After subduing Sherry, we entered the Labyrinth.
We were on the 13th floor of Halber, facing off against Pig Hoggs and Grass Bees.
On the 16th floor of Quratar, most of the monsters were Bitch Butterflies, Grass Bees, and Hat Bats, meaning I only needed to rely on Wind Magic. However, the 13th floor of Halber wouldn't be so simple. Pig Hoggs were weak to Water Magic, while Grass Bees remained weak to Wind. This meant I had to alternate between the two elements to finish them off.
Naturally, this changed the pace of our grinding.
"Hmm. I figured it would turn out like this."
In terms of combat time alone, there was almost no difference between the 16th floor of Quratar and the 13th floor of Halber, even if I could pick off half of them before they reached us.
"It is quite all right, Master," Roxanne reassured me. "We have been training on the 16th floor of Quratar. This much is nothing to us."
Safety-wise, she was right. But the efficiency was poor. I felt a slight sense of loss; despite moving down from the 16th floor to the easier 13th, the time it took to clear a battle remained the same.
Still, there was nothing to be done about it. I had the Duke’s request to consider. Since staying on the 16th floor wouldn't make me an Adventurer any faster, exploring the 13th floor of Halber was the logical choice.
From that day forward, I tackled miscellaneous chores while grinding through Halber’s 13th floor.
First, I picked up Milia’s maid outfit from the shop in the Imperial Capital. It had been a little over ten days since Milia joined us. I decided I should wait until I was more settled with the current group before adding anyone else to the harem.
I returned home that evening with the outfit in hand. Roxanne and Sherry also brought their own maid outfits into the living room.
"I shall teach Milia how to dress herself, then," Roxanne said, before proceeding to strip right in front of my eyes.
Every time she undid her clothes, those rich, soft curves were revealed. No matter how often I saw them, I could never get used to it. They were truly the best.
Her voluptuous breasts were soon hidden behind the modest navy-blue fabric of the maid uniform. Even concealed, they swayed and bounced with a heavy, soft weight.
H-How scandalous. Truly scandalous.
I reached out and pressed my hands over the uniform to keep them from moving. The elasticity beneath my palms was magnificent.
Milia’s outfit was nearly identical to Roxanne’s and Sherry’s, with only minor design differences in the apron. The uniform looked wonderful on her, especially with her small cat ears poking up through the top.
"But why change out here?" I asked.
If they had changed in the bedroom, I could have pushed them down onto the bed then and there. Perhaps that was exactly what they were trying to avoid.
"Um... if we change here, Master will carry us to the bedroom," Roxanne replied.
And carry them I did.
I certainly didn't hold back. I slid my arms behind her back and under her knees, lifting Roxanne horizontally in a firm embrace. I carried her supple, meltingly soft body toward the bedroom with deliberate care, staring intently at her chest, which trembled like a newborn fawn. The moist weight in my arms and that sweet, soft elasticity... everything was perfect.
Sherry was light and petite. I hooked her slender legs over my arm and held her close against my body, carrying her tiny frame with ease.
Finally, I carried Milia. As I lifted her, her cat ears twitched nervously. She went quiet and stayed still in my arms as I carried her gently to the room.
Once they were delivered, I partook of them. I certainly partook.
I forgot all about preparing dinner and feasted on the three of them instead. It was quite the meal.
The next morning, we visited the fish market in Hafen. The scent of the tide and the smell of fish were overpowering.
"O-o-o-o..." Milia looked at me as if she had something urgent to say.
I could guess what she was thinking.
"Is this for breakfast or dinner?" I asked.
"She says she wants it for dinner," Roxanne translated. "Apparently, it tastes better if you let it sit for a while."
It seemed she was quite particular about her seafood.
"Then pick whatever you like."
"Yes, desu!"
Led by Milia, we toured the stalls. The market was surprisingly well-stocked. I shouldn't have underestimated a small fishing village; perhaps they had more because they were right on the water. They even had a small selection of shrimp and crab.
Eventually, Milia struck up a conversation with an older woman running a stall.
"Can she understand her?" I whispered to Roxanne.
"Yes. It is slightly different from the Barna language, but they can communicate if they speak slowly."
