Maki walked to her room with her older sister, and sat down on her bed.
“Why do you want to talk to me alone all of a sudden?”
“Well…”
Aki giggled, seeing Maki hesitant to continue.
“Just kidding, I know what’s up. It’s about the necklaces.”
“Yes… I can’t get it out of my head that leveling up by doing nothing isn’t fair. But I don’t want to take off the necklace while he’s in the dungeon either.”
“Yes. It’s the first present he ever gave us. It’s not like taking them off would make us unfaithful, but it does feel like a betrayal.”
“So… Mumble mumble.”
Maki told her sister how she felt, and Aki was both surprised and unable to hide her happiness.
“…I see. So you’ve made your decision.”
“Yes. But that’s not the only reason. I was jealous of Aira…”
Both thought back to the maid thoroughly enjoying the reward she received as a thank you.
“Ah… Well, you know? I see I see. It’s fine. So jealousy trumped feeling bad about something. I think that’s healthier even.”
“Is it?”
“It is. But now I need to prepare too. And we need to call mother.”
“Thank you for going along with my selfish desire.”
“You’re my little sister, don’t worry about it. But then you can share some of your time with Shouta with me, right?”
“That’s a whole other thing! Fufu.”
“Hahaha.”
As they laughed, there was a reluctant knock on the door.
“Hum, can I come in?”
“Ayane? Come in.”
It was Ayane, fresh off her bath. Her hair was not fully dry, and she looked as though she got dressed in a hurry.
“Excuse me… Hum, mother just called, asking for you two.”
“Mother did?”
“What does she want?”
“No, I mean my mother.”
“Eh? Sakuya?”
“Sakuya is calling us?”
“Yes. It’s a video call, so come to my room.”
◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇
I’m surrounded by golems, receiving a report.
‘Goh.’
“I see I see. You’ve been busy teaching.”
‘Goh!’
‘!’
“…Ah, that’s right.”
Something that I want to try crosses my mind.
“Golem cores have roman numerals like skills, so can I use Compression?”
‘Goh! Gogo.’
“Oh, thanks.”
Enki hands me the cores it took from the other golems before. Yes, I swapped them with the golem core II I got from hunting four Stone Golems today.
I wasn’t sure if it would work, but by taking two cores, I managed to efficiently transfer their consciousness, and contrary to my fears, there weren’t any issues. River and the others were transferred without even a break in their consciousness.
I checked with True Appraisal, and saw that regular cores have two skill slots, and II cores have four. That means a golem core V should have ten, but if I face something higher than that other one, I’ll have a tough fight for sure. And so, I want to see if I can find a way to cheat my way into getting a V.
“Well then, let’s try compressing…”
But nothing happens.
“Hn, no good? If it doesn’t work with four, then how about more? Can someone go get more from Aira’s bag?
‘!’
River and the others raise their hands, but when they’re about to leave the room, the door opens.
“Did you call, master?”
“Oh, Aira? Perfect timing. Hn…? Why is everyone here? It’s too early to go to bed.”
“Shouta we need to talk.”
“It’s serious, so listen up.”
“Ah, yes.”
I sit on my legs on my bed.
“There’s no need for that. If anything, we’re the ones who should be doing that.”
“Hn?”
“Shouta, I know I said no to this before, but I have a request.”
“Y-yes?”
“…We…”
“Shouta…”
Both take a deep breath.
““Take us with you on your adventures!””
“…Eeh!?”
Adventures!?
Didn’t Maki say she was scared of fighting? And Aki didn’t come along so she could stay with her. What brought about this change of heart?
“W-why so suddenly? And haven’t you been supporting me in the association?”
“We can’t go?”
“That’s not it. You want to come with me instead of waiting in the association, right? I’m happy, but it’s sudden.”
“So we can go?”
“Y-yes.”
“Wah, yay!”
“I’ll do my best!”
“It’s nice to have you with us!”
““Thank you.””
Apparently they already discussed this between themselves. I can’t make heads or tails of this, but… It’s going to get livelier in a good way.
Then Aki tells me it gets lonely waiting for me, and Maki tells me that her jealousy of Aira trumps her fear of fighting. I feel like there are other reasons, but now I’m looking forward to the five of us going to the dungeon.
Take us with your on your adventures! -> Take us with you on your adventures!
Thanks for the treat.