When we all went to the inn, the innkeeper was waiting for us at the counter. It seems that the guild told the innkeeper about Sue.
“Sometimes, we have to provide emergency protection when there are troubles between adventurers. That is why there are times when there is a sudden stay.”
“I see. Then, what about the accommodation fee?”
“It will be paid by the guild first, but it will be deducted from what you earn later.”
“I’m sorry for all the trouble. Thank you in advance.”
This kind of thing is decided in advance with the inn affiliated to the guild. And so, Sue’s accommodation was already decided.
—But a problem occurred.
“But I don’t have enough room at the moment. Sorry, but is it okay if you guys share a room?”
“It’s okay. In fact, Shiro sleeps with me all the time, so there’s one bed available.”
“Then Shiro is going to sleep with Sue-oneechan tonight!”
“About that, let’s decide later.”
“I’m sorry again for the trouble.”
So, first of all, she moved into our room.
Then I belatedly thought, wouldn’t it be bad for a nobleman’s daughter to be in the same room with us?
After we got to the room, I voiced out my concern.
“Sue, just to confirm, it’s not good for a nobleman’s daughter to be in a room with a commoner, right?”
“I’m an adventurer now, so it’s okay. But when it’s an official one, we’ll have to stay in separate lodgings of course.”
“It can’t be helped this time, but from next time, we’ll make sure to have a separate room.”
I was on the top bed and Sue was on the bottom bed. Shiro and Ao seem to change their sleeping place depending on their mood. At the next inn, we’ll try to divide our rooms into a separate one.
✲✲✲
“Oh, you’re the same age as me them. You need to eat a lot and grow up.”
“Yes……”
And then, to my shock, based on their conversation, I discovered that the innkeeper’s daughter, who had an incredible figure, was the same age as Sue.
Sue is short and flat-chested, so the difference in their figures stood out more. Sue compared the size of her breasts with the size of the breasts of the innkeeper’s daughter and let out a deep sigh.
As I was watching this, I was approached by another person.
“Shun, are you going to take Sue with you to the nomination request tomorrow?”
“Well, yes. I think there might be some work for her to do there.”
While we were at the room, Sue and I already talked about tomorrow’s schedule. Sue was also motivated, so I decided to let her go with us.
If we could finish it all tomorrow, the day after tomorrow will be the Sabbath day, so we will have a good rest then.
After we finished our meal, we returned to our room and then I used life magic to clean up everyone.
“Alright, let’s go to bed. Oh-, she is asleep already?”
“Maybe she’s too tired?”
Sue was sleeping soundly in the chair. It must have been because of the tiredness during these past days.
Just when I was about to hold Sue in a princess hug, for some reason, Shiro was a step ahead of me and she skillfully carried Sue in a princess hug too.
“Good night, Shun-oniichan.”
“……O-oh, good night.”
Shiro went straight into bed with Sue and fell asleep.
Though I wondered about what has happened, I went to bed as well.
This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.
Earning money to pay off our debts has come to be called “training” for me and Solana. It is now the morning of the third day since I started diving into the combat level of the dungeon.
I am getting more and more efficient. Solana also praises me for having a solid foundation.
I’m glad that she had acknowledged the efforts I had made, such as my daily short sword training and my study by making use of Father’s notes. But when it comes to core strength, I think the leg training I did at my part-time job as wake-up caller helped the most.….
“Gaa!”
Now, I can face a kobold.
Its eyes were bloodshot, and the hand holding the dagger are limp. The low growl is likely to make me shiver if I let your guard down. It made me mercilessly realize that it is impossible to talk or reconcile with monsters.
It was supposed to be an opponent that could be defeated by now, but my breathing was disturbed.
“Fuu……”
I took a deep breath.
I don’t know about other adventurers, but I always feel the horror of monsters. “I’m afraid they’ll come out of the dungeon someday”—that’s the dread I always thought of.
Sometimes, I also think about it.
Why did God leave the monsters behind? Just to seal them away? Couldn’t he had just defeated them all?
There are many theories in the myths, such as “for the sake of the materials” and “not forgetting the art of fighting”, but I don’t really think that it was the reason.
Is it because of the monsters that Lu got sick?
Even Father, in the fight against the monsters he—
『Rion』
Solana’s voice came from the gold coin. I turn my attention back to the kobold. It hasn’t made a move yet. It just held a dagger at waist height and looked at me with warning.
“Guu……”
I stared back at the opponent that growls at me.
“Come.”
The opponent jerked.
—But a split second before that, I was already in action. It was an ahead and instant move. I leapt and closed our distance, immediately breaking through the opponent’s attack range. I pierced its throat with the blue crystal short sword.
The kobold instantly crumbled into ashes and dropped magic stones.
“My win….”
How many kobolds had I faced today?
When I came here, my breath was white, but now I was hot with sweat.
It’s time to take a break.
“I’m going to take a break.”
『I was about to say that, too. 』
I walk back to the relatively safe staircase. I sit down on the ground and count the magic stones I’ve earned. Today’s haul was 1 warg, 4 kobolds, and a few slimes.
Ouch. I felt a stinging pain when I touched my cheek. I’m bleeding.
“Maybe I went too fast.……”
On the first day, I fought one monster and then I took a short break. Afterwards, I fought again and took another break, such cycle went over and over again till I was at my limit.
—But there was one thing I didn’t expect. The purchase price of the kobold magic stone was lower than I expected. It was just a little lower than usual, but something bothers me. There are other dungeons, so it is inevitable that the price of magic stones will drop. Still, I just had a bad hunch.
So, in order to pay off my debt quickly, I had to increase the efficiency of my training further. That was why I did not take as much short breaks now.
From today, instead of going back to the safe zone, I decided to go around the dungeon once and then return to the surface.
The ability, White Flame, enveloped my whole body. My tension eased and my fatigue faded away. It helped me conserve recovery potions and trained me in using magical power at the same time.
At that moment, a glint appeared at the edge of my field of vision. Solana jumped out of the gold coin.
“Are you hurt?”
The palm-sized Goddess sat on my shoulder.
