Travel Preparations

In the end, the trip to the capital was decided that very day. I was being summoned, apparently.

For some reason, even people outside the subjugation party members were included… no, Rokuko was listed there as if it were the most natural thing in the world. This has to be Haku-san's doing. I can't think of anyone else.

And then came the next day. When I showed up at the inn with Niku, Shikina and Maiodoru came out to greet us.

"Master Kehma! Excellent work the other day!"

"Kuro-sama! And Kehma-sama, I heard what happened. As expected of my fiancé… blush"

The same disappointing elf and ringlet girl as always… Somehow I felt both relieved and not at the same time.

And at some point, Maiodoru had fallen head over heels for Niku, but Niku, did you do something to Maiodoru? Hm? You don't remember doing anything?

I see. Then it must be some kind of noble biology or something. Like they fall in love just by being near their fiancé. Someone should present this to the academy as a trait nobles developed to stay positive despite their political marriages.

"So I heard from Wataru-sensei that you're going to the imperial capital! Please let me come along!"

"… Eh, why?"

"That should be obvious! I've already paid this month's tuition… and it'll take over a month to reach the capital, right? Of course I have to come along!"

Guh! What an airtight reason! But I really haven't taught her anything worth tuition fees. I've been dumping all the combat training and common sense lessons on Niku and Ichika.

Well, this time Ichika and Niku are coming along too, so I guess it can't be helped.

What exactly am I teaching this elf? Math at most?

"I'm looking forward to the capital, Kuro-sama."

"… Goshujin-sama."

"Oh, Mai-sama will naturally be staying behind, right? Actually, you could just go back to Tsuia."

"Oh Kehma-sama, don't be like that. I may not look it, but I'm quite accustomed to travel."

"I can't take responsibility if something happens, so I hope you understand."

"Muu… responsibility, responsibility. Adults all say the same thing."

Saying that, Maiodoru clung to Niku's arm. Acting like a child when it's convenient was very noble-like, even for someone so young.

"Kuro-sama would protect me, wouldn't you?"

"No. I'll be protecting Goshujin-sama, so please don't get in my way."

"… Kuro-sama's devotion to duty is also wonderful!"

Yeah, she's a lost cause. Same pattern as Wataru.

"… Ah, Maid-san. Um, while we're away…"

"Yes, I will escort her back to the Tsuia residence, so please don't worry."

Her attendant maid answered without hesitation, so I breathed a sigh of relief.

"Village Chief Kehma! Let's spar! A practice match with the village chief who took down a dragon! I'm pumped!"

Just then, our part-timer Setsuna came bouncing over, her chest and beast ears jiggling. Yeah, I'm not sparring with you anymore!

"Village chief! While you're at the capital, leave the village defense to me, so let me spar with you first!"

"… How about you get Wataru to spar with you instead?"

"Nerune-san told me 'Wataru may be a guest, but you still shouldn't bother him, okay?'"

Nerune? Are you really one to talk? And what's with "Wataru may be"? That's harsh! The hero's standing is rock bottom! Ugh, I almost feel bad for Wataru. Almost.

"… Hah. I'll authorize it. Get him to train you while he's here, and in exchange, don't challenge me to a spar."

"Yay, the village chief is so reasonable! Understooood!"

Setsuna skipped away.

"Oh right, so defense huh. Gozoh and Roppu are coming with us too."

Niku goes without saying, but Gozoh's party is this village's leading group of adventurers. There's no denying our fighting strength will drop.

… Well, if Setsuna's here, the village should be fine even if bandits attack. Probably.

In the first place, I don't think anyone would attack a village that has the Adventurer Guild's backing.

If there's any concern about needing combat strength for the village, it would be monsters overflowing from the dungeon. But I can say with certainty that won't happen.

Hah, gotta start getting ready. For now, I'll stock up on lots of food like Wataru said. Since time stops inside [Storage], we can eat freshly prepared meals anytime. That's the beauty of it.

I can't exactly bring Kinue-san along… she's the inn's key person.

 

＊ ＊ ＊

 

I knocked on the door to Rokuko's room.

"Hey, Rokuko. How's the preparation going?"

"Oh, Kehma. Perfect timing. Kehma, which do you like: red, black, or white?"

"Hm? … Black, I guess."

"… Isn't that too bold?"

What's she talking about…? Well, I'd lose if I thought too hard about it. As a man. Probably.

"Can I come in?"

"It's fine."

After confirming it was safe, I entered to find Rokuko looking at a memo while organizing her luggage.

She had [Storage] too, but she seemed to be packing various things into travel bags as well.

… Having [Purify] means we don't need to bring many changes of clothes, which is convenient.

"What's with the memo?"

"It's a memo about DP from Haku-neesama. Things like how I can only use the DP I carry on me when I'm away from the dungeon. I asked her about useful travel tips."

Ah, she used the express line to Haku-san via [White Beach]. When did she do that?

"… What even is DP anyway? You can only use the DP you carry on you when you leave the dungeon… and what does 'carrying' DP even mean? It's weird. I can do it, so I get it in practice, but still."

"If you can use DP outside, just bring a bunch. It's not like it disappears if you don't use it."

"True. It's not like it has any weight, either… Maybe it's something like magical power?"

Rokuko wouldn't know, but I think of it as basically electronic money.

"The dungeon needs some too, but the core being here means it'll keep replenishing… alright, let's bring about 500,000 DP."

"By the way, how far can you go before you can't use the DP stored in the dungeon? Is Tsuia within range?"

"I'm not really sure. It apparently varies depending on the situation, like whether there are other dungeons in between. Well, 500,000 should be more than enough… Fufufu, the fact that we can even have this conversation shows how much DP I've saved up. I've really grown, haven't I?"

Indeed, she's nothing like when she was completely empty (in both head and DP) back when I was summoned. I nodded without saying that part out loud.

"We're leaving tomorrow, so make sure you don't forget anything. Well, we have DP so it should be fine either way."

"Yeah. Oh, where do you think I should leave the Dungeon Core while we're gone? Inside the dungeon, right?"

… Oh, she means the core itself, the orb. For a second I thought Rokuko wasn't coming.

Obviously, leaving the Dungeon Core sitting at the inn while we're far away would be scary. What if there was a thief?

"Right. Let's hide it like we did when we went to the capital before."

"Mm, let's do that."

While saying that, Rokuko stuffed a Beddhism holy seal into her bag.

… Should I bring some for proselytizing too? Yeah.

"Hey, Kehma. Do you think we'll have enough manpower at the inn and church with us gone?"

"The church has the succubi, so that's fine. As for the inn… well, we used to run both the inn and church without any succubi. Even without the four of us, we'll manage."

"Oh, right. Since we have the succubi, it should be enough."

"How about having the succubi help at the inn too? We could frame it as volunteer work by the Beddhism Sisters. I'd still pay them properly, though."

"Then let's ask Rei and Kinue to handle that too."

As for why Nerune wasn't mentioned, well, yeah. That girl gets completely absorbed in her research.

As long as I let Suira know, it should work out.

Maybe I should give Rei some kind of position like saintess so the succubi don't take over the church… We could call her painless massages "miracles" or something.

Also, I need to check the route to the imperial capital… actually, which direction is the capital in the first place? Wataru said he'd take a carriage from Tsuia, but…