Seija Quest 4

[Kilgamayan]

> "That probably makes the most sense. For splitting up before then, as nice as it would be to visit little Kosuzu again, I have unfinished business with the blacksmith. If you're going to the bookstore, say hi to her for me."

[Tom]

> "That probably makes the most sense. For splitting up before then, as nice as it would be to visit little Kosuzu again, I have unfinished business with the blacksmith. If you're going to the bookstore, say hi to her for me."

> She states "Will do!" before stepping outside.
> Shinmyoumaru comments "I'll keep miss Saigyouji company and look up alchemy in the Inn's library."

[Kilgamayan]

> Nod.
> "Alright. I do think you'll want to talk to Kogasa at some point, though. Pay her a visit when you can."

[Tom]

> Nod.
> "Alright. I do think you'll want to talk to Kogasa at some point, though. Pay her a visit when you can."

> Shinmyoumaru agrees.

[Kilgamayan]

> "Good luck to all of us."
> Leave the inn and head to the blacksmith.

[Tom]

> "Good luck to all of us."
> Leave the inn and head to the blacksmith.

> You walk back to the village blacksmith and enter the shop. Kogasa greets you before announcing "I found a lead on the symbols on the odd sword you left!"

[Kilgamayan]

> Raise our eyebrows in interest.
> "Really? What'd'ya find?"

[Tom]

> Raise our eyebrows in interest.
> "Really? What'd'ya find?"

> Kogasa explains "Well you see, I don't have much literature that's not directly related to smithing, so I've just been hopping in and out of Kosuzu's bookstore to 'browse'. Last night I was able to stay a bit longer than usual before closing time thanks to a customer keeping Kosuzu occupied, which is when I found the symbols in a journal describing faraway places. Specifically in the chapter about the Latin alphabet, which was apparently used in a grand empire long ago."

[Kilgamayan]

> Do we know anything about such an alphabet or such an empire?

[Tom]

> Do we know anything about such an alphabet or such an empire?

> You have heard about the empire but never got there before it's fall.

[Kilgamayan]

> "Huh. I had no idea..."

[Tom]

> "Huh. I had no idea..."

> She places it on the table and frowns "First time I've heard of it as well, meaning I can't tell you what the writing means other than where it's from."

[Kilgamayan]

> "Writing? Maybe Kosuzu could tell us."

[Tom]

> "Writing? Maybe Kosuzu could tell us."

> "Oh that's a good idea! How didn't I think of that?" she agrees.

[Kilgamayan]

> Shrug.
> "Maybe you were distracted by the hubbub earlier?"

[Tom]

> Shrug.
> "Maybe you were distracted by the hubbub earlier?"

> "Yeah perhaps... Kosuzu was being kind of loud and pushy trying to chase that sale." she admits.
> Frowning "Guess she hasn't learned yet that being too aggressive really can hurt sales..."

[Kilgamayan]

> "Oh, I meant Yakumo getting turned into a gold statue."

[Tom]

> "Oh, I meant Yakumo getting turned into a gold statue."

> "Scary, right?" she nods.

[Kilgamayan]

> "I certainly wouldn't want that to happen to me, yeah. Do you happen to know anything about what happened?"

[Tom]

> "I certainly wouldn't want that to happen to me, yeah. Do you happen to know anything about what happened?"

> "Not really, I hit the sack after the bookstore closed." answers Kogasa.

[Kilgamayan]

> Nod.
> "How about this morning?"

[Tom]

> Nod.
> "How about this morning?"

> Pointing outside  "I noticed the commotion and followed the crowd to the statue. I remember Sanae being there picking things up from the ground. At first I thought it was some narcissistic prank from Yakumo, but looking closer I found it to be impossible. Gold is one of the densest materials around, if you've ever held a gold coin or bar you'd be immediately surprised by it's weight compared to it's size. Weight however, does not create strength... A knife made of solid gold would be bent after serving a single slice of cake!"
> Slamming her fist on the counter she exclaims "That statue should have long collapsed under its own weight! No sculptor in Gensokyo should be able to create such an object."

[Kilgamayan]

> Nod.
> "I can definitely verify its weight is as you say, having lifted it briefly myself. Do you have any theories as to why it's still standing, then?"

[Tom]

> Nod.
> "I can definitely verify its weight is as you say, having lifted it briefly myself. Do you have any theories as to why it's still standing, then?"

> Raising her eyebrow "You've.. picked it up?" before explaining "A metal can be strengthened by combining it with other metals to form alloys, something all modern swords use to stay sharp longer. This is actually what clued me into looking at ancient civilizations to identify the sword you asked to look into. It's blade is not made of an alloy, just pure iron. In fact the purest iron I've ever seen in a blade, so dense not even rust can form."
> She admits "This statue however, defies any physics of metalworking I know of... Being curious as to how it was holding up all that weight I ran a little test to measure it's purity and found it's actually solid gold." before revealing a glass rod and dipping it's one end in a green vial then holding it's other end against a gold coin. A few seconds later you notice a yellow line appearing at the bottom of the rod and traveling upwards before reaching the top where '999+' is marked.

[Kilgamayan]

> Do we know what that thing she just did means?

[Tom]

> Do we know what that thing she just did means?

> No! First time ever seeing such a device! Perhaps it's a metalworkers thing?

[Kilgamayan]

> Give the rod a curious look.
> "What's that thing?"

[Tom]

> Give the rod a curious look.
> "What's that thing?"

> "Every prospector's friend, the trusty gold tester!" she announces before presenting it on the counter.
> "Interested in purchasing one? For a silver coin." she asks.

[Kilgamayan]

> Do we have any money on us?

> "Huh. And how did you test that the statue was really solid gold with that thing?"

[Tom]

> Do we have any money on us?

> "Huh. And how did you test that the statue was really solid gold with that thing?"

> You tend to let the princess pick up any tabs.

> "By holding up the gold tester against it when everyone was distracted by the red whites arrival!"