Chapter 31: 31. It Looks Like the First Party Won't Be Easy

"Master, I love you."

Buzz, buzz, buzz, buzz, buzz!

"Heehee!♥ Nooo...♥"

"Why not? We're on the bed right now."

"Are we? Is that why?"

"Of course. Hurry up and tell me you love me."

"I-I... I love you..."

"I love you so much too."

Master's face had turned bright red.

She wrapped her buzzing tail around my waist and buried her face against my chest.

"Hehehe...♥ Hee! Pfft!"

If I keep drilling the words "I love you" into her while we're in bed like this, she'll eventually start saying them in everyday life too. Before long, they'll become completely natural to her.

I planned to coax her gently and make the words seep into her daily life altogether.

Wouldn't that mean we needed to rehearse beforehand?

"Honey."

Master's eyes widened at my words.

"B-baby... what did you just..."

"Only while we're in bed. Only here, okay?"

I pressed myself against Master's stomach and whispered into her ear.

Press...♥

"Hngh... only in bed...? Really, only in bed?"

"What do you think, honey?"

Master looked up at me with moist eyes.

"Honey...♥"

We simply stared at each other without a word.

Our heartbeats were blending together so much it was almost troubling.

As if aching for me, Master began rubbing her thighs together, and I too grew hard enough that it was difficult to hold back.

I should've saved that potion.

Whatever...

"I love you, honey."

"Mm... I love you too, honey...♥"

And so, Master cried out "honey" a hundred times.

♥♥♥

"I'm heading out, hon—Master!"

"Yes, hon—Ahem! Be safe..."

There wasn't much time left until the twenty-fifth.

They had said they would provide the resources needed for the labyrinth, but it would be better to prepare some things personally too.

I needed to replenish the oil I had used up because of the mercenaries, and as for my blade, which had lost its edge... if it couldn't be repaired quickly, I planned to buy another one.

This sword does feel right in my hand... Should I buy another one and take along one of the swords the young lady is providing too?

That was an awfully luxurious thought for a novice adventurer whose highest record was the fifth floor.

Was this all thanks to Master's generosity...?

I'll buy another bottle of Wonhongju on the way, too.

In high spirits, I headed downtown.

**

After buying the things I needed, I was on my way to Maehyanggak...

"...? What the hell is this..."

Before my eyes stood Chwihyangru, where I had worked so diligently until recently.

With its roof blown off.

The walls had collapsed, dust swirled through the air, and the road behind it was cracked and crushed in places.

Yet somehow, only Chwihyangru had been destroyed. It was an ironic sight.

"Did it get hit by a meteor or something...?"

"Ryu... ugh... R-Ryu-o..."

"W-what?"

When I turned around, the shop owner was staggering toward me, making zombie noises and reaching out a hand.

"I... I must be seeing things before I die..."

He was always overdramatic... though if his shop had been half destroyed, I supposed this was understandable.

"Sir, what happened here?"

"Eek!! You aren't an illusion? It's the God of Calamity! G-go away!"

What was wrong with him, seriously?

"Sir, quit joking around. I'm asking what happened."

Looking truly terrified, the shop owner fled without even looking back.

"Aaaagh! I'm sorry! I'm sorry!"

"...?"

I had no idea anymore...

Passing by the dusty shop, I went to Maehyanggak.

There were still no customers inside, and the shop owner, who had come to recognize me by now, welcomed me warmly.

"Welcome! Another bottle of Wonhongju for you?"

"Yes. No need to wrap it."

"Certainly! Ah, I've been making excellent use of the method you taught me last time."

"Haha, I'm glad it's working out for you."

"No, I'm the one who should be grateful. Goodness, listen to me ramble. I'll prepare it right away!"

"All right."

It wouldn't take long, so I simply stood there and waited. Then the door opened and someone entered.

"Is the owner in—oh, young man? I'd know you from the back of your head alone!"

When I turned around, the Blue Tower Lord was grinning at me.

The benefactor who had given me skills and points...

Was it because of my Luck stacks? The Tower Lord had appeared at just the right time, so I gave her a slight bow in greeting.

"Hello, Tower Lord. Thank you for looking after me last time."

"Hehehe, you brat! Just call me Grandma!"

Her shamelessly familiar manner put me at ease as well.

"All right, Grandma. It's nice to see you again."

"Well, look at you. You didn't seem too pleased when you were pouring me drinks before, but your attitude's changed this time!"

"I'm always respectful to elders who give me spending money."

"Pwahahaha! I like how polite you are! Have you eaten?"

As it happened, I had something to ask the Tower Lord.

"I've already eaten, but there is something I need to tell you. I'll pour you a drink, so would you hear me out?"

The Tower Lord's lips curled upward.

