"Let's go home."
I didn't want to cause a scene at the Adventurer Guild, so I acted as casually as possible. I stepped into the black wall first and emerged in the living room of our house in Quratar.
Sherry followed a moment later. Roxanne, having apparently given up on explaining things, was gently nudging her from behind.
"Um..."
Looking at Sherry’s expression, she didn't seem convinced in the slightest.
That was only natural.
"Sit down for now. We’re going to head out for supplies soon, but since we’re short on time, we’ll only get the essentials."
I took a seat at the dining table. I decided that I, too, would abandon any attempt at explaining the mechanics of our travel.
"It isn't that late yet, Master."
Roxanne sat down across from me.
Since it had just been the two of us until now, the seat directly opposite me was Roxanne’s designated spot. It was the middle chair of a table designed for six, with three on each side. I felt quite smug about my foresight; since a party could have up to six members, I had purposely chosen a table of that size.
"I’m thinking of setting up the bath today. Since it’s a special occasion."
If I had bought a tub only big enough for two, I would have already been looking for a replacement.
"Yes. I look forward to it."
Roxanne gave me a radiant smile. It seemed she had really taken a liking to the bath. Her dog ears were even more adorable when she smiled like that.
I felt a sudden urge to reach out and pet them, but the downside of her sitting across from me was that she was out of reach.
"Excuse me... Is it possible that you are able to use multiple jobs? I have only ever heard of such a thing in myths."
Sherry, still wearing an unconvinced expression, cut into the conversation. So the concept existed in their mythology, at least.
In truth, she was actually hitting quite close to the mark. If I were to obtain the Adventurer job, I would be able to use Field Walk while officially appearing as an Explorer on my Intelligence Card.
To deduce that much without any hints... Sherry was clearly quite intelligent.
"Close, but not quite. I can't use the Adventurer job. That was a magic called Warp."
"Is that Time-Space Magic?"
"Time-Space Magic?"
I repeated the words back to her. Was it not just Space Magic? Was it a spell capable of rotating four-dimensional spacetime via Lorentz transformations? If so, then calling it spacetime magic was technically accurate.
"Um... It isn't very well known, but they say that when one moves via Field Walk, time changes along with space. That is why it is more accurately referred to as Time-Space Magic."
"Are you talking about the time difference?"
"I do not know what a 'time difference' is, but sometimes it is midday when you leave, yet evening when you arrive. Or you might leave in the morning only to find it is still night at your destination. Field Walk is a magic that governs time in such a way."
That was exactly what a time difference was. Since the time shifted by a consistent amount whenever you traveled to the same location, I would have thought people would figure it out, but apparently not.
"I see. Well, sit down for now."
"Is it... truly alright for me to sit?" Sherry whispered to Roxanne.
"Yes. It's fine."
"But, um... I am a slave."
"We sit together for meals as well."
"E-Eat together?"
"It is Master's way."
Even though they were trying to whisper, they were doing it right in front of me. I could hear every word.
"Then... please excuse me."
Seemingly satisfied, Sherry bowed and sat in the chair next to Roxanne.
Now, where was I? Right, the time difference.
"Have you ever heard the theory that this planet—or rather, the world—is round?"
I decided to start there. If I were to explain the time difference, that seemed like the logical beginning. Even on Earth, the theory of a spherical earth had been known since ancient times. If you move north, the positions of the stars shift, after all.
Since she used terms like Time-Space Magic, Sherry was likely one of the smarter ones.
For her type, showing that her Master was also highly intelligent would probably be effective. If I could give her a solid explanation of the time difference using the angle of the sun and the curvature of the earth, she would undoubtedly gain some respect for me.
Being respected by a beautiful girl like Sherry would feel great. Plus, it would likely help our future life together go more smoothly.
It wasn't like I discovered it myself; I was just borrowing the work of scientists from Earth's past. I felt a brief moment of gratitude for my predecessors.
"I know the stories that great scholars of the past claimed such things. However, the person who told me about it mocked them, saying their ideas were so foolish that they couldn't be taken seriously."
"And what was the basis for calling it a foolish theory?"
