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Year 7444, Month 9, Day 9
Yesterday evening we returned from the dungeon and starting today we have three consecutive days off. Just as usual I went and did my running and just as I was about to head towards the dungeon I suddenly realized. If I think carefully about it I was planning to use this holiday to increase my mastery with {Find.Trap}, {Detect.Snare}, and {Perceive.Pitfall}. Though it"s just forcing Miduchi to use the magic like crazy as reference in front of the appropriate traps on the 1st floor. However, there"s no real need to pay money to go into the dungeon just to investigate traps with a spell.
I borrowed a hoe from an old commoner man who was doing farm work outside of the town and had Zulu dig a pitfall. I had Miduchi look at it and check the relationship of the traps while I practiced the two spells but the pitfall Zulu dug could only be seen with {Detect.Snare} and {Perceive.Pitfall}. We tried making a trap with gra.s.s that catches on to your leg but this didn"t get any reaction from {Find.Trap} either. It"s the opposite from the pitfalls on the 6th floor. Though I feel like this is more correct, I wonder why?
However, if it"s like this then we can"t use {Find.Trap}. No, since I"ve actually seen Miduchi use it right in front of me, it"s not as if I can"t use it but it"ll take time. I wonder what they did during Karl"s training? Since I found it strange I tried asking and it seems they practiced using something like a small crossbow with a string connected to the trigger. Hearing that I thought some extremely rude things like, "Eh? They"re all naked, do they even have something like string." and "So they use tools."
Since there were trees and shrubs growing in the fairy village and if they can use spells that well then they could easily gather some metal as well. If I think about it like that then I"m sure there"s no problem with making things like a crossbow or bolts.
For the first few times, I looked at Miduchi"s state and once it seemed like there was no problem, I released Zulu and Miduchi, they can do whatever they please for today. After this there"s no problem even if I"m alone. Close to lunch the number of times I had used the spell was over 100 and I had gotten used to it to the point where it only took a bit over 10 seconds to activate. I still have over 5000 MP in leeway remaining. As expected buying a crossbow just for the sake of practicing with a spell is...There"s not that many of them but there"s the {alarm} traps on the 1st floor as well.
I guess I"ll try testing it on that.
I returned to "Boil Manor" just in time for lunch and after putting on my protectors, since it was troublesome I just put my sword on my waist and after grabbing my map I left right away. I had some skewers for lunch at the entrance plaza and then entered the dungeon. I ended up having to repeat teleporting a number of times but I was luckily able to teleport into an area with an {alarm} trap. It took until close to evening but I was able to practice using the spell {Find.Trap} over 100 times. Of course, even if there"s no trap it"s possible to practice it. However, it"s easier to understand if the result shows in front of your eyes.
The alarm trap from a glance resembles the pitfall. If you step on a large board camouflaged with dirt and an alarm starts ringing out from somewhere. The moment I used the spell {Find.Trap} the camouflaged board looked red. The appearance itself is the same as {Detect.Snare} and {Perceive.Pitfall}.
After eating dinner I learned {Detect.Charm}, {Detect.Lie}, {Detect.Life}, {Dispel.Illusion}, and {Dispel.Magic} from Miduchi. For the time being I"ve become able to use them but I need to properly increase the number of times. There"s no choice other than to find the chance and practice them.
...............
Year 7444, Month 9, Day 17
Around 5 in the evening, when I returned from the dungeon there was a message at the inn. It seems that today around noon, when I was still inside of the dungeon older brother and the others stopped by the inn. After reading the message without eating dinner with everyone or changing, I just threw my change of clothes into my saddle bag, piled it onto my horse and then flew off to my company in the capital. After all delivering condoms to the royal family is my job. I"m quite busy this month.
Everyone thought it was strange that I ran out of the inn in a panic so they asked the reason but when I replied that after older brother and the others arrive I have to go to the castle for deliveries, they all understood.
While I was gone to the capital, with Miduchi as the teacher, I had Toris, Bel, Ralpha, and Gwine learn {Detect.Life} and {Dispel.Illusion}. I particularly gave instructions that {Detect.Life} was important, when I gave a simple explanation of the effect everyone understood. Just in case I explained to Miduchi everyone"s MP amount and the amount of MP the spell uses so I"m sure she"ll be careful of running out of mana.
Furthermore, due reasons relating to the magic skill level even Ralpha and Bel can"t use {Dispel.Magic} yet so this is on hold. Due to reasons relating to the elemental magic they have Toris and Gwine can"t use {Detect.Life}. The only one that they were all capable of using was {Dispel.Illusion} which only requires void magic.
I arrived at the company around 6 pm in the evening. I rolled in while panting but it seems like I made it in time.
