Level Eater
Chapter 149

For dinner, they gnawed on whatever they had on hand, and as it got completely dark, Tatsuro told Jeanne to assume her [True Form]. Jeanne transformed from her [Child Form] into her enormous [True Form].

"──Wow, she's really big..." (Leah)

"Huh? Can't your [All-Seeing Eye] discern that? I thought you had already figured everything out and were just letting it slide..." (Tatsuro)

"Well, Cardina, Jeanne, and Nana being created from Tatsuro's magic power was something I realized when I first activated my eyes." (Leah)

"But?" (Tatsuro)

"I need to concentrate to see in-depth, and I can't tell just by glancing what properties something has. If I overuse it, I quickly exhaust my energy and collapse." (Leah)

"That's quite a troublesome skill. But does that mean there are things you might not have noticed unless you saw them directly?" (Tatsuro)

"Yes..." (Leah)

With a somewhat difficult expression, Leah answered, making Tatsuro and Ai exchange glances that said, "We've messed up."

But since it was already done and they knew Leah had a skill she'd rather keep secret, they decided to prioritize delivering Piporin to the doctor.

First, Ai easily lifted the metal container filled with water, and Piporin climbed onto Jeanne, who was lying on her belly, and placed the container on Jeanne's back.

After that, she helped Tatsuro up and carried Leah, who couldn't climb up by herself, on her back before climbing up again.

"I'm sorry for the trouble..." (Leah)

"No worries!" (Ai)

Ai smiled broadly at Leah, who looked apologetic, making Leah momentarily confused but then she shyly thanked Ai.

Since Leah had neither strength nor dexterity, they secured her to Jeanne with wires to prevent her from falling.

Finally, Nana floated up onto Jeanne, and after Cardina used Dispel magic to check the surroundings, confirming there was no one nearby, they began their journey.

"Alright, let's cover Jeanne with dark magic. Are you ready, Jeanne?" (Tatsuro)

"Neigh!!" (Jeanne)

Jeanne neighed energetically, ready to go.

Tatsuro used dark magic from his right hand to cover Jeanne, and then produced light from his left hand, mimicking moonlight to camouflage against the night sky.

"Hmm... It's a bit off. Cardina, how does it look from the outside?" (Tatsuro)

"Peweeー" (Cardina)

"Seems okay, she says." (Nana)

"Not bad for something improvised. Jeanne, fly without shaking too much." (Tatsuro)

"Neigh!!" (Jeanne)

Responding to Tatsuro's command, Jeanne slowly floated into the sky.

Leah, experiencing flight for the first time, was initially frightened by the sensation but soon stared in amazement at the moonlit landscape below.

Nana teased Leah along the way, making her sulk, but we'll skip that part.

Thanks to Jeanne's efforts, they smoothly passed through areas impassable by carriage and landed in a secluded spot found by Cardina, just before night fully fell.

Ai carefully lowered the container and helped everyone disembark. After confirming everyone was off her back, Jeanne, now ready to enter the town, thanked everyone and reverted to her [Child Form] inside Tatsuro.

"So, what do we do from here? Bringing Leah into town openly might not be wise." (Ai)

"But we can't leave her alone due to her health, so let's use our adventurer rank benefits." (Tatsuro)

"?????" (Nana)

Tatsuro, Ai, and Nana, pushing a cart with a large metal box, headed to the town gate.

They bypassed the queue and approached a slightly chubby middle-aged guard at the checkpoint.

"Excuse me. We need to deliver an urgent item to the town's doctor. Can we enter immediately?" (Tatsuro)

"Huh? No, no, you need to wait your turn... Wait, can I see your ID?"

"Here it is." (Tatsuro)

Initially puzzled, the guard remembered hearing about high-ranking adventurers entering and exiting the town and decided to check just in case.

Sure enough, Tatsuro and Ai were confirmed as high-ranking adventurers.

"Oh, I apologize. Wait, is this the item for the doctor's request? Did you really catch a Piporin from Nazeto Falls!?"

"Yes. It's in a large container to prevent weakening, but it's still cramped. We want to deliver it before it gets too weak. Can we enter quickly?" (Tatsuro)

"Wow, it really was there..."

The guard sounded deeply impressed as he gazed intently at the metal box, the contents of which were invisible, placed on the cart that Tatsuro and the others were pulling.

"Um, is it okay to go through?" (Tatsuro)

"Eh? Oh, sorry. Is it okay for that little one to be with you? "

"Yes, it is" (Tatsuro)

"In that case, please go ahead."

