Chapter 328 Fourth Floor Investigation Team (Part I)
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
(Shinji’s POV)
I was quite surprised by Milia Altner’s sudden visit yesterday.
Moreover, she even used a teleportation circle to get here.
(By the way, when did she set my bedroom as a teleportation destination…)
* * *
Yesterday afternoon, I was shocked to see Milia suddenly come out of my bedroom.
I don’t know what Megumi was thinking, but she kicked my butt and then made me sit in seiza while lecturing me.
”It’s understandable to have a relationship with Milia, but couldn’t you at least consult or explain it to me beforehand?”
No, Megumi…
is it really ‘understandable’?
”I’m sorry, I’m sorry! It’s not like that! I teleported here on my own because I had an urgent matter!”
If Milia hadn’t explained the situation to Megumi, I would have been lectured for hours…
* * *
”A closed world, huh?”
”Yes, it seems that in the Great Labyrinth’s Fourth Floor… there is a vast forest and grassland.”
At Milia’s request, I urgently called Van and Knight Müller, and we held a meeting that same day.
”Does that mean it was connected to some other surface area?”
Megumi asks Milia a question, but immediately shakes her head in denial.
”Hiroya and the others said there was ‘no sun in the sky.’ Also, Rena, Kazumie, and Doro-Doro felt a strong magical power.”
”So it’s a world without a sun, but bright like daytime. I’m really interested in that. ──Right? Barbara?”
After Milia’s explanation, Van smirked and turned to Barbara sitting next to him.
”Yes. Even though it’s inside a dungeon, for us ‘hidden ones (Vampires),’ it’s a dream ‘day world.’ A bright world that doesn’t depend on the sun… if it doesn’t affect us…”
Barbara’s face was filled with expectation.
It seems worth investigating for the sake of their clan.
”Could it become a place worth immigrating to? Right?”
Barbara nodded vigorously at Milia’s question.
”Then it’s settled. I plan to form an investigation team centered around the members here.”
Milia stood up and looked around at us.
”I’ll participate. It’s happening in my territory, after all.”
I was the first to declare my participation.
”I’ll also recruit a few from the defense team to join. Just in case a demon’s kin appears… I have to fight in place of the lord and the minister.”
Knight Müller also declared his participation.
”If Mr. Shinji is going… then I’ll stay behind. It’s unfortunate, but Baron needs my assistance, right?”
”Hmm. That’s true. …I’m sorry, Megumi, but I’m leaving the house to you.”
Despite looking disappointed, Megumi responds with a “Yes, yes.”
”Of course, I’ll participate too. If it’s a place where the ‘hidden ones (Vampires)’ can settle, that would be wonderful.”
”Yeah… if we could live peacefully while supporting adventurers aiming for the lower floors…”
Van and Barbara talk happily.
Indeed, we could build a win-win relationship with the ‘hidden ones (Vampires).’
…but, well, it depends on the investigation.
”I want to investigate various things, including that.”
Milia walks toward the conference room door.
”Are there powerful monsters? What is the ecosystem like? How does time flow? Is there day and night? What are the effects on the body? There are many things to consider. ──I’ll start preparing for departure right away.”
Milia opens the door.
We also stood up from our seats.
”Departure will be, let’s see…”
”We need to prepare… How about tomorrow afternoon, my lord?”
”Hmm. Let’s all gather at noon, have lunch here, and then set off.”
Everyone agreed with my suggestion.
”We can teleport from here to the ‘Raetia Great Labyrinth outpost,’ and since Liz-Liz’s party has set up a teleportation circle on the Fourth Floor, we can reach our destination quickly.”
”…but the departure point being ‘my bedroom’ is…”
Everyone laughs at my complaint.
”You only need your luggage and equipment, okay? I’ll prepare the adventure supplies at the outpost.”
After laughing for a while, Milia said that.
”Well then, there’s a lot to prepare.”
Milia disappeared from ‘my bedroom.’
”…I feel kind of weird about this…”
Seeing that, Megumi made a complicated expression.
* * *
And today.
After discussing the relocation of the clan ‘Rose Hip’ before noon, the members of the investigation team began to gather one after another.
Milia, Van, Knight Müller, and 3 volunteers from his defense team.
Since Barbara is a pure ‘Vampire,’ she will come to the outpost at night and check on Van’s condition after the Fourth Floor teleportation.
If everything seems fine, the plan is for her to come to the Fourth Floor.
”I see, that all-female clan is making Razia Village their base.”
”Yeah, as a village with a ‘Great labyrinth,’ it’s great that a ‘large and powerful famous clan’ like them is making this their base. The mansion we were planning to use as an inn for adventurers is just about to be completed, so we decided to transfer it at a low price.”
While having lunch, we chatted.
Hearing that ‘Rose Hip’ was settling in Razia Village, Van was grinning.
”Don’t get any ideas, Shinji.”
”I can’t. All the members of that clan are women with trauma related to men.”
”Is that so?” Van looks at me with a surprised expression.
”They’ll be living right across from Hiroya’s clan house. I hope he can help them overcome their trauma. That’s my faint hope.”
”What kind of expectations do you have for your son, Shinji?”
”Oh? That kid might actually be able to do it. ──Ah, no… that’s not going to work.”
Megumi, who had agreed with me, quickly retracted her statement.
”Why not?”
”Because everyone will become infatuated with Hiroya, right? If they stop paying attention to other men, it won’t matter if they overcome their trauma.”
”Ah…”
I hadn’t thought that far ahead.
Indeed, I heard that the former captain of ‘Rose Hip’, Lady Simona, also became infatuated with Hiroya…
”By the way, is that something to discuss in front of Kazumie’s father, your fiancé?”
Van takes a bite of bread with an exasperated look.
”No, Minister──I just want Hiroya to make Kazumi the happiest.”
”You’re quite philosophical…”
Van looks exasperated at Knight Müller, who states this firmly.
”Really… I wonder who Hiroya takes after?”
”Right?”
Megumi and Milia exchange smiles.
”Come on, we need to finish our meal and get going.”
I hurriedly gulped down the hearty soup.
* * *
”Well then, Megumi, I’m counting on you to hold down the fort.”
Everyone gathers in front of the door to my bedroom on the second floor of the mansion.
”Leave it to me.”
”I’ll protect Mom and the house.”
”I’ll do my best, even if it’s just a little…”
Megumi, Koichi, and Koichi’s childhood friend… no, his girlfriend Lady Aelia replied.
”Alright, I’m off then.”
Our survey team entered the bedroom.
”The starting point of our adventure being Shinji’s bedroom… it doesn’t feel very impressive, huh?”
”Van, stop complaining and make sure you’re ready.”
”Yeah, yeah.”
Milia looked around at all of us.
We all nodded in agreement.
”Alright, let’s go… ‘teleportation!’”
Our survey team was enveloped in soft magical light.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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