Chapter 185: Technology
Alyssa's fingers pointed at one place. "This is where we are right now, and this is Tertia. There should be a sign that says Tertia in front of the shop, but.. can you read Vaitral's language?" Alyssa questioned.
It was then that Estelle realized that the two of them were currently speaking in Alynthi's national language. For someone like Alyssa, how was it possible that she could master the language this well to the point where she wasn't able to tell that the woman was not speaking her native language?
She was used to understanding every single language in existence because of her special identity, but would a simple inn keeper just naturally learn Alynthi's language like that?
"Judging by the looks of your face, you must be curious on how we were communicating in your language, right? If you looked closer, you would find that that isn't the case. I'm speaking in my own language, but the words that is transmitted to you will be in your own language. It's because of this translator. It does have a slight delay in the action, but it's less than one second, so it could be said that this thing is able to make me fluent in any language registered in it," Alyssa pointed to the earring that was clipped onto her right ear. It had a small reddish diamond stuck to the clip.
"..There's something like that? I haven't heard of it," Estelle was a little confused, but she got the general concept. The earring that Alyssa had on her ears would automatically intercept whatever her speech partner was saying and translate it into her own language. According to the settings, the user would even be able to communicate in the opponent's language. It was a really convenient, yet hard to pull off concept that made Estelle wonder how it was possible to tread upon the many languages that existed in the world that easily.
"Yes. It's a new invention created by one of the Scholar Dragons in our lands. It hasn't been spread throughout the world all that much, so it is natural that you haven't heard. It only covers the main languages of all the countries for the time being, but they are working on expanding the network. Apparently, the reason this was made inn the first place was to communicate with monsters and such, but until now, they weren't able to succeed. The monsters' language is far too cryptic and unpredictable, it doesn't have a pattern." Alyssa was gentle as she began looking for the key to Estelle's room in the shelves below her table.
"Are you sure that you can tell me about it? If your country hasn't spread the knowledge out yet.. Could it be possible that they don't want it to be known?" Estelle tilted her head, a bit worried.
Alyssa widened her eyes in shock for a short minute before breaking into laughter. "That can't be, that can't be. Why would they hide it? It's a great chance to gain an achievement, and it's not a weapon in the first place. Sure, it would be helpful in many cases, but dragons don't really care about.. what do you humans like to do again? Monopolizing the trade of an important item?" Alyssa giggled.
"That's.. I don't think that if this kind of thing was developed by Alynthi, it would be spread to the people. I think they would've kept it within the people of high ranks... Anyway, I am indeed able to read, write, and speak Vaitral's language. I have equipped myself with the necessary knowledge before coming here," Estelle sighed, thinking back to her land's deceptive nobles.
"Ahah! Good, good. Indeed, it might be so. Anyway, here are your keys. We use gems around here. This one is the key to your room, and this one is to your storage area in the back. The gems have to be inserted with your magical power to activate. When you reach your room, there will be a lock to the door. You insert your power in the devices, and it will be temporarily bound to you for the rest of the time you choose to stay here. Your payment has been inputed to the System, so when your time runs out, the devices will automatically close itself down. You won't be able to use the services anymore,"
Alyssa handed her some gems, which Estelle observed with curious eyes. She hummed as the gems glimmered when light shone upon them. She stored them inside her spatial storage.
"...Your place sure has a high technology system," Estelle was a little dumbfounded by how this simple inn she decided to visit actually had all of this stuff going around. The payment was also not all that high, which led her to become even more confused. Back in Alynthi, the inns she knew only used physical keys, nothing that was imbued with magical energy or anything of that sort.
The security could be breached much easier. Estelle sighed, knowing that it was an extremely good experience to come out here and travel around the world. This would allow her to learn more, such as discovering these pieces of technology.
"Thank you for the assistance. I will leave my items and come back later on.. Is dinner included in the payment?" Estelle questioned. She planned to go to Tertia and look for a temporary job to sustain her. Behind the scenes, she could earn money through other ways, but she wanted to have a cover on the outside.
"Dinner isn't included in the room payment, and you have to pay each time you get your food. Us dragonkin prefer stronger food, however. You might find our cooking a bit harsh to your tongue. Are you still willing to order some food? I will leave a tab to the kitchen if you want to," Alyssa said, advising the girl.
"Yes, I would like to order some dishes," Estelle responded.
Alyssa nodded and wrote a simple note using her fingertip. She only had to lightly swipe her finger, and magical words starting glowing up and printing themselves on the paper.
Since this was a country that was filled with dragons, she thought that their technology wouldn't be so advanced because dragons were described as rogue creatures that prized their freedom and strength above all. She thought that technology wouldn't be of much concern to the kin, but what she was seeing firsthand suggested otherwise. She thought that Vaitral's culture might be far more advanced than what
She had heard of the Scholar Dragons before. They were dragons that invested themselves in studies rather than power. They were much more intelligence than other dragons, but they weren't too fondly looked at because of how the Vaitral hierarchy system worked. It preferred the strong rather than the smart.
To compare it against another thing with a similar concept, it would be that of the Royal Sculptors from Alfheim. The difference was that these Scholar Dragons amounted to more than those exclusive Sculptors in numbers.
Estelle took this difference in situation with a serious mind, since she was set to be the Constellation Leader. She thought that observing the nations would not only gather her information about what she was supposed to do, but also allow her to be able to make comparisons between what was good to apply or not.
Unlike Alynthi, Vaitral seemed to want their innovations to be spread. This was a good sign.
Estelle went upstairs to observe her room. It was not too different from the typical inn room, but she was able to tell that the furniture and items that were placed inside were mixed with high technology, making her very intrigued. If a simple inn was able to possess these types of objects, then what would it be like in the innermost circle of powerful dragons? Wouldn't it be equivalent to none?
From there, she began to exit the inn, passing Alyssa once more on the way out. She traced the map that Alyssa gave instructions to, walking down the street. She passed a couple humanoid dragons on the way, capturing their figures inside her mind. Vaitral seemed like a fun place to live in, especially after seeing how advanced its cultures were.
Of course, it wouldn't be the same across the entire country, she knew that Vaitral was greatly different within the four corners of its lands, and would have to be adorned with special preparation to live in.
As of now, she happily arrived in front of Tertia, the shop Alyssa recommended. It looked like a normal store. Since Estelle could read Vaital's language with ease, she confirmed her destination by looking at the large sign hung on the building.
There was a purplish magic stone stuck in front of the door, which Estelle recognized to hold a similar type of detection magic as the one she saw inside Alyssa's inn. Since Alyssa had recommended it, she had some sort of expectations towards the place.
She knocked on the door, gently twisting the door knob to enter this store.