Meanwhile.

"Can you make a long-distance call, please?

　David was working the night shift at a communications station in a corner of the Caenis Empire when a gorgeously dressed girl suddenly appeared in front of him.

　The lights on the floor were half dimmed, and the pale blue magic circle light leaking from a small room in the back of the room was shining on the windows.
　The girl who came in was wearing a short white flowery dress, a wide-brimmed hat, and a bright sky-blue scarf with a strange pattern.
　Even if you are not an expert in clothing, you can tell from the atmosphere that she is wearing expensive clothes. The large jeweled necklace could have cost a house. She wears it as if it were an ordinary piece of clothing.
　Her lace-up sandal-like shoes and bare feet are dazzling.

Oh, yes. It's possible, but the price is .......
"Oh, that's fine. It's expensive, but I can pay for it with ten imperial gold coins, right?
......?　Yes, of course!

　The telecommunication bureau also undertakes remote conversations as a service, but they are generally expensive.
　The magic of remote communication is drawn from the magic stored in the city's veins, and remote calls, which consume a lot of magic, can only be used if the taxpayer pays for it.

　In the event that you have any kind of questions concerning where and how to use the internet, you can contact us at the web site.
　The traveler ...... also gave the impression of being the prodigal daughter of some rich man.

This is the number. Tell her to call Amalie and she'll know.

　The girl gave me an eight-digit number, which seemed to be a telecom station somewhere in the eastern coastal state of Arusy.
　It was a long way away, but close enough that civilians could call without permission if they paid.

　David rearranged the mithril number panels connected to some of the magic circles in the communications room, and rewrote the formula.
　When the lever is folded down and the magic wire for outgoing calls is connected, the light intensity of the magic circle increases and distant sounds begin to be heard from the magic circle.

"......, this is Phil's communications station in the Men Province of Arusy.
This is Matis, Gimr, Linmin Province, Khanis Empire. This is a private call, and the caller is asking for Amalie.
"Yes, sir. Please hold.

　The transmission was cut off once. I'm going to call the other end of the line, but if I keep the line open during that time, it will consume more magic power.

　While waiting for the call back, David gives the girl a canned explanation.

...... Well, when a civilian calls, a communications officer will be present to verify the content.
　Also, the call will be disconnected after a maximum of 10 minutes. This is for the preservation of the city's stored magic power. ......
I know, I know.

　The girl interrupts the explanation in an annoyed manner, as if she knows everything. Even her cheeky attitude was charming.

　Eventually, the magic circle, which had been losing light, regained its glow.
　A return transmission came in from the other side. It was surprisingly fast.

"Hey, Mom. Can you hear me?　Yeah, yeah. I'm fine, I'm fine.

　The girl jumped into the communications room and spoke into the void.
　David watched the girl's back as she entered the room.

I've made two new friends.
　...... Oh, yeah. Jeri is so rich, she can buy anything she wants!　No, but I think he's dumb. But I think he's a jerk. He's not very talkative.
　Kanon is a struggling student who is working out right now. ...... Yeah. You're right, you should make more friends instead of studying all the time.

　The girl looks happy.
　The content is really nothing, just a status report to my mother.
　David, who is a government employee, can't help but think, "Why would I spend a lot of money to make a long distance call to ...... for that?
　I'm sure you'll be able to understand why I'm so worried about my daughter's safety as a father of one.

　...... No, it's still a terrible idea to let your daughter travel to a foreign country by herself when she grows up.
　There is a tendency for rich people to encourage their children to travel as an opportunity to broaden their network and knowledge, but if they didn't have the money to hire an escort, would they have thought of the same thing?
　If the common people who cannot afford to hire an escort wanted to travel, they would have to walk around in a strange land, relying only on their sense of smell to avoid danger.
　Demons, bandits, crime syndicates, insolent ...... people, I am horrified to think that my beautiful and growing daughter might fall into the hands of such people.

I invited them to the party and they both said they'd come. But I have to make sure I'm ready to greet them.
　I'm sure Jeri will be fine. ...... Yeah. Yeah, I know.
　I'm good, I don't have anything missing. I still have my allowance. Yeah.
　Uh, well, I'm going that way anyway, so just drop me there. I think I can last until then. Yeah.

　David was dismayed that she was so carefree, though she didn't show it.
　There's a war going on not too far away, and there are rumors of a cursed disease spreading.
　This easy-going girl will probably live her life in a world where tragic conflicts are far away.

All right. I'll be careful not to catch a cold.
　Thanks. See you.

　The girl walks out of the communications room with a lively gait.


　As soon as David saw that the call was over, he manipulated the lever on the wall to reduce the magic power supply to the magic circle.

"The ...... communication fee will be 16,300 yun.
"Yes.

　The girl took out her wallet from the small bag on her shoulder and paid lightly in imperial currency with a dragon's profile engraved on it, enough for David's family to live for a month.
　Then she took out an extra silver coin and handed it to David.

"Okay. Here, have a nice meal.
"Oh, thank you. ......

　It's a little excessive, but it's a tip.
　The girl smiled, squinting her red jade eyes, and thanked David.
　She is so charming that it makes you dizzy. For now, she was still young and blue, but in time, she might become the kind of woman who could make any man fall in love with her.

See you later.

　The girl waved her hand with a flutter and left the station like the wind.

There's always money to be found. ......

　David watched the girl go, feeling as if he were being teased by a psycho-fox.
　Fortunately, the silver coin in his hand did not turn into a leaf.