kscans

Chapter 199 - Two Buildings

That night, when Hayato and Esha logged in, the members who had gone out exploring had returned to the Campsite.

It seemed they had been waiting for Hayato, and he, along with Relic, was to participate in the leader meeting, a name that had somehow stuck.

The participants were the same as yesterday, with the addition of Relic, making six in total. Incidentally, Esha had been taken away by Lunaria. Apparently, tonight was a girls' night, where they would talk about love.

"I don't know, doesn't Lunaria-san seem even more hyper than usual? She did something pretty unbelievable yesterday, too."

Putting a pillowcase on Arondight and having a pillow fight was something that would normally be unthinkable. The sad part was that with Lunaria, it seemed plausible, but Hayato was getting a little worried.

A certain amount was fine, but there was a chance she could get too carried away and cause a huge problem.

"That was your advice, was it not? Well, it cannot be helped. She was practically confined to the Demon Lord's Castle until recently, and this is almost her first time staying overnight in a place with so many people, so she is more excited than usual."

"So that's why she's even more of a klutz than usual."

"Do not call her a klutz. That is what makes her so endearing."

Hayato thought that Rosalie also became a klutz whenever Lunaria was involved, but he didn't say it out loud. If he did, there was a chance he would be cut down on the spot.

"So, everyone, you mentioned I was to join today as well. Was there some sort of problem?"

Relic asked, as if to change the subject, and Sonia nodded.

"I know you're guarding Hayato, but there's a place I want you to come to tomorrow, Relic. I wanted to ask you that along with today's report. So, I'll explain what happened, just listen for a bit."

Sonia said this and began to explain the day's situation.

From morning until evening, Sonia and her group had circled the island.

They had discovered two buildings. They had only investigated them a little and hadn't explored much. A brief survey revealed that they seemed to be quite large. They wanted to investigate the inside of those buildings starting tomorrow.

"They feel less like buildings and more like entrances to an underground area. The first floor was like a guardhouse, but in the back, there was an elevator going down."

"An elevator?"

Hayato was curious whether its power source was electricity or magic, but he put that aside for now. The problem was what was in that basement.

"I understand what was found. So, the plan is to have Relic-san investigate?"

"That's right, but actually, the plan is to split into two teams and investigate both at once. I'll be in one, so I was hoping to ask you to handle the other, Relic."

The reason for splitting into two teams was the items Hayato had made.

Today, as they circled the island, they were able to defeat dinosaurs with ease thanks to the equipment and Coconut Juice Hayato had made. Moving as a whole group was overkill, so they concluded that it would be better to split into two teams and capture both buildings at the same time.

"I'm going with the Demon Lord team, so could you go with Cecil and the Ney girl, Relic? Of course, we'll split the Treasure Hunter Guild members between the two teams."

"Hmm... Hayato-sama, what do you think?"

"I think it's fine. The investigation of the lake is mostly finished, so we don't need to go there anymore, and there are no dinosaurs nearby."

Hayato had spent the morning fishing in the lake.

He had caught things like Coelacanths and Ammonites, and it seemed the lake was also inhabited by ancient creatures.

They could be used as cooking ingredients, but even Esha had said, "I don't want any," with a straight face. Hayato and Relic didn't have the courage to eat dishes made with them either, and their forms were a bit unsettling to even put in his item bag, so he released them back into the lake without cooking them.

In the end, all his fishing accomplished was finding out what he could catch, which turned out to be nothing useful.

An item collector might buy them for a high price, but it's a bit much to bring those back. Instead, I gathered a lot of coconuts, so I'll mass-produce juice. I should also try to see if I can use them in some kind of sweets... oops, that's for later.

"What do you think, Relic-san? Isn't it boring to wait at the Campsite all the time?"

"Indeed it is. There are no dinosaurs in this area, so Hayato-sama does not require a guard... Very well. Then tomorrow, I will go to this building with Ney-sama and Cecil."

"That's the spirit! I think one of those buildings probably has a hint about how to get to the island in the middle of the lake. If we capture them at the same time, we should be able to go there right away."

"Oh, right. I have a little bit of information about the building in the lake, so I'll share that with you. And the results of my fishing, too."

Hayato explained the day's events to Sonia and the others.