The Barna language was the tongue spoken by Roxanne and Milia. The stall owner also had cat ears. The difference between their speech was probably like Spanish and Portuguese, or perhaps the regional dialects back home.
"This, desu," Milia said, pointing at a small fish and looking back at me.
It was a small fish, similar to a horse mackerel. So, she had made her choice.
"She wants eight of those," Roxanne said.
"But we don't have anything to put them in."
I hadn't brought a shopping basket. I could carry bread by hand, and I usually carried vegetables in my rucksack, but I really didn't want the rucksack smelling like raw fish. Though Milia would probably find the scent delightful.
After a brief exchange in their language, Roxanne turned to me. "She says she will sell us the wooden tub for twenty Nahl."
"Fine. Eight fish and the tub."
As Roxanne translated the order, the woman left the stall to fetch the tub.
Milia pointed at the fish and began explaining something.
"She says the fish here have been beautifully gutted and carefully bled," Roxanne interpreted.
"I see."
So, the processing was top-notch. That would certainly affect the flavor. Unlike modern commercial fishing, the skill level of individual fishermen and merchants clearly mattered a lot here. As expected, Milia had a sharp eye for quality.
The woman returned with a flat wooden tub with a handle, the kind used for sushi deliveries. Milia placed the eight fish inside. If she had chosen them, I knew they would be good.
"That will be twenty-eight Nahl," Roxanne stated.
Cheap. That was barely one Nahl per fish. Since I was buying from a village woman, my 30% discount didn't apply, but I’d expected to pay around a hundred Nahl in total. The tub was far more expensive than the fish. I wasn't sure if I was buying fish or a tub at this point.
"Is this okay?"
"Yes, desu!"
Milia nodded happily, and we headed home.
"They're so small, though. Are you sure about these?" I asked later.
"She says these were caught with a beach seine," Roxanne explained. "Apparently, the people who pull the nets are allowed to keep any fish smaller than a palm for themselves. Because of that, the small fish are inexpensive, but they are also handled with great care and taste delicious."
"I see. Good catch, Milia."
"Yes, desu!" Milia puffed out her chest with pride.
I reached out and patted her head. Large, impressive fish belonged to the net owner and were often handled roughly by the laborers. Small fish became the property of the workers themselves, so they treated them with care. It made sense.
We kept the fish in the kitchen until evening, when Milia filleted and sautéed them. They had a firm, plump texture and were absolutely delicious.
"This is great."
"Yes, desu!"
Milia, who had finished her portion in record time, was staring intently at my plate. When I shifted the plate to the left, her eyes followed. When I moved it back to the right, her eyes snapped back.
"...I think I've had enough," I said.
"I have also had plenty," Roxanne added.
"Me too," Sherry said.
I knew this would happen.
"Milia, you can have the rest."
"Yes, desu!"
Once again, I found myself making an offering to the cat.
The following morning was the day of our appointment with Cassia. Bracing for the worst, I warped to the Bode Adventurer Guild and walked to the castle from there.
I had been worried about whether it was appropriate for someone of unknown origin like me to be introduced to an Earl. There was a high chance of an Intelligence Card check. On the other hand, I couldn't find a good excuse to decline the Duke or Cassia.
"My grandfather’s dying wish forbids it..." (What kind of wish is that?) "I am not worthy of such a prestigious setting..." (You visit the Duke all the time.) "A party member died, so I cannot accept honor alone..." (You already told them everyone was safe.)
I had been genuinely stressed about this. My stomach had been in knots for days. I considered just running away, but if I was going to disappear, it wouldn't matter if I did it before or after being exposed.
Since it had come to this, I just had to face it. Whatever happened, happened. By entering on foot from the outside rather than appearing out of thin air in the lobby, I hoped to avoid some suspicion in the worst-case scenario.
I entered the castle with a sense of grim determination.
In the lobby, the Duke and Cassia were already waiting, dressed in their finest attire. Cassia wore an elegant wisteria-colored dress with a tiara-like hair ornament. She was stunning. Even the Duke looked sharper than usual in his formal clothes.
"Ah, Michio-dono. We were waiting. But why did you come in from the outside?"