"If the world were round, the people standing on the opposite side would fall off."
Well. I wasn't quite sure how to answer that.
From her perspective, that was a perfectly logical conclusion. Without the concept of gravity, it made total sense.
"I don't know if it’s Time-Space Magic or not, but there are several spells I can use. Keep this a secret from everyone else."
"I-I understand."
I decided to give up on the explanation. If I tried to explain gravity and she started asking follow-up questions, I’d be out of my depth immediately.
Higgs boson? What was that? Did it taste good? If I wasn't careful, I’d bring it up to show off my knowledge only for her to think, What is this idiot talking about?
Even if something is the truth, it’s rarely accepted if it contradicts common sense. When the Phoenicians reported that the sun was to their north after sailing south around Africa, even Herodotus recorded that he found it hard to believe. Persistence and timing were clearly key.
"Do the myths say that some people could hold multiple jobs?"
"There are myths that certain gods possessed such abilities."
"You can just think of me as being like one of them."
"Eh? But those are just stories..."
So to Sherry, myths were just fiction. I wondered if it was okay for her to dismiss religion so casually. Regardless, it was time to change the subject.
"For today's shopping, will equipment, a rucksack, a wooden tub, and a few other things be enough?"
I forcibly steered the conversation toward Roxanne. She seemed a bit surprised by my previous claim, but she didn't look shaken. I suppose it was a bit late for her to be shocked by anything I did.
"Let's see. Yes. The clothes from the merchant house will be enough for today and tomorrow, but please buy her some new underwear."
"Understood. We'll go to the clothing store we used before."
"Yes."
The shop on the far side of the Quratar Labyrinth where I’d bought clothes for Roxanne and myself would be perfect.
"Um... my clothes aren't that dirty yet. I couldn't possibly ask you to do so much."
"I'm buying them anyway. Also, what weapon do you prefer?"
Actually, since we were talking about underwear, the real issue was what she would wear tomorrow while today's pair was being washed.
"T-Thank you very much. As for a weapon... if I am to be on the front line, a hammer would be best. I am actually more skilled with a spear, but one cannot swing a spear around effectively in the front row. To avoid hitting my allies, a hammer is better. I have enough strength to handle one."
Spears were long, making them difficult to use in the narrow corridors of the labyrinth.
"If you used a spear, would you thrust from behind the front line?"
"Yes. I would thrust at the monsters with momentum from between the front-line members. My number of attacks would be fewer, but each one would be more powerful."
Having her attack with a spear didn't sound like a bad idea. However, as Sherry said, we needed her on the front line for now. We simply didn't have enough people.
"In our party, the strategy has always been for me to hold the monsters back while Master annihilates them with magic. Since we have Master's firepower, it would be best for her to use a hammer on the front line," Roxanne added, agreeing with my assessment.
"Wait... Magic?"
"Yes."
"What does that mean?"
Sherry looked back and forth between Roxanne and me.
"He can use it."
"I can use it."
"U-Um..."
"It's not something I want getting out, so keep it to yourself."
Sherry still looked unconvinced, but she had no choice but to accept it, however reluctantly.
"Y-Yes... Truly, multiple jobs...?"
"That's right. More importantly, Sherry, have you ever defeated a monster with a hammer before?"
That was the real question.
If defeating a monster with a sword was the condition for the Swordsman job, and defeating one bare-handed was the condition for the Monk job, then it was highly likely that defeating one with a hammer was the requirement for the Blacksmith job. A blacksmith swinging a hammer felt very thematic.
"No. I have not."
"I see. In that case, we're definitely getting you a hammer."
I’d start by testing that theory.
"H-Huh?"
Sherry nodded, though she tilted her head in confusion. She probably wondered why I was so set on a hammer when she’d just said she had no experience with one. My logic didn't really track for her. She was a sharp one.
"A hammer will be your weapon for the time being. Do Dwarves use hammers often?"
"Some use other weapons, but they are common enough. I have used one a little myself."
As long as it was a common enough weapon that a talented Dwarf might have naturally used one to kill a monster, that was enough. At least as a potential job requirement.
"Have you ever used one, Roxanne?"
