Meanwhile, in the capital city of Loizart, in the district where the street vendors gathered...
"...Phew. I’ve been found out, haven’t I?"
The words were a mere whisper accompanied by a sigh, too quiet for any passerby to hear.
"To think someone could see through it and realize that thread was harvested from a ground spider... The people of this empire are more capable than I thought."
Though it appeared as if the speaker were alone, Regulus 46—also known as Deck—was nearby. As a Quinta mobile operative dispatched by Laojun, he had caught every word of that mutter.
『Hmm. A most interesting remark.』
Back on Hourai Island, Laojun considered the implications of what he had just heard.
『Based on the phrasing "the people of this empire," it is unlikely they are a subject of the Shouro Empire. Furthermore, the comment "more capable than I thought" suggests a certain air of superiority...』
Even with such observations, there was too little information to reach a definitive conclusion.
『We cannot justify moving in by force at this stage, so we shall continue to observe. Additionally, I shall instruct Capella 7 to keep a closer eye on Goose-dono.』
"...This staircase is dark. Narrow, too. And it just keeps going."
Goose grumbled to himself as he descended.
True to his complaints, the stairs were dim, cramped, and seemingly endless, stretching down as if they led to the very center of the earth. Equipped with only a small magi-lamp, he could barely see his own feet as he navigated the descent one step at a time.
(Goose-san really does lack a sense of self-preservation...)
Following five meters behind him was Capella 7, also known as Teraru, a member of the Quinta.
(One could call it being a man of action, but "reckless" is more accurate. I suppose his thirst for knowledge simply overrides his caution...)
The staircase consisted of roughly two hundred steps.
Goose considered turning back more than once, but the thought of how delighted Saki would be once he uncovered the truth kept him moving forward. He also felt that it would be a terrible waste to give up after coming this far.
Eventually, Goose reached the bottom, some forty meters below the surface.
"A door, huh?"
He hesitated for a heartbeat before reaching for the handle. He pulled it open.
Inside...
"Welcome, curious scholar."
A man was there to meet him, a knife pressed firmly against Goose’s throat.
"W-What is the meaning of this?"
The man didn't answer. Instead, a voice called out from further inside the room.
"Search him."
"Got it."
The man holding the knife used his free hand to pat down Goose’s pockets.
"Nothing on him."
"I see. You can lower the knife... but stay alert."
The man in the back stepped forward into the light and gave a shallow bow.
"Forgive the cold reception. Occasionally, we get characters who try to track down the source of our cloth in hopes of monopolizing it."
Now that the man was closer, Goose could see his face clearly. He looked to be in his early forties with a slender build, looking entirely unsuited for physical confrontation.
However, to compensate for that, a black-armored golem stood beside him like a sentinel.
"...My name is Tenkunhan. I was once an artisan. Now... I suppose I'm just a humble alchemist."
Goose felt he had heard that name somewhere before, but he offered his own introduction.
"I am Goose Minakata. A naturalist."
Upon hearing the title, Tenkunhan tilted his head thoughtfully.
"You... are not originally from the Shouro Empire, are you?"
"No. I've naturalized here, but I was born on Fusou Island."
"Oh?"
"And that fellow there... the one who greeted me with a knife? He's from Mitsuho, isn't he?"
"Oho... I see. So you recognized the Mitsuho accent."
On Hourai Island, Laojun felt a sense of relief as he processed the data transmitted by Capella 7.
『It appears Goose-san’s safety is guaranteed for the time being.』
When the knife had been drawn, the door had still been open. Capella 7 had been prepared to storm the room and incapacitate everyone inside the moment Goose was in real danger, but Laojun now stood him down.
『However, so that is Tenkunhan... We have finally encountered the man himself.』
An artisan whose name had first cropped up in the town of Hatata and more recently in the Kari Village of the foreign tribes. The mysterious figure was finally standing before them.
『He seems like a reasonable enough individual...』
Laojun detected no signs of madness or overwhelming arrogance. However, many people kept such traits hidden deep within, so it was too early to make a final judgment.
『I shall have Capella 7 remain on standby to intervene at a moment's notice.』
"When I was young, I intended to make a name for myself as an artisan. I was proficient in Craft Magic, after all."
Tenkunhan offered Goose a chair and took one himself before launching into an unexpected summary of his life.
"However, it seems my artistic sensibilities were somewhat... eccentric. A few enthusiasts appreciated my work, but the general public found it unappealing."
Goose sat quietly, not knowing enough about the man's past work to comment.
"Eventually, I grew disgusted with myself. In a fit of despair, I left the town of Ismar and wandered into the lands of the foreign tribes."
Goose was unaware that during this period, Tenkunhan had been asked to fix a broken bicycle in the Kari Village but had lacked the skills to do so.
"When I realized I was useless not only as an artisan but also as a magi engineer, I hit rock bottom. For a time, I even considered ending it all."
"..." Goose nodded slightly. He could understand that kind of professional despair.
"But then, in the land of Mitsuho, I discovered something called 'wood-paper.' It fascinated me. It made me realize that if I couldn't succeed with existing methods, I should study anew and develop my own materials."
Goose felt a flash of respect. The man clearly possessed a strong academic drive.
"During my studies, I found a fascinating insect in a particular cave. It's a species of spider, but the thread it produces is of extraordinary quality."
The cloth woven from that thread was the fabric Goose had found. Tenkunhan’s explanation was somewhat abbreviated, but it covered the essentials.
『I see. In short, Tenkunhan traveled to Mitsuho in his despair and discovered a species of spider whose silk he used to weave the cloth.』
Through Capella 7’s relay, Laojun reached the same conclusion.
『And now he is secretly selling the cloth to earn foreign currency for Mitsuho, the country that took him in.』
However, Laojun had his doubts.
『A method like this will never earn a significant amount of money, and it is far too dangerous. This Tenkunhan person seems to be quite the regrettable fellow...』
If Laojun had a face, he would have likely given a wry smile at the man's high ideals and poor execution. (Laozi was currently occupied with the spaceship construction).
"Hmm. I follow your logic, but..."
Goose was beginning to suspect the same thing as Laojun—that Tenkunhan was a bit of a hopeless case.
"Mitsuho and the Shouro Empire are on the verge of establishing formal diplomatic relations. Once that happens, you’ll be able to sell your cloth through official trade routes."
"What!? This is the first I've heard of this!" Tenkunhan exclaimed, clearly blindsided.
"That's what happens when you hide in a hole in the ground to do business."
As he spoke, Goose began to wonder which of his contacts would be the best person to handle this situation.