Chapter 78

As the cherry blossoms danced in the wind, Misaki opened the old diary and read the words of the promise written there.

When Yu and the others saw off the parent and child they had helped and returned to Joseph and the others, a giant ant's corpse lay sprawled there.

"It's a Worker Ant. There might still be more lurking around."

Speaking loudly enough for everyone to hear, Larit disassembled the Worker Ant, collecting its antennae as proof of the kill and the carapace that could be processed into armor.

Dog and Samoha's faces turned serious at Larit's words. They had been attacked by Worker Ants three times while waiting for Yu to return, and their swords could not penetrate the ants' tough carapace. They had only managed to defeat them by using Memmet's magic and Eckart and Appi's weapons.

After all, Worker Ants are known for acting in groups, so it was no wonder Dog and Samoha's faces showed no ease.

"Alright. Since Yu and the others are back and it's getting dark, we'll camp here for the night! Isn't it exciting to stay overnight?"

Joseph's oblivious statement made Dog and Samoha flinch.

"J-Joseph, you must be joking, right? Camping in a place where Rank 4 monsters are wandering around?"

"Dog is right. We can't let Lord Shiam camp in such a dangerous place."

Larit, Eckart, and Appi looked exasperated at the two's comments.

"Hahaha, you say funny things. If you're an adventurer, it's not uncommon to spend several days in the dungeon once you enter. If you're scared of this, you should give up the quest and go home."

"Joseph is right. We can't give up at this level. Dog, Samoha, start preparing the camp."

With Shiam saying this, there was no room for argument, and the two began preparing the camp.

Shiam and the others, being nobles, naturally had high-quality item pouches, and they brought items that matched their capabilities. The chairs, table, and dishes were all made of silver.

"Hmph. As expected, nobles have different things than us."

"Would you like to join us? Joseph, if you'd like, please come over here."

"Thanks for the offer, but we have our own camping gear, so we'll pass."

Appi and the others declined Shiam's invitation and began preparing their camp. Yu and the others secured a spot a little further away and started creating chairs and a table with earth magic. Marifa laid a carpet on the earth chair and covered the table with a pure white cloth, making it look quite presentable.

"Hmm. Creating chairs and a table with earth magic, huh? That way, you can save on tools in your item pouch. Maybe I should learn earth magic too."

Memmet watched Yu and the others while preparing the meal.

"Right. It would be helpful if you learned it. Still, Shiam, that noble, has impressive equipment."

Shiam's equipment was all in white and silver, with expensive decorations that made him look more like a knight than an adventurer.

"That's what I don't like about nobles."

"Shiam's equipment is indeed impressive, but the others are even more impressive."

While gnawing on dried meat, Memmet looked at Appi.

"Was it Nina? She has a demon's bracelet, a dragon's bracelet, and fairy earrings. Her weapon is a mithril and Damascus dagger. Lena has a mild staff and a mithril robe, and her ring is a rock dragon ring. That's not the kind of equipment a D-rank adventurer should have. Just the equipment alone would make them B-rank. Maybe they have a wealthy noble or merchant as a patron?"

"Hmph. An adventurer's strength isn't determined by equipment alone."

Moran, looking unhappy, bit into a hard piece of bread.

"Yu, can I join you and Eckart? There's nothing worse than eating alone."

"Do as you please."

"Thanks, Yu."

Eckart sat down with his usual friendly smile. Yu hung the pot over the fire, poured oil extracted from the Bigbo's internal fat into the pot, and started cooking the Bigbo meat.

The smell of the cooking Bigbo meat soon filled the air. He then added vegetables, plenty of spices, and water.

While this was happening, Marifa prepared the dishes and poured drinks. The plates were filled with butter rolls from the popular bakery Moon in the city of Kama, and a salad made with fresh vegetables and ham, which looked very appetizing.

When the pot was ready, they started serving it. The rich, meaty stew made Larit and Eckart's mouths water.

"Sorry to keep you waiting. There's plenty, so help yourself."

As Yu sat down, Nina quickly secured the seat next to him. Lena tried to sit on the opposite side but was pushed away by Joseph, who sat down a split second faster.

"Wow, that looks delicious. I'll join you guys. Oh? Sorry, little one."

"You should eat with the noble over there. Besides, why aren't you doing anything when you said we'd camp?"

