Chapter 350 Two Years Later
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
(Gieze’s POV)
”Noriss! Switch with Ms. Eluda!”
”Understood! I’ve got this, Ms. Eluda!”
”Okay! I’m on it!”
The floor boss of the Fifteenth Floor, ‘One-Eyed Demon’.
A giant with a height of about 3 meters, this troublesome monster combines the power of a troll with speed.
”Karina, use the Protection Barrier! Noriss, Romy, Gunilla, gather around Karina!”
”Y-yes, I got it! ‘Protection Barrier (Defense Field)!’”
Ms. Eluda, holding a large shield, steps forward to draw the ‘One-Eyed Demon’s’ aggro.
The ‘One-Eyed Demon’ raised its massive club towards Ms. Eluda.
That movement was indeed quite fast.
”Kaenmaru (blazing flame)!”
I draw my beloved katana, gripping the hilt tightly and channeling magical power into it.
”Physical Boost!”
Releasing power throughout my body, I kick off the ground and leap into the ‘One-Eyed Demon’s’ range.
──Shhhiiiing!
With a pleasant sound of the sheath, a red-black flash ran through the air.
”Nggggggh!”
The slash of ‘Kaenmaru)’, delivered from a low stance, strikes the ‘One-Eyed Demon’s’ left leg.
(I felt it──yes!)
I dash through, sheathing my katana, then turn around to take the ‘Obu Muso Style’ stance again.
Ms. Eluda deflects the massive club swung down while losing her balance with her shield.
”Here!”
Ms. Eluda, having deflected the blow from the club, dealt a strike with her hand axe to the One-Eyed demon’s hand.
The One-Eyed demon, injured in its right hand and kneeling, somehow supports its body with its left arm, but──
”Fall down already!”
Mr. Gorge, who had been waiting for an opening, slammed his bastard sword into the demon’s left arm.
”Gwaaaah!”
The One-Eyed demon, completely losing its balance, fell to the ground.
”Fire Storm!”
With the magic cast by Karina, flames erupted around the One-Eyed demon, engulfing its massive body.
”Gwooooaah!”
A deep roar echoed, and along with the flames, the One-Eyed demon vanished into mist.
* * *
”That’s quite a size, isn’t it?”
Mr. Gorge picked up the remaining magic stone and handed it to Gunilla.
”It’s a rank B monster like a troll, but it was easier since it doesn’t have regeneration ability.”
Ms. Eluda plopped down heavily.
”That speed, though, shouldn’t be underestimated.”
I took my water flask from my waist and drank.
Ms. Eluda reached out, so I handed it to her.
”Ms. Karina’s magic has become quite powerful, hasn’t it?”
”I was right worried ’cause Ms. Lotta ain’t here…”
Romy and Gunilla smiled at Karina while wearing the backpacks they had set down during the battle.
”I-I see…?”
Karina covered her cheeks with both hands, looking shy.
That’s right.
This time, Lotta isn’t with us.
It was me, Karina, Ms. Eluda, Mr. Gorge, Noriss, Gunilla, and Romy who charged in from the Fourteenth Floor.
”So, how is Lotty doing?”
Romy asked Noriss, who was struggling with a wooden box of loot.
”Alright, it’s open! ──Lotta? Yeah, it seems her slight fever has gone down.”
Noriss took out something that looked like metal armor parts from the wooden box and handed it to Gunilla.
”In the end, it’s a happy occasion, right?”
”…Probably.”
Noriss answered Mr. Gorge’s question shyly.
* * *
Two years ago in the month of water (October), I received a letter saying that each family was happily living in the ‘Northern Settlement’ of Baron O’Brian’s territory, which prompted Noriss and Lotta to get married.
The ceremony was grandly held not only with the ‘Famière’ family but also with the parties of ‘Rose Hip’, ‘Black Sheep’, and Guido’s party.
As a surprise, when Marty brought Noriss and Lotta’s families from the ‘Northern Settlement’, Lotta’s tears were something else.
Since then, the expansion of the Clan house began, connecting my and Karina’s house with Mr. Gorge and Ms. Asuka’s house through a 2-story corridor that also served as guest rooms.
Noriss and Lotta are mainly enjoying their newlywed life in the house that used to belong to me and Karina.
And then──3 days ago, the night before our expedition, Lotta came down with a slight fever and fell ill.
By the time we departed, her fever seemed to have subsided, but to be safe, we decided not to let her join this expedition.
* * *
”It feels the same as when Ms. Hanna was pregnant or when my Asuka was pregnant… so, is it about 8 weeks along?”
While descending to the 16th floor, Mr. Gorge spoke to Noriss, who was leading the way.
”I think so. Mister Rudolf said he would come after we departed.”
”A third baby in the Clan house. That’s wonderful.”
I recalled the cute smiles of Ms. Hanna’s daughter, Liselle, who is one year and 8 months old, and Ms. Asuka’s daughter, Kaoru, who just turned one, and couldn’t help but smile.
”W-well, after we descend to the next floor… we will, we will come back, right?”
”Yeah. I hope there’s a Safety Zone right after we descend…”
Karina asked me with a smirk on her face.
Perhaps that cute smile was also floating in her mind.