I chuckled wryly as I put the lid on my water bottle.
“Just a little.”
White Flame healed my wounds quickly. Solana seemed relieved and her fairy-like form quickly returned to the gold coin.
『Muu! If I could just stay outside all the time, I would be able to protect you more. 』
“Haha……”
I’m grateful for her care.
Suddenly, I had an idea. For example, when a monster appears, I could unseal her and have her defeat the monster.
Solana seems to know what I’m thinking, she said,
『Of course that’s possible. Shall we do that?』
“Yeah….…”
Solana was excited, but I gave a half-hearted reply.
Well, I vaguely thought that it was not right. Even if it’s a borrowed strength, I want to make it real one day.
“First, I’ll become stronger.”
My breathing had steadied a lot, but I still wanted to rest. While resting, I ask Solana,
“Uhm, Solana-sa-, erm, what does it feel like…. being sealed?”
Oh, it was terrible. I was about to speak in formal tone again. There are times when I called Solana with “san” or some other honorifics, but every time I do, she gets annoyed and starts sulking.
『Well, how should I describe it….. Hmm, I guess it’s like climbing a high mountain. Do you know what it feels like when you climb a high mountain? Like how you feel the cold there and feel how the air is getting thinner.”
I’ve never really climbed a high mountain, but I’ve heard similar stories.
『It’s the same as that. The sealed space is getting colder and harder. I feel like I’m in a place I shouldn’t be. When I go out in my tiny form, I can postpone the restrictions a little, but that doesn’t change the fact that there are restrictions imposed on me. 』
“I see……”
『But I got to know it’s a very powerful seal…… So much that I didn’t think that even an awakened god will be affected by it. 』
Solana still has few memories to remember.
It seems that there are still many things that we don’t know about, especially on the seal that cover the world. Well, even the monsters of the time and the beings who led them remained hazy in detail.
――The Era of the Great Seal, the time when the gods fought monsters and sealed them away in dungeons.
That general plot is the roughly same.
『When I’m in the dungeon, I feel like I can remember something. 』
But Seal huh…..
My ability “Unseal” has the same letters. The only other skills I can think of that relate to seal are those used by priests who serve the chief god, Odis-sama, or the royals and people high above the clouds.
I tried asking the guild members about it casually, but the result was the same.
“……It’s better not to tell people too much about my abilities.”
I blurted out. Then I paused.
But then if I did that, it would make it even harder for me to reveal my skills to Lu or to my mother…
While I was conflicted, the staircase became noisy. It’s past morning, so the adventurers of the Eastern Dungeon must be coming down.
“It’s time to go.”
『Got it. 』
Not long after I had advanced further into the dungeon, the cold aura from the next monster caught my attention.
This time, it’s not alone.
This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.
I had stepped into a certain level of the East Dungeon.
—The third floor.
Unlike the first two floors, the “exploration level”, this place, called the “combat level”, is where the monsters become stronger in earnest.
I am by myself. In my hand is a blue crystal short sword. In addition to my usual armor, which was reinforced with leather from my everyday clothes, I wore a pouch to hold the magic stones I can collect today.
Unlike the upper levels, no one comes here for medicinal herbs collection. Perhaps because of this, it was terribly quiet in the area, and I could even hear my own breathing.
At the end of the stairs is a straight passage. There must be a number of branch routes, and the monsters at the end of each route are different depending on the time. Items and monsters are constantly changing in the dungeon after all. Monsters can even be stationed in areas that were thought to be safe. That’s why adventurers called the levels from here on as danger zone.
However, magic stones, materials, and ancient artifacts are available from this floor and below. If you want to make money, you can’t ignore the combat levels.
“Well, I know that but…….”
I could occasionally hear something stomping in the ground in the distance. When the tension reached its peak, something brushed my cheek.
“Uwaa!”
At the sound of my surprised scream, I hurriedly covered my mouth.
“What’s wrong?”
A golden glow spoke as it hovered next to my head.
“……Did I surprise you?”
It was Solana, shrunk to the size of the palm of my hand. She looks like an elaborate doll, but her expression changes from time to time. Gods can change their size. Her white dress flutters as she floats in the air. Her golden hair and bracelets sparkle, making her look like a fairy from a certain tale.
“I’m sorry for that. Apparently, with this tiny size, I can stay out for a longer time.”
Solana is small in stature but has keen eyes.
“In this floor, the seal is stronger than in the city. It is probably to seal the monsters properly.”
I nodded slightly, wary of my surroundings.
Solana continues.
“If I go out with a big body, I use a lot of force even with just a few movements. It will be inconvenient if I don’t last a few minutes you see.”
The more it affects the gods, the stronger the seal in the dungeon must be. The fact that there are monsters sealed here adds to the sense of reality.
Slowly but steadily, I began to feel anxious.
I should have the confidence. After all, I had defeated a kobold in the exploration level with a single blow, leveled up, and get new skills from Solana. When I was really short on money before, I was willing to take risks so I went running around this floor. Because of that, I know the geography here and I know how to choose my opponent to fight against. But when I think that there is a monster that is not comparable to a slime, I couldn’t help but ask myself, “Is it too early?”
Remembering Lu’s peaceful sleeping face yesterday, I shook my head to free my mind from pessimism.
“……To be free, I can’t avoid it.”
Just how long are you going to be nervous?
After asking myself, I took a deep breath, pulling my chin tightly. Breathing deeply in my stomach is a breathing technique that my father taught me.
“Let’s go, Solana.”
I’m careful not to miss any footprints or bloodstains. Eventually, I found a clear footprint on the ground. Long claws on four legs. The forelimbs and hind limbs are about the same width as my step, which is quite large for a beast.
“……It’s a warg.”
I swallowed. My legs were stuck as if they had been sewn together.
“Hey, let’s turn back for now.”
“Hn? Why?”
I whispered to Solana.
“It’s a strong monster.”
Also known as a beginner killer. It is a wolf-like monster that attacks with its fangs in quick movements. The tricky part is that it’s super-fast. It is said that an experienced party can easily predict it’s move ahead, but a beginner party can be disrupted and overrun in no time.