"I have not. They are too heavy; it would ruin my speed."
That made sense. If she carried a heavy hammer, she’d lose the evasion that was her greatest strength. Her movements were only possible because she used a light one-handed sword. Though in truth, a scimitar wasn't exactly light either.
"Do you hold it with both hands?"
"I do. Some people use one hand, but swinging with both hands provides much more power."
I confirmed with Sherry that she wouldn't be needing a shield.
"I can't afford to spend too much on gear right now, so the equipment will be on the cheaper side. I hope you understand."
"Of course, that is perfectly fine."
"By the way, you can't tell if equipment has empty skills just by looking at it, right?" I asked casually.
"Do you mean Skill Slots?"
"You know about them?"
"A scholar from long ago proposed such a theory. He claimed that equipment has things called Skill Slots, and if you try to fuse a Skill Crystal into an item without one, the skill will not take."
I had only asked on a whim, but it seemed the theory actually existed in this world. I suppose it was an obvious enough idea.
"To share the same knowledge as a great scholar of old... Master truly is impressive."
"Ah, um... it was a different scholar from the one with the round world theory. But I’m surprised you know about Skill Slots; I’ve heard even among Dwarves, very few people know of them."
The scholars of old were clearly ahead of their time. If others had reached the same conclusion, then the idea that you can fuse a Skill Crystal into an item if it has an empty Skill Slot was almost certainly correct.
"Is that theory not accepted these days?"
"It is not well known. Besides, no one has ever actually seen a Skill Slot."
If someone could use Appraisal, they might be able to see them.
"Has it not been verified?" Roxanne asked.
Verification should have been easy. You’d just have to fuse Skill Crystals into the same type of equipment repeatedly. If Skill Slots existed, an item that failed once would always fail. If you could successfully fuse one into an item that had previously failed, the theory was wrong.
Wait. There was no way it hadn't been verified.
"Most people actually deny the theory."
"So it hasn't been completely disproven?"
"When a fusion fails, the Skill Crystal is lost and the equipment is broken down into its materials. If you are lucky enough for all the materials to remain, you can remake the equipment, but there is no way to know if the remade item is truly the same as the original. It is said that fusion can succeed on a remade item. Those who support the Skill Slot theory simply claim that the remade item is a different entity with different slots."
So the item is destroyed on failure. That made verification impossible. Without Appraisal, there was no way to tell the difference between an item with an empty slot and one without. Even if a remade item had a slot, you'd never know.
"You said 'if the materials remain.' Does that mean they sometimes don't?"
"Yes."
"What do you think of the Skill Slot theory, Sherry?"
"It sounds like someone just making up excuses. They are using circular logic to ensure their theory can never be proven wrong. If you allow that kind of reasoning, any criticism can be ignored."
So Sherry didn't buy it. I understood her point. It was a lack of falsifiability. Unless a theory can be disproven by a specific result, it isn't worth taking seriously as a science.
To think that deeply into it... Sherry really was incredibly smart.
"I see. You certainly know your stuff."
"My apologies. I have always been interested in many things. I used to seek out knowledgeable people and ask them questions." Sherry bowed her head.
"There's nothing wrong with that."
In fact, her knowledge and intelligence were bound to be useful. I was grateful to have someone so well-informed. She’d be a huge help to me, considering I knew next to nothing about this world.
However, despite Sherry's skepticism, I suspected the Skill Slot theory was actually correct—at least as far as my Appraisal could tell.
"My mother often scolded me for it. She told me that trying to know things beyond my station would only lead to my ruin."
"Ah... I see. Hmm."
I could understand where her mother was coming from. It was the old "know your place" mentality. In a world with a slave system, that was likely the prevailing common sense.
"Master experiments with all sorts of things, so I think it’s a good trait," Roxanne interjected.
"Is that so?"
"It is."
Roxanne, if you have a grievance, feel free to air it. Looking at her usual pleasant smile, though, she might not have meant anything by it.
"Well, just keep it in moderation."
"Yes."
"People have secrets they want to keep. Don't pry too deeply into things. Also, be careful about sharing what you learn with others. Even if something seems trivial to you, it might be a life-or-death matter for someone else."
