We decided to use a small golem to search the water supply from the withered hot springs.
And as a result, I realized that all the hot springs were gathered in one place.
Having learned of this, we quickly made our way to the point of problem outside the town.
However, it is not so far from the hot spring town.
I'm surprised that there was a place so close that it could be the cause.
"Hmm? Is that... a tower?"
When I got out of town and got closer to my destination, I saw a suspicious tower ahead of me.
What? The tower? Where?
But Lillie had to look around to see where the tower was.
Liliera-san, please strengthen the Exploration System in your eyes.
"In my eyes? Um, okay, I'll try." Um, exploratory magic... ah! I see it! It's really a tower!! "
Lilliera, who found the tower, said she saw it.
What she did now was use exploration magic to strengthen her body.
If you do this, you can strengthen your whole body's senses, so you can clearly understand the discomfort by strengthening your senses with information that you could only feel slightly at the level of your unconsciousness.
Also, by doing the effect only on some senses, for example, you can see far away, your ears can hear well, your nose becomes sharp, you can easily feel the discomfort of touching your hands, and you even notice the abnormality in the flow of air that touches your skin.
This time, by concentrating on visuals, I was able to discover the illusion that was circling around the tower.
"That's the same kind of illusion that was put on Gangai's new lab." It's magic that you'll find out if it gets close, but maybe it's because you're so vigilant against intruders, or maybe it was simply a magician with low illusion skills. "
It's not going to happen. It's true that low-level adventurers can't get to this place, and there's no one who can use magic against hunters, so there's no need to worry about finding out.
Huh? I think even hunters use magic. There were usually hunters who used physical strengthening magic and flying magic to hunt dragons, and woodpeckers who cut down ancient plants.
Yeah, but it might mean that there are no woodpeckers or hunters who are putting their strength into exploration magic.
Since they are the type who are dedicated to technology to hunt their prey, they are insensitive to technology against a wide variety of opponents.
When I blossomed into a magical discourse like that, I reached the desired tower.
Well then, let's start the investigation!
Ohh!
Cuuuu!
It feels like we're getting close, and there's no interceptor to attack anyone who's getting close.
Is it possible that a defense device of the kind that brings no mercy to those who enter the tower without permission?
And as we approached the entrance of the tower, we noticed that there was a sign erected there.
That's what it said.
"This tower is off-limits to the private property of Viscount Lugianin's house."
……
Uh, private property? This tower?
Hey, Rex-san, what is this all about?
“Now, now. All I know is that this building is the property of the Viscount family.”
"I know, but why don't we solve the problem ourselves?" If there is a reason why the hot spring has withered here, I think the owner of this building will look into it first. "
That's right. There were other questions.
Why did you send a joint request to the Adventurer's Guild to solve the case when you knew about this tower that caused trouble in your territory?
You're going to run out of it, right?
To be honest, I don't understand the Viscount's intentions.
If you are in serious trouble, you will investigate this tower yourself, and if you are doing it intentionally, it is too unclear what you intend to do to wither the hot spring, which is an important financial resource as a maintenance site.
Besides, if there is a problem in the place controlled by the nobility, they may be silenced because they do not want to admit that they have a problem with their management responsibility.
Yeah, we can't decide this on our own. and then.....
We can't force ourselves into the nobility's administrative land, so let's go back to town and consult with Mr. Mabinal.
Yes, the Viscount House and the Commercial Guilds are the adventurer's guilds in this town.
If there was a problem, I would say that the Guild, which was the original tightening of the adventurer, was the mainstay.
Also, if the client with important information for resolving the case is uncooperative in resolving the case, as an adventurer's guild, I'm not obliged to continue accepting unsolvable requests.
Even the worst has come out of the possibility of this world disappearing.
That's right. Worst case scenario, you might want to give up on the hot springs and go home.
With the key to solving the case right in front of us, we decided to go back to town.
◆
"I'm sorry, Mabinaru." It's about the request, but it's starting to get a little tedious. "
Even though it was us who returned to the Adventurer's Guild, Mabinal-san rarely came to greet us.
Are you going out for a second? I thought that it was unusual for me to have a customer, and Mr. Mabinal seemed to be focused on dealing with those people.
What is that?
But that's when I realized that my client was a familiar face.
"Gyro, aren't you guys?"
Huh? Aniki?
Yes, it was the Gyros who were the customers.