When he was finished, they disbanded.

As everyone left the room, Sonia and the others were talking happily. They were going to participate in the girls' night hosted by Lunaria.

Hearing this, Relic looked at Sonia with a thoroughly exasperated face.

"Are you planning to attend a girls' night at your age?"

"How much are you selling that fight for? I'll buy it for whatever you ask. In any case, women love to talk about romance at any age. Besides, I've never had an experience like that before, so I'd like to participate as a souvenir for the afterlife."

"Just hearing the words 'romance talk' from your mouth makes me a little dizzy, but if you're going to participate, behave with the moderation befitting an elder. Also, don't say things like 'souvenir for the afterlife' that are difficult to respond to."

Ney, who had been listening to this conversation, crossed her arms and nodded powerfully.

"Indeed! Sonia, age is irrelevant. Let us have a wonderful time together. To be honest, I have never had such an experience either, so I am looking forward to it."

"Is that so? That won't do. You'll end up like me. You should talk about love as much as you can while you're young."

"I would not mind becoming like you, Sonia, but I would like to talk about love too... Hayato, I request drinks and food to liven up the party!"

"I guess that's fine, but I can't make anything too fancy. I don't have that many ingredients with me, so it'll mostly be coconut dishes."

"Of course!"

While Ney was looking forward to it so much, Cecil seemed less than enthusiastic.

"Is talking about love really that great? I'd rather talk about swords."

"You're asking me, a guy, so I can't really answer. I understand about as much about girls as I do about the mysteries of the universe."

In the real world, Ren often held a Girls' Heart Study Group for Hayato and Ash, but he still didn't understand much. If anything, the mystery only deepened.

"Hmph. Well, it might be useful for something, so I'll participate. But what I'm curious about is, does anyone in this group even have any love stories to talk about? I mean, does anyone even have a boyfriend? I don't."

Silence dominated the room. If anyone said the wrong thing here, they would likely never hear the end of it.

A few seconds later, much to the relief of Hayato and Relic, Ney spoke up.

"W-well, I've heard that when it comes to love stories, the stories before you start dating, or when you have a one-sided crush, are more interesting... or maybe I haven't...?"

"Is that how it is? Well, whatever. The story of when Ivan confessed to Lunaria is a love story, right? If nothing else, we can just listen to that."

At the mention of Ivan's name, Rosalie's face twisted in disgust.

"If that is to be told as a love story, then I shall tell you a story about a ladybug and a butterfly in the Demon Lord's Castle."

"Oh, a story of interspecies love, is it? Even insects have it rough."

"That's not it. It means I'll tell a pointless story. That's enough, let's go. I will absolutely not let you talk about that Hero fellow, so give it up."

The four women walked down the hallway, talking about various things.

Only Hayato and Relic remained.

"It seems like a party I would both want to see and not want to see. Though it is nine to one in favor of not wanting to see it."

"The fact that there is even a one is amazing. It is rude of me to say, but if I were asked to participate in that party, I would absolutely refuse. I would refuse even if I were offered a large sum of money."

"I agree... Well then, I guess I'll make some food for the girls' night. I don't know what they'll do to me if I don't."

If there was no food, he didn't want to imagine what would happen. Hayato thought this and was about to get started right away.

"Please do not overwork yourself. Ah, speaking of which, though I just said not to overwork yourself, I actually have a request for you, Hayato-sama."

"What is it?"

"Yes, would you be so kind as to make some equipment for me again? I will have to fight dinosaurs tomorrow, so I would like to have a weapon with a special attack property."

"Oh, of course. I'll make some knuckle-type equipment. I think I can make a pretty strong weapon using fangs and claws."

Since there were no other members who fought with martial arts besides Relic, he hadn't made any knuckle-type equipment yesterday. If Relic was going to use it, he should prepare it now.

"I am grateful. I look forward to it. Well then, it is getting late, so I shall take my leave now."

"It is that late already. Then, Relic-san, good night."

"Yes, good night."

Relic said this, bowed to Hayato, and then walked toward his room.

Alright, I guess I'll make Relic-san's weapon and the food for the girls' night. I have some other weapons I want to try making, so I'll work on various things.

With that thought, Hayato headed toward his own room.