Sousetsuka

14-5. Yowok Kingdom (2)

 

Satou's here. Meeting relatives during homecoming after a long while is fun. However, according to my childhood friend, it was the penance time for marriage bashing, she grumbled.


◇


I investigate the detailed information of the demon lord that I found in the [Goblin Labyrinth] under Yowok Kingdom's royal castle.

Besides the [Demon Lord] title, the demon lord has some other strange titles, such as [Gambling Addict], [Debt King], [Good-for-Nothing Father].
His race is [Great Oni Kin (Ogre)], level 55 and only one Unique Skill, [All-or-Nothing].
I've heard that having only one Unique Skill rarely turns one into a demon lord, so he probably had two initially, one which was given to Shin boy, [Master Wizard].

Liza alone might be able to defeat him right now.

In addition, I don't see any greater demon and there's only one mid demon on stand-by near the demon lord.
There are lesser demons situated in labyrinth management rooms located in floor 10 to 30, with each room having one demon. It's like a masterpiece dungeon game from years ago.

This labyrinth is mostly occupied by demi-goblins and rat-type monsters, there are also demi ogres, first time I've seen the type, prowling in the deeper floors.

Looking at it from an explorer's point of view, this is an extremely unprofitable labyrinth. You can only get money from magic cores and hides from the rat-type monsters.
Perhaps it's because of that the adventurers in this labyrinth generally have low levels.

Most are less than level 30, and the only ones higher than that is the party that have gotten to floor 48.
It seems that other parties besides that one are only on par with up-to level 20 enemies in floor 29. The reason is probably the level 40 Demi Ogre Rift mid boss in floor 30.

"There he is!"
"Are we really going to kill him?"
"Of course! He almost killed us y'know?"

I heard familiar voices of boys and girl from behind.
Apparently, they've resentfully chased after me.

It's probably the effect of the girl's [Pursuit] skill.
They could just have become guards.

A strong-sounding monster, Demi Goblin Berserker, is approaching from the front, but it's only one monster and its level isn't that different from their levels. They should be able to do something about it if they're really adventurers.

I teleported to floor 48 where the farthest adventurer party is before both sides could get to me.
I want to recommend them to evacuate since there's a possibility they get swallowed up in my battle with the demon lord.

The party's leader is a level 53 magic warrior with [Hero's Attendant] as the title. I didn't know that there was such an old woman among Hayato's companions who are all young beauties.
Her companions are one level 36 holy knight, six heavy knights, two magicians, two priests, one scout and four baggage carriers. Leaving out the baggage carriers ,the average level is 31, quite high.

Looks like the top rankers are reasonably high leveled even though it's a labyrinth of a small kingdom.

They'd be surprised if I suddenly teleported in front of them, so I went to the room two rooms away from them.
The reason why I didn't go to the adjacent room is because the slave baggage carriers are there.

"Monster?!"
"Did it break through master's monster barrier?!"

The moment I stepped into the room where the slaves were, I got attacked with small fireballs as though I was a monster.
Looks like they have fire wands for self-defense.

I ignore the fireballs, move before the slaves with Ground Shrink, and take the dangerous toys away from them.

"Calm down. I am a human."

Hearing me, the slaves promptly jumped back and took the short spears leaning on the mountain of baggage.
Since their levels are more than 20 and they have spear and life magic skill, they're probably reasonably confident with their skills.

I can beat them up first before talking to them, but I'd feel guilty like I'm taking their spoils in the labyrinth.

"Show us your adventurer badge."
"Here."

I followed their demand and threw them the adventurer badge I just made.

"F rank adventurer?!"
"Tsk, a fake adventurer badge huh!"

Looks like they've become needlessly more wary even though I followed their demand.

--Oh?

The luminous point of a heavy knight in the next room has disappeared.
There were only one Demi Ogre Lord and two Demi Ogre Guards in the room they were in before but now 30 Demi Ogre Executioners have appeared before I knew it.

It's probably the demon lord's doing as the [Dungeon Master], but he's too eager to kill them.

"Sorry, but there's no more time to play around."

While saying that to the slaves, I neutralize them with the inter-personal suppression magic, [Sound Pressure].

I instantaneously move to the locked door that connects to the next room, and forcefully kick it.
It was a bit rough, but using unlocking magic would be too slow, so there was no helping it.


◇


"Zana, withdraw while protecting Jeff's back!"
"Understood!"
"Blum-baasan too, quick!"
"Who's a baasan!"
<TLN: Baasan means old woman.>

They're still struggling hard even while being surrounded by three-meter tall demi ogres wielding pitch black axes. Unfortunately, another one of the luminous points disappeared.

The old female magic warrior called Blum aims for the demi ogres legs' tendon to slow down their pursuit using a greatsword with blue blade.
I thought it was a holy sword for an instant, but since it's emitting red light, it's probably a kind of magic sword.

"Torin and Silje, fight with me against these axe monkeys."
"You serious."
"I got the short end of the stick."
"I'll give you one bag of gold coins for every ogre you defeated, get on to it!"

Now then, I'm sorry for them who have gotten fired up, but I'll clean this up quick.

I mark the positions of the demi ogres on the map.
Invoke intermediate earth magic [Iron Toss].
Telephone pole-sized iron cones appear from below the demi ogres, skewering them one after another.

Hoarse screams of the demi ogres are echoing in the hall, but it doesn't look like I'm getting any language skill.

"Wha, magic?!"

Looking at the screaming demi ogres that raised cloud of dust and the iron cones beyond the dust, Ms. Blum turned to look behind while voicing her surprise.
Yet none stops their feet moving toward here, probably to get themselves away from the carnage.

The screams disappear before long, I see skewered bodies behind the cloud of dust.

....Gross.
It's not a scene I really want to see, so I extend my [Magic Hand] and collect their bodies along with the iron cones into the Storage.

I left the bodies of demi ogre guards that they've defeated and demi ogre lord that should have been defeated alone.

"Did you defeat them?"
"That's right. It might have been an unnecessary meddling, but I have some business here you see."
"No, you really saved us."

Ms. Blum Julberg talks like a man, but she's quite a beauty.
She's more than 88 years old, I'd have loved to meet her 60 years ago.

According to the map info, it seems she's the mother of Zeff Julberg, the chief of Shiga Eight Swords.

"Are you the new apostle or the new hero of Saga Empire?"
"No. I have a question too, are you not the attendant of Hero Hayato?"
"Hahn? Me, that brat Hayato's attendant? What a joke."

Apparently, I've guessed wrongly.

"I'm an attendant of the previous hero."

By previous, that means the one who fought the demon lord 66 years ago.
Still being in active duty when she's nearing her 90, that's amazing.

"Hou, one of the heroes who exterminated the demon lord huh--are the others still active too?"
"No way. The only ones alive are the saintess Riri and the elf Sea. Riri has grown old that she rarely goes out of the holy sanctuary, Sea is fine but she's retired now and should be working to earn her keep. That girl never liked fighting after all."

By Sea I wonder if it's Sebelkea of the labyrinth city?
The head miko of Tenion temple said that she was an attendant of the previous hero, so the saintess Riri must be her. She probably got the name, [Yu Tenion] when she became the head miko.

When I was considering such a thing, one of her companion reservedly called her.

"Blum-baasan, Kiru and Gotz couldn't make it."
"I see.... Those two were excellent shield users."

The young male scout who checked their death companions reported with a grim face.

"There's no way we can challenge the 『Dungeon Master』 without any shield user."
"Right, even if Blum-baasan is strong--"

Two spear users made timid remarks, but I think their levels aren't enough to challenge the [Dungeon Master] even if they're at full party.

Before all that, the opponent is not a common [Dungeon Master] but a demon lord though.

"Zana, use the 『Teleport』 scroll and take everyone back."

After contemplating, Ms. Blum ordered one of the knights.
Looks like they're preparing to escape from the labyrinth.

"What's Blum-baasan going to do?"
"I'll go see the 『Dungeon Master』 with this white-haired nii-san."
"Don't be absurd, Blum-baasan. You can't win with two people no matter how powerful of a magician that person is."

Somehow they're continuing the conversation without me.

"Wait, I do not intend to take you along."
"I'm useful you know? My swordsmanship is as good as a Shiga Eight Swords, and my lightning magic won't lose to the old man Lightning from Seryuu Earldom. In addition, I can even use holy magic up to intermediate level."

Does a level 50s have that many skills?

....It might be possible with blessing orbs or gifts.

"That's amazing, but you're just a drag."
"You want to see my skill?"

She's quite quick to snap.

"Why do you want to see the 『Dungeon Master』 that much?"
"In order to ascertain whether this labyrinth's master is a demon lord or not--"
"What are you going to do once you're certain?"
"Isn't it obvious. I'll send that information to the current generation Hero."

I see, she's not someone suicidal who wants to seek her place of death by fighting the demon lord.
Looking at her level, it should be quite a close battle, but since demon lords use unreasonable cheating techniques, you can't fight them unless you have a certain leeway.
However, she did arrive here, right before the battle site after all, she has the qualification to at least see the demon lord.

"Very well. I will take only you."
"Thank you. I'm Blum Julberg. I'll thank you plenty once we get back on the ground."

Once it was settled, her companions teleported away one after another, leaving most of their baggage.
Due to the limit of the scroll, they didn't teleport to the ground, but to the safe area in floor 29.


◇


"Now then, let's--what're you doing?"
"This is a scarecrow for scouting a bit."

Blum-baasan who came back from taking some baggage outside the hall tilted her head in puzzlement looking at a full body armor in front of me.
This armor is a spare from the time when I was making bronze golems.

I use this with [Create Golem] magic to turn it into a golem.
In addition, I put a disguise mask and a casted holy sword on it, complete.

I'm thinking of teleporting this to the Dungeon Master Room where the demon lord is with the space magic [Teleport an Object] to check the demon lord's Unique Skill.
It might be too cautious against a level 50 demon lord, but his Unique Skill's name [All-or-Nothing] sounds ominous, so this is just an insurance.

"■■■■■■■　....　■■ Teleport an Object"

Once my long chanting is over, the scout golem disappared from the room.
Next, I use [Clairvoyance] and [Clairhearing] magic chantlessly to share the scout golem's sight and hearing.

There I see--.


◇


"--Uwaaaaaaaa. G-go away! You damn hero! I-I'm--ＡＡＡＡＡＡＡＡＡＨ!"

I can hear the demon lord who sounds like he's gone mad through the magic.
I saw a Japanese-style ogre (oni) with violet-colored body hair shrinking away as if he was afraid of the bronze scarecrow. The demon lord's eyes are fixated on the casted holy sword.

The demon lord's body is wrapped in violet light--.

Afterward, light covers my view through the Clairvoyance, and a bursting-like explosion can be heard through the Clairhearing.

"W-what? This sound and vibration--looks like there's really a demon lord here."

Ms. Blum shows a fearless smile and then she begins to put support magic on herself and me.

However, that was a pointless action.
I look at the sentence that appeared on my log.

>Title [Demon Lord Slayer 『Great Oni King』] Acquired.

Apparently the demon lord has blown himself.
Since I saw a violet light through Clairvoyance, I hurriedly jumped to the Dungeon Master Room with [Teleport] magic chantlessly.

『Tat' old fart dun' and blew 'imself. Ya can't win if ya ble』

I cut the [God's Fragment], who was floating away toward the roof while grumbling, with the Divine Sword.
After confirming that the violet light has been absorbed into the Divine Sword, I put the sword back to the Storage.

The mid demon that was in this room seems to have been killed in the demon lord's explosion, a broken dark red magic core is lying on the corner of the room.

