“Chicken tossed in butter, grilled chicken and green onion skewers, meat and vegetable pot-au-feu, sweet and sour pork, salt-grilled river fish, hash browns, and also—”
Fuuka rattled off the names of the dishes one after another, as if she were reciting some kind of ancient incantation.
“E-err...”
As Fuuka finished her spell-like order, the waiter who had been taking it down turned a troubled look our way. Although he was professional enough not to say it aloud, his face clearly screamed: Can you really eat all that?
“You’re going a bit overboard right from the start, aren’t you...?” Haruto-san, sitting next to me, let out an exasperated sigh before addressing the waiter. “I know it sounds like a joke, but she really will eat everything she just listed. Place the order. We’ll pay in full, so don’t worry.”
“U-understood. Then, we will bring the dishes out as soon as they are ready.”
“Yeah, thanks.”
The waiter hurried off to the kitchen to relay the order.
We were currently in a town called Kegris, located within the Nohitant Kingdom. A few days ago, Fuuka, Haruto-san, and I had accepted a request from Her Highness Princess Lucila. The mission was to conquer several labyrinths scattered throughout the kingdom. Since one of the target labyrinths was located near this town, we planned to stay here overnight and begin the conquest first thing tomorrow.
“I knew Fuuka was a big eater, but does she always eat this much?” I asked.
For us Explorers, whose bodies are our primary capital, meals are vital. However, if she were to finish everything she just ordered, she would surely be in a state of extreme discomfort. Normally, such a feast would interfere with the next day’s exploration, but since Haruto-san wasn't stopping her, I assumed Fuuka would be able to move without issue.
“Well, this is pretty much standard for her. Because of that, Copper Afterglow is always flat broke,” Haruto-san replied.
His words sounded like a complaint, but he didn't seem to be genuinely blaming her; it was more like he found the situation half-amusing.
“I earn enough to cover it,” Fuuka retorted.
She reacted quickly to Haruto-san’s grumbling. Her expression was as impassive as ever, but she seemed slightly miffed by his comment.
“Heh, it’s rare to see you jump into a conversation like this. What’s the matter? Are you worried about Orun having a bad impression of you?”
“...It’s nothing like that. Haruto said the clan was poor because of me, so I’m just defending myself.” Fuuka averted her eyes as she spoke.
She looked exactly like a child making a transparent excuse after being caught in an awkward spot. Haruto-san seemed to feel the same way, as he watched her with a warm, slightly teasing smile.
“I don't like those looks. You’re both thinking something rude. Can I cut you?”
Seeing our expressions, Fuuka turned a cold, pointed gaze on us and said something incredibly dangerous.
“If I tease her any more, she might actually draw her blade. Look, the food’s arriving. Let's eat.”
Just as Haruto-san spoke, the waiter appeared with the first of the dishes.
Haruto-san possessed the special ability Bird's-eye Vision. It allowed him to shift his point of view to any arbitrary location. Since he could see things that would normally be blind spots, it was a remarkably versatile ability. By using it to check on the kitchen, he had likely known the food was coming before it even left the counter.
With the arrival of the meal, Fuuka’s irritation toward us vanished instantly. Her eyes sparkled as she looked at the table. Then, she turned her gaze toward me.
“Can I eat?” she asked.
I wasn't entirely sure why she was asking for my permission, but I figured there was no need to question it and simply nodded.
“Well then, let’s dig in.”
At my signal, Fuuka and Haruto-san both said their thanks and began to eat. Fuuka’s expression didn't change much as she ate, but the atmosphere surrounding her became noticeably happier.
A significant amount of time passed after the first dish arrived, and the table was now piled high with empty plates. Haruto-san and I had already had our fill and stopped eating, but Fuuka continued to work her way through the dishes in front of her with evident joy. Despite the sheer volume of food, she wasn't a messy eater; her movements were quite elegant. The sight was almost picturesque, and seeing her so satisfied meant it wasn't a problem in and of itself.
However, there was a separate, more practical issue that I couldn't ignore.
“...Um, Haruto-san.”
“What is it?”
“At this rate, we’re going to run out of activity funds before we even reach Daluane.”
While this labyrinth conquest was a personal request from Princess Lucila, it was effectively a national mission. As such, we had been provided with a substantial amount of funding. However, if this level of spending continued, my calculations showed the funds hitting rock bottom before we could reach our final destination—the city of Daluane, which was also Sophia’s hometown.
“Hahaha... Yeah, you’re probably right...” Haruto-san looked away, letting out a dry laugh that smelled of reality-avoidance.
“I don’t think the kingdom will believe us if we claim that the three of us incurred food expenses equivalent to an entire military company...”
“True. If I were the one in charge of the books, I’d assume we were just greedy Explorers trying to scam the crown. Besides, the kingdom is preparing for war. They’ll be pouring massive amounts of money into the military, so they definitely won’t be handing out extra cash to us.”
