Chapter 59
Chapter 59
“Labyrinth?”
The post transactions were settled . I was spending time leisurely in the Adventurer Guild when ‘If you have free time go capture the labyrinth!’, I was told as such by the stew uncle .
“Ah, have you not gone to the nearby labyrinth yet? In your case wouldn’t you be able to get to the lower layer?”
“Isn’t it dangerous to have a labyrinth near the town?”
“Mm? Ah, you are misunderstanding . It isn’t a labyrinth fortress (maze), but a labyrinth game (dungeon) . ”
When I heard the story, it seemed to be a kind of dungeon .
The labyrinth fortress (maze) was a strategic key point of the demons, the labyrinth game (dungeon) was said to have been made as a hobby by a dragon .
“Do dragons make labyrinths as a hobby?”
Dragons are much more long lived than human beings, but in recent years their population number has decreased .
There hasn’t been a newborn dragon in these past hundreds of years .
To make matters worse, a lot of the comparatively young dragons have degenerated into demons (became delinquents) and have been aging at an extreme rate in the blink of an eye, it seems .
Feeling the sense of imminent crisis, the dragons accepted humans as grooms or brides as a counter-measure .
However, even if it was temporary it was the mate of a dragon after all . It was unfit for a superficial person .
Therefore, it seems the labyrinth was used as a means to find capable humans .
The search for mates with the labyrinth gained some success .
When a child of a dragon was born, a new demi-human [Ryuujin] was created too .
Ryuujin have the strength of a dragon and the fertility of an average human, this demi-human had the best of both worlds .
The child who was born between ryuujin had a high possibility of being a dragon .
The labyrinth was something indispensable as a [Dating Service] for dragons now .
By the old dragons, the construction of the labyrinth was recommended to the young dragons . Few in number, the young dragons were raised spoilt with little amusements so they were engrossed in building labyrinths one after another .
Naturally, dragons prepared treasure chests (bait) to lure humans into the labyrinth game .
It might be possible to become the [Mate of a Dragon] if you break through to the lowest floor .
“It is said that you can marry a dragon, isn’t that great?”
I was asked that by that uncle who made a fiery speech . A newly married couple life with a lizard with wings, *shudder* . If it was such a hobby, I would rather spend the night at the [Cat & Dog] .
I heard about it later, but it seems that the shop can even prepare female orcs when it comes to living things that have the ability to communicate with humans .
Well, there aren’t any such perverted bastards, but there seems to be mermaids and fishmen, too . The whole body of eel girls are very slippery on its own so it was a great independent lotion .
Well, since I have adorable women, it’s got nothing to do with me .
“Oi, Annihilation!?”
My consciousness seems to have flowed away momentarily . Maybe I’m tired?
“Your life alone is prolonged if you can pair with a dragon, you don’t get sick, and above all don’t you think the entire body of a dragon is a treasure?”
Having sex with a dragon, there seems to be many privileges in various ways with just that . In addition, even one piece of a scale seems to sell for a large sum of money .
“In addition, they say that they become exactly the same as humans when doing it . ”
Indeed, I’m relieved then . Though, there is no such plan to do this with a dragon at all . (EN: You go on thinking that)
Immediately, I returned to the village to consult with my beloved women .
“Labyrinth, huh?”
The hand which moved with such devotion stopped to hear my story . There was handmade ice cream in that hand .
Recently, because I was able to make ice out of magic I made it as a trial, the taste was thin, but the ice cream was complete .
Ayla and co . seemed to like it and was eating it silently until just now .
“Is a labyrinth that labyrinth where it’s full of monsters?”
Ayla who was eating ice cream stopped her hand and asked a question .
I continued to explain because there was no sign of Zir’s hand stopping .
“Hmm, that? The labyrinth―”
[The labyrinths are the labyrinth fortress of demons and the labyrinth games of dragons . The labyrinth that owner is talking about is perhaps the labyrinth game . ]
The [Book of Wisdom] which insinuated itself into the conversation abruptly, does not understand even though I glared at it .
[When it is a labyrinth game, there is not much danger and it is a good source of income . I have also heard that there are times when there are unusual monsters . For a monster tamer, I judge that it is ideal for us . ]
After it said all the things it would like to say, my heart danced when there was additional information about rare monsters . It was my complete defeat .
Originally, I intended to go when I heard the story from that uncle .
“Hibiki-san, Do you intend to go?”
Latia in a maid uniform asked while eating ice cream .
“Are you going to the labyrinth? If so, then please take me . ”
Frey who had finished the visit with her ladyship was shrewdly eating ice cream .
This fellow has come here a lot recently . Sometimes she would stay the night causing the space in the village to become somewhat cramped .
You even got the goblins to build you a residence . There is a maid, too .
“You, don’t you visit her ladyship? You can’t go and come back in a day . ”
“Is that so?”
That uncle taught me that the labyrinth was a place where it took about a full day in a wagon to get there .
And that’s just getting there . To capture a labyrinth to some extent, time will be necessary .
“Sorry, but Latia stay home to watch this fool of a person please . Also, you just have to deliver the white porcelain dishware . ”
It was fine even if I leave it to Latia in the case of the Alchemist Guild . Frank can trade with Latia without fear .
“Understood . ”
“Stupid there, if you are free than guard Latia . I will give you a reward if you be a good child . ”
“I’m not a child!!… By the way, what do I get?”
The preparations were complete with this . We will buy the necessary things afterwards in town and then leave here tomorrow .