Two huge spheres are lying on one part of the room.
According to AR reading, they're a [Fake Core] and a [Doom Core].
Since the Fake Core is scattering sparks like it's going to explode and the Doom Core begins to spill black mist that looks cursed, I quickly stow them away into my Storage.

If I'm not mistaken according to Arisa a [Dungeon Core] should be in the room of the [Dungeon Master], but it doesn't seem to be here.

Right when I put the [Doom Core] into the storage, red luminous points lit up in the next room.
According to the map, they're a [King Mummy] and several [Mummies].
Even though it's a King Mummy, it doesn't seem to be related with Corpse who's living in Selbira labyrinth's lower layer.

....Arisa's family huh.

I set foot into the next room.

ＵＯＷＯＯＯＮＵＷＯＯＯＯＲＷＥＹＥＥＥＥＥ！
<TLN: Written in latin on the raw, it sounds like "damn you" in Japanese.>

The mummies are approaching me while letting out voices of resentment.

Unfortunately, conversation doesn't seem to be possible even though he's a King Mummy like Corpse is.
I thought of cremating them with fire magic [Fire Storm], but I should ask Sera to purify them with advanced magic.

After reporting to Ms. Blum and taking her to the Dungeon Master Room through the normal route, she believed me just like that.
She was surprised to see me using magic chantlessly, but she was convinced that I'm a reincarnated person by her own volition.

I sent her back to her companions now that she had completed her objective, and then I went away to handle the remaining business.

Now that I've defeated the demon lord who was the [Dungeon Master], it seems I've become the ruler of this labyrinth, and I can move here with Unit Arrangement.
Taking advantage of this, I eliminated the remaining lesser demons and collected the documents written in [Devil Language] that were in their rooms.

Using Unit Arrangement, I move to Selbira's labyrinth where Sera and the others are.



"Satou-san!"

Sera who's noticed me gracefully steps toward me.
The princess and Lady Karina are sitting on simple chairs being exhausted from level up intoxication, while Zena-san is looking after them.

"Master, we have completed the quota of this room."
"Master, hoping for supply through magic power circulation."

Liza who burned the hiding cockroaches with magic edge cannon and Nana who smashed them with shotgun-type acceleration gun reported back.

"Thank you for your work. Let's have a lunch."

After telling that, I take everyone back to the solitary island palace.
I canceled the permanent teleport gate.

Without telling what happened in the morning, we all enjoyed a delightful lunch.

"Arisa, Lulu, and also Sera-san, can I have your time for a bit."
"This is quite rare of Master."

I show the adventurer badge to Arisa who looks curious.

"T-this is an adventurer badge! I want one too! Hey hey, where--"

Her expression froze when she saw the branded mark [Yowok Kingdom Labyrinth Bureau Adventurer Guild] behind the badge.

"So you went there. To that labyrinth..."
"Yeah, and I have something to talk about that--"

I tell her about the mummies.

"So I'd like to ask Sera-san to purify them."
"Yes, please leave it to me."

Sera who guessed the mood purposefully said it in a bright tone.

"Arisa and Lulu, what do you want to do? I'll take you along if you want to see them, but if it's hard for you, you can just visit the graves once it's all over."
"Un, I'm going. It's the duty of the living to mourn the dead."
"I'm going too. I had only ever talked with the king a few times, but he's still Arisa's and my father."

Arisa clearly asserted her wish to go with us after wiping her tears with her arm.
Lulu who comforted Arisa nodded while supporting her.

"Then, let's go."

I take the three to the labyrinth's underground with Unit Arrangement.

"Hey, Sera-sama. Could you please recite the 『Requiem』 spell once?"
"Why? I have to use a lot of magic power for　『Requiem』, so I won't be able to use it until tomorrow if I use it even once you know?"

Sera frowned to Arisa's sudden question.

"I'm asking you too."
"I cannot refuse if it's Satou-san's request."

I somehow understood what Arisa wanted to do, so I asked for her too.
Even if it doesn't turn out as Arisa wishes, I can just supply magic power and ask Sera once again.

Sera ends her requiem-like long spell.

"--Un, I've memorized it."

Arisa sheepishly muttered.

"Then, let's go."

I hold Arisa's shoulders and go to the room where the mummies are waiting.

"It's been a while Father. --Not like I've ever called you that. However, I want to call you 'father', not 'your majesty', in the end. Onii-chans too, forgive me for being late."

I hold back the mummies with the advanced force magic [Magic Arm].
I drain magic power of the mummies who are going to use magic sometimes, and destroy the attack magic that have been successfully invoked with Break Magic.

"It's fine today right?"
"Yeah."

After finishing her farewell, Arisa looked up at me to check.
When I consented, Arisa muttered "Thank you".

Two violet light ripples ran on Arisa's body.

It's probably the Unique Skills [Never Give Up] and [Over Boost].

I also choose some support magic like [Magic Boost] and [Magic Quality Up] from my Magic Column, and use them on Arisa.

"....■■ Requiem"

The room is basked in blue light once Arisa finishes the long spell.
The mummies stop moving and begin to fall apart, turning into golden sands.

I somehow see smiles on the mummy faces.

"--Arisa"
"Ah, father, mother.... Onii-chans too..."

Figures of the king, the queen and the princes that resemble Arisa can be seen overlapping the crumbling golden sands.
A kind-looking and a cheeky-looking princes wave their hands toward Arisa and then disappear.

I couldn't hear them, but I understand that they were saying that they love Arisa.
Thet king patted Arisa's head with his transparent hand, and then extended that hand toward Lulu.

"--Your Majesty?"

The king's soul showed a slightly lonely expression hearing Lulu, but he gently patted Lulu's head.

"Lulu, say Father."
"Y-yes. Father.... It feels strange somehow. Father, I and Arisa are living happily, so--"
"That's right! We're lovey-dovey with our beloved person everyday, so wait in heaven in peace!"

Joining Lulu, Arisa put up a bravado without even wiping her flooding tears.
The bodies of the two people are becoming more transparent while looking relieved.
Before they disappear, the king made a tapping gesture on my shoulder.

As their current guardian, I nodded to the king, and then the king and the queen disappeared while looking content.

"I wonder if they get to rest in peace?"
"Un, I'm sure that they're in peace. Mother is also waiting over there, so they must be alright."

Lulu nodded to Arisa's words.
Come to think of it, they told me that Lulu's mother, Lili died protecting them when the castle was attacked.


◇


Arisa wanted to stop by, so we teleported to the public cemetery where Lulu's mother is resting with [Unit Arrangement] by seeing it through the retreat.
After praying and offering a bundle of flowers on the public cemetery where Lulu's mother is resting, we moved to one of the ruined windowed tower of Kubooku castle.
Apparently, Arisa was living in that tower during her imprisonment.

"Then I'll go to the tower, you can stroll the town. I'll contact you with 『Telephone』 magic once I'm done."
"Should I help you carry them?"
"You can't. The tower is full of a maiden's secret."

Arisa disappeared into the tower with a bravado smile.
Her teleport destination is probably the tower's window.

I'm interested in what is left in the tower when she's down like that, but since she doesn't want to show me, I'll let her do what she wants.

"Now then, why don't we take a stroll in the town around the castle while waiting for Arisa?"
"Yes, allow me to guide."

Lulu begins to walk while leading my hand.
Sera who's grasping my other hand asks me with a low voice.

"Satou-san, is it alright for us who should be moving in the airship to show ourselves in front of people?"
"Don't worry about it."

I casually reply and pass recognition inhibition veils to Sera and Lulu.
I'm wearing a recognition inhibition bandana as Satou myself. Sera doesn't like to go with me when I'm Kuro.

"Master, this is baked soba."
"It looks like galette doesn't it."

It's a dish where soba flour is baked and then added with finely chopped pickles.
I don't think it's that tasty, but since Lulu is eating it while looking nostalgic, let's not fuss over minor details.

It doesn't seem to suit Sera's palate, her face looks complicated, so I give her leftover to a little girl who's looking at it enviously.

When I look closer, there's a lot of dirty children here.
Come to think of it, this is the capital of a defeated country huh.

I ask Lulu to guide us to the nearby temple.

"Like I said! We'll donate the pay later!"
"You can't. All adventurers are people who shirk payment, so we won't heal without an advance payment."

The badger game girl who chased me to the labyrinth is disputing with a priestess in front of the temple.
The bleeding boys who are with her looks like they don't have the willpower to participate in the dispute, they're just limping on the ground.

Looking at the AR reading, their life doesn't seem to be in danger.

"....Kuku, Jido, Bado."

Lulu muttered beside me.
I thought she knows them and was surprised when I saw the girl's detailed information. Looks like she's the little sister of Lulu's male cousins.

Since Lulu's face looks pale behind the veil, I judge that they don't have a good relationship, so I pass through them and go to the receptionist for donation.

"Oh my, to give this much donation!"

The priestess whose cheeks are loosened grips my hands and cries tears of joy.
I feel ashamed seeing her to be that happy receiving several gold coins. I'm planning to donate to other temples and orphanages, so I only give a few in each places.

"O pious people, may the god bless you!　■■■ Bless"

The priestess gave blessing to me and Lulu while shedding tears.
Sera didn't come with us due to religious reason.

>[Holy Magic: Garleon Belief] Skill Acquired.

I got a new skill thanks to the priestess's bless.
I have no plan to use it, so the point assignment is for later.

"Wait! The rich guy over there! Give some to us too!"

When we went out of the temple, the girl called Kuku who was disputing with the priestess in the entrance grasped Lulu's shoulder. Her finger caught Lulu's veil, removing it.

"--Ah"
"Eh? Lulu?"

The two look at each other.
However, that didn't lead to a conversation.

Boom, Kuku was thrown to the ground.
Lulu whose shoulder was caught threw Kuku away with the support from her [Self-Defense] skill.

I retrieve Lulu's veil from the fainted girl and put it on Lulu.

"U-um! Any injury? Are you injured anywhere?"
"No, this girl excels in martial art you see."

The priestess from the donation desk rushed out and asked if we are injured.
She did not take any notice to the fainted Kuku and the fallen boys below.

I bid farewell with a smile and toured the town while donating.
Along the way, we heard a thunderous roar from the direction of the castle, but I could somehow guess the reason, so we continued without minding it.

『Thank you for waiting~ I've done the clean-up.』
"The roaring sound earlier was really Arisa huh?"
『Ehehe~ Cleaning up my black history was too much work, so I erased them all together with the tower with [Disintegrate]』
"No one got injured right?"
『But of course. Arisa-chan never make a blunder.』

After receiving Arisa's report, we continued the tour with four people and then we went back to the solitary island.

"It's home sweet home."
"Oh Arisa. We've only stayed here once."

Lulu retorted to Arisa's cliched words.
They looked like their usual selves, but they somehow seemed like they were forcing themselves, so I lent my chest for the two to sleep on today.

"Arisa--"
"Zzz zzz"

I catch the head of Arisa who's trying to slip into my shirt.

"--I won't sleep with you if you're going to sexually harass me."
"Non nein."

Apparently, Arisa is tougher than I thought.
After lightly whacking Arisa's head, I strongly hug her to sleep so that she won't harass me.

During midnight, Arisa and Lulu sleep talked while shedding tears.
I use mind magic's [Good Night] on them and then wipe their tears with my finger.

I send [Don't worry] hand signal to Tama and Pochi who looked really worried.
The two nodded and then sent [Understood] signal.

Judging from the futon movement, the other girls seem to be worried too.
I'll be investigating the demon lord in the Holy Kingdom Parion tomorrow, I should get some sleep soon.

I'd like to go to Holy Kingdom Parion without any trouble.









Previous Chapter

14-4. Yowok Kingdom

 

Satou's here. Exterminating pest in my grandfather's countryside was already hard enough, but in another world the pest can even rout an army, so normal people can't do anything about them. It's like challenging bears or dinosaurs with farming tools after all.


