Year 7446, Month 9, Day 9
"And, what kind of business do you have?"
I completely reserved Murowa. I took a bit of a nap so my head feels refreshed as well.
There's several tables in the restaurant but we placed a four-person table in the center and had Viruhaima and Basu sit there, while Kamu(Kamain.Mishausu) and I sit across from them. Surrounding all of the members of the {Slaughterers} have assembled including the combat slaves.
Obviously I want everyone to put some psychological pressure on them but I harshly told them not to speak badly or move around a lot. Since I'm a noble who doesn't prefer unrefined behavior I didn't forget to tell everyone to give them a good glare on either Kamu or my sign.
"Nn~ somehow or other. Ral why don't you stick with tea as well? Miduchi-san, please put in some ice."
"Denda, Karimu. You did a good job once again this time. It's fine if you eat something with Chire in it."
"..It's about {Black.Topaz}."
Viruhaima said.
"Could you please tell us the date and situation of the last time you met them?"
Basu supplemented him.
It's not like it's anything to hide so I honestly explained it without covering up anything. In the afternoon three days ago, that we encountered them in front of a monster room on the 7th floor. And then, soon after the combat started, because Rotto(Rosutoru.Mirusutoron) suddenly collapsed they fell into a crisis so we decided to go to their aid as we were keeping an eye on things, and I carefully explained that.
"And, what is that {Mad Treant}..What in the world is that. It even was using magic?"
"I, hit it with a {Flame Javelin}."
"So Rotto had died.."
Basu made a sad expression as he said it. Viruhaima started cursing while making a bitter expression. By the way aren't you going to eat anything?
And then, I talked about how they turned down our offer to accompany them to the teleport crystal they used to get into the 7th floor. That's right, if they had just let us accompany them then I could have taken the express guide fee right. 7th floor*7 people*100,000Z(Guide fee)*5(Express charge). Roughly 25,000,000 Z is the bare minimum line. It's equivalent to 1~2 days of our earnings on the 7th floor. It's not particularly expensive. I'm sure they can afford it.
Mu, thinking about it like this and I feel like that fee setting is considerably balanced for things around the 7th floor as well.
"Jeru, do you want to go to Rukuso later?"
"Ah, after all that's the case? Last month I requested a long sword from Fuggusu Sword Merchant so I'm a bit low on funds."
"Was there anyone else injured?"
Basu made a concerned expression again.
"Kaku-san and Baru-san had some light injuries, Roru-san(Roreiru.Naruzomerin) seemed to have some light bruises. It wasn't anything significant."
While I was talking, Kamu was biting into a Baldoggie with an unconcerned face and washing it down with some bean tea. I bit into a Kazotto with lots of msutard on it and drank some bean tea as well. Delicious.
"Come to think of it where did Ruttsu go?"
"He sure has to piss a lot right. Even today on the 4th floor~"
"What about Rotto's corpse? N..Nn!!..Did they just take out the magic stone?"
Viruhaima said. It seems he's a bit irritated. He started obviously coughing out loud as well.
"No, Baru-san was carrying the corpse. It seems they split up his equipment and were carrying it."
"Hmn, I feel a bit bad for Cathy but I want to show my face in the factory for a bit right. After hearing Miduchi-san's opinion we thought up something new together with Larry."
"Of course it is."
"No, the two of us are still in the stage of thinking about it, Ginger-san."
"Fu..I can't embarrass master as the head slave, Koloil-sama."
"But leader."
Well, I guess I'll leave the amusement at around here huh? Kamu was making a face as if to say not to corner them too much as well.
I used my left hand to scratch my left cheek and (the sign to be quiet) and slowly opened my mouth.
"Please relax. I haven't had any alcohol to drink, the maintenance of my equipment is perfect as well."
My voice seemed to echo strangely loud inside of Murowa that had suddenly gone deadly silent.
This time, since I thought it was necessary I forbid a few people from drinking alcohol. The ones who I felt were absolutely necessary were Miduchi and Gwine, Zulu, Giberuti, also Kamu. It doesn't even need to be mentioned for Miduchi on the end of combat strength and mana. Gwine is necessary to getting a grasp on our location in the dungeon. Zulu is my head slave after all and he has power as well. In the first place he doesn't drink. Giberuti is just a complement to Zulu taking into consideration the chance we need more manual labor so it's just better to have him though. Kamu was the leader of the former {Sun.Ray} and while it's temporary when there's no members of the {Slaughterers} joining them she acts as the leader of the {Butchers}. Also, she acts as proof that the {Slaughterers} have completely absorbed the former {Sun.Ray} and have them under our control.
"Nu..kuku, this guy..How far..Ah~ really! That's right, I'm requesting for you to save {Black.Topaz}!"
Viruhaima's face twisted as he spit out with a mortified expression.
"..Ho? Why are you requesting that from me? Is the {Verdure.Brotherhood} not planning to move? You're in a cooperative relationship with {Black.Topaz} right?"
