Chapter 540 Martina’s Advice
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
(Mira’s POV)
”The treasure chest traps and lockpicking in the Great Labyrinth are actually pretty patterned. They get more complex as you go deeper, but the basic patterns are set, you know──”
After a delicious dinner courtesy of the ‘Famière’ clan, we got some pointers on traps and lockpicking in the Great Labyrinth of Raetia from Ms. Martina, the ‘Genius Thief’.
Ema was thrilled, listening intently and frantically taking notes.
I found it incredibly helpful too, of course.
”So, you should tackle the traps and locks in the shallower levels as if you’re practicing. You’ll get used to it, even if you don’t want to.”
Ms. Martina gave this advice with a smile.
I think she’s around 17 or 18, but her smile had a certain innocence that made her very likable.
”Thank you very much. This is really helpful.”
”Mira is one thing, but I’m not very confident in my skills as a Thief yet… But, just getting to learn from Ms. Martina gives me so much confidence.”
We bowed our heads to Ms. Martina in the corner of the dining hall.
Ema and I are setting out to explore the Great Labyrinth tomorrow morning.
The advice we got the night before was incredibly valuable.
”Anyway, the two of you should just focus on your jobs as ‘Thieves.’ Ema-chan’s group has Ares, and MirMir’s group has──GarGar and Ms. Milia, so you’re covered.”
Ms. Martina said this, glancing at Mr. Ares and Ms. Gargantua, who were in the center of the dining hall receiving information from the deep-level members of the Great Labyrinth, like Ms. Liz, Ms. Dorothy, and Ms. Kazumi.
”You can leave everything else to those members, so don’t worry.”
”If Amel and Zamie heard I got advice from Ms. Martina, they’d be so jealous.”
”They’re guys who came to Raetia with us; we’re all from the same training academy.”
I fill in the blanks of Ema’s mumbling.
”Hmm… are they possibly your boyfriends?”
I think Ms. Martina’s eyes just sparkled mischievously.
”N-no way!”
Ema waves her hands frantically, denying it.
”No, they’re just classmates. ──Amel and Zamie both admired Ms. Martina, they probably would’ve loved to meet her and get some pointers.”
I deny it too, just to be sure.
(Well, those 2… if they met Ms. Martina in person like this…)
They’d probably be more captivated by her as a ‘woman’ than as a Thief.
Ms. Martina looks away, seemingly disappointed, after Ema and I deny it.
Her long, wavy, chestnut-colored hair and large, slightly droopy eyes are probably her most distinctive features, giving her a youthful look.
But, in contrast, her plump, soft-looking lips exude ‘feminine charm.’
But, I still think Ms. Martina’s appeal is her ‘body.’
Her large breasts and hips.
And her overall voluptuous physique is something that I, as a woman, find alluring.
That doesn’t mean she’s ‘fat,’ her firmly toned waist is the result of being a first-class adventurer, no doubt.
(She’s not just an excellent adventurer, she’s also a captivating woman, so she must be popular with men…)
I’m so mesmerized by Ms. Martina that Ema sighs, as if she’s read my mind.
”But, Ms. Martina is… not only an excellent adventurer but also a captivating woman… she must be popular with men…♡”
I’m surprised that Ema said exactly what I was thinking, but I nod in agreement with all my might.
”That’s not true. I’m devoted to Big Brother Hiroya♡”
””Big Brother Hiroya?””
Ema and I both looked at each other, confused.
We couldn’t figure out who Ms. Martina was talking about when she called him ‘brother.’
”It’s Hiroya, ‘swift,’ the best swordsman in Raetia,”
Mr. Ares, who had finished talking with Ms. Liz and the others, sat down in the chair next to Ms. Martina.
He placed a bottle and glasses of wine on the table and asked, “Would you two like some?”
”Yes! I’d love a glass!”
Ema got up and hurried to the kitchen.
* * *
”Well, there’s a whole story behind why Marti calls Hiroya ‘brother,’ but to be honest──”
Mr. Ares seemed a little tipsy, and his tone was more relaxed than when we first met at the guild.
”He’s way younger than us, but he has this older brother vibe.”
He said this and drank his wine in one gulp.
Ema and I sipped ours while listening to his story.
”He seems very mature?”
I asked Mr. Ares, remembering Mr. Hiroya from dinner.
With his fiancée, Ms. Kazumi, he definitely seemed like a central figure in the ‘Famière’ clan.
Everyone seemed to look up to him and rely on him.
”Not mature, more like ‘adult’ through and through. He’s like the big brother figure for veteran adventurers in Raetia.”
Mr. Ares answered as Ms. Martina poured him more wine.
”Big Brother Hiroya is…strong, dependable, and…very kind♡”
Ms. Martina smiled, her expression that of a lovestruck maiden.
”Ah──I can understand why Liz would be so smitten.”
Hearing Mr. Ares’s musing, it suddenly struck me.
”Speaking of Liz, where is she?”
The group that had been talking with Mr. Ares about the Great Labyrinth was still chatting in the same dining hall.
But Ms. Liz was nowhere to be found.
”Yeah, Big Sister Liz is about to♡.. So I guess she’s at Big Brother Hiroya’s place now.”
Watching Ms. Martina blush and lower her head, Ema seemed to notice something and whispered a question.
”Um… isn’t Mr. Hiroya’s fiancée Ms. Kazumi?”
”Yeah. So?”
”Ms. Martina… likes Mr. Hiroya, right?”
”Yeah! I really, really like Big Brother Hiroya.”
”And, is Ms. Liz… at Mr. Hiroya’s place now?”
”It’s not just Big Sister Liz. SimSim and AsuAsu too♡”
”Um…”
Ema looked at me, puzzled by Ms. Martina’s response.
”Well, I just got here and didn’t know. Most of the women in this clan are──Hiroya’s women, after all.”
”Huh…?”
Ema and I both turned to face Mr. Ares.
”Is it really that surprising? Everyone likes Big Brother Hiroya, after all.”
Ms. Martina stared at us with a puzzled expression.
No, I’m surprised.
That Mr. Hiroya, who still seems like a boy, with so many women…
”Good men attract good women. It’s only natural, right?”
I felt a tap on my shoulder and turned around to see Ms. Kazumi standing there.
Please bookmark this series and rate ☆☆☆☆☆ on here!
Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
Leave a Reply