“Clay … is it?”
That morning began with that one word.
Aldo-san, who assault me early in the morning, has asked me to use clay for construction.
“That’s right, besides construction, there are a lot of uses, right?You can make bricks and pottery”
“Well, I think that it would be convenient if you could make a pot”
Water jar to water bottle, disposable water bottle with out water leakage.
I don't know how many times I wanted to make it.
“There are oceans and forests in the labyrinth, right? Wouldn't it be possible to find clay if you search it?”
“Un, I haven't found it currently”
“Well then, I’ll put a request to the guild, so won't you accept it?”
“I’m not an guild member,”
In order to become a member, you have to take a test and get through a interview with the branch chief.
I haven't joined the guild because I haven't received any tests or interviews.
“But someday you'll join right? I’ll ask them about it. Find clay from the labyrinth, that will be the test.”
“That is unreasonable”
According to Hill-san story, the judgment of the content for the exam is left to the branch chief.
However, I disagree since it's not easy it's unfair, but it seems like the difficulty level is standard so I can't complain.
I don't know how difficult it's to locate clay in this labyrinth, but it isn't that difficult because I just have to dive the labyrinth and take the soil.
Certainly clay hasn't been found yet, but there are forests, oceans and grasslands, and the soil itself is abundant. It isn't so difficult if you set a purpose and search it.
“But, it's not at thing you can decide it easily …”
“Well, normally it's.But I think bringing things from this labyrinth is a fine test.”
“Well, I’m not complaining about it. I also want it too.”
“Then it’s decided. I’m gonna go talk to Master Hill.”
Aldo went out with a light footstep that seems skipping.
It's unusual for a dwarf to dance ……
“Well, that's what happened, will Alicia stay at home today?”
“No!”
“Ha? You see, today is an test. That is why I must go alone――”
“I don't want to be alone!”
Ah……. That's right, this child has been alone in the labyrinth.
That’s why,she is scared. To be alone.
She is afraid that I won’t come back.Alicia thinks I’m the strongest swordsman.
So, even it's just a thought, she shouldn't worried to that extent.
More than that, I’m afraid being left alone by myself, rather than exposed to danger in the labyrinth.
“… …. OK. Then let’s talk to Hill.”
“Un … … Thank you, Yu-nee”
Once she understand that I always do something unreasonable, the reply isn't always positive.
Down cast her eyes looking at me looks like a princess from somewhere.
For me there's no need to forcibly join the guild. So if Alicia hates it, there’s no need to take the test.
Yes, I determined my resolution and headed to the guild office (temporary).
Moving to the office where the building hasn't finish, and I talk to Hill about the situation.
It seems that Aldo had already talked about it, and it was no problem to for the clay collection as substitute for the test.
“I don't mind substituting the exam … … Is Alicisan going with you too?”
“This child dislikes leaving me …… Look, she have been alone in the labyrinth -”
“Well that's, isn't like I don't understand.But when it comes to such a dangerous place, moreover,You won’t be able to keep focusing on her forever, will you?”
That possibility certainly exists.
To collect the item you also need to concentrate on the target item.
It's not the same searching “something like this” like until now. Yet the next target is in the soil.
It is difficult to keep an eye on Alicia's safety.
“There’s certainly there will be some danger……. But, until now I’ve always been with her. And I think that she can be an adventurer at some point.That's why I want to take her as my assistant.”
“Fumu. But, that's … no, that’s not a bad idea.”
“- Ha?”
He suddenly answered with words of affirmation. As for me, I can't guess its true meaning.
“What do you mean?”
“It’s a story that she will be an adventurer, you said before,”
“That’s an assistant … ….”
But think about it carefully.
For me, I don’t know how long I can stay with Alicia.Because I've goal to return to my original World.
If so, it would be a good thing for her to have a way to live alone in this world.
The right for the labyrinth,Alicia will inherits it if I disappear, I should talked to Hill-san about it.
There will be no financial difficulties, but living …… but in reality she just still a childern.
That’s why it’s not bad to join the guild and they will be her supporter.
“Hill-san … … If Alicia joins the guild, will you be a supporter for her?”
“Me, is it?”
“Yes, you … … No, this grassland guild branch will you become her supporter?”
If Hill-san is the chief of the Guild’s branch, he somewhat has some influential power.
Of course, since it is such a small branch, there is no right to speak among the branch chiefs. However, for general adventurers, it's possible to issued a word outside range of the branch chiefs.
It must be more influential than me.
“Well that's right, I don't mind.Because I'm interested in her as much as your strength.”
“Ehh, Masaka(No way) …… Hill-san hobby on young girls?”
“I'm not!”
Of course it's a joke. I teasing him a bit, and it became a little serious.
But, I got the affirmation. If Alicia join the guild, even if I’m gone, he'll take care of her.
To do so, I must pass this exam.
“So when is the deadline for collecting clay?”
“Well about that …… this labyrinth difficulty and resources still undiscovered so it’s about a month or so?”
“So long !?”
A month or so, a period when I finish making two huts.
“It's not long.Listen carefully, this test is to find some undiscovered resources.Since it's unknown whether there's in there in the first place, it can be said that this test is the highest level difficulty.To be honest, no one can be an adventurer in the future if this test becomes a standard.”
