Chapter 42: LootDay 42
Wasn’t I supposed to keep my ego in check? With Alina and Sherry at my side, I feel comfortable. More content than greedy. The current size of my ego feels manageable, though I may say the same when another girl joins. Happy to have enough for now, I hug my wonderful partners in appreciation and then we go downstairs to prepare breakfast.
The guys are sleeping in or maybe it’s just because the days are getting longer. Weird not having a clock, calendar, or phone. Let’s see, it ought to be mid-May by now. Of course, I can’t use month names here since there’s no concept of months without a (visible) moon. I’ve heard a few people talk about 10-day weeks, though they don’t seem to be generally important. Obviously, farmers and merchants need to use finer distinctions than just seasons. A detail I learned recently is that ‘birthdays’ are actually just defined by season and year. [1]
I bet I could buy a calendar — wait — Toothpaste! Why can’t I find normal, everyday toothpaste? With all the obsession surrounding bathtubs and soap, both of which were avaible in Medieval Europe, why the heck don’t the isekai mangas ever talk about toothpaste? It’s good that the sugar content of my diet is low but I’m tired of using these lousy twigs and rinsing with vinegar. I want that cheap, commercial goop in a tube!
Fortunately, Alina took over my cooking task and Sherry pulled me to the table. I guess getting spoon fed isn’t far off. The guys are here now. Yeah, I really do need to only live with people I trust. The way I space out, I could get stabbed several times before taking notice. Whoops, better pay attention now since they seem to be waiting for me.
“Good morning everybody. I’ll go see the duke today to collect my 30 pieces of… I mean, to complete everything reted to the duel. It should only take an hour, so it’ll probably take the rest of the day. Sherry, I was thinking of sending you to the library today.”
“Thanks, David.”
“Good, we’ll soon need info on the next batch of monsters, floors 23 through 33. I’d also like to learn a bit more about the various groups of people in the empire. Where do they live and what nguages they speak. Just a general idea, details aren’t necessary.”
“What would you like to know about the nguages? Just the names?”
“Ideally, I’d like to see a few sample phrases for each. Even just the basic greetings would be helpful.”
“Sure, I can do that.”
“For everyone else, let’s go to an easy byrinth after I drop off Sherry. Afterwards, I’ll bring you back here and go see the duke over lunch. If I’m not home before sunset, I’d like someone to escort Sherry home. I certainly hope to be home much earlier, but always good to have a backup pn.”
It’s a bit inconvenient to be the only one with a driver’s licence, so to speak. Eventually, it would be good to have an Adventurer nearby. Well for now, I make sure that Sherry has money and weapons and I take her to the capital. After ensuring that the library lets her in, I go back home to fetch the rest of the party who are already dressed and ready to go. So, we go.
“Here in Vale’s Labyrinth, we’ll finish off the 6th floor. It has olives, sheep and minos.”
Nice that it hasn’t gotten crowded here. I wonder how much traffic is needed to keep a byrinth calm? Are we still in the grace period or is even this little enough sufficient?
Alina and I took the vanguard position while the guys basically rexed. One advantage of a staff over a wand is that it gave me something to do while waiting between storm spells. I also experimented with combining spell casting and staff strikes. Point-bnk range meant no misses and the possibility of sneak attacks, even if completely unnecessary against monsters.
Since we’d already explored much of this floor on an earlier visit, it didn’t take long to find the boss room. No line, so we fought the palm tree and left. Going back to this easier floor was good for experimentation and Alina probably benefitted from fighting at the front too.
Back home, I rinsed myself off quickly and changed into my fancy clothes — maybe I should invest in a second set. I decided to leave the staff and just take my wand. Oh, and an empty backpack for all the loot I’ll score.
Feeling a bit zier than usual, I targeted my portal close the castle gate. As I stepped through, I called back “Thanks, George.” That should be good enough for pusible deniability, especially if no one is watching too carefully. The guard doesn’t act weird when I walk around the corner to the gate so maybe I’ll use this trick more often.
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“Hello, my name is…”
“Yes, welcome, Lord Moreau. His Grace is expecting you in his office.”
I walked unescorted through the corridors to the familiar room, knocked and entered.
The first person I see is Rutina. Wow, I really didn’t expect to see her here, or at all. Well, no bdes are pointed my way and she at least looks calm. Ignoring the etiquette of rank, I couldn’t help addressing her first.
David: “Greetings, Lady Rutina. I’m sorry for your loss, especially since I was the direct cause.”
Rutina: “It’s alright, Lord Moreau, you are not at fault. I understand that you merely answered a legal challenge. But, from a personal standpoint, I… I thank you for granting him a quick and merciful death.”
David: “Thank you for your gracious understanding. When I lost my father…”
Duke: “David? Hello, I’m here too.”
David: “My apologies. Greetings, Your Grace, Captain Gosr.”
Duke: “So, you’re here to collect the spoils?”
David: “Um, that sounds a bit insensitive, but, yes I am.”
Rutina: “Lord Moreau, you are well within your rights. Though I do have a request concerning his shield. It has special significance to the House since it dispys our coat of arms. I hope you wouldn’t mind accepting a repcement.”
David: “Of course, Lady Rutina, walking around with such an item could be taken as an offense. Thank you for sparing me that embarrassment.”
The repcement shield is made of regur steel instead of Damascus. Well, at least it has an open slot. His stunning sword is here too. It’s certainly expensive though it’s uncertain if the count had told anyone that it has a skill. Also on the table was a pair of dragon-leather boots with an open slot. Pretty sure he wasn’t wearing these.
Rutina: “The boots are to compensate for the lower-quality shield and for not asking for the rest of his gear.”
David: “Thank you, Lady Rutina. I will gdly accept them.”
