Chapter 67

Chapter 67

Chapter 67.“Defect?”

“Doesn't open.”

Aeson tried hard to open the music box's lid, but the music box didn't budge.

“No key?”

“Asking the locksmith said not an item that can open with a key. Said seems used some unique technology. Thinking if the Valfruga ducal house might know the method to open this music box. But what business did the Duchess have with this music box?”

“Have to recover the contents inside that music box.”

“If contents...”

“As you said that is an item that flowed out from the Valfruga ducal house correct. But never thought why it doesn't open?”

“Isn't it because a precious item is in it to that extent?”

“Might be a precious item, or might be a dangerous item that shouldn't be known in the world.”

When I wore a mysterious smile, Aeson's face became a bit pale.

Didn't necessarily say what item, but sometimes such things stimulate imagination more.

“So speaking no thought of selling that music box? Will pay the price as hoped.”

Thought would hand over obediently, but unfortunately whether the desire for research was greater Aeson shook his head.

“That's a bit... this music box is a precious relic showing the art style of the early founding. Through this music box there are many things still to research so hard to sell seems.”

“Then how about us buying only that contents? What our family needs is only what's inside the music box, so will return the music box again.”

“But the contents also...”

“That's not an item you can handle. Anyway you also hard to see the inside of the music box for life like this. Aren't you curious about the inside of this music box?”

Aeson's eyes shone with academic zeal.

The music box exterior is the part visible to the eyes so researched as much as wanted, but as well known the music box the inside is more important than the exterior.

“If opening the music box and recovering the contents will return again. What sound comes from this music box, what technique used and how it operates you research as much as wanted.”

Visible the calculator spinning fiercely in Aeson's head.

Finally whether decided Aeson nodded.

“Good. If an item a scholar like me can't handle rather better returning to the owner.”

“Thank you. If saying the price will make the servant send right away.”

“Rather than the price. By chance can directly see the first Duke Valfruga's portrait? Said a very unique dye and technique used on that portrait definitely want to research once.”

“Managing the portrait isn't my work. Will look into and review positively and contact.”

“Thank you!”

Aeson stroked the music box with a regretful face, then tightly closed his eyes and handed to me.

“Please... hope returned safely.”

“Don't worry. Will return without even one scratch.”* * *As soon as returning to the room packing the music box Aeson handed I immediately connected communication to Treon.

“Butler! By chance seen such a music box in the family? Seems an item sold instead of debt before.”

Holding up the music box, Treon opened his eyes narrowly and checked the music box.

“Well. I have no memory of seeing, but if looking for the list something might come out. Why is that?”

I explained the matters that happened in the meantime.

“For now will look into once.”

“Yeah, please! Ah, and said want to research the first Duke Valfruga's portrait too. Look into that too.”

Ending the communication with Treon I fell into thought carefully whether no one else to ask.

Then thought of the family's knights who followed me.

Among the knights of the Valfruga ducal house many people with unique careers so perhaps might be a person who knows the method to open such a music box.

Asking wouldn't become a big deal, so seemed okay to ask once.

I headed to the training ground where the knights brought from the family are.

The training ground attached to the annex was wider and comfortable than thought.

The knights doing morning training saw me and inhaled empty breath.

“Huk, what brings Madam here?”

“First time seeing Madam this closely. How so lovely?”

“The appearance walking exactly like a fairy...”

The knights said whatever but the distance far so not heard well.

Seeing Lus giving a hint seemed trivial chat.

Lus who gave a hint to the knights approached beside me.

“Older sister! What brings you here?”

The face asking brightly was unchanged from usual.

“Have something to ask.”

“What? No need to come here necessarily can ask me.”

Lus said following beside me.

“Thought perhaps someone among the knights knows.”

“What?”

I looked at the knights and raised one hand.

“By chance someone who knows well about picking locked doors? If there raise hand.”

But despite my question no one raised a hand.

Anyway picking doors well not a matter to boast so seemed like that.

