Chapter 67
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
In the church’s consultation room, I told Seria about keeping Iris and her at the “Silver Orchid” base inside the dungeon.
I also mentioned that there would be a kind of power test for me, and after Seria agreed, I made the reservation for her and left the church.
The main purpose of the next dungeon activity was that test, and since the dispatch period wasn’t long, I could make the reservation normally.
”Well then, I’ll bring everything I was holding for you tomorrow.”
”Yeah. See you tomorrow.”
Once again in my “Mose” mode, I said that and parted ways with Seria, who was heading to the rescue tent in front of the dungeon.
She mentioned that she might need to buy a magic item for dispelling curses, so she wanted to earn a bit more money.
It was still before noon, and she said that waiting at the rescue tent wouldn’t affect the allowance she would receive.
That amount seemed to be equal to what an average person earns in a day.
Maybe because they monopolize healing magic and the catalysts used for it, the church probably has a good amount of money.
After that, I headed to the “Silver Orchid Inn” and told Nina, who had returned, that we would be leaving the next day.
Since she had said anytime was fine, she didn’t argue and said she would prepare on her own, so we got ready for supplies to prepare for tomorrow.
Well, I was in charge of water and food, and I could create them with magic.
So, the only things I needed to buy were Iris’s small items, and after quickly finishing the shopping, we spent the night together at the “Silver Orchid Inn.”
It was because Iris invited me… If I spent more time in the dungeon, Seria would be around more often, and it seemed like she thought her chances would decrease.
…
……
………
The next night, after leaving Iris’s room, I was sent off with a glare from Nina as I headed back to the “Horned Ox Inn.”
I could have gone back to my rented room, but since I told them I would be staying out for negotiations with some important people, I needed to let them know I was safe.
So, after returning to “Koji” and reporting back.
Linna and Ms. Tirica wanted me to confirm that my thing was safe too, but I was satisfied with just Iris, and since I was going into the dungeon the next day, I declined.
Well, they did confirm that they would react together.
* * *
The next day.
After getting ready and having breakfast, I left the inn and became “Mose” in the alley.
At the same time, I prepared a cart and supplies and headed to the dungeon entrance, which was bustling with young adventurers.
I searched for Iris using the homemade scarf I had swapped out… Oh, there she was.
She was with someone, so I approached carefully, and the person next to her was the armed Nina.
She had gear similar to Iris, wearing leather armor and carrying a small shield and short sword that focused on ease of use.
She seemed to notice me just in time and told Iris about me.
’Good morning’
”Good morning, Mose.”
”Good morning to you too.”
As we exchanged greetings, Seria appeared from the direction of the church.
”Oh, good morning.”
’Good… morning’
My short 4-letter greeting was interrupted because Seria appeared holding a wooden box with both hands, resting it on her chest.
I guess since we won’t be back in a day, she packed quite a bit. The straps of her bag emphasized her chest even more because it was resting on the wooden box.
There were a lot of male adventurers around, so she was definitely attracting attention.
This wooden box is probably the magic catalyst she had stored, but… she looks embarrassed, so it seems like the size of the box is making it awkward for her.
’…For now, load your stuff onto my cart. Iris and Nina too.’
”Ah, okay.”
”Yes.”
The two of them moved right away at my words, but Nina checked before she moved.
”My luggage is okay too?”
’Yeah. Is there a problem?’
”No, it’s not that…”
She doesn’t seem to be an adventurer, and I think her physical strength is about the same as Seria’s.
If that’s the case, there’s a chance she could get tired along the way, and if the watcher let their attention slip, they might say I need to be checked again.
Well… when we get to the “Silver Orchid” base and I introduce Iris to the people there, it should prove that I have no intention of harming Iris.
If something happened to Iris after all that, I’d be the first one suspected by “Silver Orchid,” and I wouldn’t do anything knowing Ferris would be after me.
So, just to be safe, I’ll take care of Nina’s luggage because it would be a problem if she got too tired, and I’m even thinking of putting her on the cart if it comes to that.
’For now, load the stuff. It’s just women besides me, and it would be a hassle if things get weird.’
”Ah… got it, then.”
Seria was attracting attention with her earlier appearance, and I should think that I, too, was being noticed since I was with 3 beautiful girls.
To avoid the trouble of being attacked for the sake of women like the other day, I explained this and had Nina put her luggage on the cart.
With our preparations complete, we lit our torches from the nearby campfire and entered the dungeon.
…
……
………
In the 1st District, it was the usual goblin scramble, so we took the shortest route to the 2nd District.
After we entered the 2nd District and moved forward for a while, I sensed monsters approaching us, so I had the other 3 get ready for battle.
’They’re coming. About… 5 of them, I think.’
”How can you tell that much?”
As I warned them, Nina asked while preparing her sword and shield.
Of course, I couldn’t say it was because of the magic stone, so I just replied,
’I’ve lived in a place with a lot of monsters.’
Soon enough, the monsters that came were 3 goblins and 2 demon wolves. I expanded my magic shield to cover the entire passageway against them.
”…”
I had already talked to Nina about this “shield expansion” during our journey and had shown her how it worked, so she wasn’t surprised.