"I don't carry supplies. Also, this food looks better. I'm definitely eating here."

"You... Are you serious? You came here without any preparation? Die."

Marifa stood behind Yu but sat down when he gestured for her to do so.

Kuro was feeding the meat to Sukke and Koro.

Lena, who was pushed away by Joseph, rolled and bumped into Koro.

Marifa laughed at this, and Lena stood up as if nothing had happened, brushing the dirt off her robe.

"...Cunning. You think you can stop me with this?"

Lena walked up to Yu and sat on his lap, giving Marifa a triumphant look. Marifa's ears twitched in irritation but she held back in front of Yu.

"Ah~ Lena, that's nice, nice~"

"...Nina, remember this. This is the posture a king should take."

"You're in the way..."

Yu looked annoyed at Lena sitting on his lap but she showed no signs of moving, so he resumed eating.

"U-Um, delicious! What is this meat? It's incredibly tender, and the vegetables cooked with it are delicious too! I could eat this all day."

"Such delicious food, I've never had anything like it. The bread is soft, and the butter's smell is still making me hungry."

Larit and Eckart praised the food while continuing to eat, refilling their plates. Shiam and the others, as well as Appi and the others, looked enviously at them.

"Yu, eating like this feels like a family, doesn't it?"

"No way. Having a gorilla next to me ruins my appetite."

"Ha ha ha! This guy is blushing. I understand, I understand. I'll teach you the good things about family."

"Die."

Throughout the meal, Joseph kept bothering Yu, oblivious to the atmosphere.

Regarding the fire watch, it was agreed that each party would take turns.

As the night deepened, the parties took turns sleeping, and the area was enveloped in the sound of burning wood and the silence of the night.

"Where are you going?"

Kuro, who doesn't need sleep, called out to Yu, who had just woken up.

"I'm going to take a bath."

Sukke and Koro opened their eyes and looked at Yu, but when he signaled with his eyes, they closed their eyes again and snuggled up to each other to sleep.

Kuro followed Yu as he disappeared into the darkness.

Yu wanted to use this time to steal skills from the monsters in the area, but he was unexpectedly interrupted.

"How far are you going to follow me?"

"Master, please don't worry about me."

Kuro was fine, but Marifa had followed as well.

Since there was no choice, Yu changed his plans and used earth magic to create a bathtub, combining water and fire magic to fill it with hot water.

As Yu started to undress, Marifa came over to hold his clothes but froze when she saw his body.

"Marifa, do you want to join me later? I'll change the water."

When Yu called out again, there was no response from Marifa.

"What's wrong?"

"N-Nothing."

Marifa looked up to answer, trying to stop the tears from falling.

Kuro moved a little away and told Marifa before disappearing into the forest.

A man was walking alone in the darkness. Kuro stood in front of him, blocking his path.

"Stop right there, human."

"Huh? You're Yu's goblin, right? I heard he's taking a bath ahead. I thought we could go in together, man to man."

Joseph, seemingly amused, tried to pass Kuro, but Kuro's battle axe blocked his way.

"I can't let you pass."

"Why not?"

"I can't let a pervert like you pass."

"What makes me a pervert? Are your eyes blind?"

"Let me ask you one thing. Is it normal for a fully grown man to walk around in the middle of the night in just his underwear and boots?"

Joseph was currently in just his underwear and boots.

A muscular man over two meters tall walking around in just his underwear and boots would undoubtedly be considered a pervert in the city of Kama.

"I can't let a pervert like you pass, even if it costs me my life."

Kuro's body was covered in 'Battle Aura.'

"Hmm... For a monster, you have a beautiful Battle Aura."

"Thanks to my master, I have been taught and trained for this very moment."

Originally a Rank 4 monster, Kuro had been learning techniques from Yu daily. Moreover, his equipment was enchanted with skills. His strength was no longer confined to Rank 4.

An average adventurer would not be able to stop Kuro. Kuro was Yu's sword and shield. His formidable presence would strike fear into anyone.

Kuro infused his earth battle axe with magic and attacked Joseph. The weight of the battle axe, enhanced by the Gravity Manipulation skill, was multiplied. Combined with Kuro's strength and enchanted equipment, the attack that could turn a human into a mere lump of flesh approached Joseph. Even Joseph, formidable as he was, could not defeat Kuro—

"Guahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh