Chapter 153 - (Chapter 218): Older Sister

Next chapter in like 20~ hours. After that hoping to try and do like 5-8 chapters but we'll see. Also, after this chapter there's a char intro with stats so I'll probably throw updated stats on the end of next chapter.

Year 7445, Month 10, Day 9



It was just past noon when the {Butchers} arrived at the teleport crystal room on the 1st floor. Since we entered the dungeon at 8 am that comes out to clearing through the 1st floor in about 4 hours. Being able to do it at this speed without freezing monsters is pretty good. But you know, I can't approve of them that easily. They suffered a lot of injuries after all. Also it was a big that this time we were lucky to teleport into a location which was close to the shortest route as well. I'd say the rough distance from the location we teleported was around 5 km.

"How about it? What time is it now? Misu"
"Wait just a moment. It's 12..16."

Rokko questioned Misu who has a clock magic tool. Everyone was listening with great interest.

"Hmm..Since we entered at 8 am then, 3 hours and 26 minutes huh?"

What do you mean "Hmm", how in the world did you even calculate that...It doesn't make any sense. Even if he has enough skill I don't want to let a person like this in the {Slaughterers}. I should have said there was a paper math test as well.

"It's 4 hours and 16 minutes...It's far from 3 hours right."

Kamu said while slumping over a bit.
Maybe I'll give them a bit of a hint.

"That, it's a copy of the map Rodrick bought right? It's fine for you to trust in it more."

I said with my arms crossed while leaning against the wall.
They spent too much time being careful of traps. Also, they're still too careful of monsters. Even though we've made them fight that much~ are they still afraid of them? Or else is it the traits of an adventurers that's been ingrained in them?

"Certainly, it still can't be called perfect. But of the ones that are on the market that's the closest one to perfect. The {Sun.Ray}'s map of the 2nd floor and beyond was quite some but how was it comparing the {Sun.Ray}'s map of the 1st floor to that one? Think carefully about that."

After I said that everyone gathered their heads together and started stating their opinions.

"Hey, what did that mean?"
"Don't ask me. There's no way I would know right?"
"Certainly..there's far more trap locations drawn on this map and you can see that almost every passage has been drawn."
"..So it's even more accurate than the map that Rindobel-san and the others were making?"
"The shape of the outer circumference is close to an O. All of the maps from when we were in {Sun.Ray} were oval."
"An O..They call them circles."
"It's fine either way. If Al is saying it then it's probably true that this map is several levels higher."

Worry and be troubled, young'ns. Putting that aside, it's lunch, I'm hungry. Though we were only walking slowly~

"Okonneru, Firenoto. Start preparing the food. I'm hungry."

After ordering the two slaves to make meal preparations I sat down on some dirt that someone made along the wall. And then I put one leg on the knee of my other and started scratching the dirt in the nicks on the sole of my boots off with a throwing needle.

As expected since I've been wearing them for over three years and pretty soon..I replaced the soles once but the rubber that was covered the leather surface has started to peel off all over and while there's no cracks in the surface of the hardened ebonite at the tips of the toes there's some parts scraped down. Above all, it's a problem that it's started to become a tight fit. The worn-out cloth I had been packing into the ends of it, I had completely stopped with at around this time last year but it seems my body still wants to get even bigger. Though if you were to ask the bigger problem is the width of my feet increasing.

"I..If you'll please, master."

10 Baldoggie were put into a pot that was held in front of me. It's Firenoto. After I put some hot water that was almost boiling into the pot he lowered his head to me and put the lid on it. Since we aren't carrying a stove if we just leave them to boil in water that hot for around 4-5 minutes they're just right. After that if we just put them into some bread with a slice in it along with some leaf vegetables and mustard or mayonnaise then the hotdog is completed.

If while you're eating the first batch you boil one more then it's more than enough to satisfy the high calorie consumption of adventurers. Even more so, the former {Sun.Ray} members often endured a poor diet while in the dungeon. There's no way they'd complain about it.

