That awkward moment.
Year 7444, Month 9, Day 2
Morning, after going running I took breakfast with everyone and started drinking some tea when a couple I"ve seen before and another couple I haven"t seen a total of four people came asking for me. Since the places we eat breakfast at is limited to 4-5 places if someone were to seriously look for us it"s easy to find us.
The couple I haven"t seen before was just a matter of not having seen them but I knew their name and face.
The man is named Koritto.Rindobel, a 34 year old Laios and the woman is Meilia.Rindobel, she"s a Laios of the same age and they"re a married couple. The other pair is a Dog-people, Zemyunel and the female elf who was with him and didn"t get lost Hisurura.Harurein. It seems that the Rindobel couple is the other pair of leaders from Zemyunel ins {Sun Ray}. Most likely they"ve come to offer thanks for saving Ginger and Binsu. They politely lowered their heads to me.
"Greed-san, thank you for saving our party members from a crisis this time. Furthermore, is seems to have been for extremely low reward..that is, we really were saved."
Meiria the wife of the Rindobel couple said. Does that mean the wife is the true leader?
It doesn"t particularly matter though.
"No, please don"t mind it. We only did what was obvious."
The Rindobel couple opened their eyes in surprise hearing my words but quickly erased their expressions and lowered their heads again.
"I see now, you"re quite the splendid person."
"Yeah, it"s just as we had heard."
Zemyunel proceeds forward and lowered his head as well.
"And then, it"s fine if it"s just a bit but could we borrow some of your time?"
"Yeah, that"s fine. What is it? Please take a seat."
Now then, I wonder what it is about. The matter of the shower or the matter of cooperating. Or both. I exchange glances with the annoyouple, Angela, Giberuti, and Miduchi who were drinking tea at the same six person table as me had them move to the corner and then offered them a seat. The members of {Sun Ray} saluted the members who offered up their seat and then sat down. While I"m sitting on a corner edge the Rindobel couple sat in front of me but next to them is Zemyunel and then one seat on my side across from Zemyunel is Harurein.
"Since we finally left the dungeon yesterday night I"m sorry for being so late on the greetings."
The husband of the Rindobel couple said that while lowering his head. Miduchi is talking to the waiter about something in the corner. Since Miduchi looked at me I lightly nodded. Miduchi is writing something on the table with her finger.
"No, it"s already something that"s past us, really please don"t worry over it.."
I shake both of my hands in front of me. I don"t know about you all but to us it"s already something in the past. Honestly speaking, I don"t think anything of it more than a bit of materials to let us have the advantage.
"And also, we were only able to rescue two people, one other we were too late for and had already pa.s.sed away, the remaining one I wonder is still in the dungeon?"
I continued as if it was quite unfortunate.
"Putting aside Bogu who still hasn"t returned, we feel nothing but grat.i.tude for even going to the trouble of carrying Yuriel"s remains out."
Zemyunel said that lowering his head. That"s why I said, it"s already over. It"s already more than enough being thanked once.
"Ha.."
I shrugged my shoulders and lightly lowered my head.
"And then, that is..We also heard that you"re allowing us to use the shower facilities in the teleport room on the 5th floor as well. It"s a great help."
Koritto said. And right after he faced his wife and nodded.
"Of course, we also intend to bring in someone to observe the facilities and make sure there"s no damage to them. The reason we came today other than to say our thanks was to report and receive permission for that."
Meiria said that and lowered her head to me. Seeing that the other members of {Sun Ray} also lowered their heads. It was then that the same bean tea I"m drinking was carried out and placed in front of them.
I guess this is what Miduchi just ordered from the waiter.
"Well, please have some tea."
After saying that I finally sipped some of the bean tea in front of me. The members of {Sun Ray} said "Thank you very much." and started drinking some too.
"..Of course your welcome. Since it"s difficult to continue to maintain it with just us after all. Obviously please feel free to use it as you need."
Yeah, it"s great that saving them for cheap change didn"t end up becoming a waste. Hearing my response not only the members of {Sun Ray} but the members of {Slaughterers} seemed relieved as well. Certainly there was also the possibility of a breakdown with {Sun Ray} as well.
"Meiria, we"re saved that Greed-san is a good person right."
"Yeah, really.. Greed-san even though you"re young you"re quite splendid."
"That"s why I said it right? He"s fine."
Harurein cut into the conversation of the Laios couple saying that. Miduchi is looking directly over here.
"That really seems to be the case."
"Yeah. It"s just as Zemyunel and the others said."
After that we roughly exchanged information on our schedules for exploring the dungeon and they left the store.
