Chapter 74: CalmDay 87

  I wake up with three girls lying close to me. All are awake and Sherry in particur is smiling happily.

  “David, it was interesting to see how you were looking at Sima.”

  “Yes, well, that certainly couldn’t be helped.”

  “I’m talking about where you looked, low instead of high. That made me happy.”

  “Sherry, I shouldn’t be praised for staring at Sima like that, especially there.”

  Alina says, “David, you do understand that Sima did that to get your attention, right?”

  “Um, I guess. I was too surprised to ask why. Have any of you heard of shell day rituals? Do dragon-kin need to mate on that day?”

  Sherry answers, “I researched dragon-kin. They do need shells, but there is no sexual connection.”

  Roxanne says, “Their old master was married and the wife was selfish. Maybe that was the deal.”

  “Good theory, Roxanne. The wife clearly didn’t like them so it’s possible. Anyway, I promised to meet Mirabel’s family tonight.”

  Alina teases, “Really, David, do you already need more women? Aren’t we enough for you?”

  Roxanne adds, “If Master needs more women, we will help.”

  Crap, this is going in a scary direction. It’s just one step away from having random girls brought home for me — which would be bad, right? I need to change the topic quickly before I start agreeing.

  “Nope, no more are needed. Let’s get out of bed. Zara and Sima are probably waiting for us.”

  Yes, I have more girls to take care of now. My old party at least looked reasonable, especially if one wrongly assumed that the guys paired off with a girl each. Now, me and five women will be assumed to be a harem party. Well, it is a harem party and it basically was before too. In the end, no one will care what we look like and I shouldn’t care even if they did.

  I ask Roxanne to check the new equipment, Sherry to check our storage and Alina to start making breakfast. I go down to see Zara and Sima patiently waiting for us in the living room. Should I ask them about st night? Nah, I don’t need to know. It’s fine to just accept the benefits.

  “Good morning, Zara and Sima. Hope you haven’t been waiting long. Breakfast will be ready soon.”

  Zara smiles and responds normally, “Good morning, Boss.”

  In contrast, Sima jumps up and hugs me. “Hello, Boss!”

  Well, someone’s certainly in a good mood. Zara says something to Sima to calm her down. I guess Sima is a morning person because she wasn’t like this before.

  “We will go to a higher floor today with the full party. Both of you are already good fighters, but you must tell me if you get tired or hurt.”

  Zara replies, “Yes, Boss. We tell.”

  “Your main duty today will be defense, so you will use a sword and shield. Please stay together and do not go too far forward. Later, we might try other strategies.”

  “So, block. Guard front.”

  “Yes, sorry for talking so fast. We will help you with Brahim ter.”

  “Yes, please.”

  “We only have one tower shield. Zara will use it. Sima’s sword and gloves are better than Zara’s. That should be fair.”

  “All good. Fair.”

  “Let’s go eat.”

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  Zara and Sima seem a bit skeptical about the breakfast porridge. I guess there will be a lot of changes. I also get the impression that their previous master was wealthy. In contrast, we live rather simply. I should check if the others want something better than oatmeal in the mornings. Maybe I’m the only one who likes it.

  “We will need a bit of practice before starting the next tier of Curatar’s Labyrinth, so we’ll work in Nordselm’s for a while. We’ll start with a little warm-up on a low floor and then move up if all goes well. Roxanne, did you check the new equipment?”

  “Yes, Master, it all looks good.”

  “Thanks, Roxanne. Sherry, I’ll switch you to Explorer now. Please remind me to switch you back at lunch in case you want to do any crafting. Alina, anything I left out?”

  “Charging crystals?”

  I still had the crystals from the bandits so I gave each of them purple crystals.

  “When you notice these change color, give it to me and I’ll give you a new one.”

  Alina quietly hands me her blue crystal and I hand her another purple. I guess I forgot to tell the others about this and the guys probably still have their crystals. Good for them to have a little extra money avaible. I hope they kept some coins too.

  “Alright, let’s go get ready.”

  Nordselm’s 9th is a good start since it has cows, sheep and olives. This will be good for seeing how well they can work as traditional vanguard. I’ll keep my magic to a minimum so I don’t end up skewing the results.

  Roxanne and Alina are doing well with providing guidance. Actually, Zara and Sima are doing well to accept guidance from people much younger than them.

