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Chapter 366: Temperature Difference

Hauron snapped at me, then we resumed talking about our upcoming trip. We decided to meet up before dawn the day after tomorrow. We’ll drop by Khan’s home first, then travel to Es while it’s still cool. As for why we’re doing it like that, it’s because Hauron can only teleport up to the area near Khan’s residence.

「Where do you want to go other than Es’s town? 」
「I wanna see the dragons up close! 」
「Rejected. 」
Ah I got turned down right away. So mean.

「Go there on your own, with your own power, got it. If we go to the dragon’s nest or something, it’ll only take a huge bite from the dragon and that’ll be the end of us. 」
「The dragons live in a place far from Es in the first place, and I don’t have a spot to teleport to there. 」

Legendary Gold rank, Legendary Mage, Legendary — uh, what? Silver rank? Huh? No, maybe Assassin…Butler — you guys are all gathered here so work harder, will you!?

「I’m fine with just touring the city. If I’m going to be dragged somewhere then I’d like to go on a boat ride on the Es River. They’re different from the ones here in Canum, right? 」
「Hmm, yes, maybe it’ll be nice if we go boat riding in the evening. 」
Retze’s wish got through.

「Me, me! Let’s go to the place where they harvest cinnamon! 」
「Why do you keep on wanting to go to places that are impossible, huh? 」
「Jean, even though there’s a few rumors floating around about where you can gather cinnamon, the actual place is well-hidden. Won’t it take several days just to check it? 」
Retze coaxed me.

「Hmmmpf. 」
「Salt-water fish and river fish are both delicious, so how about a food crawl? I’ll go accompany you, alright? 」
And I was successfully cajoled.

「We’re gonna eat a lot, you know? 」
「I’ll make sure to keep my stomach empty. 」
I made a promise with Retze, so I’m satisfied for now. I’m going on a food crawl and trip with friends, yup yup.

「You’re quite easy, huh. 」
「I will prepare some digestive medicine. 」
Hauron and Butler said to each other.
After all that, the date of our trip finally came. I spent the whole day at 『House 』yesterday, tending to the orchard and field, playing with great gusto with Riche and preparing for our departure. I was still bothered about the black bugs, but let’s just chuck them to the back of my mind for now and play hard. We’re still waiting for news from the sewer investigation team after all.

「Morning. 」
「Morning. 」
Our meeting place was Retze and the other guys’ rental house in Canum.

Our tour guide Hauron was also living there, hence the decision. Dinosso’s family would reach the rental house faster by passing through mine, so I waited for them and we went to Retze’s place all together.

「It’s been a while, Dean. 」
「Ou, howdy! I’ll pay you back as soon as I get paid by the Guild. 」
「Uh, thanks? They didn’t give you a hard time, did they? 」
「Well, the restriction period has been quite long, but it’s totally fine. 」
He stretched his clenched fist to me, so we did a light fist bump.

「Morning, Jean. 」
「Ash, morning. 」
I hugged Ash lightly. We can finally hug like normal…!!

「Good morning, it is an honor for me to be allowed to join you. 」
Chris was sparkling this early in the morning as we greeted him.

We also greeted Retze and Khan, then we circled around Hauron. Khan was sitting beside Hauron with his knees far apart, as expected for a king.

「Alright, since we’re this many, I won’t be able to use any large-scale magic for a while. That includes 【Teleport】 for two to three days, so make sure you don’t forget anything; we won’t be able to go back and get it, okay? 」
「Yeah, we’re thoroughly prepared. 」
「In case we missed something then we can just buy it there. 」
Dinosso and Dean.

At first, I thought they were quite similar folks, but as I spent more time with them, I realized that Dinosso is more meticulous with his preparations. Their battle styles are also similar, but it’s more like Dean imitating the Dinosso from the stories, perhaps.

「Then here we go. 」
Hauron’s words were accompanied by a change in the scenery, and even the air temperature felt different.
「Whoa! Amazing. 」
「Phenomenal! As expected of the legendary Grand Mage-dono! 」
「Mm. 」
The folks who tried Hauron’s 【Teleport】were all awed by the experience. Even the kids were excitedly chattering away.

We 【Teleport】in the middle of a desert. Where is Khan’s temple?

「Hm~ it’s been a while, mi home town. 」
Bayliss returned to her original appearance, and Hauron slightly bowed his head towards her. The woman didn’t have any particular reaction to the old man as she circled her arms around Khan’s neck and clung to the king.

「A beauty! But there’s something strange with her… 」
「Even the aura is different. 」
Dean and Chris were talking to each other.

「It’s still not the season for the temple to open yet, but I’ll open up the Path. 」
Hauron slowly waved his hand sidewards and the sand started to move.

The sand beneath our feet flowed with an incredible speed as we slowly went down. We were surrounded by sand walls, and we could feel the ground beneath us change from sand into something firm and stable.

A well appeared before us. Ah, isn’t it that thing where a giant worm appears if it’s not the season to open yet?

「So this is where Grand Mage-dono’s mark stood. 」
「I see you keep on using that title, huh. Just Hauron is fine. 」
The characters and symbols written on the well were the same as the ones Hauron uses when he 【Teleport 】 which he showed us earlier. Does that mean his ancestors are also buried here? We’re not stepping on them, are we?

「… 」
Khan wordlessly descended down the stairs of the well.

With the disappearance of the Bough and everything else, the crumbling temple ruins should have been buried in the sand, but several mementos of the folks who served Khan in the past, starting with the priests staying in the room where the King’s Bough had been enshrined, remained.

「The King’s Bough of this place was gorgeous even after blackening. I wanted to show it to you guys, and I also wanted to see it one more time. 」
Hauron quietly muttered.

「Won’t Khan show it to you if you ask? 」
Like, ‘peek-a-boo, here it is’, or something.

「The Tirdonai King was liberated, so that means the Bough doesn’t exist anymore. I don’t know how the King managed to live this long, but he also has his own pride, and he loved his kingdom and the King’s Bough that protected it — so don’t mention the King’s Bough. 」
Hauron wistfully gazed at the retreating back of Khan.

「It appears that you haven’t discussed that matter with him before? 」
「Huh, was I supposed to tell Hauron? 」
「Ugh, this is bad, I can totally sense the temperature difference now. 」
Butler and Retze mumbled.