Chapter 296: Holy Sword and Duty 1
TL/Editor: raei
Schedule: 5/Week Mon-Fri
Illustrations: Posted in discord.
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A lot had happened in a time that felt slightly too long to be considered short, but the hero's duty was to climb the tower and defeat the Demon King.
Grace, who came from a village of hunters, had been surrounded by nobles trying to connect with her over archery and hunting.
A manners instructor, upon seeing Katie, had shed a tear of joy, exclaiming, "Our lady..."
Meanwhile, a religious merchant whose faith seemed closer to some sort of personal cultism almost bowed to Irene.
Regardless, our ultimate goal remained the same—we had to climb the tower.
Thus, as usual, we found ourselves gathering at the inn in the morning.
Naturally, everyone convened at the early hour when Han Se-ah logged in, all visibly worn.
"It seems more happened at last night's party than in all our time in the south."
"What kind of party was it, anyway?"
"A celebration for pioneering the 45th floor and solving problems in the South... probably?"
"Ugh... Maybe it'd be more comfortable to stay in the caves on the 46th floor."
Dealing with people seemed more daunting than facing monsters, and our party shuddered at the thought, beginning to plan an escape to the 46th floor.
Of course, it wasn’t a grand plan.
Just like the floors from 41 to 45, we simply assumed the 46th would have a city of stone dwarves underground and wild harpy nests above ground.
"Let's hunt monsters, check if the harpies can speak, and see if there's a stairway going underground."
"That should be enough. With that big one dead, I don't think anything will show up on the 46th floor."
"Yes. According to Old Bobo, they modified the vacuum stone from last time to help us, but it's difficult to add another underground passage right away."
"Well, since they're still rebuilding the collapsed city, they must be short on workers."
After satisfying our hunger with clear soup and engaging in conversation, we confidently boarded the elevator to go outside.
We crossed the cloud barrier, escorted by the bustling patrols of black harpies and red harpies under the queen's command.
Listening secretly to Han Se-ah's stream about yesterday's party, it seemed the Harpy Queen was somewhat troubled by the number of humans swarming in.
The stone dwarves were used to dealings with humans, but for the Harpy Queen, it was a first.
A merchant had disclosed that they had been requesting various support from the temple under the pretext of conversion, aiming to open just one trading post with the harpies.
"Do you think the harpies would wear skirts if they became more civilized?"
"...What are you talking about all of a sudden?"
-The harpy skirt seller right?
-But don't most harpies wear only tops and no bottoms?
-Talking about other harpies, you sound like you're from some far-off fantasy world.
-But since these harpies are naked, it seems like they could sell something.
-Considering they wear necklaces and bracelets, it feels like that could happen
As Han Se-ah walked along a narrow mountain path, she recalled the merchant who had wanted to sell shirts and skirts to naked harpies.
While others thought of selling meat or building materials for mana stones, this one was thinking of selling luxuries like perfumes and skirts, pleading for help with a deep bow.
Casually tossed into the conversation, the party members also felt quite intrigued and began to discuss.
"Skirts? Hmm... If it's not uncomfortable to fly in, why not?"
"But harpies don’t have hands, only wings. Could they wear skirts with their talons?"
"Rather than skirts, if you modify it closer to a waist accessory, wouldn’t it sell?"
In addition to that, there were relentless carapace bugs actively scurrying underground and an unnamed, bizarre mid-boss creature, which made walking on the mountain surface seem relatively serene by comparison.
Encounters with monsters or harpies were infrequent, so to stave off boredom, we resorted to chatting, especially since yesterday's events had left a deep impression.
It was natural that we ended up talking about the people we met at the mansion.
"By the way, Roland, where were you yesterday?"
"Yeah, I tried to catch a breath and noticed you weren't around. Were you talking to the nobles or something?"
After various tales—from a merchant trying to sell skirts to harpies, to another testing stones from various regions of the kingdom for culinary purposes—an arrow whizzed my way.
I casually dispatched a shadow leopard that pounced from above on the winding mountain path and flashed a grin.
"Me? I was just hiding outside the window with some food."