  Hmm, I need some good abbreviations or at least some group names. The guys were the guys and I can’t just say the gals for just some and girls for others. Calling them by their roles seems sort of cold. How about Zasi for Zara and Sima? That sounds good — sure hope it doesn’t mean anything bad in their nguage. And now the forwards. Alro? Yuck! Roxal? Unfair. Maybe the ends of their names, like Na-Ne? I should leave it to them and pay attention to the battles I’m supposed to monitor. Better yet, I’ll delegate.

  “Sherry, do they look ready to move up?”

  “Yes, David. More than ready.”

  “Zara, Sima, in the interest of testing, could I ask to see a demonstration of your fire breathing?”

  Alina is barely holding back her ughter, while Sherry and Roxanne appear genuinely curious.

  Zara and Sima use their breath weapons at the same time. Well, maybe not a weapon, but certainly impressive. The guys should have tried to fake this.

  Zara expins, “Fire for fear. For confuse enemy. Not strong fire.”

  “Thank you for the demonstration. That could indeed prove useful against a person who is very close. Pretty much anyone would avoid it even if they knew it wouldn’t do much damage.”

  “Thank you, Boss.”

  “Alright everyone. We’re done testing so let’s move up to the 22nd floor. I’ll start using elect-, um, lightning magic.”

  I show Sherry where we should be on the map, well, the list of turns, and open a portal. Sure hope I’m correct about where we were. It doesn’t really matter if we have to start over — it’s not like we can get lost.

  I’ll use lightning and fire magic, just like st time we were here. Oh, and I have Errant now too. How will I know which lightning will be used? Shouldn’t matter, I suppose.

  A mixed collection of test subjects approach and I shoot Fire Storm, Lightning Storm, and another Lightning Storm, practically all at once. My MP feels fine so the combination didn’t have any collective penalty. The only problem is that I really should have prepped Zara and Sima a bit better. Or, maybe at all. Geez, what a fool I can be. Alina quickly expins that I can use two spells at a time. I’ll tell everyone about the third ter.

  We move along in this fshy way where practically everything we meet gets stunned. The Zasi pair deal serious amounts of damage with their great swords. Shields are hardly necessary at this level though it’s not like they really need second swords either. Poor Sherry is probably going to get bored back here with me. I avoid going too wild with multiple spells so I can maintain a good MP level. This floor is no challenge for us.

  We get through most of the map, which is fortunately correct, and break for lunch. Time for introductions.

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  I open a portal just outside Nordselm Vilge and we start heading in. The sight of two dragon-kin in pte armor might be shocking so I walk a bit ahead of them as we approach. We certainly attract attention, but it’s not that bad. Alina runs out to fetch Bernhard.

  “Hello, David. New Knights?”

  “Yes, Bernhard. Our new party members are Zara and Sima.”

  “Very impressive, David. They look very strong.”

  “Yes, they are. I came by to ask if you would like to have some fish tonight. We have much more than we could possibly eat.”

  “Thank you, David, that’s very generous.”

  “Good. We’ll bring it before sundown. I have an appointment tonight so we can’t stay this time.”

  “You are welcome anytime.”

  “Lady Rutina asked me to attend her ceremony so I should tell you what happened between me and the count.”

  “Was that when soldiers took you away?”

  “Partly. The count compined about me entering his byrinths. We had a trial and he lost against me in combat.” [1]

  “I never met the count and he didn’t help us like you did. David, I am certain that what you did was right.”

  “Thank you, but please don’t defend me in public. I would hate if that caused you trouble.”

  “I’ll try. We all support you so it will be difficult to stay quiet if others compin.”

  “And one st thing. Would you like for this byrinth to be destroyed?”

  “Yes, David. It hurts our vilge.”

  (You really undersold this earlier. Good that you’re honest now.)

  “I just wanted to make sure since I will soon have the right to do that.”

  “That’s wonderful, David, as long as you don’t get hurt. Will you become the lord here?”

  “No, Bernhard. It’s better for me to fight than rule.”

  “That’s too bad. I understand, though.”

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  Back on the 22nd, it’s quite obvious that we’re overqualified for this floor. We already cleared the 44th on Curatar with the guys, and Zasi are probably a better fit for us, exactly as everyone predicted.

  Roxanne warns, “Large group ahead, Master. At least 20 Mabreams.”

  We’re quite close to the end and could probably avoid them. Nah, let’s go.

  “Take us there slowly. Defensive positions, everyone. I’ll use storms spells so don’t charge in too soon.”

  “Master, they are just around the corner.”

