Volume 4 Chapter 7

Inside, the guild building was a bit less spacious than that of the merchant’s guild.

Immediately upon entering a reception counter of a very common shape could be seen, but in addition to it, there also stood a few tables with signs like 『Purchase of ancient relics』, 『Investigation team counter』placed on them.

Looks like there are a lot of departments in the archeology guild. Personnel was assigned to every table, but each staff member wore a different uniform.

Looks like everyone was curious about that, as they kept glancing at staff as we walked towards the conference room.

「Let me officially introduce myself. I’m a the leader of this guildー To be precise, I’m the team leader of the research department, Michaela Grace.」

After serving us tea, Michaela bowed and said this.

From what I’ve heard, the archeology guild has the exploration and excavation team, and the research and analysis team. So Michaela seems to be in charge of the latter.

「Yeah, that’s very courteous of you. I’m Axel, a carrier. These are my comrades, Berzelia, Saki and Daisy. Well, you probably already know the three of them.」

Hearing this Michaela made a slightly surprised face.

「So you are…… The flying carrier, Axel-san, the one that formed a party with several heroes. I heard you were in this city, but……」

「Yes. We arrived some time ago.」

「I see. I’m glad to meet you. My friend, captain Sidonius wrote a lot about you.」

I heard that Sidonius was close with some of the members of this guild, looks like she is one of them.

「So Daisy is also one of Axel-san’s comrades.」

「Yup. That’s why I’m in this city.」

「So that’s how it is. I’m glad to see you after all this time. 」

Michaela smiled, but then breathed a deep sigh.

「But even so…… You surprised me. To think there would be people like you, that could walk in this purple storm without even trying to cover themselves…… And not even be affected by that.」

She said.

「Eehm? Is it that surprising?」

Generally, it’s quite warm in this city.

The sky remained cloudy most of the time, I don’t think I even saw a clear sky here, even so, it wasn’t humid and the temperature was quite high.

As such, many wore revealing clothes.

I feel like many if not the most attires had several more degrees of skin exposure than ours.

Wondering what is so surprising about this, I asked, andー

「How should I put it? This sandstorm is not an ordinary one…… And, well, this is good timing. Take a look at that……」

Saying that she pointed to the window of the conference room.

A part of the main street was visible from it. Butー

「……The sandstorm is quite rough.」

A flurry of sand was raging on the street that was completely clean just some moments ago. And it wasn’t just some sand.

「So it’s a sandstorm with purple sand. That’s quite peculiar indeed.」

「Yes. That’s why it’s called a purple storm. And it’s peculiarity isn’t limited to its color. It might be a bit hard to see, but please take a look at the ditch beside the road.」

I look to the point she mentioned.

A shallow ditch in the ground right beside the road.

A bright red apple was lying in there.

And while I thought that the apple was probably dropped by one of the merchants that we saw packing in a panic earlierー

「Eh? Master, the color is kind of changing.」

「Yeah. Or rather…… Isn’t it withering?」

The apple was changing in color quickly before our own eyes.

But rather than rotting, it was something closer to withering.

In the blink of an eye, it was drained of all the liquids and completely dried up in less than a minute.

「……Michaela-san, what was that? That was clearly abnormal.」

「Yes. This purple-colored sandstormーー The winds we call a purple storm, are robbing everything of their fluids.」

「So it wasn’t just a storm with a strange color.」

「Yes. It drains fluids and magic power, the storm with magic sand. It’s for the color of this sand that we took to calling it『Purple storm』.」

Daisy tilted her head to Michaela’s words.

「Wait a moment, Michaela. When I came to this city the last time there nothing this bizarre going on?」

Daisy finished by saying that normal sandstorms were the most she could see there, to which Michaela replied in agreement.

「Yes. We ourselves only saw the first glimpses of it a few months ago. What we managed to establish with an investigation by forces of our guild, is that purple storms come from the desert and that they drain fluids and magic power. And once it began it would go on for at least half a day. ……I think any of you would be able to feel its influence were you just to stick your hand out of the window. Give it a try.」

「Well then, I’ll do it!」

Saying that, Berzelia, who was near the window, opened it slightly.

With a bit of sand-like something being carried in by the wind, Berzelia stuck out her hand from the window. Butー

「Hmm? I don’t quite get it to be honest…… Does it really drain water and magic power?」

She tilted her head, puzzled.

Saki looked at her with half-closed eyes.

「Dragon Monarch Hydra, there is some dullness to your senses after all…… It’s nothing much, but there is a noticeable dissipation of magic power. ……But you have to focus to sense it.」

「Eeh? Is that for real, Lysnoir? ……Ah, now that you mention it, I can feel that the skin became a bit drier. I think I now can feel water escaping!」

Michaela smiled wryly seeing her reaction.

「Unlike an apple, living things have a divine blessing known as a status with which comes resistance, so automatically, magical defense takes place. And in addition, the city has a magic barrier, which you won’t have in the desert, so it is bearable to some degree. …And from what I’ve seen, you would be able to withstand it for quite a while, as long as you stay in the city, a purple storm wouldn’t amount to much. So I understand your reaction. But we would immediately get a feeling of fatigue and dehydration, so your statuses simply amaze me.」

「Ah, so that’s why both you and the guild staff were so surprised when you first saw us.」