"I understand."
I didn't think curiosity was a bad thing, but I didn't want her digging into my business or exposing my secrets—like my magic, my Chant Omission, or the fact that I could change party members' jobs.
How was I going to explain that last one? That was a problem for later.
"By the way, Sherry, is there anything in your Item Box?"
"There is not."
Once I confirmed that, I changed Sherry's job to Villager Lv 3. If the condition for Blacksmith was being an Explorer of at least level 10, there would be no problem, but if it required her to be exactly level 10, it would be bad if she hit level 11.
"Still, Villager level 3 is a bit low."
"Eh?"
Sherry looked at me with a suspicious gaze. Did I slip up?
I looked over at Roxanne, who was giving me a look that said, Here he goes again.
Right. Neither of them knew I could see the job levels of party members. To Roxanne, I was probably just muttering nonsense again. I felt like she was being a little cold today.
"Um... do you know anything about a job called 'Hero'?" I asked, trying to cover my mistake.
"Ah, yes. It is a legendary job that the First Emperor was said to have held."
"Is it just a legend?"
"Yes. There are even those who whisper that such a job does not actually exist. There is no guild for it, after all."
As I thought, Hero was a rare one.
"Then if someone had that job, would it be proof of its existence?"
"Since it is a job only held by the First Emperor... such a person might be charged with rebellion."
Wait, what? Was that... actually possible? I hoped not. But if it was a job unique to the First Emperor, I suppose it could be seen that way.
"E-Um. I’m going to go do some shopping. I'll be right back."
"Yes."
It was becoming too difficult to dodge the conversation, so my best bet was to flee. Roxanne had a pensive look on her face; she might have realized something.
"I’m going to prepare the bath, so I’ll leave dinner to the two of you. Sherry, can you cook?"
"Yes. I can manage most things."
"Then I'll leave it to you."
Since Sherry could cook, I gave Roxanne a nod. It was a nod loaded with many different meanings.
"Understood, Master."
I chose to believe Roxanne's response was equally layered.
"A-Ah... by 'bath,' do you mean that bath?" Sherry asked.
I wondered which one she meant by "that bath." Were there different kinds? Saunas, hot springs, public baths...
"I'm not sure which one you're thinking of, but it's a bath."
"I-I see."
"Roxanne, Sherry, wait here for a moment."
I stood up and practically bolted for the living room wall.
"I have heard that only royalty and high nobles take baths. Is he actually a person of incredible status?"
As I warped away, I heard Sherry speaking to Roxanne.
"Have a safe trip, Master."
"H-Have a safe trip!"
Both of them bowed, so I didn't hear how Roxanne replied. Was a bath really such a high-status thing?
I warped to the Adventurer Guild and headed for the armor shop. There, I purchased a Leather Jacket, a Leather Hat, and some Leather Boots. All of them came with empty Skill Slots.
Sherry was barefoot, just like Roxanne had been when I first met her. Apparently, that was the standard treatment for slaves. If I’d known, I would have prepared shoes ahead of time. I could have brought Roxanne with me, but I couldn't leave Sherry alone in the house, and letting Roxanne pick things out would have only taken more time.
In terms of price and performance, it seemed Leather was the logical step up from Hide. As for arm protection, I still had a spare pair of Leather Mittens.
I returned home briefly.
"Welcome back, Master."
"Welcome back."
"These leather boots are for Roxanne. Roxanne, give your sandals to Sherry."
I took off my own leather boots and handed them to Roxanne. I then changed into the new ones I’d just bought.
"Yes, Master. Thank you very much."
"Is it truly alright for me to wear shoes?"
"You're going to be in the labyrinth; it's part of your equipment."
"Yes. I will do my absolute best."
The newly purchased Leather Hat and Leather Boots became my equipment. My old Leather Boots went to Roxanne, and the sandals she had been wearing were passed down to Sherry. Roxanne had said hand-me-downs were fine, so this worked out perfectly.
"Sherry, is a Leather Jacket alright? I suppose Leather Armor wouldn't work."
