(010) Housemate who did not return
Translator: Tseirp
After Margaret-san spent about an hour and a half teaching me methods to take care of my equipment, he had me help out with the store.
βIt helps to have a boy around to carry the heavy items.β
We were working together to move cargo but it was clear that Margaret-san had more strength.
After that, I did some practice swings at the backyard of the clothes shop.
Practice swings are not something that can be taken lightly.
Just 2 hours of practice swings raised my Apprentice Swordsman level by 2.
Well, due to my 400 times easier growth, itβs equal to 800 hours. Even if a person spends 4 hours a day doing practice swings, it would be equal to doing it for 200 days. So itβs not surprising that my level would go up.
βIchi-kun, thatβs enough practice swings for today, wipe your sweat with this and come have food. Also, you can place your laundry in the basket next to the toilet and Iβll wash them for you.β
Margaret said that and left a pail and cloth.
Steam was rising from within the pail β¦ looks like he went out of his way to prepare warm water.
The sun had already set and it was currently night time.
I guess I should end it for today.
Iβll go to the 2nd floor of the labyrinth tomorrow. With my current condition, fighting against kobolds is childβs play.
Oh, but it would also be okay if I defeat around 3 kobolds to level up before I proceed.
While thinking that Iβm only getting spoiled by Margaret-sanβs affection, I took off my top and squeezed dry the warm water soaked cloth before wiping my sweat.
Ah, it feels great. However, as a Japanese, I really want to use a bath.
I wonder if there is any way to do so.
As I was thinking β¦ a chill ran down my spine.
What β¦ somebodyβs watching!?
It was an extremely bad feeling.
Donβt tell me itβs killing intent!?
Within this town?
I slowly looked toward the direction I felt the gaze β¦ and saw Margaret-san snorting as he looked at my direction.
And then, our eyes met.
βKy β¦ kyaaaaβ
Margaret-san covered his eyes and ran.
No, even if you act pure hearted now β¦
I wonder β¦ I should really look for an inn tomorrow.
The back of the shop had become a dining kitchen and food was already lined up.
I felt nothing but foreboding.
βErm, whatβs the specialty around here?β
βHmm. The fruit of carob is tasty. The vegetable called genji is also famous.β
β β¦ Ooo, is that so.β
β¦ Itβs famous for fruits and vegetable huh.
And yet, why is it a full spread of meat?
Hmm? Is today the 29th? Meat day?Β (TL: Itβs a pun. In Japanese, 2 = ni, 9 = ku, niku = meat)
βNevertheless, Lun-chan is late. Letβs begin first.β
βLun-chan? Ah, there are others who use this boarding house?β
I guess itβs to be expected. After seeing the 2nd and 3rd floor, apart from my room and Margaret-sanβs room, there are 4 other rooms.
It would be a waste to leave rooms empty.
Apart from the feeling of danger to oneβs body, Margaret-san takes good care of others so he would not leave people in trouble alone.
βThatβs right. Lun-chan is a cute girl like me but you canβt touch her okay. If itβs aimed at me then you can touch me anytime.β
βYes, I swear to God that I would not touch (both of you).β
I donβt have the ability (to earn a living) to touch the girl (?) called Lun anyway.
Using a fork, I tried tasting the meat. It had a light taste of seasoning so it was easy to eat but the portion was huge.
βSheβs an extremely good girl that Lun-chan. Her name is Norn and sheβs a brown-skinned gatekeeper girl.β
βBrown-skinned gatekeeper? By any chance is she a blue-haired Apprentice Spearman about 16 or 17 years old?β
βThatβs right. Ara, Ichi-kun, you are acquainted with Lun-chan?β
βYes, today I met her once at the gate and twice at the labyrinth.β
The world is small.
Which means that Norn-sanβs good-natured personality is undeniably influenced by Margaret-san.
βIβm certain that she mentioned when I met her in the labyrinth that she would spend around 3 hours to patrol before returning.β
βThatβs right. It should already be about time she returned. I donβt think she is the type to go looking for night life. This is a first.β
At that moment, the report I heard from Norn crossed my mind.
The report about thieves appearing in the labyrinth lately.
No, as might be expected, thieves would not assault gatekeepers or guards.
As I was thinking, a knock came from the shopβs door.
Even though the door has been locked and the sign indicating that the shop was closed should have been hung up.
βAra, thatβs the voice of the Guard Captain. Heβs also very dandy but heβs not my type.β
Thatβs lucky of you, guard captain-san.
Margaret-san told me βIβll be back shortlyβ and headed for the entrance.
In the meantime, I slowly ate the meat.
Even though the seasoning was truly the best, it was tough to only have meat.
I want to eat white rice. If thatβs impossible then I want hard bread and soup.
As I was having those thoughts β¦
γEh, Norn-chan have not returned from the labyrinth!?γ
γSo she has not returned here as well after all. Yeah, it has been 6 hours since she entered the labyrinth. Itβs hard to imagine that she would be killed by monsters but β¦ weβll dispatch a search party tomorrow. Well then, I have to quickly make preparations so Iβll be leaving now.γ
γβ¦ I understand, please take care.γ
β¦ Norn-san has not returned?
Donβt tell me, itβs really β¦
When Margaret-san returned, her expression was considerably haggard.
βNorn-san has not returned?β
βYeah β¦ But if itβs her, sheβll be fine. Well then, Ichi-kun, have some meat.β
βErm, should I search for her?β
βNo. The further down you go in the labyrinth, the stronger the enemies become and the wider the labyrinth become. You would not be able to find her haphazardly. Especially since there might even be thieves.β
Damn it, isnβt there a better way?
Is there no way to track her?
I had an ingenious idea.
βErm, have you heard that Beastmen have noses that are many times more sensitive than Hume?β
That was merely my image of it but this Otherworld novel-like setting felt like it would be so.
If it is, then there is a high possibility that the Goddess might have subconsciously written down the setting so that the beastmen in this world have equally good noses.
βYeah, beastmen are several hundred times better than human and I believe they can trackΒ a personβs scent β¦ Ichi-kun, donβt tell me you are thinking of β¦β
βYes, that is exactly what Iβm thinking of!β
The instant Iβve decided, I flew out of the shop without stopping to hear if Margaret-san stopped me.
And then, I ran at full speed towards Matthiasβs shop.
The receptionist was just about to hang the closed shop sign.
Thank goodness, Iβve just barely made it.
βPlease wait a minute! Matthias, is Matthias around!β
After hearing me shout, Matthias appeared from within the shop.
βOya, Ichinojo-sama. Can I help you?β
βPlease lend me Haurvatat-san for a day! I need her strength!β
βPlease enter the shop first.β
Under my sincere request, Matthias brought me into the shop.