“First thing is a bath.”
Closing the room, Ria energetically stripped.
“Awaawaawa-”
“Cover your ears so water won’t get in.”
By using soap, Maal’s fur was evenly foamed up. Of course, her squishy paws were washed elaborately. [TN: Word for wash here also means investigate.]
When the pretty bubbles were cleaned off, she lifted her up from behind and entered the tub.
“Puhaah~, baths refresh the spirit!”
“By the way, I’m going to capture the dungeon but…”
Maal was already relaxed.
Maal’s ear twitched.
“However, I want you to cooperate with me until then. Since this labyrinth lets just six people go in together, with this we have a complete set of people.”
“Maal’s role is to be my comrade, and my hug pillow!”
Declaring that, Ria hugged the soft and exhausted body.
“I think we’re good. Sneaking, keen ears, lock picking, she seems to have all of the skills necessary to be a scout.”
However, Lulu and Carlos objected negatively.
“That’s right. Such a small child should be a house maid.”
Lulu removed the scar on Maal’s ear and was already attached to her.
But in the end, they went with Ria’s opinion. The Identify showed that Maal was level 20.
It was decided.
That night, according to her declaration, Ria made Maal into her hug pillow.
She pulled Maal into the bed after she’d tried to reservedly lay on the floor. They were both in their underwear and Ria caressed the coat of fur.
When she asked while stroking her head, Maal’s mouth opened lightly.
It’s tragic, but sad stories like that aren’t uncommon in this area.
Just recently, the party was defeated inside the dungeon and she was sold to fix their equipment.
The fact that I’m staying at a mansion like this shows that.
“Don’t use -sama. If you want to call me that, then by all means say ‘Ria-chan’.”
“You know the country to the south of here called Casalia?”
“My father is the king.”
“Casalia is a good country. Though there are slaves, slave hunting is a crime. I’d like to show you it at least once…”
While patting her and saying so, Maal fell asleep.
It was the first peaceful sleep she’d had in a long time.
The next day, the party moved as scheduled. Serge, Lulu, and Carlos went out to buy supplies.
Serge’s storage space was convenient in that it didn’t let time pass. He could store enough fresh vegetables and meat to feed six people for months.
Facing Ria and Maal, Gig acted as a guard as Maal got necessary equipment for the labyrinth.
“There aren’t any dangerous monsters until the fourth floor. Of course, that depends on your level.”
Now then, why else are we going into the labyrinth?
The magic crystals are found in areas where there is an extremely large amount of magical power. Although you can refine the magic stones found from inside monsters, there are few monsters in the wild with them.
In other words, labyrinths are areas where there are both dangerous monsters and magic stones are produced.
Moreover, for some reason labyrinths produce valuable ores, weapons and armor inside of treasure chests, and store magic tools.
Each time you enter the structure completely changes and most haven’t been traveled.
Thinking that it appeared a thousand years ago, perhaps it was the surviving demon, unexpectedly kind towards humans.
Dying explorers would be robbed of all but their minimum equipment and teleported back to the surface.
Then, since magic power and life force are stolen, perhaps the treasures are produced here…
“And now, this is the Labyrinth Guild.”
On the gently sloping hill, there was a gigantic gate. Next to it was a large building.
“Ah~, this-is-a-ma-zi-ng~!”
Exploring labyrinths was a man’s romance.
Opening the door to the building, the area was filled with the smell of sweat.
From a inside the receptionist’s counter came a voice from seeing Maal.
They probably know her circumstances.
“Umm… I assume that the ogre, elf, and knight are fine but… two children?”
“There’s no problem but…”
It wasn’t unusual for an aristocrat’s child to admire heroes and recklessly challenge the labyrinth. Since there were no deaths in this labyrinth, it was suitable in that respect.
Without saying anything else in particular, the five people other than Maal showed their wooden certificates. Making another for Maal took ten coppers.
At any rate, preparations were complete.
“Our exploration starts now!”
“No Nii-chan, it’s this way.”
Serge pushed Carlos.