They all seem to be made of knitted rattan and have a lid on them. As expected she has more belongings than Bel and Ralpha.
Furthermore, in regards to Gwine's horse and carriage, we ended up setting negotiations with me buying the two horses for 5,000,000 Z and 6,000,000 Z each, and the carriage for 2,000,000 Z for total of 13,000,000 Z. The reason the prices of the horses is different is because it varies based on their age. The average lifespan of a horse is around 30 years. It seems rarely there's individuals that live over 40 though.
One of the horses was 12 years old, the ideal age for working and breeding so it cost the highest level of money and the other horse is 20 years old so that reduced the price a bit but honestly it's still around 1,000,000 Z more expensive than the market price. The carriage was right on the market price. Gwine was grateful for it, but it's fine. If it's gratitude that can be bought with money then it's a good idea to buy it when the timing is right. Seeing that the three others each made different expressions. Obviously, it's an amount where I asked the market price at a horse merchant and added a bit of a bonus to that so I didn't seem like an idiot who doesn't know the market price, or at least I'll just say that.
After we finished up all of our business in the afternoon, it's finally time to depart to Baldukk.
One day has passed and it's Monday, after breakfast we're all doing cooperation training. Toris was born in a Viscount family and it seems that sword techniques were pounded into him, but that night, it seems he lost to Bel in arm-wrestling so I remember him talking about it with a complicated face.
"Toris, Gwine, listen well to what I'm going to say. The sword and spear have several roughly decided forms. As a matter of fact there's only a handful number of forms you absolutely have to remember. Putting it simply just remember boxing. Jab and straight. The basic punches are these two. If you go into application then there's the hook, uppercut, but ultimately it's fine with just the jab and straight. It's crucial to first be able to use the jab accurately and look for the best timing to use a straight. If you can do this properly while you might not make it to champion you should be able to do decently. Is up to here fine?"
I show the way to punch with a shadow while saying that. While looking at the two of them nod I,
"In terms of the attacks of a punch those two are fine at the start. But, what you must never forget is the method of defense. Step, guarding with your arms, swaying, ducking, weaving, there's far more methods of defense than there are attack. Of course, there's also countless methods to move from defense to counterattack as well. That's why if you can just properly practice one or two fundamental attack methods, after that I think it's just a matter of polishing your technique to protect yourselves."
The two of them are making slightly discontent expressions.
"Hn, it seems that you don't agree. Either one of you is fine, tell me the reason."
I said that and shrugged my shoulders.
"If you were to attack the opponent and defeat them first can't that be considered a valid method of defense?"
Toris said unsure.
"I've seen Toris-san fight against and defeat orks. Putting aside myself, is the style that Toris-san has used until now no good? I feel sorry that he's practicing together with someone like me.."
Gwine said that right after Toris. In her case, she wants to say the reason why I'm putting emphasis on defense is because of her I'm sure.
"Hn, I see. First Toris, what you're saying isn't mistaken. They do say that offense is the greatest defense after all. However, if it's an opponent strong enough to continue enduring your attacks, or rather, if an opponent good at defending comes out, what do you do? Leave your allies and run away? That's not a mistake either. Since it's all over if you die there. However, people who abandon their allies and run away lose their reliability with just that."
I said that and Toris said in a panic.
"No way, there's no way I would run away. I'll give it my best."
"Eh? Give it your best and do what? If you can't land any attacks here and you haven't properly trained in defense then you'll quickly take an attack and get hurt. If it comes to that then running away immediately would be better. It's much better than the body of someone who's been injured being in the way or causing a burden for someone else trying to cover for them. What I'm trying to say isn't not to give it your best. Use all of your power to give it your best and stretch out the time before you receive any injuries. Start off by putting in the effort for that sake."
Toris was unable to think of what to say for a moment. During that time I face Gwine and said to her.
"Gwine, that's not something for you to worry about. Listen well, I will definitely not make fun of the two of you. It's just as you said Gwine, I'm sure you're bad with fighting. But, I wouldn't use that as a reason to make fun of you or look down on you. However, don't overestimate things too much either. There's often only one direction you can run in the dungeon. Depending on the case it's even possible that you'll have nowhere to run. Protect the direction of retreat and when there's nowhere to run you endure until you can find a chance for counterattack. This is important. In the first place I don't know Toris and Gwine's ability yet either.."
