Otoko Nara Ikkokuichijou no Aruji o Mezasa Nakya, ne? - Chapter 227

Chapter 162 - (Chapter 227): ZONE

Year 7446, Month 4, Day 29



"Did we make you wait?"

Myun said a bit apologetically.

"No, since we didn't specify a time. We were the ones who came early just in case so don't worry about it."

I use the spell {Light} on the rock I had in my hand lighting up the area before taking another look at Myun.
It seems because of her age her physique has rounded out a bit but her charming features are the same as in the past, she was looking at me with a gentle expression.

"Myun, I'll introduce you once again. This is Miduchi. Midu~ritto.Chizumagurol. She's my woman. Miduchi, she's Myun. Myunelin.Tobas. My benefactor. I was taught various things..Oh that's right, she's the one who taught me how to use the throwing needles."

"Once again it's nice to meet you. I'm Myunelin.Tobas. I worked as a maid at their mansion when Al-sama was little. Al-sama is my benefactor. Please take good care of Al-sama. Please support him."

"Stop that, Myun. If you're going to say that then the number of times I've been saved is far greater."

Myun just smiled.

"It's nice to meet you again too. I'm Midu~ritto.Chizumagurol. Please call me Miduchi. And also, I've heard quite a bit about you. This person..that is, thank you very much for taking good care of him."

After Miduchi offered greetings to Myun, she crouched down while smiling matching her eye level to Ailado's who was hiding behind Myun holding on to the end of her skirt. Though there is some light, being smiled at by a dark elf in the middle of the night is..I wonder about that? Ailado seems to be a bit afraid of Miduchi. This kid as well huh..Though it can't be helped, I'm sure Miduchi feels pretty depressed.

Miduchi's eyebrows raised to a frown as she got a bit depressed. There's several elves in Bakuddo. However, it's only obvious but there's not a single dark elf. Most likely there's not even any in Marquis Webdos's territory either. Let alone, Miduchi's skin color isn't even similar to the average dark elf which is close to black. Just as expected of an elf the features of her face itself are in the category of a beauty but her hair is dyed white, her light purple skin, her face which has a large scar across it that stands out, about the only place on her that seems to have blood flowing to it is her pink lips. I'm sure she's scary to children.

"Come now..Al! I'm very sorry. I'll harshly scold him later, so please forgive him."

Seeing that state Myun apologized to Miduchi and I with an amazing momentum. I predicted things would become like this the moment I saw Ailado here..it can't be helped. However, there wasn't anything when we met him this afternoon right...Particularly because I know Miduchi was a bit happy after that~

"Please don't worry about it. It's something that can't be helped."

Miduchi stood up and took a step back while saying with a slightly discouraged face. She's probably trying to hide behind me.

"..I'm sorry."

Myun apologized with a voice a quiet as a mosquito. Ailado has only just turned 6 years old. I think it really can't be helped.

"By the way, why Al?"

In order to change the topic and I tried asking the reason why she brought Ailado.

"Umm, this afternoon, it seems you showed this child how to use the short spear and...I'm truly very sorry. Since it was only vaguely remaining my memories, I could only teach him simple things to is so..Thank you very much...Here"

"I'm sorry for being afraid."

Myun thanked me as she pulled Ailado out from hiding behind her and he lowered his head apologizing to Miduchi.

"It's alright, don't worry about it."

Miduchi lowered her eye level to Ailado's again and said that while brushing his head. It seems Ailado accepted Miduchi without being afraid this time. After Ailado had his head brushed by Miduchi he looked at me while opening his mouth.

"U..Umm..Alan-sama. Thank you very much!!"

That's something I did all on my own, so it's fine. It's nothing to be thanked over. I personally am quite happy that you, Ailado, were properly watching it. I look at Ailado as he lowers his head to me still holding the bayonet and after crouching like Miduchi just was I put my hand on his head before opening my mouth.

"Al. That bayonet is something I used in the past. Using that I fought against {Horned Bear} countless times. That weapon you're holding right now is the one in Bakuddo that has cut through the most {Horned Bear}. It's even stabbed all the way in to the base of the blade. Thanks for taking good care of it. Next time I want you to use that and support Zetto and Becky."

"Yes!"

"That's a good answer."

I brushed Ailado's hair while standing up and looked at Myun.
Myun is smiling with both of her hands on Ailado's shoulders.
I can feel gratitude from her expression.

After that, we sat down on some appropriate rocks and discussed recent events for a short while, as we spent about 30 minutes.

