Magic Scrolls?

As Mirabar's governor, Sunderland Starglim could be considered fairly competent. The governor of Mirabar had little power, of course, which meant she could not have much ambition either. The city's decisions were made by Marquis Erastu Larim, while its administration was handled by the members of the Glimmerstone Council. Although the governor was ostensibly Mirabar's leader, in reality she was responsible for communication between the marquis and the council members, planning and consulting on certain decisions, and issuing decrees on behalf of the Glimmerstone Council—or, more accurately, Marquis Erastu.

Put simply, Sunderland was the liaison and mouthpiece between the marquis and the council, the lord's secretary and advisor. Though she had the knowledge and shrewdness needed to do the job, Sunderland disliked the position because her temperament clashed with the city's mercenary ways. But because of her family's traditions, she had no choice but to take it on. She had even given up her magical research for the job.

Though William had tricked her several times, Sunderland had always taken him for a country bumpkin. That was why she kept coming up short. This kindhearted woman with a slightly mean streak even played the part of a bitter, resentful wife with remarkable enthusiasm. The reason was simple: she wanted to amuse herself.

Sunderland hated her current way of life, but Lady Stagrim loved this city.

Old Singers stared in amazement at Sunderland, dressed like a female adventurer. "Little Sunderland! Why are you dressed like that? Don't tell me—" The one-eyed dwarf turned his furious gaze on his friend, who was hanging his head, and demanded, "Torg! This is the adventuring assistant you were talking about? Damn it, is your skull full of rocks? The underground tunnels aren't some easy game of pillar bowling! Don't expect me to agree to you taking her along!"

Torg hung his head, speechless. The burly dwarf, whose black beard nearly reached his knees, felt like killing himself. As the commander of the Axe of Mirabar and a senior official responsible for the city's security, taking the governor alone on an adventure into dangerous territory was a gross dereliction of duty. Just thinking about it brought the upright dwarf warrior to tears.

But Sunderland had regained her usual composure and grace. She half-lidded her beautiful, bright blue eyes and pointed at Aelf and Mishaer, who were playing around. "They can go. Why can't I come along on the expedition?"

Singers raised his voice. "Because you're—" The one-eyed dwarf stopped himself. In a dwarf's eyes, there was nothing unusual about a leader joining the fight. Almost every dwarven leader was a powerful warrior, a veteran of countless battles. Of the group, only Torg had the authority to refuse the female governor's request—but the poor dwarf had already been persuaded.

William spoke up. "We need capable companions! Not... helpless... dead weight!" His voice grew quieter as Sunderland gave the two little ones a meaningful look. The sight of the Horn of Kor in Mishaer's fiery red curls made her eyes light up with envy.

Aelf was delighted by William's words. Beaming, she proudly declared, "I'm a Ranger of the great goddess Mielikki! The finest Moon Elf in the Starry Night Tribe!" Of course, she left out the qualifier "among all the underage elves," but being "recognized" by the powerful William still made her very happy.

Mishaer excitedly waved her little fists. "I'm the great Mishaer! The very—" The little girl got stuck. Embarrassed, she scratched her ear beneath her helmet, then rolled her big eyes and said, "The Mishaer most cherished by the powerful William!"

The two little ones' shameless boasting made Sunderland laugh so hard she doubled over. "These are the capable companions you were talking about? Hahaha!"

William blushed, fuming inwardly. Damn it! Do you think I want to take those two to some pitch-black place underground? I'm only doing it to avoid bringing you, you unreasonable woman!

Of course, he couldn't say that outright and ruin their relationship. "How about this? You can come if you prove you can protect yourself. The only condition is that you can't rely on Torg!"

"Really? I just have to prove I can protect myself?" Sunderland gave Singers, who was nodding repeatedly, a smug look, then swept aside her cloak to reveal her full gear. Her delicate silver-white Mithral chain shirt and sleek, polished leather trousers accentuated her ample chest and long legs, making her temptingly alluring. William felt a stir in his lower belly. A finely decorated dagger was tucked into her boot, and a compact Hand Crossbow hung from a specially made leather belt, its surface engraved with intricate runes. It was a rare Magic Weapon. A dainty little pouch hung from the belt, and a larger, pretty backpack rested on her back. From the two bags, Sunderland pulled out a rapier and a small wicker shield, much like the equipment the little elf had carried last time. Then came an exquisite two-foot staff, a large assortment of bottles and jars, and fine leather scrolls. Everyone was dazzled by the array.

Aelf stared at the items in astonishment. "Potions of life, healing potions, explosive alchemy, holy water, acid, Alchemist's Fire, antidotes—and a magic wand and Magic Scrolls! Lady Sunderland, did you rob a magic item shop?"