I pulled the Leather Jacket out of my Item Box. Technically, since the jacket was more expensive than the armor, I probably should have given her the armor, but...
"I-It is true that my chest is small, but..." Sherry looked down, her voice trailing off.
No, wait. I didn't mean it like that. It wasn't sexual harassment. It definitely wasn't.
On a woman with a chest like Roxanne's, Leather Armor was a very tight fit that emphasized her curves. Therefore, suggesting that Leather Armor would be "fine" was essentially the same as saying she didn't have anything to emphasize.
But it wasn't like Sherry’s chest was actually flat. Even through her baggy clothes, it looked like there was something there. In fact, I was rather looking forward to seeing for myself—scrubbing her in the bath and then having some fun in bed.
Was it just the clothes making them look larger? Were they actually small?
"Sorry. I didn't mean it that way."
"It's fine. They are small regardless."
"It's alright, Sherry. Things like those are just for show anyway," Roxanne said, trying to comfort her.
They're just for show. Lewd people just don't understand that.
I silently handed the Leather Jacket to the increasingly dejected Sherry. I could understand why she’d be sulky. Roxanne, in this situation, anything you say is only going to make it worse.
Once Sherry had her equipment on, we headed out to the weapon shop.
"These are hammers."
Having finally recovered her spirits, Sherry pulled me toward a section of the shop. Hammers, morning stars, and maces were displayed in a corner, ranging from small to quite large.
"There's quite a selection."
"The most affordable starting hammer would be this one."
Sherry pointed toward a shelf where a wooden club was sitting.
Wait, it was a club.
Club / Hammer Skill: Empty
It seemed to be categorized as a hammer, anyway. It didn't look like something you’d use for smithing, but I suppose it counted. I picked out several with empty Skill Slots and handed them to Sherry.
"These seem well-made. Since you're the one using it, pick one that feels right."
"Thank you very much."
To get the thirty percent discount, I needed to buy multiple weapons. One club was enough for today, but what else should I get? I could upgrade my cane or Roxanne's scimitar, or maybe buy a spear in advance.
I had a feeling there might be a job that could be unlocked by defeating a monster with a spear—something like Lancer or Phalanx.
Copper Spear / Spear Skill: Empty
The Copper Spear seemed like a reasonable choice for a beginner. Even at its best, it only had one empty Skill Slot. Despite the name, only the tip was copper; the shaft was made of wood.
"Is that club okay?"
"Yes. Please."
I took the club Sherry had chosen, handed it to the shopkeeper, and bought both it and the copper spear. It came to eight hundred and forty Nahl. The spear was a bit pricey, as expected.
"Alright, here you go."
"Is this... truly alright?"
When we left the shop and I handed the club to Sherry, she looked shocked. Her eyes were practically sparkling.
"Uh... yeah. It’s fine. I think."
"Thank you so much!"
Had I made a mistake?
"Was that not allowed?"
"No... it's just that slaves aren't usually allowed to carry weapons around," Roxanne whispered to me.
I see. Judging by Sherry’s reaction, that was probably the case. Roxanne always had her scimitar on her hip, so it hadn't really occurred to me until now.
After that, we picked up socks and pumpkin pants at the clothing store, and a rucksack, a small wooden tub, and tufted toothbrushes at the general store. We bought some groceries as well and headed home. Using the warp from the Adventurer Guild made the trip a breeze.
"Alright, I’m going to go heat the bath. I'll leave dinner to you."
"Understood, Master."
"Would you like me to help with the water?" Sherry asked.
"No, it gets incredibly hot in there."
It would have been easier if someone else moved the water from the jar to the tub, but it wasn't strictly necessary. Besides, the temperature in the bathroom would eventually rise to an uncomfortable level. It was a job for one person, and since I was the one heating the water with my magic, I had to be the one to do it.
Leaving the puzzled-looking Sherry behind, I headed to the bathroom. It was a chore, but thinking about the reward made it bearable. Suffer now, enjoy later—that was the mark of a true gentleman.
"Do you really eat this much?"
Later, after my MP had run low, I went to the kitchen and found Roxanne and Sherry talking.