◇


At first I was hesitating to choose which of the suspicions I would go first, but after contemplating the ease of movement, I decided on it.

In Kuro figure, I went to a branch office of Echigoya Firm at the handy relay point in Kuhanou Earldom.
This place is a temporary building and no one from the executives is here.

"Uwah.... Wait, that white hair, are you Kuro-sama?! Oh please don't surprise me like that."
"Don't mind it."

The branch manager girl who just came into the room where I moved into with Unit Arrangement got surprised.
She's a slave that the Manager bought, but the Manager highly valued her business and negotiation talent and entrusted her to be the branch manager.
It seems she's been promised to be freed of her slave status if she can make this branch office prosper.

There are some people who don't want to be freed like Tifaliza, but most of them want to be released by working, there's some wide difference in their desire.

"What business do you have today? Or maybe, have the report that I sent yesterday arrived already?"

--Report?

"No, I haven't seen it, is it important?"
"No no, it's just that one of the liquor brewing winery is on the verge of collapse."

What, that kind of thing huh.... No, wait.

"Is that the content of the report?"
"Yes, it's of the liquor brand that the Manager regularly stocks, so I'd like to ask whether we should intervene or not."
"Is it the 『Blood of Lesseu』?"
"So Kuro-sama is aware of it.... What kind of secret that cheap wine--"

I lightly threatened the probing branch manager girl, "Curiosity killed the cat."
This [Blood of Lesseu] is a wine that the True Ancestor vampire Ban who lives in the lower layer of the labyrinth likes.

Investigating the demon lord is important, but I shouldn't neglect this either.
He's a friend after all, and I'm indebted to him for many things.

"So, is it collapsing because of financial reason?"

If that's the case then Echigoya Firm can just buy them.

"No, the villages where the wine is brewed seem to be in danger of annihilation because of monster outbreak. The territorial army of Earl Lesseu only exterminate monsters in the highways and the mines, so most rural areas far from the cities are doing terrible."

I checked the map while listening to the branch manager girl.
There's a few monsters along the roads and around the cities where the kingdom army was said to be sweeping, but the rural areas where monsters are wandering about have become danger zones.
The monsters are all level 20 small fries, but expecting the villagers to exterminate them is impossible.

"The village's name?"
"They're Hosbed village and Suibod village."

Checking on the map, ant-type monsters have made a nest on the mountain near Hosbed village, while caterpillar-type monsters seem to have spread around the vicinity of Suibod village.

"Then I'll go exterminate them."
"Eh? Kuro-sama--"

After telling the branch manager girl, I moved to the mountain near Hosbed village with [Teleport] magic.
With this [Teleport] magic I can teleport to anywhere on the map that has been explored, it's extremely handy.
Of course, [Teleport Gate] is the same too, but that one uses too much magic power.

I think [Unit Arrangement] that can only be used in an area that I rule and places that I can see has its use case.


◇


"Damn you ant bastards! Our vineyard that we've put so much!"
"Tagwosa! Stop! You'll only die in vain fighting them with a hoe!"

I could hear such conversations from the wind blowing from the village.
According to the radar, it seems that the vineyard located on the mountain foot is being attacked by ant monsters.

I take out level 30-class magic orbs from Storage and throw them on the ground.

--[Create Stone Wolf].

10 bear sized wolf stone statues are created from the center of the magic cores on the ground.
These stone wolves are a type of golem.

"Eliminate the monsters attacking the village."

After I gave them an order, the stone wolves ran at full speed toward the vineyard.
Eliminating the monsters with Remote Arrows would have better cost/performance ratio, but thinking about the future, I decided to use the stone wolves.

The battle had already ended when I arrived at mountain foot by walking leisurely.
The ant monsters were only around level 10, they were no match against the stone wolves.

The stone wolves, that have assembled silently, put the magic cores they've collected from the ants near my feet.

There are 30 of them in total.
Even though they were small fries, this is too many near a human habitat.

Wouldn't the village get destroyed if I wasn't here?

"A-are you the master of those stone wolves?"
"That's right. The name's Kuro."

I gave the stone wolves the order to raid the ant nest while replying the villagers.
I do it just by designating the place on the map, it's truly easy.

"Magician-sama, where have those stone wolves gone to?"

The village mayor who has good attires that appeared from behind the men asked me politely.

"I let the stone wolves to go destroy the ant nest. I can't hand over these magic cores, but I won't take the materials from those monster bodies, distribute them to the villagers to use."

I point at the ant bodies that the stone wolves have destroyed and leave them to the villagers.
Protective gears made from ant shells have good defense despite being as light as leather armor, so they should be able to sell it at a good price to the arm dealers since the neighboring territory is having a civil war.

I use the magic cores that I've just got for the [Create Stone Wolf] like earlier, creating 30 medium dog-sized stone wolves.
They're inferior compared to the stone wolves from earlier, but they should be stronger than your average soldiers.
It should be enough for the village defense.

I order the stone wolves to protect the vineyard, and to patrol the vicinity and destroy any monster.
Just in case, I grant the village mayor a restricted right to command them.

"I'm giving you these stone wolves to protect the vineyard. Make use of them to exterminate monsters."
"S-such expensive magic servants, is it?"

--Expensive? Considering the magic core price, all of them aren't even one gold coin worth you know?

"Don't mind it. My acquaintance habitually drinks the liquor made from this village's grapes. I did this for that person."
"I-it wasn't an order from Earl Lesseu?"
"I have nothing to do with Earl Lesseu, but he's not small-minded enough to complain about a village being saved from a threat."

No, that restless youngster might loath it if the populace show gratitude to someone besides him.

"However, if Earl Lesseu complains, tell him to direct that to the house of Duke Mitsukuni."
"D-duke house?! I-if I'm not mistaken, it's greater than Earl-sama?"

Ignoring the surprised village mayor, I carve the stone wolves with the crest of Duke Mitsukuni house using magic.

The crest of Duke Mitsukuni house is two intersecting tennis racket. Mito probably picked rackets from the [Teni x Hero] manga from where the name [Yamato] came from.

>Stone Wolf Leaders have accomplished the order. Shifting to stand-by mode.

Log listed that the stone wolves have completed their mission.
This is quite convenient.

"Well then, good bye."

I expressly used [Fly] magic by chanting, went to the ant nest through the sky where the stone wolves were waiting, and collected the bodies and the magic cores.

When I was entering the cave, I invoked [Astro Suit] magic that I once used in the void sky, avoiding the stench. <TLN: TL mistake on Ch. 13 Intermission 1, should've been "Astro Suit" there.>
This magic has very good usability.

Using the magic cores I got here, I saved the second village and got a lot more magic cores.
Of course I also left the deployed stone wolves to protect the second village like the first, so the vineyards should be peaceful from now on.


◇


I slightly digressed, but since there's still some time before noon, I head toward Yowok Kingdom through the air lane.

I inadvertently got near the battlefield when I was passing through Bisthal Dukedom along the way and got chased by the Wyvern Riders.
I immediately lost them once I changed from [Fly] to Flash Drive, but I'll have to be careful in choosing my flight course next time.

Just in case, I searched Bisthal Dukedom, but there wasn't any demon nor Unique Skill user there.
There were unusually many Tamers and Beast Riders but, I couldn't find a particularly suspicious point, so it's probably a territory that offer those kinds of jobs.

There was a huge lake, five times the size of Lake Biwa near the duchy capital, I'd like to go visit there with everyone once the war is over.

And then, I finally arrived at the group of small kingdoms after crossing the border mountain range.

I made a slight error, as I didn't arrive at Yowok Kingdom but at a town of a mountain kingdom called Zareok Kingdom.
According to the Tourism Ministry's document, it seems to be an idyllic kingdom that specializes in wool products.

"Fumu, the specialty products here are the lamb steak and the sheep milk liquor huh...."

According to the prime minister's gourmet guidance, the lamb steak is superb, and once you get used to the quirky sheep milk liquor, you just can't stop.
I was slightly tempted to pick them up, but let's enjoy that for later.

For the re-visit purpose, I built a house in a desolate place deep in the mountain using [Create Safe House] magic.
It's an original magic created by remodeling the [Create House] magic from before.

The inside is a normal house, but it looks like a dilapidated house covered in ivy on the outside.
Moreover, it's hidden into the surrounding once you get slightly away from it, so unless you have something like my map, or are very lucky, finding this [Retreat] should be difficult.

Leaving behind the tempting memories of Zareok kingdom, I head toward the neighboring kingdom.

For some reason, there are areas that are ruled by monsters in the border or rather the gap between kingdoms.
Apparently, when a strong monster above certain level continues to rule the Source, the area becomes its dominion.
It's like a grand-strategy simulation game.

Passing through such monster domains, I enter the next kingdom.

According to the Tourism Ministry map, this is the Garuok Kingdom where a lot of woodworks and coals exist.
It seems that the furnitures made by master craftsmen of this kingdom are famous even in Shiga Kingdom and Saga Empire.

"Furnitures huh--Touring the workshops of European-style antique furnitures sounds fun."

According to the document, this Garuok Kingdom has symbiotic relationship with the neighboring Deerfolk kin and Squirrelfolk kin.
Deerfolk kin offer military force to Garuok Kingdom, and get food supply as the compensation.
Looking at the map, it seems there's a lot of Squirrelfolk kin working away from home as furniture craftsmen.

There are monster-ruled domains between Garuok Kingdom and my destination Yowok Kingdom too.
This one seems to be a wyvern domain.

The wyverns that circle the sky near the mountaintop found me and raised vigilant cries.

A wyvern as big as a lesser dragon takes along several wyverns with it to ride the updraft air current heading toward me.
Its full of impact looks like one scene in a movie.

"Wyverns are bad news aren't they..."

I quickly exterminate them with [Laser] magic while leaving only a pair of young wyverns.
The reason why I didn't eliminate them all is because the monster domains might be helping in restraining war.

I was interested with the white peak near the wyvern nest, so I went to see it while also collecting the bodies in the air.

"--All of these white things are dragon white stone huh."

Apparently, dragon white stones are something created from wyvern's dungs that have undergone change.
It's interesting that the material that comes from wyverns that carry deadly poison is also an ingredient of the all-purpose antidote.

I use earth magic to roughly cut the dragon white stone and collect them into Storage.
With this many, it could last 1000 years for the labyrinth city use.


◇


After finally arriving at Yowok Kingdom, I use [All Map Exploration].
Since this Yowok Kingdom has absorbed Arisa's homeland, it's larger than small kingdoms I've been to so far, there are two cities and seven towns.
There's hardly any demi-human even as slaves, it seems to be a kingdom that's mainly of humans.

Just like the maps I've been through so far, let alone demon lord, there's not even any demon nor anyone with Unique Skill.
Of course, there's no one with possessed condition nor demon lord sympathizer either.

The eyewitness said that he saw the demon in the labyrinth after all, judging it as a false report is too early.

I built a [Retreat] in a mountain for emergency use.
I've already built some in the neighboring kingdoms and the wyvern domain, but just in case.

While under [Optical Camouflage] skill, I head toward the ruin of Kubooku Kingdom's royal castle where the Yowok Kingdom's labyrinth is.

"This is terrible...."

The main part of the royal castle has disappeared, and three towers next to the castle wall have collapsed.
The only tower remaining is destroyed on its base too and there's no one inside.

According to Arisa, it was a greater demon's attack, so the damage might be little considering.
Lesseu City was virtually destroyed by a mid demon after all.

Now then, there are a few presences of human in this ruined castle site.

According to the map info, those people have [Adventurer] occupation.
To be exact, they seem to be [Adventurers] that belong to [Yowok Kingdom Labyrinth Bureau Adventurer Guild].

