Chapter 80

"Sakae, is there an accessory that increases alcohol tolerance?"

"Even if there is, I don't want to make one in the current situation."

"Tch!"

Don't click your tongue! Do you really want to play so much!

This is a real expedition, you know?

It's starting to look like a long vacation for everyone!

"Hashihara, please charge us!"

"You guys are really something, get a grip!"

With that, the expedition continued.

When the game console's battery ran out, we would take a break at a village we passed through, ask me to charge it, and start reading manga in a circle.

As night fell, they would ask me to order takeout.

Lately, it's not just burgers; they've been asking for sushi and eel rice, which are quite expensive.

Everyone seems to be having a great time.

The atmosphere is completely different from when we left the forest.

The villages we stop at seem more lively.

This is thanks to everyone in the class being so cheerful.

"This fun trip is thanks to Hashihara."

Ito said this to me while I was resting.

What is he talking about?

"Yeah. Thanks to Kosei, everyone has all the essentials and entertainment they need. That's why we have more leeway."

Moshin agreed.

Is this a plan to flatter me to death?

"I want to get stronger in a fun way, not just grind levels. That's the goal of this expedition. So I'm grateful."

Ito said this and clenched his fist tightly.

"We still have a lot of potential. We need to keep working hard."

"Right... By the way, how strong are the monsters we'll be fighting on this expedition?"

"The ones geared for combat, with Sakae's equipment, are around level 50."

That's pretty high.

If we can defeat them safely, it means we're even higher in level.

Ito and the others seem to be getting stronger steadily...

I've been focused on making money, but I need to level up too.

Well, this expedition is also about that.

"Without enhanced weapons, according to Taniizumi's strategy, we probably need to be around level 70. The people in this world said that's the appropriate level, but I think we can do it."

"Is it safe?"

Ito nodded at my question.

"Yeah, in fact, after considering whether to send us to a more dangerous place, I chose the safer option."

"Got it, that's good to know."

I'll count on Ito and the others' cooperation.

"Hashihara!"

At that moment, a classmate with carpentry skills was calling me with carpentry tools, building something next to the inn.

What is he making?

"What?"

"Didn't you have a right to a hot spring village?"

"...I do, but?"

It's a reward for defeating the Adamant Turtle.

Specifically, it's a promise of free permanent residence in the village.

Since it's a hot spring village, there's a hot spring nearby that you can use freely.

The carpentry skill holder was also called to help with the reconstruction.

"Could you go and bring some hot spring water here by transfer?"

"Please!"

"Is it going to be a mixed bath!?"

Before I could be surprised by the request, Hagizawa said this.

When Hagizawa got excited, the girls started booing.

"Of course, we'll put up a partition!"

The carpenter finished the partition with a bang.

Then, he asked to bring the water from somewhere.

The villagers also seemed to have something to say... but the innkeeper was beaming!

He looked satisfied to have a free bathhouse built!

He must have also had the deteriorated parts of the inn repaired and received the accommodation fees we paid.

"Alright... let me go get permission. I can't bring it without that."

"Okay."

"I'll use magic, so I'll need your help later, Mami."

"Sure! I'm looking forward to the hot spring."

I feel like I'm being used as a lackey, but this isn't too much trouble.

I have to do it.

"Kosei, I'm sorry."

"Me too. I was supposed to rest more, but I've been relying on Hashihara."

Ito and Moshin both apologized, looking guilty.

These guys seem to have similar personalities.

Maybe being in similar positions makes them like this.

"Don't worry about it. It's good as long as everyone is smiling."

"Gaau."

"Let's go then."

So, I transferred to the hot spring village... I was a bit scared not to use visual transfer due to registration issues, but it was fine.

Transferring myself without visual transfer is scary.

I asked someone who recognized me to guide me to the hot spring source and confirmed it.

The water flows out like a stream, so taking some won't be a problem.

After confirming, I returned to everyone.

"The source is hot, so be sure to cool it down with water before getting in."

I warned them and then used transfer to bring the water.

Guh... the magic consumption is still significant.

Eventually, the hot spring water from the source poured into the designated spot.

I placed it in the air to avoid damaging the bathhouse.

The source water splashed into the bathhouse.

"Hot spring!"

"Let's get in after it cools down to the right temperature!"

Everyone enjoyed the bath quite cheerfully.

When the water got warm, they used Black Book's magic or Moshin's flame-attribute weapon to reheat it and get in.

"Great bath! Let's go hunting again after the bath!"

The energetic guys played games on their game consoles.

Others read manga or started playing cards.

Just, the word "hunting" is also used for leveling up, so I wish they would use a different term.

"Anyone who's free, go cut some trees in the nearby forest to make it more comfortable."

The carpenter was using his skills to expand the inn.

How many points is he putting into this for just one night's stay?

He must be making a lot of money.

"Wow... the people from another world are amazing."

Ramus came up to us and said this.

...I've noticed recently.

Ramus seems to say this a lot.

I'm curious if he's saying it sincerely, not just to make us feel good.

"We're being free and easy, I'm sorry."

"No, no, it's not a bad thing, and it's very interesting."

"Is that so?"

"Yes, thanks to the people from another world, the inn is being renovated, and it's said to be much more comfortable."

There's such a reputation.

By the way, it seems that the carpentry skill can be used as a weapon if it's a hammer-type tool.

There are many skills that are essentially for base-building but are disguised as something else.

After a short-term renovation, the inn was completely transformed, and our expedition continued.

Somehow, the survival feeling we had when we left the forest seems far away.

Everyone is so tough.

In a short time, I feel like I've been left behind.

I guess... because I can return to Japan, my growth is lagging in some way.

I need to work harder too.

"So, we've arrived at the coast of the Rix Kingdom."

We finished the long carriage ride and arrived at the coast of the Rix Kingdom... the Rufot coast?

"First, we'll split into groups and go to nearby areas to defeat monsters. The areas close to human settlements are regularly cleared by adventurers, so there are fewer monsters, but there are plenty on the rocky shores and islands accessible at low tide. Be very careful."

"Understood."

"The groups are already decided, so don't get them mixed up."

So, we are going to split into parties and act.

Kuma-ko, Moshin, Mami, and Ito will be in my group.

Apparently, Ito and the others strongly requested this.

The knight accompanying us is Ramus.

Hagizawa is in a different party, aiming to gather materials from an island visible from the shallows.

There are apparently other things to gather around here too.

I promised to transfer them to the workshop later.

"Thanks for keeping your promise."

Ito extended his hand to me in a friendly manner.

His attitude is so different from when he persistently asked for Weekly Shonen Step.