The admission day for Lumiest is drawing near, and recently Lyon and Kuromel have been constantly talking about academy life. Their restless excitement has also reignited, making every day feel like the eve of a picnic. However, today would be a day to feel restless for a different reason. After all, it’s the day we establish our second base in the Western Continent!
“Master, I want to go too!”
“Please don’t worry about Ryuka. Have a good trip.”
“Bring back souvenirs!”
As we were about to depart through the transfer gate in our mansion’s basement after making preparations, we heard those words from Ryuka and Ellie. As always, we can’t leave Pars’s mansion empty while we’re active in the Western Continent. By the way, Ryuka’s requested souvenir was a rare cooking utensil unique to that country. She’s really become reliable as a cook.
Since we are relocating our main base on a large scale, this time we will be traveling with all our companions. Dahak initially seemed like he wanted to improve the farm, but perhaps remembering that there’s a certain holy site in the Western Continent, he immediately said, “We should go right away!” and took the lead in preparing. Well, unfortunately, we have no plans to go to Gordia’s holy site. What a shame, what a shame.
The destination of the transfer gate is the same place we used when heading to Lumiest last time. From there, we will travel by carriage to our destination. However, this time it won’t be Mr. Rudo’s carriage, but one prepared by the Adventurer Guild of the Western Continent. Well, if I’ve revealed this much, some of you might have already guessed our destination. That’s right, the place we’re trying to establish a base in is the Labyrinth Country pub, located at the westernmost tip of the Western Continent, where the Adventurer Guild Headquarters exists.
“Hey, hey, what kind of place is Pub?”
While riding in the carriage bearing the bear crest of the Guild Headquarters, heading towards the capital city of Pub, Sera, sitting across from me, asked Ange next to her.
“Pub, as its name suggests, has many Dungeons within the country. Don’t be surprised, the number of Dungeons confirmed so far is 247, the highest in the world!”
“T-two hundred and forty-seven?! To have that many within a single country, isn’t that too many?”
“It might sound unbelievable, but this is information from Ange, who is the most trustworthy person in the world. Besides, the Adventurer Guild has also announced it. Pub’s land area is relatively large within the Western Continent, but perhaps because it’s a land under such stars, new Dungeons are still being discovered. Even if it’s just a few, we find about two or three each year. Moreover, the difficulty of clearing Dungeons is also high on average, and Pub is said to be the place where skilled Adventurers finally end up.”
“Wow, there are that many. So, are the Adventurers in Pub also of high level?”
“Indeed. Since new Dungeons keep appearing no matter how much you explore, and they are more likely to catch the attention of the headquarters, it’s the perfect place to gain high achievements! Aspiring S-Rank Adventurers are all over the place at headquarters—well, that might be an exaggeration, but a considerable number of high-level Adventurers are based in Pub. If you have any free time, you can even pick a fight, which would be perfect for you, Kelvin.”
“I see, I understand now!”
“No, don’t just accept that. Who’s picking fights?”
While the explanation about Pub is entirely accurate and it’s a magical land with nothing but appeal for me, I strongly disagree with the latter part. I’ve never attacked first unless the opponent was a villain, and even then, I’ve always had a proper reason. If someone who knows nothing heard that, they would get the wrong idea.
“There he goes, Kelvin-kun’s signature move.”
“Yeah, but I’ve gotten used to it, so I’d like him to bring some new flair to his act soon.”
“It’s not an act! …W-what’s with that lukewarm gaze!?”
” “Not really~?” ”
I’m being perfectly serious, but Sera and Ange don’t seem to take it that way. Damn it, why!?
“Ah, ah, also, Pub is not too far from Lumiest. It doesn’t border Lumiest, but it’s within our acceptable range if we travel on foot.”
“So, Kelvin can be satisfied, and you can be at ease knowing you’re near Lyon and Kuromel. Two birds with one stone then?”
“It’s more than that. Kelvin-kun, you also have a date with Ange-san in Pub! It’s like getting three benefits from one thing!”
“Wha-what are you talking about, Ange!?”
“Huh? But didn’t you immediately accept when I invited you on this date the other day? You said there was a place you wanted to visit while we’re on a date ♪ And that place happened to be the Labyrinth Country Pub, Sera-kun!”
“W-what did you say!”
Yes, she declared it loudly. However, the destination of that date isn’t quite “date-like”… Or rather, since there’s spy activity involved, perhaps that kind of date is also acceptable?
“Kelvin! Next time, I’ll make a reservation! If there are many Dungeons, there must be many cool statues among them! Let’s find the ultimate statues together and bring them back as souvenirs!”
“Oh, uh…”
S-So that’s how it is. I thought it was just a fishing attempt… However, is it really alright to take the decorations from a Dungeon? If it’s a statue with Sera’s demonic taste, no one would mind if she took it back as a treasure, right?
As we were talking with the two of them like that, time passed in the blink of an eye. There were no troubles like the ones we had with my father-in-law, and before we knew it, the carriage we were riding in had arrived at Pub. The four carriages that had been running in a line stopped at the town entrance.
“It was surprisingly uneventful. What was all the trouble last time for…”
“Huh? What are you talking about?”
“Mostly about my father-in-law.”
“?”
…Sera, it’s probably better if you don’t try to understand. If Sera also goes through a rebellious phase, my father-in-law probably won’t be able to recover.
—Creak.
When we got out of the carriage, the coachman, dressed in the Guild’s formal wear, opened the door without a word. I felt like a celebrity, but my heart was still that of a commoner, meaning I wasn’t used to it.
“Lord Kelvin, was this the correct location? We can also transport you to the Guild Headquarters by carriage…”
“Ah, please don’t worry about it. We have plenty of time, so we’d like to walk there. We also have a few places we’d like to stop by on the way.”
“I see, understood. Then, we will take our leave.”
The carriage rolled away towards the center of the town, its wheels making a clattering sound. Kuromel, Lyon, and Shutra were all waving goodbye to the departing carriage until it disappeared from view, which was heartwarming.
“Still, the townscape is strange, isn’t it? All the shops seem to be for Adventurers. Aren’t there any flower shops? Flower shops!? I want to buy flower and crop seeds!”
“Flower shops, flower shops, huh… There might be some if you look hard enough, but Pub’s capital is a place where Adventurers especially gather. Basically, you’ll find taverns, blacksmiths, and shops specializing in Adventurer gear.”
“N-no way…!”
Dahak seems unable to hide his shock at the extreme specialization of Pub’s major facilities. Well, it’s true, it’s a slightly peculiar town. Regardless of the types of shops, Pub’s townscape is quite distinctive. Whether it’s intentional to evoke a Dungeon-like atmosphere, the roads and buildings are unified with stone construction, greenery grows along the walls, and strange statues that Sera would love are standing here and there.
But what I’m most interested in right now isn’t the townscape of Pub. Since it’s the stronghold of Adventurers, I should focus on the Adventurers themselves. Look at the sheer number of skilled Adventurers walking the streets, and their keen senses that have already noticed us, those eyes filled with strong ambition directed at their rivals—I can’t get enough of it.
“Wow, everyone has such sharp eyes, it’s great. Their gazes pierce right through me. I wish someone would pick a fight.”
“Efil-neesan, trouble. The master’s breathing is getting rough. There’s a bit of creepiness mixed in, and even his inner thoughts are coming out. It’s quite serious.”
“It’s okay, he’s cool, so it’s not a problem.”
“Wha…?”