It seems they're managing people who go in and out of the royal castle, or rather the labyrinth through the [Adventurer Guild] building located in one section of the castle site.
Observing them, I see that the staff members are checking the adventurer's badge in the labyrinth entrance.

I can enter the labyrinth if I just use [Optical Camouflage] and [Magic Essence Camouflage], but since it seems that the adventurer's badge is issued on the same day just like at the labyrinth city Selbira, I decide to go through the normal route.
I land in a shade near the ruined castle and release [Optical Camouflage] skill.

"Hey hey, onii-san over there, won't you play with Kuku?"

A little girl of middle school age tried to pick me up when I went out of the shade.
The power of foreigner celebrity's face is amazing. Handsome men go explode--it's at the level where you want to say that.

Just like what Arisa has said, the language of this kingdom feels like Shiga Kingdom's dialect.

"How about it? Just one small silver coin you see?"

Apparently, she's not picking me up, but selling herself.

I don't have this kingdom's currency, but Saga Empire's and Shiga Kingdom's one should be usable.
It's not like I can't pay, but the girl is a bit too young to sell herself.

"Sorry, but I have no interest in little girl."

When I was about to leave after telling her so, two bad-looking boys appeared from the opposite street.

"Ooh! Ya want to go for free after putting yer hands on our Kuku?"
"Hehhee, I'll let ya off with yer life if ya leave all yer money alright?"

They came out a bit too fast, but it seems these guys are playing the badger game.

"In other words, I can go if I beat you guys up?"
"Hmph! Ya think ya can win against this Jido Bado brothers--"

Since the two boys affirmed my question, I lightly kick them away.
They sunk into a deserted house's wall, but since the little girl called Kuku went to them, leaving them should be fine.


◇


"Registration is it? Then please put your hand on this judgment board and say your name."

When I asked the beautiful Adventurer Guild receptionist, I was made to touch a Yamato Stone they call judgment board.
I thought of using Kuro's level, but it seemed like level 50 would make them be on guard, so I lowered the level to 20 before touching the Yamato Stone.
I'd look unnatural if I was empty handed like usual, so I'm currently equipped with an iron short sword on my waist.

"Is this alright?"
"My! Level 20, you're amazing! Moreover, not only you have one-hand sword skill, you also have also magic skill!"

The receptionist said that in a loud voice at the same time my levels and skills appeared on the Yamato Stone.

--What about your duty of confidentiality.

"Oy."
"Aah, I'm sorry! Oh me."

Judging from the receptionist who doesn't look like she's sorry, rather than being careless, it seems that she did it deliberately to inform the spies of Yowok Kingdom in this place.
Even after taking the adventurer badge and leaving the guild, those spies didn't make any movement, so it seems that I'm off the hook from their vigilance.

I show the adventurer badge written with F at the labyrinth's entrance.

It seems that the adventurer's badge uses A-F alphabet due to the influence of the first generation Saga Empire's hero.
Apparently it's the tradition to use the "Alphabet" rank that he used in the first Adventurer Guild of Saga Empire he built.

"Hmph, F rank huh. Stop at the goblin in the first floor. Goblin mages and goblin riders appear from the fifth floor. Don't approach them ever, you'll die y'know?"
"Thank you for the advice."

The gatekeeper with arrogant tone offered a kind advice.
After thanking the gatekeeper, I set foot into the labyrinth.

Dark. It seems that the floor isn't emitting dim light here unlike the labyrinths in Selbira and Seryuu cities.
It feels like the ruined labyrinth in the Duchy Capital instead.

The labyrinth's name is [Goblin Labyrinth: Ruin] after all.
According to Arisa, it seems to be a labyrinth that once lost its Dungeon Core and got revived, there are probably many functions that haven't been restored yet.

After walking for a bit, I obtained the labyrinth's information with [All Map Exploration].
It seems there are around 51 floors. Each floor is about three times as big as the narrow Seryuu City's [Demon Labyrinth]'s.

--Found it.

There's a demon lord in the lowest floor as the [Dungeon Master].

Now then, let's get it done quick!
The lunch that Lulu especially made would get cold if I don't clean this up quick after all.










Previous Chapter

14-3. At the Labyrinth City (2)

 

Satou's here. "Incidents and plots are interlinked", so said the protagonist with unparalleled intelligence from a story. Just reading it is good and all, but when I'm actually getting rolled up in one, I'll go and strike the chain's chock.


◇


--A new demon lord huh.

I write the information I heard earlier, "The pope of Holy Kingdom Parion, Zazaris, is a demon lord", into the memo pad.

"Viscount-sama, may I continue the talk?"

The female informant timidly interrupted when I was thinking while staring at the memo.
It's quite rare for this my-pace person to confirm me first.

"--continue?"
"Yes, the matter on the western part of the continent has ended with the talk earlier, but I have two more information."

Huh? Wasn't this person only in charge with the information from the western part of the continent?

Thinking so, I urge her to continue.

"First, there's an eyewitness who saw demon in the labyrinth of a small kingdom located in the buffer zone of the Saga Empire, Yowok Kingdom. The explorer guild of that kingdom seems to have squashed the spread of the information, so the story hasn't reached the king and its neighboring countries."

--Oy.

Why do you know information that the king of this kingdom doesn't know.

It seems she has guessed my thought, the female informant grins and laughs, then she continues the talk.

"That is because Retel-sama is good at using money."

I see, someone that Marchioness Retel Ashinen has sent or bought on the site probably saw the demon in person.

"As Viscount-sama might have known, there's a high chance that a demon lord is the floormaster in a labyrinth where demons are infesting. I earnestly implore Viscount-sama not to approach Yowok Kingdom."

I feel that there was some subtle accent on her words.
It seems like she's somehow guessed that Nanashi and me are related.

"Yes, of course."
"Viscount-sama really doesn't show it on his face~"

It's all thanks to Poker Face-sensei.


◇


"And, the other one. This time it's a rumor from the buffer zone between the Weaselkin Empire on the eastern part of the continent and Shiga Kingdom."

Fumu, this time it's the eastern part huh.
The Marchioness's eyes and ears are too wide.
Her lineage nobility isn't just for show.

"Have the weasels started doing something again?"
"No, they haven't done anything on the scale like when they started using mount-type golems to go to war 10 years ago."

An unexpected information came out.

I wonder if it's like golem tanks or golem horses?
Don't tell me it's a manned mecha robot?

I must go see it at least once.
I write the plan with red text on the sightseeing tour plan.

"Do you know that the Weaselkin Empire destroyed the kingdom of the tigerkin and lizardkin, and enlarged their territory?"
"Yes, I know."
"The survivors of those ruined kingdoms have not only settled in the small kingdoms at the buffer zone, but they've also started to occupy the kingdoms' towns and cities."

Did they take over the buildings lent to them or did they invade them, I wonder which one is it?
I was going to go there first as the sightseeing destination after I've stopped by at the Duchy Capital, but I'll think it over if going there means seeing heaps of bodies.

"So far this isn't something unusual even excepting the 『Demon Lord Season』, but invaders in one of those towns massacred the priests who refused to heal them."

To massacre priests in a world where gods exist, reckless people do exist.

"This also happen often in an occupied territory, but the next day, the great majority of those invaders were turned into salt pillars."

Salt pillars huh.... That's a divine punishment that appeared in the scriptures in my former world.

"A handsome man in white clothing appeared before the townspeople who were fearfully looking at those salt pillars and said,  『This is a divine punishment.』 The townspeople asked who that man was, and--"

The female informant pauses there and sees my reaction.
When I sent her a glance to urge her to continue, the female informant shrugged her shoulders uninterestingly and continued the story.

"--He introduced himself as an apostle of God Zaikuon."

God's apostle huh....
I've heard the name so many times before but the real [God's Apostle] or perhaps an impostor of the [God's Apostle] has finally appeared.

"But well, in all likelihood, he's probably an impostor though."

The female informant let out a sigh and shook her head.

"Do you have any basis for that?"
"Yes, it'd be a different story if it was of the other gods, but someone who calls themselves as the apostle of the God Zaikuon is definitely an impostor."

The female informant stopped talking as if that was already adequate as an explanation.

"I'm sorry, but I'm not too informed in religious talk. Would you tell me the reason?"
"It's not about religion, but the situation of the gods. 30 years ago, God Zaikuon made the Dragon God angry and was killed. In fact, the priests of Zaikuon temple can't use holy magic, so God Zaikuon shouldn't be revived yet."

I see, so the source of holy magic is the god themselves huh.
By the way they knew about [Made the Dragon God angry] part by asking the oracle miko from other temples to ask the gods about it.

It seems the gods' here can easily revive themselves if they die.

I finally understand how Aze-san could easily say, "There is no problem if you just kill the Dragon God", when I confessed about it to her.
Taking her longevity into consideration, it's probably like, "The god is sleeping after catching a bit of cold."

"If that guy is an impostor, how did he turn the invaders into salt pillars?"

There's no such spell in my repertoire at least.

"There might be a forbidden spell for it, but as long as he's the same level as Shiga 33 Wands, there are many other ways to easily make it happen."

I urge the female informant who declared so to continue.

"It's possible to make salt pillars that look exactly like real people with earth magic to control salt. Then they just need to bury the invaders deep underground and the divine punishment is complete."

Her reasoning is slightly forced, but it's certainly possible.

I'm slightly bothered with the man that call himself [God's Apostle], but he's only avenging the killed priests anyway, so leaving him alone should pose no problem.

I don't know whether the female informant's guess is correct or not, but even if he's the real thing, as long as he doesn't try to hinder my sightseeing tour or do the [Civilization Suppression], I don't intend to have anything to do with him.
If he get rid of demons and demon lords on his own, then that just means the decrease of the world's damage and my work.


◇


Leaving aside the fake apostle, I probably should investigate the demon in the Yowok Kingdom's Labyrinth and the suspicion of the pope being a demon lord.
Once my businesses at the labyrinth city is over, I should go check them out while also making moving points.

Once the Marchioness's banquet is over, I stealthily visit the house of an older acquaintance of mine whom I've made an appointment with.

"Now then, what kind of business for you to visit so late in the night? You had asked for the presence of my wife beforehand so I could roughly guess it, but I'd like to clearly hear it from your mouth."

Irritated with my late night visitation, Baronet Dyukeli said so.
His wife being beside him is as I've requested, but I don't know why Ms. Merian who's in dress is sitting between the couple.

Well, it's a family problem anyway, there's no need to send her away.

"Then, I'll get to the point."

When I said so, Merian gulped.
It's slightly immodest, but it's not an etiquette breach enough for me to point it out.

I take out a wood box from the magic bag beside me and present it to the Baronet Dyukeli.

"Please accept this. Don't forget to appraise it before using it."
"This is? Is this an engagement gift?"

--Ha?

Baronet Dyukeli asked while opening the wooden box.

Strange... I should have written them a letter about the panacea beforehand... Perhaps the loli maid whom I asked to deliver the letter had failed?

No, doubting people is not a good thing to do.

"Dear! Th-this is!"

The baronet's wife point her finger at the panacea bottle inside the wooden box with a feeble voice.
To be exact, she's pointing at the bottle's label written in Shiga language as [Panacea].

It's the medicine to recover the baronet's eldest son's Goblin Sickness.

"Panacea?! How did you get such a valuable thing?"
"I got it from a regular merchant."

Actually I made it myself. I asked the well-informed first-generation Yuika to teach me the recipe, but it was a simple recipe where you just need to dilute elixir with low grade magic potion for a hundredfold.
Normally it's impossible to get your hand on the Elixir, so it only appears as a rare drop in labyrinths.

"Sir Pendragon! W-would you be willing to give up this panacea?"

As expected, It'd be too brutal of me if I'm here only to show it off.

