Chapter 173 Liz and Simona
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”Hey everyone, are you ready?”
Everyone nodded at Liz’s words.
I Kazumi hopped on Haya, and Liz, Rena, Martina, Dorothy, Asuka, and Gorge each mounted their beloved horses.
Aluda, Eluda, and Meluda were in the carriage. Suu joined them, while Sister Karina, Noriss, and Lotta were in Gièze’s carriage. It was quite a big group.
On a snowy morning, with Liz and Martina leading the way, we set off towards Goblin Forest.
It’s about 10 km (6.2 miles) across the snowy plains to reach Goblin Forest. It takes just under 3 hours on foot, but with horses, we could take it easy and make it in just under 2 hours.
After leaving the village, the snow started to get deeper.
This is where Aluda and the dwarves, along with us guys, had to step in. We needed to attach a ‘sleigh’ to the wheels.
”With this much snow, the wheels would get buried along with the carriage!”
Eluda, the developer of the sleigh attachment for the wheels, brought down 2 sets from the cargo. The 3 of us──me, Gorge, and Noriss──received one set and attached it to Gièze and Sister Karina’s carriage.
”Sorry for leaving all this to you…”
”T-t-thanks!”
”Just leave the heavy lifting to us guys!”
”…But there are only 3 of us.”
Noriss made a sharp comeback to Gorge.
Without much hassle, the carriage transformed into a sleigh and smoothly glided across the snowy plains.
* * *
”It didn’t even take an hour to get into the forest, right? The giant tree hollow that was the Goblin’s home?”
”Yeah. With horses, we should get there in about 30 minutes.”
”Then when we arrive, I’ll brew some delicious tea. Let’s take a breather before diving into the dungeon.”
Kazumi, sitting behind me, clings to my waist a bit tighter.
”Kazumi?”
”Hehe♡ You know, Hiroya…”
Kazumi’s breath tickles my neck.
”I’m really happy. It’s great to go on adventures like this with everyone in the clan. Of course, I love everyone in the party, but I also… really love everyone who joined the clan.”
”…The new members are all a bit quirky, though. Noriss and Lotta seem like the sensible types.”
After all, we have Gorge, who looks up to me as his master, Asuka, who seems like a cool swordswoman but isn’t shy about talking about s*x, Gièze, who is all about protecting the princess, and Sister Karina, who is always nervous but quite assertive.
”Right now, they’re all fresh and new, but I feel like Noriss might get influenced by Hiroya and Gorge.”
”If you say that, thinking about Lotta getting influenced by our female members… gives me chills.”
”…Geez!”
”Ouch!”
Don’t pinch my side…!
* * *
After moving through Goblin Forest for a while, Martina, who was leading, signaled everyone to stop.
”A group of horse riders is coming this way… probably about ten of them.”
”Spread out!”
At Liz’s signal, we spread to the sides. Asuka and I positioned ourselves next to the stopped Liz and Martina.
* * *
”Hey… ain’t dat Liz from Famière?”
Four female horse riders appeared ahead. The other 6 must be hiding nearby.
”Is that Simona Schmidt from ‘Rose Hip’? ── Everyone, it’s okay! You can lower your weapons!”
Looks like Liz knows her. The bows drawn in the carriage and by the riders were lowered. Asuka and I also lowered our arms that were resting on our swords at our left hips.
”…nice flicks! I figgered ya was just a buncha fresh-off-da-block clans.”
When the girl called Simona lightly raised her hand, the remaining 6 riders revealed themselves from behind.
”Have you finished your ‘test’ in Goblin Forest?”
As Liz moved her horse forward and extended her hand, Simona firmly shook it.
”Who?”
I heard Kazumi, who was behind me, asking Martina next to her.
”It’s the clan ‘Rose Hip’ from the fortress city of Mundo, Big Sis Kazumi. I met them at the guild when I invited Lotta and Noriss to join our clan.”
”Yeah, I’ve heard of them. It’s an all-female clan, right?”
Asuka rode her horse closer. So, they’re an adventurer.
They didn’t seem hostile, but just in case, I urged Haya forward and positioned myself next to Liz.
”Liz, gimme a sec, ya hear me? I gotta ask ya somethin’.”
”We’re in a hurry too…”
”It’s all ’bout dat new dungeon probe, right?”
”””!”””
Liz, Kazumi, and I were all a little surprised. …How do they know about this?
”The thing I wanna know ’bout dis thing, but ain’t lookin’ fer info or anyting like dat.”
”…I guess we have no choice. Everyone, let’s take a short break here a little early!”
”We’re gonna chill too, Helena, ya got da reins for now.”
”Kazumi, Hiroya… Let’s go talk. Don’t worry, they’re not bad people.”
Saying so, Liz and Simona walked towards the shade of a tree a little distance away, leaving their horses.
”Everyone, let’s have some tea or something?”
Kazumi and I dismounted Haya and headed towards the group.
* * *
(Liz’s POV)
”We met a crew o’ soldiers ‘n Sage Lady Milia by da big ol’ tree in its hollow spot.”
Simona leaned against the tree and closed her eyes.
”Dey’re bustlin’ to get security measures ‘n monster blockers set up at da dungeon entrance. That’s when Lady Milia spills da tea in confidence……”
Simona opened her eyes and looked straight at me.
”You guys found out already, ain’t ya? Word is, dis dungeon’s on da same level as Welnia Labyrinth.”
”…It’s still just a guess, but… Apparently, Ms. Milia once felt the miasma’s surge in the Raetia Mountains during her adventuring days —.”
I lean against the tree across from us.
”──It seems that if the dungeon continues all the way to that area…”
Simona smiled slightly as she listened to me. Then, she began to speak, bit by bit, about the reason ‘Rose Hip’ was formed.
The goal was to challenge the Welnia Labyrinth. And to understand how dangerous it is for outsiders, especially women, in the Empire’s territory. That’s why they formed a group, a clan, made up entirely of women. They planned to take on the Welnia Labyrinth with the prestige of conquering the S-rank dungeon in Razia Village. And so on…
”Da Empire’s straight-up treacherous fer outsider women. You never know when some dude’s gonna try to turn ya into a sl*ve or somethin’… But, like, if dis new dungeon’s as huge as dat Welnia Labyrinth──.”
Simona closed her eyes.
”──Our dreams… might jus’ come true without gotta risk our necks in da Empire, know what I’m sayin’?”
A smile spread across Simona’s face.
”So, Liz… Liz Weissman, good luck wif yer investigation, and don’t be a stranger when ya get back, ‘kay?”
”…I see. So when the new dungeon opens, your dreams will come true. Got it. I’ll do my best to make the investigation worthwhile.”
With that, Simona straightened up and extended her right hand. I gripped her hand firmly in return.
”Whass da plan?”
”I’m planning for about 3 days of investigation. I’ll push forward as much as I can and then come back.”
”Alrighty, got it! I’ll be chillin’ here with high hopes.”
Simona and I walked back to everyone else, side by side.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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