After we’re done eating, we keep talking while having tea.
“So you became Hikari’s guardian? Nice.”
Says Sirk, believing my fabricated story about Hikari being a survivor of a certain village, and me taking her in when I was traveling as a merchant.
I obviously can’t tell them she used to be a spy. That would bring a whole load of questions about me too.
“And you met Mia and Sera in the Holy Kingdom?”
“Yes. I bought Sera in the slaver there. As for Mia, there was a lot of confusion during the advent festival, and we started working together then.”
“Speaking of the advent festival. I heard the saint was killed there. Is that true?”
Asks Sahana, and I nod with a solemn expression.
I see my partners trying not to laugh at that. What’s with that?
“And since you heard what happened with them, you contacted Rurika and Chris to meet up in Majolica?”
Yuini says, before whispering that fate really is a strange thing.
By the way, I also told them that I met Rurika and Chris not as an adventurer, but as a merchant they helped along the way.
And I bought Sera after I found her at the slaver to repay my debt to them.
“Why did you go to the dungeon in Majolica? Weren’t you trying to find Eris as soon as possible?”
Asks Sahana, feeling like at any moment she’s going to lean forward out of excitement.
“Part of it was that the travel expenses weren’t cheap, but I can use alchemy too, so I wanted to get precious materials and magic stones in the dungeon, so I asked them to explore and gather them with me.”
“We also had to earn money to free me.”
Adds Sera.
I’m embellishing the story a lot, and saying things I’m just coming up with now, so it helps that they’re keeping up.
And the ones that can’t because they’re not good liars don’t say anything, and just listen.
“And then, that acquaintance… Leila? You came here after laurel tree fruit to save the friend of the daughter of the feudal lord of Majolica, right?”
“Yes. We’ve almost reached the seventh floor, so now it’s only a matter of whether we can get it.”
Yuini responds with ‘I hope you do’.
“But minotaurs… Alfriede once talked about having trouble defeating one.”
The captain that talked to us about the dungeon? Alfriede’s level was higher than Sera’s.
“By the way, when was that?”
“About thirty years ago, I think.”
Everyone except Hikari looks surprised.
“What is the matter?”
Yuini asks while tilting her head.
“It’s probably the time frame that’s surprising them, big sister”
“I see. Being surrounded by people who are also like this makes it easy to forget. We who have inherited dragon blood live long lives, like elves. Ah, incidentally, I am a hundred and twenty-five years old.”
She says something so shocking so nonchalantly.
Dutina talked about having a long lifespan too, but Yuini’s appearance clearly makes her look around the same age as Rurika.
But the thirty year difference also means I have to take into consideration that Alfriede’s level wasn’t the same then. Not that level necessarily equals strength.
“But in that case, couldn’t the captain take care of those minotaurs?”
“Apparently there are more than one out there, and Alfriede can’t move around too freely right now… I believe my father will give the order if there are no alternatives, but we spoke just the other day, and he said it was not the time for that. I don’t understand what he means.”
It feels like the king is letting them be because he has something in mind.
Is he comparing the power of the minotaurs to his subordinates’ like Alfriede, and trying to make sure no one’s hurt? Am I overthinking it?
Maybe it would be best to gauge how strong Alfriede is with a match between us, but that’d be hard too.
We keep chatting, and I ask Yuini and the others what they usually do.
Sirk responds with a lot of energy, saying he trains in the dungeon, and Yuini…
“But work a little harder on your studies too, all right?”
Responds with this.
He looks a little sad, so Yuini adds.
“But Sirk is stronger than me.”
But then Sahana responds.
“That’s because you’re better with magic.”
Sirk cheered up, and was immediately shot back down.
Does that mean Yuini is good with magic, or Sirk is just bad at it?
But this girl really is merciless with Sirk. I guess that’s normal with twins.
We have fun talking, and it gets pretty late. If we were staying at the inn, we’d probably be sleeping by now.
“What are your plans tomorrow?”
“We need to consider Dutina too, but we’re planning to rest tomorrow and keep going the day after tomorrow.”
“…Then can I leave these two with you for half the day tomorrow? I think Sirk in particular really wants to train with his sword.”
I look at Sirk, and he looks away.
I have my own thoughts on it, but it might be nice to do some mock battles.
I accept, and we’re told that since the royal guards will be training tomorrow, it might be nice to join them.
Will Alfriede be there too? This might turn out to be a good excuse.
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Didn’t they already take a break before doing this floor and now they are taking amother one despite the time crunch to stop the petrification mc still enter slow relaxed life moments.
haste makes waste. They are stepping into a deadly battle. They need to be at full. If they die beside the tree their patient will die in her bed.
Thanks for the treat.