I had predicted that it would be a request to rescue {Black.Topaz} at about a 50/50 probability but it's simply that I'm interested and I wanted to hear what kind of reason they had behind it. It's mean but the {Slaughterers} are above the {Verdure.Brotherhood} so I also felt like I wanted to have him say it as well.
".."
"Of course we intend to move as well. Greed-kun. Our preparations have already been finished. The last person who's whereabouts we didn't know Renba(Renbaru.Korumain), we just received contact that he was found in a private room at Honey Collection. After this is over we're going to the dungeon as well."
After he looked at Viruhaima who was sitting next to him with a disappointed looking face, Basu shrugged his shoulders and said. Incidentally Honey Collection is the name of a brothel that contends for the number one or two spot in Baldukk. He continued,
"We've been entering the dungeon in shifts with {Black.Topaz}. After one of us returns we always set a time to spend one day getting together to exchange information. Of course, it was accepted if there's a bit of leeway before or after the scheduled day but as expected three days is..the limit. If we were to go running now then it would end up taking another three days to reach the 7th floor. If it's you then you can do it a bit faster right?"
And said before looking at Viruhaima's face once more.
Everyone who's name I called out other than Giberuti has long since ran off outside.
"Well then, shall we hear what you have to say? It's fine even at Elm Tree Manor."
Leaving behind the remaining members who had been drinking alcohol with slightly mortified faces we left Murowa.
After being let through into Vurihaima's room in the Elm Tree Manor, Miduchi and I heard a bit of an unexpected story.
"It's not known by very many but Reddo is an illegitimate child of the King. When the King was even younger than you are now..or around the same age I guess, she's the first child he ended up making while he was still a squire in the knight group. Since it was before he was married it would look bad for their reputation so it was never made public."
"Even though it's an illegitimate child that wasn't made public, just as expected from her being his first daughter at the same time as she became an adult it seems she was allowed to enter the second knight group but supposedly she didn't know about it until she was one step away from receiving investiture as a true knight."
"She was young at the time and I'm sure she had a rebellious spirit as well. She must have felt like she was given preferential treatment from the influence of her parents. Thanks to that she retired from the knight group right before receiving investiture and brought along the children of squires who used to serve her family since the past as they became adventurers. Such a waste~"
"For a period of time she was entering the dungeon together with me as well. During the time until she called out the squires she was familiar with she was a member of the {Verdure.Brotherhood}. Though it was only for about one year or so."
"I can't really say anything too great though because it's thanks to that the great I was able to joyously be remembered by the King and ended up becoming his dog."
"It's not particularly like we got into a fight. She just wanted to get independent all on her own."
"After she retired from the knight group it seems she was on bad terms with both the King and her family for a short while but they must have reconciled. It seems they've had a connection again since several years back."
"No matter what don't reveal this conversation. Only a small number of people know about it. I'm sure even you don't want to buy the displeasure of the King right? I don't want to end up buying his displeasure just leaving her to die either. I somehow want to save her. For that sake I'll do anything. I can lower my head as much as it's needed. I'm begging you. Please save her. It's fine even if you can't make it in time just retrieve the magic stone."
After just listening to what we could, since we're lacking in time we ended up leaving soon after. It seems that they're going to the dungeon as well. I confirmed with Miduchi afterwards that it doesn't seem to have been a lie. Furthermore, in regards to my information it seems there was a request from the King two years or so ago and he was reporting on it every time I made some sort of movement but just as expected the details weren't anything significant.
Together with Miduchi, the two of us spent a bit of time talking on the way towards the entrance plaza from Elm Tree Manor.
"Hey~ why do you like that fellow?"
"Yeah. Three days ago when {Black.Topaz} entered the monster room you seemed really happy to go to their aid didn't you?"
That time, weren't you smiling?
"I just felt like she seemed a bit like myself in the past..She's past 30 and single after all."
What's that? The so-called sharing each other's misery? I seem to have been making a slightly strange expression. It seems Miduchi saw her overlapped with herself in the past. However, there's a mountain of people among nobles that are single past their 30s. It's because if they don't start up their own household as a new noble and remain as a sub-Noble then they can live a comfortable life without having to pay any taxes. Though it looks bad for their reputation.
Even I if I were to marry someone other than the head of some noble family(otherwise a person who was given an unofficial promise to be the head in the future) right now then I would end up as a member of the commoner social standing(If I end up the head then it would just normally bee Head of the Greed Family in name and if the other person is the head then it would be the equivalent standing) and other than the luxury tax I would end up having to pay another 10% in taxes as well. Even sister now that she's failed to get married should be aiming to become a company command of the first knight group. Since the point that she became a true knight she's a vassal of the Head of the Duke Rombert Family that is the King in both name and essence so she's guaranteed to be a commoner but if she could become a company commander then she could become a Viscount after all.
"Hey, don't make fun of her too much. It's fine if you think whatever you want if you want to pity her all on your own though."
"Then that's fine though."
"Huh? What is it? Are you envious?"
Did she admire being a princess? Though she's already at a good age, right now she's young after all~ I guess that might be the case for women.
"Hmph..I see a princess. Do you admire her? A princess is impossible but something a bit better than that is.."