Gyro-kun's face is amazed at my voice.
There were just two unfamiliar faces.
Oh, you know Gyro-sama?
One of them is a very nice blonde girl in a red dress.
The other was a pair of maids who seemed to be accompanying the girl.
No, there are signs of vigilance from the shadows and outside the building, so it looks like some of the guards are here.
"Oh, yeah. This is our master, Rex."
“Nice to meet you, my name is Rex. This is Lilliella, a party member, and her pet, Mohumov.”
Gyro-kun introduces us, and we introduce ourselves for the new.
"Nice to meet you, my name is Liliera."
"Cucumber!!"
"Oh, this is polite." And some creatures you don't know well. My name is Inorje-Lugianin. It belongs to the Viscount Lugianin family. "
"Viscount Lugianin!?
I can't believe I'm meeting someone related to the Viscount family in this place.
“Oh, you know that? Fufu, that means there's a lot of research on the ruler of the town."
No, I just found it out on the sign.
But it's better not to touch it. If I told you that I didn't know about you, I would definitely be stunned.
So I decided to change the subject a little forcefully.
So, Gyro, why are you guys in this town? Is this Inoruje-sama involved? "
Yes, why are you here, the gyros who were waiting to retake the B-rank exam?
And why were they escorted by the Lady Daughter of this town?
"Oh! I received a request for an escort to transport Inoruje to this town in the B-Rank Promotion Test!"
I thought it was just for re-testing.
Huh, that was an unexpectedly fast resumption of the exam.
"I wonder if I can accomplish a responsible job without being prepared for it."
The more it was, the more urgent and unexpected the adventurer's requests were.
"What's the matter with you guys?" Didn't you say the two of you would go to the hot spring to take a bath? "
Oops, I've been asked a question this time.
"Yeah, that's what I was going to do..."
"That's what it was all about." Indeed, our Lugianin Territory is one of Japan's leading hot spring villages! If you're thinking about bathing, you can't do it outside of our territory! "
And so, Inoruje-sama joins the conversation.
"Yes, that was the plan, but it seems that the hot spring can't be put in right now..."
"Oh, what's that supposed to mean?"
I have been asking not only Mr. Inoruje, but also Mr. Gyro, what happened, so I will explain what happened so far.
"The hot springs all over the town have withered!? It's impossible to have such a stupid story!"
"But it's true." In fact, several hot springs in the inn have withered, and the Adventurer's Guild has been asked to solve the problem under the joint name of Lord and Commercial Guild. ”
I'll peel the investigation request form from the request board and show it to Inoruje-san.
"That's right!? Even though the profits of the hot spring are indispensable for the tax revenue of our territory!!"
"Is it indispensable?" Indeed, why is the proportion of revenue from hot springs so large? I don't think there are any hot springs in normal territory? "
Yes, a territory that is not limited to hot springs but has strengths that are not found in other territories such as mines and ports is wealthy, but it is by no means impossible to operate without it.
Well, some territories are not suitable for general tax revenues, but.....
"Our territory uses most of the income from the profits of hot spring management for taxes, and we reduce other taxes to make people's lives easier. However, even if you make a profit from the hot spring, the income from our territory is not that large."
"Hey, you're not a good lord."
That's right.
Yeah, it's hard to reduce taxes for the residents.
The Viscount Luginian seems to be a respectable nobleman.
So you figured out why the hot springs withered away?
When Inorue learns of the situation, she asks Mabinal, an employee, about the progress of the investigation.
"Haha!? Well, the whole town is looking for a total mobilization, but still......"
On the other hand, Mabinal replies to Inoruje with a more modest attitude and that he has not yet found any useful information.
"Why can't we get information by mobilizing all the human resources!?"
"Hey!? I'm sorry! I'm sorry, but don't worry!" After all, Rex, a new S-rank adventurer, has enrolled in our guild! And even the A-ranked Liliella! If you are the best adventurers, Lex and the others will definitely solve the case!!...... Maybe "
"Well! Such a wonderful adventurer is in my territory!?... Rex?"
Inoruje-san turns his head to my name.
Ah, yes. I'm an S-ranked adventurer.
You?
Are you the young one with those eyes? It was outrageous.
Well, I'm thinking the same thing myself.
"That's right!" Rex's brother is a terrific adventurer! Until now, I've blown up monsters and solved all kinds of difficult problems! "
Well, actually, you're doing well enough for the rank of S.
