READ NOVEL ONLINE chapter 40 - Mii-chan is a regular at the communal bathhouse.
40 Mii-chan is a regular at the communal bathhouse.
After finishing up the usual work at the buying counter and treating the men of the Azure Dragon’s Roar to drinks, I headed to the communal bathhouse. I was eager to soak and relax.
Though it was a different time than usual, the same old lady was at the counter.
“Welcome back. Little kitten.”
“Meow~”
Well, it always ends up like this. The lady picks up Mii-chan and hands me three wooden tokens without a word. Of course, I paid the fee. Thanks to Mii-chan, we’re treated like regulars now.
After enjoying the bath and coming out, the area around the counter was lively. Unlike during the day, there were many female customers, and it seemed they were chatting excitedly about Mii-chan, who was charmingly basking in their attention on the counter lady’s lap.
When I approached the counter, some of the young women jokingly said things like, “You’re leaving already? You should stay and relax,” which was a bit awkward. It wasn’t as pleasant coming from the elderly lady who was clearly focused on Mii-chan.
After having dinner at a restaurant on the way back to the inn, we returned to our lodgings.
Today was our last night in this room. Tomorrow, we’ll be moving to a better inn. I haven’t been told which one yet…
“Meow…”
Mii-chan also seemed to have a reflective look on her face.
While cleaning out the carrier bag in the room, I discovered something shiny inside. What could it be? It’s a necklace with a gem on it.
“Mii-chan, where did this come from?”
“Meow~!”
For some reason, Mii-chan is striking a triumphant pose. It’s quite adorable.
“Did you find this in the dungeon?”
“Meow~”
So Mii-chan must have found it in the hidden room. The sand kicking wasn’t just for a bathroom break but to uncover this.
“Why didn’t you tell me then?”
“Meow…”
Mii-chan went from a proud look to a sheepish one. Still, it’s just too cute.
“Did you perhaps take a liking to it?”
“Meow~”
Even at just five months old, Mii-chan seems to have developed a taste for jewelry.
Upon appraising it, the necklace is identified as “High Quality Key.” A key? I’m not quite sure what that means.
“Let’s check with Müller and the others tomorrow and see if we can keep it.”
“Meow…”
It’s a tough situation. According to the rules, spoils are shared among everyone.
The next morning, we head out early. Outside the Hunter’s Guild, carts loaded with wood and other materials are already gathered.
“Good morning!”
“Oh, good morning. Here’s your share from yesterday.”
Müller hands me a small pouch. Inside, I find twenty gold coins.
“Was there that much profit?”
“The weapons and armor we found in the hidden room were quite valuable. Some of our members wanted them badly. Also, there were some rare coins mixed in with the gold. They’re worth a lot to collectors.”
“I see. By the way, I have a request.”
“What is it?”
“It seems that Mii-chan found a necklace in the hidden room yesterday and has taken a liking to it.”
“And the item?”
“This is it.”
“Meow…”
As Müller hands over the necklace, the elven woman, who has appraisal skills, takes a look at it.
“The quality seems high, but it doesn’t have much value as a work of art. It should be a fitting reward for Mii-chan.”
“Seems so. It’s the reward for opening the hidden room yesterday.”
“Mii!”
Mii-chan is thrilled, but I wonder if the elven woman didn’t see the key aspect of the necklace. Since it’s being given as a reward, I’ll keep quiet about it—for Mii-chan’s sake.
“Mii-chan, you’re lucky. Be sure to thank everyone.”
“Mii!”
After giving thanks and rubbing against the female members of the Azure Dragon’s Roar, Mii-chan gets showered with affection.
Meanwhile, I bring Sumire along. Her coat is getting shinier, and she’s almost fully recovered. I’m looking forward to riding her once she’s completely well, even though I’ve never ridden a horse before.
With the carts now set to depart, we head to the labyrinth with lively chatter.
At the labyrinth’s entrance, work is already underway. Though it’s still in the preliminary stages, the general shape is visible. They’re constructing a protective wall around the labyrinth and setting up a small building over the entrance, which will serve as a temporary Hunter Guild outpost to manage the incoming hunters.
“Today’s main goal is to explore the second level. If possible, we’d like to find a safe zone.”
“Are we going to push ourselves to the limit today?”
“Monsters in the labyrinth don’t come out to the outside world, strangely enough. They also don’t move between layers. If you can’t defeat them, you can always escape. There are safe zones as well.”
Safe zones are crucial in the labyrinth. Each floor has at least one, and they always have a spring. Monsters can’t enter these areas, making them safe places to rest.
As you go deeper into the labyrinth, these safe zones become more important. Hunters who venture into the lower levels often hire porters to establish a base and help with exploration. Even parties with storage skills like Müller’s still hire porters for tasks like preparing meals and collecting essential items from monsters. Without porters, storage skills would fill up quickly, making long-term exploration difficult.
Mii-chan’s backpack is quite the advantage.
“Mii?”
Mii-chan looks at me with a “Did I do something wrong?” expression. I quickly reassure her with praise and a gentle head pat. Mii-chan is invaluable, after all.
“Mii!”