Chapter 65

Maseguru 65: All the Trouble Just Keeps Coming

「They were this widespread!?」

「Yes, that's right. What do you think? I bet you never thought they would be this widespread, didn't you?」

Ainz's surprised voice echoed in Professor Oz's room. He had been looking over the first document according to Oz's instructions, and the surprise, along with his explanation, astounded Ainz.

What he was looking at now was the Red Foxes' migration map in the past.

「...We could even say that they were all over the continent, isn't it...?」

「This was the most time-consuming part of my research. But since I can ask to the guild for help, it wasn't that hard...」

「You asked the guild for help?」

「Yes. Actually...」

His main method to gather the information was through the guild.

After all, no matter how much he wanted to do this research, he couldn't just run around the vast continent of Ishtal by himself. That's why he used money to ask the guild for help.

He asked the guild under the guise of 『Reference of past monster's material handling history』.

Valuable materials that are brought to the guild are recorded in detail as to their properties and characteristics. Thinking that the red fox must have been treated as such a valuable monster, he asked the guild to check their past records.

「I see. It's certainly more efficient that way」

Impressed by Oz's research methods, Ainz looked at the documents again.

As a result of the investigation, "unique" materials were found in many places. This had been confirmed in the material handling record at the Royal Guild, as well as in Magna and Ist. And of course, it had been confirmed in the adventurer's town of Balto as well.

「To be honest, I thought they were a little more secluded than this」

「For better or worse, they have a fun-loving nature. Maybe it was because of that, but it seems that many of them were actually quite carefree. ...It is believed that they were observing people and half-human as if they were investigating them」

「...What's their reason?」

「There doesn't seem to be a reason. They were smart monsters by nature, but they also had a great thirst for knowledge. However, there was a lot of playfulness mixed in with that desire for knowledge. For example, they would playfully research cruel things like what would happen if a monster's brain was transplanted into the body of a human...」

A thirst for knowledge plus an equally thirst for fun, and what came out of it was often cruel to the other party. But with those two mixed feelings, the red fox doesn't seem to even feel bad at all for what they did.

「This information should be useful for us」

「That's good to know. However, the female red fox that was the aides of the Demon King you are chasing and the one I've just described may be different」

「...Is it because they were so free?」

Oz nodded frankly at Ainz's words.

「Yes. I have also concluded that not all of them had the sense of fellowship between each other」

Not all of the red foxes shared the same consciousness or purpose, but they were all one collective. That's what Oz concludes.

It was good that he could learn a lot of new information, but Ainz's mind was getting tired little by little as he learned more and more important things. A lot of thoughts even popped into his head.

From then on, they continued to listen to Oz's explanation for several hours until late afternoon.

「Uhm, well, it seemed that I've talked too long about this. Please forgive me, Your Highness」

「Not at all. You've been really helpful」

Even though they had taken several breaks along the explanation, they were still tired from all the talking. The only one in Ainz's group who was still in good spirits was Kadyma.

「Will you still be staying at Ist?」

「Yes. For about ten more days」

「It's just right, then. I'll tell the gatekeeper later. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me at any time. So, let's break up for today. Too much cramming won't do any good after all... I'm always here, so please don't hesitate to contact me」

Did he notice how tired Ainz and the others were? If he thought about it, he felt sorry that he had taken the trouble to make time for him. Ainz felt that way.

He didn't try to hide his sorry feelings, and he was honest enough to tell Oz how he felt.

「...My apologies. I think Professor Oz is right, we need some time to sort things out」

「Hahahah. It's not surprising, so don't worry about it... Even we researchers sometimes feel that way as well, isn't that right, Kadyma-sama?」

At Oz's words, Kadyma nodded and said, "Yes, of course". They then decided to leave for today and come back later if they had any other concern.

「Well then, His Highness the Crown Prince. I am looking forward to seeing you again. ...But don't forget, the red foxes have been known to deceive people since ancient times. Beware to not only of the 『Knowledge thirsty Red Foxes』 but also the 『Playful Red Foxes』」

With the information they had received today, Ainz and the others decided to return to the inn.

The last words that Oz said to him carried a lot of weight from all the years of research he had done. There are roughly two kinds of red foxes, both of which are, at root, troublesome creatures.

After saying their farewell and thanks to Oz, Ainz and his group then left the room.

When they left the room and walked out into the hallway, it was still warm, probably because of the heating throughout the entire building. But as they walked out, the cool air soothed Ainz's aching head. He felt that the slight breeze that was blowing against his cheeks was pleasant.

「Hmm, as I had expected nya」

「What is it?」

Once outside, Kadyma, who had been quiet inside, opened her mouth.

「The only explanation we gave him was that the red fox was a subordinate of the demon king, but Professor Oz immediately guessed from that that the fox was also a close aide, so I thought it was just as I expected」

「I see, that's certainly true」

It wasn't that they were hiding anything, but they only explained that it was a subordinate of the demon king. However, even with such little information, he was able to predict and guess, which was quite a feat.

「Whether the knowledge thirsty or playful one... both seemed to be equally troublesome」

In the end, there's not much difference in their troublesomeness.

「...Hmm」

「What's wrong, Chris-san?」

While Ainz and Kadyma were talking about Professor Oz, Chris seemed to be thinking about something.

「Ah, it's nothing... I was just curious about something...」

「I see. I've got a lot on my mind as well, so let's take our time to sort it out when we get back to the inn」

「That's not what I meant... Uhh, I knew it, it's nothing」

Perhaps it wasn't a big deal, but Chris backed off without saying another word. Chris must be tired, too, Ainz thought, and smiled at her in silence, and started walking again on the road to the inn.

「Hmm... But I don't think Kadyma-sama ever mentioned that the red fox was a female to him...」

The words Oz spoke, 『The female red fox that was the aides of the Demon King you are chasing and the one I've just described may be different』 Chris couldn't get this line out of her mind.

――Her question, which she uttered in a small voice was swept away by the cold wind blowing through Ist.