We spent several more days on the 44th floor.
Rutina had likely grown somewhat accustomed to it by now, but deciding when to move on was a difficult call. We couldn't stay on the 44th floor forever, yet heading upstairs required a certain amount of resolve. When we had first decided to hole up here, Sherry had questioned my exit strategy, and her concern had proven entirely valid.
It would have been nice if a powerful new job had appeared, but things are never that simple. If it were easy, I would have done it already. The next job likely to reach level 50 was Hero, but that was still some time away. Furthermore, it remained unclear just how much easier combat would become with the Hero’s advanced job.
If I hadn't been training both Monk and Priest simultaneously, Monk would be nearing level 50 by now. Unfortunately, I had been alternating between it and the Priest job lately. A Monk for single-target healing, or a Priest for All-target First Aid—I couldn't decide which would be more vital. Should we face a powerful enemy whose heavy blows made healing a struggle, a Monk would be necessary. However, if we were bombarded with area-of-effect magic and couldn't keep up, a Priest would be the priority.
I couldn't judge which would be more necessary at this stage. Therefore—using that as an excuse—I was training both. Perhaps I should have concentrated on just one, but it couldn't be helped. The uncertainty was real.
Because of that, the path of reaching level 50 to obtain a new job and grow stronger before proceeding past the 45th floor was a steep one. Then again, if it were just me, I could wait longer. Or rather, if I were alone, I could just dip my toes into the 45th floor for a bit. If things didn't work out, I could just tuck my tail and run. There is no shame in running when you're by yourself. I could execute such a plan without any pretense, shame, or regard for appearances.
That was the right way to think about it. If I could do it alone, then it was wrong to claim it was impossible now. I had to take the leap.
"I’d like to continue fighting on the 44th floor for a while longer," I explained to everyone during breakfast.
Now that I had made the decision, I needed to explain it carefully to avoid any misunderstandings. I wanted to convey my sincerity while ensuring nobody got carried away.
"I do want to keep fighting there; that’s the baseline," I continued. "However, I also think it wouldn't be right to go forever without experiencing the 45th floor at all."
"That is exactly right," Roxanne chirped.
She bit immediately. Of course, it wasn't exactly right—it was more "against my better judgment." Or rather, it was a "tearful, reluctant" kind of "exactly right."
"The 44th floor remains our main focus, to be clear. However, I’m willing to admit that there’s no good reason to keep avoiding the 45th floor entirely. It wouldn't be bad to gain some experience there."
"Yes."
"So, I’m thinking that from today onward, if the opportunity arises, we might as well go ahead and fight there."
"That is a wonderful idea!"
Actually, I had been hoping Sherry might criticize the idea.
"You're right. I think it's a good idea," Sherry said, agreeing with me instead.
Unexpectedly, Sherry was quite gung-ho as well. In this world where monsters were a constant, there were inherently many dangers, and people seemed to disregard minor risks almost entirely. Even the calm and collected Sherry lacked caution. I suppose that just spoke to how harsh this reality was.
"Er, right. When we move to the 45th floor after a boss battle, if you see a group with a small number of monsters nearby, let me know."
This was the crux of the matter. If we were going to engage in combat on the 45th floor, I wanted to start with a small group. I wanted to avoid facing six monsters right off the bat. Facing just one would be a stroke of luck beyond my wildest dreams. Since a single monster on the 45th floor was likely asking too much, I’d prefer two. Even if two was impossible, I wanted to keep it to three at the most.
To do this without it being a complete gamble, I needed Roxanne's full cooperation. I simply had to ask her. That was the real reason I was explaining this so thoroughly.
"Yes. Please leave it to me."
"However, I repeat: the main focus is the 44th floor. I don't intend to fight much on the 45th. I’m thinking it’ll be fine if we just fight once at the end of the day."
"So you will focus all your spirit into a single, decisive battle."
I didn't think that was quite it. She wasn't going to take us to a group of six just because I was "focusing my spirit," right?
"Er, yes. Something like... treating it as the culmination of the day."
"The culmination."
"Yes, the culmination. That's why one fight on the 45th floor is enough. We'll bet everything on that one encounter. We won't fight on the 45th floor any more than that today. If we feel up to it, we can fight a little more tomorrow. We'll gradually increase it. Let's get used to the 45th floor this way."
I would use the "one time" rule to my advantage. If I set this boundary, Roxanne probably wouldn't push for more. We had to remember that the 44th floor was the priority.
