The season had arrived in autumn.
　The hectic school festival has passed and things have settled down.

　On a recess day, I was sitting in the school cafeteria drinking tea and looking at a book, when a couple of girls came up to me with a group of girls.

Good morning, Seika. Do you have a minute?
Hmm?　Oh, good morning. Amu and Yifa and Mabel and....

　The first thing I noticed were the usual three ladies.
　But today, there was another girl in the room.
　I smile and call out to the girl, too.

You too, Mr. Strand. It's unusual to see you with those three.
"Yes ... good morning, Mr. Lamplogue.

　The beautiful girl with her long, barley-colored hair hanging down returned the greeting so modestly.

　Saixa Strand is the daughter of the Countess of Strand.
　Although they share the same rank as my family, their family is substantially higher in rank because they have produced many members of the Imperial Council.

　In addition, she was a classmate of mine.
　We hardly ever spoke.

　I look around at them and open my mouth.

"Well, what's wrong?
You know, Seika-kun...
'No, it's all right, Mr. Yifa. I'll speak for myself.

　Yifa was about to say something, when she was interrupted by Saisha.
　Then he looked at me and said, "I have a favor to ask you, Lamprog.

"I need to ask a favor from you, Lamprog.
Please?
'Yes, sir. Actually, I dropped my precious ring the other day and I was wondering if you, Lamplogue, could help me find it for me.
Why me?
'Everyone says that Mr. Lamplogue could do almost anything...'
Is that what they say about me?

　It's true that many things have come and gone since I entered the school.
　But still, it's a big difference compared to last year, when you were being criticized for being an outcast with no magic powers or for talking behind your back.

Can you do something about it...?
Didn't you win the fortune telling treasure hunt last year?　Just do it quickly. I'll help you.
'Hey Amu, don't say that too much. It wasn't against the rules, but it wasn't something to be praised by any means.... Well, that's fine. I get it.

　He smiled and nodded to Saisha.

　That's about as good as it gets.
　There is normal fortune-telling in this world as well, and even if I showed them the fortune-telling techniques of my past life, they wouldn't be able to understand it as a non-specialist.
　Finding lost items is just as easy as finding them. I think I'll owe the Countess a debt of gratitude.

So, where did Miss Stolland drop the ring?
"Well, you see...

　Saisha stammered, as if it was hard to say.

''It was in the school that I dropped it.
........what?

　I have a horrible feeling about this.

　Whether she knew my mind or not - and I'm sure she must have guessed it from her expression - the elegantly dressed girl declared mercilessly.

'I'm sure he's sinking to the bottom of the Rodnea Underground Sewer now.


****


　There is usually a vast sewer system that runs underneath the Empire's major cities.
　The Imperial City, of course, has one in Rodnea.
　It is said that all kinds of waste water and sewage are collected in one stream and discharged into a nearby river.

　Remembering this fact, I say, "No way.

'Impossible.'
Why?
'Why not? It's not right for you to say that.

　I sigh and say to Amu, who raises an eyebrow, "You know that, don't you?

"You know that, don't you? The underground sewers are the territory of the Adventurer's Guild.

　Some monsters also appear in the sewers.
　Monster carcasses can be turned into resources. In other words, they are a source of money.
　In addition, there are often coins, metals and other valuable items washed ashore in the sewers.

　If you can collect them in the name of scavenging, you will have a lot of money.
　That was why in many cities the Adventurer's Guild was commissioned by the City Counselor's Council to take charge of the sewerage system.
　It was also a place where fledgling adventurers could earn a living.

''It's completely the domain of adventurers. It's the domain of the adventurer. I'm sorry, Mr. Strand, but I can't help you. The only way to find them is to make a formal request to the guild. I know it's unlikely you'll find him, but...
''No, I mean, I already sent a request to the guild once. There were some adventurers who took orders.
'So you didn't find it. Then give it up and....
No, that's because he never came back.
...What?

　I blink.

A party of adventurers who didn't come back?　It was in the underground sewers, wasn't it?　Not dungeons and forests.
Yeah. The sewer didn't bring him back.

　Amu takes over and says.

''Normally, the monsters in the sewers are all rats or bats or slime type minnows, but even so, occasional human deaths do occur. But this was different this time it seems that there's a large number of monsters in the sewer. The party that went under the radar to search for them later only recovered a portion of their equipment. They said there were no bones left.
I don't think that's a good idea.　It's under the city. If they come above ground...
'So now the guild seems to be planning a massive invasion to wipe them out. But we don't know when that will be, and then we won't have time to worry about the ring. So I asked the guild to let us go underground while we still can. The guild said yes. I think it's because of the referral from my mom and dad.

　I'm taken aback by Amu's nonchalant remark.

"We're diving into a sewer with a bunch of monsters in it all by ourselves. Are you crazy?
Why?　We'll be fine!

　Amu said without any doubt.

'I've beaten daemons and black Naga, and Mabel was the best four in the imperial capital's martial arts tournament. Even Yifa got a bad summoner in the summer by busting a Rava Tiger, right?
'Yes, but...'
And you. You slayed goblins in the underground dungeons of Rodnea, won the imperial tournament, and even tamed a dragon.
....
There's nothing we can't do if we have a party!

　Amu chuckled.

　I sighed.
　He was overconfident, like a young man. He doesn't doubt his own potential for success.
　The fact that he's so good at what he does is even worse.

　I shook my head.

No, it's too dangerous. I don't think so.
Yeah.

　I ignore the dissatisfied Amu and talk to Saisha.

