kscans

Chapter 204 - A New Home, and the Morning After

When I woke up, Famu was praying by the bedside.

Same as always.

"Good morning."

"Good morning to you."

Come to think of it, this wasn't an inn. We had to make our own food.

When I went downstairs, Myra was sitting there all by herself.

The space was wrapped in silence, with the morning sun streaming through the window, illuminating a woman in priestess robes seated on a simple wooden chair. It was a scene straight out of a painting. She noticed us and gave us a smile. That, too, could have been a painting.

"Have you eaten breakfast?"

"Nothing has been prepared."

It seemed she had no intention of cooking herself. There was no one in the kitchen. I remembered Famu saying there was an icehouse behind the building.

There was a door accessible from the kitchen, so I opened it and peeked inside. A chilly air wafted out, but aside from what looked like a massive purchase of corn, I couldn't see any other ingredients.

"Mo prepared the ice for us."

"Was the corn your doing, Famu?"

"Yes."

I felt a strong pressure from her to make roasted corn, but it didn't feel quite right for breakfast.

"Speaking of which, we had grapes last night."

"There's an orchard on the property."

When I went to the bath, it had been nighttime, so all I could tell was that there were a lot of trees. It seemed there were various kinds planted.

"Roasted corn will have to be for tonight. Shall we go shopping for breakfast?"

"Yes, the market is very close by."

I headed outside with Famu and Myra.

Two men dressed in what looked like priest's attire were standing at the gate. They had been holding long spears but lowered them and bowed their heads respectfully.

"Good morning,"

one of them said, surprising me.

"I forgot to mention. Last night, when I delivered the Crystal Core, the High Priestess, Elisha-sama, offered to express her gratitude. That's why they've agreed to act as sentries. Oh, and they're apparently going to provide us with fifty gold coins."

"Even if they stand guard, we don't have money to pay them."

Besides, they were a little intimidating. Being greeted like that felt like some kind of unspoken pressure, which was also unnerving. Still, fifty gold coins was much appreciated. I would have preferred they cover the full price of the property, one hundred gold coins, but I suppose they had their own circumstances.

"They said they would serve as sentries free of charge."

I believe there's nothing scarier than something free, but Myra herself had been sent from the church. I was splitting the money we earned from adventuring evenly with her, but I hadn't paid any fee to her employer, the church. If the church hadn't sent Myra, getting used to this life would have been much harder. I reconsidered, thinking it would be better not to be too hostile towards them.

We returned their greeting and headed to the market with Famu guiding the way.

"Without a gatekeeper, won't it be a problem when we have visitors?"

Myra asked.

"You're right. Why isn't there a doorbell, anyway? We won't know if someone comes, and anyone can just walk in."

"This property used to belong to the Star Union Family. They don't use doorbells to announce visitors. They use people."

"...I see."

So this place really was above our station.

"Myra."

"Yes, what is it?"

"I forgot to say, but it's dangerous, so please don't go out alone at night. If you need to go somewhere, tell me and I'll go with you."

Her expression softened, and her face broke into a radiant smile.

"Kyafu! Mash! You're so sweet!"

she exclaimed, taking my arm and clinging to it.

At the market, we bought kebab sandwiches for breakfast, ingredients for that day's dinner, and some non-perishables and trail rations.

On second thought, I could just buy several days' worth of food and put it in my storage, but for some reason, I wasn't keen on the idea. I had a feeling I'd get tired of it and start meal-prepping eventually, but for now, I decided to live a life of frequenting the market to get used to the city. Also, since we'd be cooking for ourselves, we'd need to think about balanced menus. The repertoires of just me and Mizuki, who only knew recipes from our world, would have their limits. Famu only made what she liked. Myra and Marmi were hopeless. That left Patricia, but considering she wasn't in the kitchen last night, I doubted her cooking skills were any good.

"By the way, do we need to buy firewood?"

"The system generates heat when infused with mana, so as long as you or Mo are around, it's fine. The mana can be stored, and I hear it'll last about ten days on a full charge. We'll need firewood for the fireplace eventually, but there was some stored in the warehouse, so we won't need any for a while,"

Myra answered. She held up her index finger, looking a bit like a proud new wife as she explained the house's features.