As expected of the war horse that older brother used. Though it was just around 10 km, it didn"t make anything of the hills of the outer crater and arrived in a short 40 minutes.
It seems it was just as everyone was about to go for dinner. They were all in front of the company closing up shop.
"Sorry, I was late!"
"Hey~ staying healthy?"
A nostalgic face greeted me.
"I"m healthy. Quite lively. Father, mother, it"s been a while."
"You"ve grown a bit taller."
The ones who came wasn"t just older brother but father and mother as well. It seems they felt guilty for just pushing deliveries on older brother lately. And since they already handed over the n.o.bility to older brother, it"s not good that the lord is outside of the territory so often, so from here on out it will be brother, my parents, or depending on the case even sister-in-law who is leading the caravan as well.
"Al, we"re about to go for dinner. I need to reward the squires and there"s the Ryogu family who have been giving it their best away from the village here in the capital as well. And since it seems that Yotlen and the others are working quite hard as well. I"m feeding everyone something good as my treat today."
Oh~ that sounds good! Come to think of it I can see Ruku"s face as well. Dianne seems a bit embarra.s.sed. I"m sure tonight will be quite fun.
"Hn, so Al came? Then it should be fine for me to go too right?"
Older brother opened the door of the company headquarters and stuck his face out. I had some sweat dripping down as I didn"t understand the meaning.
"Yeah, that"s true. Let"s do that."
Huh?
"Then, since that"s the case, I"m saved Al. We"ve carried all of the luggage into the storm. Make sure it"s not stolen. I"m counting on you. And, our carriage and horses are at the workshop."
"A, Ah.."
Older brother gathered back up with everyone while making a good smile. It would have been good if I brought along Zulu.
"Al, don"t make that sort of face. Endure it for tonight. Mill is staying overnight at the workshop. We"ll come back later."
"Yeah.."
I should have brought not just Zulu but Angela as well.
Seeing everyone call my parents the master and madam, Yotlen and her daughters must have felt quite tense as they dealt with them. I don"t know if they pitied jsut leaving me alone here, or they were just trying to show reservation on bringing three small children to a restaurant (probably) but they said they would remain. However, I turned that offer down. If my parents are thanking everyone then it"s only obvious that sister, brother, and myself end up helping out. It"s not like tomorrow is too late after all.
Three hours later, it seems things ended as Dianne and the others returned. Since this is their home as well it"s only obvious it would be strange if they didn"t come back but I couldn"t see Ruku. I was worried they might have gotten into a fight but it seems they want to let parent and child spend as much time as they can without outsiders before the wedding, or at least that was my parents idea. After Rozural heard the inn everyone was staying at I got on my horse and headed towards the workshop.
When I was about to tie up my war horse on the side of the pack horse and carriage in the back and,
"Who is it?"
and a sharp voice asking my ident.i.ty called out. Oh, so you weren"t asleep.
"It"s me."
"Al?"
"Yeah."
"What"s wrong? Weren"t you inside of the dungeon?"
She asked a bit strange.
"I left this evening and received the message. And, I came over here in a hurry. Since it seems like dinner is over, it"s time to alternate. I"ll keep an eye out. It seems everyone is staying at "Perittsu". You know it right?"
"Oh, is that so? Then I"m going. Take care of things."
Show a bit of reservation...Though it"s fine.
"Sister, what"s doing on with the knight group for today?"
"Ah, since Whitney came after 4 pm, I had her wait until my job was over and I took the day off tomorrow. Commander Kendusu said it"s fine if my parents are here and gave me permission. I came out with both of my arms open and waving."
Well, there"s also the matter of the armor, I guess they couldn"t help but go easy on her? I don"t really know for sure though.
"I see. Then go ahead and go. I just saw their faces in the evening but sister probably hasn"t seen them in quite a while. I think they"ll be delighted."
"Yeah, see you later."
"Ah, we"re meeting up tomorrow."
Sister got on my war horse and then started riding off, eh?
Change of clothes...
..............
Year 7444, Month 9, Day 18
After the night ends and the squires came to pick up the horse and carriage. I hopped into the empty load and traveled to the store. Everyone was already gathered at the store. After packing all of the boxes of armor into the load of the carriage we departed to make deliveries. Obviously I haven"t forgotten the box of condoms either. During that time I finished changing and wore some neat clothes.
Just like usual we deliver the armor to the knight group and start taking measurements. During that time I went to deliver the condoms but the one who came out to deal with it was Morin. After all the King won"t come huh? I"m sure he"s busy so if you say it"s only obvious that"s true. What was unexpected was that Queen Molail hadn"t heard anything from the King. Though we talked about recent affairs for a bit nothing seemed to have changed from last time at all. If he hasn"t changed his interactions at all like I heard then that"s fine, and something like that I"m sure even the Queen can do. I don"t think there"s any need to go that far for a person like me.
