A/N: Sorry for the wait guys. I was still hoping Issm would return and help but it's been too long so sadly I'm guessing he no longer has time to help. So sorry guys you're stuck with just me now. But as always anyone with thoughts or ideas on what you'd like to see throw it out there it might help! I am in NO way perfect so if you see any errors please feel free to pm me and let me know so I can fix it.

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Chapter 36

After the wagon of people had passed Wolfram turned to the guards, "I found one blue one; did any of you find any?"

"Ah as a matter of fact I was able to find two of them sir." One guard said.

"And I managed to find three sir."

Since Wolfram never looked at him Murata felt no need to answer so he kept quite.

"Good that's more than what we need, let's go. According to Gunter there should be some Kohlrabi plants between here and Erwiston village. We'll look to set up camp nearby so we can take our time in looking for them."

At that they set off and they made it to a large field with patches of Kohlrabi plants growing. So they stopped and made camp. Erwiston village was another 3-4 hour ride from their camp.

Murata had barely spoken two words to Wolfram since they left the cave, which from what he saw was fine by Wolfram as he spent most of his time talking to the guards. He knew that there were dangerous crystals as well as non dangerous ones along with the ones they were searching for. He figured he'd bring it up before they went out hunting the next day. However the next day when he woke up it seemed Wolfram and the guards had gotten a head start and had breakfast and went out hunting without him.

Wolfram picked a purple crystal he found up one of a few colors found and was about to put it in his pouch when Murata saw this and walked over and grabbed Wolfram's hand and said, "What do think you're doing?"

Wolfram raised an eyebrow, "What do you mean by that? I'd say it's obvious what I'm doing I'm collecting crystals like you should be!"

"If you had bothered to wake me this morning or ever bother to ask if there were any dangerous things to be aware of I'd have told you. Oh, but that's right you don't believe me. But I'll tell you anyway the green crystals are the ones like the plants that surround them. These purple ones are very dangerous. If you're not careful and one breaks it can release a poisonous gas and you'll be dead within a few hours if you're lucky."

"You think you're lies can fool me?! You must think I'm a fool."

At that Murata glared at him the grabbed the crystal from Wolfram's hand and threw it at the ground of a large tree. "What the hell?! I told you to stop breaking these crystals! I know you don't want out of this sham marriage as much as I do but if you keep breaking them I'm going to tie you up and send one of the guards to take you back to the temple!"

At that Murata simply pointed to the tree, Irritated Wolfram turned to see what the problem was and was shocked at what he saw. At first it appeared as if Wolfram had been justified in his claims that Murata was lying about everything and trying to sabotage the whole mission when suddenly the tree started to wilt slowly before eventually turning to dust.

"That is what the purple crystals are for, getting rid of unwanted objects such as trees and stumps. It was also once an assassin's best weapon before they became harder to find. Especially ones that didn't care how many casualties he'd have to take out with his target. Drop one in a room full of people and you take out your target as well as anyone else in the room within a few minutes. Of course if you just throw a crystal at a person only that person will die Now, if you have any more questions or you still don't believe me them please be my guest and collect as many purple crystals as you wish." Murata said walking away.

Wolfram was both enraged and embarrassed. Here he'd been yelling at Murata and accusing him of lying and would have even ignored him about the purple crystals had he not seen the results himself. However he didn't put the ones he had already collected back he just went back to the camp and like the guards who heard and saw everything put them aside to be carefully wrapped later and placed in a new pouch and take them back with them. Wolfram knew now these crystals were dangerous but felt they should still be taken. Just because they were dangerous still didn't prove to Wolfram that Murata was telling the truth and they had no part in the ceremony.

Murata was irritated and highly upset that Wolfram still didn't trust him. 'Even now knowing how dangerous those crystals are he's still going to insist that we take them back with us all because he still thinks I'm lying and that these highly dangerous crystals might be part of the ceremony. I guess I was right he's never going to accept me. I don't hold the same type of power Shibuya has and so he's not impressed. Shibuya told me about their duel after the proposal and how it was then that Lord von Bielefeld suddenly became attached to him. There's no way I can ever compete with that. My powers can only boot Shibuya's. I suppose I was dreaming that we might someday, somehow make this a real marriage. How I wish Shinou was right and I did have all the crystals hidden somewhere. Right now I'd go get them and give Lord von Bielefeld what he wants…out of this marriage. Truth is though I did collect a few of the crystals needed for such ceremonies. Though foreseeing something like this was far from my thoughts at the time I collected them. I thought I could use them for experiments. But sadly during our time in Big Shimeron the place that housed the crystals and other valuables had been robbed over the years and the other half of the building where I had more stored had been destroyed over the years since then. So I don't have any, despite what Shinou thinks. Even knowing there might be the chance things didn't work out between us I was willing to live with the consequences. I should have known this wouldn't work out after my talking to that old man at Venus Waterfall. I believe if I had been Shibuya he'd have been yelling and screaming about cheating on him. Me, no matter whom I've talked to on this trip he hasn't said one word."

He looked back to see Wolfram picking up crystals some not even green and hesitating on getting another that he could only assume was most likely a purple crystal. 'Well I'm not doing any good here. Between Lord von Bielefeld and the guards I'm sure they'll find enough crystals to fill a pack horse even though we don't need that many or half the crystals they're collecting. So since Lord von Bielefeld insisted on putting me into one of Shibuya's disguises I might as well make use of it. Though had I known I'd have convinced Shibuya to return to earth and dyed my hair blond again and wore my blue contacts.'

