Jiro Tanaka, 28 years old, married.
Wife: Suella Henderberg
Memoria Tris
Occupation: Dungeon Tester (Full-time Employee)
Magic Aptitude: 9 (Quasi Demon Lord Class)
Position: Warrior
It was two hours after entering Gray’s shop that we were finally able to board the prepared carriage and head to our destination, following the commotion of the festival.
While it’s true that preparations and information gathering took a lot of time, a significant portion was also due to Rou’s persistent attempts to pry into my relationship with Memoria.
When I was told a carriage would be prepared, I imagined a typical, rattling fantasy carriage. However, the Demon Lord Army’s carriage was, in a way, beyond modern technology.
“It’s amazing how it doesn’t shake as much as a car. I’ll need to get used to this indescribable floating sensation, but other than that, it’s quite comfortable. Are all carriages here like this?”
With the material list, which was the main objective of this trip, prepared by Rou in hand, I honestly expressed my thoughts on the comfortable journey as we traveled from Bakkna towards the Dungeon.
“Not all carriages are like this.”
“Just fixing these spell formations to stabilize it incurs significant costs, and the materials are also special. This floating carriage is a special one.”
The motive force for movement came from two horses pulling it, but the carriage itself was peculiar.
When I first saw it from the outside, it looked like a sled with legs attached to the carriage, and I wondered if it would actually move.
At first glance, they looked like ordinary horses, so I thought perhaps they were specialized warhorses with incredible strength.
However, that worry was unfounded.
Magic technology was used to apply levitation magic to the underside of the carriage, with magic stones supplying the magic power to maintain it.
Furthermore, while floating, the levitation magic also controlled its posture to prevent it from losing balance.
On top of that, its carrying capacity was double that of a normal carriage.
The only drawback seemed to be the charging of magic stones, but even that only needed to be done once a week.
As a result, the horses had to pull less, allowing for greater speed and making it incredibly convenient with almost no shaking.
Thanks to this, I could leisurely check the material list.
“It seems so. I’ve only seen regular carriages until now. Still, there are quite a lot of them. Considering all of that…”
“There’s no need to collect everything. It’s customary to demonstrate your abilities.”
“I know, but…”
As a man, I wanted to gather everything if possible.
Just a quick glance revealed dozens of types of fabric materials alone.
They were categorized by rank, but it didn’t mean lower ranks were bad; it was about how they were used.
When it came to magic stones, the variety increased even further.
“Do you have any recommendations?”
With so many options, I, lacking knowledge, couldn’t possibly choose.
It would be impossible to make a selection in the half-day it would take to reach our destination.
If popular items and even standard ones were mixed in, I would be completely overwhelmed.
So, I sought ideas from both of our fathers.
“For fabrics, Nightmare Sheep wool might be good. It’s quite popular among nobles.”
“Nightmare Sheep… is this it?”
I quickly found the item suggested by Mait. It was a high-quality item that ranked high on Rou’s list.
Reading the accompanying notes, it stated that good wool came from ewes, and ewes only made up about 30% of the flock. The rams were fierce and their wool was rough to protect the ewes.
It also mentioned needing to be careful to avoid blood splattering when defeating them, but I could use a blunt strike or resort to hand-to-hand combat, a technique taught by my instructor, if necessary.
Their habitat was between the middle and lower levels of the Dungeon.
“For jewelry, Jewel Bee.”
“Jewel Bee?”
“They are bee-like monsters whose eyes are made of various gemstones. They use magic that corresponds to their eyes, and it’s said their accumulated magic power makes their radiance magnificent. Especially the eyes of a virgin queen bee, whose value is beyond the reach of ordinary nobles.”
Upon hearing the name, I cross-referenced it with the list and quickly found it.
The danger level was about the same as the Nightmare Sheep, or perhaps slightly higher.
Their habitat was slightly deeper, but could I manage?
Either way, it seemed like fighting against a swarm was a given.
“For the other parts, I’ll acquire them by selling materials obtained from the Dungeon… what about this ‘Protective Stone’?”
“It’s essential for wishing for the safety of your family and prosperity of your descendants.”
“It’s like the Tree of Life in our Dark Elf customs. When couples marry, they plant a special sapling and nurture it together. It’s said that spirits reside in the tree and protect the family.”
“…I’ll do both.”
“Please don’t worry about the sapling; I will prepare it on my end.”
“Thank you. As for the Protective Stone, though… what is this?”
“The Protective Stone is, in a way, a magic stone. It’s processed to become a clan’s blessing. By itself, it’s a mere comfort, but it deeply relates to the clan’s guiding principles. The meaning lies in the monster from which the magic stone was obtained.”
“Meaning?”
“For a dragon, it means strength; for a plant, growth; for a bird, flight; for a wolf, bonds; for a golem, iron rules, and so on. It’s a wish for what kind of family you will build with Memoria in the future.”
“Nobles and royalty often use dragons as crests to symbolize power, much like that. In that case, for an ordinary family, it seems like the meaning would lean towards safety and health.”
“Mmm.”
“I see.”
Although I felt a slight sense of incongruity with Gray’s lengthy explanation, I accepted it, assuming it was something important.
Since I’m considered an ordinary person, does that mean it’s related to family safety and such?
