223 - - 二百二十一話 八十六層

Thanks to Marco, I was able to figure out how to make use of Gina's s*xy, slightly lascivious equipment. Next, we'll have to verify Marco's magic shield.

"You guys stay back a little bit, okay?"

I ask Gina, Sarah and Kikka to leave a little and give Marco permission. I thought maybe I should try it first, but Nomos didn't say there was any danger, so I guess I'll be okay. Besides, you want to be the first to use something like this.

"Let's go, Master!"

The moment Marco puts magic power into the magic shield, a barrier is instantly deployed from the magic shield. You're very dexterous, I couldn't quite grasp the feeling of putting magic power into the shield. ...... I was born and raised in a world with magic power, so I guess I have a different feeling?

It's a little frustrating, but let's check the barrier anyway. The barrier is almost colorless and transparent, but it seems to reflect a little light. It looks cool and subtly stimulates my kitchen spirit.

"Marco, are you sure about the magic power?"

"Yeah, I'm totally fine!"

"Can you move with the barrier up?"

Marco moves back and forth, left and right. He seems to be able to move without any problem, and seems to be quite useful. We need to make sure that it is something that will protect us. Before I know it, Gina is touching the barrier. At least we can touch it, so we can be sure that it can protect us physically as well.

But I wish she'd pay more attention to safety. Don't you think it's dangerous to touch it?　If you were thinking about ......, you wouldn't touch it carelessly. I'll give you a heads up.

"Okay, Marco, let's try some experiments."

"Yes."

After giving Gina a firm lecture, he resumes the examination of the shields.

After ............ many experiments, we found that if we put additional magic power into the magic shield, we can make the barrier thicker and extend its range. The maximum size of the barrier is about two meters, and its strength is such that it can be shattered by a single fist shot with the magic power of a life magic.

The impact of an attack is mitigated considerably, but it seems to be slightly transmitted to Marco. A powerful attack could blow Marco away even if the barrier is not shattered. The backyard is too small to check the upper limit of the strength, so we need to do additional tests in the labyrinth.

"You've got the general idea. It's a useful shield but it's difficult to handle, we need to practice putting the necessary magic power into it at each moment. You need to make sure that you do not do anything reckless after entering the labyrinth. Gina, help Marco not to be reckless.

"Yes!"

"Yes, all right, Master. I won't let anything happen to you.

"Please. Then tomorrow, Gina and I will resume our search for the labyrinth, so let's get ready. Make sure we talk about all the new equipment we're going to need.

I said my closing words and was about to leave when Kikka pulled my sleeve.

"Kikka, what's wrong?"

"Osho-sama, Kikka want a maddogu too."

Kikka looks up at me with sparkling eyes. Seeing Gina and Marco, I guess I got jealous. It's Kikka's first time to ask for something, and I'd like to give her a chance, but I don't have any magical tools at hand that would be useful for her. It's not right to give her a magic sword.

"I can't give you the sword now because I don't have a good magical tool, but if I find a good one in the labyrinth, I'll give it to Kikka, can you bear it?

I patted him on the head and he nodded his head and said he could bear it. We must get a useful grimoire at any cost. It's time to show my master's worthiness.

"Okay, I'll do my best to get Kikka a good magical tool, and you do your best in the labyrinth.

Kikka runs to Gina and sees her off.

"Don't worry, I'll get Sarah a good magical tool too."

"No, that ...... master. Magic tools are expensive. It would not be good for Kikka's education if you give it to her so easily. ......"

......No, Sara was looking at me with a glazed look on her face, so I followed up with her, and she gave me a very honest opinion.

"That's true. But, you know, we're exploring a labyrinth with our lives on the line, so I'm going to give you what I can to protect yourself. When you're on your own, the Great Spirit's protection will be gone. Take what you can get while you can, and be well prepared."

You might say I'm being overprotective, but I'm inclined to keep the Great Spirit's protection even when I'm on my own. But that's too overprotective, so I'd like to strengthen Gina and the others' equipment. I'm sure I'll really cry if Gina and the others die after I'm on my own.

I'm sure they can stand on their own now, but Sara and the others are still children. I should prepare them well now so that I can send them off with peace of mind when they grow up.

But Sara has a good point. We also need to be careful not to distort her personality. She's been a good girl ever since I took her on. If her character goes bad from now on, it will be my fault for sure.

I understand. I'll think it over and be prepared.

"Yeah, but I'll take care of Sarah and the kids until they come of age, so there's no rush. And I'd appreciate your continued input on Kikka's education. Thank you."

"Yes."

"Then go get ready. Oh, and take this magic bag with you.

I give Sarah and the others the magic bag and send them off to join the others. Now what am I going to do until dinner? I see Belle and her friends playing "Daruma-san ga tumbled down" in the backyard before I know it. We haven't played together lately, so let's play with the belles.

