kscans

Chapter 241 - New Party Discussion

That night, after the samurai Simon joined the party, Hayato logged back in. Everyone except Ruth had gathered in the dining hall for a discussion.

"Good work, everyone. How was today’s exploration?"

"The exploration is going smoothly, but there is a problem with Simon’s attire," Damian said, shifting his gaze from Hayato to Simon.

"It is not good for a young woman to expose her skin. To begin with, it is a bad influence on Ruth’s education. Put on something to cover your upper body and reduce the exposure."

"That would hinder my movement. Speed is a samurai’s life. And with clothes on, I cannot feel the wind on my skin. My evasion may suffer."

"With your strength, a slight weakening will not be a problem. Ruth’s future is more important. If you insist, I will surround you with a horde of skeletons. That way, Ruth will not be able to see you."

"I would rather not."

Hayato looked at Simon’s clothes. It was certainly revealing. Her upper body was only wrapped in a sarashi, and her arms were covered in just bandages. Her shoulders and toned, muscular stomach were exposed.

Looking at her abs, he suddenly felt a pang of worry.

Gil, the dark knight, loved muscles. And he had heard that Gil had a preference for muscular women. And the Maid Chief was in love with Gil. Though he didn’t want to get involved, Hayato glanced at the Maid Chief.

Oh no, she has a composed look on her face, but her eyes are terrifying. Her gaze is screaming, ‘How dare you let a woman like this join us…’

Just as he resolved to make her something to wear immediately, Gil spoke up.

"I agree with Damian-dono’s opinion. Simon-dono has fine muscles, but it is not proper for a woman to bare her skin. It would be better to have Hayato-dono make you some light and easy-to-move-in clothes."

"I agree as well. As expected of Gil-sama, you are a true gentleman."

The Maid Chief chimed in on Gil’s words, not forgetting to praise him as a gentleman. Hayato was impressed, thinking that this kind of steady effort must be important.

"My reputation is poor, it seems. However, I cannot cause trouble now. Hayato, my apologies, but could you make me something?"

"Of course. Do you have any requests?"

"A kimono. A haori might cover my shoulders, but not my abdomen. Perhaps I shall become a miko-style samurai in a white kimono. Oh, and I would like a red tasuki prepared as well. The sleeves would be a nuisance."

"A white kimono and a red tasuki sash. I’ll have them ready by tomorrow."

"My thanks. And one more request, if I may. Could you make me four or five katanas? Iron-made will suffice."

"Is the one you have no good? Isn’t that sword a unique item?"

The katana Simon held had a different shape from those made with the Blacksmithing skill. He hadn’t looked closely, but it seemed to be a sword with a unique name.

Simon placed the katana on the table so Hayato could see it better.

"This is Meitou Kitsutsuki. It is a masterpiece, but it has low durability. As I learned from fighting today, the Necropolis has many demons. I want to save this for formidable opponents. It is better to use ordinary katanas for ordinary foes."

"In that case, understood. I’ll make a few by tomorrow. Alright everyone, could you tell me what you need as well? I’ll have it ready by tomorrow."

Hayato went around and took requests from everyone, jotting them down in a memo. After hearing everyone’s requests, he checked with them all once more.

"Are there any other problems? Anything at all."

Simon lightly raised her right hand.

"It is not so much a problem as a question, if I may?"

"Of course. What is it?"

"There was a songstress here when I came before. Does she not go exploring? If you need more combat power, I believe she should definitely be in the party."

"The songstress, you mean Noat-san? I wonder. I feel like she’d refuse even if we asked."

Ivan nodded emphatically.

"I don’t think she’ll go outside unless something major happens. We could drag her out, but someone would probably have to carry her on their back. I’m not doing it."

Ivan’s statement, coming from a former clanmate, was persuasive. He had probably carried her before.

"Then I shall carry her. I must protect her as a tank."

