It would be a good thing if they could get along.
"Vesta. This one smelling of sake is Sherry."
"Yes."
"Sherry, at Roxanne’s suggestion, we’ve decided to take Vesta to the labyrinth. We still have a bit of time; do you want to join us?"
I laid the responsibility for the decision at Roxanne’s feet. Since she had been drinking, Sherry might not be particularly useful—actually, knowing Sherry, she would probably be fine.
"I understand. I had just finished my book and was wondering how to kill the awkward gap in my schedule."
"I see."
It seemed Sherry was coming too. However, even though she was a Dwarf with a high tolerance, she did have alcohol in her system. I shouldn't over-rely on her.
"Here is the deposit."
Sherry stepped outside and handed me a gold coin. She gave me a fixed, heavy-lidded stare as she did so. She really was drunk, wasn't she?
"Well then, let’s go check on Miria as well."
If things stayed like this, I would have to count on Miria. We warped to the tree in the woods near the Hafen Coast. Miria was out on the reef, with several people gathered around her. She seemed to be attracting quite a bit of attention.
"It looks like she’s catching something," Roxanne noted.
"How is it, Miria? Any luck?"
"Yes, desu!" Miria answered happily.
I see. She was the center of attention because she was actually catching fish. Her clothes weren't wet, so it didn't look like she had been diving into the sea.
"We’re going to head into the labyrinth for a while. If the fish are still biting, you can stay here, but what do you want to do?"
"Yes, desu. Um..."
"She says she has caught plenty and is satisfied," Roxanne translated. "Also, she’s asking if it’s alright to share the fish she can’t finish with these people. Apparently, they helped her haul them in."
So she really does intend to eat them. Still, sharing her catch with others... Miria had certainly matured.
"Since Miria caught them, I don’t mind at all."
"Yes, desu!"
Miria pulled up her rod and headed toward her basket. It was filled with a decent haul—everything from large fish to small ones, a total hodgepodge. The concept of catch-and-release clearly didn't exist in her world.
"Miria says she can sense the movements of the fish. These people are calling her a great fisherman."
"I fish by becoming the fish's feelings, desu."
As Miria distributed the fish, the locals showered her with praise. Miria, for her part, was spouting lines that made her sound like a master angler. Her obsession with fish was certainly an extraordinary thing. Once the fish were gone, the crowd dispersed.
"Miria, this is Vesta. She’s joining us as a companion starting today."
"I look forward to working with you."
Once we were alone, I introduced Vesta. She bowed her head politely.
"Miria, desu."
"Vesta, this is Miria."
"Big Sister, desu."
Miria puffed out her chest. Or rather, she arched her upper body back so she could look up at Vesta. Since I had taught her to view Roxanne as an older sister, I suppose she figured the newcomer, Vesta, would be her younger sister.
"Yes."
"Call me 'Big Sister,' desu."
"Big Sister."
"Good Vesta, desu."
Miria reached out and patted Vesta on the head. It wasn't that she couldn't reach, but it was a bizarre sight to behold. It wasn't that Miria was particularly short, but Vesta was simply too tall. It looked like a heartwarming scene of a child stretching as high as they possibly could. If Sherry tried it, she probably wouldn't even reach the top of Vesta's head.
"As of now, the five of us are the party members. Our numbers may continue to increase in the future."
I made sure to issue the Harem Expansion Declaration to Vesta as well. First impressions were everything. I spoke loudly enough for the other three to hear it, too.
"Yes."
"Alright. Shall we head to the labyrinth then?"
After waiting for Miria to pack up her fishing gear, we warped from the tree in the woods. Vesta carried the basket, and Sherry took the sieve. Even without being told, Vesta took the initiative to carry the heavy luggage—that earned her some high points in my book. We stopped by the house once to stow the fishing gear in the storage room.
"I put them away, desu."
"Then let’s try the labyrinth for just a little while."
"That is a wise choice. As expected of Master."
"Yes. I believe it will be fine."
I hoped they were right. Well, with a full party, we should be able to manage. Even if it was just to get a feel for the atmosphere, getting her some early experience wasn't a bad idea. We jumped to the 18th floor of Halber. I figured if I used my Alchemist skills to add some plating to our gear, it would be even less likely for things to go wrong.
"Roxanne, find a spot with as few enemies as possible. When we find one, we’ll all swarm and pummel it."
"Understood. That would be best."
If there was only one enemy, Roxanne could take it head-on while I struck from the side with Durandal. It would be over in an instant—the perfect way for Vesta to get a taste of combat.
"Heh. You can move directly inside the labyrinth? I thought we would move to the entrance and walk in from there. How convenient!"
"W-Well, yeah."
Vesta was impressed by the wrong thing entirely. In truth, you couldn't normally move like that. It was only possible because of my Warp.
"It is because he is Master. Only Master can do such a thing."
"Yes."
Well, I would leave the indoctrination to Roxanne.
"There seems to be a lone one over here."
Roxanne caught the scent and moved out immediately. Miria followed behind her, with Vesta taking the middle. Sherry followed Vesta, and I brought up the rear. With Roxanne’s nose on the job, the chances of being ambushed were practically zero, so it was fine for me to be at the back. Even so, in the narrow corridors of the labyrinth, Vesta’s massive frame stood out remarkably.