"Uh, well... I just..."
"Well, it matters not. Shall we?"
It mattered to me, but if he wasn't going to press it, I wasn't going to offer an explanation.
"Where are we going?"
"To Earl Selmer’s estate."
"Now?"
"Wasn't the appointment for three days from now?" I asked.
I hadn't heard anything about this. I thought the schedule was still being finalized.
"I apologize, Michio-sama," Cassia said with a bow. "His Excellency decided this date would be better. We are to visit Earl Selmer today."
As she bowed, her beautiful hair swayed, and a faint, sweet fragrance drifted toward me. It was a refined, alluring scent. Cassia in formal wear was noble and breathtaking; her luxurious dress and jewels were merely background noise to her own beauty. Since she was going to her uncle’s house, I had no choice but to follow.
"It will be over quickly anyway," the Duke said. "It is better than making multiple trips."
"We appreciate your cooperation," Cassia added.
"I understand," I replied, bowing back to her. I ignored the Duke. He was as impatient as ever.
"Then let us proceed."
"What about my clothes?"
"You are fine as you are."
"My sword?"
"Just keep it in your Item Box."
I raised a few more concerns, but he dismissed every single one.
I was made to join a party with the Knight Order’s Adventurers and was transported to Earl Selmer’s residence via Field Walk. We arrived in a place that looked much like the Bode lobby.
"Duke Harz and six others have arrived," one of the Knights announced.
"We have been expecting you. This way, please," a local Knight replied politely.
The arrangements were clearly in order. I assumed Cassia had handled the logistics, which made me feel slightly better.
"Lead the way."
"The Adventurers will wait here. The five others, excluding the Adventurers, please follow me."
I was an Adventurer too, technically, but I followed the Duke anyway. We walked through long corridors and up several flights of stairs until we reached a pair of massive doors.
"The Earl is waiting inside."
"Very well. You two, wait here," the Duke told the Knights in our party. He then handed over his Orichalcum Swords.
So, it would be the Duke, Cassia, and me entering. Weaponry was prohibited beyond this point. I had already stashed my sword in the Item Box, and Cassia was unarmed.
The Knight opened the door. The audience chamber was surprisingly compact. In the center sat a slightly chubby Elf—Earl Selmer.
He was forty years old and a Knight Lv 21. His level was surprisingly low for his age. Even for an Elf, he was a bit pudgy, though he was still annoyingly handsome. I hoped he'd rot.
A large banner hung behind him. On the left was the Duke Harz Emblem. The Duke marched straight toward it.
"Come, Michio-sama," Cassia whispered.
The order was the Duke, then me, then Cassia. I stopped behind the Duke and bowed low, as I'd been instructed. The Duke didn't bow, but I wasn't about to copy his arrogance.
Cassia stepped up beside the Duke. As she passed, her perfume wafted over me again. I was glad to be tucked away behind the two of them.
"Duke Harz, your Excellency. You have come. And Cassia, it has been too long."
"Indeed, Uncle. I am pleased to see you in good health."
They exchanged formal greetings. It turned out Earl Selmer was Cassia’s uncle. After a few minutes of small talk, the Earl turned his attention to me.
"And is this the one?"
"This is Michio-dono," the Duke said, puffing out his chest. "The man who brilliantly defeated Vile Thief Heinz."
Why are you acting like the hero here?
"A stroke of good luck, I presume?" the Earl remarked dryly.
"In this man’s hands, Heinz was a triviality. Michio-dono has also been assisting with monster suppression in our Labyrinth."
"How enviable. My own territory is so busy that my Knight Order can barely keep up."
The conversation was ice-cold. If I had to translate the subtext, it went something like this:
Earl: "He just got lucky, didn't he?" Duke: "He's our star player, and he's much better than your guys." Earl: "We don't need outsiders sticking their noses in."
I wondered how these men could run territories when they acted like this. Then again, maybe sugarcoating their insults made them more "adult" than children fighting in a sandbox.
"I shall be watching closely to see if a Knight Order that couldn't even catch Heinz can manage a Labyrinth on its own," the Duke needles.
"Was it not the same for your Knights, who also failed to stop him?"