"As expected of an elven house."

It seemed like a home where all energy was supplied by electricity, but I kept that thought to myself since they wouldn't understand.

"Actually, technology involving mana storage and magic circles is more of a dwarven specialty than an elven one, you know?"

"Come to think of it, some equipment is infused with mana."

I had an image of dwarves as blacksmiths, but it seemed their technology incorporated mana as well.

"Yes. The monster-repelling stone pillars along the highways are another example of that,"

Myra added.

"I never imagined dwarves using magic."

"Elves, dwarves, and demons are special races. Among them, elves and dwarves are said to have been born from the union of gods and humans. Elves possess high levels of mana and are skilled in its use. Dwarves, on the other hand, don't have as much mana as elves, but they excel at storing and processing it."

"A god gave birth to a human child? Was it one of the five goddesses?"

I'd been curious about this ever since I heard about the elves. I wondered what would be born if Laciel had a child.

"They were Elf-sama and Dwarf-sama of the Fifty Gods. But they are male gods, so it was the humans who bore the children."

So among the Fifty Gods, there are gods named Elf and Dwarf. I'd have to be careful not to get them confused.

"Wait. I thought the child inherited the mother's race?"

"That's a rule from after the war of the gods ended. But you could say that both elves and dwarves are human in a broader sense. The influence of the gods was just too strong."

It was a story that I sort of understood, and sort of didn't. I brought my thoughts back to the dwarves.

Perhaps the power of miracles handled by the church and the ability to seal mana in the dungeons were both dwarven technologies. If so, maybe they also had the power to break curses. I'd have to check with Katarzyna or Petra if I got the chance.

"Do they have indoor and outdoor lights that run on mana?"

"As long as you're not looking for lighting as intense as what we saw on Longhorn Street, I think you can find them at a dwarf-run shop. Though I imagine they're expensive."

When we got back to the gate, there was someone in baggy clothes standing with the priest-soldiers. They were holding a large barrel.

"Petra... is that you?"

I asked. She nodded.

"You can't tell by looking at me?"

she asked, pushing her glasses up the bridge of her nose. She just looked like a suspicious person to me, but I introduced her to Famu and Myra.

"Well, come on in for now. We haven't had breakfast yet. You're welcome to join us if you like."

"I've already eaten, but I'll keep you company."

I gave kebab sandwiches to the two men standing guard, and we went inside.

Mizuki, Marmi, and Patricia were in the dining hall.

Patricia's face turned red when she saw me, and she hurriedly averted her gaze.

After I'd groped her so much in the bath last night, I wondered if there was anything left for her to be shy about.

Seeing her reaction, Myra was speechless.

"You've added another one?!"

"...Patricia and I are a set. You can't count us separately,"

Marmi replied. Beside her, Patricia's eyebrows twitched and she made a slightly disgusted face. She looked very uncomfortable.

Myra sighed deeply at her expression.

"So, Petra, what's with the barrel?"

I cleared my throat and changed the subject.

"This is from my grandfather. Ale to celebrate your new home."

The barrel was placed on the floor. I tried to move it toward the kitchen, but it wouldn't budge. Since she had carried it so easily, I thought it wasn't very full, but it seemed to be filled to the brim.

As I struggled, Petra noticed and carried it to the back of the kitchen for me.

Then, we all dug into our kebab sandwiches. On the table were also grapes and ayran. I wanted to drink tea or coffee, but they weren't sold at the market. It seemed the supply wasn't large enough for commoners to buy. I'd have to ask Claire to get some for us next time.

"So, you were saying we need to defeat a dungeon monster to repair the sword, right?"

Petra nodded.

"It's the Mana Seed dropped by the Area Guardian on the forty-fifth floor of the Crystal Palace."

"...We just became C-rank adventurers, you know. We're incredibly weak. And Mana Seeds don't drop easily. I have a few. Won't those work?"

