Biscuit, biscuit.
Yes! This is...
Fihne quickly removed the cloth.
This is...
"Fish!
What was inside was a large tank. There are several large fish in the tank that are commensurate with the size of the tank, and they swim as they rinse inside the tank.
"... fish?
Somehow, something out of place suddenly appeared here, and I felt confused.
"Wow, I'm swimming! Beautiful fish....."
Charlotte approached the tank.
It is indeed a beautiful fish. The scale looks golden, not because it's lit up, but because the fish itself is shining. Is it a variety like this?
"Hey, is this, like, a golden fish?
Goldenfish?
"What is that?"
"It's a super fine fish! Fine, what's wrong with you?
"Yes! I brought it for Mr. Lute!
"... eh? Me?"
"Sashimi is delicious when you eat it."
... last night, I did say I wanted to eat sashimi.
I told you...
"Wow... did you bring it all the way here?
You got this big stuff? Six hours on a bus like this in the back of the mountain?
Yes!
…… Really, ah, thank you.... "
"......! I'm glad you're happy!
Fine put her hand on the cheek of the mask and swayed her body with a knee.
"... fufu, it was worth searching all morning"
…………
I'm glad, but I'm more confused about why you're doing this.
I know you like me, but...
"Fine, can I eat too?
"This belongs to Mr Lute, so ask Mr Lute."
"... yeah, sure, let's all eat together."
Are you sure you want to eat now?
"I don't mind...."
Neither Charlotte nor Iris seemed to have any particular objections.
"Yes! Then I'll make the fish."
I started removing a set of cooking utensils and dishes from another box. Ready.
This is all I have left. Do you have a truck? But there's not just one truck around.
"... Lute"
Iris whispered to me from behind.
"Golden fish is so expensive.
"Really?
"Yes. Perhaps our current earnings will save us three months to buy one..."
"Really...."
Fine scoops the golden fish with a net and puts it on the cutting board.
Her gorgeous knife turned a fish into a sashimi at once. Place beautifully on a dish that looks expensive.
"Now, ladies and gentlemen, it's ready to serve."
It's a white fish, but it looks radiant.
"Ah, can Mr. Lute come here?
Hmm?
Fine had me sit in a folding chair and pinched a few chopsticks with a white glowing sashimi.
"Golden fish seems to be best eaten as it is, so, yes, ahhhh!
Huh?
"Please open your mouth. Ahhn"
Impressive without saying!
Well, that's exactly what I can't say in this situation. They brought such a tall fish to the back of the mountain.
I'm embarrassed, but I can't help it. I opened my mouth.
Fine brought the sashimi to my mouth.
--Ah, sweet!
The taste of fat spreads to the mouth. Crunchy, textured white body. The more you chew, the more delicious it is, and the mellow aroma comes out of your nose.
Gokuri.
What a thick meat...
"It's so delicious!... no, what is this!
I feel like I've eaten the best sashimi in my life...
Yes, ahn
Second mouth in a row.
/(adv, adv-to, vs) (on-mim) grumbling/grumbling/
I'm not bored at all.
I've been worried about a lot, but it's delicious enough to fly all that stuff!
This can be eaten infinitely...
"It's still there, so please eat as much as you like. Yes, ahn...."
"Hey, hey! You guys are going to the dungeon. We're not going to play!
Iris is angry.
"... do you know that?
"Just stop acting like that in front of me."
"... I see why you're angry. Is that so?... heh, yeah."
"......!
Something invisible in the middle between them is bumping into each other.
Is that what you're talking about?
I don't know what it is, but it's disturbing anyway...
"And what are we going to do with this? You can't take it, can you?
"I'll leave tanks and cooking utensils around here, so don't worry. If you think about it a little bit, you'll see.
"... cum!
"Well, Iris. Eat it anyway. This is so delicious!
Iris stared at me.
Ugh, this is pretty angry.
"Ah, Iris, that's amazing... this fish. Come on, let's try it."
Charlotte said that with a worrying face. Charlotte must have felt the calm air.
"... hmm?"
Iris said so, approached Charlotte, pinched his sashimi with a grumpy face and put it in his mouth.
Even though it's such a delicious fish, its expression hasn't changed much.
Well, for Iris, adventurer activity is for onee-san.
You floating a little too far? I'll apologize later.
…………
……
Filled with golden fish sashimi, we finally decided to continue down the mountain path.
This road is so dark that the bamboo shoots grow high on the left and right, blocking the lights of the stars and moon.
Let's make it a little brighter.
There are no signs of people. Smoke won't be a problem here.
/(adv, adv-to) (1) (on-mim) (on-mim) sluggishly/sluggishly/(2)
A black smoke appears and sends it down the road.
" Magic Light "
A sphere with illumination floats like a balloon. Put this on the smoke and take it to the end of the road.
With the magic of black smoke, you can keep it slightly out of range.
One after the other, the lights were magically made and flushed like a belt conveyor using smoke.
"Wow... beautiful"
That's what Charlotte said. Looks like a lamp, too.
If you drop the lights on the ground at regular intervals, the road will be much brighter.