”Graaaah!”
”Giigyaaah!”
*Bam! Boom!*
The monsters charged at me, but my shield held them back. They tried to slip through the small gap that was left.
As they squeezed their bodies in, I swung my axe down.
*Slam! Thud!*
Monsters do run away when they need to, but it seems that depends on their individual intelligence.
The monsters in the 2nd District don’t seem to have much intelligence, and soon all 5 of them were taken down by me.
While Iris and Seria were collecting magic stones from the monsters they defeated, Nina, who had sheathed her sword, called out to me.
”While you can make the shield bigger, what about the weight?”
’Weight? It doesn’t really change…’
If the weight changed, it would be harder to handle when enlarged, and that might affect Iris’s protection, so I said that.
Nina gave me a side-eye in response.
”So, that means you have enough strength to hold back 5 monsters, right? Then you should have easily resisted my strength.”
Even weak goblins have strength similar to that of an adult man.
If I could hold them back while the shield’s weight stayed the same, it would mean my strength is quite impressive, and with that strength, I could have resisted Nina when she tried to pull me into the room.
In other words, it suggests that I held back my resistance at that time because I was expecting something naughty, which is why she’s giving me that look.
I had just enjoyed myself with Iris, and I really had no such intention… but if I say that, it leads to the question, “Then why didn’t you resist and leave?”
I could say, “I thought it was a private matter,” but there aren’t many people who would share a private matter with someone who just arrived in the city like me.
So, it might be assumed that there’s some reason for discussing a private matter, and it could be judged that it relates to Iris.
In fact, Nina was trying to find out why Iris came to this city back then.
That guess might even reach the woman she wants to break the curse on… so I left Nina’s misunderstanding as it was.
Once this matter is settled, I won’t have to get involved anymore, and I don’t plan to get too close.
After that, we took a break in a small room before the 3rd District, had a meal, and then moved on.
…
……
………
When we entered the 3rd District, I became more alert.
There were demon wolves around that could shoot electric shocks, and this time I had to protect my companions while dealing with them.
Today, I couldn’t use night vision goggles or bind them with magic thread, so I would definitely be at a disadvantage.
So… if I sensed a monster, I planned to quickly switch to battle mode and keep my distance from Iris and the others.
’Don’t come this way. There are demon wolves that shoot lightning, so let’s handle it from a bit farther away.’
”Got it. Is the light okay?”
’It’s not like we’ll be too far apart… but I’ll prepare another torch just in case.’
In the different passage compared to the 2nd District, I replied to Iris, who was worried about the light, and lit a spare torch.
”Gaahhh!”
*Crackle, crackle, crackle!*
Soon, a group of monsters arrived, and I blocked the passage with my shield, responding just like before when… the demon wolf shot out electricity.
It seemed like it was waiting until there were fewer of them, so it had enough intelligence to avoid hitting its allies.
*Thud.*
”Growl…”
Of course, it didn’t work on me, and that demon wolf met the same fate as the other monsters, and the battle ended.
”That glowing one surprised me.”
”I heard it’s similar to lightning… Even if it doesn’t kill you outright, your body can become paralyzed, and you’ll end up getting killed anyway, so we should be careful.”
As Seria replied to Iris’s comment, Nina asked me with concern.
”I heard that even if you don’t get hit directly, if you’re wearing metal, just being nearby can affect you… Are you okay?”
Iris and Seria weren’t worried because they knew this armor wasn’t made of metal and could withstand most damage.
But Nina didn’t know that and was worried about me because she knew metal armor could conduct lightning.
This is a problem… I didn’t have an answer prepared for this.
If I say the equipment has lightning resistance, then if that information leaks, people might target my gear.
But if I say it’s my skill or something, then people who frequently travel to the 3rd District might target me.
’Ah… well, it’s fine. As long as I don’t get hit.’
”Well, that’s true, but…”
Nina looked unconvinced by my response, but at that moment, I sensed a large number of magic stones approaching from a distance.
There was one big cluster of them and several smaller clusters around it.
This was probably being carried by people.
The big cluster was likely loaded on a cart or something, while the smaller clusters were probably being held by individuals nearby.
That part was fine, but… I was concerned about their speed.
It felt pretty fast.
They might encounter monsters, so maybe they’re hurrying to avoid that.
’…’
”What’s wrong?”
The 3 of them were looking at me in silence, and I answered Iris’s question.
”I’m pretty sure I heard a lot of footsteps coming this way.”
I couldn’t say I sensed the magic stone in front of Nina, so I warned everyone to be cautious about the group that was likely heading our way.
If they were in a hurry, they would take the shortest route, which is the same path we were going deeper into.
In fact, from the reaction of the magic stone, I could tell they were using the shortest route. Depending on their size, they might spread out across the whole passage, and I didn’t want to cause any trouble by getting in their way, so I decided to change our route.
I remember hearing that the “Gem Snake” transport team was supposed to return to the city today, and it would be better not to let Iris meet them at this point.
So, while keeping track of that group heading towards the city on the shortest route, we moved forward and arrived at the Gatekeeper’s room.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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