The tenth author's journal: book 2A

Chapter 15: Common Enemy

Wouldn't it be too soon? The night is approaching, and he has already called me on it... Would it be far from here to the north border? I should consult with someone about it. The palace is eerily quiet at night, save for the demons who are rumored to be creatures of the night or that belong to vampires. There was no one to be seen outside of their quarter.

Is there anyone there as the night torch in front of the office turns greenish blue? What a unique system they have, which I have glossily overlooked due to how inefficiently one's mana is used to forget how majestic the cover they wear... What was I thinking? I'm getting absorbed in nothing again; if someone was in the office, it had to be the advisor, right?

The figure drops the book it is holding after unexpectedly opening the door. The hard book was the result of a knock on the floor. I can't see anything but the blurred figure in front of me because the light didn't reach my eyes completely when I entered.

"I apologize for bothering you, Advisor. "However, I have an emergency." The figure snatches the thrown book from my grasp and grabs my hand. The hand appears to be too soft for that Advisor. A wicked voice speaks before I can refute my misunderstanding.

"Perhaps you're still a little dazed, little angel." "Won't you speak up after you recognize me?" Was he here to play this late for the coins collected from taxes? Regardless of the intention, erasing and repairing documents is illegal. Despite being the superior person, Agriculture spoke highly of him. What kind of courtesy might he extend now that we're alone?

"Oh, the commerce minister." I believe this is our first private meeting; please don't let me disrupt your work any further; I have an urgent matter to attend to." To be safe, I begin with a friendly greeting.

"Hold your horse. Is that something I can assist you with? After all, I'm here to make clear a portion of this morning's meeting. A gracious debt of mine that is worthy of your presence?" To the point, was this card working against him or in favor of his advance? Based on how demons usually act on me when I first arrive, he's just testing whether I'm a weak-minded one or not.

"All right, if you insist." "Could you please get me a map to the north border?" Asking him to cast 'Collocatione' on me is a risk; I'd rather dip my wing in hot lava than accept such assistance. Mention of agriculture minister being unaware of his mana manipulation; commerce minister being the polar opposite, boldly using the faint mana scent in the office during our morning meeting. Advisor was noticing the changed atmosphere, whereas I seemed to be seeing it only clearly.

"May I inquire as to why?" His expression is peculiar; at my request, all of them are the same. Curiosity is what plagues the mind of a specific creature such as I, and for the natural order to be twisted in such a way, that individual must have the ability to resist the quota.

"Well, his Majesty has asked me to come to his aid as soon as possible." I can't use 'Collocatione' in this context." That is a lot of information that I am willing to give, take, or leave. Commerce is not as easily trusted as Librarian or Advisor.

"I can understand that. But I'd rather you take a look at this." Taking a parchment with stitches from his subspace to hand over to me. This piece contains words about the port of Fimbulwinter, detailing how it was built and the materials used on it. "It's difficult for me to have this teleportation scroll in my possession." Simply direct your mana at it, and you will appear on the northern border." This type of used technology, one of the demon's artifacts, never ceases to amaze me.

"What's the catch?" As you stated, it is not simply a repaid favor." Looking at the demon in front of me, his eyes sparkled with surprise, and the deepening shade of red filled the demon's eyes once more.