"Yes, of course. Please use it to treat your son."
"Thank you Sir Pendragon. I will compensate this even if it takes me dozens of years."

Baronet Dyukeli hugs me over the desk with his bony arms.

I'm glad that they're pleased.
However, dozens of years is too much.

Leaving that aside, I don't intend to ask for money for an item I've prepared on my own accord.

"No, you don't need to pay for it."
"Then, it really is an engagement gift! Then, my daughter--"
"--No, my fiancee is enough with just her highness princess."

It was a bit rude but I quickly interrupted Baronet Dyukeli.

Using the princess as an excuse is too almighty.
Using it too much would really force me to marry her though, so I have to be prudent with it.

"Is that so--. Sir Pendragon has been intimate with my daughter, so I misunderstood."

The mood feels like a funeral a bit.
Does he really want her daughter to marry a viscount that much?

It looks like Merian wants to be an explorer, so I think he shouldn't carelessly offer her for a marriage, but she looks dejected like her parent.
Perhaps her maiden pride was hurt because of the rejection.

As an apology, I'll give her the leather armor mark 1 which is of the same type as Zena-san's.
That armor is fashionable, and an equipment specialized in defense despite looking like a normal leather armor, so she shouldn't worry about getting injury that would prevent her getting married.

In addition, Baronet Dyukeli insisted to compensate the panacea no matter what, so I decided to borrow his personal connection for a bit.

It's about the connection with the labyrinth city's merchants not the nobles.
Among them, I'd ask him to introduce me to the retired old merchants who like children, I'm thinking of regularly holding an event for them to play and teach the children the way to make building blocks and knitting baskets or the likes in the food distribution square.

Once the children become a bit skillful, they probably won't have to wait for the food distribution with hungry stomaches anymore, and they get the alternative of going into dangerous labyrinth.


The next morning, an invitation for celebrating Baronet Dyukeli's son recovery came.

Unfortunately, it'll be in five days, I won't be present in the Labyrinth City so I won't be able to participate.
Leaving that aside, it seems there are a lot of nobles' children who are suffering from the goblin sickness, I'll have Echigoya Firm to sell the medicine for a large sum of money.
There's no need to hesitate with people who aren't acquaintances and have a lot of money.


◇


After writing a celebratory letter to Baronet Dyukeli, I went to greet the promised partners yesterday while bringing along Seryuu Earldom's civil official and military personnels.
I had made the necessary arrangement beforehand, so the contract was completed without problem.

I gave equipment that are of the same class as Merian's to the three people of Zena Squad.
Zena-san should now rest easy with this.

When I got back to the mansion, several maids and orphanage children were looking up at the airship without getting tired.

"Do you want to get in it?"
"Viscount-sama!"
"I want to!"
"Get in!"

I'm going to depart this afternoon, so people rushed to that suggestion.

"It's a ship."
"Will it fall?"
"It's okay."

"Line up~"
"Line up properly nodesu."
"Young organisms, follow after me so I command."

Tama and Pochi made the children to line up, and then Nana led them to the airship.
The airship has [Force Web] to prevent people from falling, so there is no problem even if the children hang out on the top deck.

There were a lot of them, so once the airship went around the labyrinth city once in a sightseeing flight, I instructed Nana to change them with the next children, and then I went back to the mansion.

"Master, the children on the list have gathered in the living room."
"Ah, thanks. Have you explained it to them?"
"But of course!"

Bringing along Arisa who replied reliably, I walked toward the living room.
The children inside the living room are wrapped in tensions not unlike job-hunting students.

"You may relax. I think you've heard from Arisa already, I'm thinking of having you study in the childhood school of the royal academy if you wish to. Of course, Pendragon House will provide the tuition and living expenses during your stay. After completing the childhood school, I'm going to ask the ones who continue to the upper school and have good result to assist and become the model for the future children."

In this place, there are three children who have succeeded to learn magic under Arisa and Mia's guidance, and nine children who have learned to read and do basic arithmetic from among the orphanage children and the maids.

As a reward for accomplishing that much in just several months, I suggested them to go study in the Royal Capital.

"Viscount-sama! I want to be a magician like Arisa and Mia-sama! Which is the shortcut, going to the Royal Capital's school or working hard in the labryinth with Pendora brothers?"

The boy who used magic to turn up skirts asked without being affected by the tension in the place.

"If you want to polish your skill in magic in a short amount of time, the shortcut is by going into the labyrinth. However, if you want to be a magician that's on the same level as Arisa and Mia, I think it's better if you properly study the basic in the Royal Academy before going into the labyrinth."

If he wants to be a magician that can only use attack magic like in a game, then he should just raise his level in the labyrinth, but if he wants to use magic that are usable outside battles, it's better for him to study magic structure and the way to read spells.

"Okay! I'll go to the Royal Academy!"
"I will go too."
"Me too!"

Once the boy who turned up skirts powerfully declared, the other children also expressed their will one after another.

They will be going to the Royal Capital by riding a stagecoach in half a month.
The enrollment for the childhood school was during the new year, but it's possible to accept new students as first years if they show results above a certain level.
Moreover, I think the elf-loving headmaster will somehow help if they bring a recommendation letter written by Mia.

After sending the children home, I call Ms. Miteruna and three senior maids among the loli maids.

"Master, have you called for me--"
"It'll be a bit long, so please have a seat."

I offer a seat to Ms. Miteruna.
I succeeded getting Ms. Miteruna who firmly refused to take a seat after saying, "My neck will hurt if I continue to talk like this."

I tell them that I want to dispatch several maids to the Royal Capital's mansion to learn more sophisticated maid technique.

"Of course, I don't want you to misunderstand that I have a problem with Miteruna's teaching. Training children who didn't know anything to become maids in short amount of time is quite an accomplishment."

I followed up like so since Ms. Miteruna's face stiffened.
In fact, it should have been impossible to raise them to this level with just the loli maids' motivation.

However, I've unexpectedly become an upper noble, so I'd like my employees to polish their techniques even more.

"--I understand what Master is saying. I think these three should be able to endure the training in the Royal Capital."
"""Head-maid!"""

The loli maids are looking at Ms. Miteruna with teary eyes.

"Miteruna, you won't go to the Royal Capital?"
"Yes, if Master permits, I'd like to take the role of raising the children that will be sent to the Royal Capital here."

I see, not improving her own skill, but becoming their educator huh.

She's quite the rare talent.
I'll increase her salary for her training role.

"I'm counting on you, Miteruna."
"Yes, I will be doing my utmost to meet Master's expectation."

--Moderately okay.


◇


Thus, after having completed the businesses in the Labyrinth City, we departed to the Duchy Capital where the cooking contest is going to be held.
Under the pretext of cheering for Lulu, the Labyrinth City group are also going to the Duchy Capital, and will be returning to the Labyrinth City through the land route once the cooking contest is over.

In actuality, they're going to go in and out of the labyrinth through the Island Palace as the base, and then I will send them to the vicinity of the Labyrinth City after enough time has passed for the land travel to happen.

"Master won't participate in the cooking contest?"
"I've been chosen as a special judge you see."

Apparently, its name is [Pendragon Cup].
Even [Miracle Chef Cup] would have been better than that.

"Then there's no need to hold back! I'll think of a dish that will tightly grab Master's heart!"
"W-wait Arisa! Don't pull me that hard!"
"Tasting~?"
"Pochi will help with tasting too nodesu!"

Following after Arisa and Lulu, Tama and Pochi also went to Lulu's exclusive kitchen.

"Master, everyone has completed their preparation."
"Master, I want scarlet armor too, so I entreat."

Liza and Nana appeared from the living room having done arming themselves.
After the two, Sera, Zena-san, Lady Karina, and the princess; beauties wrapped in Hihiirokane-made scarlet armor showed up.
This armor has auto-fitting functionality, so I didn't do any attractive size measurement.

"Satou-san, thank you for waiting."
"I-is it alright for me to wear this splendid armor?"
"The pressure on my chest is suffocating desuwa."
"It's like the knight that appears in tales."

After praising the four ladies, "They look really good on you", I send them to the planned rearing site.
It's the power-leveling place where I raised Echigoya Firm's executives' levels to 30.

"I've connected this to the permanent gate, so let them rest in the palace when they fall from the level up intoxication."
"Understood."
"Yes, Master."

After giving instructions to Liza and Nana, I plug my ears from hearing the scream behind, and start the preparation to go out.

Right now, Mia should be enjoying herself playing with the world's largest pipe organ in the concert hall next to the palace.
Giving the children musical instruments to nurture their aesthetic sensitivity might be a good idea.

I choose [Equip: Kuro] magic on the Magic Column and transform to Kuro.
Using this original magic, it doesn't only equip the clothing and mask, but also automatically set every kind of information like my name, occupation, and others in the Exchange column.
It's quite a handy magic for a careless person like me.

Now that I've finished the change, let's check the two demon lords' places!









Previous Chapter

14-2. At the Labyrinth City

 

Satou's here. When I saw the unusually realistic animal toys sold with food on a convenience store, I remember secretly wanting to collect them all. It's the same thing with gacha in recent the social games.


◇


"Your Royal Highness Shistina, it is truly an honor to be graced with your presence."

Marquis Ashinen said such words to us who visited the viceroy mansion.
The people present here aren't only the Marquis couple, the nobles of the labyrinth city with peerage are also lined up in the entrance.
Usually it's the maids and the butlers who would meet the guest, but as expected of a princess, moreover, since she's the little sister of next king from the same mother, the treatment is different.

After princess Shistina greeted them like a royalty would, Sera and I also greeted them and then we were guided to the usual salon.
The salon that usually felt too large now feels a bit cramped due to the amount of guests.
Coming here bringing a lot of sweets as the souvenir is good decision.

"Sir Pendragon, this is a present to celebrate for you climbing the peerage rank and your inauguration to be the Tourist Ministry vice minister.  This is not just from me, but all 17 noble houses in the Labyrinth City."

Marquis Ashinen is giving me a small box that has careful craftsmanship.
Following after him, the other nobles also congratulated me.

"May I open it?"
"Umu."

Opening a present like this immediately after receiving it is the proper manner in Shiga Kingdom, but I inadvertently asked due to my Japanese nature.

--Geh, are you serious?

My surprise surpassed the Poker Face skill as I stared the content of that small box.

"It was worth it getting that by exerting all means, seeing you be that surprised."
"...T-thank you very much."

I take out the [Chant Orb] from the small box and smile at the Marquis and the others.
According to the AR beside the orb, it seems to be something from Saga Empire's [Bloodsucking Labyrinth].

There's a [Light Magic Orb] beside it.
The Chant Orb must be an extra.
They should be quite rare, but getting abundant of drops right when you don't need them happens in games and another world.

It was quite unusual for me to show a worldly desire, so it seems they asked the merchants to look for them as a surprise present.
I'm very grateful. It's not like the thought, "just what was all of my hardships for", didn't flash on my mind, but grumbling after they have gone through a lot of trouble for my sake would make me get hit with a divine retribution.

I feel bad for only receiving things, so I signal the marquis house butler and make him take out the souvenir I've passed on to him earlier.

"These are the tiara and the emerald I saw back then! So you remember."
"Yes, they're articles befitting of Marchioness after all."

I'm indebted to the Marchioness for helping me making the personal connections in the Royal Capital, so I got her the [Tiara] and the [Egg-sized Emerald] that she wanted.
I've sucked up a lot of money from the Royal Capital's nobles, so buying these were no problem at all.

"My! What a beautiful glass-work."
"Satou-sama, is this handicraft the work of a Royal Capital's workshop?"
"Behold! This small handicraft looks as if it's alive."

