"Members are free to use this lodge as they please. I'll have the details explained to you shortly. However, keep in mind that standard food and drink will cost you. It shouldn't be an issue once you're clearing the higher floors, but the prices are steep for the average adventurer. Try not to squander your funds."
Apparently, that had been quite an expensive herbal tea.
I couldn't help but wonder who was footing the bill. Since he’d used the word "normally," did that mean the first cup was a complimentary welcome for new members? Was I being a petty commoner for even worrying about it?
"I'll be careful," I replied.
"The initiation ceremony is a simple affair. You don't need to bring anything. Your party members may accompany you to the lodge, but they aren't permitted to witness the ritual itself."
"Understood."
I wasn't about to back out now, but it seemed there was a formal induction ahead of me.
"Within the Empire Liberation Society, members interact as equals, regardless of worldly titles or social standing. Do not forget this. There have been eras where the reigning Emperor was a member, but even then, he was merely a peer within these walls. If an Emperor seeks membership but lacks the requisite strength, we must refuse him. This discipline is vital to maintaining the Society's power."
So even an Emperor had been a member before. From the way Estel spoke, it seemed the current one wasn't—likely because he lacked the combat prowess. I see. Even the Emperor would be turned away if he wasn't strong enough.
To ensure that, they stripped away social status at the door. If they admitted people just because they were Dukes or royals, the Society’s internal standards would eventually crumble. Discipline was the only way to remain an elite organization of the strong.
Still, I felt like an Emperor could probably find a way to pass that easy entrance exam. Perhaps the "equality" rule was the real barrier. A high-ranking noble wouldn't want to join a group where a commoner could speak to them as a peer. It was a clever way to keep out those who relied solely on their titles.
"That makes sense," I said.
"Very well. We'll hold your ceremony tomorrow morning, if that suits you. It’s for the best. We don't—and won't—offer special treatment."
"I understand."
I wasn't asking for special treatment. I wasn't going to be difficult about the ceremony, even if I wasn't exactly looking forward to it.
"Then please return here before noon tomorrow. I'll notify Brocken. It’s better if you avoid your recommender until after you've been formally inducted."
"Is that so?" I suppose that was just the way things were done.
"There is no need to offer him a gift," Estel added, perhaps reading my expression. "A simple greeting a day or two after your initiation will suffice."
It seemed I had to at least pay my respects. I could manage that much.
"Right."
"That is all from me. The scribe will handle the rest of your orientation. Sebastian, I'll leave them in your hands."
Estel signaled for Sebastian to approach. I wondered if Sebastian was actually a scribe rather than a butler.
"As you wish, my lord."
"This is our Chief Scribe, Sebastian. He can walk you through the finer details."
Chief Scribe. "Scribe" sounded humble enough, but adding "Chief" to it made him sound incredibly important. Estel drained his cup and stood up. He motioned for me to remain seated and saw himself out.
Just before he left, one of the adventurers from Estel’s party opened an Item Box and paid Sebastian. It seemed the tea hadn't been a complimentary welcome after all; Estel had treated us. Or perhaps the adventurer had only paid for the Baron’s share and ours was indeed free. Either way, the fact that they’d used an Item Box suggested they’d paid in Silver Coins.
I couldn't see the exact amount, but he’d definitely handed over several coins. Even if it was two Silver Coins for six cups, that was a staggering price. If that was the price for just Estel’s cup, it was astronomical. You could genuinely go broke in this place.
I was half-tempted to ask if this was some sort of extortionate gentleman's club.
"Now then, Master Michio, if you are ready, I shall explain the facilities of our Lodge," the master of the extortionate establishment said with a bow. No, he was the Chief Scribe, Sebastian.
"Lead the way."
"Please, follow me."
I drained the last of my tea before standing. It was too expensive to leave a single drop behind. Roxanne and the others followed suit.
"This room may be used for consultations or for socializing between parties," Sebastian explained as we walked. "There are similar rooms on the second floor. Please feel free to request them. We only ask that you place an order for food or drink when utilizing the space."
So they didn't charge a room fee, but they padded the price of the drinks instead. That explained the cost. Come to think of it, Estel hadn't mentioned membership dues. If there were none, the overhead was likely baked into the service fees.
"I'll keep that in mind."
"The location of this Lodge is strictly confidential. While there is a door to the exterior, it is reserved for vendors and the scribes. Members are not permitted to use it except in dire emergencies. When you have business here, please arrive via Field Walk to the lobby wall."