"If we're able to fight on the 45th floor, I think it would be fine to just stay there," Sherry chimed in.
Not you too...
It was true that it would be rational to stay if we could handle it, but still.
"Well, I don't think the 45th floor is so harsh that it will cause casualties. If you're asking if we can fight or not, we probably can. That's why we're going. Even so, it's best to get used to it gradually."
"Hmm. I suppose that's how it is."
That is exactly how it is. If we judged things solely on whether we "could or couldn't" fight, Roxanne would likely never stop. She was the type who might say it was pathetic to die if casualties actually occurred.
"I understand. I will carefully select our opponents so that we can have the best battle of the day."
"I-I'm counting on you."
I had a feeling her definition of "carefully select" might be different from mine, but would it be okay? Well, I couldn't do anything without her help anyway. We had to face the 45th floor eventually. If I delayed it any further, there was no telling how Roxanne's frustration might explode.
I made the request to Roxanne during breakfast. Afterward, we entered the Labyrinth to fight.
Whether she was actually being careful or not, Roxanne showed no sign of wanting to fight even after we cleared a boss on the 44th floor and moved to the 45th. At this rate, it was no different from yesterday. I assumed she was choosing our target. I wondered if that was actually true.
"The group over there has a fair number of monsters, but only one or two are Nepenthes, the monsters of the 45th floor. I believe this is a chance."
Past noon, the group Roxanne selected was a delicate one. I see. So this was what she had been looking for—a group where only one or two were actual 45th-floor monsters. Since the rest were enemies we had already fought on the 44th floor, she figured there would be no problem.
It was true that monsters we knew would only be level 45 instead of 44, making them slightly stronger but not fatally so.
"Eh..."
No, no, no. In that case, let's look for a place where there are no 45th-floor monsters at all. If she had said, "Since there are only monsters from the 44th floor, we can fight here as an extension of what we've been doing," I would have understood. That would have been easy to grasp, and I would have been willing to give it a try.
Perhaps such a convenient opponent wasn't easily found, though. But if a 45th-floor monster was included, I couldn't simply nod in agreement. Besides, she said "one or two," which definitely meant it was two.
"Is this not acceptable?" she asked.
Don't make me look like the bad guy. Maybe it was the way I asked that was poor. Then again, I couldn't proceed without her help.
"N-No. Let's give it a try."
"Yes. This way."
Damn it. I caved. But I had to follow her. I’d have to take the challenge eventually.
Where Roxanne led us was a massive legion of monsters. Ah, I see. So it’s six monsters after all. She said "a fair number," so of course I should have been prepared for six. That’s how she operates.
I suppose it was a mercy that there were only two Nepenthes. No, she said one or two and there were two, so that was plenty. The feeling that "two is fine" was an illusion. I was being played. I felt like the bar was being raised higher and higher.
Roxanne and the others started running the moment they confirmed the monsters. I followed, mentally preparing to add Fire Storm after two consecutive Thunder Magics. With the first two Thunder Storms, four were paralyzed. A good start.
I wasn't sure if it was a good thing that both Nepenthes were included in those four, but I took it as a sign that even though they were new monsters, they didn't have a particularly high resistance to paralysis from Thunder Magic. With the next two Thunder Magics I unleashed while running, the remaining two monsters went down.
"Miria, can you ignore the others and aim for the Nepenthes?"
"Yes, desu."
"I'm counting on you."
I gave Miria her instructions. Since it had come to this, we had to at least take down the 45th-floor monsters first. Even if they were paralyzed, it could wear off, so letting her go ahead was dangerous, but unavoidable. We had to prioritize the Nepenthes, especially since Roxanne had chosen such a tough group.
Miria slipped past the two paralyzed monsters and headed for a Nepenthes. Roxanne and the others took up positions and surrounded them, swinging their weapons at will and battering the monsters while they were helpless.
Vesta, for instance—I'm sure it must have been incredibly painful to be pummeled like that by her dual blades. They say a sword can be a bludgeoning weapon as much as a cutting one, and that was certainly the case here.
"I did it, desu."
While that was going on, one monster was defeated.
"Come back!"
"Yes, desu."
One of the monsters paralyzed at the start looked like its paralysis was about to wear off, so I called Miria back. Safety first. It would be unbearable if she were surrounded in a far-off spot. Just then, the monster that had started moving was rendered stiff again by my next Thunder Magic.
Can we do this?
"Sorry. Go for the Nepenthes after all."
"Yes, desu."
Just as I thought that, the paralysis on a different monster wore off and it started moving. What was this, a comedy sketch?
