The following day, Kaiser's identification card was delivered to the Ruven household.
"Takumi! That was not okay!"
It was Al-sama himself who brought it over, complaining the moment he arrived.
"Good morning, Al-sama."
""Good morning, Al-sama~""
"... Good morning."
"Good morning to you as well, Najack-san."
"Good morning, Takumi-san. Sorry for coming without much notice."
"No, no, it's fine. It seems we did receive a prior message after all."
Apparently, as both a notification of the recognition code and a test run, a letter had been delivered the previous day via the royals' private transfer device to the Ruven household's transfer device. That letter also mentioned that Al-sama would be visiting today.
And so, Al-sama arrived, handing over Kaiser's identification card even before greetings—or complaints.
"Once again, Takumi. That was not okay!"
"'That'—do you mean the jewels?"
"What else could I possibly mean!"
After the audience yesterday, I had sent a small box to the royal family via the transfer device. Inside were onyx and pearls obtained from the Dungeon of Ripples. So, this complaint must be about that.
"That was just a forgotten souvenir."
"That's exactly why I keep telling you! We cannot accept such expensive things! And you—actually activate the transfer device!"
After sending the box, the incoming signal rang. But I deliberately didn't take out the device from the Infinite Storage, preventing any return transfer. After all, I figured they'd just try to send it back.
"As I thought, you were going to send it back. But those pearls are apparently considered trash, so they're not valuable. That means there's no problem, right?"
"Hah!?"
Al-sama gave us a look as if to say, "What nonsense are you spouting?"
"We're acquainted with some merfolk."
"Hold on! From the start, this story is already strange! Merfolk aren't a race one simply meets."
"They came to us when we were by the seaside."
"Wait, really? The merfolk approached you?"
"Yes, and we were invited to their settlement, so we went."
"No, no, no—everything about this is strange!"
Al-sama refused to give up on pointing out the absurdities.
"And there, they asked us to dispose of some trash..."
"Why in the world would they invite you and then ask you to take their trash!?"
His retorts were sharp—but he wasn't wrong. Being invited only to be given trash is indeed odd. Though, in truth, it was advice from a divine beast of the Water God, and the priestess had been apologetic about handing over what she called "trash." Nostalgic times.
"Well, that 'trash' turned out to be fish monster bones, scales, seaweed, shells, and pearls."
"Trash? Wait—trash?"
"Yes. Bones and scales looked useful for weapon materials. Seaweed seemed like it could be used in medicine. But to the merfolk, they were trash."
"... Is that so?"
"The pearls were apparently just stones that sometimes form in edible shellfish."
"Haah!?"
Learning the merfolk's view on pearls, Al-sama was visibly shocked.
"So, we've got tons of them. Please take some off our hands."
"... This information is too much, I can't process it all at once. So they're trash, huh..."
In reality, I have mountains of these "trash materials" from two merfolk settlements stored in the Infinite Storage. So, I'd like them to help reduce it.
"Could you also take the monster bones and scales?"
"..."
Sure, I could sell them to the Adventurers' Guild, but dumping too much at once would crash the prices. I'd have to sell them slowly otherwise.
"Haahh~~~..."
Al-sama let out an exasperatedly long sigh. Father and son really are alike—exactly like Tristan-sama.
"Takumi, make a list of what you have, what can be sold, and the amounts. We'll review it and decide what we'd like to purchase. Then we'll present quantities and prices, and you can choose what you want to sell."
"Understood. I'll prepare it right away and send it over."
That was a generous offer. Though, knowing them, they'd insist on "fair" prices. Hopefully they'll be open to a little haggling...
"Even so, Tristan-sama works fast. I didn't expect the ID to be ready by the next day."
"You'll need it immediately, won't you?"
"Well, the sooner the better, of course.—Here, Kaiser. Don't lose it, and make sure you say your thanks."
"Ohhh! With this, I can freely come and go from the city.—You are called Al-sama? You have my gratitude."
""Thank you~""
I handed Kaiser the ID he'd been fidgeting over since earlier. He accepted it with clear joy, offering his thanks. The kids chimed in too.
"Come to think of it, I haven't introduced you properly. This is Alfried-sama, a prince of this kingdom. Be sure not to be rude."
"Mm? … Alfried? But Takumi called you Al-sama. Isn't your name Al-sama?"
"""..."""
""Hihi.""
Kaiser's outrageous misunderstanding left me, Al-sama, and Najack-san speechless. But Allen and Elena burst into giggles.
"See, Alfried is his full name. 'Al' is a nickname. Add the honorific 'sama'—and you get 'Al-sama.'"
"Oooh! So it's like when Ethan kept saying not to add 'san' to his name! I see, so it's not 'Al-sama' as a name, but 'Al' with 'sama' as a title! I understand now!"
"..."
True, back in the Regulus Empire, Ethan from the Dungeon Management Bureau had repeatedly told us not to use "san." No wonder Kaiser mixed it up.
"Sorry about that, Al-sama."
"No, it's fine. Actually, I learned something—that such a misunderstanding could happen."
"Haha, though I doubt it'll be a common occurrence."
It must've been a valuable learning experience for him.
"Takumi, Takumi! Before I try using this alone after returning to the sea, I want to try it once while with you!"
"You're right. Then how about we head out of the city now, and come back in the evening?"
""Yay, let's go~!""
Kaiser was practically bouncing with excitement, clutching his ID. And I agreed—it was better for him to test it with me first, rather than in a solo trial.
"Al-sama, are you free today?"
"Hmm? I don't have anything urgent. I cleared my schedule just to come here."
"Then, would you like to come with us?"
Since it was a rare chance, I invited him too.
""Ohhh~ come with us!""
"Why not.—Najack, it's just a day trip nearby. Should be fine, yes?"
"Even if I say no, you'll go anyway, won't you."
"Hah, you know me well.—Takumi, let's go then."
"... Najack-san, my apologies."
I invited too lightly, not considering the trouble it might cause his escort. But Najack-san didn't look like he was going to outright forbid it, so maybe it wasn't too much of an issue.