We quickly finished up the deliveries and then decided to go for some lunch. We took a different room from the squires at the store and just us five family had a meal together.
"Listen for a bit until the food is brought out."
Father said formally. What is it?
"On the 1st of this month Zetto and Becky turned five years old. Mill started her magic training just a bit after she turned five years old. I think it"s just right in terms of time. Once we return this time we"re going to start Zetto and Becky"s magic training."
Ah, I see. They"ve already grown that much. Since I left the house when they were two and a half. I"m sure they don"t remember me anymore. It doesn"t even need to be said in regards to sister.
"There I wanted to make sure and ask Mill and Al first. The things you felt and the things that are best to be careful of, when you were first started training with magic, we thought if there was something it would be best to hear your opinions like this."
That sort of thing huh?
"In that case.."
We talked for about an hour while having lunch with everyone in the family and I was satisfied being able to see my parent"s faces for the first time in a while.
"By the way, how long are father and the others going to be in the capital this time?"
I wanted to introduce everyone from the {Slaughterers}. There"s also the matter of the three slaves but also Miduchi as well.
"Yeah, we"re staying one more day for today but tomorrow morning, after we"re present for Ruku"s wedding, we"re returning home. However, it doesn"t seem like we"ll be able to stop by Baldukk. As a matter of fact, we stopped by Keel on our way here but it seems that early in the next year there"s another dispatch of troops. I was told they want to discuss it together with Farne on our way back..and at that time I"ll hand over my n.o.ble rank to Farne. There"s also the fixed date for that ceremony. Though we"ll end up putting off seeing the faces of your allies until the next time we come."
"Early next year? Then I"ll probably be partic.i.p.ating in that as well. Since it seems that Lord Kendusu is taking command.."
"Ue, so we"re going to be below Mill.. That"s crazy. I"m begging you to go easy on us."
"It"s not like I"m going to be the one taking command, brother. But, I see, so the Webdos knight group is coming.."
"I probably won"t go. In my place Shani will go though."
..I"m sure Kuro and Mary will appear as well...However, if there"s that sort of circ.u.mstances then it can"t be helped. I"ll introduce them on the next occasion. I"m sure they"ll come again at the end of the year or the start of next year..or will they? If it"s early next year then I guess they won"t make it, even if they do it would just be for delivery of the armor, they must just drop off the luggage with me at Baldukk and then head quickly to the battlefield.
While getting roused up talking about the departure for the battle, if not just older brother but sister are going then I doubt there will be any casualties from Bakuddo so easily. If sister-in-law Shani is going then both her and sister can use {Cure Serious} and it might be possible that sister-in-law Shani can even use {Cure Critical}..I guess there"s no way that"s the case.
"Putting that aside, Al, it seems you"re putting quite a bit of effort into it. I"ve heard about it from Farne and everyone."
The bearded face that was frightening in the face gently smiled.
"So you"re the number one adventurer in Baldukk? As expected of our son right. I"m proud of you."
Mother caressed my head. Somehow I feel more happy than embarra.s.sed.
"Yeah, what was it again? You"re being called that unpleasant name."
Huh? You lookin" down on me?
"It"s the {Slaughterers}. It seems they were called that because they kill every monster they encounter in the dungeon. Since all of the other adventurers normally just run around without fighting the monsters. It"s the perfect nickname for Al and his allies."
As expected of brother..and I feel like I"ve heard that way of putting it somewhere.
"He~ so Al has a nickname. When adventurers are given a nickname it"s proof of being first-rate. It"s quite amazing."
"That"s right. We never had something like that. I"m proud of you as well."
"I"m sure you"re just happily killing some goblins right?"
This s.h.i.tty b.i.t.c.h...
"There"s no way that"s the case. We"re killing lots of bigger monsters!"
"He~ Orks or so? Or maybe gnolls?"
"Oh my, I would like to hear about Al"s battle gains as well. What"s the strongest opponent you"ve fought against up until now?"
Death=Tyrant.Kin...I don"t have any proof. I guess the {Yellow Hand Roper}~ Ah, no, the {Flesh Golem} was pretty difficult as well.. the {Vampire} was only an instant after all...If we talk about the degree of how frantic it was, then the {Horned Bear} in the past was probably number one though...I guess anything is fine.
"The {Yellow Hand Roper} was considerably strong... If we had properly fought the {Vampire} things probably would have been dangerous."
