Chapter 52

### Morning in the Capital City

I was in the shop with Lillisha. As part of the opening preparations, I was restocking the counter with puchi Eri from the clothing cabinet.

Tetis, having finished cleaning, sat down on a chair behind the counter, her dress swaying lightly. The delicate movements of the slender girl were as adorable as a doll.

Perhaps because her usually somber expression had turned into a bright smile, she seemed a bit younger than before. She looked more childlike, or rather, more age-appropriate. Well, she had gone from 17 to 15, after all.

However, today, she yawned multiple times, opening her small mouth wide. Her neatly aligned teeth were cute. She was rubbing her eyes, looking sleepy.

"What's wrong, Tetis? Did you read too much?"

"Yeah... I finished the entire series in one night."

"That's impressive. Was it that interesting?"

"Hmm, it was okay. But there was something that caught my attention."

"What is it?"

In response to my question, Tetis looked up at me with her large eyes.

"Lord Alex, you were looking for the Philosopher's Stone, right?"

"Yes, that's right."

"In the demon reincarnation story, the Philosopher's Stone appeared. It said that only the true Demon King can create the Philosopher's Stone."

"Interesting. Sounds like a good novel."

"Then I remembered, in other hero stories, the Philosopher's Stone was found in the Demon King's castle?"

"Going to the Demon King's castle to get the Philosopher's Stone... It might be a lie, but it's worth checking out. We don't have any leads."

I thought that by investigating the records of past heroes, we might find some clues. I'll ask Edgar about it later.

Tetis nodded, her golden hair swaying.

"Yeah. The demon reincarnation story was quite detailed about demons and the demon world, so it might be true?"

"Thanks, Tetis. ...But you really love reading, don't you? Reading the entire series in one day is quite a talent."

I meant it as a sincere compliment, but for some reason, Tetis blushed and fidgeted, looking hesitant.

"Um... Lord Alex. I have a request... It's okay if you can't do it..."

"Hmm? What is it? If it's something I can do, just ask."

"Um... I asked Kō, and he said it was possible..."

"What is it? Go on."

Even when I asked, Tetis hesitated to speak. She looked very hesitant, her cheeks flushed as she looked up at me and Lillisha with wide eyes. When her cheeks turned bright red, she finally spoke.

"Um... I want the dungeon to be soundproof."

"Huh?"

I was taken aback by the unexpected request. I didn't understand why she would ask for that. Lillisha also tilted her head in confusion.

Then, Tetis looked away and muttered softly.

"Um... Lillisha's happy sounds at night are really loud... and I can't sleep..."

"Wh-What!?"

"The dungeon really amplifies the sound... especially the high, happy sounds. I think they can probably be heard all the way to the capital."

"Ah...!"

Lillisha turned as red as a tomato, burying her face in my shoulder. She was trembling with embarrassment.

"By the way, recently, the landlady said that women's sobbing could be heard around the shop at night..."

"Ah...!"

Lillisha pressed her heated face against my shoulder, unable to lift it from embarrassment. Unlike her clear demeanor during the day, she was the best fallen angel at night.

Thinking about it, I had made the dungeon's passages short for convenience. Even without moans, if someone shouted loudly at home, it would be heard at the shop.

Tetis, blushing, added:

"I tried to endure it, thinking it was just the first day... but yesterday, the sounds of pleasure were even louder... If it happens every day, I want it to be soundproof. But... if it takes a lot of materials, just my room would be fine..."

"No, that wouldn't be good. If the sounds can be heard in the capital, the dungeon's existence might be discovered."

If that happened, we might lose our luxurious lifestyle. I hugged Lillisha's slender shoulders and looked into her blushing, beautiful face.

"That's why, Lillisha, let's gather the materials for soundproofing first."

"Ah... I can't believe people have been hearing my voice all this time... I'm so embarrassed, I want to die... I might die from embarrassment..."

"Hey, don't say that. ...But it's a good thing Tetis noticed. From now on, no one will hear your voice."

"Hmm... You're right, I'll try to be positive... But, Tetis heard everything, everything! Ah...!"

Her violet eyes filled with tears as she nodded. Her cheeks were still red. Tetis, also blushing, waved her hands frantically.

"It's okay, Lillisha! I won't tell anyone. I won't tell anyone that you said, 'Suck harder, put a hickey on my heart!'"

"Ah...!"

Lillisha clutched her head and shook it violently. Her silver hair was in disarray. She then crouched down and stopped moving, so I took out the communicator.

