Whispering Verse

The winding lines on the parchment outline roughly the direction of the mountains and rivers. I don't know whether the simple houses point to the city buildings or the hunter's cabins beside the mountains. There is no scale, no direction, not even a letter.

On the contrary, the center of the map is marked with the shape of a "five-pointed star". If Shade guessed correctly, this probably means "target" or "treasure".

"I seem to have seen this somewhere."

Luvia said suddenly on the side, and the duchess also nodded:

"I also feel like I've seen this picture before, it's very familiar."

[God's Gift Box] itself does not create something that does not exist. It just copies something that is known to exist and turns it into a gift for the children, so it is not surprising that they can recognize Shade.

Finally Dorothy suddenly realized:

"When I think about it, it's actually this. "Maria Thorne's Treasure Map". This is the map given by God to the adventurous child Maria Thorne in the ancient fairy tale. The child later relied on This one found a pirate’s treasure.”

After her reminder, Luvia also remembered:

"Yes, that is a true story that happened in the fifth era. Because the treasure map was drawn by the gods himself, it does have such a strong miraculous element. The original map has long been lost, but the patterns on it have been included in A lot of documents and information.”

"Then the treasure this map points to"

Shade asked with some anticipation, holding the parchment. The red-haired duchess smiled and shook her head at him regretfully:

"Didn't Dorothy say it? It was taken away by Maria Thorne. The records are very detailed, including a large amount of gold and silver treasures, and three relics:

The Keeper-level relic [Greed's Gold Box] - regularly generates harmless ordinary gold and is itself a space storage item. It is said that it is the corpse of some kind of dead Mimic;

Poet-level relic [Adventurer Koro's Badge] - improves luck and drives away evil spirits to a certain extent, but the price is that wearing it for a long time will make people tend to make more adventurous and radical actions;

The sage-level relic [Philosopher's Stone] - you are most familiar with this thing. The kid donated this to Zarath Academy of Literature and went to study at the Academy of Literature. I remember it was "

"Graduated at the Tenth Ring and later became a lecturer. The history of the college records this famous adventurer. Her grave is still on the floating island of Zaras. This is what Lesia told me in her heart."

Dorothy said:

"But at least this map is valuable. A map drawn by the gods himself, coupled with its connection to fairy tales, ten thousand pounds cannot buy it. Besides, the real original has been lost long ago, so the one you have in your hand can be regarded as It’s the original.”

"Is that so? Then who is the god who drew this map?"

Shade asked again, and the blonde girl winked at him:

"Shade, can't you guess? Who is the one who fulfills children's dreams and wishes? Didn't you often mention it not long ago?"

Shade suddenly realized:

"That old god - the god of wishes: [The Giver of Dreams]?"

"Yes Yes."

Miss Carina nodded slightly, then looked at the young orange cat who was sniffing the burnt edge of the parchment alertly:

"This cat's luck is really amazing. Isn't it superstitious to say that cats can bring good luck?"

"At least the soothsayers thought it was superstition."

The purple-eyed girl, who has completely passed the "Registered Fortune Teller" exam and will probably get the uniformly issued certificate next month, reminded.

Shade smiled and touched little Mia's head:

"This week's task is also related to this. Let me study any map carefully, and then try to use the map to go to a place I have never been to. Whether it is a street or a building, as long as my feet have not Just step in, even if it’s the alley behind your home.”

Of course, behind No. 6 Saint Teresa Square is not an alley but another street, and further west is Silver Cross Avenue.

"Dorothy, I'll give this to you. You and Lesia will need it. You also have the blank red butterfly playing cards. You can also try to make new playing cards with them later."

As he spoke, he handed the parchment to the writer. The latter pursed her lips and did not refuse:

"Okay then I'll spend the night in your bedroom tonight."

"Lecia, you can't play tricks."

The Duchess reminded her from the side, looking at her with her golden eyes.

"How do you know I am Lesia?"

The blonde girl asked curiously, and the red-haired witch raised her head slightly:

"Lecia, I hugged you when you were a child. I know you very well."

After collecting the gifts, it was the time key's turn.

It was still early at this time, only half past seven in the morning, so the three ladies did not plan to leave, but wanted to wait until Shade came back before leaving. They still remembered that Shade looked like he was on fire when he came back last time, so Miss Carina also joked:

"I'm ready for another 'ice kiss'."

She was probably not kidding.

We need to prepare for this departure. First is Little Mia. Shade is true to his word and will take it with him to the Golden Sand Sea. Of course, he had no intention of letting the cat out under the scorching sun that was about to set the world on fire. Instead, he planned to let the cat out for a walk after joining Grandma Siam Nord and the others and entering the Sun Temple.