"Perhaps you should ask for Michio-dono’s help as well, Earl Selmer?"
"A Knight Order that relies on others is a weak one indeed."
The barbs were getting pettier by the second.
"By the way," the Duke continued, "I heard one of Heinz’s men was carrying a certain ring. Isn't that right, Michio-dono?"
"Y-Yes." I answered without looking up. I really wished he’d leave me out of this.
"Our Armor Appraisal identified it as a Ring of Determination. Do you have any knowledge of such an item, Earl Selmer?"
"N-No. I know nothing of it."
"Is that so? Then I shall keep it for now. If you decide you need it, I might consider selling it back to you."
I’d heard Heinz had stolen the ring from the Earl, but clearly, the Earl hadn't reported it. It was an open secret. A Lord losing an heirloom to a common thief was a massive loss of face. Even worse, if it was a betrothal gift that the giver had to take back, he’d be a laughingstock.
So, the Earl played dumb. The Duke knew exactly what he was doing and twisted the knife. This was why I was here—to confirm the ring had been in the bandits' possession.
"On another note," the Earl said, his tone shifting sharply. "There are rumors that the one who defeated Heinz was an Adventurer. Surely that isn't true?"
The Duke faltered. "S-Such a thing is..."
"Of course not. It must be a misunderstanding," the Earl said with a smug smile.
"Naturally!" the Duke barked, clearly flustered.
So, being an Adventurer really was a problem. That's why the Knight Order's Adventurers were stopped at the lobby. Adventurers could Warp anywhere; letting one into a noble’s private residence was a security nightmare. The Duke had known this and ignored it anyway.
"Bringing an Adventurer into a castle’s audience chamber could easily be interpreted as an intent to invade the Selmer territory," the Earl stated coldly.
"T-That is true, but..."
"It would be simple enough to check his Intelligence Card, though I would hate to doubt a guest of the Duke."
The Earl was closing in. He’d clearly heard the rumors, likely from one of Cassia’s servants. He’d been waiting with this counter-move.
"However," the Earl continued, "if you wish to show some... sincerity... perhaps we could overlook it. Just a little show of respect."
In this world, "sincerity" meant a public apology or a massive concession.
"Are you accusing me of—"
"Of course not. I don't doubt you or Cassia for a second."
"Then—"
"And yet..." The Earl sounded incredibly pleased with himself.
The Duke’s panic had convinced the Earl that I was an Adventurer. The Duke had used me to prove the Earl lost his ring, and the Earl was using me to prove the Duke had violated sovereign protocol. It was a stalemate of mutual destruction.
"Uncle, please," Cassia tried to intervene.
"I told you, I don't doubt anyone," the Earl said, brushing her off.
I didn't care about their petty noble squabbles. It made no difference to me who won. But I wouldn't stand by and let Cassia be dragged through the mud because of it.
I raised my head.
"I understand. To clear all doubt, please check my Intelligence Card."
I walked slowly toward the Knight who had guided us in.
"Michio-dono, wait... we cannot let you be insulted like this," the Duke said.
"It is fine."
"This is an insult to me and Cassia as well!" the Duke insisted.
I realized then that the Duke didn't actually know I wasn't an Adventurer. He was bluffing, trying to make the Earl back down by pretending he wasn't afraid of a check. He was raising the stakes, hoping the Earl would fold.
"I do not wish to see the Duke or Lady Cassia bow their heads for someone like me," I said, extending my arm to the Knight. "Please, perform the check."
Cassia watched me with a worried expression. The Duke maintained his poker face, silent.
"...Do it," the Earl ordered.
The Duke looked up at the ceiling and sighed. He thought he’d lost. He was probably screaming on the inside.
But he hadn't lost.
The Knight scanned my Intelligence Card.
"Michio Kaga. Job: Explorer."
The Knight’s voice rang out in the room.
Of course, it didn't say Adventurer. Because I wasn't one.
The Duke and Cassia looked at me with pure shock. The Earl’s face fell, and he slumped in his chair.
"We shall discuss the rest another time," the Duke said, his voice suddenly full of bravado. "We shall take our leave."
