So, what I'd like to ask you is...
Well, actually, we're working on a case.
All three of you?
Yeah.

　Nicola with a curious expression. If it's just Wraith and Lurimes, it's probably because Seth, a nobleman, is also there. It's not every day that a mere alchemist and a nobleman receive the same request. However, it's a bother to explain the situation every single time, so Wraith only mentions the business.

''I may possibly need some liquid metal for that request.
Hmm, liquid metal.

　Nicola is the only craftsman Wraith knows. Even if she doesn't own liquid metal, she might know what is in circulation in the kingdom. So it was with that idea in mind that I came here.

''I know a few things, but which liquid metal are you and the others looking for, Wraith-san?
Are there any liquid metals in circulation in Japan that are prone to changes in the state of the liquid and solids?　And that's something that turns into a solid when heated.

　When Wraith touched the crystal part of the crystal dragon, it was warm as if blood was flowing through it. If he could feel that much warmth on the surface, the inside should be even hotter. That's why Wraith said that.

''That's right........''

　Nicola shows a thoughtful place and is silent. Honestly, if I don't even know Nicola, the only other person I can rely on is Virus, who I think I'm not good at. Relying on him is somehow scary and I really want to avoid it. I don't know what he's going to ask for in return.

''Speaking of which I think I heard that a new liquid metal has been imported into the kingdom recently.
Do you have a name, or do you know where it was imported from?

　He said that the current state of the crystal dragon was unprecedented. Then there was something different from the past.
　A new liquid metal. It was highly likely.

　The Wraiths suddenly became forward, perhaps out of anticipation.

'I think I heard it was ordered from the south... what was its name...'
South.

　With the information he had beforehand, and the new information that he had, South, there was one name that emerged in Wraith's brain.

''Could it be--Light Silver?''
Oh, that's it, that's it!
'Oh, I see...'

　Wraith had guessed the correct answer admirably. However, his expression did not clear. Rather, it would be more like he was happy to be off. Rulimes also let out a woo-hee and has a troublesome look on his face.

''By the way, is there any leftover?''
'I don't know, I heard there weren't many of them, and there may not be any left.
Well, you know...

　I asked, hoping for a sliver of hope, but the answer I got back was as expected. Wraith couldn't help but let out a tired sigh.

　However, Seth's eyebrows furrowed as he didn't understand why Wraith was so depressed. He thought it would be a scene to rejoice because he had gotten the information he was looking for.

'Surely you didn't get it, but isn't it good that you just found out who it is?
No, well, if it's just a piece of metal, we'll be very happy about that. But that's what's so annoying about this one.
What the hell is going on?　If you want, I can come to the house and get it for you--
You'll never make it.

　Wraith rejects Seth's idea with almost certainty. This is because the metal called lighthouse silver is not available (...) before it's rare, it's not available (...).

Lighthand silver is basically a metal found in volcanic regions, but it's just a matter of luck whether you get it or not.
"Luck?
The volcanic area where the lighthouse is located is always active, it erupts regularly, and the mountain itself is covered in heat.

　In other words, luminescent silver exists only in so-called active volcanoes. This in itself is not a problem because it is also found in other metals.

But there's a problem. But then there's a problem: Many of the volcanoes that have luminescent silver have another metal in them, and that metal is very hard to find in luminescent silver. And the trouble is, that metal is very similar to luminescent silver. It's already so indistinguishable.

　Although luminescent silver is a rare metal, but more than that, the number available is extremely low due to the reasons Wraith mentioned. So what are the cases when you can get it?

''But luminescent silver is a liquid metal. Even though it turns into a solid when heated, it also turns into a liquid when the temperature changes. Therefore, luminescent silver is found in liquid form only when there is no volcanic activity. With this, there's no way of mistaking it for something else.

　It is easy to obtain luminescent silver only when it is in a liquid state. In short, if you aim for a time when the volcanoes aren't active, it's easy to obtain it itself.

　........However, if this is the end of the story, Wraith won't have to worry about his head.

　The trouble comes in the future.

''The crucial time when the volcanoes aren't active is also troublesomely unknown. Apparently, the volcanoes where you can get luminescent silver have spirits, so it seems to depend on their movements.

　Spirits are a form of magical power that dwells in natural phenomena, and people with a high level of training as a mage can see them. The activities of the volcanoes are also influenced by these spirits.

　This is the element of luck in obtaining the light silver that Wraiths have mentioned above. It's the biggest enemy that Wraiths can't control.


''On top of that, it seems that the light silver that you can finally get after going through that much trouble has no particular notable use value. It's not only that, but it's also that no one wants to obtain it and there are no numbers of them available. Especially after exporting to the kingdom these days.

　For these reasons, Wraith could tell Seth that he couldn't get his hands on the light silver. At the same time, it was also the reason why he sincerely thought it would be troublesome.

　It would be nice if this was a time when the volcano's activity happened to have subsided, but it wouldn't be so sweet. If that was the case, he would have to find the real thing amidst the large amount of metal that resembled luminescent silver.

　It's like looking for a lost object in the desert - that might be a bit of an exaggeration, but it's something close to that.

''........Do we really need to get the real thing in the first place?　If you know what the metal is, you don't have to...
You won't need it if you want to experiment with the Crystal Dragon.

　Light silver is a metal that neither Wraith nor Lurimes has ever obtained. Because of the harshness of the conditions, they have given up on obtaining it in the past. Therefore, it must be said that my knowledge of lighthouse silver is still very limited.

　You can't afford to do anything poorly in such a state, and as a result, if you end up hurting the crystal dragon, it's important.

''........I see.
It's not always the way it works, is it?

　It's all I can do.
　However, there's no point in complaining about it all. I have to do what I can to the extent that I can.

''Nicola-san, can I ask you to find out if there is still some light silver left in the kingdom?
'Yes, that's fine, but...'
I'll pay for it, and I'll send my mentor to you when I hear the results.
With pleasure!

　Nicola's eyes sparkle and she jumps at the condition without saying a word. Although Rulimes, who was decided without permission, seems unhappy, he does not complain.

'Just for the record, can you just try to see if you can get your hands on Seth too? Or just make sure there aren't any left in the royal family.
Yeah, I get it.

　If you still can't, you'll have to consider going there this time to get it. To be honest, though, that's the last thing I want to do.

"Anyway, that's all I have to do for today. I'm sorry to take up your time.
'No, no, I'll look into it then, and I'll be waiting for Mr. Lurimes to arrive!

　The Wraiths left the shop with Nicola, who was loyal to her desire, and left the shop.