After eating, I have Maki be my hugging pillow so I can rest away all that exhaustion, and wake up feeling refreshed the next morning. Maki on the other hand, has a bright red face.
It wasn’t like that when she snuck in, but I guess it’s embarrassing when I’m the one asking… Ladies are complex.
I’m taking today off, so the four of us go to a large supermarket.
We’re mostly buying furniture and other stuff for the house, so it’s an area outside of my expertise. I don’t really say anything, and just watch them.
Apparently one of the perks of being A rank is that I get priority shipping, so we should get our things tonight.
Our new place doesn’t have a lot of things, so we end up buying a lot. And that combined with the fact that they’re good customers, I guess, makes it feel like they think we’re important, and they rub their hands together while trying their best to make sure the girls are happy.
But they’re not that naive. If anything, these people are just getting in the way, so the girls ask them to leave.
But as I see Maki, Aki, and Aira steadily picking things, one thought crosses my mind.
“Aira, what about furniture for Ayane?”
“Most of what I am picking will be for her, so rest easy.”
“I see. That cute plushy too?”
“Yes. Did you think that was for me?”
“Well, it didn’t seem that odd…”
“Fufu, is that so?”
Aira smiles, not bothered at all.
…Yes, it wouldn’t be odd at all.
“Are you buying something as well, master?”
“Hn… I’ll go around and have a look.”
“Yes, see you soon.”
I’m not interested in normal interior design, so I’m going around various areas. And then an area marked for adventurers grabs my attention.
Especially the armor stand that’s just placed here.
I only have my showy mithril plate set, but I’m probably going to get more from treasure chests, so I could probably use a few of these.
Sword stands could be useful too, and something for my magic bow.
Hm, this is getting kind of fun, even though it’s not a dungeon.
◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇
After shopping, we go to a restaurant to eat, and then go get a massage, to soothe that exhaustion from everyday life. The sun is setting by the time we get home, and I see a big truck in front of the house, that’s here to deliver the stuff we ordered.
But once I get a good look, I see that it’s empty. And there’s nothing by the entrance either. But as soon as I start questioning that, the truck leaves.
Did they already take everything inside? But we’re out here…
I soon get my answer when the door opens, and Ayane peeks out from the middle of a bunch of furniture.
“Ah, darling! Welcome home!”
“Ayane? You’re back?”
“I am!”
I pat Ayane’s head after she comes running, all excited like a puppy. She really is cute.
“Lady, did you face any issues?”
“It’s fine. My mother didn’t really have demands either.”
“It sounds like you misread her, Aira.”
“Strange. And about the contract…”
“Don’t worry, it was changed from my mother to darling!”
“Eh? Me?”
I thought for sure it would be Ayane.
She shows me the contract, and sure enough, my name and Aira’s are written with large letters. I guess now I just have to sign it.
“Are you sure, Ayane?”
Of course. What’s mine is yours. That includes the contract with Aira.”
I peek at Aira too, and she has a captivating smile on her face.
“Now you really are my master.”
“…I know, I’ll sign it. But I don’t know about wages or anything, so Aki and Maki will have to deal with that.”
“Yes.”
“Leave it to us.”
I sign it and stamp it. Is that enough?
Aira takes the contract with exaggerated gestures, puts it into her item bag, and turns to Ayane like nothing happened.
“Did Lady Sakuya say anything else?”
“Yes. We have permission to go to the mid rank dungeon, and there will be a welcome party soon. We can also go to the restricted area.”
“All three?”
“Yes.”
“…I see.”
Despite their employment relationship being terminated, Aira and Ayane talk like they always did.
Maybe they know that’s what I want.
“Restricted area?”
“Basically, it’s an area where rare and stronger monsters are known to appear. The mid rank dungeon is under my mother’s management, so adventurers without the proper level cannot enter.”
“Hm… But there are two types of rare monsters, right? Ones that stay in place, and ones that move from their spawn.”
From the ones I’ve seen, General Goblins move around, and Murder Rabbits, Boss Wolves, and Golden Worms stay.
So if they engage an enemy, the former will give chase until people go to a different floor, while the former won’t move too far from where it spawned.
“What if one of those that moves around spawns?”
“Teams under my mother’s direct control take care of them. There is little damage from rare monsters in my mother’s mid rank dungeon aside from unconfirmed ones.”
“I see.”
It sounds like the way dungeons are managed varies a lot.
“So at best, normal adventurers can hunt monsters safely, but at worst, they’re monopolizing rare monsters. Are you sure you can talk about that?”
“Yes, if it’s you!”
“I see.”
I pat Ayane’s head, and she presses her head against me while squinting. I can practically see a tail wagging.
Ayane really is like a puppy.
“But a mid rank dungeon… I’m hesitant after my experience in the high rank one…”
“You went to a high rank dungeon!?”
“Oh, right, you don’t know.”
Ayane’s eyes shine as I tell her what happened yesterday.
“That’s incredible, darling! But it does sound like I would hold you back…”
“About that. I was wondering if you could learn Adamantine Armor.”
“That expensive skill…?”
“The price doesn’t matter, especially when your safety is on the line. I definitely want you to learn it.”
“Darling…”
Being invincible for a second won’t help with multiple attacks, so I want it to be II.
Aira is stronger than me, so she’s really reliable, but even she has to have opponents that give her trouble. That’s why I want her to learn it too.
“How about we all go to the Heart Dungeon tomorrow?”
“Gladly!”
“As you wish, master.”
“Then let’s make packed lunches. Please help me, Aira.”
“Yes.”
“Hey hey, Shouta, how about we go to the second floor while we’re at it?”
“The second floor… The sightseeing spot with the cliffs and beaches? I don’t have any swim trunks or anything.”
“It’s okay, you can borrow them there.”
“I see. They really thought of everything.”
“Nishishi. And you want to see Maki’s, right?”
“A-Aki…”
“Well…”
I imagine them all in their swimsuits…
Yes, picturing Aki and Maki almost makes my face melt, but I hang in there.
Ayane… I can only picture her in a swimsuit for kids, and for some reason, Aira is still wearing a maid outfit in my mind.
I can’t imagine her in anything else. I guess because she even wears it when she’s going out…
◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇
Then we keep chatting while having dinner, and take our furniture to our rooms.
It’s actually very easy, because everything goes into Aira’s item bag, and she takes it out where we want to place it.
I help everyone place their stuff, and lastly, open the door to my room to place the armor stand. But then a shine I’m not used to hits my eyes.
“Uoh…”
It’s the planter. There are a few small shrubs with fruit.
“Are those the golden seeds you planted yesterday?”
“Eh? That was fast!”
“There was nothing different when I woke up this morning… Did they finish growing after twenty-four hours?”
“It’s so bright.”
I look at it more closely, and see it’s the fruits that are shining. When I reach towards one, it falls into my hand on its own.
It’s an item I’m familiar with.
『Physical Strength ＋3』
A stat boosting item.
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Thanks for the treat.