Midway through, as I talked about the first knight group, the dungeon, and the monsters we've defeated there Ailado leaned forward as if he was greatly interested in it. Miduchi talked quite a bit as well so it seems Ailado has gotten considerably used to her. Furthermore, it seems that since Ailado turned 5 years old in the spring of last year Myun has secretly been teaching him the sword periodically in the night without telling her husband Bosshu. It seems it's not the Fogen sword style commonly taught in Rombert Kingdom but the style Myun learned in the past. I guess it feels kind of like the swordsmanship Miduchi uses but an amazingly~ inferior version.

However, periodically huh? I wonder if it's not every night because of, the..{Yes/No} pillow problem? 

"..Then, we're going to get some light exercise. If we're not doing anything our skills will dull after all."

Since it seemed to be at a good point we finished up saying that. Ailado still seemed to want to hear more stories but it's the middle of the night, I'm sure it's about time for good children to go to sleep. Ailado who seemed reluctant to the end was clinging on to Miduchi when we split ways. He's completely gotten used to and opened his heart to her it seems and, that's great. But, that's mine. Stop burying your face.

During that time I was whispering in Myun's ear in a small voice. The primary objective for why I took time tonight was this.

"In regards to that one matter but, soon after that I cut off any future distress. So you can relax. There's no problem. It took some time to convey it to you..I'm sure I left you feeling worried for quite a long time right? Sorry about that."

I said that and lightly lowered my head.

"Al-sama. I wasn't worried about anything at all."

When I raised my head Myun showed me the same smile she did once upon a time.

Yeah, I said to just act like you were riding a large boat right?




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After we split up with Myun and Ailado, Miduchi and I started heading West from the village. There's a cave in the mountains there where Shriekers live. The Shriekers in the vicinity of Bakuddo don't get very big and if you just stick a worn out cloth into your ears as ear plugs you can hunt them without much trouble. Even if you ignore them as long as you don't get near they aren't a big problem.

Come to think of it in the past, I pestered Myun and went to hunt them countless times. Shriekers are small mushroom like monsters with lots of small legs and the thing itself doesn't have much fighting power either, if they were intent on it even a non-reincarnated normal child could kill them I'm sure. However, when they feel the presence of the animal that is their prey in their surroundings a shrieking scream is let out from the several holes(though it's not a mouth so calling it a scream is strange) open in the back of it's head and that calls over nearby monsters.

If it was just that then it would be fine to quickly kill it, take the magic stone, and run but if you hear the scream from nearby, in the worst case you might even start to feel weak. In order to avoid that we're wearing ear plugs.

While Miduchi and I were heading towards the Shrieker's cave I started talking about stupid old stories like, "The first time I went to hunt shriekers, before that Myun ended up getting hurt to a different monster we encountered but I magnificently saved her. Not really though." or "The next time when we went I ignored Myun's warning and heard it's scream from close proximity and ended up being drained of my strength and pissing myself. It's true though."

Inside of the pitch black and eerie forest, as we we had to walk with just a {Light} on the level of a flashlight, I was trying to lighten up the mood a bit. However, Miduchi said, "It's fine if you don't try to mind me that much. I, can properly see after all.", hearing that I remembered, come to think of it Miduchi had the special skill {Infrared Vision}, and got a bit depressed.

According to Miduchi rather than the surrounding air the surface of the trees is just a bit lower temperature and she can see them without problem. Rather, I was told that while I'm nearby her the infrared rays being emitted from me are more of a hindrance. Then, what about the infrared rays coming off yourself, and I wanted to say that but remained silent. I'm sure the infrared rays she gives off herself show up in her sight as well but she's already used to them so there's no problem.

It's only obvious but our combat abilities are considerably high. We naturally obtained the shrieker's body that was our original objective, but we also hunted a {Manta Ray}, a ray like monster which seems to fly through the air, that came lured by the scream, as well as some hobgoblins.

The only monster that could be considered a threat around here is the {Horned Bear}. Even that as long as it doesn't catch us of guard from a close distance, I'm sure it would be no problem for Miduchi and I. In another two hours or so it should be daybreak.

Furthermore, when we returned to the house brother was using {Light} to see as he did form practice.

"Oh? The two of you this late at night..I guess it's about daybreak huh? What time is it now? Did you go out? I didn't notice at all."

And looked up at the still pitch black sky while laughing and wiping the sweat with a hand towel.

"A..Ah, we're adventurers after all. Monsters are opponents, so we didn't want to let our skills get dull."

