"So, I have been cultivating unusual plants in my territory — plants that, I suspect, don't even exist in Yggdra. I would love for Princess Serene to see them — we're hosting a dinner party tonight, so if you're available—"
The Zebuldian noble smiled brightly as he made his proposal in the reception room prepared for them at the Beginning Footprint Clan House.
The human world was brimming with interesting things. Given that Serene had always been curious about humans, most of the various proposals made since she'd begun working toward establishing diplomatic relations were things she welcomed.
Of course, there were lines her race couldn't cross. Spiritfolk were naturally averse to metallic objects and had to avoid meat. But she tried to go along with everything else.
If Serene built good relations with humans, the deep-seated aversion to humans among the Spiritfolk would surely ease. And that, in turn, would lead to a better future for her people.
"That is a wonderful proposal, human. Unfortunately, I do have somewhere I must be tonight—"
"Then I've prepared 'Sky Flower' especially for Princess Serene. This is a rare specimen from the Treasure Hall that your acquaintance, Thousand Transformations, discovered — the White Marble Garden! The fact that Thousand Transformations brought some back has essentially become proof that the White Marble Garden was cleared!"
"Hmm… that does pique my curiosity."
Serene was busy. She received a relentless stream of requests for audiences from Zebuldian nobles, merchants, and the Explorer's Guild.
The reconstruction of Yggdra was entrusted to her right-hand, Ruin, but she couldn't just ignore it indefinitely.
However, tonight's schedule should have been open.
"Very well. I'll attend. By the way, is it common among humans to extend dinner invitations on the same day?"
"Well, when the timing works out, yes."
A similar last-minute dinner invitation had come the day before too, which was why she hadn't been able to visit Klein.
Spatial teleportation was a grand magic even for a high-ranking Spiritfolk like Serene. It consumed enormous amounts of mana, so the timing had to be calculated carefully — and it couldn't be used twice in succession, making the return trip time-consuming.
It seemed she wouldn't be able to visit Klein today either…
Well, there shouldn't be any problem. The treatment of Klein during transport didn't look like what a prisoner would receive, at least from Serene's perspective. Franz was clearly trying to honor her demands as much as possible.
Of course, it wasn't enough to fully satisfy her, but that was unavoidable. Human culture and Yggdra's culture were different, and humans and Spiritfolk were different still.
Serene's schedule was packed today and tomorrow as well. That would be unthinkable in Yggdra.
Once diplomatic relations were officially established, she should have more free time — but she also had to return to Yggdra regularly, or her people would start worrying about her.
The noble left the room. In the gap before her next audience, Serene sipped the tea she'd brought from Yggdra — when Citry walked in.
Citry Smart. An Alchemist of the Mourning Specter, who had been helping Serene in various ways ever since she arrived in the imperial capital.
"Oh, Citry. Are you here to visit? I just made some tea. There's still time before my next meeting."
Serene needed a break from serious talk. Citry smiled at the invitation.
"Actually… I was just about to head to the prison island in East Seal—"
"Oh! How wonderful. I was supposed to go today myself, but something came up that I just couldn't reschedule…"
She wasn't particularly interested in the dinner party, but the 'Sky Flower' was too intriguing to pass up. She fully intended to visit the prison island as well, but that could wait until her schedule opened up and she could take her time.
At Serene's words, Citry's eyes widened.
"Huh? How were you planning to get there?"
"Teleportation magic. I need to verify that humans haven't been mistreating Klein… Hold on."
Serene closed her eyes and focused her senses.
"His position has barely moved since today, so I believe he's already arrived at the prison island. I had originally planned to visit yesterday to check on everything, but—"
"…Teleportation requires coordinates, right? How do you know where he is?"
Teleportation magic was a grand spell. In the first place, only a very select few high-ranking Spiritfolk could use it — and it was an extremely difficult technique that required pinpoint accuracy of the destination.
It was understandable that humans relied on large-scale magic formations. Since they only teleported to pre-set locations, they didn't need to recalculate the teleportation coordinates each time.
To Citry's perfectly reasonable question, Serene answered proudly.
"Oh, I know exactly where he is. I have Mires attached to Klein."
Mires — one of the highest-ranking spirits who had once guarded Yggdra, the great spirit of nature — shared an invisible bond with Serene through contract magic. Serene didn't know where Klein was directly, but she could clearly sense Mires's location. All she had to do was teleport to where Mires was.
"I see… But the prison island must be an agonizing place for a spirit to be…"
"I owe them for saving Yggdra. Besides, Mires isn't just any spirit."
