Helios Orb Chronicle – Chapter 206

Although I had an unpleasant experience on the fifth floor, it was good that I was able to help the hunters of the Alliance.

Thanks to that, I was able to predict the safe areas and the entrance to the sixth floor, and I was actually able to reach the sixth floor.

But my joy was short-lived. I never expected to encounter a desert floor here. How cruel can this labyrinth be?

“Seriously, I wish they’d spare us a desert here.”

“I agree with H.R.H. Maruca, but it’s better than an undead floor.”

H.R.H. Maruca and the Alliance Leader, Gracious Lynx Leader Slay, wore expressions of utter exasperation.

Given the time, our options for overnight camping were either the safe area in this desert or the safe area within the maze reeking of decay. Both were the worst possible choices.

The safe area is said to offer some shelter from the desert’s heat, cold, and even sunlight. It also significantly mitigates the stench from the undead maze, though not completely.

That’s why I had the prototype beast carriage enchanted with a magic to block external air—a stroke of genius.

After the Alliance members experienced it, they unanimously decided to camp in the desert. It was only natural, as the stench, even if mitigated, lingered, and the experience was far from pleasant.

As for meals, Eos and Yuria are preparing them for the Alliance as well.

The menu became a Drake meat festival, with Lesser Dragoon braised in red wine as the main dish. Eating this much meat should aid in recovery for those of High Class.

“G-good! It’s delicious!”

“I never thought I’d get to eat Lesser Dragoon.”

“Me neither. I’m grateful just to have my life saved, let alone receiving all this…”

“It’s not fair for us to eat while everyone else goes without.”

“Exactly. We still have plenty, so please don’t hesitate to eat.”

Lydia and Ludia, who were helping with the cooking due to the large number of people, kept bringing out more meat.

Now that we’ve descended to the sixth floor, Prim is using Blood Healing on the severely injured Alliance members.

The reason I didn’t use it on the fifth floor was the possibility of camping outside a safe area, and I couldn’t afford to deplete Prim’s mana. But now that we’ve safely cleared the fifth floor and are camping in a safe area, there’s no need to be so cautious.

As a result, everyone has recovered enough to sit up.

Yuri and Carol still seem a bit weak, but they’re managing to eat.

“Still, this beast carriage is incredible. With so many people, everyone can eat in the living room.”

Caesar, the leader of the Black Army and a G-rank Order member, looked impressed as he surveyed the interior of the beast carriage.

“We’re considering its use for the Alliance as well. Though, depending on the number of people, it won’t fit everyone.”

“No, it’s spacious enough. Indeed, you will be the center of the Alliance moving forward, so it will be a great help to us.”

The current headcount is 20 from Wing Crest, plus Emperor Reinhardt, H.R.H. Elis, H.R.H. Maruca, and the 22 rescued Alliance members, totaling 45 people.

The living room is a spacious 100 square meters, so there’s plenty of room. However, I hadn’t anticipated bringing the Alliance here at this moment, so the lack of chairs and tables is an issue.

Everyone is eating while sitting wherever they can, but this situation might call for the establishment of a new mess hall.

“A mess hall? That might be a good idea.”

“I think this is sufficient. No, the living room is also a private space, so it’s better for us not to feel any undue pressure there.”

“That might be true. But the fact that you even provide guest rooms is greatly appreciated by us.”

El, the leader of Falcon’s Beak and a High Harpy like Caesar, and Frau, the leader of Wise Rainbow and a High Human, were talking with Prim. They seemed to be comparing the current situation with their participation in an earlier monster culling alliance in the Ideal Mountain Range.

“There are exactly five guest rooms, the same as for a raid. How are you finding them?”

“We’re grateful. We were able to rest comfortably during transit.”

“We’ve been assigning them per raid, but should we consider preparing private rooms here as well?”

“That’s a difficult question. However, there are couples and romantic partners among the Alliance members this time, so if you have the space, it might be worth considering.”

I hadn’t even considered Frau’s suggestion until she mentioned it.