“I didn't think that far ……”
“Haaa~, you should have known that you are out of standard”
I feel like I’d like to break loose when talking about weapons that are strong against substandard………In terms of physical strength to determine the damage, yumir herself is really only an average swordsman.
Anyway, I was able to understanding on the test.If you clear this test, the interview will be fine.
We are in high spirit while walking to the labyrinth.
We walk quickly, because the structure of the labyrinth is made from stone that can be broken down quickly.
Although we walking with shortest distance, but the distance is about hundreds meters is hard for Alicia.
Since her stamina had to be preserved for a while, I took her on the backpackers.
Although the second layer aren't made of stone, they are hard ground. There won't be much hope if I dig up the clay here, so I continue further.
Although Elder Trent attacked several times on the way, I lowered Alicia down and cut it easily.
At this time, I tried a combination of emergency action, but Alicia grasped the situation so quickly, as soon as we got into battle, she quickly jumped down and ran to support.
“Hey, Alicia. Am I fast when in battle?”
“Un, very”
“Then, why can Alicia help me?”
“Eh … Un? I don't know”
Yes, she shoots [fireball] to support me in battle, or move to a position that doesn't interfere me with the attack, and move very well.
As others say, if I'm moving “Can't be seen with eye”, so precise support is impossible.
Besides, I don't think with her knowledge nor mature personality similar to five-year old child.
I mean, there are some suspicious words she used, and at this age there should be more difficulty in pronunciation.
Early mature, I should say but it's to complete. I thought so.
“Not only me, Alicia may have a secret”
“Me too? Like Yu-nee, I can do something like *boom*.”
“That surely is impossible”
Even though there's stamina, her physical strength is average.
Like me, it's wrong to have much destructive physical power.
We reach at third layer at forest area, and looking place for a soft soil.
There are various types of clay, because it's the soil is mixed with water with fine texture, and the clay is sticky.
In these third layers it rich with woods, and you can see that the soil is being filled moderately by roots from the plants.
Furthermore, moisture can be retained from sediment such as fallen leaves.
The possibility of having clay is high.
“Listen well, Alicia. Role sharing is important for adventure.It's the same as battle.”
“Un,It's like “I'll support. Yu-nee will attack.””
“Yes, same thing regarding collection.Because I'm going to look for clay, Alicia needs to be vigilant with surrounding.”
“Vigilant?”
“Watch whether the enemy will come or not, letting me know when enemy is coming”
“Okay”
“Surely it’s also related to my safety, so please never leave from my side”
“For Yu-nee? Un, I’ll do my best”
In such a place, the most scary thing is getting lost.
I've a map function, so I can head to the lower layer or upper layer without problem.
It's because it show up the position of the stairs.
However, this map function has no character display function. In other words, if you get lost with Alicia, you have to find her by yourself.
In this vast labyrinth with a diameter of few kilometers.
“Because it's scary if you got lost, okay?Besides, it would be dangerous if you got attacked when you were alone.That's why absolutely, absolutely don't!”
“Mou, I already understand, Yu-nee do your job!”
Actually I don't necessarily need to do this every time, but just in case.
With this, Alicia is on alert, and I start my role to search for clay.
Three days passed from then.
Searching for clay is more difficult than expected.
Although the investigating one by one starting on third layer, fourth layer, fifth layers in one day, we haven't found clay that suitable for architecture and crafts.
Every day, I dive into the Labyrinth, and supplies material increases, but I can't find the item I was looking for.
“It’s harsh …… In times like these,it was customary to go hunting elsewhere to change the pace.”
“Yu-nee, are you going to play somewhere?”
“I'm not going to play. But I wonder if I should dive further down …….?”
I already come down here so far, but when it's about enemy at fifth layers it's surprisingly troublesome, and it's quite tough.
Though I still can kill it in seconds, but I more or less realized that its gets stronger the more you go down.
To be honest I'm afraid to go further down with Alicia.
If it gets stronger than this … … If you think that there will be stronger enemy might come out, as expected I'll not be able to get through.
“Yu-nee, what should we do,going back?”
“Unn ….”
The period is one month. In the first place Hill-san say we don't know whether it exists or not.
Even if by any chance Alicia got strayed, I want her have enough stamina to return to the surface alone.
Going further below this layer, at current Alicia will be exhausted on the way.
It would be nice if there was a safety zone like the fountain room.
“After all, is it still so early to get down……..Hmmm?”
Strangely I feel the ground is shaking.
I'm used to it as Japanese … but it's not that far, but I have memory of this.
“Earthquake …?”
Meantime, the shake becomes more and more big. It seems in the underground of labyrinth, the earthquake effect transmitted directly.
“First … … Alicia, don't let go my hand!”
“Yu-nee! Yu-neeee!”
Rather than releasing her hands, Alicia is clinging to my body.
And then, feel soft sensation…
– The floor, is collapsing!?
I tried to jump out with an Alicia in hurry, but this is not a tunnel like the second layer.
There is nothing like walls and corridors here.
“U,aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!”
“Kyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!”
We were swallowed by the crumbling floor along with scream.