"...What?"
“With nobles, it's easy, but merchants are a breed you can’t predict. It seemed like a hassle, so I grabbed a bottle of wine and a plate of food, went out to the balcony, and waited there until the party was over."
As I handed over the mana stone transformed from the shadow leopard to Han Se-ah, the other two gazed at me with expressions like a pigeon that’s just been hit by a slingshot.
A mix of wanting to be with me on the balcony and half indignant at being left in that chaotic mess.
As their cheeks puffed up with these mixed feelings, I couldn't help but laugh, and a feeble punch landed on the waist of my armor.
Being unfamiliar with high society and struggling to push away people who approached with a smile, the two had been utterly drained by the crowd.
"Damn it, you could have at least taken us with you...!"
"If both of you disappeared, it would have been too noticeable."
"Sh*t, really?!"
Katie, still naive after running away right after her coming-of-age ceremony and never imagining the protagonist would hide from a social gathering, and Grace grumbling that she should have been taken along too.
Even pouting lips looked pretty on them, and Han Se-ah cheerfully turned the camera towards them, capturing their beauty.
After catching the shadow leopards attacking from the cliffs, handling a suddenly emerging herd of horned mountain goats, and ignoring a harpy that fled on sight, we reached the safe zone at the end of the 46th floor.
We decided to take an early rest since we didn’t know when we'd find another safe zone after climbing to the 47th floor.
“Ah, the three of them teasing each other looks so nice. I’ve said it before, but I can empathize with why sleazy thugs say, ‘Hey~ nice view~’.”
-You turn into a sleazy old man whenever you're with them
-It's because even just seeing a handsome guy and a pretty girl flirting is enough to make streams popular...
[Chat deleted by mod]
-As I said before, this is definitely a stream fueled by personal desires
Han Se-ah, comfortably starting a bonfire and smashing the base ingredients for stew into a large pot, laughed with the viewers.
Unaware of the troubles that lay ahead, her face was the picture of peace.
Oblivious that the person who would bring about the greatest crisis of her streaming career was right beside her.
"<center>---</center><br><center>Raei Translations</center><br><center>---</center>
The incident occurred just as the party members, full from their meal, were sluggishly settling into their sleeping bags.
It happened after cleaning the dishes and pots with magic and storing them in the inventory.
"There doesn’t seem to be any passage inside the cave."
"Then we just need to set up the magical device at the entrance and rest well."
"Yeah, I'll place my sleeping bag as close to the entrance as possible."
Initially, I stood watch during the night until our party members got used to it.
But now, to think that a makeshift magical barrier device that could replace night watches had become mass-produced and released into the market.
Muttering to myself about the good old days made me feel like an old geezer.
Was it due to the rapid advancements of the Magic Tower, or merely an item designed for user convenience?
It would make sense if it were intended for safe logout.
After confirming that there were no passages inside the safe zone, I installed a magical device at the only entrance.
Then, I blocked the narrow passage by lying down with my sleeping bag.
Even though I had settled down to sleep, if a monster or another adventurer were to pass over me without my noticing, I would have to surrender my badge as a top-level adventurer.
"Hey, Hanna? I want to talk to you."
"Yes, what is it?"
After we were all set up, I snugly crawled into my sleeping bag, only for Irene to suddenly pull Han Se-ah aside and disappear deeper into the cave.
There was no passage, but the cave bent slightly, forming a small burrow at its end.
I wondered what was happening, but since it was Irene, the rest of us just quietly lay in our sleeping bags.
Irene would have openly shared if it were something worth discussing.
Nobody could have anticipated the bombshell she was about to drop.
"So, Hanna, I mean..."
"Do you have something to say to me?"
Her face was full of curiosity, knowing that Irene had tried several times to speak to me through the camera.
She knew how Irene had hesitated both at the cabin and on the mansion's balcony.
And it only took ten seconds for that curious expression to turn into one of utter confusion.
"So, Hanna, are you planning to have a child? With Roland, I mean!"
"Uh… what?"
Because the camera was floating in the air, capturing their conversation.
Live.
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