"You know there are different types of Mana Seeds, right? It has to be one dropped by that specific monster."

Besides being used for enchanting and supplying mana, consuming a Mana Seed slightly raises your stats. The stat that increases depends on the monster that dropped it. However, the drop rate is low, and they're traded at high prices as rare items.

"I think we could handle the monsters on that floor if we fight carefully, but an Area Guardian is impossible. Plus, Mana Seeds are a rare drop. We might have to challenge it over and over to get one. It might never drop at all. I want the sword fixed, but I don't want to put myself or anyone else in danger for it."

I looked around at my companions.

"I met with Trusar-dono before I saw you this morning. In his opinion, your party's strength is more than enough for the fiftieth floor of the Crystal Palace, or even higher. I've also heard that Mana Seeds drop frequently for you. You must have some kind of skill or item, right? Besides, I heard about your fighting prowess from my grandfather."

I thought I hadn't seen Maryanne or Knight Commander Trusar this morning, but it seemed they had already been here. If he was around, I'd probably be dragged along by force again.

"Where is this person now?"

"He went home when I told him I would be your escort today."

"...By the way, Petra, are you strong?"

"I'm a B-rank adventurer. I don't do much dungeon diving, but I've been to the forty-fifth floor many times."

"Alright, it's settled then."

Petra stood up. I crossed my arms and watched her, feeling reluctant, when Famu stood up.

"Master, let's go. I think that sword has become a source of emotional support for you, hasn't it?"

That sword was just something Aidan had casually handed me. More than that, the conversation we had when he gave me the wakizashi was what stayed with me. I had to protect Famu. And I had been entrusted with Cecily and Aira.

Myra stood up.

"I, too, owe Aidan-san a debt I can never repay. My mace is also a precious item he made for me. I think I understand how you feel, Mash."

Myra took her mace out of her storage and struck a valiant pose. It was probably best to keep quiet about how she and her sister used those maces to beat each other up. Beside her, Mizuki also drew her sword.

"It would be sad if this sword broke, so let's get Mana Seeds for everyone!"

"...Hmph. Am I the only one who doesn't have equipment from that person?"

Next to Mizuki, Marmi stroked her own wand.

"If you would be so kind, would you allow me to craft a wand for you, Mo-sama?"

Petra asked Marmi. So Petra used formal language with Marmi, too. I tried to remember how she spoke to Maryanne but couldn't.

"...But I've grown attached to this wand."

"You could always use it as a spare, you know?"

"...Understood. Then I'll take you up on your offer."

We started walking towards the door to head for the Crystal Palace.

Patricia came to see us off. Noticing her, Marmi suddenly stopped.

"...Mash."

"What is it?"

"...Give Patricia a goodbye kiss."

At those words, Patricia jumped back in surprise. The sound of her footsteps echoed on the stone floor.

"Nuh-!"

She hurriedly covered her mouth with her arm, her face flushing red. "I-I-I-I'm still in my trial period! Something like that should be done by you, Mo-sama!"

Marmi said nothing, simply moving behind her and gently pushing her back. I reflexively caught the stumbling Patricia. Her body was trembling slightly.

"Mash, th-this is my first time."

She looked down, her face bright red.

"I see. For me, it's..."

I started to count, but Patricia quickly placed a hand over my mouth.

"You don't have to answer. Please, take care of Mo-sama. I will pray to Laciel-sama for everyone's safe return."

I gently lifted her chin. Patricia didn't resist, and her teary eyes looked straight into mine. Drawn in by them, I leaned closer, and she slowly closed her eyes.

As our lips met, a soft, warm sensation spread through me, sending sweet ripples throughout my body.

Even after our lips parted, we remained in each other's arms.

When I slowly opened my eyes, her face was right there.

"Patricia..."

Just as I was about to speak, I noticed Famu and the others lined up behind her. Marmi, who had been watching us, noticed the line too and joined the very end of it.

Left alone, Petra shrugged her shoulders, looking out of place.

"You want to get in line too?"

"No, I'll pass. I'll be waiting outside, so make it quick."

She gave a wave and headed out ahead of us.