When I was still entering the dungeon carrying several hundred cucumbers I remember thinking, "If these weren't cucumbers but sausages then". No, I like cucumber as well. If you dip them in mayonnaise and eat them they're good but after all I really want to eat some umekyu or morokyu~

While waiting like that the hotdogs were finished so I bit into one. Delicious.

Everyone is deliciously eating them after all, this, wouldn't it sell well to the people carrying cucumbers into the dungeon? Well, it can't be helped trying to sell to something like adventurers though.

"By the way, why do you call them {hotdogs}? They're unrelated to {dog}s right?"

Okonneru asked me while sitting in front of me and eating a hotdog as well.

"..No clue...The one who named it was Basutoral, so ask him."

Sorry. I didn't expect that sort of tsukkomi all of a sudden.




................




Year 7445, Month 10, Day 13



After we left the dungeon and it seems {Sooner} still hadn't come back out. Thinking we should gather in the entrance plaza when I was killing time discussing the reflection points from today with the {Butchers} before long {Sooner} returned to the surface so I broke up the group.

Walking besides Miduchi who was commanding {Sooner}, the two of us returned to Boil Manor.

And then, there was three carriages stopped in front of Boil Manor. Two of those were ones I had seen before. So they've finally come huh? We're saved...We were supposed to be entering the dungeon until tomorrow but it seems I'll be taking the day off tomorrow. If I don't replenish the stock already, I'm starting to feel sorry for the Ryogu's and Yotlen who have to lower their heads all the time.

"Ah!!"

It seems Miduchi's realized as well and a bit of blood is rushing to her head. I wonder if she's tense? It's alright, you won't get eaten alive.

The caravan from Bakuddo has increased by one carriage this time and each of the carts has a pile of luggage in them. I can see several nostalgic faces surrounding them as well. Oh? That is..Kerry huh? Though he wasn't supposed to be a squire but...I don't know the Wolf-people woman standing next to him..Was there a person like that?

"Ya~ it's been a while."

I called out to the leader of the squires who were gathered around the carriages. It was Beckwith.Aizensaid the former head squire. I don't see the current head squire Sean so he must have come along as the leader of the squires. Since he's already at a good age overdoing..I wonder if he was acting as the coachman? Or else, since he's passed the difficult age of 50, maybe he's come to see the royal castle in commemoration?

"Oh! Al-sama. It's been quite a while! I'm Bekkusu."

Yeah, I know. There's no way I could forget. Along with father, brother, and sister-in-law, I was also under the care of Bekkusu quite a bit. Up until my sword training centered around practice matches I was trained pretty hard by Bekkusu...His white hair has increased quite a bit and his height as well..I guess that's just because I've taller huh?

"Al-sama! It's been a while. Umm, this person is.."

Kerry ran over to me. Next to him he brought along that woman.

"It's nice to meet you, Alan-sama. My name is Miail.Dokush, I'm Kerry's wife. We got married in the spring of this year. I'm from Badetto village."

"He~! Congratulations! I'm Alan.Greed. In the past I've been in the care of Kerry quite a bit. I said some selfish things and forced them to bring my along hunting causing quite a bit of trouble. Look after Kerry from here on out."

Miail is four years younger than Kerry at 19 years old. It seems she's the daughter of a commoner from Badetto village. Since they had some connections she married in to Kerry's family in the spring of this year. This time the number of carriages increased by one so they needed to increase the escort members as well but since it was soon after the war and the squires needed some rest father came up with the idea of employing them in a hurry. That explains why there's a number of old men that normally don't come. It must have centered around people who didn't join the war this time. Although, it might have been just right for honeymoon trip since Kerry and the others don't usually leave the village other than hunting for a number of days. Though only nobles have that sort of custom.

..Come to think of it Miail has rubber protectors on as well. Just the same as Kerry she doesn't have the shield attachment on her left hand but it's a custom version where the heavy armor and defensive power is focused on the limbs rather than the body. It's not for use in war versus people. It seems to be a new model for versus beasts. She must work as a hunter as well. This one might actually be better for adventurers..No, there are also of monsters that use weapons as well so the defensive power of the body is important too. The helmet is the same type as everyone(you could the same as me as well) it seems. There's been almost no improvements made on that end.