"I see."
Estel had mentioned the Lodge was in the Imperial Capital, but its specific location was a secret even from members. Still, MP consumption for Field Walk varied with distance. I could probably triangulate its general location eventually.
"The second floor houses our Grand Conference Hall, and the third floor contains our Reference Room," Sebastian said, pausing at the foot of the stairs. The Lodge was already spacious on the first floor; I was impressed it had three levels.
"A Reference Room?" Sherry asked, her interest piqued.
"Indeed, Miss Sherry. We archive activity reports, member logs, and strategy guides written by those who have cleared various levels of the Labyrinth."
"Is access restricted to regular members only?"
Sherry was practically vibrating with curiosity. She definitely wanted in.
"Party members are granted the same privileges as the primary member. With Master Michio’s authorization, you would be permitted to use the room as you wish."
"I understand. Thank you."
Those notes and guides might actually be useful. I’d have to send Sherry here eventually.
"And through this door is our shop," Sebastian said, leading us into a side room.
I’d expected souvenirs, but I was wrong. The room was lined with spears and suits of armor. The Duke had mentioned the Society traded equipment, and here was the proof.
"Equipment, huh?"
"Yes. While our stock is limited, we carry high-grade items made of Orichalcum, as well as equipment with specialized skills already attached."
Sure enough, the spear on the pedestal was made of Orichalcum. If there were Orichalcum swords, it stood to reason there were spears as well. I walked over and examined the gleaming tip.
"It looks like a magnificent weapon."
"Trading equipment here requires both Nahl and points. If you sell us powerful gear or items with skills, we grant points to your account. When purchasing from the Society, you must spend these points in addition to the cash price."
So it was a closed ecosystem—you couldn't buy unless you sold. It prevented people from just throwing money at the shop to buy up all the rare gear. I’m sure buying standard weapons from a shop and trying to flip them here wouldn't work; Orichalcum wasn't exactly sitting on a shelf in Quratar.
But with Sherry, I could fuse skills without failing. I could theoretically generate points by selling equipment I’d enhanced. I didn't particularly need an Orichalcum spear right now—especially since it didn't have any empty skill slots—but it was good to know the option existed. I’d have to keep an eye on the inventory.
"Is there much turnover?" I asked.
"It is more of a service than a high-volume business," Sebastian admitted. "We don't take much of a margin. Some pieces sell immediately, while others might remain for quite some time."
I’d have to check in periodically to see what was new. The inventory was small, after all. There were only a few pieces of armor and one spear. The only thing they had multiples of were Substitution Misangas—three of them sat on a velvet cushion.
"Substitution Misangas?"
"A keen eye, Master Michio. Since they are consumables, we make an effort to keep them in stock."
"Do they move quickly?"
"We have our regular buyers. However, since they require points, most members prefer to acquire them through the Quratar auction unless it is an emergency."
That made sense. Points were too valuable to waste on something you could buy with cash elsewhere—unless you needed one right that second.
"I see."
"We set our prices competitively, though our buy-back rate is significantly lower than the average auction price."
Selling here was less about the Nahl and more about the points. It was essentially a way to convert money into points by taking a loss on the trade-in.
"I have a spare Misanga myself. How many points would I get for selling one?"
"One point."
"And the cash buy-back price?"
"Ten thousand Nahl."
I did the math. If someone was desperate for points and valued one point at ten thousand Nahl, they’d be willing to bid up to twenty thousand at the auction to get a Misanga to trade in. That explained why the auction prices were always so inflated. The Society’s point system was the hidden hand driving the market.
"That spear from before—the Orichalcum one," I said, looking back at the weapon. "How many points does it cost?"
"Three points."
So, to get Orichalcum-tier gear, I’d have to sell three Substitution Misangas and pay a cash premium on top. It was a steep hurdle. I’d definitely have to keep farming Caterpillar Skill Crystals.
"There's a Great Shield here," Roxanne noted, pointing toward the corner.
"A Great Shield?" Vesta practically lunged toward it. Dragon-kin were the primary users of such massive defense, after all.
"I've seen other Dragon-kin carrying shields that size," Roxanne added. "That must be one."
She was right. It was a Robust Damascus Steel Great Shield. I had a Sturdy Hard Leather Hat, and since I hadn't used a Kobold crystal to make it, "Robust" was likely a higher tier of skill than "Sturdy."