In addition to that, I presented other things like ancestor king glass statue and small-sized animal glass statues for the servants.
The former was well received as planned, but it seems the marchioness and the noble wives like the latter too.

These were easily made with my original magic [Glass Art], a spell created from [Mud Art] and [Sand to Glass].
At first I made this magic since I wanted a bowl for the shaved ice, but it looks like I can use this for many other things.

"Marquis, I've left the new work to the butler, please enjoy it."
"....B-by new work you mean a work of art?"
"Yes."

It'd cause discord if I only gave the present to the Marchioness, so I haven't forgotten the Marquis's share too.
His present is not my own work, but a [Nude Statue of Man] I got from the Duchy Capital using Unit Arrangement. The Marquis once said, "My friend obtained the new work in the Duchy Capital."

I gave an Echigoya Firm-made set of [Vitality Medicine], [Gloss Skin Medicine], [Hair Growth Formula] to each head of the noble houses. It seems they're hard to get in the labyrinth city, so they were exaggeratedly pleased.

After we had finished exchanging souvenirs, it was the pleasant chat time like usual.
The one that was different was that they wanted me to talk about the gist of the sakuramochi demon attack on the Royal Capital, and Hero Nanashi and the Golden Knights.
It has already been half a month since the incident, so the details should have circulated in the labyrinth city too, but they probably want to hear the raw story from people who were there.

"--The the Royal Capital reconstruction is going well isn't it."
"Yes, it is the result of Hero Nanashi's effort."

The princess replied to the Marchioness with a clear smile.
Please stop glancing at me when you were saying Hero Nanashi.

After that serious talk was over, this time it moved to love story.

"I want to hear the beginning of love of the princess and Satou-dono."
"We met by accident--"

One of the countesses from the Marchioness's circle asked about the topic.
The princess then talked about how she met me with Arisa and Mia as the intermediary, and how I saved her when a monster attacked like it was some sort of heroic story.
Of course she had shrewdly cut the matter about Hisui and my senseless action.

"I want to hear about the start of romance of 『Oracle Miko』 Sera-sama. You're an entourage of the vice minister, but in actuality, you're the candidate for the second wife right?"

The viscountess asked about Sera's real objectives.

"Yes, you may take it as so. I have acquired the permission from grandfather and father after all--"

After saying so, Sera turned toward me while smiling.

....It's the first I've heard of that though?

"Sera-sama, I think it's better if you talk about that once it's official."
"Yes, that's right."

I warned Sera since it'd be troublesome if some strange rumor circulated.
She obediently assented, and closed the uncertain talk.

Whenever Sera fixes her sitting, she gets closer to me, I wonder if it's just my imagination....
I feel like she's burying the outer moat bit by bit.

Still, I'm glad that I've left Lady Karina in the mansion.
I have a feeling that it'd have been more troublesome if she were here.


◇


After finishing the tea party, we went to the Labyrinth Army garrison.

"""Young Master! Welcome back!"""

Those greetings came from some unfamiliar townspeople and explorers when we passed through the food stall for explorers and the street in front of the Explorer Guild.

For now, I wave my hands through the window.

"You're quite popular."

The princess looked lightly surprised to my popularity.

"They probably remember my face from the 『Floormaster』 subjugation parade."
"Satou-san, you don't have to be so modest. Satou-san's achievement is famous even in the Royal Capital."
"You're exaggerating."

Replying Sera with a wry smile, I turn around to see some little cheering outside the window.

"Viscount-samaa"
"Young masterr"
"Satou onii-chaan"

Outside the carriage window, I saw little girls and children running after the carriage.

--Are they children of the orphanage?

I stealthily supported a child who tripped her feet with [Magic Hand].

The traffic decreased before long, and the carriage arrived at the destination.


◇


Having arrived at the labyrinth army garrison, we greeted General Eltar and visited the soldiers.
I only brought some famed liquor and smoked sakura salmon of the royal capital as the general and the soldier's souvenir, there's nothing special to mention.

There were these conversations at most.

"You should have been offered a seat of the Shiga Eight Swords, why did you decline?"
"That is too much of a burden for me. Being one of the Shiga Eight Swords requires one's individual strength after all."

General Eltar nodded to my answer while brushing his beard.
In the labyrinth city, it looks like I'm known more as the proprietor who has established explorer training and an orphanage, and also a politician who aligned himself with the marchioness faction rather than an explorer after all.

"So, as you're going to go around the world as the vice minister of the Tourism Ministry, what are your retainers going to do?"
"Liza and the others are going to continue to explore the labyrinth."
"I see--"

Perhaps, he's going to invite Liza and the others to the labyrinth army?
Or so I thought, but General Eltar said some unexpected things next.

"--If you're going to establish a private knight order in the labyrinth city, you can consult me."

I won't make something like private knight order.
It's not like I'll participate in a war anyway, I don't need a private knight order right?

Or rather, if I did make one, that could be an excuse to start a war.

So I thought, but since he said it out of kindness, I replied like a Japanese who could read the mood.

"I haven't thought about it for the time being, but I'll be pleased if I can consult with you when that time comes."
"Umu, you can freely come here."

General Eltar nodded like he was satisfied with my reply.
If I do need to consult with him, I'll bring not a bottle of the dragon spring liquor, but a whole barrel.


◇


"""Young Master! Let's have a feast!"""

When I went to the western Explorer Guild to visit the guildmaster, the drunk staff members and explorers greeted me unanimously.
Looks like they've opened the liquor barrel I sent to the guildmaster and the staff members, and have started a drinking bout already.
The sun is still high, they put the dwarves to shame....

"Ou! Satou, this is some good liquor! It'll disappear if you don't come soon!"

The guildmaster shouted out with a smile from center of the drinking bout.
I'd like to participate if I was alone, but since I'm with the princess and Sera, that'd be bad.

"Satou-sama, let me take part together with you."
"Eh? Y-your highness?"

It seems the princess is a regular drinker, she pulls my hands and walks toward the guildmaster.

"Oh? Are you already kept on a short leash? First time I meet ya I guess, your highness princess?"
"No, I once took a lecture by the fire magician during a ball in the Royal Capital."
"Ah! That little princess huh! I thought you were a strange princess, but you sure have good eyes for men!"
"Yes!"

Looks like the guildmaster is acquainted with the princess.

The princess drink the liquor that the guildmaster poured. She's quite a good drinker.
The movement of the throat swallowing the liquor looks captivating.

While I was being captivated by the princess, Sera who was sitting beside me pinched my lap.
Sera drank the liquor cup given by Staff Member A with a prickly expression.

"Satou-san! Satou-san is--"

Having drunk the liquor, Sera vigorously said as much and then she suddenly leaned on my shoulder as if her battery was cut.
Apparently, Sera who's been raised in the temple is weak to liquor.

On the other hand, the princess is drinking equally with the guildmaster.

"That was some good drink."
"I drank a lot in the evening parties to excuse myself out, so I became strong at it before I knew it."

I see, it's very like the princess.

"Satou is a bottomless pit too, you two will be a good couple."
"Thank you."

Without minding the guildmaster who called her with [You (anta)], the princess's red cheeks from the liquor reddened even more and she thanked her.
Looking at her, the men said out loud, "Riajuu explode!" with deep resentment.
The one spreading "riajuu" word must be Arisa.

During the drinking bout, I talk with the elf Ms. Sebelkea and the guild manager about their works.
The subject is about the guild administration as asked by Earl Seryuu.

"The compensation?"

Ms. Sebelkea asked shortly like an elf would.

"Please look at this."
"Hou? They'll give the priority for the commerce of the wyvern material and steady supply of the dragon white stones huh..."

I hand over the documents from Earl Seryuu to the manager.
Ms Selbera showed the shadow of a veteran suitable for her age on her young girl-like visage.

The dragon white stone which is the material for making the all-purpose antidote and the light yet highly defensive wyvern material are something that advanced explorers desire regardless of expense.
The all-purpose antidote especially, nobles who have a lot of enemies constantly seek for it, so the demand for it is unending.

At first there were also some medicinal herbs needed for stamina recovery medicine, but now that they can produce beria magic medicine locally the demand had abated, I canceled the plan.

"Looks like Earl Seryuu has quite an excellent adviser."
"Some benefactors and acquaintances of mine are in the Earldom after all."

I eluded Ms. Sebelkea's teasing without a fuss.

"Very well. I'll have the guildmaster sign it later."

I was finally able to get her consent.

"Can we use temporary employees from the explorer school to teach the management course?"
"Yes, I'll bring them tomorrow to visit here."
"Understood. Aside from that, Satou."

Finishing the work talk, Ms. Sebelkea who loosened her firm expression, changing back to party mode, talked too me.

"Our High-elves-sama frequently inquired about you, do you have any idea?"
"No, I don't."

If they have some business with me, they can always call me through Aze-san, and the elf forest that was in danger of the Space Kaiju was of a different clan from Ms. Sebelkea's, so I really don't have the slightest idea.

"Just in case, Satou is a human right?"
"Yes, of course."

Even though I immediately replied to the puzzling question, I was puzzled myself in my mind.

There were many cases where that confidence was lost recently, but my race is still written as human on the status screen.
Ms. Sebelkea nodded to my answer like she was satisfied, and drank the fairy wine on her hand.

There's going to be a banquet in the viceroy mansion tonight, so I excused ourselves from the drinking bout before the princess got downed.
It seemed the princess was envious of Sera who was carried by me with a princess carry, she leaned her head on my shoulder while behaving like a spoiled child during the short time the carriage was returning, and let out a happy sigh.


◇


There were still some times before the dinner, so I went alone to the mansion where people from Earl Seryuu were staying in the labyrinth city.
It seemed the earl had told them about me, they easily received me.

"--training for management?"
"Yes, the guildmaster has kindly agreed to it. Of course, the advisor, Ms. Sebelkea, and the manager have pleasantly replied too."

The civil official opened her eyes wide when she heard about the management thing.
There were also some people who said, "Just how", or "Did he use the Marchioness's connections?", in low voices.

I plan to introduce the civil officials to Ms. Sebelkea tomorrow morning.

"And for the on-site unit, the Mithril Explorer party, 『Blue Flame Axe』 is going to teach them."
"Mi-Mithril?!"

The captain of the on-site unit, Knight Henz, stood up and kicked the chair down due to his surprise.
The soldiers also began to rustle.

The [Blue Flame Axe] that I mentioned is one of the parties that subjugated the floormaster together with Jeril and his party.
I tried negotiating with all prominent parties during my stay in the Royal Capital, but the Blue Flame Axe was the only one who willingly consented.

Their reward is an introduction to Echigoya Firm.
Using the letter of introduction I got from the first prince Soltrick back then, it seemed the members of Blue Flame Axe party ordered magic weapons and wands they wanted.

I only intermediated them and loaned them money for their fund shortage.
On top of securing personnels, I got them to experiment--er, comment on the new weapons, there's no loss for me.

"Yes, let's have a formal introduction tomorrow morning."

After telling so, I explain the route for the exploration with a map and the program to the Knight Henz.
Recovery potion made from beria has been popularized, so there should be no problem even if we choose a slightly dangerous route.
They have strong entourages too.

"Viscount-sama, we're lacking one magic soldier in this plan?"

Captain Riro who's checking the documents beside Knight Henz asked about Zena-san who wasn't included in the program.
If I'm not mistaken, he's the direct superior of Zena-san.

"She's transferred over to the Tourism Ministry to act as a guard and also a secretary. Earl Seryuu and Marientail-san have consented to this, so please don't worry about it."

Even though I told him so, captain Riro's face still looked gloomy.

Right then, Zena-san appeared along with the members of Zena Squad.
The girls had horse transports so they went back through the land route, looks like they got to the labyrinth city at a good timing.

"Zena Squad's vice head, Iona and three members, have returned to the labyrinth city!"

