It’s Convenient That Danna-Sama Isn’t Interested in Me. I’ll Make a Name for Myself as an Adventurer! – Chapter 27

Chapter 27: Unannounced Home Visit
ㅤThe reconstruction of Neville town is proceeding smoothly. In addition to the restoration of the walls and buildings surrounding the town, we’ve also begun construction of magic stone mining and processing facilities, so Danna-sama seems to be very busy.
ㅤThe serpent-shaped Chimera has also been reactivated and has become quite useful. The monsters that were terrified of the Chimera have scattered, and since there’s no need to fear their attacks even when mining magic stones, the security of the surrounding area has already stabilized.
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ㅤ”Woahhh! I wanna see that Chimera too!!!”
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ㅤZap was unusually excited, his eyes shining.
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ㅤ”It’s a pretty old Chimera, right? How has it kept its form?”
ㅤ”Wasn’t Mino different?”
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ㅤI was doing solo activities on the fourth floor of the dungeon for the first time in a while when I ran into Zap, who was also diving into the dungeon with his Minotaur, Mino. We ended up exploring together.
ㅤWhat’s good about Mino is that he keeps watch while I sleep at night. Until now, I’ve only been on day trips, so I haven’t had to worry about long periods of rest. That’s why I’m still in the trial and error phase regarding a sustainable defense posture.
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ㅤ”No, I think Mino is the latest model, or maybe the final form, among Chimeras, because he wasn’t that damaged when I found him. But I heard that most of the Chimeras that are excavated are partially broken.”
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ㅤZap seems to have researched Chimeras quite a bit. I also read materials on Chimeras in the mansion’s library and found a description that the more intelligent the monster, such as humanoids, the more difficult it is to turn them into a Chimera. Since the method of creating Chimeras has been lost since the Great War 500 years ago, I predict that the humanoid monster Minotaur is the latest and final work.
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ㅤ”But that serpent. It’s huge, right? Wouldn’t you need a heck of a magic stone to make it into a Chimera?”
ㅤ”Well. That’s a trade secret.”
ㅤ”What’s that supposed to mean?”
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ㅤThe bonfire in front of us crackles! A white smoke rises from a small pot.
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ㅤIt’s well known that Christina-sama’s magic stone was sent to Blood Territory, but of course, the fact that it’s of national treasure-level quality and size is not widely known. That’s because it’s best to avoid people getting greedy.
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ㅤ”Why don’t you go to Neville? It’s not that far.”
ㅤ”Yeah, maybe I’ll go after I finish this request.”
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ㅤZap stirs the pot as he speaks. I could see that the ingredients, which had been hard and dry until a moment ago, were becoming soft.
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ㅤ”Isn’t it about done?”
ㅤ”Yeah.”
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ㅤWhat we made was a dish that resembled risotto. I’ve never seen it in Blood Territory or my hometown, Witwish Territory. It’s a common dish in Zap’s hometown, he said. Judging from the smell, I have high expectations for the taste as well.
ㅤ”I don’t usually cook like this in the dungeon, but…… today I have Tempest’s defense magic, so I think we can eat in peace.”
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ㅤIt’s his fifth day in the dungeon. He told me forcefully that he was craving a decent meal. Zap is also a magician, but his magic power is moderate. He usually relies on Mino for offense and defense, so he doesn’t have much leeway, he’s been complaining lately.
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ㅤ”I’m thinking of buying a good one when I can buy magic stones from Neville.”
ㅤ”Yeah, it’s reassuring to have that.”
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ㅤIt’s important to have a margin in everything.
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ㅤ”Defense magic is convenient, but you can’t detect presences beforehand, so it’s scary to think that you might get hit with a big one while you’re sleeping.”
ㅤ”Exactly.”
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ㅤIt’s my second day in the dungeon. I can’t sleep soundly at night like I used to. This is unexpectedly getting to me……! My body is still young, so it’s not that much of an effect, but if I’m going to be an adventurer for a long time, I need to take measures.
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ㅤ”I guess parties are nice after all. That sense of security of having someone to watch your back.”
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ㅤZap and Mino aren’t a party, but it’s similar.