The Duke strode out of the room. Cassia followed at a quick pace. The stunned local Knight hurriedly opened the door for us. Our two guarding Knights immediately fell into formation.
"Your sword, Excellency," one of them said, handing the Orichalcum blade back to the Duke.
The Duke grabbed it and marched ahead without a word. We made it back to the lobby and warped back to Bode Castle before he finally spoke.
"Michio-dono, my apologies. I never imagined he’d actually bring up that ancient protocol about Adventurers. It’s an archaic tradition that most ignore these days."
"He must have heard the rumors from one of my servants," Cassia said. "I should have been more careful."
"It’s my fault for being careless," the Duke admitted. "I didn't expect my own kin to stoop to such harassment."
"So it was an unexpected accusation for both of you?" I asked.
"Indeed. But Michio-dono... I was shocked to see you had changed your job to Explorer. I was breaking out in a cold sweat when you offered your card."
"I had a feeling things might play out this way," I lied smoothly.
"Changing from Adventurer to Explorer isn't impossible, but to have anticipated the need for it... simply brilliant. I suppose that is why you insisted on walking in from the lobby instead of warping in?"
The Duke was happily connecting the dots for himself. I was just glad my paranoia had paid off.
"I got lucky."
"Magnificent. Now, how will you get home? I can have someone escort you."
"My companions are waiting outside."
I declined politely. If I wanted to switch back to the Adventurer job, I’d have to do it at a Guild. If they tracked where I went, they might realize I had never actually changed jobs at all.
"As for the ring," the Duke said, "it is confirmed to be the Ring of Determination. I shall pay you twenty gold coins for it. Is that acceptable?"
"Most gratefully."
Twenty gold coins was a massive sum. Given the market, an item like that might usually fetch a hundred thousand Nahl. He was paying double.
A Knight brought over a drawstring bag, and the Duke handed it to me.
"Thank you for everything today, Michio-sama," Cassia said, bowing before she withdrew. She left behind that same wonderful scent.
"I shall be going as well."
"Umu. You were a great help today. I owe you one."
With Cassia gone, there was no reason to linger. I walked out of Bode Castle, made sure I wasn't being followed, and headed toward the Bode Labyrinth.
"How is the exploration coming along?" I asked the guard.
"We are on the 10th floor."
I spoke with the Explorer at the entrance and headed inside. Once in the Labyrinth, no one would know which floor I was on. I stayed on the 1st floor and warped straight home.
"Sorry, did I keep you waiting?"
"No, Master. We are fine."
Breakfast was ready. I’d expected to be back much sooner; I hadn't planned on being hauled off to a noble's estate. "I had a feeling things might play out this way," my foot. I’d been terrified.
I sat down and let out a long breath. I was exhausted, and it was barely even morning. I felt like I'd aged a decade. Still, I ate my meal and headed back into the Labyrinth to grind.
During the fighting, I unlocked two new jobs. Reaching Warrior Lv 30 had triggered it.
Bounty Hunter Lv 1 Effects: Dexterity Increase (Small), Strength Increase (Slight), MP Increase (Slight) Skill: Dead or Alive
Knight Lv 1 Effects: Vitality Increase (Small), Intelligence Increase (Slight), Spirit Increase (Slight) Skills: Defense, Appoint, Intelligence Card Operation
Bounty Hunter and Knight. Both were advanced jobs that required Warrior training. Since I didn't always have Warrior equipped, I hadn't realized how close I was.
If only I’d unlocked them a little sooner, I could have set my First Job to Knight before the check at Earl Selmer’s. With the Intelligence Card Operation skill, I could have pulled my own card and shoved it in his face. The Duke would have been stunned.
Well, no point in taking risks for a prank.
The requirement for the Adventurer job was Explorer Lv 50. Since Adventurers always held the Explorer job, the Duke hadn't suspected anything when he saw my card. If it had said Knight, he definitely would have had questions. So, Explorer was the right choice after all. Besides, I'd had my sword in the Item Box.
I decided to test the new jobs in combat.
Wait.
My combat power just dropped significantly. It took more magic spells than usual to kill a monster. Well, I’d dropped from Monk Lv 39 to Bounty Hunter Lv 1, so a dip in power was expected. On the bright side, this proved that my fourth job slot for Monk was actually working.