Wanting to be a princess, isn't that a bit cute.
It wasn't just the {Slaughterers} in the entrance plaza but the {Verdure.Brotherhood} as well. Miduchi and I started putting on our rubber protectors again since this afternoon.
"Listen well, we're doing a forced march. We'll repeat teleporting until we reach a location that's less than 10 km. Also, we aren't walking. Fundamentally you can leave all of the monsters that appear to Miduchi, Zulu, and I. Everyone else focus on protecting Giberuti and yourselves. After that, including the room bosses we won't be gathering magic stones. It's a waste of time after all. It depends on the teleport luck but we're aiming to clear each floor in one hour. We'll have a 30 minute break in the teleport room on each floor. We're making it to the 7th floor by tomorrow morning!"
Everyone other than Miduchi and Zulu was speechless. Gwine and Giberuti as well.
"Hey, what's with those faces? For what reason are you running? We said the courses on each floor are at longest 10 km right? When we doing running aren't you going a whole 20 km."
I put my hand on my hip while looking around. Putting aside Gwine, I'm sure it'll be hard for Giberuti.
"Alright, let's go!"
The 3rd floor, No, I'll drag you down to the 4th floor.
Leaving Miduchi as Zulu and I carry Gwine along ahead is also one hand we can play.
"Alright, 51 minutes. Take a 30 minute break."
There were parties taking a break in the teleport crystal room of the 1st floor but knowing full well it's shameful everyone fell over in a corner breathing heavily. The distance we covered was roughly 8 km and the current time is 9:20 pm or so.
We quite literally either completely ignored or blew away all the monsters as we forcefully broke through coming here. The moment I discovered any monsters further down the hall with Identify vision, Miduchi and I would dash(Of course, in the case when there's no traps between) to finish them off. Even if I don't use something like ice we can manage through the 1st and 2nd floors.
Around the 3rd floor putting aside the monsters in the halls, in order to deal with the room bosses I need to freeze them as well..I guess we can somehow manage with attack spells huh?
Year 7446, Month 9, Day 10
The time is 12:30 am. The date has already changed.
Everyone doesn't seem like they can hide their excitement over clearing through to the teleport room on the 3rd floor in about four hours.
However...
"Misu, can you keep going? If it's impossible then here"I can keep going! I'm alright."
I see.
I guess seeing her condition, Jeru and Rodrick gathered up their energy as well.
.......
We arrived at the teleport room on the 5th floor.
We ran through the places where zombies and such are behind the hidden doors all at once but normally it's at most walking quickly.
"That ice, it's outrageous right."
Kamu said while sighing.
"What in the world was that! It's amaz~ing!"
Jeru seemed to be tired as well but he can't hide his excitement. That's not unreasonable. In one of the altar rooms in order to confine the 8 {Silvan Wolves} that were the summoned monster I ended up creating two times the amount of ice on a level equivalent to 5.
"If you can use {Cure All} then that level.."
I made a bitter smile while saying it. As expected I've started to get pretty tired as well. There's no need to act like I've used a tremendous amount of mana.
"You should start being careful with your mana pretty soon. Isn't it getting sever already?"
Misu looks to be having a difficult time. Without even taking off her leather armor she said it while falling over into the bed.
Next is the 6th floor so we took turns taking showers and then had a rest for about three hours.
Next was Jeru, Kamu, Zulu, Miduchi, me, Ginger, Giberuti, Rodrick, and Misu in that order.
"However..he's quite something.."
"Me too..In the end I could count the number of times I used my spear.."
If you ask what Rodrick is up to and I guess because of the fatigue he's been silent from start to end and up until a moment ago he was gulping down water and now he's snoring.
That's right, the {Slaughterers} first party is still impossible if you can't keep up.
Author's note: (TL: Long background on Anderson not half-assed translation)
Viscount Anderson Family is a not very wealthy small territory in the North of the Kingdom but the Lord is an Elf.
The King managed to convince her into doing it by saying they wouldn't have a child because their races are different.
They were both young.
However, of all things!
Since she ended up inheriting the blood of her father the King she was born as a human.
However, it's not permitted for the next King of Rombert Kingdom to marry a woman of a different race which is hard to give birth.
It's not like the King himself did it out of love either.
Her family Viscount Anderson's Family was greatly pleased with this as well.
For the time being the child that was born was named as the child of the head of the family then.
Obviously, it's not very comfortable in the household.
By that point he had already inherited the throne so he made use of the power of the state.
After that Reddo gave it her best to reach close to a true knight.
But, before receiving investiture the King himself said, "No~ as expected of my daughter".
And with that sort of feel after asking even further...Uwa~n so it wasn't my own abilities(though it really was)! Even though my family are elves only I was a Hyumu! I thought it was strange! I heard I was adopted but I wasn't even adopted! The one I thought was just a much older sister was actually my mother(the mother ended up marrying some random Baron family's XXth son and is living carefree)! Whatever happened to the story about my parents being greatly loyal squires who passed away in the war(what her family told her)!
I'll rebel and become an adventurer!
And something like that is Anderson's life story.