“It’s rare to see it in the Eastern Dungeon…… t-this is bad!”
The only saving grace would be its habit of not wanting to leave its “territory”. It’s easy to avoid a fight against it that way. If it’s in the path you’re moving forward to, just turn around on the spot.
“It’s better to be cautious.”
The tiny Solana crosses her arms. Her blonde hair and eyes sparkled.
“Just to be sure, let’s review your skills. The skill, golden flame, can constantly improve your abilities. Rion, that means you are stronger than you think.”
Now that I think about it, yesterday, I sprinted at full speed, but I didn’t even get out of breath. I thought it was just a little bit of Solana’s blessing.
“The Golden Flame doesn’t stop there, it consumes magical power to further enhance your physical abilities for a limited time.”
Consuming magical power to bring out further enhancement huh….
Solana raised her index finger.
“It’s a time-limited boost.”
I haven’t tried it yet. I was thinking of trying it out if I still had magical power to spare after I exit the combat level.
Just then, a howl echoes through the dungeon. Then the sound of claws kicking the ground followed.
“D-don’t tell me….”
I didn’t have to hesitate anymore.
“Grrrrr”
A growl came from the corner. Eventually, a dark wolf appeared. Bright red eyes and mouth opened wide to its prey. The warg roared, showing off its ragged fangs.
“I-it’s coming for me?”
I don’t think I’ve stepped into its territory yet!
Fear rises from my chest.
“Rion, you should give it a try.”
Solana’s words were as warm as the sun. Right! There is a God who believes in me. I have ally, someone is watching over me. This is many times more reassuring than I ever thought it would be.
The world becomes clearer. Everything was clearly visible. Even though it’s a dimly lit dungeon. I can sense the warg’s breathing, the movement of its paws, and the aim of its fangs.
“There is a time limit for physical enhancement. You have to do it as quickly as possible.”
I kicked the floor and rushed towards the warg. The warg leapt at me but I slid underneath it.
Slow.
Even the super-speed of the warg looked slow.
“Fu!”
I jumped towards the back of the enemy.
—But when I tried to jump at the warg, I misjudged my own speed. I jumped too far. The dungeon has a four-meter ceiling, and I jump up to the point where I almost hit my head.
“……W-what a jump!”
I thrust out the blue crystal short sword in my hand and sent it straight down. I used my entire weight to skewer the warg, who had lost sight of me.
“Guuuh”
Only a short groan remained.
The warg was reduced to ashes and magic stones and fangs rolled around. In a daze, I stroked my limbs enveloped in golden aura.
“There’s a time limit to it, and with your magical power, you can’t do it frequently. That is why it’s a trump card. But it’s pretty dependable, isn’t it?”
I wiped the sweat off my face.
“Yes!”
It’s a very powerful ability. It’s just a trump card huh.
But when I think about it, it makes sense. My power is borrowed from a God, and if I don’t become stronger, I probably won’t be able to become the real “strongest”.
I put the large magic stone of my first warg into my pouch.
I decided to spend the rest of the day fighting monsters on the third floor.
This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.
In an aristocratic mansion facing the main street in the center of the Royal Capital.
In a city where taxes on houses vary depending on the width of the road it faces, a huge mansion with a garden and an iron gate was a dazzling example of luxury.
Gideon’s voice echoed in a room overlooking the beautiful garden.
“That Rion killed the kobold!?”
Slamming down his wine glass, Gideon glared at the informer.
Gideon is about 20 years old. He is a well-dressed young man, but his narrow eyes gave off a cold impression and his contorted lips highlighted his arrogance.
The leader of the Adventurer’s Guild standing at the door hugged the document he was still carrying. His face is completely pale.
“Y-yes, that is correct……”
“Is there anything else?”
“According to the slip, it seems that he also delivered a magic stone yesterday. It must be the one dropped by the kobold.”
“……That lowlife!? A magic stone? Since when did he know how to defeat a monster?”
One thing that came to his mind is the girl who helped Rion in the back alley.
He thought she was a high-ranking magician because of her sudden appearance, but according to his investigation, no adventurer had formed a party with Rion. Above all, there is no reason for such a powerful magician to enter the beginner dungeon with Rion. What he was certain is that it is not for the sake of money.
Remembering his still aching jaw, Gideon grimaced.
“Uhm….…”
Glared at by Gideon, the guild leader nearly dropped the documents in his hands.
“Hmph!”
“Hiii.”
There are many old noble families in the Royal Capital. Among them, Gideon’s Warburg Family is one of the four major nobles who rule the Royal Capital by dividing it into four equal parts like a pie.
The Adventurer’s Guild was a multi-nation institution, but in the Royal Capital it was only a pawn of the nobility.
“Bullshit!”
Fuming, Gideon threw the wine glass against the wall.
“That trash with useless skill is like the scum that the Lord God has forsaken! Now you’re saying such sudden change is happening!? ……It irks me!”
Rion’s father was an adventurer who was known to everyone in the Royal Capital. Possessing the aura of the sun, he had brought together the depressed adventurers in the Royal Capital and has defeated a boss monster before the knights.
And so, without realizing it, he had caught the eye of Gideon and the others in charge of the Royal Capital.
“I have to put his son into slavery……”
Gideon gets up from his seat and walks over to his desk.
An opened letter was still placed there, and it read:
『I am buying slaves with rare skill at a high price.…. 』
He traced the initials of a powerful noble, 『V』, with his finger.
Gideon suppressed his irritation as he thought of a way to ruin the life of the family of the commoner he hated.
“……Tell the guild and the stores to buy Rion’s materials at a bargain price.”
“Ah? B-but buying and selling materials is the lifeline of adventurers…..”
“That’s exactly why you’ll do so! It would be better if he could not sell his things…… No, rather than that, wouldn’t it be better if I actively let them buy inferior products? Kuku……”
He grinned evilly as he thought his plan was foolproof.