"Hey, Kō. Can you hear me?"

"Yes, Master. What is it?"

"I want to soundproof the dungeon, and if possible, the house and shop too. Can you do it?"

"Yes, I can. But we need materials."

"What do we need?"

"Wood, cloth, and cork."

"How much do we need?"

"A lot. We need to cover the floors, walls, and ceilings of the rooms and corridors."

"I see. We'll need hundreds of meters."

"Yes, and even more for the house."

"Got it. It's essential for my lifestyle. I'll buy them."

I ended the call and placed my hand on Lillisha's shoulder.

"Lillisha, we need wood, cloth, and cork."

"Sniff... I understand, Master. Let's gather them today."

She stood up, shaking out her silver hair and smoothing her habit. I took her hand, her violet eyes still moist with tears, and said:

"Then, Tetis, can you watch the shop?"

"Sure..."

Tetis replied cheerfully, then muttered, "You're going to do it again today, aren't you?" but I pretended not to hear.

I walked out with Lillisha, holding her hand.

### Morning in the Capital City

Before going to the store that sells cloth and cork, we stopped by the Adventurer's Guild. As usual, most of the quests were collection-based.

There was one hunting quest, but it was just to hunt E-rank rats, Mea Rats, in the fields around the capital. They appeared in groups, so it was easy to hunt them. Since they were animal-based and not in the forest, I decided not to take it.

We took only the collection quests, left a message for Edgar, and left the Adventurer's Guild.

Following Lillisha's lead, we went to the building materials store and bought the necessary materials for soundproofing. It cost about 150,000 goats, which wiped out yesterday's earnings.

--- But there was one problem. The purchased items were piled up in front of the store.

"There's a lot..."

"It's expensive, but I asked for delivery. They said they'll bring it to the shop."

"I see, delivery..."

I walked along the cobblestone road, thinking. Lillisha, walking beside me, tilted her head.

"Is something wrong, Master?"

"No, I was just thinking that if our shop expands, we'll need to deliver goods."

"Puchi Eri? Will we sell that much?"

"Not now, but if we open a second store in a town with a dungeon, we'll need to deliver them."

Lillisha gasped, her silver hair swaying.

"You've thought that far ahead! That will be a big challenge."

"I want a Magic Bag. It's probably expensive, but..."

I recalled the pouch on the female mage's waist. She said she found it in the dungeon, and she was very proud of it. Lillisha frowned and nodded.

"I think it's very expensive. Even a small one costs several million, and a large one costs tens of millions."

"Wow, that's expensive! Why is it so expensive? Is it because of special materials?"

"No, I believe it's because it can only be obtained from the treasure chests in dungeons, which are rare—ah."

"--- Good job, Lillisha."

I kissed Lillisha's cheek. She blushed and looked up at me with her moist, violet eyes.

"In the middle of the street... That's embarrassing!"

"I just wanted to give you a reward. Sorry."

"Ugh... It's not that bad..."

Lillisha blushed even more and looked down, her silver hair hiding her face. She fidgeted with her fingers.

I smiled at the cute Lillisha and took out the communicator.

"Hey, Kō. Can you hear me?"

"Yes, Master. What is it?"

"Can you make a Magic Bag?"

"Yes, I can."

"Is it difficult to make one now?"

"It's difficult, especially a large one. It requires about five dungeon cores, which are blocks of space manipulation."

"Alright, Kō! Go back to Tier 1 and make one with five cores!"

"No way! It's impossible! I can only make E-rank bags in Tier 1. To make a bag that can swallow an elephant or a dinosaur, you need Tier 5 and 3-5 cores."

"I see. That's how it works. ...If I want a more luxurious life as a Dungeon Master, I'll inevitably have to participate in the battles of the dungeons, won't I...?"

"That's how it is. It's a give and take. It's up to you whether you're satisfied with the current lifestyle or want more comfort."

"Damn! Once you raise your standard of living, it's hard to go back! The dungeon cores are surprisingly dark!"

"My core is pure white."

"Looks like it! --- Anyway, I'm coming back. We'll defeat some dungeons."

"Got it!"

I ended the call. Lillisha was still fidgeting. I boldly wrapped my arm around her slender waist and started walking.

"Let's go back."

"Ah! ...Master, you're so..."

Lillisha smiled happily and leaned into me. We walked back together, leaning on each other.

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→ Chapter 53: Magic Bags and Dungeons