Death March — Fixed

“Tek here, even though I had mainly forgotten it after getting used to internet trading--formalities are something that take time. Although I understand that it’s necessary, it still makes me impatient.”

 

“Heya, I’d like to extend my booking period, is it alright?”

 

“I-If it isn’t Chevalier Felspar. We’re glad you are fine, w-w-we can extend the period, yes. I’m very sorry, but we’re going to clean your room, so please relax in the lobby for a while. Of course, we won’t charge you the admission fee.”

 

How do I say this, the inn owner looks suspicious.

 

Right then, Pochi and Tama, who have gone out to see the horses, come back.

 

“The horses aren’t here?”

“The carriage isn’t here too.”

 

Oh?

 

Arisa and Liza look towards the inn owner--and I deliberately smile in an overly innocent way at them as well.

 

“T-The horses are currently being let exercise on the ranch. Since the carriage was dirty, it’s being cleaned in a studio that usually deals with high-class carriages. Of course it’s free, since it’s a service of our inn.”

 

I see, he seems to have sold them since he thought I had died, huh?

 

“Oh? That carriage is something that I ordered from the master craftsman in the Duchy Capital, it’s worth no less than 200 gold coins. It’s not a studio that would damage it, or peel the paint, is it?”

 

“Y-Yes. Of course it isn’t.”

 

Let’s claim 200 gold coins if the paint really gets chipped--which is the real market price after all.

 

“Liza, Nana, I’m worried about it, so could you go and see the carriage?”

 

“N-No, you don’t need to do that. Everyone must be tired, since you all have just gotten back from the Labyrinth. We have just acquired some good lambs, so how about a meal? We’ll pick up the horses and the carriage from the store, so please wait for it while eating--”

 

How do I say this?

 

He’s too small-time.

 

“Everyone, the inn owner will treat us a meal, thank him properly.” I’ll make him feed the Beastkin girls until they are full--because I don’t even know if it’s possible.

 

The horses and carriage were safely returned to the inn when we had finished our meal. I guess I’ll forgive him, since he didn’t try to change horses.

 

Now then, even though the horses and the carriage have been returned, we still shouldn’t stay in this inn for long. I’ve extended our booking period, as intended, but I’ll check the current condition of the Ivy Mansion before we dive into the Labyrinth next time, if it looks habitable enough, we’ll probably move there.

 

***

We all go back to the room, and take a rest. While being covered with girls on the bed, I read the memo that I got from Toruma. It seems that he has investigated quite a few nobles, and one that sticks out at me for some reason is Baronet Dyukeli; Toruma doesn't say much about the man other than he deals with Magic Tools, and follows Marquis Ashinen. As for why he bothered to investigate this Baronet and add it to the memo he gave me, is because he did this with every follower of Marquis Ashinen, who happens to be the current Viceroy of Selbira.

 

There is quite a bit of detailed information about the Marquis, however.

 

Information that almost sounds like he’s badmouthing him; like how the previous generation had died unnaturally in the Royal Capital 20 years ago, and the current Marquis is stingy and likes bribe money; he’s also hen-pecked husband, and arrogant.

 

It’s written that Marquis Ashinen will soften his attitude towards someone who’s brought him some expensive gift. Since it seems that it’s better for the gift to be something that looks expensive rather than works of art, let’s present him with the gold nude-woman statue that I acquired from an acquaintance from the Duchy Capital. Since it’s worth 20 gold coins, it should be enough.

 

It’s also written that he’s into men, but he likes the macho-type, so I should be safe, since I’m not his type.

 

After making sure that everyone is sleeping soundly, I slip out of the bed and ask an employee of the inn to deliver a letter to the Viceroy that I want to meet him.

 

Since I’m scheduled to meet the Labyrinth Army General tomorrow afternoon, I’ve made an appointment to meet the Viceroy the day after tomorrow.

 

***

“My, you’ve already collected the needed Magic Core quota?”

