Chapter 7: Midnight Chat
ㅤ”I haven’t seen Reid-kun lately.”
ㅤ”Well, the last time he went to subjugate Mandrakes, he chipped his sword, and Reid’s Otou-sama was really angry…… It seems he’s remaking a weapon that won’t chip~.”
ㅤ
ㅤReid lived at his family’s weapon shop. He had an Onii-san, and although he wasn’t planning to inherit the business, he helped out with the family business since knowing how to maintain weapons as an adventurer wouldn’t hurt…….That was the official reason, but the real reason was that living at home meant he didn’t have to pay for living expenses. Therefore, when he wasn’t working as an adventurer, he would stand in the shop and demonstrate various weapons to adventurers, help with repairs, and make his own weapons.
ㅤ
ㅤ’The weapons Reid-kun uses are basically advertisements for the weapon shop…… He can’t show adventurers a damaged one, so it’s understandable that his father would be angry.’
ㅤ
ㅤToday, I’m diving into the dungeon with Milia-san. We had a somewhat specialized request to gather magical plants. It was for moss that only grows in dim places within the dungeon. We are currently walking through the third floor of the dungeon.
ㅤThe recommended rank to challenge the third floor is D. However, sometimes powerful monsters also appear, so it’s said that you shouldn’t go there unless you’re confident in your fighting ability.
ㅤ
ㅤ”This is it~!”
ㅤ”It’s……glowing?”
ㅤ
ㅤIt’s a mystery what kind of effect it has, but the reward is high because it’s an urgent request. We scrape the occasionally glowing moss growing on the rocks with our knives and put it into cloth bags. We managed to collect a palm-sized amount. Bringing this back will complete the request.
ㅤ
ㅤ”Here it comes~!”
ㅤ
ㅤMilia-san immediately readies her axe and takes a stance. If you listen closely, you can hear the sound of something approaching, scraping along the ground.
ㅤ
ㅤ’This presence detection…… how is she doing it?’
ㅤ
ㅤMilia-san reacted before I could even hear the sound. I also get into a fighting stance, following her lead. Of course, at this point, I’ve already put up a defensive magic barrier, so there’s no problem even if the enemy attacks from anywhere.
ㅤ
ㅤ”Whoa!”
ㅤ
ㅤSplash! Poisonous liquid splatters against my defensive magic. And then it starts to sizzle and melt the magic. The fact that it’s melting my magic means that the poison is quite powerful, possessing magical power.
ㅤ
ㅤ’Milia-san isn’t scared at all~.’
ㅤ
ㅤIs this the difference in experience?
ㅤ
ㅤ”Woah!”
ㅤ
ㅤAgain, I’m the only one who cries out.
ㅤ
ㅤI’m glad I quickly put up another defensive magic barrier. A large fang from the main body of the creature slammed into it with a loud clang.
ㅤ
ㅤ”A Viper!?”
ㅤ”Oh my~ Those fangs and skin will sell for a high price~”
ㅤ
ㅤMilia-san’s voice is clearly filled with excitement and joy.
ㅤA monster that looks like a combination of a crocodile and a cobra has appeared. It has a long body, probably the size of two adult men, but it crawls quickly on the ground and can easily dodge random attacks.
ㅤ
ㅤ”Let’s take off the head and tail~ I want to take back as much of the body skin as possible without damaging it~.”
ㅤ”Roger!”
ㅤ
ㅤMilia-san is a gentle person who says rather extreme things. Her father has already passed away, and she works hard as an adventurer to send money to her sickly mother and younger siblings. Perhaps because of that, she remembers the purchase price of monsters by body part.
ㅤ
ㅤ”I’ll take the head!”
ㅤ”Oh my~ Thank you~.”
ㅤ
ㅤSince it has poisonous liquid, it’s better for me, the one who can use magic, to handle that side. We both faced the giant body and went to take it down in one fell swoop.