Indeed, just as we have couples, it’s not impossible for members of the Alliance to be in relationships.

Like the mess hall, we need to come up with a plan for this as well.

The guest rooms are also designed with the Alliance’s use in mind, so beds are not provided.

Still, each room can accommodate over ten people, and the floor space for sleeping is covered with the same material as beds, so I don’t think it’s uncomfortable.

I do feel sorry for the makeshift sleeping arrangements.

“To us, this is more than enough. Our previous beast carriage didn’t have anything like this space.”

“Right. So, in the safe areas, we’d just camp around the beast carriage. Compared to that, this is heaven and earth.”

Plum and Caesar say this with slightly tired faces, but it certainly sounds like it was rough.

“Ah, also, before we sleep, I’ll be changing the room assignments. I’ll consolidate the men into one room, so I don’t think any fools will try to sneak into bedrooms tonight.”

“If there are any such fools, you can do whatever you want with them, boil ’em or roast ’em.”

Oh, I hadn’t considered that at all.

There are exactly five guest rooms, so I had intended for them to be used per raid as originally planned. However, given that we’re all traveling in the same beast carriage, I can’t definitively say that no one will try to sneak into our sleeping quarters.

I had completely forgotten about that.

“I apologize, I didn’t consider that point.”

“It’s a prototype, and we’re using it for the first time, so that’s understandable.”

“That’s true. Rather, we discovered a problem before completion, so we can just use that to our advantage.”

Slay and El are absolutely right.

I hadn’t expected to be accommodating the Alliance here, but we’ve received valuable feedback, so it’s a great help to us.

“Still, I’m surprised you brought along not only hunters but also non-combatants like crafters and healers.”

“It’s also for combat training.”

On the way here, Ed’s crafters and Marisa’s butlers have also engaged in combat several times.

Marisa and her group have specialized weapons, but Ed and his group are unarmed, so we primarily provide magical support.

Not that it’s the only reason, but my current licenses are as follows.

Yamato Hydrangea Mikami
17 years old
Level 80
Human, Ancient Human
Union: Wing Crest
Hunter’s Guild: Amister Kingdom Feel
Hunter’s Rank: M
Order’s Guild: Amister Kingdom Float Outside
Order’s Rank: O
Crafter’s Guild: Amister Kingdom Feel
Crafter’s Rank: G-S

Primrose Hydrangea Mikami
17 years old
Level 74
Beast Race, Ancient Foxy
Union: Wing Crest
Hunter’s Guild: Amister Kingdom Feel
Hunter’s Rank: M

Manalease A. Mikami
18 years old
Level 62
Human, High Elf
Union: Wing Crest
Hunter’s Guild: Amister Kingdom Float
Hunter’s Rank: P-G
Trader’s Guild: Amister Kingdom Feel
Trader’s Rank: T

Yuriana Reina Amister
14 years old
Level 38
Human-Half Elf
Healer’s Guild: Amister Kingdom Float
Healer’s Rank: G

Meena F. Mikami
17 years old
Level 55
Human, High Human
Union: Wing Crest
Order’s Guild: Amister Kingdom Float Outside
Order’s Rank: S
Hunter’s Guild: Amister Kingdom Feel
Hunter’s Rank: G

Flam Mikami
18 years old
Level 51
Yokai Race, High Undine
Union: Wing Crest
Hunter’s Guild: Amister Kingdom Feel
Hunter’s Rank: G-S
Crafter’s Guild: Amister Kingdom Feel
Crafter’s Rank: B

Lydia Highwind
16 years old
Level 59
Dragon Race, Hydragonewt (Ice Dragon)
Union: Wing Crest
Hunter’s Guild: Valentia Dragon Kingdom Draconia
Hunter’s Rank: G

Ludia Highwind
16 years old
Level 59
Dragon Race, Hydragonewt (Fire Dragon)
Union: Wing Crest
Hunter’s Guild: Valentia Dragon Kingdom Draconia
Hunter’s Rank: G

