CH 81

Note:

We are entering a new arc, the third arc, titled: “Heading towards the Earth Labyrinth!”

***

When we returned to the inn in the Graham village, we told Carl-san that the key had disappeared.

Mysteriously, the key was sucked into the cavern and disappeared once we exited the hidden room.

According to Karin-san, Livyatan’s manifestation consumed a large quantity of magical energy there, and wouldn’t that cause the hidden room to disappear?

Hmm… As expected, dungeons are full of mystery, huh?

“So, the hidden room really existed?”

“There was a hidden room, but the treasure chest there was just a dummy, and that room itself was like the treasure chest. There was this weird magical circle carved inside it, after all. It’s just that the key disappeared at the same time as the room’s door just as we exited the room. Though it’s Thor’s memento too, sorry.”

Hearing that, Carl-san seemed to imagine that the one inside the hidden room wasn’t a thing, but a magical circle instead.

Yup. There’s no mistaking it. We only didn’t mention that the same magical circle that summoned Livyatan was also carved on the back of Ar-niisama’s hand.

“…No. I still have the axe, so please don’t worry about it. But, it’s troublesome. I was thinking that the inside of the treasure chest would belong to you guys to express my gratitude. What any other form of gratitude should I…”

Carl-san was wondering what other stuff that Thor-san left that had any value, as his shoulders slightly dropped.

“No. We’ve found something even more valuable than the content of a treasure chest, so that is enough. So don’t mind it.”

“Is that so…? But I shouldn’t ask more than this, should I? I’m glad if that key was useful, even for a bit.”

Carl-san broadly laughed. He was a splendid inn owner, indeed.

No matter in which world it might be, not prying into a guest’s matters was the most important thing an inn keeper should do.

“I’ve prepared a treasured sake as promised, now, do come here.”

As Carl-san led the way, Frank-san’s steps were light, Virna-san’s tail was also swaying intensely with great vigour.

I’m also excited upon hearing that treats have been prepared!

Let’s eat lots of delicious food!

“Speaking of which, what are you going to do with that horn?”

Amanda-san, who was in a good temper having eaten delicious cuisine and delicious sake, pointed outside the inn.

The horns and shell of the Armored Insect that was defeated outside the village was there, in the open space that was in front of the inn. Due to their size, they couldn’t be brought into the inn.

“There isn’t any Adventurer’s Guild here. And the closest place here… Is it the Abbot town?”

Frank-san was the one who defeated the Armored Insect that was raging outside Graham village, so the villagers gave the Armored Insect’s horns and shell that could become a material.

But since they were too big to carry around, we were thinking of having the village’s general store to purchase them, but there was a problem. While the shell and the smaller horn could be processed in the village, they didn’t have the money to afford purchasing the biggest horn, so that horn was rejected.

But how are we supposed to carry a horn that large?

We’d be able to manage it somehow if it was stored in the Item Box, but as expected, it’d be a little troublesome to be seen when putting something as big as that.

“Abbot, is it…?”

“What’s wrong? Is there something with Abbot?”

Carl-san’s voice dropped when he asked the town’s name, and Frank-san put the silver goblet he was carrying on the table.

“Recently, there’s a slightly worrying rumour…”

“Rumour?”

“I heard that children went missing there.”

“Children went missing?!”

“Yeah, due to the bots that are stealing our translation, ouchie. Stop supporting them and go to our site to read and leave a few comments to motivate the translator!

Everyone simultaneously paid attention to Frank-san who was shouting.

“Yeah. It might be the work of the bandits, so there’s a warning issued to our village that we should be careful.”

“If the opponent is the bandits, it’d be the chivalric order’s job, then.”

Saying that, Frank-san glanced at Ar-niisama.

“It’s happening right after the Monster Flood, so we are wondering whether or not the knights will be able to come soon…”

“They surely won’t be abandoning their duty. It’d be better to leave it up to them.”

“That’s right.”

Frank-san held out the empty goblet towards Carl-san whose shoulders relaxed out of relief.

“Anyway, this sake is tasty. Give me one more cup.”

“I’m glad it suits your taste.”

Frank-san drank Carl-san’s treasured sake in loud gulps without any reserve. Virna-san who was across him was also drinking silently since before.

“Hey, Argo. What do you think?”

Amanda-san who was sitting to my left, asked Argo-san, who was sitting to my right, in a small voice.

“I’m a bit worried.”

“Have they received a request to investigate the bandits?”

“No. I’ve been staying in touch every day with them using a magical bird, but I have never heard of such thing.”

The magical bird mentioned was a pretty lapis lazuli coloured bird that carried letters to send, that was created by the dwarves’ craftsmen.

Every morning, Ar-niisama would get in touch with the Izel fort via the magical bird, so if something were to happen in Abbot town which was close to the Graham village, he’d usually say something about it.

“That’s weird. Even if it’s not the work of the bandits, if the incident happening was widespread as a rumour, the chivalric order would surely appeal for an investigation.”

“That’s right. It’s just… Since the incident is about children going missing, there’s a possibility that it’d expose Yuuri to danger.”

“That is true.”

Amanda-san closed her deep crimson pupils as she took a deep breath.

“But… I can’t just leave it be.”

Amanda-san nodded at Ar-niisama’s words.

“Yeah. …Let’s go to Abbot town to check what’s going on. We will protect Yuuri-chan, so there’s nothing to be worried about.”

Amanda-san hugged me, still from my left side.

“Oi, oi. You guys aren’t having your meals and are gossiping instead. Here, this is delicious. Try it.”

Frank-san brought the goblet with one of his hands, and the other one was carrying a chicken wing. It was most likely another monster’s meat instead of a chicken’s, though.

“Listen. Although Heal made our physical wounds recover, the heart’s fatigue that we received from the battle can only be cured by delicious meals and warm bed, you see? That’s why, eat more.”

“Here,” he said as he handed over the chicken wing before picking another one.

As I put it in my mouth, the savoury taste of the meat juices spread inside my mouth.

Delicious…

That’s right. As Frank-san said, for the time being, let’s eat until we’re full without thinking about anything too deeply.

The things other than that… Let’s just think about them tomorrow, together with everyone!

Note:

This chapter marks the end of the current arc! We’ll be entering a new arc after this~