I took one glance at the members of {Slaughterers} and then looked at Miduchi.
Miduchi just lightly nodded. I see.
"Shall we change locations? Come to my room."
I said that and left the store.
On the way back Miduchi secretly whispered in my ear.
"They were only lying about a small portion. The time when they called you a "good person" or said you were "splendid"."
Hmph, as expected. I bet they just think I"m softhearted idiot brat or something. Though if it"s that then there"s no problem.
................
When we entered our rooms in "Boil Manor" I told Zulu, Angela, and Giberuti, "We"re going to have an important conversation about magic. Keep an eye out and don"t let anyone near the room." and only us reincarnated people and Zenom entered the room.
"Explain to everyone about your Unique Ability. It might be good to test it out as well."
I said to Miduchi and pushed her on.
"My Unique Ability is called {Party-ization}. When I use this, a number equal to the level of my Unique Ability can be organized into a unit which makes it easy to get into contact with each other through me. Though the contact itself is one-way from my side but the members of the unit are capable of telling the direction and distance of other members, in other words it"s possible to comprehend each other"s locations. It"s valid as long as you"re on the same floor in the dungeon. Since my {Party-ization} level is 6 right now, excluding me up to 7 people, including me a total of 8 people can be included in the unit."
Hearing that everyone showed expressions of admiration.
"Koloil-san, please put out your hand."
Miduchi said that and Bel stretched out her hand to Miduchi.
"There"s only one condition on this Unique Ability. I can only use it on people who recognize me as a friend. Please open your heart to me and focus on me."
...
As a matter of fact I was worried.
If no one here had opened their hearts to Miduchi then the only one {Party-ization} could be used on is me. In that case it would be meaningless unless we split up the party in two groups.
I thought it would be best to wait for a bit for her to blend into the group and then it wouldn"t be too late to make a decision on revealing it but Miduchi refused that.
"..Thank goodness. Thank you very much."
Miduchi smiled as she was happy.
"..Ah..Yeah. I can tell. Certainly. This is, amazing!"
I put my hand to my chest and breathed a sigh of relief.
"M..Me, please add me next."
Toris volunteered. Just the same way Miduchi touched Toris"s hand.
"..Oh..So this is how it feels. Excuse me for a moment."
Toris left the room. I"m sure he wants to test it out.
"Ah, Yeah. Toris is probably around the stairs right now? Ah, he"s going down.."
If you think about the size of the building it seems surprising that you can tell right away.
"Me too! I want to test it as well."
Gwine stood up. Miduchi smiled and took Gwine"s hand.
"..Ah, aa~ thi..this is convenient. How far of a distance can you tell?"
"I don"t know precisely but I think it"s roughly 50 Km or so. The direction you can roughly estimate from an even further distance though."
"Fumu, if that"s true then even if we separated on the 6th floor we might be able to manage..Here, try it on me as well."
Miduchi smiled seeing Zenom stretch his hand out and after taking his hand they exchanged glances.
"..Ho~ that Toris, he"s already all the way over there.."
Zenom made a wide smile while looking at Bel, Gwine, and Ralpha.
"Ralpha-san as well, here, please do."
Ralpha approached Miduchi. Since Ralpha is an idiot and she"s fundamentally easy towards allies there shouldn"t be a problem. However you know~ For everyone to trust Miduchi this much already, isn"t that a problem?
"Yeah..is this fine?"
"Yeah."
She took the hand Ralpha stretched out and they"re looking at each other.
...
.....
Hey.
Hey, it can"t be.
It can"t be, no, maybe that"s fine?
"..Sorry. Somehow it seems like it"s no good."
"No way..please open up your heart to me. Please focus your awareness on me!"
Miduchi"s eyebrows raised up a bit as she was troubled. That"s why I said it. Though it was a much better result than I thought but in reverse for it to only be Ralpha alone...Though I did say if she was going to do it she should start with Bel or Ralpha.
"Just stop already."
"But.."
Miduchi didn"t want to give up it seems.
"Stop."
She finally let go of her hand. Ralpha said "Sorry." and returned to her seat. Bel, Gwine, and Zenom are looking at Ralpha. In reverse Ralpha is giving off a mood like she can"t endure it.
"Ralpha, don"t worry about it. There"s no way it"s that easy to become friends from the start. Frankly putting it I was against it. Though if you were to ask for the opposite reason. I thought that no one would have accepted Miduchi..These d.a.m.n softies."
Zenom, Bel, and Gwine shrugged their shoulders.
"Softhearted, that"s wrong. It"s because she"s an acquaintance of Al-san, and we"re going to be together from now on.."