（Can I have a word with you guys?)

I called out to them, and they hung up the "Daruma-san ga tumbled down" game and gathered around. What is it, guys?　What?　Fun?　You have a look on your face.

(Shall we go shopping together today? (I'd be happy to show you any food stalls I'd like to try.)

"Whoa, yatai!" "Cu-cuee!" "There's a place I want to go!" "Coo-coo-coo-coo!" "It's a good one!" "............"

You seem pretty happy. I'm glad you're happy. I may have to make a bunch of big purchases today.

*****

"Well, good luck everyone."

We wave goodbye to Gina and the others as we enter the labyrinth, then ask Sylphy to fly ahead. Last time, when we saw Gina and the others off and then passed them in the labyrinth, I felt slightly uncomfortable. This time, I decided to let them go ahead.

Gina and the others have asked Dolly to escort them this time as well, and since Mel and Meral are also participating, there should be no problem.

We proceeded through the cave, flying at high speed. Sylphy is the one who knows the cave and chooses the best course for us, so we don't pass any adventurers, and we can even afford to pity the demons that sometimes get bounced off. The first time I flew through the cave, it was scary like riding a roller coaster, but I've gotten used to it.

We relax as we play with the bells flying around us in a good mood. I'm bored, though I'm sorry to Sylphy who is taking me for more than half a day until we reach the 80th layer. What shall we have for lunch?

Should we go with the food from the food stalls that Bell and his friends led us to yesterday and buy all the food?　The Emperor Bird meat we ate yesterday was different from what we expected, tasty but not a main dish.

I had heard that it was full of fat, and since it was a bird, I expected it to be juicy and plump. However, the meat that came out was muscular and chewy, and the more I chewed, the more flavor came out.

It tasted like beef jerky or a Japanese sea urchin, but without the dried or processed taste, and it made me want to keep on chewing. I think it would be a great snack for drinkers.

According to the information that Mr. Toruku has gathered, the already dried Emperor Bird meat can be made even better by rubbing some spices on it to make it a real dried meat. I don't understand the point of drying the emperabad meat when it is already dried, but the concentration of the flavor is amazing, he said.

I added some more meat on the spot and asked him to process it into dried meat. I was curious to see what would happen to the meat that originally had a strong flavor. I am worried that I might consume more alcohol if I give the dried meat to the Great Spirit.

**

"...... So this is the 86th layer. I've read about it in books, but it's much more than I imagined."

"Shiny, shiny, cuckoo, cuckoo, cuckoo, cuckoo, cuckoo, cuckoo, cuckoo, cuckoo, cuckoo, cuckoo, cuckoo, cuckoo, cuckoo, cuckoo, cuckoo!" ......"

Belles and whistles excitedly at the sight before them. The heroes have made it through to the eighty-sixth level. They've given up on the 87th layer, though.

In front of us is a torrential downpour, and thunder is roaring down with a thunderous roar. Even if you're at a high level, you're probably in trouble if you get struck by lightning. I wonder how the heroic party was able to break through the 86th layer in such an environment.

At first they gave up, and then they prepared magic tools and lightning-resistant equipment to deflect the lightning, but the tools were damaged because they couldn't withstand the heavy load of the lightning that kept falling. If they had not prepared a spare, they would have been in danger of being wiped out.

Not only the rain falling from above, but also the lightning transmitted from the ground would have broken the magical equipment. In my case, Sylphy can deflect the lightning and I'm planning to float from the ground, so I think I'm going to be able to attack it, but the others will have to be very prepared.

"Yuta, come on, let's go!" "Kyu-kyu" "Ganbatte" "Kukoo" "Jotsu!" ......"

As I pondered the unreasonableness of the labyrinth, Bell and the others rushed forward with excited eyes. It never rains in the land of the dead, and it seems to be a time when it doesn't rain much around the labyrinth city, so maybe they want to play in the rain?

I prefer to stay indoors when it rains, but it's raining all the time in this layer, so I guess it's useless to wait for it to stop.

"Wait a minute. I want you to split up into two groups, one to look for the stairs and the treasure chest, and the other to watch out for the demons. You and Belle will talk it over and decide how to divide up the group.

At my words, the Belles put their heads together and begin to hmmmmm and hmmm and hmmm. I've been making decisions on my own, but this time I'm going to let the belles take the initiative.

The demons from the 80th layer are special, and their attacks will not work. I'm looking forward to seeing how we'll be divided into groups. Oh, by the way, I promised to call If...... I'll fight the demons in the 86th layer and leave the 87th layer to If.

If I forget to do so, I'm sure I'll get into trouble with the stressed out Ifu, so I'll keep that in mind.