Chapter 36

“This is the town, huh?”

It was already afternoon by the time they arrived. At some point, the key switched direction, pointing northeast instead, suggesting that they were close enough. Isak dropped them off in front of an inn, and they began their quest to find the sixth chair.

“We’re really close to the end, huh?” John murmured. Leyla looked up at him.

“I dislike hearing you say that.”

“Why?”

“Remember the dungeon?”

John covered his mouth, realizing he had just set up some flags.

“We- Well, let’s just find the chair.”

The two followed the key, arriving in front of a store. There were several chairs on display, with a bunch of other furniture. John and Leyla entered, and the two looked around. John did quick taps on the key. He didn’t want to show anyone that the key was special, but he didn’t want to spend time checking the chairs one by one either. Eventually, they arrived in front black chair.

The black chair was just behind a table, with a board game on top of it and another chair across it.

“Are you interested, young man?” asked the middle-aged storekeeper. “Have you ever played Kasut before?”

“... Kasut?”

The storekeeper thought John was focused on the board game, not on the chair.

I’ve never even heard about it.

“How do you play?”

The storekeeper motioned John to sit, with him sitting across from him. John kept his attention on the chair, looking for any changes. He must be quick. Once he noticed something amiss, he immediately stood up. He didn’t want a repeat of the red chair.

“Simple.” The storekeeper opened the box, revealing a stack of cards along with a bell. “These are cards with various kinds of vegetables.”

John nodded as he listened to the explanation, Leyla standing beside him. The storekeeper shuffled the cards, then divided them into three decks, one for each of them.

“Each of us lay down a card like this.” He pulled out a card with three carrots painted on it, putting it down in front of him. “Then you pull a card.”

John pulled a card. It was four cabbages. He put it down in front of him.

“Your turn, young lady.”

Leyla pulled out a card. It was three carrots.

“Now, you see that the total of carrots is six. When you figure that out, you reach out for the bell and ring it. The cards on the table would then be divided between the players who didn’t ring it. The first to lose all their cards wins. Just remember, if you ring it but the cards on the table you're not right, then you get all the cards."

Intrigued, John and Leyla decided to play. What followed was an onslaught. Despite never playing such a game before, John didn’t just understand how to play; he destroyed the competition. Despite being a laikaat, a higher being, Leyla was no match for John. John’s brain went into overdrive.

The second he saw a card, he could immediately tell the shape and amount, adding it together to six, then grabbing the bell. All of this happened within fractions of a second. An incredible reaction time, something he never had before.

“I win,” John said with pride.

I’ve never felt like this before… Is this because of the chair?

John saw a cup of water on the desk at the rear of the shop. He thought about the chair. He had an inkling of its abilities.

“You’re too good…” Leyla groaned. “Are you sure you’ve never played this before?”

John wasn’t listening, however.

If this chair really does increase my abilities…

I should be able to use advanced magic.

Despite struggling to use a water spell before, he could now do various tricks with water magic. He made a little dragon sculpture. An extremely detailed one.

“Whoa.” Leyla and the shopkeeper came closer. They could see the individual scales of the dragon.

It worked!

He realized the meaning of the black chair. An intriguing chair indeed. He didn’t mind having this one. Certainly better compared to the red chair.

“That is beautiful,” the storekeeper said.

“By the way, how much for this chair?” John asked, pointing to the chair he sat on.

“It’s comfortable, isn’t it?” The shorekeeper gave him a price. It was a bit steep, but still cheaper compared to the useless chair he won at the auction.

I guess it’s not too bad…

“I’ll take it.”

“Thank you very much.”

•••

Instead of heading back to the inn with the chair, John went to buy a canvas and a painting set.

“What are you even going to do with this?” Leyla asked while carrying the painting set.

“There’s something I want to try.”

This black chair might be the most useful of all the chairs. Once they arrived in their inn room, John began setting up.

“Don’t make a mess,” Leyla warned.

“I know. I’m not a kid.”

“You certainly feel like one.”

John sat down and began painting. He never painted before. He never even drew anything. He tried, and he always had the same result. All he could make was trash. But this time, things were different. The chair gave him access to skills he never had before.

There was beauty with every line. Stunning colors with every brush stroke. Despite never holding the brush, he made it look like he spent his entire existence pursuing painting. What appeared at the end was a stunning painting of a mountainous landscape, with a simple house in the center surrounded by pine trees.

It didn’t take long. He didn’t doubt his skills in the slightest. It all just happened. All of a sudden, a beautiful painting popped out in front of him.

A chair that grants skills… Impressive.

Unless the last chair is better than this one, he would definitely be taking this chair.

“... Can I have that?”

“Huh?” John turned his head at the unexpected requests.

“I… I want the painting… If you don’t mind.”

“... Sure, you can have it.”

If John grabbed this chair, he could paint more anyway.

“Thank you.” Leyla reached out and took the painting.

Is it that pretty?

John held his key, calling Kei over.

“One more chair to go!” Kei chirped when she appeared. She noticed the canvas and painting equipment in the room. “Guess you figured out what it can do, huh?”

“It’s impressive,” John said.

“Kei,” Leyla called, attracting Kei’s attention her way.

“Yes?”

She was holding the painting with her. She stepped closer and gave it to Kei. “Can you put this in my room?”

“This? Oh… Sure.” Kei nodded. “Leave it to me.”

“Thanks.”

“Good luck with the last chair, I’m counting on you.” Kei took the chair and the painting then disappeared.

•••

After that, John checked for the location of the last chair. To their surprise, it was on the west, from the area they came from. Isak was heading there as well. To Tettorokata, to be precise. They already visited Tettorokata, but John recalled the mess-up the furnishing company made. Maybe the chair got involved in the fiasco.

Regardless, there was no reason not to travel with Isak, who just so happened to head the same way. On the way to Tettorokata, they tried asking some more. This time, the trip took longer, giving them more chances. But, even after all this, Isak didn’t budge. He didn’t give anything away. Maybe there was nothing to be given away in the first place.

They eventually arrived in Tettorokata, and the key changed directions, leading them to a building they had visited prior.

The Count’s mansion.