The Black Iron Glory
Decoding

Chapter 20

Decoding

As Claude expected, Eriksson and Welikro went hunting wild cats after school. He could only warn them to be careful. Their parents were prominent people and were allowed to use firearms. Since they are underage, they enjoy the same rights as their parents.

But carrying firearms in the city is dangerous, and not just for cats, remember.

Fortunately, they understood how dangerous it was and chose less. Welikro gets a hunting bow and Eriksson borrows a sailor's arrow from his father. They do not have the range of firearms, but they are more than enough for cats.

Borkal's got the arbalest at home too. His father used to take him on trips when he was young. Borkal gave up and left and took it after the other two bothered him for about half an hour. The conversation between Borkal and Claude was thus quickly forgotten.

Claude refused it. He said he was too tired to hunt after very little sleep, and thus went home.

Her mother was next to her younger brother, visiting Madam Alika, who had just moved in. She quickly became good friends with her mother and the two often spent afternoons gossiping. Most importantly, Madam Alika has a seven-year-old daughter who keeps Bloweyk busy.

Angelina was at home, and doing her homework at the dinner table.

Claude stroked her head as he walked past her and told her that he would rest and not disturb her before dinner, and headed upstairs.

His tired expression disappeared as he closed the door of his room. He opened the drawer and took out his note. He had copied seven pages and marked them so that he would not mess with the order.

He wondered if he should start decoding what he had already copied. His eyes were fixed on the dictionary and he reached out for it. His hand hovered over it for a few seconds before he shook his head and pulled it.

There is no point in rushing. It was better to copy a few more pages while he was still on guard. There are only a few lines of text to a single page. He hoped to finish it in one go and not have to moonbathe anymore.

He cleared his mind, opened the cookbook on the first page that had yet to be opened, and began.

. . . . . .

Date: 11th day of the 8th month, 3341 NM. Weather: Rain.

After seven days of hard walking, we finally arrived at Golddew. We stayed at an inn called Fragrant Dew. We were surprised to see this book when we went for breakfast. We don't think anyone would ever use the talisman manticore parchment for a simple cookbook.

A staff member told me someone had paid for his tab using the – book that had been empty at the time. The old cookbook was a mess, so they copied all of their recipes into this book because the owner felt it would not be put on quickly.

What are they thinking? Do they know how expensive this is? What I asked for, of course not. I couldn't get naked seeing it for nothing so I bought it from them. They actually sell them only with shaliun.

Brother Tawari said it wasn't too valuable. Manticore parchment is a good material, but the sheets are basically useless as they write them.

He was right, but I didn't buy this to make a magical tome. I happen to go without a diary so I will just use it like that. In this case, the recipe actually makes good camouflage. . .

. . . . . .

The first entry was a bit boring, but it still took Claude a full hour to crack it, and it was still hard to read because so much was lost in translation.

He was happy to know that the book did indeed belong to a magus. Unfortunately, it's just a diary. He was frustrated with the date of entry. It didn't use the standard calendar he used to use, so he had no reference to when exactly it was written. The entire continent uses the current Sacret Calendar of Light, which ran in the sixth century, and the previous calendar, the Dark Calendar, ran for four millennia. Claude had never heard of a calendar that used NM as his initials. Perhaps it was a special calendar used only by the magi?

He sighed, read, and returned to translating.

. . . . . .

Date: day 12 of the 8th month, 3341 NM. Weather: Bright.

I couldn't sleep last night. Bota brought the two inn servants to his room and had fun. I told him to leave at dinner. He seems a little upset.

He said he had to make the most of the time he had left for it. We will not have any more chances soon. We split up still sour with each other.

. . . . . .

Date: day 13 of the 8th month, 3341 NM. Weather: Cloudy.

It rained a little bit last night. I spent most of the day meditating in my room.

Tawari came to see me at night. He looks sour. Apparently a unit was ambushed in the Binio Valley. Eleven magi were killed. Shot dead despite ringing four and three. Only the five-ringed magus escaped, but he was severely injured.

Tawari came to see me at night. He looks sour. Apparently a unit was ambushed in the Binio Valley. Eleven magi were killed. Shot dead despite ringing four and three. Only the five-ringed magus escaped, but he was severely injured.

It's only 50 kilometers from here. What a nightmare!

