Chapter 47
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
As I entered the dungeon with Iris and Seria, the 1st District was crowded, and I could barely see any prey.
It was morning, so maybe that’s why it’s so busy today.
Could it be because it’s close to the end of the month and tax season?
Well, whatever.
Since we were supposed to receive the magic catalyst in a place with no people, I decided to head to the 2nd District to show off our combat pace and make Seria give up on constantly tagging along.
*Clatter, clatter, clatter…*
As the sound of the cart I was pulling echoed, I looked at Seria walking beside me.
She was wearing her usual robe and leather boots, with a small bag hanging from her waist by a belt.
I heard that the bag contained holy water, which is a catalyst for healing magic.
I asked her why she didn’t have leather armor like Iris, and she said she wanted to keep her healing magic, which isn’t very effective, flowing smoothly, so she only wore the robe.
She also didn’t want to wear a tight belt, so unlike when she was outside, she had it loosened and was keeping it in place with the weight of the bag.
In addition, she was carrying a backpack, but, well, let’s just say… the straps on her shoulders really emphasized her chest, drawing attention from those around us, so I had her put it on my cart.
Since our requested magic catalysts were packed in there, it was pretty heavy, so it was a good decision.
As we moved forward, I gradually started to sense the reactions of monsters.
As we went deeper, the number of people decreased, and the number of untouched monsters increased.
In the midst of that, I noticed a group that seemed to have spotted us coming our way.
The reactions of the magic stones were one by one, so the chances of them being human were low.
The passage is just around the corner, but maybe it reacted to the smell.
For now, I take a combat stance.
”Both of you, a group of monsters is coming from ahead. There are… 8.”
””Wh-what!?””
*Rustle!*
At my report, the two of them get ready. Iris draws her sword, and Seria leans her torch against the wall and readies her staff.
This staff is straight and is used to concentrate magical power and direct it when activated.
So its attack power is just like a regular stick, and since she doesn’t have strong arm strength, it’s mainly for defense.
While they stare down the corridor, I stop the cart behind me and step forward.
At the same time, I pull out my one-handed axe from behind my shield and hold it in my right hand, then I enlarge the shield, leaving a small gap to block most of the corridor.
Seria looks surprised at the sight.
”Wha!? That’s…”
”Yeah. My skill, ‘Shield Expansion.’.”
This is set up for Seria, and I decided it’s a skill that temporarily enlarges the shield using magical power.
If I made it a skill that could change the entire armor, I might end up becoming a “Magic Armor User.”
Plus, if the skill is too powerful, she might want to make me the team’s specialist, so I thought this level would be fine.
*Boom! Scratch!*
”Growl!”
They’ve come.
Answering Seria, I raise my axe and swing it down at the wolf monster peeking out from the gap between the shield and the corridor.
*Crash!*
”Gyaa!”
Thanks to the power from the Magic Armor, the wolf is defeated in one hit, and other wolves and goblins try to slip their bodies over the fallen one…
*Smash!*
”Gyaa!”
*Crash!*
”Gyaa…!”
One by one, or sometimes a few at a time, I forcefully break them apart with my axe.
””…””
After swinging the axe a few times, it got quiet, including the two behind me, so I peeked through the gap in the shield.
I knew from the reaction of the magic stone that there were no moving monsters left, but it’s a secret to know their positions, so I had to act like this.
However… it was dark beyond the shield, so it felt unnatural to say I confirmed anything.
Thinking that, I gave Seria a command.
”Seria, bring the torch.”
”…Y-yes!”
After a slight pause, she answered and picked up the torch that was leaning against the wall, handing it to me.
”…Alright, there’s nothing there.”
When I took it and shone it beyond the shield, I confirmed that, as I expected, there were no moving monsters.
After that, I returned the shield to its original size, handed the torch back to Seria, and shook off the blood on my axe while giving Iris a command.
”Iris, collect the magic stones.”
”Okay.”
In response, Iris, holding a knife for skinning, started to collect the magic stones… while Seria headed towards the cart.
Keeping an eye on her movements while staying alert, I noticed Seria took out a not-so-new cloth from her bag and approached Iris.
”Ms. Iris, I’ll wipe the magic stones.”
”Then, okay.”
The skin of the magic wolf seems to be worth some money, but since it would just add to our load, we decided to ignore it, so it was fine to be rough when cutting open the monster’s corpse.
Thus, Iris quickly proceeded with collecting the magic stones, and Seria hurriedly wiped the blood off the magic stones to keep up.
I had told them to only collect the magic stones, but did she prepare the cloth to wipe them?
Maybe she just always has it ready.
It seems there are no problems, so I let them continue working. The two of them prepared to pack all the magic stones into wooden boxes for loot.
As I approached them to pull the cart, Seria asked me about “Shield Expansion.”
”Um, can only that shield be enlarged?”
”No, any shield can be enlarged as long as I have it.”
If I say that only the shield I have can be enlarged, she might think there’s a special mechanism in that shield and try to sell that information.
