Volume 4 Chapter 20 ： Closure Device
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
Are you a kid?!
You showing your panties… and they’re erotic underwear meant for work!
Even though I told her to wear tights… this is unacceptable, very unacceptable, Feria!
But, Ms. Annabella isn’t here today, so everyone is doing whatever they want…
Just then, I ran into Matthew and the others who were returning from today’s Exploration.
”Oh, Kent? Do you enjoy looking at panties while your wife sleeps on the ground? Just make sure my Beatrice doesn’t do that!”
N-no!
That’s a misunderstanding!
I don’t have such a hobby!
I enjoy peeking, but…
”No, Mr. Matthew, I don’t have such a hobby. Feria is just throwing a bit of a tantrum…”
Feria was so embarrassed to be seen by someone other than our members that she quickly stood up and brushed the dirt off her clothes.
”Hahaha! I thought only Kent and the others would cause such a ruckus, and I was correct!”
”I’m sorry. We’re a Hunting Group that can’t maintain tension…”
”By the way, did you get any results? We’re currently returning after hunting 5 large ones. I heard Soumei is returning today too. Hendric said he would go a little deeper, but it’s the first day, so I think it’s fine not to force it.”
”We hunted 3 large ones. Including the trap room, though. It almost killed us…”
Matthew’s face changed when he heard “trap room.”
”Is there such a thing? The places I explored didn’t have such enemies… all I encountered were large animal-type and insect-type ‘another world monsters’ in dead-end rooms.”
”Milly said that the structure and enemy placements are strange for a large-scale crack of time and space. Do you also feel that way, Mr. Matthew?”
”Ah, the crack of time and space itself is a young thing, but encountering a crack like this with only large ‘another world monsters’ is my first time. Moreover, the large-scale entrance and exit are, and according to observations of the grass around the surroundings, there are many signs that it opened up recently.”
Since the two veterans say so, this crack of time and space must have quite a special structure.
”The structure is simple enough, so if we go in with a hundred-man team for exploration, we could probably close it by tomorrow. The only question is how many ‘another world monsters’ are out there.”
”Over there, I’ve dispatched Kondrad’s Estfort army and my father-in-law’s patrol to deal with it.”
”I see, then we should be okay. It’s a relief that the number of monsters has decreased due to the great onslaught. Thinking that a crack of time and space opened before the great onslaught sends chills down my spine.”
As Matthew said, if such a large-scale crack of time and space had occurred before the great onslaught, which was filled with monsters prey for ‘another world monsters’, there would have been a massive emergence of beast monster larvae.
Thinking about that, maybe I should consider it good timing.
”By the way, is Kent and the others finishing up today?”
”Yes, we will be taking materials back, so we will wrap it up for today.”
”Then let’s all head back… we’ve hunted everything around here already…”
”Then, I will take you up on your words and join you.”
Saying that, we returned to the entrance with Matthew’s party.
* * *
At the entrance, the military was conducting card checks and body checks.
This was to check for anyone unauthorized and to ensure no living ‘another world monster’ was being smuggled out.
I heard from Kondrad that previously, during a military crackdown, someone had taken a living ‘another world monster’ for money, so I instituted these measures.
The strict measures were taken because I feared a released ‘another world monster’ would grow by preying on monsters or animals.
”Everyone’s coming back. While I wait, I’m going to stop by and see Lana for a bit.”
”Sir Kent, I still have magic left, so I will go. I have to help Lady Lana…”
Talia offered to help at the treatment center.
If my magic is too low, I could recover after sharing some power with [Sexual Recovery I], but… it might cause complaints with the carriage creaking, so I’ll refrain.
”Well then, Talia, come along. Please be ready when it’s your turn.”
”Okay, I’ll have someone call for you when it’s close.”
”Ah, please do.”
Saying that, I parted from Milly and accompanied Talia to visit Lana and the others, who were helping the injured.
Lana and the others were in a tent set up as a first aid station.
Although they had called for veteran participants, many were injured because the enemy was a large ‘another world monster’.
They were dividing roles, with Lana [Examining] the status of the injured and Veris providing assistance.
Manon was also performing tasks like caregiving and bandaging.
However, I discovered that only Beatrice had wrapped bandages around her own body and was unable to move.
She likely failed while trying to help.
”Beatrice, good job.”
”Bea failed to help… the bandage didn’t listen to me.”
”It’s okay. You did your best, Beatrice.”
I patted Beatrice’s head.
Lana, who was treating the injured, was focused on her work, so I decided to speak to Veris first.
”Thank you for your hard work, Veris.”
”Sir Kent… I’m very satisfied to see all these cases, like cuts, penetrating wounds, and burns. After all, while experiments are good, actual combat helps me understand the most.”
Veris showed joy at being able to satisfy her intellectual curiosity.
Though I had some worry that she might dissect the injured while saying, ‘I’m curious!’ she seemed not to take it that far, so I felt relieved.
”Right. I’m glad Veris’s questions were answered. Please help me again tomorrow.”
”Sure, gladly. With the Hunting Group kids, there are mostly bruises and contusions.”
As I was talking with Veris, someone spoke to me from behind.
