Section 5: Small, Precious Life

Ss, ss ss ss...

The production of the additional batch has finished.

Oh, right. I've been meaning to ask: What is with that weird laugh you've been doing?

Oh. My apologies if I offended you. I sometimes like to change it up...

Right now, I'm in the mood for a hissing laugh. Yes.

Okay, then.

But we digress. Let us move on to more consequential matters.

Such as that functionality I meant to implement in the latest mass-produced models.

Regretfully, I had to omit it!

Aww, really? But it was going to be revolutionary!

Alas!

I simply didn't have enough funding!

Why not!? You could've just cut your curse costs down to the bone!

Mmmmmm, I'm afraid you ask for the impossible. As I explained, those curses are absolutely necessary.

Tch. Fine, I'll just cut them by half then.

Oh? Did you just collect something from me?

Who, me? Of course not.

Anyway, we finally have the numbers we need, yeah? Then it's time to go on the offensive!

So you're no longer waiting to assess the situation?

Hey, I'm not going to let them just forget about me.

I want to meet with them face-to-face at least once.

I see. Then I'll excuse myself to attend to another matter.

There is a great deal happening in the far north right now, you see...

Don't be ridiculous. You're coming, too.

Nnn... (Expression that clearly says "Great. Just great.")

Now come on, no dragging your feet. We're leaving right now! Buon viaggio!

Goooood morning!

Oho, answering in kind, are you? That's the spirit! Love to see you as energetic as I am!

Looks like Steggy woke up too. Nope, never mind. He's out again.

I sure did!

It's kind of just starting to sink in how much fun I'm having.

？！

Anyway, today, we look for the fourth treasure. We're finally at the halfway point.

I wonder if we're going to find another cave or ruin... Let's give it our all!

？！

Piping hot scrambled eggs, avocado, bacon, and cheese, all stacked for a warm breakfast sandwich.

Go on, take it. Eat it.

Gladly!

Foooucon!

I don't think Steggy likes avocado. Oh well, he'll just have to make do with the ferns I gathered during our expeditions.

？！

Let's see... Hmm. This certainly isn't clear at a glance...

There's just a squiggly line running down the bottom-left corner, and more of that pirate writing at the top right.

Let's see...

"Take this map entirely as it is."

The end.

There's also an "x" in the middle of it... I presume it marks where this treasure is located?

Maybe, but we don't have nearly enough to go on here.

Do you have any ideas where we might find the fourth treasure, Kama?

None at all. And that's all I'm saying.

...No, really, I honestly have no idea. I'm here from Chaldea too, remember?

I'm not omniscient or anything.

Nnn, gotcha.

...Hm?

What is it, Mandricardo? Aren't you too close to the map to see it properly?

No... I was just looking at the squiggle.

I thought it kind of looked like a coastline, is all.

Oh... Now that you mention it, it kind of does.

So then, this "x" in the middle must be

The middle of the sea! ...Maybe?

Unfortunately, even if the squiggle is a coastline, we can't tell from this map which side is land and which is sea.

And that's setting aside that we're not even sure it's a coastline to begin with.

'Zactly. I'm probably just seeing things that aren't there.

You're awfully quick to dismiss your own theory, aren't you!?

Well... I got scared by the thought that you might actually follow my idea...

Now, now, it's okay. I kind of got the feeling this was a map of the ocean, too.

...Hm? What is it, Senpai?

？！

Oh, yeah. This one's made from parchment.

Ah yes, the kind of paper commonly used in the Middle Ages. It's much more durable than wood pulp used nowadays.

Incidentally, parchment tips are still used as mage charms to this day.

There are also a good number of mages who use parchment for their Self Geas Scrolls.

Maybe that's why this map has more residual magical energy than the others.

So, maybe that means...

...we can perform some kind of ritual to activate the map's magical energy?

That's certainly possible. But what exactly would that entail?

Hmm...

Ugh. I've been staring at this map for so long it's giving me a headache.

Maybe I'll have a cup of coffee to help me relax...

Oh, I'd love one too if you don't mind.

Yes, yes, all right.

Aah! Your pet dinosaur's eating my hair again!

Whoa! Easy there, Steggy!

？！

Aw crap, I'm sorry! I spilled coffee on it! Think it's okay?

What were you thinking? Well, at least it's only a few drops.

It shouldn't affect the map's legibility, but do be careful from now oHm?

What the...? Did anyone else notice that magical energy reaction?

I did! It looks like it was the coffee.

...Should we just pour the rest of the coffee on the map?

Stop, stop! We won't be able to read the map at all if you do that!

First, we need to find out exactly why that activated the map's magical energy.

？！

Did you just think of something, Master?

A canteen?

？！

... ...

It does look like its magical energy is reacting... But there's no other change.

？！

I s'pose we'll just have to think up a different approach then...

... ..."Take this map entirely as it is"...

Wait, I think I've got it! Hup.

Now you're pouring sand on the map? What are you trying to do?

If we're taking this map as it is, then the bottom-left part must be land.

So if we pour water on the sea part, and sand on the land...

That does make logical sense, butHm?

Ah!

？！

Now, if we just compare it to a map of the Caribbean, we should find our treasure in no time! Sear this image into your Mystic Eyes, Viy!

We did it, Senpai!

？！

All right, I'll go on ahead and scout out the area.

If it's the kind of place we think it is, I'll need about a day to scout it, so just sit tight.

？！

Okay, see you later. Let's go, Tarasque!