"Yes, about this much. Don't be shy, Sherry. Eat your fill."
"Um... but this is his meal, right?"
"It is for all three of us."
"All three of us?"
There seemed to be some confusion about the food. Was it not enough? Did Dwarves eat more than I thought?
"Yes, all of us."
"But there is so much high-quality meat. And... come to think of it, he only bought the best bread. I thought there would be none for us, but are we really to share in this?"
I couldn't stand to listen to her sell herself short any longer, so I cut in.
"Roxanne, can I get you to do the usual?"
"Yes, Master."
Roxanne came running over, and I handed her the leather gloves and the wooden shield. I placed the leather hat directly onto her head—making sure to give her dog ears a good stroke as I did.
"It seems we are to be given delicious food as well. Thank you very much."
Sherry came over next. Whether it was delicious or not would depend on her skill.
"I’m going to the labyrinth now. Do you want to come along, Sherry?"
"The labyrinth?"
"I probably won't have you fight today. It’s more of an orientation trip. If you’re too busy with dinner, you don't have to come."
"I am still fine for time, so if I may, I would like to go."
Since Sherry was coming, I handed her the leather mittens and placed a leather hat on her head as well.
"Wow, this is quite something."
Sherry’s hair was incredibly voluminous. "Fluffy" didn't even begin to describe it. I’d been curious about it since the first time I saw her.
"Dwarves have very thick hair," she explained.
"I see."
"Dwarven men grow thick beards. Women do not grow beards, but instead, their hair grows with great density."
"That makes sense."
Even with the hat on, there was a significant distance to her scalp. It felt like her hair would act as a natural shock absorber even without a helmet. When I nudged the hat, her entire mass of hair shifted. It wasn't even curly; her head was just a massive, soft afro.
"I try to tie it back and cut it often, but it always grows back so quickly."
It was clear that Dwarves were a race destined to be envied by every follicly-challenged person in the world.
"Well then, let’s go."
I equipped my own gear and drew Durandal. We warped to the fifth floor of the Vale Labyrinth.
I chose the fifth floor because I knew I could slay the monsters here with a single blow from Durandal. I hadn't been able to do that when I first reached this floor, but thanks to steady leveling, I could now one-shot them.
If the fight dragged on, Sherry might get caught in the crossfire. Rather than taking her straight to the seventh floor, I wanted to let her get used to things gradually.
There was another reason, though: killing things in one hit looked cool. I wanted to show off a little for the new party member. She was a beautiful girl, after all.
I really was a shallow man.
"Um... excuse me. Is this...?"
"This way."
Ignoring the bewildered Sherry, Roxanne pointed us toward a monster. Sherry was likely confused because Field Walk didn't drop you directly in front of an enemy.
"N-Now that I think about it, I have heard that some Wolf-kin can smell monsters. Can you truly tell where they are, Roxanne-san?"
"Yes."
"That is incredible!"
Roxanne had managed to look cool before I did. Well, it couldn't be helped.
"There they are."
After walking for a short distance, we encountered our first enemies. Roxanne had found a pair of Cheap Sheeps.
"Ah! Truly! So quickly... you are amazing."
I understood the feeling. Sherry was an Explorer level 10, so she must have spent a fair amount of time in the labyrinths. Before I had Roxanne, I’d spent hours wandering those caves. You really don't run into monsters that often; sometimes you can go ten minutes or more without an encounter.
Roxanne really was a blessing. Hearing Sherry’s praise made me feel a renewed sense of gratitude for her.
"Thanks, Roxanne. Here I go."
"Yes!"
The two of us stepped forward together. I delivered the first strike to the approaching monster, swinging Durandal down in a powerful diagonal slash. The Cheap Sheep collapsed instantly.
Behold, my swordsmanship.
I looked good. I looked damn good.
Next, I delivered a swift thrust to the sheep Roxanne was keeping busy. This one went down in a single hit as well. My sword skills were truly sharp. I hoped they were paying attention to this magnificence.
The monsters fell and dissolved into smoke.
"Amazing! You are truly amazing!"
Yes, yes, I know.
"How are you able to dodge so elegantly, Roxanne-san?"