the red glow of the setting sun.
　Ray came to where Seymour was when he returned to Gilm, but he couldn't find his characteristic figure.
　Ray was a rather unusual type of man with a muscular build and yet unsevere face, so he thought it was not difficult to find, but he was completely disappointed.

"Gruly!"

　Seto makes such a song to Ray as he pulls his dragon robe lightly with a kuchibashi.
　Looking toward Seto, Ray sees Seymour in the direction he sees and breathes a sigh of relief.

"That's it. It's there. --thank you, Set.'
"Grull!"

　Ray's words make Seto happy to find Seymour in the smell.
　When Ray led the Seto and Vihelas to a stall in Seymour, customers had just finished paying.

"Oh, Ray. What's the matter?"
"I've been looking for Seymour for a while." in a different place than when I came?"
"Huh? Oh, there are a lot of people coming in at this time of day, so this one sells better. It's convenient that stalls can be moved like this."

　I'll pay for the fruit water for the number of people, convinced by the words.

"I'll have four of you and one of you."
"Every time,"
"And if possible, could you show me some magic items? Azimov is an alchemist, and when he talked about the magic items that Seymour had, he said he wanted to see them."
"Well... Ray is going to be a pretty good customer, and I don't mind... don't break him?"
"Who's going to break it?"

　Vihela blocks Azimov's mouth when he almost says something unnecessary.
　Of course Seymour didn't miss it, but he gave up his place to Azimov without saying anything more.
　It's partly because customers have settled down, and it's partly because Ray has the same hobby of collecting magic items as himself, even though the direction is different.

"Then, please,"
"Hmm,"

　When Ray asks Azimov, who is released from Vihela, to check out the magic items... within a minute, Azimov opens his mouth to Ray.

"It's just as you expected."