Chapter 517 New Companions
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
Kazumi returned to the Clan house with Liz and Maya as the evening sky darkened.
”That took longer than expected.”
”It wasn’t exactly quick reporting the total annihilation of Maya’s party…”
”And on top of that, this girl wasn’t even registered as an adventurer.”
Apparently, she hadn’t been listed as an official party member in the dungeon records, which led to her testimony being questioned. Fortunately, a few adventurers had spotted her with the group on the Fourth Floor and vouched for her at the guild outpost.
”In the first place… isn’t registration required to enter the dungeon?”
”Since she was the leader’s slave, her name wasn’t included in the ‘infiltration party’ list.”
Liz ran a hand through her hair in frustration before turning to Maya.
”It was a mistake on the guild’s part. Ms. Camilla apologized for it. ──After a party submits their ‘infiltration member’ list, the stationed soldiers are supposed to verify the members entering. Looks like they didn’t do their job properly.”
Kazumi placed a cup of warm milk in front of Maya. She bowed politely before picking it up.
”Well, I also handled her adventurer registration while I was at it. She’s Rank E now.”
”Oh really? Guess she racked up some achievements as a Porter.”
Hearing Kazumi’s explanation, I glanced at Maya sitting across from me. My casual remark made her stiffen and tremble.
”So… why does it feel like she’s afraid of me?”
”Maybe… because it’s her first time seeing you, Hiroya?”
”I see.”
I smiled and introduced myself.
”I’m Hiroya O’Brien. A member of this clan.”
Maya blinked, ears twitching.
”…Your voice… it sounds just like that big brother from earlier-meow…”
She tilted her head, her confusion obvious.
”Explaining would take a while, but… that was me too.”
Her ears flicked again as she tilted her head even further.
Yeah. Figures.
* * *
”Next is the process of getting freed from slave status…”
”I went to my father-in-law—the lord’s mansion.”
Wait. That’s… not something the guild handles.
I mean…
”It’s not as simple as the master dying and the slave mark disappearing, Kazumi.”
”Well, a slave is legally ‘property’ of the owner.”
Even if the mark fades, it doesn’t automatically grant freedom. Officials have to confirm whether the master had any outstanding debts before releasing the slave.
”Luckily, her master had relocated to Raetia, so the officials quickly investigated his finances. I was freed without issue.”
”That… sounds like a long process.”
As we talked, evening had already settled in, and it was time to start preparing dinner.
”Ah, and also…”
Liz leaned onto the table, her lips curling into a knowing smirk.
”Maya isn’t a cat-person.”
”Right, right.”
”Huh? But she looks like one…”
From where I sat, Maya’s small frame was mostly hidden by the oversized chair, only her upper body visible above the table. Her triangular ears twitched atop her head—no matter how you looked at her, she was a cat-person.
”Probably… she has some tiger-person blood mixed in.”
A voice came from the dining hall entrance. Turning around, I saw Gargantua stepping inside, having just returned.
”Ping pong! Looks like she’s half tiger-person,” she said with a grin. “Not bad, you figured it out.”
Kazumi raised an eyebrow. “She’s small, but her limbs are naturally well-developed. It doesn’t feel like something just trained into her.”
Gargantua plopped into the seat beside me, stretching out like she’d had a long day.
”You were at the lord’s mansion earlier when we swapped places, huh? Had business there?”
Liz returned from the reception area, holding a glass and a bottle of light wine. She handed the glass to Gargantua, then paused mid-pour.
”You mentioned a magician before, right?”
Gargantua took the glass just as Liz’s movement hesitated.
”Could it be… you’re the one…?”
”Huh? …Wait. Seriously?”
Liz and Kazumi exchanged uneasy glances.
”Ah, yeah,” Gargantua said, casually swirling his wine. “I asked Milia to join us.”
”””──!”””
For a second, silence. Then, she downed her drink in one go, unfazed by our stunned expressions.
”What?”
She asked, raising an eyebrow.
”No, it’s not ‘what?’” Liz blurted.
”S-So… did Principal Milia really agree?”
”Yeah. She was happy to accept. Why, is that a problem?”
We—Liz, Kazumi, and I—just sat there, dumbfounded by how carefree he was about it.
”After all, you’re about to be accompanied by the kingdom’s top magician… the Sage, Principal Milia…”
”If we find a Thief, we could head for the deeper floors right away…”
”No, you also need a Porter,” I added.
While Liz and Kazumi sighed at the ridiculousness of it all, Gargantua glanced at Maya, still holding out his empty glass.
”W-Well, let’s talk about recruiting later, okay?”
Liz muttered, pouring her another drink.
”Hmm… I’d like to think about it,” Gargantua said, taking a sip.
Maya, silent all this time, gave a small nod.
* * *
During the late-night meal when everyone was gathered, Maya was introduced.
”I-I’m Maya-meow… I’d like to be taken care of here-meow…”
Maya bowed her head politely in front of everyone.
”Her party was wiped out, so I want to look after her.”
Kazumi explained since some members were unaware of the circumstances.
”She has experience as a Porter. I’m expecting her to be an immediate asset.”
Following Kazumi, Liz glanced around at everyone while standing next to Maya.
”I’m so glad. A Porter is essential for exploring the labyrinth.”
The members nodded at Gieze’s words.
”Alright! Everyone agrees, right? ──Maya, you’re now a member of Famière!”
”Ah, thank you-meow!”
Thumped on the shoulder by Liz, Maya’s tense expression softened, and she smiled brightly.
* * *
”So I have a request──please challenge the ‘Great labyrinth’ with us!”
The meal concluded, and in the dining hall where everyone dispersed, Esperanza was closing in on Maya.
”Hey! Don’t rush in so forcefully! ──Look, even Ms. Maya is scared!”
Hernando firmly grabbed Esperanza’s shoulder and pulled her back.
”Maya, I will protect you… I promise. We will not lose to the monsters of the labyrinth. Even if they are the deepest level monsters.”
Saying this, Gargantua took Maya’s hand.
…That’s a strong and confident line for wooing.
”I want you to trust me.”
”…Got it-meow. I look forward to working with you-meow.”
In response to such serious words from Gargantua… Maya smiled and fell for her.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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