I hadn't noticed much of a difference back when my levels were in the tens or twenties, but at this height, the gap was becoming clear.
I adjusted my skills to increase my available job slots and equipped both Monk and Knight. My combat efficiency returned to normal. So, Monk was effective even in the sixth slot. It seemed the First Job wasn't twice as powerful as the Second; the differences were more subtle. When I tried equipping Alchemist—which had a high level and an Intelligence boost—there was no massive change, so the impact of job order wasn't game-breaking. If it were, having seven jobs equipped would turn me into a god. It was more like a collection of small bonuses.
"Sherry, do you know anything about the Bounty Hunter skill, 'Dead or Alive'?"
"I have heard it is a skill that can inflict instant death on monsters or thieves," she replied.
"I see."
That was what I’d been hoping. In the real world, "Dead or Alive" meant the bounty was paid regardless of the target's status. Since you only needed an Intelligence Card to collect a bounty in this world, it was already effectively "Dead or Alive."
As a skill, it was clearly a single-target attack. When I focused on it, it asked me to designate a target. But even after doing so, it didn't seem to do anything. Maybe it just dealt a small amount of damage? My kill times didn't change, so it wasn't a massive hit. It might also depend on the weapon equipped, and a rod wasn't going to do much physically.
Maybe it doubled the bounty? That would fit the job name, but it didn't result in double loot drops. Double experience, maybe?
When my combat time first went up, I’d wondered if it was actually a healing skill—making the target "live" regardless of their state. But since the monsters died just as fast without it, that wasn't it either.
"They say instant death is more common against lower-floor monsters," Sherry added. "And that the more experience you gain, the higher the success rate."
That made sense. If it were a guaranteed 100% instant death, it would be broken. It likely scaled with stats or level. It might work on the first floor, but at Lv 1, it probably wasn't very reliable. It also used a fair bit of MP, so it wasn't free. Probably not worth using right now, though I’d have to test it eventually.
I looked at the Knight’s skills next.
'Defense' didn't require a target. It didn't root me in place, so it wasn't a "total defense" mode. It likely just boosted my defense stats. I tried it while using Durandal, but I couldn't really tell. If I were taking enough damage to notice the difference, I’d already be in trouble.
'Intelligence Card Operation' was likely just what it sounded like—managing my ID.
But what was 'Appoint'?
It also required a target. It didn't seem like an attack, so I tried it on Roxanne.
Whoa.
I appraised her and saw that her job had changed from Beast Fighter Lv 32 to Village Chief Lv 1. It was a skill to appoint someone as a Village Chief.
I tried it on Sherry and Milia. It worked on Milia, but I couldn't appoint myself. It seemed I couldn't target the user.
As for Sherry, the skill failed. It hit me then—Explorer couldn't be swapped if there were items in the Item Box. Sherry was a Master Smith, and she had recovery medicine in her Item Box. Since 'Appoint' forces Village Chief into the First Job slot, and Master Smith was locked, it couldn't be swapped. I checked my party settings and confirmed Sherry hadn't even gained the job.
"Sherry, what can you tell me about the Knight skill 'Defense'?"
"It increases your defensive power for a short duration. It is typically used during boss battles."
"I see. So it’s for tanking bosses."
"Exactly."
It was a defensive buff, then. We’d been doing fine against bosses so far, but it might be essential later.
"That sounds useful. Looking ahead, having a Knight might be a good idea. Would any of you like to become one?"
"If it would be of use to you, Master, I would like to," Roxanne said immediately.
"But becoming a Knight requires extensive training as a Warrior," Sherry pointed out.
That was a hurdle. You had to reach Warrior Lv 30. Then again, Milia had already reached Diver Lv 30, so it wasn't impossible.
"Don't worry, I’ll manage that part."
"Are you going to use medicine?"
"Wait, can you become a Knight with medicine?"
"It is called Dope Medicine," Sherry explained. "It makes you slightly stronger for a short time. Taking a large amount can allow for a job change to an advanced class. However, it is generally believed that those who use medicine are weaker than those who put in years of actual training."