Ms. Iona reported not to Knight Henz but Captain Riro.
I wonder if it's because he's their direct superior.

After thanking them, Captain Riro confirmed Zena-san who's in military uniform about the thing earlier.

"Y-yes. There is no mistake. I was in the place when Earl-sama approved it."
"I see--"

Captain Riro is finally convinced after Zena-san assured it.
Some noisy voices sounded behind him.

"Is Zena-san alright alone?"
"Do you want to go too?"
"You did it, Zena-cchi! Now the mistress seat is certain for you!"

Every member of Zena Squad called out to Zena-san.

"Amazing, Viscount-sama is as great as Viscount Belton isn't he?"

Responding to Lilio, a soldier girl called Gayana made a fuss.

"It's marrying to a rich man!"
"Awesome"
"Treat me something next time okay!"

The other female soldiers also cheered on Zena-san.

On the other hand, gloomy mood of grudge and depression came flowing from the male soldiers.
So there were really a lot of hidden fans of the plain cute Zena-san after all.


◇


Four of us including Lady Karina went to the banquet and relished on the elegant dishes made by the viceroy mansion's chef.
When I left my seat during the chat for the nature's call, the Marchioness informant contacted me, wearing maid clothes.

"So it seems you're engaged with the princess. I'm jealous--"
"Leaving that aside, do you have any new information?"

I stopped the informant's lip service and urged her to cut to the chase.
Some bad rumor would float around if I looked too close to a maid in the viceroy mansion after all.

"Have you heard that three kingdoms neighboring Holy Kingdom Parion united and attacked it two days ago?"
"No, first time I've heard of it."

As usual she got information from the western countries fast.

"It was a large army totaling at 60.000 troops."

--Past tense huh.

"According to the information that just came in, that large army was trampled down by the 10.000-strong Holy Kingdom Parion so-called 『Army of God』, and they were repelled back to their own kingdoms."

Good grief, please stop using such dangerous words like [Army of God].
I'm afraid that it'd really end up setting up a flag for a fight against the God's Apostles.

--However, there's something I want to know first.

"By the way, do you know the reason why the three kingdoms united?"
"It's an absurd story--"

The informant is hesitating to answer my question.

After hesitating with suggestive behaviors, she opens her mouth.

"They claim that the pope of Holy Kingdom Parion, Zazaris, is a demon lord."

....Apparently, my sightseeing tour won't start for a while.











Previous Chapter

14-1. Sightseeing Base

 

Satou's here. When I hear about personal airplane, I imagine it to be a special high performance craft, but in actuality, I think that that person in question would have customized it so much that it'd be a [hard to use by other people] airframe. Mass-produced airplanes are the best after all.


◇


"It's the seaaaaaaaa!"
"Sea~?"
"Sea nanodesu!"

With Arisa in swimsuits leading, Tama and Pochi who are also in swimsuits run on the sandy beach toward the sea.

I see them while relaxing on a beach chair.

"Pochi Tama, Boost On!"
"Roger~?"
"Aye aye sir nanodesu!"

Pochi and Tama run on the sea surface while lifting Arisa from both sides.
Apparently, they've mastered the technique Liza used to walk on the water surface back then.

"Uhahahahaha"
"Nyahaha~?"
"This is fun nodesu!"

I reach my hand to the side table while looking at those energetic children.
I put the straw of the cooled tropical drink in my mouth and lightly suck it, the flavor of summer spreads in my mouth.

"Pochi, balance~"
"Ah, nanodesu."
"Uhhyaaaaaaa"

Over at the sea, Pochi couldn't maintain her water surface float, Tama and Arisa whose legs were entangled with Pochi's tumbled together, and lastly the three made a huge water splash.

"Are you alright?"
"Uy.... I thought I'm gonna die."
"Huhuh~?"
"It's Master nanodesu!"

Being called back by Unit Arrangement, the three are sitting under the beach parasol in their own style each.
Tama is wearing pink-colored separate swimsuits, Pochi's swimsuit has the same model as Tama's but they're yellow. Tama's is of the skirt type, Pochi's is of the short pant type.

Arisa is wearing an old school swimsuit model.
Of course, there's a tag written with [Arisa] sewn on the chest area.
She's devoted to the cliche like always.

In addition, their swimsuits are made from the newly developed expensive synthetic fiber.
Using the information I got from Lost Knowledge skill, I made it from crude oil found in the underground labyrinth.

It seems like it'd become the target of the god's punishment, so I don't intend to popularize it.

"Satou, look."

Mia appeared wearing white and light blue stripped bikini, and twirled once.
Her hair which is usually in twintail style is bundled like Zena-san's, it feels fresh.

"Yup, you look cute."
"Yay."

When I honestly praised her, Mia clung to my neck.

I put the glass on the side table.
Because--.

"Tama too~"
"Pochi wants to stick together too!"
"W-wait, that's unfair!"

--The children jumped at me mimicking Mia.

I stop their momentum with [Magic Hand], catching the three gently.
It goes without saying that I put Arisa in a position where she can't sexually harass me.

"Everyone, you're troubling Master you know?"

The one who told everyone to be prudent was Lulu who's wearing a monokini with a cardigan on the top.
Her back and shoulder line can't be seen due to the cardigan, but her belly button and cleavage are peeking from the gap, the immoral feeling is overflowing.

Yup, I'm glad that I stopped Arisa from making Lulu wear the [Maid School Swimsuit].

"Master, completed the transportation of the swim ring and the beach ball, so I report."

From behind Lulu, Nana appeared while carrying a large quantity of play equipment.
Unfortunately, due to the plot of the impregnable fortress pair, Nana is not wearing bikini but a one-piece type swimsuit.

Although, as the consequence of her plain swimsuit, Nana's breasts look like it'll burst open from the inside, asserting themselves.
I think they should assert themselves that boldly from now on.

In addition, Nana's slaves, Shiro and Crow aren't here since they've gone to school.
The plan is for them to commute to the school from Pendragon Mansion during our sightseeing tour. In the future, I want to establish schools in the labyrinth city or Muno city, and have those girls be the teachers.

"Ah, it's Liza nanodesu!"

Pochi who's checking the water spray at the sea shouts out while tilting her body.

Before long, Liza who's wearing a traditional sleeved swimsuit comes from the sea while carrying a yellow object. The stripe pattern of orange and white hurt the eyes.

"Master, I have completed the test run of the banana boat."
"Was there any problem with the operation?"
"Yes, despite its high speed, the retention force of the seat appears to be low. In case of a battle, I'm afraid that there's a high possibility the passengers get thrown the sea."

Liza.... That's an equipment for playing.

"Then would you like to examine it once again to improve its performance?"
"As you wish."

While giving another drink to Liza who looked satisfied, I gave her a new instruction.
It looks like she likes the banana boat, she should play it again.

"Master, hoping to participate in the valuation of the battle boat."
"Tama too~?"
"Pochi wants to participate too nodesu!"

Nana, Tama, and Pochi looked at me with sparkling eyes, so I took out the second banana boat from my storage and gave it to Nana.

"You're not going Arisa?"
"Hm~, playing with those four sounds thrilling in a different meaning, so I'll go at it later."

Lulu quietly refused while smiling, so I only asked Arisa, and got such answer.

"Satou! The maidens have arrived~"

When I turn around, Hikaru who had come out of the Arabian Night-like palace shouted out loud to me.
Hikaru is wearing bikini with pareo. The bikini chest part is strictly guarded by something called tiered frills.

"Oh, it's Mito-tan. Hiding her desolate chest like that is a good decision isn't it."

Arisa pompously criticized Mito over my shoulders.

Since she stealthily stroked my chest,  I told her, "Sexual harassment is forbidden", and make her leave my shoulder.

"Arisa, come here. I have something to talk to you about."
"No nein, it was the evil concealed in this left arm..."

Led by hands, Lulu pulled Arisa away from the beach.
Recently, Lulu is strict with Arisa's sexual harassment, so she's probably going to remonstrate her.

I return my line of sight toward Mito, and greet Mito and the other four girls who came with her.
I had invited Sera, Zena-san and Lady Karina to the secret hideout before, but it's the first time for the last one.

The fourth person is not Aze-san, but Princess Shistina who's traveling together with us in the sightseeing tour.
Unlike Zena-san and the three other girls, I can't trust her unconditionally, so I've made her to rigidly keep my secret with [Contract] skill.

Actually I wanted the Princess to go indignant when I talked about [Contract] skill, but for some reason she gleefully accepted it.

Of course I haven't disclosed as much information as with the other girls.
I've talked about the fact that I'm a [Hero] and the [Owner of Echigoya Firm], so even though she's accompanying the tour, my movement shouldn't get annoyingly restricted.

In addition, about this [Contract] skill, the maximum punishment in case of violation seems to differ in accordance to the skill level, in the case of maximum level like mine, it seems that she could end up in dying state. I tried it with a death penalty crime slave, so there's no mistake about it.
Of course, I can adjust the punishment level, so I didn't set it at such a terrible setup.

While I was recalling such circumstance, a lone girl stepped out among the embarrassed group.

"Satou-san does it look good on me?"

The one who honestly asked was Sera with a slightly reddened face.
The white bikini with stringless shoulder is truly dazzling.

Her white legs that are usually hidden under the miko outfit are wonderful.
Even though they're hidden by a long pareo, they still give off neat and clean charm.

"Yes, they look really good on you."

As I praise her, her face reddens more, and let alone her ears, her shoulders even redden.

"It's a bit embarrassing, but I'm happy to hear Satou-san saying that."

If she showed such a bashful smile when it was just the two of us, I'm afraid that I'd inadvertently push her down.

Zena-san standing beside her was looking like she wanted to say something, so I praise her, "It really suits Zena-san too."

"T-thank you."

Seeing her fidgeting, trying to hide her body with her arms almost makes me feels strange.
Her swimsuit is the sharp-looking one normally used for swimming race. It looks like a high-leg leotard, so it looks really good on Zena-san and her beautiful legs.

Maybe it's my imagination, but I feel glancing eyes since awhile ago.

Apparently, these secluded young women have no resistance against males in their swim wear.
The reason why these girls look embarrassed is not because of their swimsuits, but the problem seems to be with mine.

"....I-it's shameful desuwa!"

Lady Karina who objected is not wearing a swimsuit but a normal dress.

It's a natural thing to say with the ethic of Shiga Kingdom.
However, due to the thin fabric, Lady Karina's splendid silhouette is transparent from the bright sunlight, since it looks more erotic than swimsuits, I think she lacks persuasive power.

"Yes, I only recommended it because they're convenient attires for playing by the sea. I won't force you to wear them, please don't worry."

I told so to Lady Karina who shouted more due to her shame than resentment.
Rather, I was surprised that Sera and Zena-san appeared wearing swimsuits.

"Ara? Exposing your body to your future husband is not a shameful thing to do you know?"

Admonishing Lady Karina is Princess Shistina who's wearing a silk-made long gown.
Her statement is slightly troubling, but following after deaf protagonists' step, I wonderfully ignore it.

"Fu-future, husband--"

Lady Karina whose face is as red as a lobster seems to have reached the climax of her embarrassment by muttering that much, she runs off to the palace while leaving dust of cloud.
Of course I use my magic to put back the blown sand so it won't scatter away.

Swish, hearing that sounds, I turn my line of sight back to the princess.
The princess untie her sash sexily, her transparent silk gown drops down to the sand.

What appear behind it are tube top separate swimsuits.
When a princess wears it, it gives off the immoral feeling of corset.

I say some words of praise toward the princess who's taking a pose while emanating the [Praise me] aura, and then offer her the beach chair beside me.

When I rang the bell on the side table, little figures jumped out of the palace.