As the work progressed, in an instant, a path of light was created in the darkness.
"Wow... you can do this with your smoke powers and magic."
"Yeah, we can do a lot more."
Now, let's see if there are any enemies.
Spread the smoke over a wide area to find out if anything is moving.
…………
There are multiple signs.
When I was in the Blue Tower, I didn't see any enemies on my way to the dungeon, but here I might count with monsters.
"I can detect monsters with smoke. There are plenty of them in this jar. Everybody, be careful."
"... even then... it's so nice!
Fine quickly approached me and said so.
"Really?
Fine said something that made me tickle, and I got a little irritated.
Let's go.
Iris whispered that. Fine hasn't changed her mind, but Iris seems to be dragging on.
I knew you were angry. I wish I had a chance to talk to you later...
We followed the illuminated path.
I walked the mountain road for about two hours.
Thanks to the brighter roads, it is somewhat easier to walk.
I take the lead, and Fine is mostly next to or behind me.
Charlotte and Iris were walking a little behind them.
... after all, you've come this far without a chance to talk to Iris.
Rubbish, rubbish!
I heard such a noise slightly from a distance.
I'll give you a quick smoke.
It's a monster. The number is one. Is this human? No...
"Guys, there's a monster. Be careful."
"You're finally a monster!
For some reason, Fine said happily.
The enemy seems to recognize us.
The slow pace of movement is probably due to the fact that Takeshi "Takiyabu" is an obstacle. But it's getting closer and closer.
There was a place where the road was a little wider, so we decided to wait there.
Along with the footsteps, the sound of chatter, chatter and metal touching each other approached.
Eventually, the monster appeared.
A monster with armor about the height of a child appeared. He has a sword and a shield. That armor has no head.
A small Durahan? I don't seem to have a head.
Iris, please.
Uh-huh.
Iris stepped forward and held his sword.
…… Isn't Mr Lute fighting?
"Ah, yeah. If the enemy is one, basically Iris will fight."
"... hey. I'm with Mr. Lute, so you must be strong (...)."
…………
I feel Iris's concentration is disturbed.
Iris, you're gonna need my smoke.
"... yeah"
As I did in the Blue Tower, Iris's body was wrapped in smoke. Just in case.
A small Durahan is snuggled up.
It was Iris who moved first.
"Haaaahh!
Oh no. Too much strength.
But Iris waved his sword down from the top without warning.
Durahan quickly dodged it while swinging his sword sideways.
There was no way to replace Iris immediately after the attack, and the sword devoured Iris' body.
"Ugh!
- Looked like it.
After all, I'm glad I kept the smoke.
His sword stopped my smoke.
Iris is in good health.
"Iris, it's okay! Fight back!"
Once again, Iris waved his sword down.
My smoke is holding the enemy's weapon. I can't run away this time.
Bakin! and Iris's sword broke his armor.
The crack is spreading.
Boom! A small Durahan burst.
All right, I got him.
"... Lute, I'm sorry, thank you..."
"Yeah. Was that a big deal?
"... yeah, that's right. Next time, we have to be careful."
It must be Fihne's words that caused the effort.
The fine stood still and looked at Iris. I don't know what kind of expression you're making because of the mask.
"What?"
"... no, it's nothin '."
Hmm, I wonder if you could get along better.
"Well, it's time to take a break! It's just a big place."
I tried to say that to change the atmosphere. Charlotte will be tight soon, and it's about time.
"Huh? Are you already taking a break?
"Yeah, can't I?
"I, uhh! It's not like that, but...."
Fine is capable of attacking Monster Houses by herself. I might want to go faster.
But our party won't go on at that pace.
"... that's what I see."
And she said that with a little voice that only I could hear.
She stared at Charlotte, who had sweated her forehead over the mask.
Charlotte, look.
I took the collapsible chair out of my luggage and prepared it for Charlotte.
"Uh-huh. I'm sorry."
"Hey, towel. And water."
Then, with the hand towel, I poured water into the water bottle and gave it to Charlotte.
"Fufu, thank you. Lute is kind."
Charlotte smiled at me. Hmm, healed.
"I'll give Lute some water, too."
Charlotte took the water bottle out of her luggage, poured it on me like I did earlier, and then handed it to me.
"Yes, let's go."
"Yes, thank you."
She drank a lot of water.
Gigi, gigigi.
I heard a strange noise.
Hey, what's up?
I heard it from Fine.
Gibberish. Gibberish.
Rip, rip, rip.
I wonder what that sounds like. It's a squeaky sound. I feel like I can hear it from inside the mask.
"Fine, what's wrong?
When I said that, the noise stopped.
…………
The two dark eyes of the faceless clown mask are staring at me.
Fine.
What kind of face are you looking at now...?
I hadn't cared about the mask before, but...
It was the first time I felt creepy.
Suddenly Fihne uttered a word.
"Mr. Lute, if the next monster shows up, will you let me fight?
"Yeah, I don't mind."
"Yes, look at my power...."
It's been a long time.
"... it's me, my power, to Mr Lute..."
Fine muttered something, but the last one didn't hear it.
…………
……