"It is indeed a Robust Damascus Steel Great Shield," Sebastian confirmed. I could tell with Appraisal, but Sebastian likely just had the inventory memorized. Impressive.
Up close, the thing was massive. You could easily hide a full-grown man behind it. With a shield like that, physical attacks would be almost entirely negated. You'd have to use magic or find a way to blow the defender away entirely. Of course, the weight would be a nightmare for anyone but a Dragon-kin. Only they could wield something so dramatic with one hand.
If I ever found a shield that boosted magic, I’d be tempted to use it myself. Or maybe a Priest or Monk could use it. But in a six-person party, losing an attacker just for an extra layer of defense felt like a waste. If I needed more protection, I’d just move someone to the rear guard.
"A Damascus steel shield, huh?"
"We have many Dragon-kin among our members and their parties. As such, we try to keep Great Shields in stock."
It was good to know they were available, but Vesta was fine for now. Her dual-wielding style worked well, and she wasn't struggling with her defense.
After finishing the tour, we left the lodge behind. I planned to visit the shop again once I had some points to burn. I could always sell a Misanga if I saw something I liked. I wasn't going to go crazy at the auctions, but the fact that I could create Misangas with a 100% success rate gave me a massive advantage here.
"Sherry, are there any Great Shields that increase magic power?" I asked as we walked.
"Hmm. If you fused a Goat Skill Crystal, you'd get the Great Shield of Himorogi. That would provide 2x Intelligence."
"Is that the only option?"
"I've never heard of anything else. Shields are unique—like accessories, they can accept Skill Crystals meant for either weapons or armor."
"Could you put Attack Power Increase on one?"
"You could, but I believe the effect only applies if you actually strike the enemy with the shield itself."
Well, that was useless. But the Intelligence Increase might be worth it. A Dragon-kin Mage could wield a shield and a cane... actually, would the boosts even stack? There were a lot of variables.
With the membership settled, we spent the rest of the day exploring the Labyrinth with renewed energy. We called it a day when evening approached. On the way back, we stopped for supplies.
"Wait, Master. Can we try something different today?" Vesta asked when I reached for the lemons. We always bought them for the bath, so her stopping me was unusual. I wondered if she’d grown tired of them. "Is something wrong?"
"I heard that herbs are even better. I've prepared some."
So that was it. She wanted to experiment. "Alright, let's try it."
"Thank you, Master."
It wasn't really something I needed to be thanked for. As long as she was happy to soak with me, I didn't care what was in the water. I’d heard of herbal baths before. It wasn't that different from an iris bath or the lemon baths I’d used as a substitute for yuzu.
"Where did you hear about the herbs?"
"The hardware store master's wife told me."
"The landlady?" I knew she chatted with the girls sometimes. I just hoped they weren't leaking too much information about our household.
"The last time we didn't use the lemons, I felt a bit sluggish the next morning," Vesta explained. "Warming my body in the bath clearly has a medicinal effect, so I want to see which additives work best."
Vesta’s Dragon-kin physiology made her prone to morning chills. The bath clearly helped regulate her temperature. I’d been floating lemons in there mostly as a hobby, but it was interesting to learn they actually served a functional purpose. Vesta was like a connoisseur of bathwater now.
"Understood. Feel free to experiment as much as you like."
"I will. Thank you!"
Back at the house, I started the bath. Now that my MP pool was deep, I could fill the tub in seconds with magic. Vesta brought over a bundle of herbs tied together—a bouquet garni for the bath. She looked like she was about to simmer something delicious.
I recalled the old saying: When the wily hare is killed, the hunting dog is boiled. Or perhaps The Restaurant of Many Orders. Well, even if the Labyrinth monsters didn't die, I was certainly planning to "savor" my party members tonight.
"Shall we put them in?"
"Yes, please."
I tossed the herbs into the water. It smelled like a fresh riverbed. It was mentally soothing, if nothing else.
"I heard you can put shell powder in the water too," I mentioned.
"The stuff we use for cleaning?"
"And if you mix it with lemon juice—which is citric acid—it creates fine bubbles. It’s supposed to be very relaxing."
I remembered that from a science experiment back in school. It was basically a homemade carbonated spring.
"Oh, that sounds wonderful!"
"I don't know the exact proportions, but we can try it sometime."
"I’ll look into it," she promised.
