28 - Sudden Tragedy

A blaring announcement, a message board that suddenly appeared in front of us, and skill crystals that rolled out of the air after it disappeared.

Taku and the others seemed to be completing a quest for the first time, or maybe it was their first time with the skill crystals, and they were confused and panicked when they saw them fall.

I’m used to this, so I catch the crystals in midair as they fall, and immediately throw them into my inventory.

I was able to get another useful skill this time.

“Hey, Yuki, you don’t think…. That the field restrictions got lifted.”

“Maybe we can go beyond the meadow now?”

“Yes!”

Taku clenched his fists in delight, perhaps he was getting tired of the incessant hunting in the meadow?

“That was the key to crossing the meadow, huh!”

“That seems to be the case…..but I only contributed 1%….”

“….I’m at 2%.”

“I was just running around but~, I got 1%~”

It looks like they’re having a blast over there.

My contribution was 83% to 41%, and since it was similar to the last time I saw a giant goblin, the remaining 42% was probably Reinya’s and Tia’s work.

In fact, the Wild Dog leader was slaughtered by Reinya in a single blow, and the Bighorn Rabbit was killed by Tia.

My only accomplishments were taming the Big Poison Slime and fighting the Rock Armor Club.

There were fourteen participants in this quest, including me, Taku, five of my sister’s group, four from Seito’s group, and Alan.

For some reason, I ended up getting the Rock Armor Club’s corpse.

Seito and Magane said that they wanted to pay for the trouble they had caused, and also because they wanted to repair their equipment and move on if they didn’t have time to discuss it.

Maya’s mouth was agape, but she wasn’t interested in the Rock Armor Club’s materials, as she was just shaking the skill crystals and looking through them.

Kiryu, the only one who reacted normally, who was frustrated, seemed to have a lot on her mind and reluctantly agreed.

Taku and the others told me to take it if it was okay with Seito and the others, so I did so without hesitation.

After a brief discussion, we decided to break up for the day since it was a good time.

Seito and his group would repair and prepare their equipment today, and tomorrow morning they would start to challenge the northern forest.

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Taku said he was going to tackle the western forest by himself this evening, so I told him to take Senri and Yumi with him.

Senri may not be able to move fast enough, and Yumi can use water magic as well as recovery magic. The survival rate would be much higher than if Taku was alone.

I’m going to the library this evening to look up the topography and history of this ear, the distribution of living things (beasts), and the materials that can be collected.

It’ll be more efficient than just charging ahead.

After parting ways with everyone, I headed to the library to log out for the time being.

There was no one in the library, so I went to my bed and logged out.

I immediately went to the living room. Aya hadn’t come back yet, so I got ready for bed before dinner.

However, Aya did not come down even after I finished my chores, so I decided to eat dinner first.

After dinner, I left a note.

I should write her in line with my lunch note. That is, to my beloved Aya, I had dinner. From your Yuki. I guess that’s about it.

I logged in after doing some light chores.

◇

I opened my eyes and expected to see the humble ceiling of the library. But for some reason, I saw a gorgeous ceiling instead.

When I raised my body, I found myself on a bed in Tia’s mansion.

“Ah, Yuki, you’re finally awake.”

“……Tia? I was supposed to be sleeping in the library, though….”

“Yeah, I brought you here.”

“Yeah…Maa, okay.”

It seems that Tia kidnapped me while I was logged out. Tia is so strong that she can easily carry me.

I don’t think I took that long to get here, so she must have come right after I logged out.

“Why did you bring me back?”

“Because…..Yuki is my maid and my friend…..A, and this is Yuki’s house!”

In response to my question, Tia’s cheeks flushed and she mumbled something, and then she made a loud declaration about it.

Next to the cat, I’m the one being fed by a younger girl.

“And Alan told me to get some meat for Yuki!”

“Hee, now that you mention it, I think I’m hungry.”

Grooooowll~~

“Fufu.”

I’m not embarrassed when my stomach growls, but I got a little embarrassed seeing her getting so happy about it.

“I’ll have some then.”

“Yeah! I’ve taken a lot of food, so eat a lot!”

One the way to the dining room, I asked Tia where she had been today.

“What did you do today, Tia?”

“Well, Reina told me about the beasts, and I thought about sending a private army to the underground canal or hiring adventurers, but I decided to check it out first.”

“Hee.“

The beasts in question, the underground canal, and the Queen Cockroach. I’m also somewhat concerned about that, so if Tia can solve it, that’s good.

“It was then that I remembered the meat that Alan had shown me. He said that Yuki gave it to him, but I heard that it was selling very well. So I bought a lot of it.”

“Hee……Hm?”

What did you just say?

“W, wait a minute———”

“Hm? We’re already at the cafeteria.”

With that, Tia moved forward and a real maid opened the door.

“That meat is really——”

What I found there——

“Yes, Big Cockroach meat!”

A black mass made into a sumptuous dish.

“……You’re lying, right?”

“Yeah? I thought you might like it because I heard you took a lot of it…..Did I perhaps misunderstood?”

I could not say no to her as she sadly lowered her eyes…….

All good and bad things will eventually come back to you.

I was reminded of this today.

After a hell of a meal, a dinner that wouldn’t have tasted so bad if I hadn’t questioned its source, I made it through without throwing up with courage, resignation, and effort.

That day, I finished my preliminary research at the library with satisfactory results and went to bed immediately.

Maybe, just maybe, I’ll dream about it.