"Thank you." (Tatsuro)

"Thank you." (Ai)

"Thank you very much." (Nana)

The guard bowed deeply, and Tatsuro and his party hurriedly entered the town, watched by a smiling guard. Another guard approached him from behind.

"Hey, Tommy. Why are you bowing to kids?"

"Idiot, they're high-ranking adventurers."

"What? So they're the ones Colette mentioned..."

"Yeah. Unlike those merchant guild folks, these adventurers are polite. I wish those others could learn from them."

"Watch what you say, or they'll hear you."

"True. But still, some merchant guild members are always friendly."

"Yeah, I guess it depends."

After their chat, the guards returned to their posts.

Having successfully smuggled Leah into town in a two-layered metal container, Tatsuro and his team head for the doctor's house quickly.

"Surprisingly, they let us bring such suspicious cargo without any inspection." (Tatsuro)

"Yeah. I didn't expect the rank to grant such high social status." (Ai)

"You shouldn't worry, father. They decided to grant you the rank." (Nana)

"Yeah, I guess..." (Tatsuro)

"We commoners can't just take it lightly." (Ai)

"I don't understand that." (Nana)

Nana, helping push the cart, received a head pat from Tatsuro and Ai. When no one was around, they checked on Leah.

"Leah, is it cramped in there?" (Tatsuro)

"Yes, my bottom hurts a bit, but I can manage for a while longer." (Leah)

"We'll hurry, so hang in there." (Tatsuro)

"Hang in there!" (Ai)

"Yes, I'll do my best!" (Leah)

Relieved by Leah's still-strong voice, they continued towards the doctor's house, discussing future plans via telepathy.

They arrived without any trouble and entered the pathway to the front door.

As soon as they stepped onto the property, the plants near the entrance shook, and bells attached to their branches rang loudly.

Prepared for this, they waited calmly until the front door burst open, revealing not the doctor, but a familiar figure.

"Hello, I've been waiting, Tatsuro, Ai. And... Unfamiliar little one!" (Reginald McDermott)

"Don't call me little one! I'm Nana!" (Nana)

"Reginald-san!?" (Ai)

Indeed, it was the muscular patriarch of the great merchant house, Reginald McDermott himself.

As they stood stunned by this unexpected reunion, the doctor came running out behind Reginald, panting.

"You! So you've brought a Piporin!?"

"Yes, right here." (Tatsuro)

"Great! This will advance my research! Hurry inside!"

With childlike excitement, the doctor dashed inside, starting to prepare something.

Tatsuro and Ai exchanged glances, then followed Reginald inside, pushing the cart.

The entrance area was cluttered with transparent cases of plants, unusual for the typically meticulous doctor.

The answer was in the back room.

"Is this an aquarium?" (Tatsuro)

"Yes, Tatsuro. We put our all into it, from craftsmen to materials. It's a masterpiece." (Reginald McDermott)

"Impressive!" (Tatsuro)

It was a three-meter diameter sphere made of thick, transparent glass-like material, with black boxes attached above and below.

The clutter seemed to result from relocating items to make room for the aquarium. The doctor climbed the attached stairs and opened a large valve on top of the upper box.

"Quick, put Piporin in here!"

"This isn't just an ordinary aquarium, right?" (Tatsuro)

"Of course not. It's stronger than most metals and equipped with magical pressure regulators. Go ahead."

"Got it. Ai, please." (Tatsuro)

"Roger!" (Ai)

After confirming with Reginald, Tatsuro used earth magic to cut the top layer of the metal box, the one containing Piporin.

Ignoring Reginald's curiosity about the remaining box, Ai carried the container to the doctor, who was eagerly waiting, climbed the stairs, and placed Piporin into the aquarium, removing the lid.

"Great! Close the lid and turn the valve!"

"Got it. There!" (Ai)

"Then press the blue button near the valve!"

"Okay, the blue button... there. Pressing it now─ Whoa!" (Ai)

Following the doctor's instructions, Ai closed the lid and pressed the button, causing a blue magic circle to briefly appear on the aquarium.

Magic filled the tank, and Piporin, now in a larger space, swam around before settling on a rock at the bottom, gripping it with its crab-like legs. The doctor watched intently, checking for any issues with Piporin.

"Reginald, is that really a Piporin?"

"Yes, no doubt. But I'm amazed you brought it back. Truly impressive." (Reginald McDermott)

"Praise won't get you anything." (Tatsuro)

"Oh, that's a shame." (Reginald McDermott)

Reginald shrugged playfully, flashing a bright, muscular smile.

Finding it a bit overwhelming, Tatsuro looked away and waved slightly at Ai, who was returning with the empty container, giving him a small smile as a relief for his eyes.

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