So there was a level-up item. Convenient, but risky. If it only increased the level and not the underlying stats, it was a trap. I decided to stay away from it.
"I see. Well, I’m not planning on using medicine anyway."
"I am relieved to hear that."
"Milia says she will do it too if it helps," Roxanne translated.
I suspected Roxanne might have nudged her into that.
"Well, let's start with Roxanne as a test."
We only needed one Knight. If one of them had the job, they could 'Appoint' me as a Village Chief if needed. I couldn't exactly ask the Duke for the title.
I wasn't sure if Roxanne really needed 'Defense,' but it couldn't hurt. Eventually, we’d face monsters she couldn't dodge. If she specialized in evasion, she’d be fragile if she ever did get hit. Having 'Defense' as a backup would be a great safety net.
"Yes, Master."
"When only one person is training a new job, we usually don't lower the floor level," Sherry advised. "Multiple Knights would just be redundant, so it is best for Roxanne-san to take the role."
I swapped Milia back to Diver Lv 30 and set Roxanne to Warrior Lv 1. Following Sherry’s advice, we stayed on the 13th floor to see how she handled it. My Hero buffs for Vitality and HP, along with Milia’s Diver buffs, should keep her safe. Even at Lv 1, she wouldn't be taken out in a single hit.
Actually, she wasn't even getting grazed.
The monsters couldn't land a single scratch on her. Even as a Warrior Lv 1, her base performance was simply too high for the monsters to overcome her evasion. If anything, the loss of her Beast Fighter Agility buff meant I was the one getting hit more often when I used Durandal. I tried to tell myself it was just my imagination.
"Milia!"
"Yes, desu!"
Roxanne had a certain commanding presence in battle. With just a single word, Milia hurried back into position. Milia had a habit of being a bit too aggressive and overextending on her own. I’d heard Cat-kins weren't great at group tactics. She hadn't shown it much at first, but lately, she’d been charging ahead.
I suppose she was just getting confident as her level caught up to Sherry’s. She’d need to learn the rhythm of a party sooner or later.
With Roxanne at the front, the Grass Bees’ needles focused on her. Even then, they rarely hit. As long as our formation held, Sherry could cancel their skills with her spear.
It was impressive how quickly Milia obeyed Roxanne, even though Roxanne was currently a Lv 1 Warrior. She even used polite language. I’d told her she didn't need the formal "desu" in the Labyrinth, but old habits died hard.
We finished the day’s hunt without Roxanne taking a single hit.
Back in Quratar, we were shopping for dinner ingredients when Onesta, the hardware shop owner, stopped me. She was the one who had helped us find our house.
"Oh, thank goodness. I was just about to head to your place."
"Is something wrong?"
"The heavy rain the other day caused a breach in part of the drainage embankment."
"Heavy rain?"
I hadn't heard anything about that. When you warp everywhere and spend all day underground, you lose track of the weather. There had been some rain, but was it that bad? It must have happened since we moved here. I’d completely missed it.
"The Lord has given permission for repairs to begin the day after tomorrow. The work will run from noon until evening. Please make sure not to drain anything into the sewers during that time. We’ll also be dredging the gutters and planting Lycoris. We’re asking each household to provide one person for the labor."
Community service, then. Like a neighborhood association project. How bothersome. I gave her a non-committal answer and headed home.
"I guess we can't really get out of this, can we?" I asked the girls over dinner.
"I will go. It will be fine," Roxanne said.
"It would be bad for our reputation if no one participated. I shall go," Sherry added.
So skipping wasn't an option. It was probably like a local fire brigade or a PTA project back home—the kind of thing where you’d be social outcasts if you didn't show up. Especially in a place like Quratar, even if it was a town of Explorers.
"Well, I don't mind going myself."
"Master, please do not participate," Roxanne said firmly.
"Is there a problem if I go?"
"It is fine if you just show your face, but in the end, it is gutter work. If a Master does such a thing, you will be looked down upon by the neighbors."
"I see."
It was a matter of social standing. Manual labor in the gutters wasn't seen as fitting for a Free Citizen.
Milia spoke up, chirping something in her own language.
"Milia says she absolutely wants to participate," Roxanne translated.
"I will go, desu!"