And I laughed while covering it up and handed him the magic stones we gathered.

"Ooh!!...This many..Isn't there over 10 of them!?..That's amazing. Is it fine?"

"Of course it is. Just think of it as the fee for lodging and accept it."

"Hahhawwa. Don't worry so much about it, use up some money company president..And I guess you already ordered some armor didn't you."

I laughed at the boring joke but I was surprised. So brother was training at this sort of time in the middle of the night?
In the day he has to do patrols and look after the training of the squires after all..I guess he can only find time late at night like this.

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Year 7446, Month 4, Day 30



The next morning, soon after having breakfast mother threw Zetto and Becky into the lord's office room on the second floor in order to start magic training. It seems she wanted hear various stories from Miduchi and I but I said we can talk about that sort of stuff as much as she likes afterwards and had her do the magic training. During that time we went out to do some running and when we returned we showed sister-in-law Shani the spells {Predict.Weather} and {Detect.Life}, and brother the spell {Divination}. Sister-in-law Shani has aptitude with all elements of magic and her mana is just a bit higher than normal. Her skill levels including void magic were all level 4 and not very high(Since they're on the level of a full-fledged magician taking her age into consideration you could say they're decently high).

In regards to brother he has more mana than Miduchi. Even at longest if he practices for a few days he should be able to sue it. However, I told him he should make this into a trump card. Additionally I captured a random frog and showed off the spells {Flesh.To.Stone} and {Remove.Petrification} as well.

Incidentally, leaving brother and I who took showers to the side, Gwine and Angela came in the morning to invite Miduchi to the baths. In order to get off the sweat a shower is plenty but once you've entered a bath.
I can understand their feelings.

After we had lunch, we had training together with Miduchi, Gwine, and Angela at our training area.
Today the squires that work on manufacturing rubber products are participating as well. The commoners and slaves who don't have a role as squires continue manufacturing the rubber products...Huh? Was the training of Bakuddo's squires always this easy? In the past I had the image of it being insanely harsh but...

"It seems you're unsatisfied."

Brother made a bitter smile while talking to me.

"No, not particularly, that sort of thing is.."

"It's not just you. If I look at everyone's faces I can tell. Don't put us together with first-rate adventurers who are challenging the dungeon everyday."

Brother shrugged his shoulders and raised his voice putting some fighting spirit into the squires.

"Hey, Whitney! You're posture no good! Al is laughing! In the past, didn't you teach Al the sword!"

I'm not laughing...

Even Gwine and angela who were the weaker members of the {Slaughterers} almost always gained complete victory against the squires. Of course, in terms of technique in using the spear or sword it self the squires are better. However, when it comes to the sharpness of thrusts and the control of body weight when switching from sweeps into attacks Gwine's tactics seem to have increased. Angela was being Angela as well, if she just goes on the defensive she's absurdly strong. Also, she's skilled at cooperating with the partner she teams up with and can skillfully break the opponents posture making it easier for that partner to attack.
It's because we've always just been beating defense and cooperation into her after all.

Well it's fine.

"Brother, let's fight."

The wooden bayonet I used in the past disappeared somewhere so I can't use the bayonet.
While holding a wooden sword on guard I called out to brother.




.................




After all brother was strong. Recently, even when in practice matches I rarely take any attacks. Very rarely it's at the level of being hit by Zenom's axe and even that's when there's more opponents and when the setting is that I'm alone protecting the rear. Even though that's the case, in this short period of time brother's wooden sword directly hit me. Even though it was one on one...Of course, almost all of mine, the attacks I made in which I was trying to hit landed but brother's level is only 11.
Furthermore, judging from the experience points he should have only just hit level 11 this year. Even though I have over 3 times his Speed and even Dexterity is 2.5 times higher...

When I was easily able to parry his trump card double thrust blow, I was convinced that my skill had already exceeded brother but he passed through my side and I took a hit from my flank to my back and choked up on breathing for an instant. It seems the protectors protected my kidney so it wasn't seriously damages but rather than that the shock from taking a solid direct hit caused me to choke up. It was a thrust that came flying with the perfect timing.

This is depressing. This, it's seriously depressing. I've definitely not been slacking off in my training.
I've continued with my running as much as possible and I haven't neglected live combat either. Confessing it and one on one as long as the opponent isn't a monster, I even think I wouldn't take a direct hit so easily.