"Ah—damn it. Miria, come back and deal with this monster first. If it's just one, we'll deal with the 45th-floor monster ourselves."
We managed to eliminate one. There was no need to force ourselves to aim for the second one. Before Miria could get back, one monster on the front line started moving, but Roxanne stood in front of it and made a mockery of its efforts. As long as it aimed for her, its attacks didn't look like they would hit. The 45th floor didn't seem to matter at all to Roxanne. Well, it wasn't a 45th-floor monster she was dodging, but still.
Miria attacked one of the still-paralyzed monsters from behind. Being pummeled from the front by Vesta, the side by Rutina, and the back by Miria... I was starting to feel sorry for the monster.
Sherry was also keeping a vigilant eye on the White Caterpillar Roxanne was dealing with, finding opportunities to thrust her spear into the paralyzed enemies. It was already over for them.
"I did it, desu."
It really was over. Once the White Caterpillar was paralyzed again, everyone ganged up on it to end it.
"Can I send Miria toward the Nepenthes again now?"
"No. Since we're here, let's have her finish the others. I'll take care of the Nepenthes once it starts moving. I'm looking forward to seeing just how well a 45th-floor monster can move."
"O-Oh."
Roxanne said something so outrageous that I accidentally agreed. Well, it wasn't bad to see how the Nepenthes fought. That was the goal in the first place. I’d just let her do it. Let's see what the performance of a 45th-floor monster was like.
"Miria, take that monster."
"I did it, desu."
"Next is the White Caterpillar over there."
Following Roxanne's instructions, Miria neutralized the paralyzed monsters one after another. Finally, only the Nepenthes that had been taken out first remained.
"Just in case something happens, let's finish off everything but the Nepenthes. We can fight the new monster after that."
"I understand."
With Roxanne's agreement, the four non-Nepenthes monsters were finished off. Since petrified monsters become weak to magic, I could have finished off the Nepenthes Miria had petrified first, but I didn't go that far. Things might not go exactly as calculated, and if I used area magic until the petrified one was dead, the paralyzed one would also have very little health left. Some people wouldn't be satisfied if it ended too quickly.
Everyone gathered around the paralyzed Nepenthes, surrounding it vigilantly. This thing had been the very first to be taken out, yet its paralysis still hadn't worn off? Even if I only learned that 45th-floor monsters don't have particularly high resistance to paralysis, I suppose that counted as progress.
After we had surrounded it for a short while, the Nepenthes began to move. It was perfect timing. And while everyone else started attacking, I saw that only Miria delayed her timing by a single beat. She gets it. Some people won't be satisfied if it's finished immediately.
Vesta, for her part, was unreservedly pummeling it from the side with her dual blades, and I found myself thinking something completely backward: what would we do if it died too soon? Roxanne was dodging the Nepenthes' attacks at the last possible second, as per usual. She looked like she had plenty of room to breathe. It didn't seem like she'd be satisfied with the 45th floor yet. It looked like she was cutting it close, and maybe she was, but she made it look easy.
I also struck at it with my rod from the rear. It was good to experience what a monster from the 45th floor felt like.
"I did it, desu."
Whoops. Miria finished it. Well, I saw her delay her start, so it wasn't her fault. I’ll take it.
"W-Well, even if it's a monster from the 45th floor, it's still just that. We should continue to fight without letting our guard down."
That was all I could say.
"Yes. I felt that the monsters from the 45th floor have certainly become stronger."
Oh. This was a good sign. Has it finally become an enemy Roxanne acknowledges?
"I see. Is that so?"
"At this rate, we might be able to expect a little something from the monsters of the 56th floor."
"O-Oh."
What did that even mean? Didn't she mean the 46th floor? No, even the 46th floor would be a bit much. Since she said "from the 56th floor," she must have been thinking about the next group of monsters that appeared starting from that floor. Her mind had already jumped to the 56th floor? And on top of that, she said she might be able to "expect a little something."
Not "I can expect great things," but "I might be able to expect a little something." I wondered if the day Roxanne was truly satisfied would come before we all died.
"Erm. I'm glad to see they aren't so strong that we can't fight them," Sherry added.
Sherry, I wasn't looking for such a calm opinion right now.
"I will do it, desu."
"I think we'll be fine."
I wasn't looking for your blunt opinions either.
"I don't quite understand it yet, but I can do it," Rutina said.
You're tainted. You've been tainted, Rutina. Let's go back to Japan together.
