C132
The train ran and ran until it reached a small town about five or six hours from the capital.
We got off there, had a late lunch, and then found a place to spend the night.
Vinetta said, as she walked down a quiet street.
"In other words, it is very important to attract the wizard you are going to meet here. That's what you're saying."
"That's right."
I spent most of the time on the train telling Vinetta my story.
I had promised to tell Vinetta everything inside the mine, but I had never had the proper opportunity until now.
Vinetta, who listened to my story, just stared at me with a blank expression for a while.
"... Is there something you don't understand?"
"I'm sorry, but honestly, it's such difficult content that I..."
Vinetta said it was due to her lack of understanding, but having lived close to her, I knew very well that Vinetta was a rather intelligent person.
Just by her intuitive nature, talking about transmigration didn't seem to make much sense.
"It feels a bit unexpected."
On the other hand, when Vinetta heard that I had to appease the eccentric inventor to stop Liena's business, Vinetta immediately returned to her original sharp-faced look.
She was the type of person motivated solely by clear and realistic goals.
This time Terence asked a question.
"Are you going to where that guy named Kais is now?"
"You could say that. But we will meet tomorrow."
"Why?"
"Kais only accepts new clients on the 1st day of each month. He can see people he already knows at any time, but we have to go on the 1st."
"If it's the 1st, it's tomorrow."
"Today, before that..."
As we talked, we reached our destination.
I stopped in front of a rundown building located in a particularly remote spot on a quiet street.
"Well, leave it to me for now. Vinetta, can you wait here? Kais doesn't like crowds, so he doesn't accept more than three visitors."
"Okay."
Terence left Vinetta at the entrance, opened the creaky door, and went in.
The first thing I felt in my nose was a pungent smell.
It was the smell that came from the leather items lined up on the shelves, including bags, belts, sword sheaths, and tapestries.
It was natural. This was a leather workshop.
The man sitting inside, hammering leather with a mallet, looked at us and focused on what he was doing.
The remote location, the rundown building, the messy interior of the shop, and even the unfriendly customer service.
At this level, the customer was being turned away, but I calmly looked at the products and opened my mouth.
"Hey. I want to make a reservation."
Only then did the man who seemed to be the owner of the workshop open his mouth for the first time.
"I don't take orders. We only sell ready-made products."
"No. I'm making a reservation, not an order. I'll come to pick up the product tomorrow."
For a moment, the hammering stopped.
"I don't know who told you that, but don't talk nonsense and leave."
Actually, this didn't mean leaving the store.
"I can't reveal the presenter. He asked to remain anonymous."
The man turned his head and looked at us.
"... As you insist, I can't help it. Please tell me your name."
"Ethel Lucibiu."
Here, giving a fake name or hiding your identity served no purpose.
The man's thick eyebrows moved slightly when he heard my name.
But he said nothing and just looked at Terence as if he were next.
Terence, who saw me reveal my real name, also gave his name obediently.
"Terence Belver Asteroth."
This time, the man's eyebrows moved more noticeably than before.
He let out a faint sigh and continued hammering, leaving only the words to come back tomorrow at the same time.
We moved to a nearby tea shop and told Vinetta what happened inside the workshop.
Vinetta tilted her head.
"So, that wasn't the eccentric inventor?"
"No, he's someone who helps Kais with his work. He pre-selects those who will meet with Kais."
"That wizard seems to be very cautious."
"He is very cautious and sensitive. Tomorrow, he will continue to explore who we are as individuals."
After saying that, I looked at the faces of Terence and Vinetta and spoke quietly.
"Actually, about that. To attract Kais, I will need your cooperation tomorrow."
It was something I couldn't do alone.
The next day, we visited the leather workshop at the same time.
This time, Vinetta stayed outside the building and, after exchanging glances with her, I entered the workshop.
"Please come this way."
The man remained straightforward, but with a tone more polite than yesterday, he led us inside the workshop.