209 - - 二百七話 事前準備

All the contracted spirits of my students and I have completed our paintings. I came back to the inn as fast as I could, rushed by Belle and the others who wanted to see the paintings as soon as possible, and was caught by Martha. I couldn't stop Martha's raging story, and just when I was sure of my defeat, our savior, Toruku, appeared.

"Martha, the kids are here too. It's late, don't talk to them, let them rest."

I thought you were God.

"Hmm?　Oh, yeah. I'm sorry to put you through that. Have a good rest.

"Ha-ha-ha, no, I'll leave you to it."

After bowing lightly to Martha and Torque, we gather in Sarah's room, which is the largest. After calming down the Belles, who were crowding quickly, quickly, quickly, they put the pictures on the bed one by one. The spirits make a fuss when their picture appears, and Gina and the others stare at their contracted spirits' pictures.

"...... Sylphy is also surprisingly happy?"

Sylphy is not making a fuss either, but she is staring at her own painting.

"Yes, well. I've never experienced anything like this before, so I'm kind of happy.

Sylphy's expression of a light blush is ...... rare. But I'm very much bothered by the fact that only a small part of Sylphy is drawn a little bigger than the rest of her.

Normally, there should be a big commotion among the group, but no one is making a comment, because the spirits are adults, right?　If I make a comment in this situation, there is a possibility that Sylphy will get angry, and the other great spirits will not be on my side. I'm itching to, but I'll keep my silence.

A little interesting are the pictures of FUKU-chan and Mame-chan, and Moon and Puru-chan. FUKU-chan and Mame-chan's drawings look like the same bean owl in different poses, and Moon and Puru-chan's drawings look like the same owl at different distances. But all of them are looking at the pictures happily, as if they like their own pictures.

"Yuta, do you look like Beru?"

"Yes, they look exactly alike."

Belle floats her picture up to show me. When I complimented her on the resemblance, she smiled happily. And as is customary, behind Belle, Rain and the others line up with their paintings floating in the air. I have to give them all a good compliment.

When I'm done, Belle goes to show her picture to Gina. Maybe Belle and Fuchu and the others will go around showing their paintings to me and Gina one by one. But if they have their paintings, it will be easier for us to understand them even if we can't see them. It would be a good opportunity to introduce ourselves again.

"Gina, Sara, Marco, Kikka, what did you think of the pictures of your contracted spirits and other spirits?　Do you think you could get to know the spirits better?"

"Yes, I now have a clear picture of Sheba. I think we will get to know each other better in the future."

"Just like Master said, Fuchu and Mame are very much alike. Pulu-chan also looks just like Mr. Moon, and it was kind of funny.

"I didn't know cucumbers were like that. I heard it was a child of a wild boar, so I thought it would be stronger, but it was cuter than the elephant."

Marco said it was a little different from what he had imagined. He might have been a smaller version of an adult wild boar.

"Mame-chan is so cute!"

Kikka is smiling and happy to see Mame-chan's picture.

Now I just need to get frames for all the paintings when I get back to the base. I have to make one for Mel's place, too...23 frames in all......... that sounds like a lot of work... But it will be worth the effort if we have portraits of the spirits in each room, so the images will be clearer.

"Well, it would be sad if they get dirty, so let's put the paintings away, it's getting late, but I'm going to have dinner.

The spirits bring the paintings, looking a little disappointed. They put the paintings in their magic bags and store them securely. One of the beds is stowed away, and a table is set out on which the food is arranged. While we eat, we talk about our plans for tomorrow.

**

"Well, as I said yesterday, Gina and the others will go shopping alone today. Tomorrow you will enter the labyrinth alone with Gina and the others, so make sure you are prepared. Also, please buy curtains for our rooms.

He says as he hands Gina an ordinary magic bag. In the bag are three gold coins for emergencies and fifty silver coins for shopping. It's quite a lot of money, but it's better than not having enough.

"Okay. I'll talk to Sara and the others and do the shopping.

"Yeah, and if you see a girl named Eunice when you go to ask Mel out, you might want to talk to her, since she's an adventurer in her own right."

I'm sure he and Yunis have made up, and he would normally tell anyone but me. The problem is that Mel is likely to come with me if he can.

"Master. What should I do if Eunice asks me to go with her?"

Sarah seems to have run into the same problem I did. Sara has seen Yunice's obsession with Mel.

"Just tell him no, there's a lot of secrets in the genie arts. I'm sure she won't be as gung-ho as she was when she was doubting me. ...... maybe. If Eunice is upset, just come back and tell her you'll talk to me about it."

"Yes, sir."

Sarah nods her head. You look a little nervous, but I'm sure you'll be fine.

"Okay, I'm off."

"Yeah, go ahead."

I'll have Dolly go with me, but I wonder if it's time to rely on the Great Spirit, even though we're not going into the labyrinth.　The possibility of being targeted seems low, but it is troublesome to say that there is no such thing.

We won't be defeated by some thugs, but I'm afraid of overdoing it with Fukuchan and the others. I think we should ask them to escort us until we feel more secure. I feel like I'm having the same feeling as a parent who can't let go of his/her children.