""Wha!""
My parents echoed at the same time. It seems they know about it. I wonder if they"ve heard the name of it?
"Va..Vampire you say?"
Older brother is speechless as well.
"It"s no good if you call {Vampire.Bats} as {Vampires}."
The idiot woman is trying to talk impudently but her eyes are swimming. Ehen.
"Al..after all you. Are you using magic seriously?"
"Nope."
I always have plenty of reserve as long as the ceilings are as low as they have been up until the 6th floor. Though at that time I might have to use magic with all my power. If I think about what would happen if I make a mistake in using it then it"s too frightening so I"d like to restrain myself though.
"How many different spells can you use?"
Sister asked with a serious face.
"That"s my life line. I won"t tell you, is what I"d like to say, but around 30 different types I guess. 20 types of attack spells, other than that, including healing type around 10 types."
If it"s the ones I can use within 1 second at the standard levels, then up to cannon type I can use all attack spells. If it"s up to 5 bullets then even up to {Trebuchet} type. If it"s up to 5 bullets then {heavy catapult}. I can use them all with or without {missile} added. When it comes to {Azaheddo} type attack spells then I can use all of them standard ones known. {Lightning Bolt} and {Chain Lightning}, {Fire Ball}, {Ice Cone}, {Disintegrate}, then all the {Cloud} types with a decent amount of power in them I can use in about 1 second. I"ve only practiced {Grow Spike} up to 25 of them but I can use that in around 1 second as well...I"ve practiced {Anti-Magic Field} at varying levels a r.e.t.a.r.ded amount so just the same as all of the healing types I can use them almost instantly. Of course, I can use the healing types on myself as well. In regards to the {remove} types I"ve practiced them quite a bit as well so I use most of them within 1-2 seconds. And, some high-grade spells that I really can"t put into words as well. Even if we think of power and variations as different I think there"s around 150 different types?
"..You, might be able to take on the army of the Kingdom alone."
"That"s impossible. Even at best it would only go to around 100 people right."
Though I"m sure I can take out 1000 people plenty. If they gather crowded together in a small area then even more..
"Hi~ you really..Well it"s fine. Somehow it"s gotten idiotic. Even Marquis Dasurain only has skill levels that about the same as me.."
"Just like mother said, on days when I"m not always in the dungeon I practice spells as much as possible. And also..even with this I don"t think it"s enough. Since I don"t have money it would be difficult to employ a large army, if my territory gets invaded then I"d have to protect it myself after all."
"Territory, you, what are you saying?"
Ah, only my parents, older brother, and sister-in-law knew. I never told sister about it.
"Mill, Al wants to create his own country. I gave him permission."
"Eeh!!? Father, are you saying that seriously? There"s no way.."
"That"s the reason I"m earning the funds. I have a reasonable amount but it"s nowhere near enough. Also, I"ll just mention this but I"ve already talked with his majesty the King about this as well. His majesty made fun of me as well but I received his word that if I just pay money he"ll sell me the viscount ranking and an appropriate territory. He also said that as long as we don"t show any hostility from our side Rombert won"t be the first ones to attack as well."
""That far..""
Everyone is surprised looking at me. I quietly looked back at Mill.
"Since I"ve already declared it to his majesty, even if it takes some backbone I intend to do it. No matter how many years it takes and even if I have to bite into rock I"ll make my own country. Of course~ right now I"m still just a simple individual adventurer. But, don"t they say that his majesty Rombert the First, Rogmokku.The.Pitviper, and the Wizard.King were originally just adventurers as well? I don"t think there"s any reason I wouldn"t be able to do it."
Mill exchanged glances with me from head on.
"So you"re serious?"
"Yeah."
"If you fail you might end up dying in a gutter somewhere."
"Of course if I don"t have money or power then I"m sure that will end up being the case."
"After making a country? What do you plan to do?"
"That"s only obvious. I"ll make it so it lasts as long as possible right."
"What do you want to do making a country? What kind of country are you aiming to make?"
"I plan to rule over it as I please. It might end up like several of the small countries around there. However, what about that? I"m just making my own country because I want to make one. In order for as many people as possible to know that Alan.Greed was born and lived in this morn I"ll make my own country."
"Do you have no ideals or dreams?"
"Ideal? Dream? Since sister is in the knight group directly serving his majesty you may have received that sort of education. It"s not like I particularly have any complaints with the current society. I don"t feel like there"s anything I want to correct or save. Or is it not allowed to make a country without that sort of n.o.ble ideal? Did his majesty Rombert the First have that sort of thinking when he founded Rombert Kingdom? Rogmokku.The.Pitviper took over Kanbitt Kingdom when it was that small of a country and made it that large. Don"t they say he was quite the cruel King that would even wipe out his enemies down to the babies. Even then it"s continued for over 100 years. Even to today.