"Trying to pry some more spending money out of me?"

"Something like that. Will you hear me out?"

"Hehehe, sure! Sit down!"

"Yes!"

After ordering from the shop owner who had brought out the Wonhongju, we sat facing each other.

The shop owner set out the drink first.

I opened the bottle and respectfully poured her a cup.

"Grandma, I have one favor to ask."

Glug, glug.

"Planning to empty this old woman's purse from the start? Slow down."

She said that, but she looked pleased.

I took out the token from my subspace and held it out to her.

"Something has come up that requires me to use your name. Would you permit it?"

"...My name? This alone won't do for that..."

"Master said it would definitely be enough. Of course, it has nothing to do with any crime."

The Tower Lord shook the bottle of liquor and grinned.

"There's plenty left... Go on, tell me all about it slowly."

It was difficult to explain, so I asked for her understanding.

"It concerns my personal safety. Would it be all right if I give you the abbreviated version? Of course, I'll keep pouring until the bottle is empty."

"Hmm... fine. Go ahead."

And so I began explaining.

"Due to an unforeseen incident, I need to be moved in front of the labyrinth portal..."

The Tower Lord listened with considerable focus, and before the snacks even arrived, we had emptied a whole bottle of liquor.

"I would like you to announce that this was caused by some sort of experiment—or perhaps an accident—of yours."

Gulp!

"Khh... That unforeseen incident must have been something enormous, just from looking at you. Isn't that right?"

"Yes."

At my firm reply, she nodded.

"You're Arin's disciple. Something that small is no trouble. But I have a condition..."

"I'm listening."

"You brat... I thought you were a little rabbit, but you're as foxy as your master."

When I gave an awkward smile, Grandma held out her cup and spoke.

"Visit the magic tower sometime soon!"

The condition was so easy that I tilted my head.

"Is that really enough?"

"Of course~ You looked like the sort who wouldn't come unless I said so."

"I had actually intended to come and tell you in person..."

"You were planning not to come once the business here was done, weren't you?"

I had wanted to visit at least once... but I probably would have put it off for quite a while.

"Haha... yes."

"See, I knew it, you brat! I won't ask why, so you come visit me once without asking why either."

I was curious why she wanted me there, but with a condition this mild, it seemed like a clean deal.

"Excuse me! One more bottle of liquor, please!"

"You brat... you catch on quick!"

And so I poured her drinks until Master might start worrying, then returned home.

**

The morning of the twenty-fifth had arrived before I knew it.

"Be safe, honey...♥ Smooch!♥ Smooch, smooch!♥"

"I-I'm going... Mmph! Haa... If you keep making things hard for me..."

"Heehee!♥ You'll come back quickly, right, honey? Right?"

After saying goodbye to Master, who shyly waved at me from beneath the covers, I set out.

Nothing eventful had happened in the meantime. It had been training all day, then bed, then training, then bed.

Unfortunately, my sensory perception still felt just beyond my grasp, but time was up, so there was nothing to be done.

To warm myself up on the way, I kicked off the ground and ran at high speed.

The stats that had steadily risen in the meantime combined with my footwork, and my entire body surged forward.

People began staring blankly at me as I sped past.

"What a sight..."

"Truly a sight to behold..."

"Could that be the one who was with Arin in the Central District...?"

"I think so?"

I couldn't hear exactly what they were saying, but running like this was drawing far too much attention.

Maybe next time I should run over the rooftops...?

Lost in idle thoughts as I ran, I found myself in front of the guild before long.

The moment I reached for the guild door...

Bang!

"You've arrived! I'll escort you inside!"

I had seen this scene before. How did they always know to come greet me like this?

The guild master led me to the second floor.

It was the guild master's office I had seen last time.

Smoke was drifting out through the window, so he must have spotted me from up there.

The guild master spoke with an embarrassed smile.

"Ah, they're herbal cigarettes. If you find the smell too unpleasant, we can use the room next door..."

"It's fine. The scent is pleasant."

It smelled far better than the cigarettes I had encountered in my previous life. It wasn't unpleasant.

The guild master smiled.

"Haha, ah! I'll bring the adventurer's badge you requested last time. Could you give me your old one too? I'll stamp it with an iron seal."

"Here you go."

"All right, please wait a moment."

After the guild master left and I waited for a little while...

Creak...

When I turned around, a heavily muscled woman dressed in priestly robes was looking down at me.

"..."

"..."

There was no one to introduce us, and the silence was suffocating.

Had this woman been selected too?

If so, we would soon be entering the labyrinth together, so I decided to greet her first.

"Hello."

"...Greetings. I am a Northerner. I ask your understand...ing."

"...???"

What kind of way of speaking was that?