Even then I'm sure Gwine respects Toris combat potential since he saved her right in front of her eyes, and I'm sure Toris has some confidence in the swordsmanship he learned at his house as well. It's true that swordsmanship has protected him for these two years after all.
Though you know..this is just my prediction but if they were to fight one on one, I don't think Toris would be an opponent for Zenom and Ralpha, but he would probably win against Bel, Zulu, and Angela. Honestly speaking, I'm doubtful even about that. Well, putting aside winning, I honestly don't feel there's much point in that.
There's almost no cases where you would be fighting one on one in the dungeon and it's the same for war.
Ralpha was defeated in no time at all.
"Yes~ It's Zenom and Gwine's victory."
I declared that before identifying everyone once again. It doesn't seem like anyone has suffered any major injuries. As expected of Zenom. I guess it's because Zulu and Angela have been coached by Zenom for this past month or so, I somehow feel like their skill with the sword is going up.
"Toris, do you understand now? Unless there's a huge difference in skill between the swordsman in front of you, there's no need to attack the opponent. In our case, the ones who attack are Bel and I. Of course if the opponent is something weak like goblins or gnolls then as long as they don't let their guard the front-line can attack if they find the chance, and as a matter of fact they're finishing them off pretty often like that.
"It's a weird expression but it's not a computer game" so even a light injury will cause your movements to dull and make it easier to get tired. Even the pain shaves away at your concentration. That's why the most important thing is to remain standing without receiving any injuries."
Toris is nodding seriously. It seems he was properly able to understand it.
"That's why when it comes to sword techniques other than the basic ones the ones that are useful for defending are effective. Like Zenom just did..In his case it's an axe though, learning how to block and parry are first. Techniques for attacking are fine to learn after that. However, just don't misunderstand this. I have no intention of making light of a one on one fight, and I know the importance of attacking as well. What I want to say is nothing more than the order of importance."
Well, I guess this is about right. If he properly understands then there should be no problem.
"Sorry about interrupting. Then let's do it like him as well."
I said that and opened my mouth to Toris and Gwine again.
"Let alone the basics of attacking, Toris has even been able to use it in application so his training will focus on defense. That basic thrust of Gwine's is plenty as an attack for now. I'm sure what necessary is the decision-making and how to use your body to prevent the opponent from getting near you."
I said that and took the wooden sword in my hand.
"Then I'm the villain. While Toris is enduring my attacks, Gwine you try to find an opening to stab me with your spear. For Toris is essential for you to try and create openings in my stand while you're focusing on defense. It's fine if Gwine can thrust into that opening after all. Oh~ come to think of it I didn't mention it. The greatest advantage is to take on your opponent with a greater number than them. It's the ideal method of fighting to surround an individual with a group and beat them from every side. It sounds cheap but this is reality."
I said that and started their training in cooperation.
.............
After finishing training and eating some lunch, including Gwine and Toris, the eight of us descended into the dungeon. For the time being there's the matter of the map so I don't intend to aim for a very deep floor. The most important thing is to finish producing the map of the 3rd floor which is only half complete. There's still blank spaces remaining on the 1st and 2nd floors but compared to the 3rd floor it's only a small portion and there's not really any fatal traps so it's fine to just put off.
Right now if Gwine uses {Mapping} just once for roughly one hour she can remember everything she sees. I was once again shown the influence of that. Even Zenom was shocked by how she was casually drawing every twist and turn she saw while we just kept walking around during the short breaks.
I stealthily tried asking and it seems that she's understood her Unique Ability quite a bit and is doing nothing more than transcribing the contents of something like a map in her head. I wonder if she originally had some skill as an artist? It feels strangely good.
With no particular problems in combat we wiped out every enemy we came across. It truly feels like we're meeting up to our name as the {Slaughterers}. Putting aside Toris, I thought Gwine would be disgusted by taking magic stones from the corpses of monsters, but it seems she didn't think much about it at all.
If it's like this then in 2-3 months we might really be able to produce a really accurate map of the 3rd floor.