Krim said that Ramsey was most likely headed to the 'Tabla Ruins'.
　It is said to be an ancient ruin, a large scale ruin with a large amount of unexcavated area.
　In order to enter, you need a second class permit or higher, but I have a first class permit, so no problem.

To get to the Tabla Ruins, we first headed for the nearest town, which was named Tabla.
　The name of this town is Tabla.
　Once the massive ancient ruins were discovered underneath the sand, a base camp for adventurers was soon built, which eventually grew into a town.
　The town was named after the ancient ruins.

　We traveled from oasis village to oasis village, with no roads leading to the town of Tabla.
　The movement itself was easy. After all, I have the Narsai.

It's so easy!　Plus the wind is bangin' nice and comfortable!

　And Crim is also very excited for his age.

But we don't have a roof over our heads, so we have to be careful about sunstroke.

　We were tempted to hurry on, but we stopped several times to rest behind rocks and so on.
　When we stopped at the oasis again, we took a break and asked for Ramsey's footprints.

In the Strategy Book, there is a finely detailed sketch of Ramsey in the book.
　Using that, I asked, "Didn't such an old man stop by on his journey? You can ask them about it.
　However, since showing off the "strategy book" itself would pose a security problem, I used a paper copy of it.

　I'm not an artist, but I'm confident in my observation skills. If I captured the features and drew them simply, I could somehow get them into the portrait.
　Krim was honestly impressed, saying, "You're pretty good at this.
　Afterwards, he asked, "Hate... how can you draw a portrait of Ramsey when you're a stranger to him? I was pursued and I said, "That's the magic! I fooled myself into thinking that it was a good idea.

　This strategy of sketch listening worked, and everywhere I went, I heard reports of a Ramsey-like sighting.

It looks like that guy is heading for the Tabla Ruins.
Let's go after it with all our might.

　　　　◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇.

　In the end, however, we arrived at the town of Tabla without catching up to Ramsey.
　It's partly because we can't take advantage of the Narsai's speed in the desert on our rest days, but also because Ramsey is terribly well-traveled.
　I've been told that he's a man to be reckoned with, including his healthy legs, which are unbelievable for an old man.

　I'm sure the town of Tabla is well equipped with facilities and services to support adventurers.
　I'm not sure I've ever seen such a thing before.
　For example, "Guests who stay at our restaurant will receive a complete map of the 'Tabula Ruins' up to the sixth level! or "I'll tell you where the hidden room on the fifth floor is! Or so they say.
　I'm sure there's no point in asking where the hidden room is, which is already well known...

　In the meantime, we headed to the "Gold Coin Falling from the Palm" pavilion.
　According to Krim, it's an inn where Ramsey stays regularly.
　If it weren't for the fact that he was introduced by someone or the "strategy book," it would be hard to find him, and it was a desolate restaurant located in the back of the street.
　When Krim and I entered, the owner of the store didn't even look at us, let alone greet us.

　However, the floor is carefully polished and no trash is left unattended.
　Not very friendly, but not bad for a place to stay.
　In other words, it's a matter of what you value and the direction of your professionalism - and Bazelfr was no different - I don't like these eccentric people.
　On the other hand, I also have the mischievous thought that I might surprise them a bit.

Master. Do you have room for me?
...how many?
I am one with them.
What the hell is going on?

　For the first time, the owner's old man turned his eyes toward the entrance we were in.
　Both of his eyes widened in astonishment.

　Zushin.........Zushin.......Zushin......Zushin......

　I was so surprised that my eyeballs popped out of my head when I saw the greatness of the Mithril Golem, Gladius Mk-II, who came after me.

'You two and one. Is the room free?

　I'll ask him again with a clear face.

"There's no........room for a golem........ The floor will fall out....

　Dad was astonished, but he did his job.
　Yeah, that's a lot of professionalism to look up to!


　Then we decided to take up two private rooms and a space in the camel hut. The camel house, of course, was for Gladius.
　The money was, for the time being, three days' worth, paid in advance. I wanted to color it in with an apology for the prank, but my dad didn't seem to be happy about it. 'Pro.

'We've been after Ramsey. He's supposed to be staying here, right?
I don't know that guy.
Does that mean he's not in the room right now?
Yeah, no. No, no, no.
So you're going to the ruins now?
"I don't care what you think of it, my golem-user husband.

　My dad had a Buddha's face the whole time.
　It's a nifty exchange that doesn't give out information about the customer easily, but it's a nifty exchange that's self-indulgent as far as guessing goes.
　I look back at Krim.

'Let's wait for one night, and if he doesn't come back, we'll go to the ruins.
Yeah, I like that.

　Crim agrees and that we should stay the night for now.
　The dinner was soooo good. The owner, the old man, is not a bad cook, though he is not very good at it.
　The chickpeas made into a paste and spread on the bread, they were endlessly edible.

　　　　◇◆◆◆◆.

　In the end, Ramsey did not return.
　We decided to go to Tabla Ruins early in the morning.
　The owner of the shop gave us a basket of lunches and said it was part of our accommodation fee.

The ruins of Tabla are located about a kilometer away from the town.
　You can see the tall structures and you won't get lost unless a sandstorm blows in.
　Clear skies today. With the Narsai, it was a very short distance.
　With me, Krim, and Gradius on board, we were running at a good clip through the sea of sand.

　Most of what are called 'ancient ruins' in this country today were very common towns during the days of the old magical empire five hundred years ago.
　However, as expected of a magical civilization that was more advanced than the present day, the sense and standard of 'common' is blown away.
　All of the towns of that time were housed in a huge metal structure they called a "pyramid".
　A pyramid is a building with a square pyramid exterior, about a kilometer long at the base and three hundred meters high. However, the pyramid was an octahedron, and the lower half of the pyramid was buried in the ground, so it looked like a square pyramid.
　We were aiming for the pyramid-shaped structure.