Okay!

All right, in the meantime, we'll get everything ready forHm? Steggy?

Steggy? Steggy!?

What's wrong?

It's Steggy! He's gone limp!

No way!

Hmm...

Well? Well? Any idea what's wrong, Gordy?

I can't check since I'm having trouble using magecraft. Maybe it's because I've changed my Spirit Orig

Settle down, Technical Advisor! And please stop pinching my stomach!

Oh, sorry. So, you were saying?

Mages may be knowledgeable about many things, but I'm hardly a veterinarian...

Even if I were, there's no one alive who is truly familiar with dinosaur physiology.

So, bear in mind that I'm far from certain about anything I have to say here.

He has a runny nose, a phlegmy cough, eye discharge, and pus in his respiratory organs...

This may be some kind of reptilian pneumonia.

Oh no!

We don't have much to fear from this sort of disease ourselves thanks to our Mystic Codes and support spells...

But I never would have imagined that such a fantastic creature as this would come down with what I suspect is pneumonia.

What are we gonna do...?

How can we help him!?

Get ahold of yourself, Daviko!

!!!

It's okay. Deep breaths.

Okay...

Don't we already have medicine for pneumonia? Like antibiotics and such?

Well, yeah, but those are designed for humans, not dinosaurs.

I know, but what other choice do we have?

...Hang on.

We may be able to use alchemy to turn standard antibiotics into an elixir that would work on him.

If I make one for a lizard familiar... Hmm... I think it should work...?

The making of medicine has long been a core aspect of alchemy and magecraft.

And in my bag here...

？！

That's right! Of course I brought along antibiotics!

You can't take chances with diseases and magecraft that can break through your Mystic Code's defenses, especially when you usually camp alone.

So I brought some antibiotics along just in case. However, I'll also need other ingredients before I can turn them into proper magecraft medicine.

Fujimaru! Kyrielight! And a few of the rest of you as well!

I need you to bring me these ingredients, on the double!

Yes, sir!

... ...

Da Vinci?

Oh, hey, Fujimaru. Hey, Mash.

？！

Well...

At least he's not in pain anymore...I think...

And he's not coughing as much, either.

Gordy said:

"All I did was alchemize the antibiotics to boost their potency. I can't vouch for their efficacy"...

But it looked like they kicked in instantly to me.

？！

Oh, don't worry about me. I'm getting enough sleep.

But you've also been under a lot of stress. Why don't you get some rest while I keep an eye on Steggy?

Thanks, Mash. But that's okay.

I'm the one who brought him here, so I should be the one to take care of him.

I admire your spirit, but your methods are simply dreadful.

Huh?

Medical treatment is done in shifts for a reason.

You simply can't provide adequate care twenty-four hours a day all on your own.

It would be one thing if the dinosaur was like the Shadow Border, and only certain people could care for it.

As it happens, though, we can do this just as well as you. Strength in numbers, as they say.

Gnn... I want to disagree, but your logic is sound.

Hahaha, right!? Hahaha, I did it! I finally won an argument with my technical advisor!

But anyway: What do you say, Da Vinci?

...Fiiine.

Then I'll take the first shift.

？！

Fou fou.

Okay, then we'll all keep an eye on Steggy.

Thanks, guys. ...I guess I'll go get some rest.

I will, too. Wake me up if anything happens.

Yes, you've more than earned a rest too, Director.

？！

It looks like Steggy's sleeping. We'll have to keep it down.

？！

One hundred and fifty million years ago...

It's an easy thing to say, but I can't really conceive of such a massive span of time.

We've seen all sorts of impossible things in these minute Singularities...

But this one may just take the cake.

Yes, it was.

Dinosaurs like Steggy simply shouldn't exist, even in Rayshifts.

I never dreamed I would see one outside of a book or story, aside from fossils.

In a sense, they maybe even more phantasmal than, well, Phantasmals.

Yes, it was...

I never dreamed we would ever be attacked by more than one Columbus, let alone dozens...

It was truly one of the most nightmarish things IWait! No, Senpai!

I wanted to talk about Steggy now, not Columbus!

？！

？！

Ugh. You do know that a real living dinosaur may be one of the most unique things you ever encounter, right?

In fact, I'd bet we're the only people in the world who have ever seen one, let alone touched one.

As I was saying, a hundred and fifty million years is an impossibly long span of time.

That aside...if Steggy turns out to be what caused this Singularity...

I don't know how we're going to resolve it...

Morning.

!!!

Steggy!

Oh, thank goodness! Thank goodness you're okay... (Sniff) I was so worried about you...

Da Vinci...

Thank you so much, Gordy... Hm? Where's Gordy?

Oh, the director is still sleeping. He seemed very tired, so...

Gotcha. Okay, I'll go tell him how grateful I am right now!

By all means! ...Ah.

(Zzz...)

Gordyyy!

Gwuh!?

What is it!? What's going on!? Are we under attack!?

Look! Look at this!

... ...Ah, I see. So he's feeling better then.

Thank you so much, Gordy! I literally can't tell you how much I appreciate this!

Hmm, so I see. Well, that's good to hear. Though I must say, I'm so unaccustomed to this appreciation that my fingers are trembling.

I'll thank you to refrain from ever jumping onto my gut again, though!

'Kaaay!

Oh, don't worry about making breakfast today! We'll handle that! You just relax and enjoy yourself!

(Yaaawn) I think I'll go right back to bed, then... There are few pleasures more accessible than that...