”Mr. Kent. You’ve come all this way? Just as you predicted, most everyone was experienced and had lower injuries. However, the Beginner-level healing potions and Beginner-level mana recovery potions I sold for 20 percent more sold quite well. There weren’t many complaints either. Probably, making the treatment fees for those other than severely injured free helped a lot. It seems everyone bought them as a thank you.”
”Lady Lana… That’s quite generous… Are you okay in terms of mana?”
I was concerned whether Lana was overdoing it since I heard she wasn’t charging for the treatment of minor injuries.
Currently, about 5 people were receiving treatment for severe injuries, but I thought there were likely more lightly injured.
”Only about 20 people with minor injuries came. I didn’t use much magic either. This time, having a high ratio of [Healers] in the party is one factor for the low injury rate. Did Talia serve you properly, Mr. Kent? She didn’t hurt you, right?”
Lana’s question darkened Talia’s expression.
The truth is I almost died in the trap room.
However, thanks to Dee, I was alive, so I decided to convey this to Lana in a softened expression.
”Actually, it’s a bit of a mix-up. I didn’t get hurt, but I almost died. But I’m fine like this.”
Lana, hearing my words, looked serious and confronted Talia.
”Talia! If my ears are right, did I just hear that Mr. Kent almost died? Was that just my imagination?”
”I-I’m sorry! I tried to calm him with ‘Sanity’, but I failed!”
Talia was bowing deeply to the floor in apology.
I tried to wrap it up nicely and reported it lightly, but it seems Lana is really angry…
”Talia, how could it be that with you around, Mr. Kent is in danger?”
I approached to calm Lana down.
”Lana, don’t blame Talia. I got caught in the trap myself. No one is at fault. And look, I’m not dead, right?”
I lifted Lana’s chin, bringing her closer to my face.
I caught a glimpse of her glistening eyes, and I suddenly wanted to kiss her.
”Mmm… Mr. Kent… not here…”
”How about we continue after the crack of time and space is sealed?”
”I-I see… Talia, I’ll forgive this time for Mr. Kent’s sake… but be more careful in the future.”
”Yes… I won’t fail again.”
At that moment, Dee came to tell us that our check was coming up soon.
”Kent, it’s almost our turn. Please come back quickly.”
”Got it, I’ll return. So, Lana, we’ll head back first.”
”Today we’ve almost wrapped up, so we’ll take the seriously injured back in the carriage.”
”Yeah, please do.”
I returned to Milly with Talia and Dee.
After that, once we were checked and headed back to the battlefield, some traders, having heard rumors from somewhere, set up shop in the plaza targeting the materials from the returning party, turning it into a bit of a shopping street.
I asked Kondrad to explain the situation.
According to Kondrad, it seems my mother-in-law issued trading permits for a fee, and these traders are paying the Blackdagger family to be allowed to trade in the battlefield.
By the way, it seems they have written a pledge stating that the Blackdagger family will not be responsible if they are attacked by monsters or the like.
How terrifying… my mother-in-law’s bureaucrats… she might be geniuses who turn everything into money…
”Well, it’s a hassle to go back to town, right? I wanted to get rid of unnecessary materials since they just take up space and turn them into cash…”
Milly sighed at her mother’s efficiency.
”Kondrad, have you sold the materials seized by the military?”
”No, I was unsure whether to use them for military funds or manage them under the Blackdagger family, so I put it on hold. The Estfort army is actually funded entirely by the Blackdagger family.”
Feria returned from gathering information on the market for materials.
”Since it’s a supply area, prices are dropping compared to Abyss Vena. Especially for large materials, the price drop is severe. Medium and small ones are about average, I guess.”
According to Feria’s information, large materials are mostly being liquidated by parties that have dived, causing their numbers to increase and prices to drop.
Conversely, the medium and small ones seized by the military are not circulating much, so their prices seem stable.
”To secure the military’s reward money, should we liquidate half of the medium and small ones?”
”That’s right. The materials from ‘another world monster’ can only be used for equipment. I think it’s fine to sell them.”
”Understood. I’ll contact some traders and have them bid. We’ll only accept cash.”
”Please do that.”
Kondrad ran off with the soldiers who were nearby.
Instead, Akebus approached.
”My lord, since a large amount of cash is flying around, there is a possibility that someone may plot something bad. Let’s create a guard unit and strengthen surveillance.”
”Alright, create a provisional gendarmerie selected from Noemi’s team and the military. I’ll leave the commander to Akebus.”
”Haha! I’ll get right on it!”
Akebus ran off with his subordinates.
”Okay, for now. Let’s disband for today. Everyone did great. Let’s keep it up tomorrow.”
I announced the disbandment to the gathered members and decided to return to my tent, which served as both my personal room and command office.
In the square, I didn’t know who brought it, but a warm gathering of hunters had begun.
* * *
In the stillness of the deep night, a tremendous roar suddenly resonated, shaking the air.
”What was that sound… it seemed to come from the crack of time and space…”
”N-No… Mr. Kent… I can’t take it anymore, Feria’s going to break!”
”I can’t let you suck on my breasts…”
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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