"Yuta, Beru-tachi..."

Belle, with Moon on her head, asks. She looks like she's expecting something fun, but unfortunately nothing interesting is going to happen today.

Belle and the others go for a walk. I've got a stop at the Adventurer's Guild and some shopping to do, so there's not much interesting going on today.

"Can I help you?"

"Yes, I'm going into the labyrinth tomorrow, so you'll have to help me a lot then."

"yessa yessa yessa yessa yessa yessa yessa yessa yessa yessa yessa yessa. ......"

What about the belles ...... moons who respond with a pithy salute pose?　Pull-pull movements have changed, but I can't tell if they are confused or trying to strike a pose. But everyone seems satisfied, and Moon is supposed to be able to do it right?

I don't think I'd understand if I got too deep into it, so let's just say it's done. I tell them I'll leave sandwiches for lunch in my room and send them on their way. I call out to Martha, and I head out to the labyrinth city with Sylphy.

Well, first we go to ...... to the liquor store. I'm afraid that I'll forget to buy something if I don't. Let's buy them while we have time.

（Sylphy, I'll buy alcohol in small portions and you show me the different liquor stores.)

I'll take care of it. We'll go to all of them."

Sylphy replies strongly. He seems to know all the liquor stores in the labyrinth city.

****

I bought twice as much liquor as I bought last time. The red wine and rosé are the same as before since they seem to drink them, but the ale and white wine are plentiful.

"Hmmm, you bought a lot!"

Sylphy's expression doesn't change much, but she is clearly in a good mood. He had led us to a small liquor store that specialized in deliveries to stores in the back alleys, just as he had said he would do. Thanks to him, we've passed the noon just visiting liquor stores.

（I bought too much. I won't buy any more. Make sure you talk to the Great Spirit about distilling the spirits while keeping an eye on the situation. Even if we distill enough to drink, we won't replenish the liquor until we have time to do so.)

If I continue to buy unlimited amounts of alcohol, the price of alcohol is going to go up because of me. I know I've been in a lot of trouble in the past, but I don't want the drinkers to hate me.

"We can go buy in another country, you know?"

I'm interested in other countries, but I can only see a future where nomos will run amok if I do. Before you know it, a whole block will be a distillery .......

(I'm not going to go that far to get alcohol. (We won't go that far to get alcohol, because if we run out, we won't have any until the next time we go to the distillery to buy some more.)

"...... I'll talk it over with you."

(Yes, make sure you discuss it thoroughly.)

Sylphy nods earnestly. My firm determination seems to have paid off. Well, we've bought some drinks and in between we stocked up on food from the street stalls. Next we go to the furniture store to buy curtains for my room and beds for Gina and Mel. Then the Adventurers' Guild.

****

"Excuse me, I heard the guildmaster wanted to see me."

You enter the Adventurers' Guild, and amidst a bit of attention, you talk to the receptionist, showing her your guild card. I feel more at ease now that there is no malice in her gaze.

"Oh, yes. Please wait a moment while I check it.

The receptionist gave instructions to the staff member behind her, and she headed for the back of the room at a quick pace. ......An awkward moment passes. The receptionist seems a bit jumpy. I know that the punishment of Ertina and the others has affected her, but I want to tell her that I'm not the kind of crazy person who would pick a fight with anyone. But if I tell her that, she'll probably shrivel up even more and create a weird atmosphere.

After spending a short but strangely long time, the secretary of Gilmas walks up to me. Whew! I don't like this kind of time. I can't talk to Sylphy in such an attention-grabbing situation, and it's hard for me to remain silent and still.

Thank you for waiting. Let me show you around.

Please.

They said we could meet. The secretary leads me to Gilmas's room. The secretary knocks, asks permission, and enters.

"Mr. Yuta, I am sorry to call you here.

Guillmas is as lowly as ever. He seems to be a nice guy according to the people around him, but I don't feel comfortable with him, probably because I got an eerie impression of him at first. Is he a one-man wrecking crew?　He replies while sitting on the recommended sofa.

"No, I've heard about you. You mean Viscount Galli and Marquis Galli, right?

"Yes, I understand that you were also interviewed by the security forces, was there a problem?"

Yes, there was no problem.

"............Yuta, did he do anything to you?　It is rumored that Yuta has erased Viscount Galli, who has been messing with him, and his parents."

Guilmouth hesitates for a moment and then asks the question fearfully. I'm prepared for the question because I knew he would ask it, but it's a bother if he keeps asking it over and over again. Well, I don't expect Guillmas to answer honestly either. What will happen if I tell them I did it?　I'm not going to tell you.

"I didn't do anything. The guards have confirmed that I was in the labyrinth city, but do they suspect me?"

"No, this happened after I visited Yuta's place, just in case. Viscount Galli's first squire is making a fuss about Yuta's suspiciousness, but it's okay, because he is not sure and he is only using it as a reference.

Gilmas says this, but his expression says he really did something, didn't he?　I think he has a face like that. Is it just because I'm lying that I look like that?　And the first squire, still annoying. The Adventurers' Guild seems to be gathering a lot of information, so I'll listen to what they have to say.