Lilliella was also the best solo climber to B-rank.
"If it wasn't for Lex, we'd be dead a long time ago."
Gyros testified that I was truly an S-rank adventurer to Inorue-san, who looked suspiciously.
No, but you're not doing so much.
"That's right... is it?" Well, if that's what Mr. Gyro said, then it must be true. "
Perhaps it was worth it, but Inoruje-san admitted that I was an S-rank adventurer.
Or rather, did you trust Gyro-kun's words...?
She seems to have a lot of trust in you, Gyro.
"It's the usual one. I'm getting a fever because I helped the girl a little bit cool."
However, Mina was dissatisfied with the fact that the party members were trusted by the nobility.
"Well, it looks like the bandit who attacked us on his journey was actually an assassin hired by a nobleman who was related to her."
Knorrb secretly told me what happened on the way so that Mina, who seemed to be in such a bad mood, wouldn't notice.
Could it be a problem among the nobles?
Hmm, even if the aristocrats get into trouble, they can still be certified as related.
You're one of your aristocrats.
I've been in trouble a lot in my previous life.
"It's simpler. I just got a little along with my noble son, and he's jealous and wants to make me feel a little painful."
Uh...
Cheng Jo, you got caught up in the romance.
After all, Gyro-kun seems to have a constitution that makes it easy to get along with girls on the go.
I wonder if he's a hero?
In other words, researchers who have known each other for many years have said that people who attract some kind of edge are likely to have such a soul constitution.
I wonder what happened to that research.
Um, so, Rex, did you get any important information about your return?
Mabinar-san looked at him with anticipation, but he secretly asked not to be noticed by Inoruje-san.
"Yes, I came back because I wanted to talk to you about it."
"Do you want to consult...?"
Mabinal tilts her neck wondering what she really wants to talk to herself about.
"Actually..."
I will explain the discovery of the tower and the fact that it is private property of the Viscount family.
"That's why I couldn't go any further."
A mysterious tower managed by the Viscount family...!?
It seemed that Mabinar-san had never heard of it before, and he was surprised to see his eyes wide open.
Can't the Adventurer's Guild offer the Viscount to investigate the tower?
"I can't! I can't! I don't have the political power to negotiate with noble opponents in the weak branches of regional towns!"
However, Mabinar-san turned pale and shook his head sideways, saying that he couldn't do such a terrible thing.
"I see..."
"Ugh, I'm sorry that my branch is too small to be useful..."
Did you truly feel sorry for me? Mabinal came here by mistake to drop her shoulder and be of no use to her.
I've heard of that tower.
"UHHHHHH!?"
And then Inoruje-san joined the conversation, and Mabinal-san just jumped in surprise.
Well, I've been listening to our conversations behind Inoruje-san and Mabinal-san for a while now.
"It is true that when our first lord succeeded in exploiting this land and officially granted him the title, he discovered a mysterious tower by investigating the surrounding area."
"Are you the first lord of the Viscount Luginian family!?"
That's a lot of old names coming up again.
"Yes, I know you guys are adventurers in this town, but the mountains near this town can't get into the back with the poisonous air." That's why the first generation searched the area to see if there was anything to sell the territory. When I became an aristocrat, it seemed that I needed some quick money measures. And one day, I discovered a mysterious tower that was invisible from a distance and suddenly appeared as I approached it. Even more strange in the tower, there was hot water running through several channels along with steam. ”
Is there hot water in the tower?
Oh, that's a good chance that the tower is a source of hot spring water!
"Yes, and when the first generation realized that the water wasn't just hot water, they tried to scrutinize the tower in detail, but it was attacked by something like a golem that they had never seen when they tried to scrutinize the back of the tower."
A golem!?
The golem is guarding the interior. After all, the defenses on the outside of the tower were sweet because they were dedicated to their internal defenses.
"Although the dead and seriously injured didn't appear, the Golem's resistance was quite strong." Fortunately, they didn't follow us out of the tower, so they decided to seal the tower. Don't let people who don't know anything lose their lives on their own. "
Hmm, that's why the sign was standing.
I'm connected to a lot of things.
"Later, when the first generation realized that there were many hot springs near the tower, they used the hot springs for territorial development and made this area their base for monitoring the tower. At that time, the people who participated in the reclamation became the first generation of each inn, and the reclamation village became more busy with tourists aiming for hot springs, and one day it became so busy that it could be called a town."