Adventurers make a living by finding items in dungeons and selling them. With a sick sister who eats up a lot of money just by being there, and with Rion having a difficulty finding work, he could only succumb to his terms, and eventually, he will not be able to repay his debts.
“Even though it was a useless skill, there is a noble who is very interested in its rarity. You’re already good as ‘sold’, Rion.”
Commoners who are unable to pay their debts are obliged to do forced labor under the noble.
In short, they are a de facto slave. It’s called “de facto” because the Royal Family does not approve of slavery.
――God do not permit slavery. Because if it is a profession approved by God, there should be a skill of slave or slave master. But there is no such skill. That’s the real reason. Whether it is to gain popularity with the people, a policy is a policy.
However, the nobility secretly enslaves commoners under the pretext of “forced labor because of debt”. Rather, the slave trade became the exclusive domain of the nobility, and the nobles became richer because of it. Working in debt also has the advantage of making it harder for slaves to escape. If they run away, the reimbursement will be extended to their families.
After failing to repay his debts, the son of that detestable adventurer volunteers to be a slave himself—just the thought of such thing satisfied Gideon’s self-esteem.
Kukuku, it would be fun to put on his slave collar in front of his crying family member.
But if he pays off his debts in full, it will be troublesome!
“Kuku, the buyer is an influential man…… It would be a good idea to make your name known to him.”
Since it is forbidden, there will be criticism if the sale becomes public. However, the nobles, who had become more powerful in recent years, would no longer listen to that. He recalled that there was a particularly nosy princess, but she was banished to the frontier temple as a warning to others.
“I’ll hunt them down, put them into slavery, and sell them.”
The family will be mentally weakened and their judgement will be impaired.
“I might as well sell his sister that will be left behind somewhere.”
Of course, Gideon doesn’t know about it.
—That Rion’s 『Alarm』skill now had “Unseal”. And that ancient items can also became a super-efficient way for him to make money.
“Kekeke!”
—What more, he doesn’t know that Rion’s ally is far from being “high-ranking magician”.
He is so full of himself yet doesn’t know anything….
This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.
Obtained the Skill, 『Sun’s Divine Protection』. ―――――――――――――――――――――――― 【White Flame】can now be used. 【Golden Flame】is now available.
“Thank goodness. Rion, you have magical powers.”
Solana presses her chest as if relieved. I got a new skill, and I looked at my faintly shining arms in shock.
“Now you can draw out more power from me.”
W-what does this mean?
It occurred to me belatedly, but as far as I know, skills are supposed to be acquired only once in a lifetime.
Yet that warm magical power that enveloped my whole body was the same when I leveled up or when I first received the skill 『Alarm 』.
“When God and man meet, a special power arises. The change that occurs when two different beings meet is what you call ‘skill’. If you wake up other gods, maybe you’ll still get some skills.”
I feel like I’ve been told something ridiculous.
“G-Goddess-sama, you mean to say that there are still other gods out there……?”
“Mmm. I’ve woken up, so there are probably gods still sealed away in their sleep.”
Solana purses her lips and comes closer. She pokes her finger on my chest.
“Rather, can you please stop using honorifics such as ‘sama’?”
“But you’re a God, aren’t you?!”
“I get that you have a lot of respect for me, but I want to be a God who will be with you to the end. That’s why it’s okay to speak in a normal tone, so you don’t need to add ‘sama’ you know.”
“S-Solana-san….…”
“So-la-na-”
“……Yes”
At Solana-sa-, Solana’s urging, I placed my right hand on Lu’s forehead. Her sweaty forehead was so hot that my heart grip in pain.
Deep breath, calm down.
I have a skill to save her now.
Skill 『Sun’s Divine Protection』 was used. Executing 【White Flame】
White flames sprouted from my right hand and instantly engulfed Lu. As time passed, my sister is getting more and more ruddy. Eventually, she started tossing and turning in her sleep, and then I realized something important.
“Oh, by the way, Solana…… Can she see you?”
“Hn? Why?”
“……W-why? I mean, how am I supposed to explain your existence to my sister.….?”
I take a breath and try to imagine what could happen.
――Big brother, who is this person?
――Uhm…. She’s a Goddess and she cured Lu! Everything is fine now!
――…………???
No, that’s too sudden. I don’t want to worry my sister, and I am sure that she would ask me all sorts of questions when it happens that way. And even if I told her everything, the next problem will be with my mother.
My mother is able to use healing magic and works at a clinic. In other words, she is a devout believer of Odis-sama. If word gets to the temple, things will get even more serious for Solana and me.
“I see. So, you’re just being careful.”
As if telling me not to worry, Solana put her hand on her chest. She snorts softly and proudly.
“It’s okay. Since it’s a request from my dear believer, I’ll make it so that only you can see me for now!”
The confident looking goddess was suddenly enveloped by light.
“It’s done. Now, no one can see me except you.”
“R-really? It doesn’t look like there’s any change though….”
“That’s a given. Well, unless of course if the other party has the skill to sensitively sense gods like the shrine maidens in legends! Fufufu.”
I don’t think Solana’s laughter caught her attention, but Lu opened her eyes.
Her eyes are blue like the sky.
“B-big brother?”
“Lu……!”
I knew it at a glance.
She now has a good complexion, and her voice is no longer hoarse. For the first time in over two years, I finally saw my little sister wake up in good spirits. The inner corners of my eyes are hot with tears. I hugged her tightly.
“Thankfully, thankfully………..!”
Lu blinked her eyes.
“Eh? My body felt much more relaxed than usual……”
Lu takes a few deep breaths, as if in disbelief.
“B-big brother?”
“What?”
That’s weird. It’s like Lu is looking behind me.
I loosened my hold on her.
“L-Lu……? Do you see something?”
“Uhm….…”
Her big eyes rolled, and she looked sideways.
“N-no. I can’t see anything!”
Lu clenches her fists and looks at it.
Good. If Lu says so, then I’m relieved. I felt like she had made an eye-to-eye contact with Solana…… but since my sister said so, there is no doubt about it.
“Rion, just now, this child……”
“Lu said she couldn’t see you.”
“……I see! Well, if my believer says so, then it’s true!”
