"Oh? Al~ I thought you died together with Miduchi."
When I called out for Karl under the large tree in the center of the island the one who reacted was Karl's older sister, teacher Mila.
"Ah, if it isn't teacher Mila. I'm very sorry we weren't able to come for one year."
It's unusual for teacher Mila to come out first.
"We brought along a lot of dried fish again today."
Miduchi threw was showing courtesy towards teacher Mila as well.
"Ooh, that's~ quite appreciated. We can't resist fish from the ocean after all~"
Teacher Mila replied as her expression softened.
I pulled out the stove magic tool that was put away in a hole in the tree and then put one of the magic stones was picked up on the way inside before trying to turn on the flame. The stove magic tool spit out a blue flame without a problem. After turning off the flame I took the dried fish out of my rucksack and the fairies flying around started cheering, there was even fairies that started somersaulting in the air from how pleased they were.
Alright, wait just a minute. I'll quickly grill them up for you.
I took out a dried Meineiji and after setting the grill on top of the stove first heated the grill up.
After it was plenty hot I placed the the dried fish on top. By doing this it's more difficult for the body or skin of the dried fish to stick to the grill.
The self-interested fairies are all sitting around the grill or staying on Miduchi and My head and shoulders as usual. Teacher Mila was standing in front of the stove with her hands on her hips not taking her eyes off the dried fish being grilled from the flames either.
"By the way teacher, where's Karl?"
"Ah? Karl? I think that it's about time for Karl to wake up though. Since just the other day Karl's been saying he's tired all the time."
He~ Come to think of it the I think the first time I came here teacher sister was asleep was it?
Piru! Piru! Pirurururu!!
Teacher Mila looked up to the top of the tree while shouting something. She must be shouting towards Karl.
"Fufun. It seems he jumped up in surprise. He'll be out soon, just wait."
What is it, did Karl oversleep? Rather~ did Karl reply to that? There's fairies saying pirupiru all around us so I couldn't tell.
"And then teacher Mila, this time"After we eat some fish."
"..Yes."
Is she angry that we ended up not coming for a whole year..though that doesn't seem to be the case. Thinking back on it every time we come here I feel like we always treat them to the fish first. A thin smoke started rising from the Meineiji and the good scent of dried fish spread around the surroundings.
As the scent spread around the fairies gradually got quiet and just silently stared at the dried fish grilling on top of the stove.
And, one fairy came flying towards from on top of the tree.
I'm sure it's Karl.
Yeah, after all it's Karl.
Uwa, this guy, isn't he soaking wet?
I wonder if got into a bath or something.
"Ya~ Al. It's been a while right. It's great that both you and Miduchi are still alive."
Hmm. I guess he was able to remember us.
"Ya~ Karl. You seem well yourself."
"It's been a while, Karl. I'm glad to you're well."
After hearing our greetings Karl sent the water on him flying by shaking like a dog and then stopped on Miduchi's shoulder. In order not to fall he grabbed on to her hair and made a face like he was going to say something to me but soon after closed his eyes and started sniffing the scent.
"Ah~ It's a good smell. You said it was Meineiji right. This fish?"
"Yeah, it's Meineiji."
He's as self-interested as usual. I made a bitter smile while flipping over the dried fish. There's some light burns on the skin and eyes which look appetizing. However..Hmm. Karl is actually holding a proper conversation. Growth sure is important right.
After a short while the dried fish were finished grilling and after taking out another dried fish I held up the one that was grilled.
"Alright, it's grilled. Now take it as you please."
As fast as I could say it starting with teacher Mila all of the fairies raised another cheer of pirupiru voices and swarmed the dried fish I was holding. In the blink of an eye the dried fish turned into just bones. The still small fairy sitting on top of Miduchi's lap took a portion of meat from the dried fish from a bigger fairy before biting into it with a smiling face.
Well, it's great that the fairies are all pleased. It was a bit heart-warming as I watched the fairies eat. I guess Miduchi feels the same as me, she's lightly smiling.
"Waha!! It sure looks delicious right!"
Karl who was still stopping on Miduchi's shoulder like usual seems to have finally swallowed down the dried fish and laughed while saying that to me with his mouth covered in grease. Chi..don't grab Miduchi's hair with your hands covered in grease from fish, this winged insect. Rather~ what's that about it sure looks delicious. Didn't you just finish eating your own portion. It was delicious, right. Stop looking at someones dried fish so enviously. Karl was looking at the next dried fish being grilled on the stove fully intending to eat some more.
...............................
"Now then, I've made you wait. Were you just about to say something before?"
After the third fish turned to nothing but bones teacher Mila finally focused her attention on us.
"Yeah. This time before you teach us spells, if it's something you know I'd like for you to teach us some things about this dungeon."
Hearing my words teacher Mila made a slightly strange face before opening her mouth.
"Hn? What do you mean?"
"Right now we're challenging the 9th floor of this dungeon. As matter of fact when we went to the center area of the 8th floor there was a Minotaur guard blocking the way so.."
"Ah.."
Teacher Mila made a strange expression..like she knew or didn't know.
"Well, in regards to that one it seems that after defeating it a number of times it will stop coming out so it's fine though.."
"He~"
Karl joined the conversation but judging on the look of things I'm sure he doesn't know.
"Do you know anything about the guard on the 9th or 10th floors or that's believed to be beyond that as well?"
As if taking over my words Miduchi tried asking teacher Mila as well.
"I knew that there was a guardian. But, I don't know much of anything about it."
Hn? She said there "was" a guardian huh? Not a guard but a guardian. Though they mean the same thing I wonder if it's just a different in the way of phrasing it. Come to think of it the King and Queen both called it a guardian as well. Something like the way it's called doesn't matter at all so I completely forgot.
"Is that so..Would you mind telling us just up to whatever you know about it?"
Since I wanted even just a bit more information I couldn't do anything but lower my head.