If the cat couldn't stand the heat there, Shade wouldn't be able to turn it back into a toy at all, but he subconsciously felt that the cat would like that place.

The second is the knight's armor. The ruins tomb planned to be explored this time requires wearing armor to enter. Last time, Shade had thought about wearing the "golden lion armor" given by Miss Gauthe. This armor also helped him win the championship in the 1854 Tobesk City Riding Competition.

In addition, Shade also plans to bring the knight armors that Miss Carina asked the maids to move in earlier as a backup. After all, safety comes first.

The armors are heavy, but since they can be turned into plush toys, you don’t need to worry about how to carry them.

The last thing is about the "Heart of Oasis". Emilia has obtained general information about the strange object from the clan, letting Shade know the nature, function and general appearance of "Heart of Oasis".

Lesia promised Shade last week to go to Zarath Literary Academy to help him find out more information. Before setting off that morning, Her Highness the Princess, who was using the body of the blonde writer, also gave a reply:

"I consulted the instructor of the college about this matter and said that I accidentally saw this kind of artifact in the literature. I also used other channels to investigate within the college, but the current situation is that there is indeed a document recorded in the college. 'Heart of the Oasis,' but none of it has the detail you get from Emilia."

"I haven't found the library in St. Byrons either. Of course, this is just a superficial library. If you want to borrow those banned materials, you have to wait until Miss Danister comes back. I don't know if her trip goes smoothly. ."

Shade said that at this time, the maids were using magic techniques similar to "puppetry" to control the armors one by one to the second floor. As for the "golden lion armor", it was still contained in the golden rectangular box, waiting for Shade to turn it into a toy.

He had no intention of entering the sandy sea wearing this outfit. He was worried that he would be suffocated on the spot.

Miss Carina was counting the number of armors, while Luvia was helping Shade check the supplies he was bringing this time. Shade had not forgotten the seafood that the blue-haired mermaid girl wanted.

As for Lesia, she continued:

"Don't worry so much. Although I haven't found more detailed information yet, I have found other clues.

Zalas Academy of Literature is a floating island, its size is only slightly smaller than St. Byrons in the far north. The terrain inside the floating island is varied. One of the areas is called the 'Sea of ​​Trees', which is the largest natural forest on the island, and there is an area called the 'Green Heart'. "

Hearing what Lesia said, Shade looked over with interest:

"Tell me carefully."

The blonde girl shook her head:

"There is nothing worth talking about in detail. It is an ancient ruins, and even the academy has lost records of its specific functions. But after all, it is a ruin left from the Fifth Age, so it is properly protected.

When I was still studying in the college, I also visited there. If I remember correctly, on the wall of the temple-like building in the center of the ruins, there was a light green, glass-like thing inlaid on it. "

But although the "Heart of the Oasis" in Shade's memory is crystal, it is by no means light green, but an emerald green full of vitality. However, considering that Zarath Academy of Literature has most likely used that crystal, its color change is understandable.

"Is that so? What do you think is the probability that I will be able to go to Zarath Academy of Literature?"

Shade suddenly asked, and Luvia, who was trying to tease the cat with dried salted fish, raised her eyebrows:

“Even if you have any relationship with Miss Danister, it’s basically zero.

The three major colleges are never open to the public, and even official visits must confirm your identity. Do you want to appear in front of the professors of Zalas as Shad Hamilton? Or you could find a way to sneak in, but that would be about as difficult as sneaking into St. Byrons. "

Which means it's completely impossible.

"It's impossible for there to be only one 'Heart of Oasis' in the material world. Shade said that it was the crystallization of the blessings of the ancient gods. I don't think there is any reason for there to be only one such blessing crystal, right? The one from Zarath may have expired. It’s useless even if Shade comes into contact with it, you can try to investigate from other aspects.”

Miss Carina reminded from the side.

Shade nodded:

"Actually, I don't necessarily need to see the 'Heart of the Oasis' in the Sixth Era. The investigation in that sand sea went quite smoothly. Maybe it won't be so troublesome in the end."

As he spoke, he took the tablecloth handed by the maid and turned the armors standing together into toys one by one. The metal toys were a bit heavy, so they were turned into plush toys, and Shade hung them around his waist as a keychain.

Finally, there is the suit of armor stored in a golden box. After turning it into a toy, it becomes a small golden cube.

On the four sides are the patterns of "Smiling Sun Pattern", "Sword and Shield Badge", "Golden Roaring Cat" and "Woman's Face Surrounded by Curved Patterns". The bottom of the cube has no pattern, and the top is written in densely packed small characters praising the sanctity of the sun. prayer.

"Praise the sun."

Shade said softly.

"Meow~"

Little Mia, who was too disgusted to touch the catch, immediately shouted, probably because she was worried that Shade wouldn't take it with her.