Solana agreed, and I nodded vigorously.
Status:
Rion(14 years old, Male) Level: 4 Skill『Alarm』: ➥ 【Wake Up】⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅Wakes up a sleeping person refreshed. ➥ 【Unseal】 ⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅Cancel any type of sleep. Skill『Sun’s Divine Protection』 ➥ 【White Flame】⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅Recovery. The blessing of the sun also exorcises curses. ➥ 【Golden Flame】⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅Improves physical ability. Further effects for a limited time.
I decided to stay at home that day to see how Lu is doing. It would be a problem if her physical condition changes suddenly.
After such a long inaction, I talked about a lot of things with Lu, who seemed energetic for the first time in a while. Then I put her to bed. As I watched my sister, whose breathing was calmer than usual, I considered my plan for the next day.
I gained a new power with “Unseal”.
Now, my goal is freedom. It’s to free my family and myself from debt.
“Let’s go to the combat level of the Eastern Dungeon.”
The combat level is from the third basement floor and beyond. Unlike the exploration level on the first and second floors, the appearance of monsters is in full swing from the third level down.
There is a risk. But if I can collect magic stones dropped by monsters, I can save money much faster than I do now. The more money I earn, the sooner I can get my family out of debt.
After all, it takes strength just to live. But now I might have gotten the bare minimum of strength.
“Solana”
When I called out to the gold coin, a cheerful voice responded.
『Yeah, let’s do it. I agree with you. 』
Above all, by making the vow I had made ――to aim for the “strongest and kindest”, I felt that I had become an “adventurer” for the first time.
This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.
My days continued with Nowald-sensei teaching me alchemy and going on a cave exploration together.
The fields are doing well, and tomatoes, carrots and potatoes are about to be harvested. Lulu delivers fish almost every day. Now if I can buy livestock from Paul-oniisan, food production in the island will be even more stable.
By selling the materials we had obtained from our cave explorations, I have saved up 34,000 crowns. I’m almost there.
The only thing that has increased is the number of points I have, and neither the island level nor my level has changed.
Maybe it’s because I’ve been so busy lately that I haven’t been making anything in particular?
My happiness level has also declined. I wasn’t particularly unhappy, but I guess it was because I had gotten used to my current life.
Once food, clothing, and shelter are stable, people quickly get used to the situation and no longer feel grateful for it. Like in my case, even if I can eat three meals a day, I yearn to eat more delicious food, and I want a mat that is a little wider and a sturdier bed. In short, we tend to look for more.
Even though I know in theory that I should be grateful for my current life, my emotions don’t seem to be the way I want them to.
As I was pulling weeds in the vegetable garden, I heard the sound of wings flapping overhead.
“Father, the birdy kitty is here!”
When I looked up, I saw that Gian with Eugenie on its back is slowly descending.
“Hello Cedie, how are you feeling?”
“It’s not too bad. I’ve just finished working in the fields.”
“I’ve seen it from the sky. I’ve noticed that there’s a lot of new buildings.”
“Yes. I’ve built a pier, a fisherman’s hut and an alchemy hut. Now there are two more people staying on the island.”
I’m proud to be able to report these changes to my childhood friend. After all, until recently, it was just a deserted island without anything in it.
“I’m glad to hear that it’s all going well.”
“Thanks. Oh right, please come inside, I’ll make you some tea.”
I invited Eugenie to join us in the cottage.
As she is waiting, Eugenie found the copy of “Fundamental Research on Amplifiers” on the table.
“You’re reading a very difficult book.”
“It’s a very straightforward book so it’s easy to understand. It was written by Nowald-sensei who is also staying on the island. I’m learning a lot from him now.”
“Oh~ that’s good then.”
Eugenie looked at me and smiled.
“What do you mean?”
“Well…… you see, Cedie was suddenly kicked out of the mansion so I was worried. Father was angry when he knew about it too. He said that at the very least, your brother should have sent you to a boarding school or something.”
“Earl Simpson thought like that huh…….”
“But this is good too. Cedie is now living a good life and can study like this.”
When I asked her about the details, she said that there were many people among the nobles who frowned on Alexei-oniisan’s methods. Well, it seems that no one is openly critizing him though.
“I brought you a cake today, why don’t you take a break?”
When Eugenie took the package out of the basket she is holding, Char was the first to react.
“Father, it smells so good! It smells the same as the strawberry and honey sandwich. It always smells sweet and good when Eugenie comes over!”
“This fruitcake is indeed very tasty. Let’s wash our hands.”
“Yes! Let’s wash our hands!”
Char, who likes sweets, is super excited.
Shall I try to make sweets too?
But to do that, I need an oven in the kitchen, but…….
Eugenie arranged the fruitcake on the table.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve had a cake.”
Come to think of it, since I came to the island, I have been living a simple life.
But since we are having cake and tea, I felt like arranging the living room and enjoy a luxurious time. Luckily, I have 32 points.
Possible to Build: Reception set Description: You’ll have a three-piece set of a two-seater sofa, a single-seat sofa, and a low table. Required points: 3 Note: You will receive a tall potted plant as a gift.
“Please wait a minute before eating the cake. I want to set up the living room first.”
“F-Father are you telling Charlotte to die!?”
“Char, that’s too much of an exaggeration. Since I got some points, I just want to set up a reception area in the living room. It won’t take long.”
I set up a reception area while Char waits with a pouty face.
It is a simple sofa with wooden armrests. It’s like a Scandinavian style one. The color of the cushion is navy. The tall potted plant that came with it as a gift gave a touch of liveliness to the room.
“Oh, what a pretty sofa. It suits this house very well.”
Eugenie complimented the set-up, but Char had no time for it.
“Father, is it ready……? Char wants some fruit cake already……uuu-”
You don’t have to cry you know.
“Well, let’s eat.”
She couldn’t wait for the tea to be ready, so she took a bite of the cake. Char’s eyes widen as she takes a bite.
“Oh dear, this is bad Father! There is something more delicious than the strawberry and honey sandwich! This is the discovery of the century!”
