Chapter 27

The season is winter.

It seems that it snows in the capital city as well. However, it's not as severe as in the frontier, so at most it will accumulate to about 5 cm.

About a week has passed since Alice's birthday. There's still time until spring, and I thought about returning to Oren Village, but with more people around in winter, the food supply increases, and since I've just bought a house, I decided to stay in the capital.

I want to see Shia right away, but since she's still a baby, I plan to return once sometime next year.

In this world, Altria, the winter is a slow period for farmers, who become idle. Apart from making baskets as a side job, there's not much else to do. In a way, it might be perfect for raising children.

High-ranking adventurers, who have plenty of money, spend their days drinking in the taverns without working.

On the other hand, low-ranking adventurers seem to have a miserable time. Even in this cold weather, they have to help around the city, deliver things, or venture into the dungeon just to secure their meals for the day.

In that regard, merchants are strong. They work regardless of rain, snow, wind, or thunder.

They are truly resilient people.

Speaking of which, I am also working on something to pass the time. It's something essential for the lazy and poor farmer's life I aim for.

It's a rocking chair.

It's truly wonderful. Just sitting on it brings a comfortable drowsiness. Gazing at the wheat fields while swaying in the breeze on the porch, taking a pleasant nap in the rocking chair.

It's the epitome of "lazy and idle." I couldn't spend such idle and purposeless time in the previous world.

I have plenty of wood left from when I was in Oren Village, so I can make it.

I could make it entirely out of wood, but I want to aim for something better. So, I'll make something with cushioning.

I might visit Lebrant and take a look around the shop. I also need to buy more rice flour and soybeans. I have plenty of money, so no problem.

"Welcome! Oh, it's you, Aul. What are you doing in the capital?"

"Yes, actually, such and such happened."

"Ah, I see. It seems you caused some trouble. I tried to help out in various ways."

"No, it all worked out in the end. Since I'm here, how about I sell the bacon and soap that I couldn't deliver before?"

"Really!? Actually, I was in a bind. I've been getting a lot of inquiries!"

I didn't use the bacon or soap at the birthday party, so I still have enough to sell to Lebrant.

...However, if I plan to continue supplying, I need a smoking shed in my house. I might as well build it this winter.

"By the way, Lebrant, does your shop handle cotton?"

"We do, but we're out of stock right now. Sorry."

Hmm, without cotton... maybe feathers?

I bought all the rice flour and soybeans available since I had a decent amount.

The profit was 80 gold coins. I thought it was a bit cheap at first, but considering I'm just a 10-year-old, it's a lot.

"By the way, is there a place around here with a lot of bird-type monsters?"

"Hmm, there might be, but I don't think there are many this time of year."

Is it because of the migratory habits of birds?

"Oh, by the way, the boss on the 20th floor of 'Dungeon No. 4' is a bird-type monster. I think it drops feathers. Are you planning to use feathers instead of cotton?"

"Uh, yeah, but how did you know?"

"Well, I've known you for a long time. Besides, merchants are sensitive to the smell of profit."

Indeed, merchants are a shrewd bunch.

"But, Aul, you're probably very strong, so be careful."

"Uh, no, I'm just a farmer?"

"Haha, I'll let you off for now."

Lebrant seems to have noticed that I can use magic.

...Or did I unconsciously take out the bacon and soap from storage without thinking?

I'll give Lebrant a small barrel of wine as a gift to keep him quiet. Yes, no problem.

I ended up going to the dungeon again, but this way I can let Quin out.

Choosing a different guard shouldn't be a problem, or I could sneak in at a speed that makes me invisible.

In the end, I entered the dungeon smoothly. It's convenient for me, but I wonder if it's safe if something happens...

...Did I just set up a flag? No, it's just my imagination.

I have a transfer crystal to go directly to the 10th floor, so I'll use it.

Let's see what the 11th floor is like.

A damp atmosphere, muddy ground, a thin mist obscuring the view, and plants growing as tall as me.

It seems to be a swamp.

Spatial Awareness! Aura Perception!

...There are no people around, but there are a few monsters. So, monsters in the dungeon are still active even in winter.

"Come out, Quin."

Quin comes out from the subspace, flying around happily. It's really soothing.

"Are we going somewhere again?"

...

It seems not.

"Will you follow me?"

!!

Ah, so soothing... I'll let you out inside the house from now on.

"Hey, you're here already."

A giant frog about 2 meters long appears.

It's purple and looks poisonous. I'll name it Death Frog.

Still, I should look for a monster encyclopedia at the bookstore since I don't know the names of the monsters.

I was thinking of using wind magic to cut off its head, but Quin stands in front of me. What's she trying to do?

"Quin, are you going to defeat it?"

!!

It seems she's trying to protect me. How brave and cute you are. Are you an angel?

Can Quin use wind magic? She approaches with wind blades on her wings, dealing damage, but the size difference is too great.

Quin is 30 cm, while the Death Frog is 2 meters. It's too much of a difference.

Just as I was about to help, the Death Frog dies from foam it spits out, leaving behind a magic stone and disappearing.

The small puncture wounds all over its body suggest that Quin used her needles while attacking with her wings.

It might have been anaphylactic shock.

I also use magic and staff techniques to crush the enemies, and Quin fights alongside me.