”If we peek into the next floor and there’s no Safety Zone, we can set up the teleportation circle in this corridor like last time, right?”
Ms. Eluda, who was walking at the back, made her suggestion a bit louder.
Indeed, it seems that monsters do not appear in the corridors connecting the floors up to this point, so that option is available.
”What about the remaining arrows? Gunilla and Romy?”
”Three cartridges left.”
”We got the same amount!”
(Hmm. Let’s be cautious here… should we return?)
I made that decision and instructed Karina to set up a teleportation circle in front of the large door of the 16th floor that was coming into view.
* * *
”Thank you for your hard work.”
Upon returning to the surface, I was greeted by Ms. Camilla at the guild’s branch office.
”You returned almost on time. Are you going back to the Clan house after this?”
Ms. Camilla asked while appraising the Magic Stones that Romy and Gunilla had placed on the counter.
This ‘Great Labyrinth Raetia Outpost’ has expanded significantly and now has an inn, and they also provide guidance here at the guild branch office.
I had used it several times and even attempted consecutive labyrinth attacks.
”Yes. I want to see everyone in the clan soon.”
I answered that while looking around the spacious and lively branch office.
Two newly hired staff members were busily moving around.
With more adventurers around and a new vein of ore appearing around the Tenth Floor, there were also groups that looked like miners.
They hire adventurers to go mine for ores.
According to the members of Liz’s team, they seem to have discovered a mithril vein on the 18th floor, but only Liz’s team can dive that deep, so the miners haven’t been able to go mining yet.
”Here is the buyback price for the Magic Stones. As expected, the size of the Magic Stones is different at the 15th floor.”
Saying that, Ms. Camilla handed over 2 large coins, 6 gold coins, and 2 small coins.
”Since ogres and trolls are the main focus, after all. ──Oh, could you also check the rank?”
Mr. Gorge receives the gold coins and hands them to Romy.
”Mr. Guido’s party also said they aim to reach the 15th floor this time. The members of Rose Hip’s Frieda party said they would start from the 16th floor today.”
Ms. Camilla placed the crystal orb on the counter.
(As expected, the deepest party is Ms. Liz and others on the 19th floor…)
They just returned the other day, so they are currently resting.
Lately, they have been continuing dungeon attacks with little rest.
(It would be better for them to take it easy for a while)
Thinking about that, I placed my hand over the crystal orb.
* * *
”As expected, rank A is still far away.”
”I’m still at rank B too.”
I had lunch at the cafeteria that was built next to the outpost.
It’s been quite a while since both Mr. Gorge and I leveled up to rank B.
”W-well, I’m still at B…”
”Ms. Karina and I just recently leveled up to rank C and B, respectively.”
”Eluda still hasn’t moved up from B.”
Noriss interjects as Karina complains.
Ms. Eluda murmurs while poking at her meat with a fork.
”Ah, Gunilla and I just leveled up to D.”
Recently, Romy has been providing accurate support with her Black Bow, helping the party in combat, while Gunilla nods along, munching on her meat.
”It might be dangerous to dive deeper with this party.”
”Yeah. Since Lotta can’t participate for a while, should we bring in Aluda or Meluda, or maybe the Wolf Maid?”
I was also considering adding the Wolf Maid, but…
”The Wolf Maid can’t join… you know, they have school──oh, can I get a beer?”
Romy calls over the waitress to order a beer.
”W-wait for me!”
”…Don’t drink too much, okay?”
I make sure to warn Romy and Gunilla.
That’s right.
Suu, Noo, and Uu have school, so their frequency of dungeon exploration is inevitably limited.
”Still, Sandra and the Wolf Maid get along really well, don’t they?”
Romy received the beer that was quickly brought over, handed one to Gunilla, and started sipping on the other.
* * *
Two years ago, after the duel with former knight Lord Pressner, Pressner’s wife and daughter, Ms. Carla and Sandra, came to Lord Hiroya.
Due to the divorce, she now goes by her maiden name, Günelle, but it seems she was the third daughter of a small merchant guild in the Royal Capital… Ms. Carla is happily working at the Zett Merchant Guild.
Her daughter Sandra is currently 8 years old.
She’s about the same age as the wolf maids… well, the wolf maids are ‘similar in appearance’, though.
Perhaps that’s why they hit it off and decided they wanted to go to school together.
Ms. Kazumi also thought that the education of the wolf maids was essential, so she reduced her work as a maid to send Sandra to school with them.
In return, Ms. Hanna and Ms. Asuka are cooperating to help with childcare, and in the afternoons, Ms. Carla also helps fill in for the wolf maids.
* * *
”Eluda and the others help out with various things when they’re not adventuring, but… they have their blacksmithing work too.”
”I’m doing my best too, but I think I can help with housework once Lotta settles down a bit.”
As Eluda and Noriss said, everyone in the clan tries to handle their own chores as much as possible.
This includes cleaning, laundry, and tidying up dishes.
”…It would be good to increase the number of maids…”
Mr. Gorge finished his meal and rested his chin on the table.
At this time, a storm was brewing within the clan regarding Mr. Gorge… and as a result, the idea of increasing the number of maids… was something I never even considered.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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