ㅤ
ㅤThe giant wind blade I created cuts off the Viper’s head. And immediately, I encased the head in a shield. A double shield, even. Just in case any poison might scatter. Milia-san dodged the hard and sharp tail that came towards her just in time, got close, and cut the body in half with a single swing of her axe. So the Viper is already in three pieces.
ㅤ
ㅤ”Being with Tempest-san makes me feel like I’ve become stronger~”
ㅤ”No, Milia-san is actually strong.”
ㅤ”I couldn’t do it this quickly on my own~.”
ㅤ
ㅤAnd then Milia-san very skillfully dismantled the Viper, which was now in three pieces.
ㅤ
ㅤ”This part of the belly~ a blade will go through it~. See, this thin line…… Well, it doesn’t expose its weak point during battle, so it’s a place you can only use during dismantling~.”
ㅤ”I’m learning a lot.”
ㅤ
ㅤMilia-san laughs gently. The gap between her now and when she was swinging her axe is amazing.
ㅤ
ㅤ”Are you really sure~? I won’t be able to repay you later~?”
ㅤ”If Milia-san hadn’t taught me, I would have chopped it up and it wouldn’t have been worth anything, so I’ll pay you for the lesson.”
ㅤ
ㅤAs Milia-san said, the Viper’s materials were bought for a good price. Normally, adventurers split the reward equally. But this time, we divided the payment 8 to 2.
ㅤ
ㅤ”……Thank you. That helps a lot.”
ㅤ”Mm. Please let me learn from you again next time.”
ㅤ”Fufu…… Let’s do that.”
ㅤ
ㅤYesterday, I happened to overhear that Milia-san’s mother wasn’t doing well. She told me, a little sadly, that the medicine effective for her mother’s illness is quite expensive, so no amount of money is enough. I understood why she had been recklessly taking on high-paying requests and gathering only expensive materials lately. Milia-san, realizing that I knew about this through my actions, accepted the reward honestly.
ㅤ
ㅤ’Pride alone isn’t enough to live on……’
ㅤ
ㅤBorn as a noble, I’ve never had to struggle to survive. Wanting freedom is probably a luxurious worry from her perspective. Until now, I didn’t mind if my identity as a Duchess was revealed, but…… well…… I’m not hiding it, but…… Milia-san might perceive it as charity and dislike me. And I found myself slightly disliking that thought.
ㅤ
ㅤ’I’ve never felt this way before……’
ㅤ
ㅤI didn’t care if anyone disliked me, even if it was Danna-sama. And the number of such people has been gradually increasing since I became an adventurer.
ㅤ
◇◇◇
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ㅤToday, I returned to the mansion a little late. It’s already pitch black outside.
ㅤ
ㅤ”Oh. The light is still on in Danna-sama’s room.”
ㅤ
ㅤI look up at the study from outside the entrance.
ㅤ
ㅤ”He’s been busy again lately,” Ellis-san said.
ㅤ
ㅤEllis-san took my adventurer’s luggage with practiced hands. She doesn’t complain anymore these days. Did she give up, or did she realize something? Of course, I don’t say anything either, to avoid making things worse.
ㅤ
ㅤ”He’s the epitome of a lord~.”
ㅤ
ㅤWhile there are nobles who play around with the taxes from the commoners, there are also nobles who strive to fulfill their duties and missions as nobles and lords. My own family was also on the exemplary side of nobility, so perhaps that’s why they got along well with my parents.
ㅤ
ㅤ’In my case, I was strictly forced to act like a noble~.’
ㅤ
ㅤIf my family had been a little more flexible, I might not be an adventurer now. Perhaps because I wasn’t moderately satisfied, I ended up craving it.
ㅤ
ㅤ’Thinking about it that way…… should I be grateful that they strictly opposed me wanting to become an adventurer?’
ㅤ
ㅤLife is unpredictable.
ㅤ
ㅤAfter the entire mansion had fallen silent, I unusually had something to do inside this mansion. Usually, I only have things to do like eating, sleeping, and taking baths. I sneak out of my room and head towards the mansion’s greenhouse. Various flowers bloom here all year round, but medicinal herbs are also cultivated in a certain section. I came here to get a little bit of one of them.