Eugenie squinted her eyes as she watches Char finish off a slice of cake in the blink of an eye. Then she suddenly looked a little worried.
“Hey Cedie, are you feeding her properly?”
“Oi, that’s rude. Char just likes sweets. Even the food I make is delicious.”
“Mmm. Father’s cooking is also delicious!”
Char replied cheerfully as she reached for the second cake.
Isn’t that a given? I cook for myself every day, so my cooking skills are improving little by little. Besides, I have knowledge of my past life.
But Eugenie seemed a little skeptical. Even though I am the third son, she probably can’t believe that I, a son of the Earl’s family, could cook.
“Really?”
“If you think I’m lying, I’ll treat you to some of my homemade food. You’ll be amazed for sure.”
“Then can you treat me to some lunch in three days?”
Eugenie looked at me with provocative eyes. As expected, she seems to be underestimating my cooking skills.
“I don’t mind.”
“Hoh~, I’m looking forward to it then. And if Cedie’s food tastes good, I’ll reward you. But if it doesn’t taste good, you’ll fulfill my request instead.”
“Fine with me. But whether it’s good or bad is still a personal judgment, right? In this case, can I invite others too?”
I plan to invite Lulu and Nowald-sensei. We’ll listen to everyone’s opinions and have all of them evaluate my cooking.
“That’s a good idea. I’m looking forward to lunch in three days.”
After making a promise, Eugenie rode Gian and headed home.
This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.
Condition: Meet someone who will be your mentor. Points Required: 5
The alchemy hut can now be built!
I get to know Nowald-sensei so the condition was met.
Right. I can’t stay still like this. I need to build the alchemy hut right away!
I’m always excited when I build a new facility. It was the same with the game, but when it comes to reality, the excitement is more than 100 times greater. The drowsiness that enveloped my head disappeared like a fog clearing, and I swiftly jumped out of bed.
“Good morning, Father……”
Char is rubbing her sleepy eyes.
“Good morning, Char. I’m going to build an alchemy hut this morning!”
“Yes~, let’s make it right away…… Char will have bread and an alchemy hut. (Mumble, mumble) ……”
I hugged Char, who is not yet fully awake, and climbed down the ladder in the loft.
Nowald-sensei was already awake and he greeted us in the living room.
“Good morning, Cedie. I heard an encouraging news. You said you are going to build an alchemy hut?”
Sensei seems to think I’m going to do carpentry.
“That’s right, Nowald-sensei. It looks like I can activate my special ability, so I’m going to give it a try.”
“When you say special ability, are you talking about magic?”
Nowald-sensei seemed intrigued, and he looked into my eyes with his deep blue eyes.
“Mmm, it definitely consumes magical power, but I don’t think it fits into the general concept of magic.”
“Hmm, that’s really interesting.”
“Well, it’s hard to explain it in words. Sensei, if you are interested, I think it’s best for you to see it in person.”
“Hoh-, let’s take a look at your special ability, then.”
Sensei wanted to see it, so we went out with him.
According to the status screen, the alchemy hut could be built a short distance from the cottage. To be exact, it is about 50 meters up the path from the cottage to the cave.
When we went to the site according to the map guide in my status screen, I found a place where the ground is sparkling.
Apparently, this is where I will build it.
“Alright, I will unleash my ability now. It is better not to look at it directly because the brightness is blinding.”
Having made a disclaimer, I allocated points to the ground.
The resulting alchemy hut was far from flattering. It was a sturdy-looking stone building, but the windows, doors, and other fittings could only be described as shabby, and it looked like a breeze would blow in. But Nowald-sensei is delighted.
“It’s amazing that such magic exists! It’s indeed a special ability.”
“Is there anyone else who has this kind of magic?”
“I can’t really say much about it because my specialty is in alchemy, and this is the first time I’ve seen such a phenomenon. I’ve seen a few of them in books, though.”
“Is there such a record?”
“Yes. There are some incredible records of a genie who lives in a lamp building a castle overnight.”
That’s like the Arabian Nights!
Still, a castle in one night……
Compared to that, my alchemy hut may not be a big deal after all.
If I accumulate a lot of points and improve the level of the island and myself, I wonder if I will be able to turn a small cottage into a castle someday.
I can’t remember if I was able to do that at Island Maker. But it’s not bad to have that dream. Someday, I’d like to build a big castle in the middle of this island.
“Let’s go inside.”
I opened the door excitedly.
The floor of the room was also paved with stones. I’m sure it’s designed to withstand chemical spills and small explosions.
“Hoh-, it looks like all the basic lab equipment are in here too.”
Nowald-sensei is inspecting a workbench lined with beakers and flasks. There were also colorful jars of reagents on the wall.
“Father, there is a big pot here! Do we cook here?”
“No, Char. This is the place to do alchemy.”
“Alchemy?”
“It’s a place where magic and chemical experiments are done.”
“Oh~, magic?”
“Speaking of which, can Char use magic?”
Dragons should be able to use elemental magic, but what about yellow dragons?
“Hmm~, Char can use three types of attacks, strong kick, strong punch and strong tail!”
It’s not magic, but the power of her attack can be said to be at maximum level.
I can even say that it is on par with magic…..
“Well, Char is a strong child.”
“Yes, that’s right! I’ll protect Father!”
Maybe even Char could use magic, but that’s still a long way off.
There was also a bedroom at the back of the hut, so I decided to have Nowald-sensei use it during his stay here.
This hut can also be upgraded from alchemy hut → an alchemy workshop → an alchemy laboratory.
Someday, when I accumulate more points, I want to upgrade it.
“Sensei, I’ll take you to the cave after breakfast.”
“Oh right, that’s the place you told me yesterday. You said that you collected strawberry stones there.”
“Yes. I have to collect some strawberry stones today and sell them.”
At the moment, my goal is buying livestock. In order to have a rich diet, I have to buy chickens and goats from Paul-oniisan.
A female rooster costs 2,000 crowns, and a female goat costs 30,000 crowns. My cash on hand at the moment is only 10,000 crowns so I still have a lot to earn.
