“Welcome to the ‘Koguma’s Bed’ Inn! I’m Tamii, I’ll be taking care of you. I’m seventeen!”
“Ah, I’m Nina. This is Deles, and the other one is Helen.”
“The village has been buzzing with rumors. High-level adventurers have arrived! Look at that equipment, it must be the Hero!”
Yes, it’s probably the local folk from the Adventurer Guild leaking information. It’s a common trope in the countryside, so it can’t be helped. I suppose we’ll be shown to the largest room in the inn.
“Sorry to arrive at such an odd hour.”
“Not at all, we have guests arrive around this time before lunch as well.”
Still, this Tamii person, she’s a cute woman with short hair, wearing a shirt with a kumaguruma—no, I shouldn’t judge people’s tastes, but it’s really tacky. Did she make it herself?
“There are four beds here, and two in the next room. Will you be staying separately by gender?”
“No, together is fine. Do you serve lunch?”
“Yes, for an additional charge.”
“Please.”
While I appreciate it, I wonder if it’ll be enough for Nina. Helen also eats a lot if she’s told she can.
“Then I’ll prepare it. Please, make yourselves comfortable until then.”
…Her accent wasn’t there, I wonder if she’s not from around here? But then I heard her talking to a delivery person who just arrived at the entrance.
“We need a lot of potatoes, please! So many, can you handle it?”
She has an accent! So she speaks normally to people who don’t have an accent, but when she’s among locals, she naturally adopts the accent. That’s kind of cute.
(If only that shirt were normal…)
“Deles, did you like that girl?”
“No, I think she’s cute, but nothing more.”
“Good, then let’s discuss our next steps.”
What would have happened if I said “She’s cute, I’ve fallen for her”? I can’t joke about something like that. Just as I was thinking that, Helen closed the door.
“As I mentioned at the Adventurer Guild earlier…”
“It was a bit accented, so I didn’t quite grasp it all.”
It reminded me of a certain country girl on the Milishitan Continent. It’ll be alright once I get used to it, though. Once I get used to it.
“First, about the Quasi Demon Lord in the Kayaya Village Dungeon.”
“I’m sorry, it’s my fault.”
“No, it couldn’t be helped since it was a boss with no prior information.”
If Anju hadn’t used Instantaneous Movement, it would have been dangerous. My skill that allows revival upon death, which I used because of Korome, hasn’t recovered yet.
“You said there’s a risk of monsters overflowing if we don’t defeat it.”
“From what I felt during the dive, it was indeed hectic starting from the middle.”
“It probably won’t happen all at once, but the Empire’s concern is understandable.”
Helen, who wasn’t with us, is listening earnestly. Nina gave me four buns that seemed to be provided in the room. Why do *I* only get two?!
“If Light and Fire Attributes aren’t very effective, then it must be physical attacks.”
“What do you think? Can’t we seal it with Dig Hole?”
“It had wings, didn’t it? And that acid was troublesome.”
And so, we debated the strategy. Helen sometimes chimed in.
“There’s also the method of using my Succubus to tie it down.”
“You’d be sacrificed.”
“However, we can still raise more now, we can re-train them…”
In the end, we decided to hear Clarice’s and Anju’s opinions, and the discussion ended.
“Now, moving on to the dungeon further away from Kayaya Village.”
“It was next to the lake, right? Uh, what was its name again?”
“It’s Ajinius Lake. They say delicious fish can be caught there.”
Helen was listening attentively too.
“Right, and it seems the boss of that dungeon is also unknown.”
“The first basement level has water up to our ankles, and the deeper we go, the higher the water level gets. They say the ninth basement level is up to your neck, and the tenth basement level is completely submerged.”
What kind of structure is that? If it’s a dungeon, wouldn’t all the water from the upper levels flow down?
“As for magic that allows underwater activity…”
“Hmm, what comes to mind is, for example, a Silver Succubus.”
“You mean transforming into a water-type monster?”
We’ll have to test if we can breathe then.
“Don’t we have someone with a skill that allows underwater activity?”
“Would we be able to find someone like that now?”
“And not just one person, but for a whole party. Hmm, this is difficult.”
There might be other underwater dungeons elsewhere. How are they cleared? It’s possible they aren’t.
“Um, may I?”
“What is it, Helen?”
“What about evaporating it with Fire Magic?”
“I think that would require that much firepower. It’s different from just burning the enemy, you know.”
“Yes, I’m sorry.”
Hmm, but the idea of doing something about the dungeon itself might be worth considering.
“Then what about spreading poison in the water?”
“What would happen to us?”
“Ah…”
While we were debating this and that, there was a knock on the door.
“Is it lunchtime already?”
“Yes, it’s ready!”
On the way to the cafeteria, I heard someone coughing violently.
“Are you alright?”
“Yes, it’s my mother. Lately, there hasn’t been much Perennial Herb around.”
“An illness? That must be tough.”
Ah, I have plenty of Perennial Herb!
“Um…”
“Deles, it’s lunchtime now.”
“Ah, yes.”
For some reason, I was stopped.
(Oh, I’m glad it’s mostly vegetables and mountain greens. I wonder what this meat is?)
“Miss Tamii, this meat is…”
“Water Horse. It’s popular for pairing with alcohol.”
“Do you have alcohol?”
“Yes, but it’s extra.”
“I see. I’ll have some, and Helen, will you drink too?”
Well, well, it’s a day off, so…
(Perennial Herb, huh? They’d probably be grateful if I gave it to them.)
“Deles, while we eat, let’s go over the Imperial Capital Dungeon next.”
“Y-yes, please do.”
That one was tough, wasn’t it? The Seven Great Demon Lords are there.
“You remember the Demon Lord’s name, don’t you?”
“Yes, it’s a rather imposing name, isn’t it? ‘Rust Night Princess’.”
I wonder what kind of demon princess it is… I might be charmed again.