"We've only fought once. I don't intend to say much based on this. That's it for the 45th floor today, but we'll fight a little tomorrow, a bit more the day after, and gradually increase our battles. It's best to assess things carefully."
"Hmm. Well, I suppose so."
Oho. I had received the approval of Professor Roxanne. It seemed she wouldn't force her way through. She didn't seem to be bottling up frustration, either. Well, it wasn't like I was refusing to fight on the 45th floor entirely. This should be fine.
That day ended after we did several more rounds of the 44th-floor boss battles.
"On the way back today, we're going to the clothing shop in the Imperial Capital. They should be ready by now."
"Yes."
Rutina nodded happily. I hadn't mentioned the maid outfits. Since the measurements had been taken anyway, there was no problem in making them. The same applied to the silk aprons.
Trembling with a mix of fear and excitement, I warped to the Imperial Capital Adventurer Guild. No, it was fine. There was no problem. I should have been able to make it to the shop with my usual composure. I mean, the maid outfits wouldn't be finished until later.
"We have been expecting you. The items for delivery today are ready."
Hey now. Don't say unnecessary things. Since things were getting dangerous, I quickly took delivery and went home.
"Let's put our things away and then go grocery shopping for dinner."
"Ah, yes. I'll put them away immediately."
"It's fine for a little while longer. Look. This is an apron. It's the same as ours."
Roxanne blocked my attempt to gloss over things. I wasn't even sure what I was trying to hide myself. In any case, it would be found out once we returned from shopping. And the maid outfits weren't even here yet.
"This is?"
"That is an outfit for Shrine Maiden training," I explained. "It's nothing strange. There's no harm in everyone obtaining the Shrine Maiden job, after all. It serves as insurance. In particular, since Shrine Maiden is a rear guard job like Mage, the movements during combat are likely similar. I might have Rutina act as a Shrine Maiden when necessary. This outfit is for that. It's nothing strange."
There was no problem with the White Robes. There shouldn't be. They weren't something shameful. It wasn't like I had become suddenly talkative or anything.
"I-I see."
"Umu."
After I exhausted my words explaining, she seemed to understand.
"Even so, to have them newly tailored like a noble..."
Rutina's doubt was heading in a strange direction.
"Well, it was a good opportunity."
"I see."
"I hear that even if they aren't nobles, influential people have them newly made," Sherry added.
"It is strictly for training, after all. It is desirable to wear clothes that fit the person properly. It would be a significant loss if one couldn't obtain a job due to the influence of ill-fitting clothes."
Well, it didn't matter if the topic was diverted or not. I hopped on Sherry's explanation to scatter the conversation further.
"Yes. That is just like Master. Obtaining a job is directly linked to combat in the Labyrinth. One should not skimp on expenses related to combat. Therefore, these are necessary clothes."
Roxanne also soothed Rutina. The logic was skewed, but I'd take it.
"You're right. One should not withhold effort in subjugating the Labyrinth. I understand."
"I'll take you for waterfall training as early as tomorrow."
Since Rutina seemed convinced, I would have her do the waterfall training. Being struck by the waterfall in those white clothes... No, no. This was necessary for the Shrine Maiden job. Everything was for the sake of the job. For Labyrinth exploration. For survival. Yes, it was necessary for survival.
"Yes. Also, is this also an apron?"
Rutina held up the silk apron. I wanted to pretend I didn't see it. How should I explain this?
"That is Master's favorite. It is an important outfit," Roxanne said.
Roxanne, what's with that way of putting it? It is my favorite, though.
"This is?"
"Yes. You wear that in the bedroom, not the kitchen."
Don't go any further than that.
"...Let's go shopping soon."
"Is it made of silk because it's for the bedroom?"
"It feels good to wear."
I was ignored. Everyone was focused on Rutina's outfit.
"It's not a bad set of clothes. Even if it's a bit... that."
Sherry, what exactly did you mean by "a bit that"? You don't have to say it.
"Wear it, desu."
Nice idea. As expected of Miria.
"You're right. Yes. I think it would be good to try wearing it tonight."
Umu. Nice, Roxanne. In fact, it was almost "it's better to wear it right now." No, wait—shopping.
"I think it'll be fine."
"I see. I understand."
I didn't know what she understood, but I apparently had her consent.
"Then shall we go shopping?"
"Yes, desu."
