Rei, Sazanasu, and Seto left the inn and made their way through the city, guided by Sazanasu toward the various facilities where the distilled liquor was stored.
Even though the Specific Magic Fever Medicine was being distributed, the majority of the population remained bedridden, their strength failing to return as quickly as the innkeeper’s had. Still, those who had only recently contracted the fever were back on their feet, and the number of people out in the streets was noticeably higher than what Rei had seen the day before.
These people stared at Rei’s group—specifically at Seto—with looks of utter shock, but most quickly replaced their surprise with smiles and respectful bows.
Word had spread. Those tasked with distributing the medicine had made sure everyone knew exactly who had delivered the aurani grass powder.
This was also due to Dialogo’s foresight. By informing the residents ahead of time, he had ensured they wouldn't panic at the sight of a gryphon, a monster unheard of within the city walls.
“...So, how many storage locations are there exactly?” Rei asked.
He stroked Seto’s head as the gryphon rubbed against him affectionately while following close behind Sazanasu.
Sazanasu shrugged and gestured toward the walls that protected the city from monsters.
“The largest one is in the south. There’s one each in the east and west as well. Those are the three main sites. If we don’t find anything there, the only remaining possibilities are private collections.”
“Why go through such a hassle? Wouldn't it be easier to keep it all in one place?”
“I couldn't tell you the politics of it. I recall hearing there are specific conditions for aging the stuff, and they split the locations to match. In fact, the flavor is different at each of the three facilities.”
“I see.”
Back when Rei was just an ordinary country high school student in his own world, his knowledge of alcohol had been limited to what he had seen on television specials. He could only nod in acceptance of Sazanasu’s explanation.
They walked for about forty minutes, making small talk until they arrived at the South Storage Facility.
As a site for the city's special product, it was strictly guarded. The two guards at the gate blinked in surprise when they saw Sazanasu.
“Sazanasu-san!? What are you doing in a place like this?”
“Hey, don't make it sound like such a shock. This place holds Baar’s special product, doesn't it?”
“...If you’re here to ask for a sample, forget it. The inventory is checked constantly.”
“Wha— Give me a break! I’m here on official business to find the cause of the magic fever!”
“The cause of the magic fever? In a place like this?”
One guard gave him a look of deep suspicion. The look vividly illustrated exactly how Sazanasu was perceived by his peers.
However, the other guard tapped his partner on the shoulder.
“Hm? What is it?”
“Look who’s behind him. A man and a beast. Isn’t that the adventurer who brought the aurani grass powder?”
“...Oh, you’re right. Sazanasu-san, it seems your story is legitimate. Please, go right in.”
The guard flipped his attitude instantly. Sazanasu’s smile was strained, a vein throbbing on his forehead.
“I see exactly what you two think of me. I’ll have to make sure to correct those assumptions during our next joint training.”
“That’s not fair, Sazanasu-san. It’s your own fault for causing so many headaches lately.”
“Huh? When did I ever do that?”
“Let’s see... early last month, you got into a brawl with a visiting adventurer, didn't you?”
“That was because I was stopping him from harassing a local!”
“And late last month, you and that blacksmith got drunk and held a massive singing party.”
“T-That was... look, the blacksmith’s daughter was getting married!”
“That’s no excuse for a Captain of the Guard to be causing a ruckus while on duty.”
“Ugh...”
Sazanasu was silenced as the guards continued to list his minor transgressions.
Feeling a bit sorry for him, Rei interjected with a wry smile.
“Listen, I’ll keep a close eye on him, so can you let us through? We really are here for the magic fever investigation.”
“Well, if you say so. Just make sure he doesn't give in to temptation and drink the inventory, Sazanasu-san.”
“...Understood.”
Looking thoroughly exhausted by the verbal lashing, Sazanasu waved a hand and stepped into the facility.
As Rei moved to follow, the guard who had been teasing Sazanasu bowed his head slightly.
“It might be a lot of work, but please look after him. He’s the type to shoulder too much on his own, despite how he looks.”
“...You had a lot to say for someone who's worried about him.”
“That's just part of the job. It’s a fact that he’s a magnet for trouble, after all.”
Rei shared a small, wry smile with the guard and entered the facility.
The moment he crossed the threshold, the scent of wooden barrels and aging distilled liquor hit his nose.
“Guruuu.”
Seto seemed to feel the same. To a connoisseur, the smell might have been fragrant or rich, but to Rei and Seto—neither of whom had much interest in alcohol—it was just overwhelming.
Enduring the odor, Rei looked around. The building was spacious, large enough to fit about five average houses, and featured stairs leading to a 2F.
“Alright, Rei. Let’s split up and see if we find anything out of the ordinary.”
“...I’m telling you now, don't touch the liquor. If you do, I’ll have to report you to the Guild Master and the Acting Lord.”
“Don’t let those two poison your mind. Even I know this investigation is too serious for games.”
“I hope so. I’ve already been briefed on your track record.”