That's why I can't help you. I'm sorry. You should give up the ring and get a new one.
...it was an engagement ring.

　The words are whispered to me with a downward glance, and I close my mouth.
　Saixa continues, "It was a gift from my ex-wife last year.

It was a gift from my ex-wife just last year, and it had some very rare gems in it, but the other day at the school festival, there were crowds. But because of the crowds at the school festival the other day...
'Well I guess I didn't have a choice. I'm sure my fiancé will understand.
'Actually, he was there and he said the same thing. But, you know...I don't know if his house would have said the same thing...
What do you mean...?
He's a marquess, and he's wanted to marry me since he was very young. But his grandfather was not happy about the marriage, saying he could have found someone better. If he finds out that he has lost his precious engagement ring, I am sure he will be very angry and may try to break off the marriage with the master and my father.
....
'As far as I'm concerned it's something I want to avoid at all costs. I am not in a position to be free to marry, but I can't think of anyone else now but him. So please, Mr. Lamplogue. Please help me find my precious ring.
'Ummm...'

　What should I do? It's so hard to say no.
　But hey....

Seika. Help him.

　It was Mabel, who had been silent for a long time, who said that.
　When she looked at her, Yifa, who was standing beside her, opened her mouth.

''You know, Seika-kun. It was Mabel-chan who said she was going to help Saixa-san in the beginning.
What... why?
I want to help someone else, too.

　Mabel looks at me and says, "But I can't do this alone.

"But I can't do this by myself. That's why I need Seika's help.
Yeah ... umm...
Please. You helped me out.

　Then Amu and Yifa say to each other.

'Come on, Seika. You helped me, too.
You're talking about me.
You guys...
Mr. Lamprog. I'd like to ask you to do the same for me.

　Saisha says, putting her hand on her chest.

''I'll be sure to thank you. I'll ask my father to send a thank you note to Count Lamplogue as well, so.......''
Huh.....

　I let out a huge sigh.

All right, then.
Oh, really?

　Saisha's face lit up with happiness.

　

'Thanks, Seika.'
Okay. Okay, so let's get started.

　I answered Mabel and pulled out a map of the city from underneath the stack of books I had just borrowed from the archives.
　I had just borrowed it from the archives.

"Huh. Are you expecting this to be...?
'No way. I was just bringing it along because I was researching Rodnea's history.

　The timing was oddly good, though.

　Then I took a cheap ring and a chain pendulum from my pocket and handed it to Saisha.

'Yes,'
What do you mean, I'm...?
'Yes. Since it's Mr. Strand who wants the ring the most, it's better for you to do it yourself.
But I don't know anything about fortune telling...
I'll help you. Just hang that pendulum on the map.

　On the spread out map, Saisha drapes the pendulum of the ring as she is told.

'Then think of what you want to find and remind yourself strongly of what you want to find.
Yes, sir.

　Saisha closed her eyes tightly.

'Yes, yes. Then keep it that way, and try not to shake your hands as much as possible.'

　I walked around to the side of Saixa's back and reached behind her and grasped the back of her hand holding the pendulum.
　Then, with a spell of power, I look down at the map.

"Uh, uh, uh...
For now, let's start at the school.

　Slowly, I move Saixa's slender hand.
　I explore the area that appears to be a waterway, but there's no response now.

'Hmm I thought this area was a culvert.
Well, I mean, Mr. Lamprogue...
Let's look a little further downstream.

　Peering at the map over Saixa's shoulder, I move the pendulum further.
　I try to explore the center of the city where the tributaries are supposed to meet up, but there is still no response.

''........That's strange. Even if they flowed out of the city, there would normally be some reaction to the path they followed. Strand-san, are you concentrating properly?
Uhhhh...
"Seika-kun.

　I turned my head towards the voice and saw Yifa looking at me with a cold look in her eyes.

''Hey, aren't we too close?''
'Eh....'
Where do you get your hands in all the confusion?

　Even Amu is staring at me with half-closed eyes.

"No, I only touched my hand, but...

　I was about to say something back, when I noticed Saixa's slightly flushed profile and closed my mouth.
　I move away and walk across the desk to the front.

I'm sorry. I'm sorry, I didn't pay enough attention to the fact that you're with someone else.
No, it's okay...
'It just doesn't work without touching my hand. Excuse me for a minute.
'Oh, yes. Please.....

　I put my fingertips on Saixa's hand.
　As I continue my fortune-telling, I secretly reflect on it.

　.........That's right, we were close. It's not a good idea.
　I know it's not good, but when I talk to a girl this young, I can't help but treat her like a child.
　In a previous life, I took care of my apprentice for a while after he did his duty, so that's completely leftover.
　Now that I am a child, I have to behave accordingly.

　It's a good thing that you're able to concentrate on your work, or else the pendulum will respond in various places around the school and in the city.
　And as they followed the mainstream of the sewer system, the swing suddenly became louder at one point.

''........It looks like it's here.''
Really?　Good for you, Miss Saisha!　It looks like it's still in the city.
'Yes, I'm glad. I was prepared for it to be swept away already...
'But we won't know if it rains and the flow goes up. Let's get going before that happens!
Let's do it tomorrow at least. Don't you guys need to get ready. I'm gonna check out the sewer system and see if I can find out what's underneath...

　I said stupidly, and Amu nodded with a big smile.

I'll see you tomorrow!

　
　He's probably excited about his first adventure in a long time.

　He just seemed to be too buoyant, and I was a little worried.