With the herbs steeping, we headed to the dining room. There was no fish tonight, for a very specific reason.
"Tomorrow is the initiation ceremony," I announced over dinner. "We'll hit the Labyrinth early in the morning, but we're taking the afternoon off."
Since they couldn't attend the ritual anyway, it was the perfect excuse for a holiday.
"A holiday? Thank you, Master!"
"Think of it as a half-day. Roxanne, what will you do with your time?"
Roxanne looked pensive. I assumed she’d just go back to the Labyrinth to practice her dodging. She was the only person I knew who refreshed herself by fighting monsters as a break from fighting monsters.
"Sherry, I assume it's the library or the Society's Reference Room for you?"
"Yes. I’d very much like to see those archives."
"And Miria, fishing?"
"Yes, desu!"
I didn't even need to ask. Miria’s eyes were practically sparkling. She was determined to catch something, which meant tomorrow's dinner would definitely be fish.
"Master, what exactly is a 'holiday'?" Vesta asked. I realized this was her first real break since joining us.
"We’ll work in the morning, but from noon onward, your time is your own. You can go wherever you like and do whatever you want."
"Is that... truly allowed?"
"Everyone needs to recharge their batteries occasionally."
"Thank you, Master," Vesta said, bowing deeply.
"It’s only half a day, but enjoy it."
"I will! That actually works out perfectly."
It seemed Vesta had a plan too. I was surprised; was Roxanne the only one without a specific non-work hobby? Or rather, Roxanne’s hobby was just being a high-level combatant. She was definitely the "hawk" of the group.
"I'm going to find more herbs for our baths," Vesta said.
"Do you have a lead on where to find them?"
"I’ll ask the hardware store master's wife."
The landlady again. Our neighborhood gossip network was clearly very active. Still, if that was how she wanted to spend her time, I wasn't going to stop her.
"That's a good idea," Roxanne chimed in. "In that case, I'll join her to ask for advice on maintaining our garden."
Maybe having Roxanne along would keep the "secret information" leaks to a minimum. Or maybe not. Roxanne tended to be very open if she thought a piece of information wasn't a secret.
"And if I have time left over," Roxanne added, "I'd like to visit the Labyrinth."
There it was. Even with gardening on the table, she still wanted to fight.
"Quratar costs money to enter, you know."
"I'll make it back from the drops. Oh, we still have that Cape Carp Liver, don't we? May I use it?"
The liver was meant to lure a Drive Dragon. Roxanne’s idea of a "day off" involved summoning a high-tier dragon just to play with it.
"I suppose that's fine. Borrow Miria's Estoc of Rigidity if you're going solo."
"No, thank you. It isn't fun if I win too quickly. It's meant to be dodging practice."
It was a game she called "training."
"Marbrim, desu," Miria added.
"Isn't that a bit high-level for a solo run?" I asked. I knew Roxanne was good, but still...
"I see. At that level, it might actually provide a bit of a challenge," Roxanne said, her eyes lighting up.
"Wait, wait. You'll get surrounded if you can't clear them fast enough," I warned. Miria had accidentally set Roxanne’s competitive spirit on fire. I didn't want her doing anything suicidal on her day off.
"In a Boss Room, there are no reinforcements," Roxanne countered. "It would just be the two of us."
She was going to solo a boss? Well, with her evasion, she probably could, though occupying a boss room for practice felt like a bit of a faux pas.
"Mmm... Black Diamond Tuna... Fishing..." Miria muttered to herself. It seemed she was torn between actual fishing and joining Roxanne to hunt the tuna boss. I had to wonder what kind of person spends their day off from exploring... by exploring.
"No, stay on target," I told them. "Garden first. If you have time for the tuna afterward, that’s fine. Just bring back some of the fatty meat as a souvenir."
"Mmm... souvenir, desu," Miria said, finally relenting. I didn't want to force them to give up their plans, but I also didn't want them spending six hours in a dungeon.
"Understood, Master. I’ll bring back some souvenirs," Roxanne promised.
Great. I’d accidentally encouraged her. But then again, it was Roxanne; she would have found a way to fight a monster tomorrow regardless of what I said.
I pushed my worries aside, finished my meal, and headed back to the bath. After a long soak in the herbal water, I felt remarkably refreshed. The green leaves floating in the water were soothing to the eyes—though in truth, the way they partially obscured the girls' skin was strangely alluring.