Sunderland laughed nervously and tried to defend herself. "How could I? I'm Mirabar's most virtuous governor! I'd never do anything so undignified! I bought all this yesterday! At a friends-and-family discount! Hehe, a friends-and-family discount! Take a look and see what you can use. Help yourselves!" At that moment, poor Mr. Magriel, the magic item shop's manager, was leaning half-collapsed against his shop's doorway, tears streaming down his face as he sang of his eternal injustice.

"Then I won't hold back!" Aelf grinned from ear to ear as she picked more than ten bottles of potions and stuffed them into her little bag. The two shameless dwarves secretly pocketed several bottles each, and even Phinia took a few healing potions. The little girl cheerfully picked up two bottles of bright green potions of life and, after turning her head from side to side, offered them to her brother, the only one who hadn't taken anything. Deeply moved, the old man inside him fondly pinched her soft cheek. "That's my good girl! I knew all that love I've shown her wouldn't be wasted! Hahaha!"

Sunderland swayed gracefully over to William and asked with a smile, "Mr. William, can I join you now?" Everyone else nodded enthusiastically. What could William say?

As they prepared to set out, Sunderland, now with a much greater say in things, kindly told William, "Mr. William! If it's so dangerous down there, why not leave the two little ones behind?" After only half a day of getting to know them, she had grown quite fond of the two innocent little ones, though she still hadn't given up coveting the Horn of Kor.

William only laughed it off. "There's really nothing to worry about down there! Nothing can hurt them with me around. I mainly want the two little ones to broaden their horizons." Damn it! The 'make a show of attacking one place while secretly attacking another' and 'lure the tiger away from the mountain' tricks are old hat to me! You really think I'm some country bumpkin?

This time, the trip underground went smoothly, and with a powerful dwarf warrior joining them, the group made excellent time. Singers no longer had to push the cart. William and he went ahead to scout the way, while the female governor, Phinia, Aelf, and Mishaer stayed in the middle, with Torg Danzo Hammer-Striker bringing up the rear. Sunderland took out her exquisite magic wand. The gem at its tip emitted a bright, gentle light that illuminated their surroundings, reaching farther than the two little ones' glow-in-the-dark trinkets combined.

As they neared the site of their last battle, the air filled with the stench of rotting corpses, leaving everyone pale. Mishaer had put on the mask William had made especially for her, but the smell still made it hard to breathe. Sunderland was even worse off; she threw up until her face turned yellow.

Aside from a few small scavenging monsters, William and the others encountered no particularly powerful creatures, which left them puzzled. In fact, this was normal. Except for a few unlucky wanderers, the powerful monsters of the underground world all had territories of their own. This vast region had been divided between the Acid Mutants and Carrion Beasts, while the Carrion Worms had staked out a corner through sheer numbers. Now all three had been wiped out, and the remaining monsters were no real threat.

When the group reached the place where Singers and William had first mined, they found a six-foot-square passage in the rock wall. No wonder so many Kobolds had appeared here. The tapping they had heard on their first visit had come from Kobolds digging the tunnel, and its six-foot height matched that of the mysterious Acid Mutant. Apparently, the creature didn't like stooping to crawl through tunnels. Fortunately, even the tall Phinia could crouch and squeeze through with some difficulty; otherwise, William and the others would have been in a bind.

After passing through a long, downward-sloping tunnel, they came to a deep natural cavern. Layered stalagmites rose and fell, and the shadows gathered in the corners of a mushroom forest. The group carefully threaded their way through a jumble of rocks, then descended a rocky slope dozens of meters high and reached a cold underground stream. In this unfamiliar Underdark, no one dared act recklessly.

William nodded toward Phinia. The half-giant understood, set down her great axe, picked up a large rock nearby, and tossed it into the stream. Crash! A spray of water burst up, followed by several ripples near where the rock had fallen. Some unknown aquatic creature had been startled away.

"Where should we go?" William asked old Singers. When it came to underground exploration, the one-eyed dwarf had more experience.

"We'll look for the Kobolds' lair! It should be a mining area!" The old dwarf never forgot his mining work.

"But how do we track it down in a place like this?" Torg asked, troubled. Sunderland, who had regained her energy after drinking a potion, gracefully pulled a fine leather scroll from her belt pouch. She chanted an unfamiliar incantation and spread the scroll open with both hands. Blue flames sprang up on the leather, gradually reducing it to ash. The flames then formed a semicircular arch, and a strange canine beast stepped through it, summoned by Summon Extraplanar Monster.

The group watched Sunderland cast the spell in astonishment. The female governor elegantly smoothed her hair and smiled smugly. "Don't look at me like that! It's a Magic Scroll!"

Aelf thought to herself, Hmph! As if! You might fool these people who know nothing about magic, but since I've accepted your gifts, I won't expose you! Hahaha! Aelf is very kind!