148 - - Escape of the carapace, bed after a long time

As soon as Thor rushes into the passageway, the waiting clay figures gather at once to block the entrance and exit.

The obstacles seem to be easily kicked out of the way, but they may serve as a comfort.

"Hey!　It was amazing!"

While Thor was taking a small breath, Kugase came crashing into him with considerable force.

He hugged me strongly, but the basket handles and breastplate were painful.

When I lightly tapped her shoulder, she put more strength into the hug, as if she misunderstood my meaning.

"...... are you all right?　Here you go, if you like."

"Well, thanks a lot."

Rummella offered a small tusked container with a demure attitude.

Thor accepts it and gulps down the restorative in one gulp.

"I've got to admit, I'm impressed!　It's too cool to be that strong!"

"Are you hurt?　Please let me know if there are any sore spots."

"Not particularly. I'm more interested in ......."

Unlike the two who can still move, the older redheads remain crouched down.

After fighting with all their might and using the Kamieda magic technique twice, they seem to have lost all their strength.

They had done so much recklessly, and they were also under the influence of the curse. Besides, they have been repeatedly fighting in the thick miasma.

It's no wonder that he's like this.

"Okay, I'll carry Stratchia. Kugasse is Ninessa. Ram Merla, you lead the way with caution."

"Okay, sir."

Yes, I'm on it.

The clay figures are powerful but slow-moving, making them difficult to use in narrow passages or on slopes.

Thor, carrying a limp red-headed swordsman on his back, borrows one of the swords from the Fangs of the Rotting Dragon as a precaution.

The sword has a spilled blade, but it is better than a sword that has lost its edge.

"I'm surprised you even managed to retrieve the sword.

"It's thanks to the old man who bought me a lot of time. Thanks to you, I've been able to get all this.

In the palm of Kugase's hand, which he held out to me with a smile, was a black crystal with a mysterious glow.

It seemed that he had also taken the jewel of the queen ant that he had defeated.

After proudly showing it off, the girl tucks the jewel into her waist pouch as before.

It is said that the ants in this dungeon will take a few days to reappear.

Since we had already destroyed the ants on the way to the dungeon, we reach the labyrinth master's room on the fifth level without incident, with a few breaks in between.

However, Kugase and Rummelera also ran out of energy along the way, and Thor ended up dragging them along with him.

Thor finally catches his breath after making sure everyone drinks water and puts them into their sleeping bags.

As he is remembering this and that, he hears a small exhale from Straccia, who is lying down beside him.

The swordsman opens his eyes and looks up at the ceiling silently, then mutters in a muffled voice.

"............ I've shown you an unfortunate way to lose, haven't I?"

"Yes, it is. What's with his swordsmanship? It's not like that.

"Oh, it's not like me. ...... in a hurry to win."

Remembering the near frenzy of Stratchia's movements, Thor utters the words that come to mind.

"You were going to die, weren't you?"

"Maybe. If we can beat them, that's all that matters."

"A man who aspires to be a great man should not be so reckless."

Stratchia's lips twisted into a small smile at the suggestion.

It was hard to tell whether he was smiling or in pain.

"You once asked me what it meant to be an adventurer, didn't you?"

Yes, you heard me.

"To make a name for myself. That's all I want. Even if I am scattered in the depths of the earth with nothing to show for it."

I have heard that Straccia was born near the youngest of the royal family of Zuma, the Land of Sand.

And that there is a blood feud in his homeland.

"............ I see."

Thor could say nothing more, and only replied with a single word.

The next day, having regained their strength and magic, the group departed for the surface.

It had taken quite a long time to get here, but the journey would not have been so tedious if there had been no battle.

Before noon, as they were waiting in a passageway where they could see the light on the ground, they heard what sounded like whistling.

It seems that a flying dragon boat has arrived.

In the sunlight for the first time in two days, the girls with sunken faces finally smiled a little happily.

The weight of the curse that had been hanging over them until then has finally disappeared.

It took about an hour to reach the border town of Dadan.

However, since it is impossible to get directly into the outer wall, we alighted at a special landing along the street.

Inside the fenced compound, we saw a large stable.

It seems that some livestock are kept there for fodder.

Several carriages are already waiting for them, and their followers begin to crowd around Stratchia and the others who have disembarked from the flying dragon boat.

Thor, who had been waiting for them for some time, finds himself pushed into one of them.

After about ten minutes, the carriages arrive at the square in front of the Adventurers' Bureau in the outer city.

They were going directly to their homes, and Thor asked them to stop here.

"What, are you getting off here, old man?"

"Um, ......, I'm on my way to the almshouse now, would you like to join me?"

"No, thank you. You've been very helpful this time. Thank you."

As Thor was about to open the door after saying thank you, the two girls hurriedly stopped him.

"Wait a minute. Here's my letter of introduction. If you show it to the receptionist, you'll get first priority for treatment.

"Here, you can use it to help pay for your treatment, old man."

Rummella hands me the letter with a pensive look on her face, and Kugase forcefully pushes the bag around my waist where my treasures were stored.

Thor's lips lifted at the sight of the two men's efforts as they accepted their gifts.

When he returns to his lodgings, he is greeted by Sora, who is taking in the sheets that have just been washed.

The girl runs up to him silently, clings to Thor's arm and inhales like a puppy.

"Mmmm, it's been a while since I've smelled you, Thor. ...... smells so sweaty. What's wrong?"

"Yeah, I've had a lot going on."

"To-chan!"

Next, Moe, who had heard them talking, came running out of the back room at a furious pace.

He clung strongly to Thor's waist and raised his voice.

"Did you miss me, Moo?　Moo missed you so much!"

As I stroked his golden curls, which were pressing against me, Yuril came out, as if he had heard the commotion.

With a relieved smile on his face, he comes closer and reaches out his hand to casually touch Thor's face.

Then, after showing slight surprise at his action, he spoke to him in his usual calm tone.

"Welcome back, Thor. I am glad to see you are safe.

I'm back. I'm back.

"Yes, I see. We still have some time before dinner, so why don't you take a bath first?"

He noticed Thor's smell and suggested that we go.

The sheets are freshly washed.

I want to clean myself up and get a good night's rest tonight.

"Well, I'll take your word for it."

"Well, why don't we all go together?"

Moo is going to clean you up!

"Hmmm, shall we do that?"

Thor thought to himself that it was not a bad feeling, even though he had just returned and had to turn around immediately.

"But it's very thoughtful of you to wash the sheets for me," he said.

"Oh, that's ......."

"Oh, no, it's Moe's handiwork!"

For some reason, the child was proudly puffing out his chest.