  I sneak around the corner and glimpse a magnificent scene of an entire school of fish swimming in the air. I’m immediately inspired to shoot Lightning Storm, Dirt Storm, and Sand Storm. Well, they are monsters, after all. Zara and Sima stand fast to block so I can bst the fish again and then again. Enough are stunned or poofed that we can go in. I make certain to take my share to recover MP.

  “That’s a lot of fish to get rid of. Good thing we warned them.”

  Roxanne bounces up to me, carrying a staff. “Master, this was in a treasure chest.”

  “Oh, thanks, Roxanne. This is good, a Soul Staff with an extra skill slot.” [2]

  We leave the monster den, warp back to the main path, and continue to the boss room.

  “Sherry, the boss is a tuna, right?”

  “Yes, David, Bck Diamond Tuna. Not much different than the Mabream of this floor.”

  “Zara, Alina, and I will attack the boss. Sima, Roxanne and Sherry will attack the attendant.”

  We enter, stun, and stab until the monsters are dead. Well, that certainly worked. We pick up the sb of tuna, which is fancier than st time, and exit the boss room.

  “Sherry, what’s on the next floor?”

  “Drive Dragon.”

  “Best to leave that till next time.”

  I give all my white fish to Sherry and we keep the fancy tuna.

  “David, my Explorer job increased already!”

  “Believe me now? Ha ha.”

  We exit the byrinth and find a few families ready to accept the fish. It’s probably more than they wanted, so we leave as quickly as possible.

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  “Zara, Sima, how did it feel to be in the byrinth today? Any problems with weapons or armor?”

  Zara replies, “No problem. All good.”

  While I was talking to Zasi, the others start stripping off my armor in the living room. Alina runs to the kitchen while Sherry leads me towards one of the smaller tubs. Roxanne encourages Zara and Sima to follow along. I fill the tub about halfway and start to warm the water.

  “Sherry, I’d like you to help Zara and Sima with Brahim.”

  “Yes, David. Put your arms up.”

  I did as I was told and they finish undressing me. Zara and Sima look on in curiosity.

  “Sherry, have you cleared out your Item Box?”

  “Almost, I just kept some fish for dinner.”

  I create an Ice Wall nearby in case she needs to keep the fish cool. This probably isn’t necessary for a monster drop or any fish so close to cooking. I really did it for fun and to show off.

  “Thanks, David. All clear now. Tonight’s enchantment?”

  “Sima’s sword, thanks.”

  I switch Sherry to Runesmith even if Tutor might be more practical. Sherry walks off and Alina returns with the all the materials needed for a proper shave and wash. I step into the bath and they get to work.

  Zara finally asks, “Why wash so fast?”

  “I am going to meet Mirabel’s parents tonight.”

  Sensing a ck of comprehension, I crify, “Mirabel is a human woman who may become my wife.”

  Zara and Sima certainly didn’t like the sound of that.

  “It’s alright, she is nice and has already accepted the other girls.”

  Assuringly, Alina says, “It’s true. I’ll expin ter.”

  Roxanne cheerfully adds, “She’s asking to make babies with Master.”

  That oversimplified expnation seems to help. I’m directed to get up and dry off. Roxanne and Sherry want me to wear formal clothes, but Alina advises that it could be taken as offensive. Anyway, Mirabel already assured me that my normal clothes would be good enough.

  “I don’t want to look like I’m pretending to be a noble. They either accept me for the commoner I am or they don’t accept me at all.”

  Even if I’m wrong, these clothes are more comfortable.

  Sherry comes back with the sword and I hand her Rabbit and Kobold crystals.

  “Thanks for helping me get ready.”

  Alina, Sherry and Roxanne come in for good-luck hugs and kisses. Sima comes up next and does the same, despite Zara’s attempt to stop her. With the rest of the girls staring at Zara, she reluctantly gives me a quick hug and kiss too. She really didn’t need to do that for my sake, but it was apparently necessary for group dynamics. Nothing I need to worry about at the moment, though I shouldn’t let it go too far.

  When I’m finally released, I warp to an alley near central Curatar with time to spare. I hope the marquis will be reasonable. Even if he isn’t, he should be easier to tolerate than the duke. The marquis has a clear, defendable reason to distrust me. Considering the circumstances, who wouldn’t be suspicious? Ah, here’s Mirabel.

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  [1] In the LN, it’s the duke who doesn’t want the MC to enter Nordselm’s Labyrinth (v9 c5). David doesn’t know this.[2] This skill is called Soul Sucking or Soul Sucker in the LN (v8 c4). It's for weapons with Carnivine and Kobold crystals for MP absorption.