“Really no one? Even a bit okay.”

At my question one knight standing far raised his hand.

“I-I know well!”

“Um... so the name...”

“G-Gerry!”

“Right, Gerry. By chance did locksmith work?”

At my words Gerry answered loudly with a bright red face.

“Th-that's not! Grew up doing errands for thieves in the slums when young! Heard this and that a lot!”

If a thief could approach in a different way from a locksmith so better.

“Good, come here and talk a bit with me.”

Called Gerry but actually Lus also followed behind me.

“Lus, okay not training?”

At my question Lus smiled brightly.

“Yeah. My practice already ended.”

“Seemed swinging the sword earlier...”

“Did all practice and did additional practice.”

“Right?”

As expected Lus is sincere.

The time quite early yet already finished all practice.

“Can't let older sister and that guy be alone two.”

I was throwing questions to Gerry, so didn't hear the sound Lus muttering.

“Come to think of it how did Gerry become a knight?”

“Ah, that...”

Gerry awkwardly scratched the back of his head and said.

“Just a dream when young. The knights seen in fairy tale books were also cool, and occasionally appearing on the street the armor looked cool so yearned, and wanting to become strong and help weak people like mother. Right.”

“Originally lived in the Valfruga ducal territory?”

“No. Not that to become a knight need a lot of money, isn't it.”

“Right.”

To become a knight from horse price starting armor price, money to give to the senior knight taking care of oneself this and that a lot of money went.

“But someone said if going to the Valfruga ducal house will cover all that money.”

“Ah ah, so came.”

In the Valfruga ducal house's knight order there were quite a few such people.

Because lacking people put up unconventional conditions, but even so really people becoming knights were few.

Because instead of covering all costs had to endure training three times harsher than other places.

First Logan's training saying the more those guys curse with eyes the more thrilling was waiting, but five out of ten returned home at that stage.

Passing Logan's training next Lus's training was waiting.

The training Lus does most frequently was directly going out monster hunting taking the knights, but if going once 90 percent of the remaining personnel ran away.

I glanced at Lus's side face.

Meeting eyes with me seeing the face smiling clearly imagination didn't go at all what doing during training.

I asked Gerry what curious this time.

“By chance know how Lus does when training? Why so many run away?”

Then Gerry trembled his body with a pale face whether eerie just recalling.

“Don't even say. Really...”

“Didn't do anything particular. Matters a knight naturally has to do.”

Lus cut Gerry's words with a kind voice.

Hearing Lus's voice, Gerry suddenly came to senses and hurriedly nodded.

“R-right! The Duke really taught well gently! The Duke also excellent swordsmanship skill, and thinks of subordinates! Able to learn under the Duke is a glory that won't come again in my life!”

“Doesn't seem... then why so many dropouts midway?”

“A-all lack of will! If only will can accomplish anything! Aja! Aja! Aja!”

Gerry avoided my eyes and said powerfully.

Uncomfortable, but since he himself says that couldn't dig more.

Taking Gerry and coming to the room I took out the music box.

“From now have to open this music box but can't break the music box. If opening will give a separate reward.”

“I'll try once!”

Gerry who answered loudly held the music box and checked in detail.

“Originally has a key but lost?”

“Don't know that well. Said when that person bought already no key.”

“Doesn't seem a method of opening with a key. The hole doesn't look big enough for a key to enter, isn't there some other method?”

“If other method?”

“Might be something that opens when fulfilling special conditions. According to some thief's words before if throwing in hot fire the iron heats and the lock opens too.”

“Then this also has to match such special conditions? What condition on earth?”

Treon said will look for remaining materials in the castle, so have to wait that side?

If possible want to release Blackie's seal quickly.

Me and Gerry carefully tapped the music box, and put thin wire in the hole trying to find the method to open the music box.

Then, Lus who was sitting quietly beside me asked.

“Older sister, said will give a reward if Gerry finds.”

“Yeah.”

“Then if I find do you also give me a reward?”

“What do you hope?”