Episode 470 Paris Trade Fairs

About ten meters ahead of us, a man rolls across the floor and moans. Meanwhile, the mohawk has returned to Alisa's place.

　The man struggles to get up and looks angrily at the Mohawk at Alisa's feet. He tries to run away quickly as the cops come after him from behind, but he can't run satisfactorily because he can't get rid of the damage, and the cops arrest him.

　The officers questioned me, but when I told them that my security shadow puppet was protecting me, they let me go. The policemen did not seem surprised. I guess the use of shadow puppets for protection is widespread in France.

　I tried with a mohawk attack in case the guy had some training or martial arts experience, but it seems he was just a rowdy guy. We were cautious because the commotion started as soon as we arrived, but it was just a coincidence, apparently.

　We went to the hotel Montagnier had set up for us. After checking into the hotel, we went out to eat and had French food, which Montagnier said was the best.

　The next day, I went to visit the first shadow puppet fair in France. Montagnier wanted to show me this fair.

　Many of the shadow puppets at the fair were for pets. Most of the workshops' main products were small shadow puppets made from about three kilograms of shadow clay.

　Some of the workshops have made shadow puppets for police protection as their main product, but their size seems to be limited to those using about 20 kilograms of shadow clay.

They all seem small to you, don't they, Dr. Grimm?"

　Montagnier asked, and I shook my head.

I wasn't thinking about that. I was thinking that they were all ingenious and wonderful."

I am glad to hear the praise, but after seeing Dr. Grimm's Elmore and Tamegoro, they seem small. But we are doing a lot of research too."

　In France, they are said to be researching a way to process shadow clay using a machine and knead D-particles into it. If the research is successful, it will be possible to use shadow clays with about 50 kilograms of D-particles kneaded into them.

　France, where the national government is cooperating to nurture the industry, seems to be developing at a different pace. It seems that it will be very difficult to develop a brand that can compete with this.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

　That day I looked around at various shadow puppets. Among the shadow puppets, I spotted a dog-shaped shadow puppet.

What kind of demonic shadow puppet is that dog-shaped shadow puppet using?

　Alisa bit it before I did. Apparently, she was a dog person.

That was Dark Fang's Shadow Magic Stone."

　Dark Fang is said to be a demon in the eighth level of Torcy Dungeon. It is said to be a large, black dog three meters long.

　From the looks of Alisa, the hunt for Dark Fang seems to be a done deal.

　Montagnier's workshop was also exhibiting his work, and his booth was crowded with people. Montagnier appeared there and began to talk.

Mr. Montagnier is referring to you, sir."

　Ami, who understands French, tells me. Suddenly there is applause and Montagnier is signaling me to come. I'm not good at this kind of thing.

We have a lot of people interested in you, Dr. Grimm. Would you be willing to show us your work?"

　Montagnier looks at the people around him. People here are interested in shadow puppets and hope this industry will grow.

　Sensing that the enthusiasm was genuine, I brought out Elmore and Tamegoro from the shadows. Elmore bowed gracefully to the crowd, and they cheered.

　People were impressed by the size of Elmore and Tamegoro and wanted to know how they were made, but they had no intention of teaching. Elmore and Tamegoro became well known in France.

　And of course, my name will be all over France.

　Later, when I told him I wanted to explore a dungeon in France, he introduced me to Francine Leblanc, an adventurer. Leblanc was a C-class magician in magical attire, a woman of around 30 who could speak Japanese.

I'd like to hunt for Dark Fang, who is on the eighth level of Torcy Dungeon, first.

Of course. I will show you."

　The way to the fifth level of the Versailles dungeon is not open yet. We are told that it is almost there, but we will have to wait until then for sightseeing and activities in another dungeon.

　Just east of the center of Paris is the Torcy dungeon. It is an old, advanced dungeon, and the local adventurer's guild had a complete map for sale. However, since it is in French, one must rely on Ami and Francine.

　The first four layers were passed through via the shortest route as there were only familiar demons. The vehicle used was a hover vehicle.

I like the idea of this hover vehicle. Is it something you sell?"

　Francine asked.

No, these are custom-made, not for sale to the public."

I'm sorry to hear that."

　Since they reached the fifth level more than ten times faster than if they had walked, Francine wanted a hover vehicle.

　The fifth level is inhabited by wyverns, and we decided to walk here instead of hovering vehicles. Francine led us to the stairway down to the sixth level.

　As I was walking across a vast, undulating meadow, I came upon a pack of Bandit Wolves. When I saw five huge wolves running toward me, I activated my "Burst Shotgun" with a fivefold activation and released 30 small detonation piles. Five of them hit the bandit wolves and exploded.

　Three of them fell with that attack, and the other two ran up to them without giving up. Ami threw the magnihammer she clutched, and Alisa activated "Guided Brit" and released a D-particle guided missile.

　The magnihammer spun around and flew, hitting the Bandit Wolf in the head and causing its skull to cave in. Meanwhile, as the Bandit Wolf tried to avoid Arisa's attack, a D-particle guided projectile changed course and hit the giant wolf in the face, shaving off half of its head.

　Ami, who caught the returning Magnihammer with a snap, looks proud.

You've gotten really good at it. That's great."

　When Alisa compliments Ami, Ami looks happy.

　Immediately after that, I heard the wyvern's screams and noticed a demon swooping down from the sky. I was about to fire my 'burst shotgun'.

　However, when he noticed that Alisa was clutching the wind trident Vayu and pouring a large amount of magical power into it, he switched to "Thunderbird Push".

　A powerful wind erupts from the trident in Arisa's hand, and a translucent dragon horse is born from the wind. The figure resembled a kylin, a auspicious beast, but with a longer torso.

　Ryoma roared and ran up into the wind and bit off a wyvern's neck with his fangs. The wyvern disappeared in mid-air, dropping only the magic stone to the ground.

Yes, what was that?"

　Francine seemed surprised. An attack by summoning spirits must be rare even in France.