Of course I don"t want to behave cruel at all. Since it"s not like I want to leave behind a bad name for my cruelty after all. And I"m only having this conversation because we"re family. Of course, I do think that some kind of ideal or doctrine to advocate will be necessary. Well, just at the level of a heading."
"Mill."
"Wh~at? Father."
"I"ve already approved of what Al is doing. Do you want to interfere with your little brother who"s desperately trying to cut open the path for his life? Do you only intend to complain to Al? I won"t tell you cooperate or support him but at least approve of him."
"That is..I get that..but"
"But, what?"
"If it"s like that then one day he might get tripped up.."
"That might be the case. Thought that might not be the case as well. Dreams and ideals are themselves important. Depending on the time and case they act as something people will dedicate their lives for. However, as long as you can prepare something else more important than that it"s fine."
"What? Something important?"
"So you don"t know..Farne, tell her about it."
"Yes, it"s to protect the lifestyle of your citizens. In Al"s case, since it"s a country it would be his people. It means to create an environment where they don"t starve, can peacefully give birth to the children who will carry the future, and raise them. Things like maintenance of laws and ideals or dreams that the majority will accept are next after that. Putting it simply a strong country. If you don"t lose in wars then it"s not so easy to starve. Since you can take reparations after all."
Honestly speaking, I was surprised at Mill. Or to be more precise with Mill, no, with the education that the Kingdom of Rombert provides it"s direct knight group about the ideals and dreams of a "good" country. Though I think the only one offering this sort of advanced education is just Rombert Kingdom. Miki, hold back just a bit. By the way, the things father and brother said are things that are only obvious. They"re probably universal no matter when the era or what the world it is.
Since living beings die if they can"t eat after all.
And then, something like n.o.ble ideals are things you can"t speak about if you"re not living. Even Rombert Kingdom which is said to be the most abundant country out of the neighboring countries has famine that occurs somewhere once in every 10 years or so. I"m sure a lot of people starve to death as well. If it"s other small countries then I"m sure the situation is even more serious. That"s why Devas wants the Dirt Plains and why Rombert wants the Dirt Plains as well. They just can"t seriously fight over it taking into consideration the damage taken from a large war, even if they win it"s possible another country could invade.
If you"re living in the capital or Baldukk you can live your life without feeling it too much but I"m sure even this very moment there"s children and babies starving to death somewhere. Even in Marquis Webdos territory which is said to be comparatively wealthy in the Kingdom has villages that are poorer than Bakuddo was in the past. If it"s a different territory then I"m sure it"s even possible some villages have collapsed. It"s no different in how if a disease spreads around several percent of the people will die and there"s even cases when the central pillar of a family is included in there. It"s even simple to die just from appendicitis.
I might be able to save a handful of them with spells. It might even be possible to discover or develop a spell that can cure disease. If Miduchi and my child (though there"s no plans for now), Toris and Bel"s child, or if Ralpha, Gwine, Zulu, Angela, or Giberuti have a child that has as much mana as sister when they grow up, that might be the time the country shows it"s true worth.
If I think about it like that then I might be able to create a country which can guarantee the lifestyle of it"s people above and beyond.
Eh? Zenom probably won"t have anymore children right...
...............
That night, after taking a room in the inn "Perittsu", Mill and I were naked in beds next to each other while looking at the ceiling and talking.
"Al"
"Hn?"
"Since I was told by father, well it"s not as if I can"t accept it so I"ll recognize it. Though I feel like it was just explained away as well. But you know.."
Mill raises her upper body and looks at me with a serious face before continuing her words.
"But, even if you somehow succeed in making your country, Rombert Kingdom will end up a foreign country."
"That"s only obvious."
"His majesty might have made a promise on it but there might end up being a war with your country. What should I do at that time?"
Since that old man spit out words like a King must abide by the things he says, so unless I do something considerably excessive I don"t feel like he will go against it but it"s not an impossibility.
"..That"s true. It would be the most convenient for me if you betray Rombert and come to my side I guess. But as expected I"m sure sister wouldn"t do something like that. Next would be to sabotage and not partic.i.p.ate in the war. But, sister is in the first knight group. I"m sure it"s impossible.."
".."
"It"s fine if you just come to take my head."
"Hmph, rest easy. If it comes to that then I myself will help you as an a.s.sistant in suicide."
Her chest is as pitiful as usual.
"Oh~ that"s scary~ Then I need to make sure that doesn"t happen while sister is still in active duty."
I closed my eyes.