After eating breakfast and working in the fields, we went straight ahead to explore the cave.
I feel like I am going to have a fulfilling day today.
This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.
The stranger before me was carrying a large load on his back, and he looked like a traveler. His beard is gray, and he wears a small round eyeglasses. He looked like a doctor from the academy.
“Um…… were you peeping?”
“Of course not! I-, I smelled a hot spring, so I came here thinking that there might be a halotrichite in there….”
The middle-aged man made big waving gestures to deny the idea that he was a voyeur.
“Halotrichite?”
“It’s the mineral deposits in the hot spring.”
Was there any monetary value to the Halotrichite?
It’s rare for someone to want something like that.
“Are you an alchemist?”
“Yes. Well, my name is Nowald Walken.”
“My name is Cedie Dantès, and I am the Lord of this island. Well, the only people living here are me, Charlotte, and Lulu.”
While I was conversing with Nowald-san I heard Lulu’s troubled voice from behind me.
“C-Can you two please go over there for now? I’m still naked……”
“O-oh, sorry!”
“I’m really sorry about this!”
Nowald-san and I hurriedly moved towards the cottage.
When we are already a distance away from the hot springs, we faced each other again and continued our conversation.
“Since you’re the Lord here, I’d like to ask you again, can you share the Halotrichite with me?”
“What are you going to use it for? Perhaps, is it for alchemy?”
“No, no, it’s entirely my hobby. I like to collect minerals you see.”
Nowald-san took out various ores from his bag and showed them to me while explaining. The neatly partitioned specimen boxes are lined with colorful crystals.
“Wow, that’s beautiful!”
“Yes. Here, look at this.”
As if to confide a special secret to me, Nowald-san handed me a small box. The box is lined with cotton and a colorless and transparent stone is placed on top of it. It is an octahedral crystal and seems to be about the size of a walnut.
“Is this a crystal?”
“No, it’s a diamond.”
“Eeh!?”
I was so surprised that I almost dropped the box.
Nowald-san is too casual to hand over such a valuable object to a stranger so easily.
It was still an unpolished diamond, but it was full of earthy beauty in the sunlight.
“This is a diamond huh….…”
At this size, the value of the asset is immeasurable. It’s much bigger than the one on my father’s ring after all. Well, I guess that ring must have belonged to Alexei-oniisan now too.
“Isn’t it beautiful? It’s a gift from earth to us humans.”
Nowald-san nodded dignifiedly.
“A gift from earth huh. That’s a nice phrase.”
“Y-yes……”
Nowald-san had a grumpy face, but he also seemed somewhat happy to be praised.
“So, about the halotrichite, can I look for it?”
“Of course. If you want ores, why don’t you check out the caves as well? There may even be alchemy materials in there.”
When I showed him the strawberry stone I had gotten in the cave, he clapped his hands in delight.
“That’s great! I feel a special power on this island, and that’s also reflected in this strawberry stone.”
“Is it different from ordinary strawberry stones?”
Nowald-san put his hand on the strawberry stone I had given him and then he closed his eyes as if to concentrate on it.
“Well, it seems that the wavelength of the stone is strong, and it is difficult to find such a good quality strawberry stone. If we use this as a raw material, we will be able to make a high-quality magic amplifier.”
“It is a magic tool that increases the wavelength of magical power, right? And it also increases the power of items with magic attributes.”
“Hoh-, looks like you have studied hard. Indeed, amplifiers have a wide range of applications and a wide variety of production methods. If you’re studying alchemy or making magic tools. It’s an area that can never be neglected.”
Strawberry stones are a specialty of this island. Learning how to use it must be meaningful.
“I’d like to take the opportunity to learn properly.”
Nowald-san narrowed his eyes happily. He rummaged through his large backpack and pulled out an old book and handed it to me.
In the book cover, it says, “Fundamental Research on Amplifiers” by Nowald Walken
“I dedicate this book to you.”
“Thank you very much. This book was written by Nowald-san, right?”
“Well, I wrote this book a long time ago, when I was still at the academy…. It’s not worth anything. Please accept it without worries.”
The book I received was about the size of a paperback. It has detailed explanations and detailed illustrations, so I can understand it.
“This island looks really interesting. I’d like to stay for a while, would that be okay?”
“It’s fine but there are no inns or vacant houses on Gandalcia at the moment….”
He can use my living room, but I don’t have extra bed….
“Oh, that’s no problem, I have a tent.”
Nowald-san travels around the world looking for alchemy materials so he carries tent with him. He said that he often camped out in the field, and he said he was used to this kind of set-up.
He’s intelligent, but that’s probably why he has this wild appearance.
“It’s ridiculous to stay outdoors. Please stay at my house tonight.”
There was only one point left, so I used it to set up a large sofa in the living room. A bed would have been better, but a bigger bed couldn’t fit in the cottage. Still, this set-up should be better than sleeping on hard ground wrapped in a leather cloak.
That night, I asked Nowald-san to talk about various things. The story of Nowald-san, who has walked the world extensively, is very interesting. Alchemy, magic, geography, history, creatures, the story jumps all over the place, and there is no shortage of topics to talk about.
I asked a lot of questions, and Nowald-san gave me a detailed explanation of each one. I’ve seen several tutors at Dantès’ mansion, but I’ve never seen anyone with such a wide range of knowledge and a fun explanation.
Before I knew it, I was calling him Nowald-sensei.
✲✲✲
It’s morning.
Last night, I ended up talking till late at night with Nowald-sensei. I’m a little sleep-deprived, but my status looks like this.
After we sold the herb, the Guild Master called out to me from the reception window.
Did something happen?
“What are you thinking? It’s a small matter, it’ll be quick.”
“Understood. Sue and Shiro, please wait a minute.”
「「Okay」」
I called out to the two of them, who were chatting with the others staying in the inn, and then I entered a private room with the Guild Master.
“First of all, how was Sue? Was there any problem when you were outside?”
“None. She was fine talking to Shiro and the others who were staying at the inn. I could see a little smile on her face too.”