Judging by her impassive eyes, she did not seem uncomfortable.

And she asked for my understanding? Did she know there was something wrong with the way she spoke?

"Um, you can speak casually if you want."

A glimmer appeared in her impassive eyes.

She put a fist to her chest and bowed her head, then stomped over and took the seat across from me.

"I am practicing formal speech. I have lived like this, so it is difficult."

She was quite an unusual character.

"Did you come from the North?"

With her arms crossed and eyes closed, she answered.

"Yes."

"Ah... right... My name is Jang Ryu-o."

Her closed eyes opened.

"I see."

Talking to her felt like conversing with a machine that had a screw loose somewhere.

Wasn't this the point where she was supposed to tell me her name?

"What's your name?"

"Magna."

"Right..."

Suddenly, I missed the guild master.

As that hellish silence began again, a question occurred to me.

I had heard that Northerners worshipped the Goddess of Earth, yet her priestly robes bore the symbol of the God of Light.

"Are you a priest of the Temple of Light?"

"Yes."

"I heard Northerners worship the Goddess of Earth..."

"I liked the god, so I converted. My mother beat me like a dog for it."

What could have happened for her to abandon her people's religion and devote herself to the God of Light?

I was curious, but it looked like continuing this conversation would take all day, so I kept my mouth shut.

Then someone else appeared and broke the silence.

Creak! Thud!

"Hmm? Are you the people selected this time?"

A man dressed up like some kind of peacock rested a hand on his chin and looked us over.

Was he seriously planning to go into the labyrinth dressed like that?

As I stared at him, our eyes met...

"Hello."

"...Ghk!"

Ah... what was this one's problem now?

The man suddenly clenched his teeth, then swiftly rearranged his expression.

"Ha! What family are you from?"

"I have no family, but my martial school teaches Cloud-Treading Phantom Step. My mas—"

"Tch!"

The man clicked his tongue and tilted his head.

"A commoner? And Cloud-Treading... what? Hmm? That sounds familiar somehow... Tch, this is why Easterners are..."

"My master is Ar—"

"Never mind that. What's your name?"

Hm, a noble after all. I hadn't expected anything else.

Well, just because we were forming a party once didn't mean we'd be in the same party next time... Even if he annoyed me, I decided to let it slide.

"I'm Jang Ryu-o."

"Hmph, I see. I am Zenin Hardin, the third son of Count Hardin's house! Do your best!"

"Sure~"

Zenin turned with a smug grin to look at Magna.

"And you are... a barbarian? A follower of the God of Light? What are you...? Hey, barbarian! What exactly are you?"

Magna abruptly shot to her feet.

"My ears hurt. I cannot hear the voice of God very well."

"Hm? Are you insane? What is this all of a sudden..."

"Shut up, you male dog, before I punish you in God's name."

Whoa...

Zenin's mouth opened and closed at Magna's blunt strike.

A vein bulged in his forehead, and he formed a magic circle in his hand.

"You insolent barbarian... Say that again."

"God says there are no seats available. Do you wish to go to hell?"

It was obvious things were about to become troublesome, so I subtly moved out of the way.

Sparks flew between the two as they stood on the brink of conflict.

Then...

Bang!

"Jang Ryu-o!"

"Young Lady?"

"Gasp!"

As the Second Young Lady and the guild master entered the room, Zenin shrank back and dismissed his magic circle.

The Second Young Lady sat beside me with a broad smile and began chattering away.

"Hey! Didn't you miss me? Huh? Just so you know, I didn't miss you! Got it?"

...I probably shouldn't ask, "Young Lady, are you coming too?" should I?

"Haha, it's good to see you, Young Lady."

"Y-Young Lady? What is this... ngh..."

"Heehee! Nice to see me, right? Right? Consider it an honor! I'm joining this adventure too! Oh, right, about the culprit from last time..."

Zenin's lips opened and closed soundlessly.

After swallowing hard, Zenin stood before the Second Young Lady and spoke respectfully.

"It is an honor to meet you, Young Lady. I am..."

As he trailed off, the Second Young Lady furrowed her brows deeply and snapped at Zenin.

"What's with this clown-looking guy? Master! Is he coming too?"

"Yes, Young Lady. He is included on the roster."

"Tch, he's hurting my eyes. Hey! Go stand behind that desk! You're annoying me just by being in sight."

"Eek! Yes!"

Zenin immediately dashed behind the desk.

Magna looked at the young lady with a gleam in her eyes.

All of a sudden... all of a sudden, this bratty girl was starting to look different to me.

She was annoying when she was on someone else's side, but when she was on mine, she could be unbelievably reassuring.

Suddenly, the young lady's chatter was pleasant to hear.

And so, smiling brightly, I answered the Second Young Lady's questions.

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