WebNovels

Chapter 118 - Episode 118: The Grand Tournament (17)

"Ah! That's right. I meant to seek advice from you, a Manastone Artificer, but I forgot and have been talking about other things all this time."

"Hmm? Something to ask? If you want advice from an insignificant Manastone Artificer like Ackshoht, I'll gladly provide it."

In response to BasShula's words, Ackshoht, brimming with inner joy that spilled outward, clasped his hands together and placed them on the table before saying,

"It's about using the fragments and dust left over from processing manastones in fire arrows. What do you think? Does it seem possible?"

"Hmm. Manastone fragments, or dust… using powder, you say…"

"Does it seem possible?"

"It probably won't work with just pure powder or fragments; you'll need some auxiliary device. And you'll have to conduct plenty of experiments. Securing enough manastone fragments and powder to produce fire arrows for the soldiers will be another issue… I'd need to see the fire arrow you've made in detail."

"I see. As for the fire arrow, I can show it to you as soon as we get back to the workshop…"

"The delay mechanism for ignition or explosion is fairly simple, so the cost won't rise much. Manastone powder is cheaper than fragments, too. But it's unstable—especially when handling it with fire. Small fragments might be easier to manage, though… If you mix saltpeter and charcoal, the firepower should be sufficient. The problem, as always, is cost."

Ackshoht formed a circle with his thumb and index finger, mimicking the shape of a gold coin, and said,

"Indeed. If we had gold coins overflowing, what couldn't we make? Not just fire arrows, but even a ballista launching 10-cubit (5m) arrows."

"But even with overflowing gold coins, isn't it our duty as Scholars to find ways to save even a single coin efficiently? Hahaha!"

The conversation between the two scholars continues.

"By the way, I haven't heard about what you've been up to, Ackshoht. What have you created recently?"

"Me? Hmm… Nothing particularly special. Just a device that sprays water mist for use in rooms or tents during dry autumn days or the coming winter when noses and throats get parched… and this."

Ackshoht rummaged in his pocket and pulled out a palm-sized manastone device, showing it to BasShula.

"What's that?"

BasShula leaned forward for a closer look and asked.

"Rather than explaining with words, I'll show you. Here."

When Ackshoht pressed a small button on the device, a metal rod extended. He dipped it into a cup of Kohwa, and with a sharp hiss, the liquid bubbled and boiled, white steam rising above the cup.

"What do you think? It's a device that can quickly heat drinks or soups in small cups or bowls."

Ackshoht blew on the steam to scatter it, took a sip of the Kohwa, and slid the device toward BasShula.

"Looks useful. Especially handy for the coming winter."

"Right? Drinking cold Kohwa on a chilly day is miserable. Take it—I planned to share these with the other Scholars as I make them, starting with you."

"Oh? An unexpected gift! Thank you."

BasShula picked up Ackshoht's manastone device, turning it over in his hands to examine it closely.

"Speaking of which, I haven't seen Lindi in the garden lately. He enjoys sitting here drinking Kohwa as much as you do…"

"Hmm? Scholar Lindi? Lately, he's been working with an adventurer from the Huld kingdom to overhaul the map of Vanald."

"An adventurer from Huld? How'd someone from Huld end up all the way out here…?"

"I didn't catch the full story, but I heard he's traveling the continent with a party. Given he has a permit from Lord Ratak to access the archives, he seems more like a Scholar from Huld than just a traveler or adventurer."

"Excuse me. I've brought some cookies that pair well with Kohwa."

Noticing the scholars' lengthy conversation, a servant approached and set down a small silver tray piled with round cookies on the table.

"I was just craving something sweet—perfect timing. Thanks."

BasShula smiled, thanked the servant, and reached for a cookie.

"Mmm! Filled with ground dates and cinnamon. What were these called again? I think you told me once before, Ackshoht."

BasShula licked the white sugar powder from his lips and asked.

"They're called Ma'Aat. In the Cobalt Archipelago, they're a common side with Kohwa."

"I see. So, you said that black-haired guy from Huld is working with Lindi?"

"Yeah. Lindi's back was too sore to go on map-making expeditions, so he met that black-haired Scholar. Oh—I just remembered the traveler's name. Gravel. I heard Lindi call him Gravel."

"Unexpected. Lindi's the one who said maps should be made by walking and seeing with your own eyes…"

BasShula grabbed another Ma'Aat from the tray, recalling a past chat with Lindi.

"I thought the same—it was so surprising I wondered if it was the Lindi I knew. But apparently, when Lindi asked him to sketch Pestellos Lake as a test, he came back with a dead-on drawing. So precise, like he'd drawn it from an airship. Even picky Lindi trusted him to handle the fieldwork."