“Guh... Fine. Let’s get to it. The 2F is smaller, so I’ll handle that. You and Seto take the 1F.”
“Guruuu?”
Seto turned its big, round eyes toward Sazanasu as if asking if its name had been called. Sazanasu almost reached out to pet it before catching himself and heading for the stairs.
Watching his back, Rei began searching the ground floor with Seto.
“...Seto, do you sense any strange magic power?”
“Gurururuuu.”
Seto shook its head.
(So it's not related to magic power? It’s called magic fever, so I figured there’d be some kind of magical signature.)
“Guess we just have to do this the hard way.”
He checked the shadows of the stacked aging barrels and inspected the empty ones waiting to be filled. He even checked the repair area, but found nothing out of the ordinary.
“Nothing. Well, I can't judge based on just one site. We have two more to go.”
As he sighed, he heard Sazanasu’s footsteps coming back down from the 2F.
“Nothing up there. And from the look on your face... I don’t even need to ask.”
“Yeah. Not a single lead. At least, nothing I can see.”
“Guruuu.”
Seto rubbed its head against Rei, reminding him that it was helping too.
“True. If even a gryphon’s senses can't find anything suspicious, there probably isn't anything here.”
“What now? The other sites?”
“Yeah. Even if we find nothing, that’s still a result. Between the West and East sites, which is closer?”
“They’re about the same, but the West Storage Facility is slightly closer.”
“Then let’s go there. Seto, we’re heading out.”
“Gururuuu.”
Seto gave a happy chirp. It seemed eager to get away from the lingering smell of alcohol, though that relief was bound to be temporary.
“Oh, Sazanasu-san. You didn't sneak a drink, did you?”
The guard’s immediate question upon their exit made Sazanasu slump further. Rei gave a small nod to the guards to reassure them.
“Don’t worry. Seto has a keen nose. If he’d had even a drop, we’d know.”
“Guruuu.”
Seto puffed out its chest proudly. In that moment, it lacked any of the menace of an A-Rank monster, looking more like an oversized pet. An oversized pet over two meters long, mind you.
“Ahahaha. Right, with a guard like that, I guess even Sazanasu-san wouldn't dare.”
“What do you people think I am? ...Whatever. Come on, West Storage Facility.”
“Right. ...Thanks for your help.”
“No problem. The magic fever seems to be dying down, but we won't be truly safe until we know why it happened. Good luck with the investigation.”
With a bow from the two guards, the trio set off for the West Storage Facility.
“They seem to like you well enough,” Rei noted.
“You think? Feels more like they don't respect me at all. Well, I love this city, so I guess I can deal with it.”
They chatted for a while as Rei asked more about the city, eventually reaching a building that looked identical to the last one.
“Is that it?”
“Yeah. The West Storage Facility. ...If there’s something to find, I hope it’s here.”
As they approached, two more guards appeared.
“Sazanasu-san? What’s going on?”
“Investigating the magic fever. ...Haven't you heard? This is Rei, the one who delivered the aurani grass powder.”
As Sazanasu introduced him, one of the guards stepped forward with a wide smile.
“So you’re Rei-kun! I heard you brought the medicine. Thank you. My father was sick with it, and the doctor said he wouldn't have made it without that powder.”
The guard shook Rei’s hand vigorously. Rei gave a small, overwhelmed nod.
“I-I’m glad he’s okay. ...Like Sazanasu said, we’re looking for the source of the outbreak. We need to check inside to see if there’s anything suspicious.”
“Of course. But...”
The guard glanced at Sazanasu. The other guard was already staring at him with narrow eyes.
(Just how many times has this guy messed up in the past?)
Rei sighed and placed a hand on the guard’s shoulder.
“It’s okay. I’ll make sure he doesn't drink anything.”
“Please do.”
“Seriously, guys... have a little faith...”
“Sure, sure. Just as soon as your behavior earns it, Sazanasu-san.”
After a nearly identical exchange to the first site, they entered.
“Nothing unusual so far... Seto?”
“Guruuu.”
Rei watched Sazanasu head up to the 2F while he scanned the ground floor. Seto shook its head again, indicating it sensed no magic power.
“Which means... only the East site is left. Maybe my hunch about the storage facilities was wrong. But I don't have any other leads.”
He searched every inch of the 1F, but again, found nothing. By the time he finished, Sazanasu had returned from the upper floor, shaking his head.
“Only the East Storage Facility remains.”
“Do you think this might be a total wild goose chase?”
“Maybe, but do you have any better ideas?”
“No, but still...”
Muttering their frustrations, they left the site and headed for their final destination. Nothing kills motivation faster than a fruitless search. Even so, they eventually reached the East Storage Facility, if only for lack of other options.
“Gurururuuu.”
The moment the building came into view, Seto let out a low, wary growl.
“...It looks like that one-in-a-million chance just paid off.”
Rei stared at the storage facility, sensing an unidentifiable presence as he spoke.