'Oh well since we're not far from Erwiston village, I might as well do something useful and try to find some Adipose Crystals. Since Lord von Bielefeld's glorious plan for collecting crystals from there are either for us all to just walk straight into town and start looking around and then thinking up an excuse if questioned or for us all to just to stalk around the outskirts of town and hope no one sees us. Yes I can see it now four total strangers just come waltzing into town and Lord von Bielefeld would simply say something to the affect of 'We're just passing through.' Somehow I doubt they'd really buy that.'

'Besides knowing Lord von Bielefeld the moment someone corners him and prodding a bit on who is really is and why they're there he'll probably blab and tell them what we're searching for. Then when asked his name I have my doubts he could think of a name these people would believe. Though I'd lay more odds on someone saying or doing something and his ego getting in the way and then end up telling the whole town who he really is. Even if they don't know he's connected to the Maoh his name alone would tell them he's royalty, or at the very least a noble. Meaning that now they'd most likely kill us or hold us or rather him for ransom and then start grilling him on what he's really doing there till he breaks and tells them everything. Then they'll start to see dollar signs and take the crystals we've already collected as well as start looking for any crystals in the area on their own, then if they haven't already kill us. Thankfully unless something has changed I don't believe there are any dangerous crystals in that area.'

At that he climbed on his horse and looking back to see Wolfram never even tried to come and talk to him after what happened with the purple crystal or look up at the sound of his horse told him in volumes he didn't care.

He looked back considering telling someone but when he saw Wolfram lay yet another purple crystal as well as a brown one he turned and decided not to tell them anything. 'Idiot Brown crystals aren't good for anything! Well unless you're an earth magic user and then you can use it to increase your maryokou for a short time much in the same way humans and non magic users use majutsu. Considering Lord von Bielefeld has been collecting crystals right and left regardless of what I say. We may very well have crystals for almost all types of magic users.'

At that he turned his horse and started to just walk it until he was further away from camp before looking back and seeing he was far enough from camp to speed up. He knew it'd take 3 hours at the least to get there any later and he'd miss lunch and risk more people being out. 'On my own I can sneak around while trying not to be seen. Then if all else fails and I'm caught I can claim to be looking for my father which will send most of the men running away in fear that I'll name them the father and be looking for either money or a father figure which considering the type of men in this town they wouldn't want some kid of any age just hanging around. Heh it might even work on some of the women, I'd lay odds that more than one has had a kid and given it away and they sure as hell don't want some kid coming around and calling them mom. I know that even if I were to try to explain this plan to Lord von Bielefeld he'd never allow me to do it, instead insisting he could do it. However no matter how hard he tries I don't believe for one moment that Lord von Bielefeld would ever be able to convince anyone in this town no matter how he's dressed that he's only searching for his long lost father or mother. His ego and his pride would never allow him to make a convincing argument. Even if he could set his ego and pride aside I doubt he could keep up his performance for a long period of time.'

'I have to hurry or I'll miss lunch time and I can't afford that! I believe if I can get there about lunch time then most if not all the people there will be eating and getting drunk. Even if some have already eaten or planning to eat later, most will be at lunch and it will mean that there will be fewer people around to notice or possibly catch me.'

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Wolfram meanwhile picked up a crystal that seemed larger than the other's he'd seen and found. There didn't appear to be anymore. Not to mention it was rainbow colored. He turned to asked Murata about it. But as he looked around he frowned as he didn't see him. "Ken! Where are you!" That seemed strange but then remembering how upset he had been earlier he chocked his not being around to him off sulking somewhere. So he put the crystal away and decided to ask about it later.

After about an hour or so of searching Wolfram called the guards and they put all the crystals they had out to separate into separate satchels.

"Well sir it appears that we have more than we were told we'd need for the ceremony."

"Hmph, that's good, now where did Ken run off too. If we have lunch now and then leave we should get going to Erwiston village. If we can get there about dusk it should be close to dinner. Uncle said that is the best time to strike. They would all be inside eating, drinking and gambling. This way we can sneak around town and go unnoticed."

The guards looked a little skeptical on that but didn't dare voice their thoughts on it.

Wolfram then stood up and looked around and noticed Murata's horse was gone. "Mph, well I guess Ken is as wimpy as our king. He's run off without a word."

"It could be dangerous for Geika to be alone, should one of us go looking for him?"

"No, we have no idea how long ago he left, which way he went or if he plans to return. Start lunch and we'll eat and if he still hasn't shown back up we'll have to split up and start looking for him."

'Typical, he runs away just as we plan to go into a possibly dangerous situation.'

Then as he thought more on it he shook his next idea out as he didn't believe it. Then one of the guards as if reading his mind said, "Do you think that maybe Geika went on ahead alone to Erwiston village?"

"No, he's not like that stupid wimp of a king."

'If this was Yuri we were talking about I'd agree he most likely went on to that village. But I don't think Ken would do anything that stupid or dangerous.'

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Meanwhile Murata scouted the area and he didn't see anyone, so he quickly and quietly went searching but found very few crystals and none were what they were looking for but took them anyway as he knew Wolfram would only insist on coming back and collecting them himself if he returned with just the ones needed for the ceremony he'd never believe those were the only crystals here. Seeing as all the other locations had different types of crystals if he didn't take them he knew Wolfram would only come back and get them, possibly getting caught in the process.

'I don't have all day to look and collect random crystals. Maybe this will be enough the satisfy

Lord von Bielefeld. He'll start searching for me and eventually end up here if I don't hurry.'

He almost got caught more than once but finally managed to find six Adipose Crystals, which wasn't easy as there were almost no Minamo trees in which the crystals are said to grow near. But he made it back to his horse without being seen. Now he had to get away from the town without being noticed or his horse heard and hoped Wolfram was far enough away that he didn't suddenly show up and start yelling his name. That would be a disaster.