. . . . . .

It's weird, Claude thought, They've got guns?

Claude did not think too much, however, he was too curious to know more.

. . . . . .

Date: 14th day of the 8th month, 3341 NM. Weather: Bright.

I know Jones today. Turns out he's a four-ringed magus like me. He's a haggard guy. His skin was as pale as ashes and he drank a lot. Tawari said she acted that way because she was still shocked by what happened.

He's from Rosbo. The board called him here, just like us, and he came here to meet with us. Apparently his unit had 13 people but everyone was killed about 20 kilometers from the city. Only six made it out alive, including Jones, but they also killed some of their attackers. We've sent some people from the city to see it.

'You don't know how scared they are. . . They are not afraid of death. . . “Jones told me when she cried.

'Condemn who finds weapons! It was a demonic weapon! '

I don't think I remember everything correctly, but that's the whole point of what he said before he fainted.

Tawari came to see me again just before I went to bed. He told me not to tell anyone about the repairs I made to the weapons. He's worried about nothing. I'm not stupid enough to babble about such things. . .

. . . . . .

Claude looked at the pages he had translated, his mind wandering.

Why was magi summoned to this 'Golddew? And why were they ambushed by people holding weapons? It was also interesting to know that the diarist seemed to be involved in weapons development in some way.

Someone knocked on the door.

Someone knocked on the door.

"Claude .. Are you awake? Mom calls dinner ..." Angelina's shy voice rings.

"Okay, I'm coming!" Claude answered as he stood up.

"Ah, wait, Anna," call Claude.

He took a hairpin and put it in his hand.

"I bought you a present yesterday. Is that pretty?"

Angelina's eyes are shining.

"Thank you! I'll show it to mom!"

She turned around and half fell down as she sped into the kitchen. .

"Huh .." Claude wanted him to take four pirate statues to Bloweyk, but he decided to take them himself.

Lots of stuff packed for dinner. The main dish is potatoes with oxtails. Two long fried anchovies, specialties of the city. He also made goat ribs and sucked goose and ate table a basket of blueberries.

Are they celebrating? Then he remembered them having a big dinner last night, so this must have been the rest of the night before.

Arbeit sat in his father's chair, acting as if he had already become the head of the household, filling his face with the last goose drumstick. Angelina carefully cut the bread on the table with a small knife, and her mother fed the Bloweyk potatoes.

"Here, Puffball. Liked it?" Claude asked as he handed over the Bloweyk statues.

The little pig leaped happily as he grabbed the four statues and toyed with them.

"You're spending money recklessly again. Anna just showed me a hairpin and now you're giving me a Little Blowk toy," her mother complained as she put down her wooden bowl.

"The price is not much. I think he'll enjoy it. Where's Dad?"

"He sent someone to tell us he had to work late tonight."

"The price is not much. I think he'll enjoy it. Where's Dad?"

"He sent someone to tell us he had to work late tonight."

Dad must be working on his plan. No wonder Arbeit dared to sit in his chair.

"There's enough bread, Anna. You can stop cutting. Join us at the table."

Claude ignored the man who occupied his father's seat. He sat down and cut meat for his sister.

Gurgle, gurgle, gurgle …

Arbeit finished his wine glass, there was still half a bottle left from the previous night. He glanced at Claude for a moment and opened his mouth.

"You look rich, buying things everywhere. I wanted to ask you about the wrong thale. Did you take it?"

Claude didn't want to bother with him, but the fool didn't know when to go alone. He was always trying to provoke Claude.

"Who would believe you? Putting all the thorns somewhere, you never even put a single penny. Don't fuck with me, all right ?!"

"If I say I did, I know! Where did you get the money to buy her a gift if you didn't take it ?!"

Claude grinned.

"You don't have to know where I got my money! I know where you spend your money! Two dresses and a coat, huh? Whitestag is just so big and there is only one boutique. All I have to do is ask the owner to find out how much you spent. "

"Ughhh!"

Arbeit choked on a mouthful of his wine. He looked at Claude, his face as red as wine, his lower jaw hanging loosely.

"I can't be bothered with your business. Just don't do things that will embarrass mom and dad. Watch your mouth and keep it out of my sight. You hear?"

Claude stabbed a piece of potato as he said the last word.