"Have you called, Master!"
"How may I help you?"
"Please order anything you want."

The little girls who look like pre-school students are looking at me while waiting for the order.

"Please get enough drinks and assorted fruits for the people here."
"Yes!"
"Understood~"
"Please wait for a bit!"

The little girls who are wearing Arabian Night style servant clothes go back to the palace as fast as the wind.
Those girls are the brownies I've hired to take care of the palace.

They look like little girls, but every one of them is a fully adult woman.
They're of the same race as the manager of the labyrinth city's [Ivy Mansion], Leriril. Their performances are a bit below Leriril, but since there are a lot of them, I've left them to take care of not only the palace, but this whole secret hideout.
The facilitator of these brownies is Leriril's aunt, Loriril. She looks like a little girl outwardly, but it seems she's more than 100 year old.

And then, the last guest appears together with the addition of the tropical drinks.

"Satou-san. I've finished setting up the barrier."

Yuika in a white kimono walks on the white sandy beach.
The white skin that looks like snow peeking from the kimono sleeves and the nape is dazzling.

In addition, her short horn peculiar of a goblin is hidden behind a bandana.

"Thank you. I'm sorry for leaving it all to you."

I offered her a chair while apologizing.
I asked her to set up the barrier since I heard it'd take several days to do it and there wasn't anyone around me that could do it, but it completed faster than planned.
Leaving the job to other people while I'm having something like a vacation surrounded by beauties, I feel slightly awkward.

Although, Yuika herself doesn't seem to mind such a thing.

"This wand is amazing. The range expansion performance is higher than a holy wand."
"That's because it's a specialized wand--"

I stop Yuika who's submitting the wand to me with my hand.

"--If it's alright with you, please take it. I've adjusted it for Yuika-san, so I'd be glad if you use it."
"Y-Yes. I'll be using it regularly."

Yuika smiles while holding the emerald green wand, looking so happy.

I asked her to create the anti-god barrier for three areas of the secret hideout.
Every area is a sub-space created with my forbidden spell [Another World].

One of them is this southern island where everyone is right now as the base.
At first I planned to use the island itself as the secret hideout, but dangerous creatures of the sea never decreased no matter how many times we eliminated them, so I copied that island into a sub-space.
Thus, even a defenseless princess can enjoy this beach worry-free.

In addition, this sub-space only contain the island that's as large as the Awajima island and sea that's five times the island's size.

The second area is a farm area with Oyugock Dukedom's terrain as the base.
This one has virgin forest besides the center part where the portal is, so it needs to be developed from now on.
The size is as big as the original dukedom. It also has the sea, so cultivating marine products seems possible.

And the third one is the desert area for training and experimenting.
It uses the desert to the west of the Labyrinth City Selbira as the base, so I can test magic as much as I want.
There's only a few magic among the forbidden spells that I can't use there.

Having such circumstance, we don't have to worry about the god's punishment even though we're wearing swimsuits made from synthetic fiber of modern age.
I can't thank you Yuika enough.

After introducing Yuika to everyone, Hikaru asked her doubtfully.

"I probably mistakes you with someone else, but are you maybe the 『Queen of Onikin』 Folnis?"
"Um...."

Apparently, Hikaru seems to know an old personality of Yuika who has multiple personalities.
Looks like that remark became the impetus, Yuika's oldest personality, Yuika 3 appeared.

If I'm not mistaken, Folnis is the chuuni name of Yuika 3.

"--What's this, aren't you Yamato? Have you come out of the barrier already? Didn't you say,　『I'll sleep until my destined person wakes me up with a kiss』?"
"De-destined person--"

Looks like the barrier that protected Hikaru's cold sleep was Yuika's handiwork.

Leaving that aside, Hikaru. Don't say that troublesome remark while pointing your finger at me.
See, everyone is looking at me like I'm a cheating man.

I felt like it'd be dangerous if I left it alone, so I told Yuika, "She's a childhood friend and a co-worker of mine", and ended the strange conversation.

"Fumu, if this keeps up, the current Yuika would be at a disadvantage noja."

Glancing at Lulu and Sera, Yuika 3 asked, "Satou, give me swimsuits", so I gave several that looked like it'd fit Yuika.
Yuika 3 used her barrier skill to make a substitute locker room and changed her clothes.s

"How do I look, Satou!"
"It really suits you well."
"Alright--"

Her chest covered in a halter neck top looked clearly more filled up than her real body I saw back then, but I don't have any intention of pointing that out.
It's done naturally, so the other girls don't notice it.

"--H-huh? Eh?! Why am I in this outfit? D-don't tell me it's the first generation-sama's doing?"

It seems her personality has returned, she's trying to hide her body with her arms in panic.
I don't blame her for panicking considering the degree of exposure suddenly rose.

I put on the parka that I wore to Yuika.

....I felt that the pressure from behind rose at that moment, but it must've been my imagination.


◇


Including Yuika who had calmed down, everyone enjoyed the swimming and the sensation of the sea waves.

For some reason the sea has waves even though this is in the sub-space.
It must be like the image of the sun in the sky, it must be a part of the magic that composes the sub-space.

In addition, according to the head maid Loriril, Lady Karina came several times until the palace's entrance while wearing swimsuits, but it seemed she couldn't make her decision, and now she's curled up in her own room in the palace.
I plan to be in the beach in front of the palace for the time being, so I expect her to show off her swimsuit sooner or later.

"U~n, when you're playing on the beach, you'd crave not only the shaved ice and soft cream but also the [Garnish-less Curry], the [Stretching Ramen], the [Violent Roasted Squid with Burning Soy Sauce Smell], the [Immoral Yakisoba], and the [Sacrilegious Roasted Corn]."

Arisa declared so while eating the shaved ice with strawberry syrup.
There were some weird ornaments in the end, but since it's Arisa, there's no deep meaning to it.

Pochi, Tama and Mia ate too fast, they're holding their foreheads in agony.
Since Lulu has warned it beforehand, the other girls are enjoying the coldness slowly.

"I didn't prepare them since they don't match the vacation in the southern island. Why don't we play in 『Beach House』 set next time?"
"Un, then, let's do watermelon breaking!"

That sounds really fun.

Some tactless beeping interrupted such fun time.
The communication linked on the Menu is coming from the trial unmanned airship.

I tap on the caller's mark and connect the call.

『Master. The target point, Labyrinth City Selbira has been captured in the visual. We will arrive in 30 minutes. Requesting your return to the captain's seat.』
"Okay."

I shortly replied to the [Scarecrow 10] the cruise golem that's steering the airship.
The scarecrow's voice is like the old voice synthesizer software, the intonation is awkward.

I compiled the source of the scarecrow's voice by asking one of Echigoya Firm's slave maids.
I thought of using Lulu's or Tifaliza's voice, but they were too busy it was not possible.

"It seems the airship is going to arrive at Selbira soon. Please change your clothes and wait at the entrance."

I tell so to everyone and then go back to the captain seat with Unit Arrangement ahead of them.

"Give me the steering report."
『Cruise test all green. Recorded maximum speed is 300 KM/H. It could reach higher speed, but taking account of the remaining magic power, I ended the test there. Continuing on--』

While listening to the scarecrow which I had left to take care of the bridge, I clean the ocean water with purification magic.

This personal airship is installed with the new type of aerodynamic engine that Prof. Jahad has developed, it's equipped with the function to alter the aerodynamic engine's buoyancy into thrusting force during the cruise.
Its only flaw is that the mileage is bad, so it can't be installed in an airships that use the general-purpose magic furnace.
In addition, it can go even faster if it uses the booster, but since it needs magic power supply from me, I didn't use it during the automatic test.

I change to my usual noble clothes with Quickdress, and look outside through the window that's made of a thin piece of glass-like object.

"It seems there were some bird strikes, but the window doesn't seem to have any scratch."
『Yes, Master. I recommend deploying the defensive curtain [Screen Shield] during the flight.』
"Okay. I approve it."

I approved the scarecrow's suggestion.

This window is made of synthetic diamond, so it'd be fine even against normal bird strikes, but it's probably going to get damaged if it runs into beetle type monsters.

Diamond is weak against heat though, so it might be a good idea to shave the whale's crystalline lens and turn it into the canopy.

In addition, this window was made using the original magic [Charcoal to Diamond] that I remodeled from the advanced magic [Flesh to Stone].
Creating diamonds from charcoals without high temperature-pressure, truly magic.

There's also [Sand to Glass] magic sub-type.
There were glass windows in the house created by [Create House] back then, I made the magic from that code library.

Making use of this code, I also made transparent corundrum from aluminium oxide from bauxite.

Securing the bauxite was annoying, but since it's possible to mine it in the island where the palace island is modeled after, it should be easy from now on.
I should be able to make sapphire and ruby if I can add color to it.

The composition of emerald is complex, so I haven't started on that one.

『Master, entering the landing sequence. Please give me the instruction as soon as possible if you wish to change the landing site.』
"There's no change. Confirm the topography of the landing site."
『Aye aye sir.』

While confirming the ground's undulation, the airship lowers its altitude.
It's quite an excellent automatic navigation program.

Its experience level doesn't seem like it has crashed seven times near the Royal Capital.
There wasn't any dangerous scene for the past 10 days after all.

『Master, there are people in the landing site.』

It seems a lot of people have gathered to meet us before the Labyrinth City's Pendragon Mansion.
I order it to land on the farm near the mansion.

I peek at the ground using [Clairvoyance] and [Clairhearing].

"Uwah, it's an airship!"
"It's a small airship."
"I wonder if master is riding in that?"
"It's landing here instead of the usual place for the airships, so that must be true right?"
"Then, Arisa-chan is in there."
"Nana-shama too?"
"She'll call us young organisms?"
"She will surely hug young organisms."
"I'll ask Pochi-san and Tama-san for the souvenirs from the Royal Capital."
"I'll get knocked down silly by Liza-san after a long while!"
"Ah, I can finally listen to Mia-sama's music."

I'm glad that they're all welcoming. There was one strange thing mixed among them though....
There were many "Young Master~" for me too, but I'll be intruding them in the night anyway, so there's no need to pick it up.


◇


I went back to the secret hideout's palace to pick everyone up.
Initially I planned to link the gate to five places, [Palace Island], [Workshop Satellite], [Echigoya Absolute Secret Control Room], [Labyrinth Villa], and [Personal Airship], but since I haven't completed making the golem that would controls them, I'm working as the temporary transporter.
The reason why Boruenan Forest isn't included among them is to prevent the pixies from intruding in.

And then, the airship lands in the meadow.

The plan is for the Pendragon Team and Lady Karina to get off at the labyrinth city.
After finishing our business in the labyrinth city, I, Sera, the princess, and Zena-san are going to depart for the journey.

Of course that's the official story.

In actuality, we can come and go freely using the gate, so everyone is going to raise their level during the journey, and once we arrive at the touring spots, everyone is going to enjoy the sightseeing together.
The labyrinth group will be in two different places, but this world has no real time information network like in the modern Japan, so even if the rumor spreads, using the airship to transport them during their labyrinth exploration should work as an excuse.

In addition, Hikaru, or rather, Duchess Mito is staying in the Royal Capital. Her setting is that she's a frail woman living in the Duke Mitsukuni mansion in the Royal Capital, so there will be almost no problem even if she's absence.
Since the king and the prime minister know Mito's true identity, they should understand it all as "As expected of Ancestor King-sama."

"Welcome back, Viscount-sama."

While greeting Ms. Miteruna and little girl maids, I salute to my acquaintances flooding the mansion.
I'd take the whole day if I were to great everyone, so I greet them adequately, and then go to where the authorities of the labyrinth city are gathering while only bringing Sera and the princess.

Since we're only going to stay for two days in the labyrinth city, let's do this quick!










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