Duke: “Gosr selected an item from the treasury for you. We can look for a repcement if it isn’t to your liking.”
I sort of wanted to snoop around, but what they picked out was interesting. It was a shimmering-white gown that appeared to be made of something like metallic silk, if that was a thing. Identify called it a Sacred Robe. [2] Well, whatever it is, it must be good if it’s called ‘sacred’ and potentially fantastic, since it has two open slots.
David: “Oh, a Sacred Robe. Interesting.”
Duke: “Gosr, you were right. He recognized it immediately. David, this is the absolute best we have for a Mage.”
David: “Ah, this is because Captain Gosr saw my dragon-leather armor as a bit out of pce. Very thoughtful, thank you.”
Duke: “David, this great reward is also to express our beted appreciation for defending Rutina and defeating the most notorious band of brigands in Selmer County. Instead of being praised, honored and rewarded by the Count of Selmer, you were challenged to a duel. I must admit that even I could have received you better.”
Rutina: “Thank you, Lord Moreau, for everything.”
David: “Thank you, I am honored. I will use it well.”
I’m just guessing of course, since it sure looks like something for a high priest.
Duke: “Of course, I did invite you to the Order of Harz.”
David: “Yes, and I sincerely appreciate that you allowed me to decline.”
He might not like that answer, but it sure is better than being fake. The duke should know that such kindness will be perceived as a threat, not a reward. Of course, how anyone could consider ‘I will allow you to serve me’ a reward is beyond me.
I put everything I could into my backpack and strapped the shield to the outside. I was hoping that they’d take the subtle hint that I had gotten what I came for.
Duke: “So, David, you suggested that my Cassia act as the Provisional Governor of Selmer until Rutina comes of age.”
David: “Yes, any other retive probably would have wanted to keep the position.”
Duke: “Well, the suggestion has been approved. Since it was your idea, you have some responsibility for it.”
David: “It seemed rather obvious though.”
Duke: “David, I want you to help protect Selmer County.”
David: “That sounds a bit broad.”
Duke: “I want you to raid Selmer’s byrinths and fight any brigands you encounter.”
David: “Oh, is that all? You had me worried for a moment. Sure, no problem.”
Duke: “Really? No argument?”
David: “It’s what I was doing before we met. I pnned to do it anyway.”
Duke: “So, David, do we have a deal?”
David: “What do you mean by ‘deal’?”
Duke: “Simply that you to do your best to protect the County of Selmer.”
David: “No, I can’t agree to that.”
Duke: “David, you do know I could just order you, right?”
Rutina: “Uncle!”
David: “I don’t know. It sounds like something you’d tell a vassal.”
Rutina: “Lord Moreau!”
Duke: “Of course I won’t force you, David. But I would appreciate your help with the County of Selmer. You will be compensated for your efforts.”
David: “I have accepted the right to fight the byrinths. As a freeman, I have neither the authority nor the responsibility to help with general protection.”
Duke: “David, why do you reject every opportunity given to you?”
David: “My independence is more valuable.”
Duke: “Fine, David. Just keep doing what you do. Just make sure to check in periodically.”
David: “Sure, anytime we conquer a byrinth.”
Duke: “Ha ha, more often than that, David.”
Fat chance of me coming back here anytime soon. ‘No good deed goes unpunished’ has never been more true.
I said my goodbyes and scrambled out of the castle to the adventurers guild to get a ride to Vale. Just before warping home from the byrinth, I changed my mind and went to see Luke in Curatar.
Luke won bids on all three Kobold, both Shrub, the Goat, and one of the Rabbit crystals. Of course, I bought them all. I also ordered three more Kobold, two Ant (poison), a Bat (evasion), a Carnivine (MP) [3] and a Slime (ignore physical damage). I also gave Luke deposits for eight more bids and authorized higher sheep bids if needed. In total, I gave Luke just over 40k.
It’s nice that the interactions with Luke are so efficient. He seems to agree since he saw me between scheduled appointments. I quickly left and went home.
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“Hello everybody, I’m back.”
Alina teases, “You’re home early, David. I guess they must be getting tired of you.”
“Unfortunately not. The fool tried to pressure me into doing what I had already pnned to do anyway, work on Selmer’s byrinths.”
“Will you at least get paid?”
“Probably not but I got some good stuff for our previous work.”
I spread everything out on the table.
“This shield is like Marcus’ so it seems most suitable for Sherry. The big sword has a stun skill. Marcus, maybe you could make best use of it.”
“Oh, Damascus-steel. Sure, Boss, I’ll try it out.”
“Take a look at this beautiful robe. The bad news is that it’s designed for a Mage so I’ll be taking it. The good news is, my Dragon-leather Armor of Free Action is avaible. I’m thinking Alina or Theo.”
Theo says, “I think that Alina should get it since it’s better suited to her future job.”
Rather shyly, Alina says, “I like it because it looks nice.”
“Fine. It also comes with the dragon-leather boots they gave me.”
Alina cheers, “Yes!”
“I’ll see if we can put a speed boost on them. All this new gear makes me want to go out and get more stuff, especially for Theo, of course.”
“Boss?”
“We can afford better equipment now, which we’ll need soon. Let’s go after Sherry — nah, she’s fine at the library. Let’s go.”
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[1] The LN states (vol 6, ch 2) that a person’s age is determined by season, not exact date.[2] The LN calls this an ‘Alba’, but that’s a Priest’s Robe. I picture it as a Mage’s Robe, which is too specific to D&D.[3] Sorry, I just can’t accept ‘Scissoresque Carnivorous Pnt’ as a crystal name. Anyway, it’s just a weird leftover from the WN before the monster’s name was simplified to Fly Trap in the LN.