High-ranking spirits inhabited nature-rich areas because they sustained themselves by absorbing the power of the great outdoors — the mana and Mana Material in the atmosphere. When in the imperial capital, far from nature, Serene had been supplying that power to Mires — but with Serene far away, that was no longer possible.
Still, that didn't change the fact that Mires was a great spirit of immense power — one who had once accumulated enough energy to lose self-awareness entirely.
Mires possessed a clear will. If anything happened on the prison island, Mires would surely adapt and support Klein as needed.
Citry looked thoughtful at Serene's confident answer, but soon nodded vigorously and said with a smile: "I see… Thank you for supporting Klein. By the way, I have a favor to ask—"
§ § § Even on the prison island — a place that treated people as less than human — food was apparently still provided.
The food distribution point was located at the center of the island.
A large crate sat in a cobblestone-paved plaza, surrounded by men with sharp, intimidating eyes who were a clear cut above the inmates he had encountered so far.
A group of similarly rough-looking but physically weaker men glared at the scene from a distance with resentful eyes. It really felt like even among the criminals, there was a hierarchy.
Grand, who had been guiding him, explained.
"According to my data, food is distributed through that crate. It's connected to the outside."
"A Shared Bag, isn't it. They're even using a Treasure Weapon…?"
What a waste.
The Shared Bag was a Treasure Weapon that came in pairs — anything placed in one could be retrieved from the other.
It formed a convenient duo alongside the Space-Time Bag. It was relatively cheaper than the Space-Time Bag, but still traded for an astronomical price.
One constraint: living beings couldn't be placed inside. Another was the mysterious limitation that it couldn't work between distant cities. Without these restrictions, it would have been worth even more (among Treasure Weapon researchers, it was theorized that the limitations had been intentionally placed to prevent criminal use).
"Apparently, food is periodically placed in that crate. According to my data, the Serpents and the Foxes split it evenly and distribute it to their respective factions… Though the food provided is only the bare minimum, apparently. Those are members of the Serpents."
What a thoroughly miserable setup. Even more dog-eat-dog than the outside world.
Hunters who had absorbed Mana Material still needed to eat to survive, so they were probably providing only the minimum amount of food deliberately to keep the prisoners weakened.
"Those who don't join either faction can earn food by doing odd jobs like cleaning within the prison. Everything inside the prison — including menial tasks — is handled by the prisoners themselves. Quite the… interesting system."
For a weakling like him, this place would be hell.
"The reason both factions ended up managing the crate was because someone once threw excrement into it, cutting off food distribution for three whole days. You'd think they'd know that wouldn't accomplish anything, but fools are everywhere."
The Empire was the Empire, and prisoners were prisoners. Citry would probably be completely put off if she heard about this place.
The men guarding the food crate, intimidating everyone around them with their glinting eyes. They were unarmed, but their bodies were so developed they could beat someone to death with their bare hands — suggesting they had been extremely dangerous individuals in the outside world.
Their opponents were unarmed, but so was he… Wait, no?
That's right — he could do cleaning and other odd jobs in exchange for food!
He didn't want to join either faction, but if he took on cleaning duties, the prisoners probably wouldn't attack him. A brief stint was one thing, but his tour of the prison wouldn't last that long anyway.
He made his proposal to Jack — who was grinning and laughing at the intimidating men — and Grand, who had his arms crossed.
"You two. Do you like cleaning?"
"!! Of course! Heh heh… I'm actually quite the neat freak, believe it or not."
"I'm… generally opposed to getting my hands dirty, but in this situation, I don't think I have a choice."
It seemed both of them were on board. The only issue was Zack, who had been silent the whole time — but— "W-Well, your handcuffs are still on, so that can't be helped."
After all, Zack's specialty was eating humans. He probably wasn't that desperate for food.
Though in this world, there were plenty of things more delicious than humans — he'd better be careful not to become Zack's meal.
Once they got out, he'd suggest to Officer Jin that he offer some tasty food.
So, who should he make the proposal to about sharing food in exchange for cleaning — or well, other chores too?
The men guarding the crate didn't look like the type who'd listen to reason.
In his place, Jack and Grand stepped forward.
"Heh heh… Leave it to us. No need for Thousand Transformations to get involved. This kind of thing is our job."
"…Well, the man does have a point. There's also data showing that things go smoothly when the boss stays back and holds position."
How dependable, these criminals. There was something about relying on them that felt like admitting defeat — but since the topic was just cleaning duty, he'd let it slide.
He took a step back.
Jack cracked his knuckles as he approached the crate, and immediately addressed the surrounding menacing men with a threatening tone.
"If you value your lives, get out of the way, you small fry. From now on, we'll be managing the food supply."
!? — Wait, no, no, no — that's not what I meant at all!