111 - - Episode 109 Goodly

Yesterday I was strangely tired from all the things that happened. Yesterday Sara and her friends went to see her sister Gina and told her that they can now earn money as adventurers.

They thought she would praise them, but she was worried about them. I would certainly be concerned if I heard that a child has become an adventurer and started earning money.

When he answered that he would be fine with his master, he was told that his master should come to the diner with him this time. He's totally trying to get a good look at me.

"Master. You're going to dive into the labyrinth with this Mel guy starting today, aren't you? Are you going to fight with us?"

While I was eating breakfast in the cafeteria, absentmindedly thinking about yesterday, Marco asked me a question.

"No, I haven't made a contract with the spirits yet, so I have to raise my level just like Kikka did the first time. We'll have to go our separate ways."

"Aren't you supposed to be the master's apprentice?"

"Yes. She's a blacksmith, so I guess we'll be together for a little while."

Marco nods and starts breakfast again. It's a growth, in a way. In the beginning, I was so focused on eating that I didn't have time for conversation. Now I have the time to ask him questions if something is bothering me.

I'm with him every day, so I don't feel any different, but I do feel like I've put on some meat. ...... yeah. You were so skinny when I first met you. She looks a little too skinny now, so I guess she will be a healthy boy or girl in time.

"Master. Is something wrong?"

Sara noticed me looking at her and asked me what was wrong.

"Nothing. Is it good?"

"Yes. It's delicious."

Sarah nodded with a smile.

"Eat a lot."

I feel like a father who is happy for his child's growth. It's a delicate feeling. I'm still young. I want to be at the mercy of my love, not my father's feelings. I finish breakfast and leave the inn. I'm going to pick up Mel.

I'm going to pick up Mel....

We arrived at Mel's workshop. When I enter, I find Eunice next to Mel. I don't want to hear that I failed to persuade him.

"Good morning. Are you ready?"

Yes, yes. Good morning. Mr. Yuta. Yunis-chan would like to talk to you, Mr. Yuta.

What is it?

I don't want to have a nasty conversation with a beautiful woman in the morning.

"Don't worry, I won't follow you. I really wanted to go with you, but Mel said absolutely not, and she won't even tell me what she was talking about with you. ......"

He started mumbling and complaining.

"I'm sorry, Eunice. But it's all right, don't worry."

Mel soothes Yunis.

"Yesterday was great!"

Meral flew in next to me and was shaking with fear.

（What happened?)

"Those two are good friends. Now that a foreign object has come between them, it's a battlefield. Eunice cries and clutches at him, and Mel can't talk about what's going on, so he's in trouble. And when I told them we were going into the labyrinth, they kept saying no and following me, and I couldn't get things under control again.

It was Meral who threw in the foreign object, though. Well, I understand it was a hard time. I can only imagine.

At least she's calmed down for now. Eunice is walking toward me with Mel in her arms. Mel's legs are swaying. We are childhood friends of very different sizes.

"Mel won't tell me what it is at all, but I'm willing to accept that it's a secret and it's the answer to his problems. But you're going to have to do something weird to Mel. I'll kill you no matter what."

It's more frightening to be told to smile quietly than to be told to yell at someone. And his eyes aren't smiling. Reputation is important when you're helping people and you're told this much.

And it's good that you're blocking Mel's mouth, but you're blocking his nose too, so he's going to die before going to the labyrinth.

Maybe he didn't want Mel to interrupt him, but he didn't have to block his mouth so tightly. Oh, my flailing legs just went down.

"Hey! Don't stare at me, help me! You're turning blue!"

Meral is flustered and panicked.

"I don't want to ask what you mean by 'weird,' but rest assured that I don't intend to do anything as bad as you did. It's about to get dangerous.

I say, pointing at Mel.

"What do you mean I'm doing something terrible ...... Mel. What's wrong?　Mel, get a grip."

"What's wrong? You blocked my childhood friend's mouth and nose and almost choked her out!"

Unicef shaking Mel without hearing my words. He seems to have regained consciousness, but I don't think he'll be able to breathe if I shake him that hard. I was going to ask Sylphy to pump air into his lungs in case of emergency, but he seems to be okay.

"Whew. I feel a little dizzy."

"Are you okay?　Shall we take a break from exploring today?"

No, I'm fine. I'm going!

I say this with a serious face, but it doesn't hold me up because there's Yunice, crying and nuzzling my cheek. And then there's Younis crying with snot running down her nose. It's ruining her beauty. If she's like this on a regular basis, she'd be emotionally unstable, but Meral says she's never seen yunis like that before. She must be really anxious for me and Mel to be together.

I understand. Then I'm going to go now. Please do something about that thing stuck behind us.

"Yes, yes. Yunice, get away from him. I'm fine now. I'm not mad at you.

"No~. I'll stay with you.

It took me a long time to calm the weeping Yunis. This duo is a pain in the ass. But it's nice to see the belles trying so hard to comfort Yunis even though they can't see her.

"Hey, master. Are you all right?"