As you could tell from that reply, we ate fish for dinner. I had to serve fish frequently, or Miria might get the strange idea that she wouldn't get to eat it unless we moved to higher floors. It was just right if she suspected she might get more fish by staying on the 44th floor. I might even go as far as reducing the frequency of fish once we moved to higher floors. No, a rebellion might actually break out, so I wouldn't do that. A subordinate who would start a rebellion over a single fish... but in fact, she really might. I’d keep her in a good mood.
"Next, Rutina, come over here too."
"Yes. Please."
After dinner, we first took a bath. Perhaps she had become completely accustomed to it after several days, but Rutina also began to expose her beautiful, porcelain-like skin without reservation. Being shy was good, but being able to look closely at her beautiful skin was also good.
While washing every nook and cranny with soap, I gazed at Rutina's white, graceful skin from point-blank range until I felt like I was burning holes in it, inhaled her fragrant scent, and explored her with my palms. At times I embraced her, at times I kissed her, and I didn't forget to intertwine our legs. I thoroughly enjoyed her beautiful skin, which was perfect in smoothness and softness.
It was hard work washing the bodies of all five, starting with Roxanne, but it could only be a reward. What's more, they washed me in return after I was done.
"Oh."
As I finally rinsed the soap off with hot water, a sound escaped me involuntarily. Her radiantly beautiful skin revealed itself. A white piece of art, a mystery of life, a source of sensuality.
"...May I enter the bathtub?"
Whoops. I got carried away watching her. No, I couldn't have been watching for that long. It must have been a fraction of a second. She had such beautiful skin—it was only natural that I got carried away.
Rutina herself might have become more sensitive to gazes because of it. Even if I had been watching for a long time, it must have been one or two seconds at most. If it were three or five seconds, it was possible that time passed while I was entranced, but surely it couldn't have been ten seconds. Right? Could it be that I had stopped in time for a long period?
As I entered the bathtub, Roxanne and the others followed. As the day's fatigue dissolved into the hot water, hope for a new, pleasant kind of fatigue expanded. Hope for life, hope for tomorrow. In the warm water, warm hope overflowed.
The flame in the bathroom flickered, and the water's surface wavered. The skin of Roxanne, Sherry, Miria, Vesta, and Rutina also wavered. A double fantasy woven by the candlelight and the shimmering water surface.
No good. I couldn't hold back. I couldn't stay in a place like this. I was going back to the bedroom.
"Phew. That feels good, doesn't it?"
"Yes."
"It feels so good I think I'm going to get light-headed. Let's get out soon and go to the bedroom."
"Yes. Master, please go to the bedroom first and wait."
Gah. I tried to suggest it while pretending to be natural, but I was turned down. Was it bad that I said "bedroom"? Revealing my ulterior motives... my unhideable ulterior motives.
"O-Oh."
"Because we will be wearing the outfits that were completed today."
"Oh. Ooh."
Roxanne whispered sweetly to me. Was it that? Was it that one? Was there no mistake?
I hurriedly returned to the bedroom and waited in bed.
"Pardon us."
"Yeah, it's fine. Come in."
"Yes."
The preparation didn't take long, and everyone arrived in the bedroom shortly. With Roxanne in the lead, a group entered, their bodies covered by cloth with no openings. Truly, all the important places were hidden. Covered by modest cloth. There was no mistake.
The silk aprons covered them. The fluttering frills hid them. A captivating veil where everything became a mystery through a single thin layer. A fountain of fantasy where white cloth stirred the imagination. The eroticism of being clothed that forced one to imagine the enveloped body.
That paper-like defensive power stimulated my destructive instincts right then and there. I wanted to peel it. Like an eggshell, like a grape skin, I wanted to peel the thin layer and then savor the contents. I wanted to enjoy that deliciousness. I wanted to devour it greedily.
"...Umu. You look wonderful, Roxanne."
"Yes. Thank you very much."
This was the destructive power of the naked apron. Starting with Roxanne, Sherry and Miria were also wonderful. And then, Vesta. Her body was so large, yet she was in a single piece of cloth—isn't that foul play? Isn't it impossible to hide? I wanted to lift it. I wanted to taste it. I didn't think it would be fine.
And of course, Rutina. Did she feel like she was glowing because of the nobility of her skin, or the luster of the silk? Wonderful. She wore it without any trouble.
"Erm. You said that in your homeland, this is done to show affection?"
"That's right."
I felt like I had told Roxanne something like that. Speaking of naked aprons, it’s a new bride. Speaking of new brides, it’s affection. Speaking of affection, it’s ecstasy.
"I am a little embarrassed, but..."
"It's fine."