"Trust earned through skill."

"You could say that. Oh, and Gravel doesn't seem to be traveling alone. Just yesterday, a woman—maybe his wife—brought some food, and they were eating here in the garden."

"Ho! A journey with his wife, eh?"

"What? Missing your wife back home or something? Heh heh heh."

"Hey! What a horrible thing to say!"

BasShula set down his cookie, waved his hands, and scowled in mock offense.

"Hahaha! Teasing an old dwarf Scholar is too much fun. I'll have to do it more often."

"Ugh! Old, you say? I've just passed 220—far too young to be called an old man!"

BasShula snorted, his tone firm and emphatic.

"Over 200? A human would've died and risen as undead a few times by then."

"That long, huh?"

"Yup. Humans don't make it past 100."

"Still, I'd take that over the elves who breeze through a thousand years like it's nothing."

"Living in different flows of time, I suppose. Elves have their own sense of it. We count days; they might feel a decade as short as that."

Ackshoht sipped his Kohwa and gave a gentle smile.

"True. I didn't think it through. You're right—we each live in our own time. Me, I aim to face every day with the excitement of first learning something… Hahaha!"

"Ugh! This talk's getting too heavy. Doesn't suit Kohwa-drinking."

"Heh heh! Sorry about that. It's a chat with an old friend, after all."

"Only a 20-year friend—it's fine! Hahaha!"

"Hmm, how about we move somewhere else and grab a meal instead?"

"Huh? Weren't you full? You ate all the Ma'Aat here…"

Ackshoht's eyes widened as he stared at the empty tray.

"Hey now, these cookies can't fill a dwarf's stomach!"

BasShula grinned playfully, patting his belly with both hands.

"Then let's go eat. We can keep talking over food."

"Oh! You're joining me? Hmm, I haven't thought about what to eat yet…"

BasShula stroked his beard, lost in deeper thought than ever.

"I'd love something spicy like Blast Furnace Chicken(高爐鷄) from back home… Hmm."

"Spicy, huh? You mean dwarf dishes with Lageta peppers? Not sure if there's a place here for that."

"Nah, I don't need Lageta peppers specifically… Just grilled chicken with spicy seasoning would do."

Imagining the dish in vivid detail, BasShula swallowed hard, stood up, and headed out of the garden.

"Let's move, Ackshoht. Sitting here's just making me overthink."

*****

A short while later, Ackshoht and BasShula strolled through the Old Quarter of Ves-Dinas. The streets buzzed with new arrivals—travelers on horseback taking in the sights at a leisurely pace, and merchants with hefty packs and small maps, lost in the city, pushing past the tantalizing smells of cooking wafting through the air.

"So, decided what to eat? I know a place with tasty wood-fired chicken—not spicy, though. Or a harbor spot with fresh waterspout clam stir-fry in garlic and butter. There's also a joint that stuffs grilled pork between thick bread."

"I was thinking of a tavern I went to once—piles of shrimp roe on little bread, spiced up nice and hot. Wanted to taste that again, but… I changed my mind."

"Hmm? Not craving spicy anymore?"

"Well… it's not that. I just felt like following the oracle of the red dragon."

BasShula stopped and pointed at a wooden sign by a tavern door.

"The Red Chicken and the White Chicken. A chicken joint?"

Ackshoht, assuming BasShula stopped either to beg the owner for spicy sauce or because he still craved chicken sans homeland heat, looked puzzled and asked.

"Dunno. Never been here before."

"Huh? I'm lost. What's this 'oracle of the red dragon' got to do with this place? Did a giant red dragon swoop into your dreams and point you here? Hahaha!"

"Nope, not dreams or anything like that. I meant the red dragon emblem popping up around Ves-Dinas lately."

"Oh? What's that about…?"

"Check the corner of the sign."

BasShula pointed to a red dragon emblem etched in the sign's corner and chuckled.

"Ah… so that's the red dragon… But how's that tied to your growling stomach?"

"Ahem! I'll explain."

"Please do."

"It's the seal of Nia, a gastronomy Droko with red scales, all the rage in Ves-Dinas right now. I've never seen her myself, but they say watching her eat is so mouthwatering that even stuffed customers order more. Taverns where this little foodie orders and polishes off at least three dishes get to carve that emblem on their sign."

"Hmm… Got it. So this place has the red dragon emblem as proof that the foodie Droko loved it here?"

"Exactly. Quick on the uptake, Scholar Ackshoht."

"Thanks to your clear explanation, Scholar BasShula."

"Then let's head in. Time to test this mark of taste spreading across Ves-Dinas."

"Gotta taste the reliability of a tavern with the red dragon emblem!"

"Let's go!"

"You bet!"

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