"Quin, you're doing great!"

!!

12th floor: A large salamander-like monster.

13th floor: A monster that looks like a combination of a kappa and a wolf. It dropped a shell in addition to the magic stone.

14th floor: A poisonous slime.

"Phew, finally the 15th floor. Quin, a boss will appear here. Will you fight with me?"

!!

Hehe, what a strong answer. Quin must have leveled up after defeating many monsters, so she should be fine.

The boss in the boss room is a giant slime, about 10 meters long.

"Quin, physical attacks won't work! Use magic!"

!!

The enemy isn't stupid; it attacks with tentacles as soon as it sees us.

The tentacles move surprisingly fast for such a large body, and I was momentarily stunned.

It's like a whip attack!

Quin is flying at high speed to avoid the tentacles but can't attack effectively.

This is the Numbers dungeon, after all. I didn't expect such a strong monster on the 15th floor!

Aul doesn't know that when challenging the middle floors of the Numbers dungeon, at least five high-level adventurer parties are required. The highest floor reached, 73, is not here but in the easiest of the Numbers dungeons, "Dungeon No. 10."

The upper floors of the Numbers dungeon are said to be up to the 10th floor, which beginners can handle. The floors after the 10th are called the middle floors and are much more difficult.

The highest floor reached in "Dungeon No. 4" is the 35th floor, and the boss there hasn't been defeated yet.

"Quin, fall back!"

Thunder Rain!

Multiple lightning bolts strike the giant slime.

It must be a weakness, as it quickly shrinks and disappears, leaving behind a magic stone and a treasure chest.

"Phew, good job, Quin. Well done."

!!

Now, let's see what's in the treasure chest.

The solemn-looking treasure chest contains a small leather bag.

Eh... Really? No way. Please tell me it's not true.

The bag is filled with seeds.

I have no memory after that.

When I come to, I'm in the next boss room, and a large bird-like monster with six wings is roaring. It looks like electricity is crackling around its body.

"Ah! What was I doing!? This is the monster Lebrant mentioned. It drops feathers, right?"

I'll channel my frustration into one attack.

"Quin, go to the subspace!"

Barrier Multiple Deployment!

Here goes, a combination of fire and earth magic.

"Meteor"

In the boss room, which is about two-thirds the size of Tokyo Dome and 40 meters high, multiple giant meteors suddenly appear.

The boss is surprised and tries to zap them with electricity, but it's like pouring water on a burning stone.

The barriers, which I deployed about 20 times, were reduced to three, indicating the attack's immense power.

"This is the first time I've used such a large-scale magic, but it feels so good it might become a habit."

Is that a dangerous thought? It's not something a 10-year-old should think.

The magic stone dropped is the second-largest I've seen. It's smaller than the Emperor Dinosaur's, though.

The problem is this treasure chest.

It should contain feathers, but will it?

I'm too scared to open it...

Come on!

A slightly larger leather bag than the one on the 15th floor.

The contents are the familiar seeds.

"Fufufu. Lebrant, remember this? I'll show you hell...?"

Then I notice the feather the monster dropped. It's still there even though the body has disappeared.

"Wait a minute. The King Goblin on the 5th floor also dropped a crown."

...I see! If this rule is correct, I might have been completely mistaken!

Okay, I'll start over from the 15th floor!

Aul returns to the 15th floor using the transfer crystal.

"By the way, what was the field from the 16th floor?"

I can't remember... The field on the 20th floor suddenly turned into a wasteland.

When I reach the 16th floor, everything is covered in trees. It seems to be a forest area.

The path I created with my magic is still visible.

"Quin, come out."

!!

"Quin, I want to test something, so play around on this floor."

She happily flies into the forest. She must have followed me because I was causing a commotion earlier.

I follow the path I think I took and quickly reach the 20th floor.

Most of the monsters on the way were stronger humanoid monsters like High Orcs, High Ogres, and High Goblins.

The test results gave me some certainty.

The conclusion is this:

"If you can secure the material before the monster dies, it won't disappear and you can keep it. If you take the material with a lethal attack, it will disappear."

In other words, if you don't kill the monster, you can take as much material as you want.

So, you can't get fur this way.

"Alright, finally the 20th floor."

Inside, a bird-like monster with six wings is roaring.

"Here I come, bird!"

Lock Chain x 20!

Chains made of rock wrap around the monster, immobilizing it.

The chains can't be broken by electricity, so the monster is just thrashing around.

"Sorry, but you'll have to sacrifice yourself for my elegant rocking chair."

I pluck the feathers from the immobilized bird monster for five rounds.

I also collected feathers for a feather bed, which took more time.

Mission accomplished.

When I go to the 16th floor to pick up Quin, there's a large nest with companion bees.

...There's a queen bee monster wrapped in something nearby, but it must be my imagination.

Quin wouldn't do something like that!

I defeat the queen bee monster and collect the magic stone.

Alright, now I can finally achieve my lazy and idle life!

Aul doesn't realize that the six-winged bird monster he defeated is a rank A monster, and the bed and chair he plans to make are high-end items that can sell for 10 platinum coins each.

His heart remains that of a poor farmer, and he doesn't notice.

I'll update this gradually.

I'd be happy if you could rate and bookmark it.