 

“Yes, this is the proof of achievement that the staff from the Labyrinth gave to us.”

 

“Quite a wonderful result, isn’t it? Have you entered a Labyrinth before?”

 

“Yes, one other Labyrinth.”

 

I make the mention of which Labyrinth vague. She seems to have only asked about it casually too, she didn’t seem interested in which Labyrinth it was.

 

“Well then, please wait on the sofa over there for a while, the person in charge will guide you.”

 

Pestered by Arisa and the others, we went to the East Guild after breakfast to raise our rank to bronze. We’ve been guided into another room, and then we submit our IDs from Muno City, and the official Registration papers.

 

We were offered to check our Statuses and Skills with the Yamato Stone free of charge, but I refused.

 

“What would you like for the name of your party?”

 

At the clerk’s words, everyone began to discuss their suggestions.

 

“Chevalier Felspar and His Mistresses.”

Rejected.

 

“Pochi and Master.”

 

“Oh my, Pochi, don’t you like being together with us?”

 

“I-It’s not like I don’t like it. Pochi and Master and Tama and Liza and Lulu and Mia and Nana and Arisa is fine!”

“Long?”

 

Lulu teases Pochi for her verbal slip, and she immediately corrected it. But just as Tama said, it’s too long.

 

“It should be more concise. How about Demon Lord Slayers?”

“Isn’t that a title?”

 

I’ll be troublesome if there’s someone who believes that, and most people will probably laugh at us for trying to be like the heroes.

 

“Young Organism Protection Corps, so I recommend.”

 

“Eh, then we would be obliged to protect the little girls in front of the Labyrinth.”

“I’d like to at least protect them from starvation, though.”

 

“Chevalier Felspar and His Pleasant Friends sound nice.”

“Lulu, you really are Arisa’s big sister after all.”

“Eh, Liza, what do you mean by that?!”

 

“Friends of Fairy.”

“Well, they are our friends and all, but it doesn’t sound like a party name.”

 

For some reason, Tama is the only one who has suggested a name. She is nodding along with the others and rubbing her head on my arm. It seems that she doesn’t have any suggestions this time.

 

“Nn? I want to eat meat?”

 

Ahh, she seems too hungry to consider it.

 

I had a feeling that we wouldn’t ever decide on it, if it continued like this, so I just register my house name as the temporary one.

 

“Well then, it’ll be complete in three days, so please use these temporary Bronze plates until then.”

 

Each of us receives a temporary Bronze plate that has been carved with East-1, East-8.

 

The official Bronze plate probably takes time to complete, since it has the owner’s name and party name.

 

***

The General of the Labyrinth Army is a middle-aged man with a hooked name, he’s the very picture of someone from a noble family with his arrogant air.

 

After the greeting, we begin to apologize to him. For the time being, I brought three different kinds of smoked food, and the Dragon Spring Liquor.

 

“Oh? So, he’s the outstanding talent who’s carrying the future of the Shiga Kingdom, huh?”

 

Uhh, I don’t remember carrying any kind of future.

 

“That’s right. Thanks to him, Muno City, which had become the breeding ground of Demons, was saved. Even the Lower Demon in Gururian City was killed with a surprisingly low number of victims. He and his retainers’ abilities are probably equal to that of a first-class knight.”

 

Can you stop?

 

A maid came in, bringing in some smoked meat, and prepared cups for several people. Are we going to drink this early in the day?

 

Contrary to his appearance, General Eltall is an affable person.

 

“W-What’s this liquor? Chevalier Felspar, where did you get this liquor? It’s the first time I’ve ever tasted this.”

 

“It tastes like Toruma’s treasured liquor, huh, so that alcohol was something you had brought.”

 

“That is something I obtained from a merchant called Heiron in the Duchy Capital. I heard that it’s liquor from a distant land.”

 

The conversation flows, and I made a promise to give the two another bottle of Dragon Spring Liquor next time.

 

If I can get along with the top of the military where I’m staying, with just alcohol, it’s definitely worth it.