Ah, that's right. I wonder who came along this time?

"Is it brother this time? Or else.."

I asked towards Bekkusu.

"It's the former master. We only just arrived here and were about to take an inn.."

While Bekkusu was in the middle of replying to me, we heard father's voice.

"Ah, it seems they don't have enough rooms. It seems around half of us will have to stay at a different inn..Al. So you returned? It's good to see you're healthy..Are you Chizumagurol-san?"

"Ah, father. I'll introduce you. This is Miduchi, Midu~ritto.Chizumagurol."
"A, it..it's nice to meet you. My name is Midu~ritto.Chizumagurol."

Miduchi lowered her head. Looking from the side she seems a bit tense.

"Yeah. I've heard from Shani. I'm Heguyiyal.Greed. It's fine to call me Hegald. It seems Al is always in your care. Thanks."

"I..I as well..a..am always in his, careth!"

What is careth...There's limits to how tense you can get. It seems even Miduchi realized that she bit her tongue and hit herself in the forehead.

"In any case, everyone is tired from the long trip right? You should enter the inn and take a rest. Also, I'll prepare another inn as well. How many people is it?"

"Nn..Take one for six people. Also, what are your plans for tomorrow?"

"Yeah, I intend to make it a day off. But, I want introduce everyone as well so I kind of want you to stop by Baldukk again on your way back?"

"Hn? I see. But, it's not like we're in any particular hurry. We can stay here for 2-3 days and.."

Uwa, don't say it so leisurely.

"No~no~no. We're the ones who are in a hurry."

I shook my hand in front of my chest a number of times while continuing.

"The store in the capital has long since been completely out of stock and about the only stuff remaining is a small amount for the royal family. There's a never ending number of claims from our frequent customers. Also, there's a huge line waiting from the knight group as well..I want to go and deliver the stock tomorrow."

"..I see. Then we'll go and make deliveries in the capital tomorrow and stay one night there. Then the day after tomorrow is it fine if we return back here again?"

"Yeah. It would be a big help if we do that. Also, I've bought six more slaves. I'll introduce you tonight."

After saying that I had John run to take rooms for six people in an inn and had Terry run to the {Butchers} and {Sooner} to convey that we would be taking the day off from entering the dungeon tomorrow and I wouldn't be able to join for dinner tonight. Additionally I told him to bring all of my combat slaves back as well.

During dinner when I was introducing the slaves, Manzokki said something like, "I'm give it my best in {Sooner}." I guess father didn't care for the name {Sooner}, though it was also because he was drunk but he decided on his own to rename it the {Exterminators}. Since it sounded good I thought the {Slayers} I came up with before was good though. Well it doesn't really matter though.

Also, after dinner, we talked a bit in my room before going to sleep but I was told, "If you already properly understand what it means for your races to be different then I won't say anything. I have faith in you and if you say that's good then I think it's fine if you marry a dark elf as well. But, the nobility has the nobility's, a lord has a lord's, and royalty has the royalty's responsibility, No, duty that comes with being one. It's fine as long as you don't forget that." After all it seems they were a bit worried about having children.

The next day we went to the capital and first off went to make deliveries of armor and take sizes from the knight group. Incidentally, the number of suits being delivered this time was 22. At the end of last year, when we were taking orders we accepted double the normal number. However, when I counted the number of boxes of armor in the carriage there was 23 of them. There's one suit too many. This is...

Everyone, sorry about that. So you prepared a new one for me since my body has grown bigger huh?

I'm grateful.

Thinking that I watched as measurements were taken for the next orders and crossed my arms while nodding to myself. And then, father approached me and said, "Take off your clothes." Behind him was Jim, one of the veteran squires of Bakuddo, with a measuring tape in his hand.

Huh?

"Since your height has grown, even though you made it a bit large, from what I could see yesterday your current armor is as expected small right? Also, you're already 17, it's unlikely you'll grow all that much more right. We'll make it just a bit larger so we're taking your sizes as well. Ah, don't worry about it, it's my treat."

Eh?