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ㅤ”Well, there are no absolutes in the dungeon.”
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ㅤThat’s true…… Everyone is adventuring with quite a bit of tension. I was naive.
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ㅤ”Here.”
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ㅤZap served the food into bowls as he said that. Three portions…… Three portions!?
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ㅤ”Mino eats too!?”
ㅤ”Yeah. He seems to be in better shape when he does.”
ㅤ”Whoa~ Then, does that serpent Chimera eat too!?”
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ㅤIf that were the case, this territory would run out of food! There are many things we don’t know about the ecology of Chimeras, but if we consider them to be monsters, then the act of eating might indeed be necessary.
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ㅤ’I never thought of that.’
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ㅤ”No, fundamentally, their driving force is magic power. Whether this guy is special, or humanoid monsters are special, or whether it depends on how the Chimera is made……”
ㅤ”There’s no way to verify that, huh?”
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ㅤRight, right. Zap nodded and took the risotto to Mino. He was currently keeping watch from the nearby rocks.
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ㅤ’Having a lookout and defense magic seems to be the most reassuring for now.’
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ㅤMy adventurer rank is already B. The achievements from rescuing Danna-sama last time were not reflected in my record because of the gag order. I’ve continued my activities as an adventurer since then, but unfortunately, I still have a lot of shortcomings to reach A rank.
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ㅤ『I’m not saying Tempest doesn’t have the skills, but the timing was good.』
ㅤ『I can appreciate that you seize opportunities properly.』
ㅤ『You still have that rookie smell.』
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ㅤIt’s frustrating that I can’t refute what my fellow adventurers say sometimes.
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ㅤBut there’s no need to rush. The reconstruction of Neville will probably take years. Now is the time for steady progress. Ah~ I’m so strong and humble!
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ㅤ’Alright. Let’s create a new magic!’
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ㅤImage is important for magic. To do that, I need to put myself in a situation where I need that magic, like this time. Unlike offensive magic, I’ve been making do with defense magic for defensive purposes, so my repertoire is limited. It’s definitely a magic that I’ll need in the future.
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ㅤ’I’ll definitely win the match against Danna-sama!!!’
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ㅤAnd with that, I’ll get freedom and a rich life with both name and reality!
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ㅤ”Let’s eat!”
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ㅤI blew on my bowl because it was piping hot, but Zap seemed to be fine with the heat and was eating quickly. Mino seemed to be eating slowly.
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ㅤIn the end, I returned to the mansion on the third day. After Ellis gave me a bath, I fell asleep like a log.
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◇◇◇
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ㅤ”Madam! I apologize for disturbing you!”
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ㅤI opened my eyes blearily in bed to find a flustered Ellis in front of me.
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ㅤ”Mmm…… What’s wrong?”
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ㅤI’m sleepy. I still want to sleep. To think that something serious enough to interrupt the sleep of the Duchess, me, has happened makes me want to stay in bed even more.
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ㅤ”A, a guest……”
ㅤ”A guest?”
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ㅤWhat happened in Neville town is known throughout the country, and guests who have business with Danna-sama don’t come to this mansion, they go directly to Neville. The only guests who come to this mansion are those who can be handled by his right-hand man, Vincent.
ㅤIn other words! A person of a class that Vincent can’t handle has come. And without an appointment. It’s a breach of etiquette among the nobles of this country to show up unannounced. Someone who doesn’t even care about that has come.
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ㅤ’Ugh! This is the worst!!!’
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ㅤI smoothed down my messy hair and waited for Ellis to continue.
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ㅤ”The Third Prince is here.”
ㅤ”……Huh?”
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ㅤWhat did you say?
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ㅤ”The Third Prince has come to see you, Madam.”
ㅤ”……Huh!!?”
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ㅤHuh? Me? Not Danna-sama?
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ㅤ”Please get dressed quickly.”
ㅤ”Ah…… Yes……”
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ㅤ’What the heck! I was finally enjoying my leisurely life without Danna-sama!!!’
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ㅤAnd what does he want anyway!
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ㅤThat being said, I can’t disobey those in power. I reluctantly changed into a dress for going out.