I don't know what they were thinking when they were living in such a huge iron box.
"It seems to me that you were well protected against the outside world?
"Han, you prosaic man!　That's why you wizards are so good!
But thanks to the magic items, there was no shortage of lighting inside, and it is said that there was always fresh air. It sounds like a great place to live.
That doesn't mean I'm going to spend all my time in some weird iron box with no sky, sun or moon. You'd get choked up.
That said, I'm pretty sure that the box you're talking about is the only thing that still exists in its entirety as an ancient monument.

　If this was the shape of a town, the towns of the magical empire era buried deep beneath the sand would never appear on earth again.
　But thanks to their massive structures, their tops are now peeking out of the sand.

　The adventurers wandered across the wide open desert, eager to find the undiscovered ruins poking their heads into the sand.
　They dream of being the first to be recognized by the state as the first to discover it, and to have their name attached to it.
　Often the tops of previously undiscovered ruins are revealed by storms that have blown away the sand that had accumulated in the past.
　It is said that there are wealthy merchants and aristocrats who are willing to spend huge amounts of money on civil engineering work, digging up the areas they hit upon and excavating the undiscovered ruins themselves. This is the national policy of the present empire.

There is no end to the amount of tragedies that have occurred with the ancient ruins.
Let's hear it over drinks next time. Here we are.

　We arrived at the entrance to the "Tabula Ruins" without much difficulty.
　At the top, there is an area that seems to have been used as a watch window in the past, and now it is possible to enter the ruins as an entrance.
　The entrance area was guarded by about fifty Alabana soldiers.
　Then we came across a scene of some kind of trouble.

''Look, look!　It's a second class permit, right?
How much money do you think we spent to get this?
Why don't you take your eyes off that thing and check it out?

　Three young adventurers were appealing to the guards.
　They seemed to be triplets, young men with the same face.
　The guards, on the other hand, were all smiling lowly and replied with a smile.

'Hee hee, that's too bad. It's a shame," he said, "but we need a first-class permit to explore the ruins of Tabla. Yes, I did, right now.
Heh heh heh. If you insist on going through the streets, you'll have to show me the right amount of sincerity, won't you?　If there's any good, expensive booze, we'll be too drunk to take care of our own security, won't we?
"Hi, hello, good luck with the 50 guys!
"Geehaha, if you don't have the money, you'll have to bring your first-class permit!
If only I could bring it to you!

　and surrounded the three adventurers with scattered taunts.
　I couldn't help but sigh as I witnessed the scene.

''It's been a long time since I've been here, but this country is finally coming down.

　Crim also sniffed uncomfortably.

　If the emperor is the emperor, then a soldier is also a soldier.
　Of course, this is only a small part of the world, and I don't think this kind of situation is common everywhere. It's just that the thought that the once glorious empire is slowly fading away, even from the end of the line, makes me wonder whether the chicken or the egg will be the first to go.

　The triplets, on the other hand, were in a state of confusion.

"I don't want any more money.........
A first-class license is not something an adventurer should be able to handle.
My brother, they know and they're asking for the impossible...

　All three of them were good ol' boys and were already about to start crying.
　The guards were watching them with increasing amusement.

'If you get down on your knees and lick our shoes, maybe you'll change your mind about letting us through, huh?

　And so on, and so on, and so on, and so on, and so on, and so on, and so on, and so on, and so on, and so on, and so on, and so on, and so on, and so on, and so on, and so on, and so on.

　I gave Krim a look and made him wait, and then I interrupted the alley of such guards (scum).

'Get out of the way. I'm going to let you through.

　He suddenly stood next to the triplets and drew the eyes of the guards all at once.

''What the hell, you, all of a sudden!
I've come to explore the ruins. Can I come through?
It's not good!
Wait your turn. Wait your turn!
You got a permit?
This ain't second class!　That's first class!
Go ahead and show me how you can do it, young man!
You can...

　I took out the First Class Permit from my pocket and showed it to him.

''Gee, geez........''
And it was signed by His Highness the Crown Prince and His Highness the Princess.
Oh, it's real...
How long has it been years since I've seen...?

　The guards immediately peeled back their eyes and became dismayed.
　Then, as I thought, they turned into sneering faces and rubbing hands.

Come in. Come in, adventurer-sama.
You know the Crown Prince?
Please forgive me for my earlier rudeness...
It's just a light-hearted flirtation...
Yeah?　I don't know if I'm out of booze from yesterday!　Am I still drunk?

　And so on and so forth, mouthing to me and begging for forgiveness.

'Don't get me wrong. I don't have that kind of authority to forgive or not forgive.
""That's it, then..."
I'm sure it's the military brass and their highnesses that you need to ask for forgiveness.
""What?"
I hope he'll be converted. But Your Highness seems to have a rather stern disposition.
""Desuyoonee"

　The guards were all shouting at once.
　They were all regretting their brutality and nodding their heads as they imagined their not-so-bright future.
　Well, it was good medicine, I suppose.

　By the way, I really don't intend to snitch on anyone about this nonsense.
　Aside from that foolish emperor, if Haydar and Farah are really decent politicians, this kind of slack and distortion in the organization will be purged from the law sooner or later.
　If they don't, that's what they deserve and it's not my problem.
　Well, if I had to bet, I'd bet on it being rectified.
　The eyes I saw in the palace's prison cell, with their righteous indignation burning in them, were impressive.

　Anyway, we headed for the entrance to the ruins of Tabla once again.
　Suddenly, I look back at the triplets and say, "What are you doing?

'What are you doing?　Come on.

　The triplets looked at each other with a surprised look on their faces for a while, but soon they came running up to each other with joy.
　It was like a puppy wagging its tail.