If so, what kind of monster’s magic stone would that be…
“A cow?”
“A Grudo Buffalo.”
“They are monsters with a very strong sense of herd unity. If their young are in danger, they will attack as a group without hesitation, making them troublesome monsters.”
“Why does everything I need involve a herd?”
“Conversely, it means you can acquire the necessary amount from a single herd.”
“Mmm.”
Again, it’s a herd-type monster, not an individual. I suppose this is fate.
I briefly wished for something simple, like a convenient plot device, but then shook my head and dismissed the thought, remembering how good fortune is often canceled out by misfortune.
The two looked at me with puzzled expressions, but I brushed it off and returned to the list.
I ended up with the unsettling prospect of facing unknown monsters, that too, only in herds. But there was no other way.
For other monsters, the materials were either subpar or the monsters themselves were too strong, making them difficult to approach.
What kind of person uses dragon scales for wedding attire?
Is it for the Demon Lord’s consort? Or perhaps a daughter of a high noble?
Either way, I have no plans to fight an opponent with a disquieting name like “Black Dragon” anytime soon.
Specifically, I won’t unless I reach a level where I can easily defeat both my instructors.
In that case, these three types of monsters, while not exactly easy, would be just right to achieve my goal.
“By the way, how skilled are the two of you?”
“In the past, I survived a battle against a Black Dragon with my comrades.”
“Hmm? You too? I’ve also fought a Black Dragon.”
Am I the only one here who hasn’t fought a Black Dragon?
Is my reluctance to fight strange?
Is fighting Black Dragons commonplace on this continent?
Listening to my soon-to-be fathers discuss with smiles how long it took them to defeat one made me feel that the average combat power on this continent is unusually high.
Perhaps Black Dragons aren’t that strong?
“I was panicked back then. If I hadn’t instinctively used a spirit to protect myself, the entire mountain behind us would have been melted.”
“Mmm, that Breath is dangerous. I’ve also defended against it with a barrier in cooperation with my comrades, but the surrounding area was melted.”
At least, it doesn’t seem weak.
Also, I understood that while using these materials for wedding attire isn’t common, it’s not that rare either.
If these fathers-in-law help me, I don’t think I need to worry too much about the Dungeon.
“However, it’s been a while since I last entered a Dungeon. The last time was about two hundred years ago, before I retired as an adventurer and became a researcher. My wife told me to settle down and take up a stable job after Suella was born.”
“It’s about the same for me. Lately, it’s been all desk work. It’s been a while since I swung a sword.”
So this is what Miruru meant when she said Gray would talk more once he got comfortable. They were really enjoying reminiscing about the past.
But I hate to interrupt their fun, is it really okay?
The equipment was brand new, prepared by Gray’s shop. As for Mait, I seem to recall him getting out of breath after just a short run…
As for Gray… I don’t know, he’s an unknown.
“I’ve passed on the main spirits to Suella, but my support skills are still substantial. They also seem to be excited about returning to battle after a long time.”
“Is that so? Is that why your magic power is fluctuating so strangely? I too feel a little blood boiling.”
I don’t know why, but it feels rude, yet it feels like I’m listening to two old men boasting about their past glory.
If I calmly consider it, the party composition is Warrior, Researcher, and Merchant, meaning less than half are combat-focused roles.
Mait, wearing a mage-like robe, and Gray, wearing leather armor, are neither of them active combatants anymore.
“In that case, shall we start by getting accustomed to the shallower levels before proceeding to the deeper ones?”
“Yes, it would be good to confirm our coordination as well.”
“Mmm, let’s do that.”
I felt relieved that my suggestion, born from anxiety about the future, was accepted.
However.
“Haa.”
“What’s wrong, son-in-law?”
“You suddenly sighed. Are you not feeling well?”
“N-no. I’m just a little nervous about my first experience in a Dungeon.”
“Hahaha, don’t worry. I’ve challenged this Dungeon many times during my adventurer days, and it probably hasn’t changed that much.”
“Mmm.”
My worries are far from gone.
If these two long-lived beings are the benchmark, they last challenged this Dungeon two hundred years ago.
Is their claim that it hasn’t changed much based on Rou’s monster list?
Perhaps I might need to lower the rank of the materials by two or three levels.
I don’t know if my predictions will be contradicted for the better or for the worse.
“Well, we still have time until we reach the location. Let’s take a nap and rest for now. Maintaining physical condition is also part of an adventurer’s job, isn’t it?”
“That’s right.”
“Understood.”
I suspect Mait calling himself an adventurer was his way of making a joke.
I thought for a moment about how to point out that none of us are adventurers, but decided it wasn’t necessary. I accepted the blanket Mait handed me and leaned towards the window.
The two of them leaned against the opposite walls, getting into a sleeping posture.
In the quiet space, I cast one last glance at the large moon visible through the gap in the curtains and then closed my eyes.
I hoped it wasn’t anxiety about the future that was keeping me from sleeping.
Jiro Tanaka, 28 years old, married.
Wife: Suella Henderberg
Memoria Tris
Occupation: Dungeon Tester (Full-time Employee)
Magic Aptitude: 9 (Quasi Demon Lord Class)
Position: Warrior
Today’s Quote:
“I want to believe my body remembers!”
That’s all for this installment.
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