Chapter 72

In the period of exploring the labyrinth, Hare-san and Ramsus, who are in charge of cooking, come to work earlier than usual. They started preparing our breakfast as if it were a matter of course.

Mizuhu, rubbing her sleepy eyes, put on the store uniform and helped with the opening preparations as a staff member from early morning. Although I make her work every day, I don't feel too bad because we don't really lack the manpower.

Mizuhu was carefully putting down the chairs that had been placed on the tables for closing. I helped her and spoke to her.

"Mizuhu, if you're tired, you can take a break anytime. There are other waitresses we can call on."

"I'm fine, really. After eating the meal you all made and getting a good night's rest, I'm all refreshed from yesterday's fatigue."

Mizuhu bent her thin arm, trying to show a bicep. However, there was no noticeable change even through the maid uniform's sleeve, and she blushed and laughed to cover it up.

"Ah, I got carried away and feel embarrassed. Dick-sama, please don't tell my brother."

"Sure, I'll keep it to myself."

"Hey, which one is that? Dick-sama, you're so mean."

Mizuhu poked my upper arm and returned to putting down the chairs. The smell of the prepared breakfast wafted from the kitchen—the aroma of toasted bread and butter, smoked meat and eggs, and the vegetable soup we serve in the shop, all of which whetted the appetite.

Everyone who had prepared upstairs came down. The guild members heading for the exploration also gathered one after another. Ria, Rigel, McKinley, Zect, and Sakyua-san.

There are other A-rank adventurers, but not all of them participate in the labyrinth exploration, so this team will be fixed for a while. I had told them to take a break if they felt fatigued.

"Brother, good morning! I'll do my best today to live up to the name of the Silver Water Jug!"

"Where should we go today?"

Rigel and McKinley asked for instructions. I decided to share the information about the floors we had passed through, as I had explained to Leonid yesterday.

"There are still monsters on the second and third floors, but the bugbears on the third floor are harmless. We've killed all the orcs on the fourth floor, but they left a lot of magic stones, so it might be good to collect them. If new monsters appear, try to hold them off with McKinley's crossbow and check their strength. I think that if they haven't been around for long, they'll be weaker when they respawn."

"Understood! If there are new enemies, we'll handle them carefully!"

"Leonid said not to enter the fifth floor. So, after going down to the fourth floor, should we go back up to the first floor?"

Ria's words made me think. Indeed, bypassing the fifth floor would bring us closer to the magic circle. It would be better to completely purify the fifth floor and set up a transfer trap to prevent any fatal situations.

"If the souls of the labyrinth's monsters wander, they might possess something and attack people. However, the souls of the monsters we've defeated have either turned into magic stones or been sent to heaven, so I think it's safe."

"But, that transfer mechanism might not send us to the same place. If we're sent to a sealed room with lingering wraiths, even if the probability is low..."

"Ah... Yes, that's true. With my power, I can't sense the wandering souls beyond the walls of that floor..."

Of course, it might be an unnecessary worry, but labyrinths often have mechanisms that mercilessly take the lives of adventurers.

So, I thought it was better to be overly cautious. I could activate the transfer traps multiple times, but it was more important to move forward now, and we couldn't afford to spend too much time on the fifth floor.

"Understood. We would like to accompany Leonid's party for the exploration. Unlike Master's party, we should be prepared for the monsters on the shallower floors."

"That's right. It's better to be able to rely on other parties in dangerous situations. I'll leave that to your judgment."

"「Yes, sir!」"

Their enthusiastic responses made me feel that they would become stronger.

In addition to them, Zect, Sakyua-san, and Reiza were also going to explore the labyrinth. They were scheduled to transfer to the sixth floor with us and conduct the exploration.

While Cody and Yuma had cleared the monsters, the floors themselves were untouched. Rushing forward could lead to a dead end, so I wanted the three of them, who were skilled in espionage, to gather information.

"Although you're a skilled thief, don't take the lead. There might be mechanisms that release monsters, even if there are no oversights."

"Don't worry, I never push myself. I've explored the labyrinth a few times, so I'll be fine. A thief's job is to pick locks and disarm traps."

"Thank you, Reiza-san. I'll assist as much as I can."

"「Well, if Sakyua-san is there, she's probably better at it...」"

"No, I'm not a specialist in thieving skills. My abilities are more combat-oriented."

The moon rabbit race is known for their magical abilities, but among the physically capable beast races, they are particularly agile. I've sparred with Irene, and she can keep up to a certain extent. Her unique throwing techniques, which use the opponent's strength, are quite advanced. Even if she threw me, I wouldn't lose due to the significant difference in adventurer strength.

"I'm also recruiting members who are away from the guild. Once we have a team suitable for exploration, Reiza will return to her regular duties."

"Yes, maintaining the capital's information network is my primary duty. But it's really peaceful. Even though the capital's underground is in such a state, everyone continues their normal lives. It's reassuring that the shops aren't suddenly unavailable."

The prime minister, Lowe, had considered temporarily evacuating or relocating the capital's non-combatants, but the king and nobles did not approve. There was no city in Albein with the scale to relocate the capital's functions.

Pardor, a secondary city located about three days' carriage ride northeast of the capital, is about one-tenth the size of the capital. While it is a prosperous town, it cannot accommodate the capital's population, and if the residents were scattered, it would take time for them to return to the capital.

The decline of the capital, the face of the nation, would suggest the decline of the country itself to foreign nations. Among the three neighboring countries, only the eastern nation has a friendship treaty with Albein, while occasional skirmishes occur with the western and southern nations. A full-scale war almost broke out with Velbekia, which shares a border on the western plains.

As we were talking, Cody approached. Today, he was fully armed as a swordsman, exuding the sternness of a knight captain.

"We must quickly eliminate the threat to avoid the appearance of false peace. I've been well taken care of by this guild, and I hope to continue receiving your support."

"Y-Yes! I'll do my best! If possible, could you introduce me to a nice person? You could be that person too!"

Cody, who would normally be confused by such a request, remained composed as he had before revealing his true identity.

"A nice person... I see, you're of marriageable age. I understand. I'll talk to some honest men among my subordinates."

"N-No, I just said that in the heat of the moment. I don't feel like I'm a late bloomer. If only someone would show me such kindness... Ah!"

Reiza suddenly covered her mouth, then glanced at me but quickly looked away.

"Is Dick more oblivious than I thought?"

"Well, if he weren't, we might have a lot more siblings by now."

"Di-kun has always been kind to women. Maybe it's because of his sisters' influence."

"I'd like to meet Dick's siblings someday. If possible, I'd like to introduce my parents and become close as families... Ah... The souls of those who share Dick's blood must be warm and wonderful...♪"

Miralca and Irene looked at the entranced Yuma with a troubled smile. Only the master remained cheerful, but she probably doesn't get confused easily.

"When I talk about my family, I mean my younger brother... I've asked him to send regular updates, but his letters are often delayed. Is no news good news?"

"If you're worried, why not take a trip back home once things settle down?"

"Hmm... Are you trying to get rid of me? I still have reasons to stay here. I don't want to be forgotten."

"No, I just meant temporarily. I want Verlene to continue working here..."

I started to say that I want her to work here, but I realized everyone was focused on me. Even the men were looking at me with interest.

"...I taught her a lot to work here, so it would be a waste to lose such a valuable person."

"Nii-san... That's a bit too much, even for me to say..."

"Master is really tough. If I were in your position, I wouldn't be able to live with myself for not doing anything with a woman I live with."

"Men are really hopeless. Master, don't take it to heart. They're just young and speaking without thinking."

"No, that's not true! I respect both Nii-san and Verlene-san!"

Rigel countered Ria's criticism. McKinley, as usual, stayed neutral.

"I'll take it as a compliment. I'm a mature woman, so I don't get flustered easily."

"You seemed pretty flustered to me, but maybe I'm imagining things."

"Hehe... That's what they call a woman's mercy, I guess."

Miralca and Irene whispered, but Verlene, in her elf form, blushed slightly.