Even then Gwine made some complaints while looking displeased.
"Certainly it might be as Al said, we might have taken it a bit too easy."
Zenom said a bit awkwardly but I"m sure he"s being careful for Ralpha.
"Miduchi, call Toris back. In a way everyone can tell."
After being told by me Miduchi hanged her head down disheartened and replied with a "Yes." Zenom, Bel, and Gwine flinched. Come to think of it, I"m, not in the party. It was a waste of MP while were in the fairy village so I had her stop it. Well, it"s fine though.
"Ho!"
"Ah!"
"This is!"
Only Ralpha is looking uncomfortable. As a matter of fact if it went well on everyone I had intended to explain it as magic and have her test it on the slaves as well but it seems it would be best not to try it.
"I"ll say one thing. Ralpha you didn"t do anything wrong. Rather, I feel relieved there"s at least one composed person in the group. Honestly, I even thought it would be a bit of a problem if Ralpha easily was able to enter the unit"
I take a breath and then continue.
"Ralpha, calmly seeing through things is a virtue. You"ve grown. I"m relieved I was able to confirm there"s one decent person."
It"s something to welcome that Ralpha was unexpectedly composed. I had intended to be looking at Ralpha with eyes filled with kindness but,
"Yeah.."
and she just said that without looking over here. This girl. I almost never do something like praising you.
"There"s no way Miduchi could trust everyone from the start either right? Don"t get depressed over it."
"Yes.."
Really these two, do you really like looking at your knees that much? Look over here.
Zenom, Toris, Bel, Gwine, and me. At the very least including Miduchi a unit organization of six people is possible. There"s nothing to be so depressed over. In the first place I know Ralpha well. Though she does have some rash parts as well but fundamentally she"s not that stupid.
"Now then, around where is Toris right now?"
"It"s just as he"s entering the inn."
"That"s right."
"Yeah."
"I see, then once Toris returned the continuation..and, Miduchi can you tell Toris to bring some beans for bean tea?"
We need to test how much can be conveyed as well. Today should be good for experimenting.
"Ah, yes."
Miduchi is still making a troubled expression as she looks at me.
"It"s no good. I think I was probably only able to convey to him to bring something along."
So nouns are no good? It might be no good unless we thing up some sort of code based on the things that can be issued. Come to think of it, she"s used {Party-ization} until it reached level 6.
If it"s just this level then there"s no way she wouldn"t know it.
"Hn, if we can understand that much then it"s fine."
Toris returned right away.
"No~ this is really convenient. I can roughly figure out everyone"s location. If it"s this then even if we get separated in the dungeon it might not become a big problem."
Toris is saying it while excited but after calling Zulu and the others into the room and I had him quiet down and take a seat.
"With this I think you"ve roughly gotten an understanding of Miduchi"s spell. And with that. Thanks to teaming up with Miduchi this time, we"ve finally reached 10 people. I think you already know but we can"t easily increase our members anymore than this. However, as expected I don"t think we"ll run into anymore so easily but if we can hit it off with reincarnated people then if possible we"ll increase them and if there"s a combat slave who can skillfully use the shield then I"ll definitely buy them. It"s not practicing in advance but while we"re exploring the dungeon tomorrow I intend to split our party into two groups."
When I declared that and while everyone was surprised for the first moment they all quieted down and started saying "isn"t that fine after we increase them?"
"That"s no good. Even if I say we"re splitting up it"ll be you all and then me alone. And, I intend to gather up for the 6th floor and explore it with everyone. Starting from now we need to get used to as much combat as possible without me. I"ll leave the command of everyone to Zenom. Toris you act as the a.s.sistant."
I said it as coldly as I could but as expected Zulu and Angela were fiercely against it. Saying "There"s no way we can leave master alone." Since I figured one of them would try to stick to me I guess one person is fine. Since Miduchi is here as well, as long as they don"t try to do anything too unreasonable they should be fine.
"It can"t be helped. Then Zulu and Angela you two alternate accompanying me. We"ll meet up with the other 8 people in the teleport room of each floor. When everyone has gathered together we"ll teleport to the next floor. Zenom, Toris, proceed carefully."
After that time pa.s.sed by as we went over the fine details and decided on the code for {Party-ization}.
Even during dinner both Ralpha and Miduchi somehow didn"t seem very energetic. They were sitting in seats away from each other as well. I"m sure there"s nothing but time that can resolve this. If she explores the dungeon with Miduchi a number of times I"m sure Ralpha will start to trust her.
I optimistically thought that while chewing a pork skewer and drinking some beer.