No, I mean, isn't one there.

That, wasn't for me? It can't be, just a box?

"That one is for her, Midu~ritto."

Father said that before calling over Miduchi and talking to her. It seems Miduchi was surprised over how sudden it was as well.

"At the end of last year Shani she would make some clothes and took her sizes. Supposedly they made it only just a bit larger. It seems they took in a variety of opinions over it so it ended up a slightly different shape. Teacher her how to put on later."

Ha~?

When did that happen?

I never heard about this...

Something like that, at least tell me about it.

I'll be troubled, it's not like were brats after all.

Eh? You were forbidden from speaking?

You heard it was taking your measurements for clothes?

I mean, he said it even took your opinion in to mind and isn't the normal shape...

They told you it was a market investigation over what shape of armor is the easiest to use?

..Is that so.

"Al-sama, do you have requests? We were able to slightly increase the hardness of the ebonite on the surface so we were able to increase the defensive power of it while the weight still remains the same, if you're fine with the defense remaining the same we can make it a bit light as well?"

Jim said that while quickly measuring my body with the measuring tape.

"Yeah..the weight is fine at the same as it is now. It would be better if the defensive power goes up.."

"Is that so. We'll make it using the armor from three years ago as reference."

"Yeah. Also, just the gauntlets of my armor are specially made. I'll give you the details later."

While we were doing that things got noisy. Sister huh?

"Oh, Mill! Over here!"

Father called out to sister. After noticing that sister ran over with a happy face. If she had a tail like Angela it probably would have been swinging. Weren't you by his side everyday 3 or 4 months ago? Right now he's my dad! Kerry approached her right away to report his wedding and introduce his bride. Stay away just like that.
Miduchi you go and slow her down as well!

Thinking that I pointed towards sister with my chin while looking at Miduchi.

I guess she understood my intentions, Miduchi went over to sisters side where I had been pointing. Umu, that's how it needs to be.

"Really. Wasn't sister just by father's side a short while ago? She came running over like a dog, how embarrassing~"

When I said that to father with a bitter smile and father said, "Don't say that. Even like that she gave it her best. Since I couldn't really praise her too much on the battlefield. At least for tonight...Hn? Al, you..Well it's fine. Certainly I haven't met with you very often and weren't together for very long." while laughing happily.

"U..Umm, Mill-san.."

Alright, keep her stalled.

"Oh~ if it isn't Midu-cchi? Hmhmph. Do you want to have a go at it?"

Oh, as expected of my older sister who has a low brain capacity. Just like that go off somewhere. Miduchi it's fine for you not to follow after her as well.

"Eh? I'd love to but..umm, today is"

"Ah, it arrived right."

She noticed that Miduchi was looking towards the box of armor in the back of the carriage.

"Yeah, and then, since it's already alright to talk about it so...umm, I'd heard that it was clothes from Bakuddo and..I was surprised. Thank you very much! I'm happy!"

"It's fine, don't worry about it. It's something sister-in-law Shani and I both paid for after all. It's not like I use my money for much of anything either way."

Miduchi's armor, so it was sister-in-law Shani and sister that paid for it huh..Miduchi, she should have a considerable amount of money saved up now though...She said that she only just had her new leather armor made last year and she properly maintained it so it was still plenty within it's lifespan. Clothes are reasonably expensive but as expected no comparison to armor. Miduchi must not have been very concerned about it hearing that it was clothes. Sister has a high salary being in the first knight group and sister-in-law Shani is the first wife of the lord of Bakuddo which is profiting from rubber.

In the first place, what are Bakuddo clothes? Something like that doesn't exist. Cotton is grown in Bakuddo but we didn't do any spinning so we never produced any cloth. Either the town of Doritto or at best Keel is where they're made. In the first place about the only designs they make over there are unfashionable and completely give off the feel of living in a remote area so it's far better to get clothes made in the capital.

"Got it? Al"

"Yeah.."

Sorry, sister.
I'll give the right to staying in the same room as father tonight to you so you can have plenty of time to talk to him.
Also, I'll let you eat some Baldoggie as well.