It would be a problem if people came thinking this shield is a magic item based on that information.
So, to emphasize that it’s my skill, I tell Seria that it’s fine as long as I have it.
Even if she asks to try with another shield… I can just cover that shield with Magic Armor and make it look like it’s enlarged.
”I see. Got it…”
Seria nods, seeming to understand my explanation.
However, since I’m not thinking too deeply about the skill details, I decide to move on to avoid more questions.
I need to increase the pace of our hunting as much as possible.
”Alright, let’s go.”
”Ah, okay.”
* * *
After a while.
*Thud!*
”Gii…”
The goblin fell to the ground, collapsing as my axe hit its head.
When I returned the shield to its original size… there were monsters piled up that had been taken down in the same way, and there were no nearby monsters moving anymore.
”Hah, hah, hah…”
Breathing heavily behind me is Seria.
We’ve increased our speed to raise the hunting pace, so she’s pretty tired.
I was supporting with the Magic Armor, so I wasn’t really tired, and she probably thought it was normal that she couldn’t keep up.
Since Iris is the one we’re protecting, it’s natural for her to be riding in the cart and not be tired at all.
Well, it wouldn’t be good if I made her too tired and she got hurt…
”Seria, you can ride in the cart from the next move.”
When I said this to Seria, who was trying to join Iris in collecting the magic stones,
”Hah, hah… th-that…”
she tried to refuse.
Hmm… maybe she thinks she’s taking some kind of test to join the team?
She might think that if she accepts my offer, she’ll fail and won’t get another chance.
I actually plan to ask for her help again if the magic catalysts run low.
Oh, right.
We’re deep in the 2nd District now, in a fairly large dead-end room where we just took care of the monster.
Since people rarely come here, I might as well move the magic catalysts into my wooden box.
It wouldn’t be good to open someone else’s bag without permission, so I’ll have her take it out.
”Seria, I want to get the magic catalysts soon, so can you take them out for me?”
She jumped at my words.
What’s that?
As I found her reaction suspicious, she pointed towards Iris and said,
”Um, well… the work over there…”
”No, it’s just taking out the stuff, so it’ll be quick, right?”
”That’s, um…”
As Seria hesitated and her face turned pale, I made a guess.
”…You didn’t bring them, did you?”
When I asked, Seria shook her head.
”I’m not saying that…”
”Then just hurry up and give it to me.”
”Y-yeah. So…”
Saying that, she approached the cart and reached for her bag.
Iris, suspicious of our exchange, came over just then… and Seria showed her the magic catalyst in a bag.
”Here, um…”
Seeing what was offered, my honest reaction was… Iris stated it simply.
”…Isn’t this a bit too little?”
”Ugh.”
Seria, looking uncomfortable, held a small bag that could fit in one hand, and it was quite small for what we bought at “Hooters.”
Seeing that, I pressed her for answers.
”Why is this so little? Did you exchange it for something?”
”No! Not at all! It’s just that, um, I wanted to increase the chances for the next time… I’m really sorry!”
*Rustle!*
After explaining the situation, Seria immediately bowed her head to the ground.
A dogeza… It’s my first time seeing it directly.
But that doesn’t matter.
The problem is how to handle this situation.
Thinking back, maybe she refused to ride in the cart because she felt awkward about this matter, or thought it would make me angrier.
Since I had been using the shield I enlarged during the battles to crush monsters, she might have thought I wouldn’t let this slide easily.
If she just stopped asking for the catalyst handovers, that would be one thing, but she was causing us trouble for her own convenience.
We originally hadn’t planned to hire a Cleric, so we wouldn’t be troubled if the church refused to send one, and that’s probably why she feared facing direct consequences.
Here, Iris might try to push her wishes by revealing that she is a magician, but for now, it seems she has no intention of doing so…
”…”
She seems to be quietly waiting for our response.
Well, even if Iris’s secret gets out, I can handle it.
Proving that I can use magic is easy, but proving that I can’t is difficult.
So if I show the change in the Magic Armor using a catalyst, I can prove I’m a magician, and if Iris insists she can’t use magic, that works for me.
Besides, I said my companion is a magician, but I never said it was Iris.
However, without that, she isn’t such a bad person that I can’t forgive her, so I’m struggling with what to do.
I heard that Seria wants to join us to improve her healing ability, and that she wants to heal someone.
There’s no proof that this is true, but if she were really a bad person, she would probably gather accomplices and set up an ambush, leading us into it.
Hmm… It might be enough to just retrieve the catalyst I left with her and cancel the delivery request.
It might be a bit soft, but just canceling the deal would be a significant blow to Seria’s future plans.
As I think about this… Iris moves behind Seria and slaps her outstretched butt.
”Ouch!? W-What are you…?”
Seria turns around in surprise, but Iris says to her with a blank expression.
”Take it off.”
”Huh? (Huh?).”
At that moment, my inner voice harmonized with Seria’s voice.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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