I don't know what you're worried about, but maybe you're worried about the whole thing. I'm just as worried as Marco.

"We'll work together, won't we?"

Marco nodded, looking very uncomfortable. Marco's kindness is that he nodded even though he didn't like it.　

Finally, we pull Eunice off and head for the labyrinth, ready to go. However, Yunis, who is half crying and giggling, is following me to the labyrinth with me, and the stares from the people around us are very painful.

To everyone around us, everyone looks like a little kid except me and Yunis. That means I must be the one who made them cry. I don't understand. What kind of rumors will be started this time?

****

"Everybody's ready. Let's go into the labyrinth.

When I was about to proceed to the entrance of the labyrinth after confirming that everyone had nodded their heads, a voice stopped me.

"Yuta! Wait a minute."

(Sylphy. What's wrong?)

"I've got something on my mind, so wait a minute."

At the words of Sylphy, he stops everyone who is about to go on anyway. What's going on?

"Meral. How far are you going to follow me?"

Sylphy called out to Meral. Speaking of which, you're following me as a matter of course.

I'll follow you wherever you go. I'm worried about Mel.

"Negative. A spirit without a contract will only wear out if it enters the labyrinth, so just wait and see.

I remember you saying that before. Then it's not a good idea to follow me.

I'm fine with that.

"Don't you talk to me like that. Yuta will call Dine for you if you are too selfish.

Meral shudders and shudders. Sylphy was with Sara and the others, so she didn't see the scene. But it's amazing how well she's able to pinpoint Meral's pet peeve in what I've told her.

"Would you rather stay at home in the workshop or spend three days with Dine?"

Deane would be able to limit Meral's actions, and since she wanted to talk to Meral, she would be happy to take Meral on.

"...... staying at home. Yuta. Take care of Mel."

(Okay. So just be a big boy and wait for me.)

"Okay."

"Master. What's wrong?

"Oh, sorry. It's nothing. Let's go into the labyrinth.

We finally enter the labyrinth, leaving Meral and Yunis with eyes like abandoned puppies.

****

"Whew."

Oh, no. I can't do anything about it. Recently, materials for the 50th level of the labyrinth and beyond have been circulating without the knowledge of the Adventurers' Guild.

The guild is searching for those who have broken through the labyrinth, but we still have no idea who they are.

While we are waiting, we are receiving a large number of requests from the government, military, nobles, and merchants to collect materials. It is not wrong to ask the Adventurers' Guild. It is not wrong, but the problem is that the Adventurers' Guild does not know the people who have broken through the 50 layers.

The military and mercenaries may use the labyrinth, but they are one step behind the adventurers who have settled down to conquer the labyrinth. Naturally, the cooperation of adventurers is essential to conquer the 50th level of the Fire Dragon.

However, those who have established a front-line base in the 49th layer have confirmed that assault dragons and wyverns made noise at one time, but that is all. There are indeed some battle scars, but they are only the footprints of a single person.

It may be possible to reach the forty-ninth level if one specializes in hiding one's presence and has the ability, but it is impossible to defeat the fire dragon.

Even the best mages, knights, and adventurers of this continent would throw away their lives to defeat a fire dragon alone. Even if they succeeded in killing it, I don't see the point in hiding it.

It is insane to throw away for nothing a chance to gain all possible wealth and fame. Or, since they are selling off the materials, are they gaining wealth?　But it is a pittance compared to the profit to be gained by going public.

Moreover, although a checkpoint was set up at the 49th layer, new materials from the 50th layer onward were washed away. The adventurers who were on guard testified that nothing had passed through. What is going on?　There are too many unexplained things. What do the Breachers want?

With the breakthrough of the 50th layer, they are expected to secure the sacred power plants. There are many talented people who are no longer able to fight in the war. What a blessing it would be if we could make a medicine to heal the deficiency.

We have been putting pressure on the commercial guilds that have the materials, but the results have not been good. We finally found out that the Pollius Trading Company has a monopoly on the materials ......, but the abominable chairman of the company, who has been evasive in his pursuit of us, has been dodging our efforts. Just remembering his face makes me want to kill him.

There is no doubt that they will eventually reach their limits, but they will probably try to prolong the period as long as possible so that they can devour the profits. That raccoon!

"Ggh!"

A stabbing pain in my stomach. I can't sleep well and I'm not feeling well these days. I have no choice but to sort through the papers I have accumulated in the middle of the night, but all of them are related to the materials after the 50th layer. I am getting more and more sleepless.

Gongon!　Boom, boom, boom!

That's an unusually loud knock. Is there an emergency?

Come in.

Excuse me.

The man who came in was the head of the guild's intelligence.

What's going on?

"GILMAS. We found out who broke through the 50th layer.

"What!　Who the hell is this? !"

I've been in so much trouble. We are dealing with a group of powerful people, so we can't do anything rash, but we can be of some use to them. At the very least, you'll have to help our adventurers break through the 50th layer. Kuku, I think I'll finally be able to get a good night's sleep.