“I see, that’s good. I was a little worried because there were signs that she had been beaten up.”
“I was keeping a close eye on her too. It didn’t feel like she was overdoing it.”
I think her laughing with Shiro was genuine, and she didn’t avoid anyone like she has some trauma or something.
Hearing my words, the Guild Master gave me a relieved smile.
“Well, that’s good to hear. Given the content of this incident, I’ll have to talk to you about her from time to time in the future.”
“Yes, I’ll try to keep an eye on her as much as possible.”
“Mmm, I’m counting on you.”
The guild master nodded at my words.
Come to think of it, what about those two?
“Guild Master, what happened to those two in the end?”
“The soldiers of the Margraviate’s territory took them away for questioning. And the guild’s most likely punishment for them is that their license will be suspended for a month.”
“Come to think of it, even if they made that much ruckus, it will only be treated as a first offense, right?”
“Yes, for now. But that being said, people like them will never show remorse so they will always make the same mistake again. I expect that they’ll be stripped of their license soon.”
The Guild Master was sure that the two of them would make some kind of mistake again.
Well, I also think that those two people are going to do something bad eventually. Sigh. I really don’t want to be involved with those two again.
“They are nobles and I’m very well aware that if something happens, it will be a heavy burden for Shun. So, if anything happens, please talk to me.”
“I understand. Thank you very much.”
I parted ways with the Guild Master and returned to the guild shop. Sue and Shiro with Ao on her head were waiting there.
“Shun-oniichan, what did you talk about with the Guild Master?”
“She asked me how Sue was doing when we are collecting herbs.”
“I’m sorry for bothering you. Now that I’ve been treated and fed, I’m feeling much better.”
Sue had a slightly troubled look on her face, but she seemed to be in better shape than she had been in the morning. I’m sure she enjoyed collecting medicinal herbs.
But I need to give her an early rest today.
This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.
Now that the classroom lecture is over, we will go outside for practical training. Before that, I bought various things at the shop. Actually, the others also bought some extra strings.
“I feel like I’m going to get a lot of herbs when I’m with you.”
“It’s not a problem if we have a lot of extra. Besides, if we’re going to collect medicinal herbs in the future, it’s better to have them at ready.”
Uhm, this is our first time doing herb collection too, but they are talking about it as if that did not matter. Actually, Shiro and Ao are already gearing up to collect a large number of medicinal herbs.
The instructor, the old man, smiled and looked at Shiro like she is his grandchild.
We all walked out of the guild and went out of the wall and came to the opposite road from when we came to the Southern Frontier. It was a little heartwarming to see Shiro proudly showing off her guild card to the soldiers at the wall.
After about 10 minutes of walking, we arrived at a small forest.
“Since you are all beginners, it is better to start in this forest. There are few monsters here, and it is recommended for children and women.”
Indeed, there is almost no sign of monsters around. It’s also only a short walk from the gate of the wall, so even if something happens, you can run back to the city quickly.
As if saying that the practical part has already started, the instructor, the old man, is already rummaging around near the entrance to the forest. Everyone is gathered behind the old man.
“This is a medicinal herb. If you find one like this, you’ll see that it often grows in clusters.”
“It’s true!”
Certainly, there were other medicinal herbs like that growing around the area where the old man found them.
“Please note that you should only pick the leaves of the medicinal herbs you find. Since these medicinal herbs have a strong vitality, if you leave the roots behind, their leaves will regenerate immediately.”
“I see. All right, I’ll pick a lot!”
From here, everyone starts to collect medicinal herbs on their own under the supervision of the old man.
✲✲✲
“Found it! It’s this, right?”
“Oh, you’re quick to find it. Collect ten of these leaves and bundle them up together.”
“Ye~s.”
Soon after, Shiro found a patch of medicinal herbs. Everyone gathers and collects medicinal herbs.
“Oh, Ao-chan said there are medicinal herbs over there too.”
“It’s true. You two are really amazing.”
Ao also called out to me with her tentacles swaying, pointing a direction. There were indeed a lot of medicinal herbs growing there too.
“Hmm, it’s been a warm winter this year so that is maybe why they grew really well.”
Even the old man expressed his thoughts seeing that the herbs were growing well.
In the meantime, everyone continued to pick lots of medicinal herbs.
“It definitely smells different from the other grasses.”
“If you focus on the surroundings, you’ll see the difference.”
The members of the inn also seemed to have gotten the hang of collecting medicinal herbs, and they were collecting a lot of medicinal herbs as well. The children and women who came with us also collected a lot of medicinal herbs.
“Sue-oneechan, picking medicinal herbs is very fun, right?”
“That’s right, Shiro-chan.”
For me, I thought the best part was that Sue was getting along with Shiro and she is now smiling.
Rustle. Rustle.
“Oh, something is coming!”
I heard something rustling from inside the bushes. However, upon further investigation, I found that it was not dangerous at all.
—It was Ao who appeared.
Ao was carrying a tremendous number of medicinal herbs.
“Oh, Ao-chan is amazing!”
“Indeed. What an incredible slime.”
Ao looked proud as she is praised by everyone. In the meantime, I bundled up the herbs that Ao had picked up by ten pieces.
“Let’s leave it around here for today. The herbs will grow in a week time even in winter, so I recommend that you take a break or do some collection in a different location.”
“Does that mean they grow better in summer?”
“Yes. In the summer, they can be harvested in just four to five days.”
“Oh-, I understand.”
In the end, we ran out of strings to bundle the herbs, so this was the end of today’s herb collection.
Finally, we were told about the cycle of collecting medicinal herbs, and the day came to a close.
✲✲✲
“Everyone collected a lot of herbs huh. There is a shortage of medicinal herbs in winter, so please keep collecting them.”
“Ye~s.”
The unit price of medicinal herbs is low, but it was supplemented by the number, so the transaction amount was still large.
As for the guild, it seems that even though we brought a lot of medicinal herbs today, it was still not enough as we were told to continue doing it.
Needless to say, everyone is smiling at the transaction amount.
In this way, the first collection of medicinal herbs was able to produce good results.
This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.
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