Published: July 4, 2025
The two parted ways with Ban Hugh after finishing their shopping.
Ryu was happily fluttering the newly bought feather fan.
Towards himself.
Or perhaps towards Abel.
"I couldn't get a hat, but I'll take having the white fan instead."
"There were various hats for sale, though..."
"Yeah, there were, but they weren't the kind I wanted. I wanted something that sits on top of your head, fluffy, like a half-cut roll cake."
"Uh, I have no idea what you're talking about."
Abel gave up trying to understand Ryu's vague explanation.
It's difficult for someone to picture something they've never seen just based on words.
There's nothing that can be done about it.
As the two walked along the long white wall of the mansion, they spotted someone standing in front of the gate.
It was in front of the gate of the mansion where they lived.
"Do they have business with us? Handling things while both of us are out is going to be a challenge from now on."
"Well, there's no one at home. Still, doesn't he seem a bit scared?"
Ryu pointed out the issue they would face in the future, while Abel noted the man's demeanor.
The man noticed the two approaching and bowed his head.
"Ah, I apologize for keeping you waiting. Is there something you need?"
"Yes. I have come as a messenger from Prince Lyun."
The young man, likely just an adult, said this as he handed over a letter.
However, he seemed to be worried about what was inside the gate.
"Don't worry. That golem won't attack anyone."
"Y-yes..."
Just inside the gate stood a golem.
It didn't come outside.
However, the presence of the golem made one hesitate to enter.
Meanwhile, Ryu read the letter.
Thinking a reply was necessary.
"Please tell Prince Lyun that I have received his message. I will be waiting for him tomorrow."
When Ryu said this, the man bowed his head and left.
"Not being able to converse is painful. But it's difficult to recreate human vocal cords with ice."
As Ryu passed through the gate, he gently patted the head of the golem standing there.
It was still far from its completed form, but it was certainly the result of effort...
"It can't speak, but it can listen. And it can understand too."
"That's impressive enough."
"Yeah. With the water management golem, I gathered voices around the royal capital."
"Gathering voices?"
Ryu nodded as he recalled the hardships from back then.
Abel tilted his head, not understanding what Ryu meant.
"Voice recognition requires collecting and analyzing many 'voices.' If there aren't enough, the recognition accuracy decreases. So when I thought about where many voices would be found, it turned out to be the tavern."
"Well, people do tend to be more talkative when they've had a drink."
"Then, I also had various tradespeople help gather 'voices'... somehow, the water management golem started moving with voices."
"I see. Once you reach that point, it's good. For instance, it could display words on a board from the golem's side."
Ryu's eyes widened at Abel's casual comment.
"What? Did I say something weird?"
"No, it's not weird. You're a genius."
"Sorry, I don't get it..."
"You're right. Displaying words on an ice board would be best. The other party can read it... Abel, that’s wonderful."
"O-oh..."
Abel blushed at Ryu's praise.
"With this, all the pending issues are resolved!"
"Wait, don't you think there's a major problem?"
"Yes?"
"We speak the Central Nations language, so the voices we gathered at the tavern are fine, but we’re in the Eastern Nations, right?"
"Ah..."
"If we don't gather 'voices' in the Eastern Nations language, won't the recognition accuracy decrease?"
"What a thing..."
Ryu muttered and sank to his hands and knees on the ground.
It was a pose of despair.
How long did he stay like that? Perhaps about thirty seconds.
"Ha!"
He stood up with a strange shout.
Then, with a determined expression, he declared.
"We'll postpone that problem."
A declaration to procrastinate.
A universal phrase that humans have been using for thousands of years.
Of course, the end result usually leads to a catastrophe when one can't procrastinate anymore...