Of course, I wasn't letting my guard down from self-conceit either. There's no way I could let my guard down with that brother as the opponent. As proof of that other than that one hit I was able to either evade or parry them. Of course, not just Miduchi who was observing on the side, but Gwine and Angela were surprised as well. Around three years ago, the only one who saw the practice match against the first knight group was Angela but it seems even she thought I wouldn't take any attacks from brother with my growth.

Most likely, brother is making use of all of his ability levels. In addition to a natural talent with body balance and great effort that has never stopped he's making every bit of his bodies potential ability his own. Through training, I wonder if he's reached the realm of being able to freely remove the brains limiter on his power through willpower? No, Well, if you look at it objectively you still can't say anything but that it was overwhelmingly my victory.

However, at the same time I understood that I still have plenty of room to grow greatly as well. It's proof that starting with {Hyumu}'s the people of Orth, through talent, and depending on how they do it willpower and concentration, can pull out the potential of their bodies to their very limits.




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Year 7446, Month 5, Day 1



In the morning the base of everyone's boots was completed. Just as expected of someone dragged out by brother, the shoe maker Baru was quite fast at doing his job, a skilled artisan. Gwine and Angela's protectors are almost completely already and just have several adjustments remaining. I'm sure we'll be able to depart the village tomorrow. When it comes to the rubber armor itself it's fine if we just wear it and the only real baggage we have is the boots. If we just hang a big bag from the saddlebag it should be fine. Even then if it gets difficult then it's just a matter of us taking turns getting off the horse and running. At the very least if we make it back to Doritto then the roads get quite a bit better after all.


I had predicted that we might be told to carry the goods that were already complete ahead of time but during the next delivery the Donneoru family will be coming to the capital and the Ryogu family will be returning to Bakuddo. Since there's also the carrying of their furniture, I was told there's no need to push ourselves to bring anything.

I decided to take him up on his words.

Today I enjoyed the baths a number of times as well.




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Year 7446, Month 5, Day 2



Just past noon, after splitting up on the two war horses we departed Bakuddo while on horseback. Miduchi and I are wearing the general model rubber protectors while Gwine and Angela are wearing the new model hunting purpose protectors.

In order for them to get used to the new combat shoes, Gwine and Angela are walking without riding the horses. Their protectors have the defensive capability focused around the vitals and limbs so the weight is a bit heavy as well. Since they've only ever worn leather armor up until now there's no choice than to be patient until they get used to it I'm sure. However, the places that beasts and monsters bite on to can be said to almost always be the limbs.

Only the outer parts of the fingertips are fortified like mittens and on top of a large {gauntlet} that goes from the fingertips to the elbows, on the general model there was a rubber or hardened rubber band, but up until the inner thighs they have ebonite plates allotted. Of course it properly takes into consideration mobility as well and is arranged in a way that it doesn't impede movement during combat. In comparison, it doesn't take attacks from projectile weapons to the body into consideration. The overall design has an increase in the number of curved surfaces, on top of abandoning the anti-bow and arrow gaps, it has a glossed sheen that almost seems wet.

Though I say that, according to what brother said even this could be said to have a bit better defensive power on the body than the third generation model that I used for many years. Supposedly they're always making improvements to the materials and design including the ebonite. Even in comparison to the armor I'm wearing now the thickness isn't all that much different from the ebonite plates on the surface but it seems on the back they put an engraving cooling fin in like an air cooling engine, they made use of the gaps from there to add hardened rubber along with the uneven parts, so it seems it's got a hybrid structure which is both light weight and maintains the defensive power. It seems this structure has even been used in the armor on Gwine and Angela's limbs. 

It feels even more reassuring than up until now. I'm sure we can relax and challenge the dungeon.

It was a bit regrettable parting ways with Zetto, Becky, and Al who had completely gotten attached to us but there's no meaning to laying around for too long.




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Year 7446, Month 5, Day 6



In less than one week we arrived at Keel. For the time being after securing an inn the first place we'll go to is the headquarters of the knight group. Since the time right now is just past 2 pm, this time for sure we should be able to meet them. In order to appeal to the gatekeepers we went without taking our armor off.

After informing the gatekeepers of our visit and that we want to meet them, the four of us were on standby.

Shortly after a girl the same age as us came out of the headquarters. She's wearing leather armor that doesn't seem to be very good in quality and has a long sword on her waist. Her black hair that almost looks wet has gotten shorten to keep it out of the way but I can recognize her facial features.

She must have noticed seeing the group equipped in high class rubber protectors from Bakuddo.
She approached us with a rhythmical pace.

Even though she didn't have even a splinter of an impression to her but..I guessing people can change.