Athena Willness Silver Tomari
84 years old
Level 50
Dragon Race, Hydragonian
Dragon Name: Silver Dragoonian
Union: Wing Crest
Hunter’s Guild: Valentia Dragon Kingdom Draconia
Hunter’s Rank: S

Raus
14 years old
Level 55
Beast Race, High Ulfy
Union: Wing Crest
Hunter’s Guild: Amister Kingdom Feel
Hunter’s Rank: G

Rebecca
13 years old
Level 52
Yokai Race, High Undine
Union: Wing Crest
Hunter’s Guild: Amister Kingdom Feel
Hunter’s Rank: G-S

Carol Bernstein
15 years old
Level 40
Human, Elf
Union: Wing Crest
Healer’s Guild: Amister Kingdom Fielite
Healer’s Rank: G
Hunter’s Guild: Amister Kingdom Feel
Hunter’s Rank: B-C

Edward Albert
19 years old
Level 37
Human, Fairy-Half Dwarf
Union: Wing Crest
Crafter’s Guild: Amister Kingdom Feel
Crafter’s Rank: P-G

Marina Albert
19 years old
Level 39
Dragon Race, Fairy-Half Hydragonewt
Union: Wing Crest
Crafter’s Guild: Amister Kingdom Feel
Crafter’s Rank: G-S
Trader’s Guild: Amister Kingdom Feel
Trader’s Rank: B

Fiana Albert
17 years old
Level 35
Yokai Race, Harpy
Union: Wing Crest
Crafter’s Guild: Amister Kingdom Feel
Crafter’s Rank: S

Marisa
20 years old
Level 42
Yokai Race, Vampire
Union: Wing Crest
Butler’s Guild: Amister Kingdom Float
Butler’s Rank: S

Viola
15 years old
Level 37
Beast Race, Tigari
Union: Wing Crest
Butler’s Guild: Amister Kingdom Float
Butler’s Rank: B

Yuria
14 years old
Level 34
Beast Race, Rabbitry
Union: Wing Crest
Butler’s Guild: Amister Kingdom Float
Butler’s Rank: C

Eos Willness Green
117 years old
Level 60
Dragon Race, Hydragonian
Dragon Name: Green Dragoonian
Union: Wing Crest
Butler’s Guild: Valentia Dragon Kingdom Draconia
Butler’s Rank: G
Hunter’s Guild: Valentia Dragon Kingdom Draconia
Hunter’s Rank: G

Fiana
15 years old
Level 19
Beast Race, Loxy
Union: Wing Crest
Crafter’s Guild: Amister Kingdom Feel
Crafter’s Rank: T

Reina
12 years old
Level 17
Yokai Race, Harpy
Union: Wing Crest
Crafter’s Guild: Amister Kingdom Feel
Crafter’s Rank: T

With just one more level, I’ll be promoted to A-rank Hunter for the first time in decades.

Mana can now be promoted to P-rank, so evolving into an Ancient Elf is only a matter of time.

Flam and Rebecca will be promoted to G-rank.

Fiana and Reina haven’t leveled up as much as I’d hoped, but it’s understandable since we’ve been quite careful about their combat experience. They had no prior combat experience, and both started at single-digit levels when they joined, so there’s no reason to push them.

For everyone else, evolution is within sight.

The healers, Yuri and Carol, will likely not be able to fight tomorrow due to the Alliance’s healing duties. However, Marisa, the butler, is at a level where she could evolve at any moment.

Furthermore, His Majesty and the Princesses have also leveled up, and H.R.H. Elis has even evolved.

I believe Emperor Reinhardt was level 55, H.R.H. Elis 42, and H.R.H. Maruca 50.

H.R.H. Maruca also seems capable of being promoted to G-rank if she tries hard, so I need to support her efforts.

“Combat training? With two M-rank and five G-rank individuals, plus three High Class individuals of S-rank, I don’t think it’s necessary.”

“That’s one thing, and this is another.”

Ed and his group are aiming for evolution by considering magic enchantments, while Yuri and Carol are aiming to spend as much time as possible with me and Raus. Of course, it’s not easy to evolve, even if you aim for it.