“Well, I have a fair amount of personal savings, so I don't think we'll go completely broke, but—”
“No, no! There’s no need for you to spend your own money, Orun! I anticipated this and allocated a separate budget from the clan, so we’ll cover any shortfall ourselves. The cause of the problem is our little princess, after all.” Haruto-san hurriedly cut off my suggestion.
“I-I see. Thank you for that. However...”
“I know what you’re getting at. Like I said, the clan isn't exactly swimming in gold. That’s why I want to take a few detours during the conquest to gather materials and Magic Stones. Would you be okay with that?”
“Yes, that’s perfectly fine. Personally, I’d like to see you two fight as much as possible anyway.”
“Thanks. Though, Fuuka’s combat aside, I don’t think watching me fight will give you much to work with, Orun.”
“That’s not true. I genuinely want to see your Ki control up close again. I learned the basics from you last year, but that wasn't everything there is to Ki, was it?”
“...What makes you think that?” The look Haruto-san directed at me changed into one of keen interest.
“If it were, I wouldn’t be able to explain how you destroyed your opponents' weapons in two consecutive matches during last year’s Martial Arts Tournament—a tournament where magic was strictly prohibited.”
As I mentioned, Haruto-san’s ability was Bird's-eye Vision. No matter how much you stretched the interpretation of that power, it was hard to see it being used to shatter weapons. Furthermore, when I fought alongside Oliver against that giant skeleton recently, Oliver had destroyed the monster’s arm in a way that mirrored Haruto-san’s technique.
In other words, the phenomenon of destroying objects was a reproducible technique. Therefore, it was far more logical to assume that it was an application of Ki control.
Haruto-san closed his eyes in thought. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Fuuka give a small nod. When he opened his eyes again, he was wearing a daring smile.
“Correct. I only taught you the absolute basics of Ki control. Much like special abilities, Ki control is a technique with deep applications. I’ll teach you more about those applications as we go through this labyrinth conquest tour.”
“Thank you. I look forward to it.”
Having secured the promise for more lessons on Ki control, we waited for Fuuka to finish the rest of her meal. Once she was done, we returned to our inn to get some early rest for tomorrow’s mission.
My name is Dustin.
I’m the leader of an Explorer party based here in Kegris. We’re what you’d call “Lord-sponsored Explorers.” By specializing in the exploration of the labyrinth near this town, we receive far better treatment than typical Explorers.
“Great work this week, everyone! Tomorrow’s a day off, so drink your fill tonight!”
At my call, my comrades began eating and drinking happily. We’d managed to finish another week without losing a single member. Even in a labyrinth we know like the back of our hands, a single moment of carelessness can lead to disaster.
Risk is kept to a minimum, and we have the Lord’s trust. This sponsorship system really is a blessing.
I’ve heard that the kingdom and the empire are about to go to war, but we’re far from the border. The flames of battle won't reach a place like this. Our peace won't be shattered by the empire. If anything, if the demand for Magic Stones and labyrinth materials goes up, we’ll earn even more than before. If that happens, I can buy even better food for my wife and kids.
“Hey, Dustin! We’ve got a problem!”
As I was enjoying a drink with my men, Eric—the leader of the only other Lord-sponsored party in town—rushed over with a look of pure panic on his face.
“What is it, Eric? Did you come to whine because you earned less than us again? If that’s it—”
“This isn't the time for jokes!” Eric shouted, cutting me off. “I just went to the manor to give the periodic report, and the Lord told me right then and there. He’s terminating our contract!”
“...That’s too bad. Well, it’s not the end of the world. You guys are good; I’m sure you can win back his trust. The Lord isn't like those other nobles who don't care about the commoners.”
“Were you even listening?! I said our contract! That includes your party, too!”
“What?! What the hell are you talking about?!”
There are only two Lord-sponsored parties in this territory—mine and his. He’s cutting both of us loose?! What is the Lord thinking?!
“That’s why I’m saying it’s a disaster! ...He didn't give me the details, but apparently, the labyrinth is going to be conquered.”
“Conquered?! This is the only labyrinth in the entire territory! If it’s gone, how are we supposed to get Magic Stones for the town?!”
“Don't ask me, I don't know! All I heard was that some Explorers from Tsutrail were entrusted with the conquest and will be arriving any day now.”
From Tsutrail?! Why the hell are those maniacs coming out to the countryside? They’re always in such a hurry to die. They should just stay in the capital and die while chasing that impossible dream of conquering a Great Labyrinth!
“...I won't allow it. I’ll never allow anyone to conquer that labyrinth!”
I don't know what right they think they have to throw this town and this territory into chaos, but I won't let outsiders trample over our livelihood. That’s right. I have to protect everyone living here. Even if I have to get my hands dirty, it’s for the sake of justice.
Heh. It’s perfectly normal for Explorers to meet their end during a labyrinth conquest, after all.