ㅤ
ㅤ’I remember seeing an Okinisesu tree when I came here before.’
ㅤ
ㅤIts leaves are one of the medicinal herbs needed for the medicine Milia-san’s mother uses. She told me that the price of the medicine has gone up and the medicine itself is in short supply because it’s difficult to obtain depending on the season.
ㅤ
ㅤ’Since they say I can do as I please, they won’t complain if I take a few leaves from here, right?’
ㅤ
ㅤProbably. For now, I won’t think too deeply about it. I won’t ask because it would be troublesome if they said no. I wander around the greenhouse, relying only on the moonlight, so as not to get caught and cause trouble. I’m lucky it’s a full moon tonight.
ㅤ
ㅤ’Huh?’
ㅤ
ㅤI saw a small light near the table and chairs set up in the greenhouse. Is there a guard or something……? I cautiously approach. After all, I am the Duchess. I have a certain amount of power…… probably. I probably won’t be reprimanded. Probably.
ㅤ
ㅤ”Who is it?”
ㅤ
ㅤI was called out from the other side. I must praise myself for holding back a yelp!
ㅤ
ㅤ”……It is Tempest.”
ㅤ”Why at this late hour…… well, do as you please.”
ㅤ
ㅤIt’s Danna-sama. Perhaps remembering his own words, he doesn’t question me further. I can’t see his expression, but he’s leaning back in the chair, looking exhausted. He seems to be tired.
ㅤ
ㅤ”Then, I’ll take some medicinal herbs……”
ㅤ”Oh.”
ㅤ
ㅤThis puts my mind at ease. Even if there’s a commotion tomorrow about the super valuable Okinisesu leaves being gone! It’s okay because I have permission from the master of this mansion.
ㅤI pluck the dark blue leaves, relying on the moonlight, and put them into a cloth bag.
ㅤ
ㅤ’Is this enough……? ‘
ㅤ
ㅤ”You’ll need twice that amount if you’re using it for medicine.”
ㅤ
ㅤMy body trembles with a start when he suddenly speaks. He probably noticed that my hand stopped from the sound. I can see Danna-sama with his eyes closed near the small light.
ㅤ
ㅤ”Is that alright……?”
ㅤ”It doesn’t matter. The leaves will grow back soon.”
ㅤ”Then, I’ll take you up on that……”
ㅤ
ㅤAs I was told, I pluck the leaves and stuff them into the bag, pluck and stuff. I want to use magic to finish quickly, but I read in a book that it’s strictly forbidden for this magical plant, so I have no choice but to continue, even feeling awkward under Danna-sama’s presence.
ㅤ
ㅤ’It’s a little hard to see my hands……’
ㅤ
ㅤPerhaps he noticed my thought immediately, Danna-sama spoke to me again. He must be concerned too.
ㅤ
ㅤ”You can use this light.”
ㅤ”I’ll borrow it……”
ㅤ
ㅤI obediently borrow it and quickly resume my work. Finally, the cloth bag is full. I wonder if this will help Milia-san a little.
ㅤ
ㅤMy Danna-sama, bathed in the moonlight, is still pale and has his eyes closed.
ㅤ
ㅤ”……Please excuse me for a moment.”
ㅤ”?”
ㅤ
ㅤI stand behind him and cast healing magic as if massaging his shoulders. He might be a jerk as a Danna-sama, but he seems to be working hard as a lord, and above all, he taught me something I didn’t know. I have to pay him for the lamp and information. I don’t want to be indebted to him either.
ㅤ
ㅤ’Your shoulders are stiff~.’
ㅤ
ㅤI probably won’t be able to say something like that to him, but I wish we could at least be on good enough terms to say “good work” to each other.
ㅤ
ㅤI noticed Danna-sama’s expression soften slightly. It seems his fatigue has been relieved.
ㅤ
ㅤ”Then, I’ll take my leave.”
ㅤ”……Thank you.”
ㅤ
ㅤHe still doesn’t look at me, but I hear Danna-sama’s small voice of gratitude.