»» »» Oh »» »
Wonderful. It's like a sample of a successful nobleman.
"Also, since the first generation discovered the hot spring, they realized that the strange hot water that was flowing in the tower was the hot spring, and they named the tower the secret tower of the hot spring."
Oh yeah, it's a secret hot spring tower that flows like a hot spring. Is it a secret hot spring tower?
I wonder if the first Viscount Lugianin was named for being fashionable?
"That's right, isn't it? The mystery of the withered hot springs is hidden in the tower."
Inoruje-sama nodded emotionally.
"Um, why didn't you go to the investigation while you knew about the tower?" I know it's dangerous, but if you put it in the territory management and it's so important, I think I'll take the risk and go to investigate it. "
That's right, isn't it? That's why I was leaning my neck against Lilliella earlier.
Moreover, if the generations of Viscount Lugianin and his family knew that a hot spring was flowing in the tower, there was no reason not to investigate.
"To be honest, the existence of the tower was questioned." It seems that generations of lords also tried to investigate the tower, but with each passing generation, the location of the tower became unknown, and now it was thought that it was a hot spring foil or something. "
Cheng Jing, it seems that there were no wizards in the Viscount's family who were good at exploratory magic.
I don't think I had a budget when I just gave you the territory, and I don't think I could sell my name as an aristocrat. You couldn't afford to hire good people in such a situation.
So I was able to discover the tower by chance during the investigation, but later I couldn't find the location of the tower.
"But what Lex and the others found was that the tower actually existed." Then we need to investigate it to revive the hot springs. "
Then Inoruje-sama stares at Gyro-kun.
Gyro-sama, I'd like to ask you to nominate an additional person.
"To us?"
"Yes, I'd like to invite your party to investigate the hot spring mystery tower." It's dangerous, but I'll pay for it. ”
Inoruje-sama's request was as expected in a sense.
However, it was unexpected that it came out of Inoruje-sama's mouth at this timing.
Is it okay to send out a request on your own without the permission of the lord?
You must have thought the same thing. Confirm whether Mina can make a request to Inoruje-sama on her own.
"I don't mind." Your father has already sent you a request, so you will be paid properly. Besides, although I'm expecting the next B-rank, it's still an adventurer party at C-rank. It's a lot cheaper than an S rank and A rank nomination request. "
"Are you going to use Gyro if you don't nominate us?"
Lilliera stared at Inoruje-sama with a strong look.
I'm sure you're trying to use our feelings for Gyros to make them work for free.
"That's not true." The Gyros have only received half of my requests for escort. The promotion to B-Rank lasts until I return to the capital. Originally, I would not be allowed to wait in the Mansion's guest rooms until my errands were over, but I would like to do additional work by twisting the request from the escort subject. ”
Certainly, since it's an examination from the guild, I can't take the job on my own just because I'm free.
If something happens, it will develop into a credit problem.
Besides, Inoruje-sama continued.
"Have you already received a request before I sent you a request for nomination?" If I send you a request here, you will receive the request twice. "
"Guuuu"
It was true that Inoruje-sama was right.
We have already accepted the request of our own will, so we cannot accept the same request again.
"Nevertheless, things are things. Rex and his colleagues have brought us some useful information to help us solve the case, and how about we offer you some extra rewards after the case is resolved?”
"Extra rewards?"
"Yes. First, the Viscount family will pay for your entire stay until the case is resolved as an information fee." In addition, as an additional reward after the case is resolved, I will have the cost of bathing in the best inn in this town! "
"" "" Oh! "" "" ""
This is fat, isn't it?
A good inn fills the room quickly, and the price is not cheap.
If you think of hot spring treatment as hot spring treatment, you can say that it is better to guarantee long-term treatment in an inn than to pay in gold.
That's good. A good place will fill up quickly, and there are many high-priced places.
"Yes. Hot springs are a source of income for our territory." It would be cheaper if I could solve the problem for a small additional fee. Rather, there is nothing that does not take advantage of this odd relationship. Besides, your father's personality will definitely do the same thing to me. ”
Apparently, the Viscount family owners are pretty good at this.
"That's why I'd like you to investigate the secret hot spring tower."
Got it! Leave it to me!
Alright, so now it's time to conquer the secret hot spring tower!
"" "" Oh!!! "" ""
At last, our secret hot spring pagoda attack began.