"No, letting Gil-sama carry her would be so enviou… I mean, I believe it would be dangerous. In that case, I shall carry her."

"Hahaha, on your back, Maid Chief-dono, would she not be tossed about and fall off immediately!"

"Then I will have a skeleton carry her. It might be a bit chilly, but it should not be a problem."

Being carried by a skeleton sounds pretty awful… Still, I do want to ask Noat-san to join. A support class is necessary to raise the party’s firepower.

Support from songs was quite effective. While only one effect from the Song Skill could be active at a time, it came at almost no risk and activated instantly. Being able to switch songs according to the battle situation made one worth more than a single combat class player.

The fact that one had to sing was a hurdle for some players, but most just hummed, so it hadn’t become a major issue. Incidentally, there were some prodigies who could handle all three types of support, song, instrument, and dance, all by themselves.

"Um, in that case, my pet Lancelot, the Griffon, is here, so how about we have them ride double and carry Noat-san? The ride is exceptionally comfortable. And his fur is the best."

Maris timidly raised her hand and made the suggestion. Although she raised her hand timidly, her explanation of Lancelot was full of confidence.

A Riding Skill was required to ride a pet, but now it was possible to ride double. As long as one person was riding, another could ride along without the Riding Skill.

However, there was a problem. Hayato decided to check with Maris.

"Can we take Lancelot into the Necropolis dungeon?"

"We can, but it’s too cramped for him to fight using his mobility. But since the front guard defeats most enemies, I tend to act as a tank anyway, so I thought it might be fine."

Maris carried a lance and a round shield, so she could fight, but she focused more on defense than offense. Her style was to parry opponents with her lance while blocking attacks with her shield.

Gil was the main tank, primarily covering the front-line members, while Maris’s role was to protect the rear guard like Damian and Ruth.

"Then let’s go with that. It’s a waste to let a talented person sit idle. Besides, if the party’s combat power increases, our exploration speed should go up, and we can get to the lowest floor faster."

Everyone nodded, but Rose lightly raised her right hand.

"Um, I don’t believe we have obtained Noat-sama’s permission…"

"...I’ll just have to make another Donut Castle and ask her. It’ll be fine. Probably. Anything else?"

"May I ask one more thing? It is not a question, but a request."

"Of course. It’s your first day exploring, so you must have a lot on your mind. Say whatever you need."

"May I be allowed to stay at this base? I came here directly from the port, so I have not secured lodging."

Of course he would lend her a room on the second floor. Or so he thought, until he considered the room assignments.

There were twelve rooms in total, but one was a storage room and another was an indoor garden, leaving only ten rooms with beds.

Hayato, Esha, Ash, Ren, and Rose each used one room. Guests included Noat, Gil, Ivan, Damian, Ruth, and Mist. Mist had her own room, while Damian and Ruth shared one.

In other words, there were no empty rooms.

Ash and Ren didn’t have time to log in, but their rooms were already filled with their personal belongings, so he couldn’t lend them out. Esha and Rose naturally used their rooms regularly, so those were also unavailable.

As he wondered what to do, the Maid Chief looked at Hayato and nodded.

"Hayato-sama, there are no rooms, correct? In that case, we can lend you a room at the Maid Guild’s dormitory. We have a few vacant, so there will be no problem for Simon-sama alone."

Hayato decided to take the Maid Chief up on her offer. He felt his life was in danger if he didn’t.

Though it was only Hayato's guess, the Maid Chief probably didn't want the muscular Simon staying in the same base as Gil. There was the option of setting up a bed in the great hall on the third floor, but he decided to go with the Maid Chief's suggestion.

"Is that alright with you, Simon?"

"I do not mind where I stay. I am fine with camping out, for that matter."

"You’re wild. But we can’t have that. Maid Chief-san, I’ll leave it to you."

"As you wish."

With that, the discussion ended, and everyone dispersed.

After seeing everyone off, Hayato returned to his room to maintain their equipment and create the necessary items.