Ranoa Kingdom.
The largest country in the Northern Lands of the Central Continent.
Though it's the largest, the current national power is around the same level as Shirone Kingdom.
However it is intimately allied with Neris and Basherant kingdoms by way of the Magic Guild.
If you put the combined power of all three countries together, even though they are located in the pitiable northern lands, they can be considered to be the world's hidden fourth strongest power.
Ranoa, Basherant and Neris.
Together, these three countries make up the power known as [Magic Triumvirate][1].
Why is it the 『Magic』 Triumvirate?
Is it because the Magic Guild Headquarters is located here? That's one reason.
However, the best reason is that these three countries lay a great emphasis on the study and further research of the magical arts.
Without regards for expense, the most magically talented and capable people are gathered with the aim of advancing magical knowledge.
This point alone was why there was an alliance between these countries.
And so, this big city came to be on the edges of each nation's shared border.
The city of magic 『Shari'a』
This city boasts the 『Ranoa Magic Academy』 『Magic Guild Headquarters』 『Neris Magical Tool Atelier』, and into these three locations, everything there is to know about magic was condensed and stored.
The heart of the 『Magic Triumvirate』
It wouldn't be wrong to call it the most prosperous city.
When the Magic City Sharia is seen from above, at the center is the Magic guild, constructed with the latest in magic-proof bricking, and towards the East is the student town centered around the Magic Academy.
Towards the West is the crafting town centered around the Magic Tool Atelier.
In the North is the Shopping District run by the Commerce Guild.
And in the South is the Adventurer's Post, a small town that welcomes in adventurers.
If looked at with a discerning eye, certain aspects of Milishon seem to be have been used as a reference for this city's design.
At least when I saw a map, I realized it at once.
Even though I can only talk about what I've already came across.
Elinalise and I stayed in a hotel in the Adventurer's Post town.
When she is cold, she will crawl into the bed.
And while she is sleeping defenselessly in front of me, I want to take advantage of her.
If I touch her though, I'll just get depressed.
So I made sure to choose an A-rank hotel that was fully equipped with a heater.
Elinalise had no complaints about it either.
I seemed to have learned along our trip out here that she has a certain reason for doing the things she does with men.
On our way here, we got sidetracked off course for a week until we arrived at the next town.
Her physical condition was the worst I've ever seen, and the look she had was on the level of a lusty predator.
Even if she looked at me like that, it was hopeless, because even if I was up to the task, I wasn't UP to the task.
Hearing about it in detail, it seems to be some kind of Curse.
It is the Curse of Promiscuity, if she doesn't couple with a man on a regular basis, she will die.
Seeing it spelled out like that evokes a strong feeling.
However, Elinalise doesn't seem to have any real distress over this matter.
It seems she is naturally prone to being erotic as it is.
Even if there was no curse, she said there wouldn't be much of a change in her lifestyle.
I can definitely say that I can get along well with someone who has an affliction like this.
[Now then, I will be off to pay my respect to Jinas-san. What is Elinalise-san going to be doing?]
[Of course I am also coming with you.]
[...Why?]
Surely I thought Elinalise was going to be man-fishing at the Adventurer's Guild.
[Even if it's difficult, I too want to try enrolling at the Magic Academy.]
[...Why? Are you interested in learning magic?]
[Not at all, I am interested in boys who happen to be about Rudeus's age.]
[Ah, I see.]
In other words, business as usual.
Because it's an academy, of course there would be children my age there.
Though I don't know the laws of this country, are there any laws protecting minors from being caught by her?
...Then again, it’s not like it's a bad thing to get caught sometimes.
I feel myself getting a bit hazy on that topic.
It's not something I need to worry about anyways.
[However, doesn’t the normal enrollment require a rather expensive tuition?]
[That is not a problem for me, I happen to possess quite the sum of money.]
Elinalise said merrily, as she slaps the pouch of coins she has.
The total amount of money contained in there is more than 5 Asura gold coins worth.
There are also many magical crystals in the backpack she carried as well.
She showed me at once a magical crystal she owned, it was a beautiful golden sphere and looked very much like a Superball[2].
If it was sold, the price would be in excess of 10 Asura Gold Coins.
I wonder where she had obtained it?
Although as an adventurer, she is primarily a Labyrinth Explorer.
I figured that she must have walked away with that as some kind of alternate compensation for doing a job.
Entrance to the Academy does cost money.
However, money doesn't concern her.
Although her reason for entering is impure, I can't complain.
I had no real reason to stop her anyway.
[So then, shall we go?]
And so, we pointed our feet in the direction of the Magic Academy.