“Master, wherefore art thee so eager?”
Zir who finished eating ice cream asked curiously . After all, this fellow was sharp .
“It’s nothing . I’m excited because a labyrinth is a man’s dream~”
“Ayla, doth thee not smelleth the scent of a mistress?”
My trustworthiness is 0?
“Let me see, I don’t know the scent . A woman, young?”
Immediately, when she said that, many eyes looked at me . I gave up and decided to explain .
For the start of the matter let’s return to the conversation at the Adventurer Guild .
When that uncle was telling the story about the labyrinth, a thin dirty child came near our table .
“Are you going to the labyrinth!?”
That child while looking at us with a desperate face asked such a thing .
“Sonny, what is it? What business do you have?”
When that uncle asked that, the child began to explain his circumstances bit by bit .
The older brother who went to the labyrinth two weeks ago hasn’t come home . He said he would return in one week but he has not come back .
“That is, your elder brother is…”
That uncle used ambiguous words . It wasn’t strange for such a thing to happen to adventurers including me .
For this reason, when you are alive and meet by chance, you will fool around .
“You’re wrong!! Nii-chan is alive!!”
He probably understood what that uncle was starting to say . The child cried and screamed in denial .
“Please!! Save nii-chan!! I even brought money!!”
Saying so the child put out a bag of silver coins and also a few coppers that were destroyed and had a ruggedness on the surface .
“This silver coin?”
The appearance was too different with the silver and copper coins . The copper coins are in a state that was not usable in many shops .
“Nii-chan said that if there are any problems to use this . ”
It was a reliable older brother indeed . No way, would he have ever expected this to be used in this kind of way .
“Sonny, this is not at all close enough?”
I’m disappointed he said as such .
Even if the surrounding people sympathized with you, there will not even be a guy who will receive this rescue request .
Adventurers do not do charitable work .
“N-no way . But, nii-chan is…”
“That’s right . As the amount is not enough so your brother will have to pay the full payment later . For now, I will get the deposit first . ”
As I said so, I picked up the rugged coins and put them away into my pocket .
“Eh, t-thank you, onii-chan!!”
“O-oi, Annihilation!? Is that ok!?”
“I wonder if I might be able to go to the lowest layer? Then this occasion is just earning pocket money . ”
Even I understand that I look like I’m showing off . So, I’ll keep it a secret from Ayla and the others .
“Sonny, what’s your name?”
“It’s not sonny, I’m Yakuu . ”
Apparently, it seemed that she was not a boy but a girl .
From Yakuu, I returned to the village immediately after inquiring about the characteristics and name of the older brother .
Well, anyway everyone was very pleased with the ice cream so I humored them and naturally began to talk .
“So it was like that . ”
I confessed everything that happened in town today .
“I see~ . It is an important matter as you have told us~ . ”
“Was thither a particular need to conceal it? Thou art declaring that we shall search f’r a person while we art exploring the labyrinth, no?”
“Master is so splendid . ”
“Yeah, it is a wonderful action . Well, I doubt if that is typical of Hibiki . ”
“Frey-san, Hibiki-san is gentle you know?”
Apparently, I seemed to have been thinking too much about it . It was generally a favourable opinion .
The labyrinth trip was decided by the majority . For the time being, I’ll hurry as much as possible because it was necessary to rescue the mentioned person .
For the labyrinth group trip, I went to town to buy a carriage for transportation .
Well, for some reason or another my companions have increased recently, if I always gave Ruby the luggage, it might seem unnatural .
In the future, the carriage will be convenient for Latia to shop in town . We will also go on expeditions in this way .
“Welcome . What kind of carriage would you like to purchase?”
“I want a carriage that can accommodate 5-6 people comfortably . ”
It might be convenient if there was a large wagon . I ordered with such a light hearted feeling .
What appeared was a wagon with a canopy attached which allowed monsters to pull it . It seems that it was able to allow many people to ride it at once .
“Aren’t you an adventurer? Neither the wilderness nor the forest can be crossed if it is not as sturdy as this . ”
Indeed, I decided to buy it .
I was told that I can buy monsters to pull the carriage at the Monster Tamer Guild, I left the carriage at the shop and went to the Monster Tamer Guild immediately .
When I consulted at the reception desk, generally for monsters to pull a carriage, I was cautioned to choose a monster that has previously pulled one before .
Certainly, I don’t know what kind of monster was cut out to pull that purchased carriage .
“Among these, the one that could pull the carriage that customer bought is this guy?”
A turtle monster called the Grand Turtle was introduced . Though it seems to be terribly slow, but it was positively faster than a horse .
It had a docile character and even if it was attacked by monsters, it can spend its time hiding in its shell . Unlike a horse, even if it was attacked by a demon it will defend itself with less time and effort .
“After that, it is up to whether the customer can subdue this monster . ”
For the time being, I approached it…
“Hand . ”
The Grand Turtle slowly moved to stand up, though it tried to deftly raise its forefoot and place it on my palm, the body slightly trembled because of the weight .
“I-I’m sorry . My bad . It’s already fine . ”
Is it my imagination that its face showed relief?
“You, do you want to become my child?”
It noded in assent .
“Then, please give this monster to me . ”
To that extent, the person showing me around who was gazing at me finally reacted and bowed .
“Y-yes . Thank you very much!!”
With this, horse (?) and wagon have been obtained .
We packed food, water, and necessary tools and left for the labyrinth .