Chapter 56: “This is What Happens When a Cheat Character Goes All Out on an Escort Mission”
The next day, we were at the “Holy Land of the Sea Dragon.”
The members are me, Cecil, Rita, Aine, and Rafilia.
From the House of the Lords of Irgafa were Iris and twenty soldiers from her escort. The soldiers all wore blue plate mail and were armed with spears and bows. Only the soldier standing next to Iris had horns on his helmet. He’s the leader of the soldiers, Iris tells me. That’s easy to understand.
The Sea Dragon Sanctuary is a rocky area that juts out from the tip of the peninsula and is surrounded by many pillars.
The entrance to the dungeon is in the center of a row of columns.
There’s a steel door at the entrance, but we’re talking about a natural cave inside.
According to Iris’s map, the depth is about the second basement of a normal dungeon. If you include the central area, which can only be entered by a select few, it’s about three floors underground.
Our goal is to get rid of or exterminate all the monsters in this dungeon.
And in the meantime, protect Iris on the ground.
It seems that the wards that Iris puts up again at every festival are in a slightly weakened state.
That’s why there are monsters in the dungeon, and even if you’re on the ground, you could be attacked by monsters.
So, the dungeon diving group must quickly get rid of the monsters, and after returning to the surface, return to the basement with the full team with Iris to have the wards reestablished.
“Aine, Rafilia, take care of Iris’ escort.”
“I got it.”
“Yes, Master.”
Aine and Rafilia bowed to me, Aine with her newly purchased ‘Mop of Steel’ and Rafilia with her bow in hand, respectively.
Joining me in the dungeon are Cecil and Rita.
Then there’s Reggie, the magic sword. And I’ll be taking ‘options’.
“Despite appearances, Aine and Rafilia are both pretty cheat characters, so I don’t think I’ll mind leaving them to you.”
I said to Iris.
She was sitting on a small chair, looking a little uneasy.
“…What is ‘Chitt Chara’?”
“At least as strong as Cecil and Rita.”
“…Yes, sir.”
Iris is looking at Aine and Rafilia curiously.
Aine is a normal looking maid, and Rafilia is a scantily clad elf. They definitely don’t look like they’d be strong.
However, if someone really pissed these two off, they might be able to at least annihilate Iris’ guards.
“Okay, Rafilia, give me an option.”
At the entrance to the dungeon, I asked Rafilia to help me.
“Yes, Master.”
Rafilia took out a small piece of cloth from a gap in her leather armor. It was the one she had been using as a handkerchief earlier. She held it close to her head. On her head, there was a blue hair clip. It shivered, stretched, and swallowed the handkerchief with a snap.
“Erda, please divide for the sake of the Master.”
Furu Furu, Piku Piku, Poron.
A palm-sized piece popped out from Rafilia’s hair clip.
It grows as it swallows the handkerchief and turns into the size of a seat cushion.
Blue body. Jelly-like surface.
It was a slime, no matter how you looked at it.
“You’re a good girl, Erda.”
Rafilia nudged it, and the hair clip quivered happily.
The hair clip was a piece of Elder Slime that had been left behind.
It usually mimics a hair clip, but if you give it something soaked in Rafilia’s sweat or body fluids, it will split and spit out options. The options have a lifespan of about two hours, but during that time, they can be used as magic.
“Reggie, take control of the Elderslime.”
“Yes, my Lord. Activate [Slime Bringer LV1]”
On my back, the cursed sword Reggie activates a cheat skill. It begins to manipulate the Elder Slime (child), who has no will.
Nodding, nodding.
The blue slime stood ahead of us, moving toward the entrance of the dungeon.
His senses are in sync with Reggie’s. If something happens, he’ll sense it.
Now we’re all set.
“At the head of the line is Slime (Reggie), then Rita. Cecil and I will go last. All right?”
“Yes, Nagi. I won’t let anything get close to the two of you!”
“Let’s get this over with. I don’t want the clothes Nagi bought us to get soggy in the sea breeze.”
Cecil and Rita, wearing their new equipment, nodded at the same time.
Cecil’s “Apprentice Wizard’s Garment” is a short dress. At a glance, she looks like a little magical girl.
Rita’s “Sacred Fighter’s Suit” is a fighting suit with a large slit at the waist. In Rita’s opinion, it’s easy to move around in, it’s very protective, and she likes the way it emphasizes her breasts and makes her waist look slimmer.
“Then, Souma, I will open the dungeon.”
Iris took out the key she carried around her neck.
The entrance to the dungeon is sealed with an iron door.
The only entrances are here and the opening on the ocean side where the sea dragons come in.
That’s why Iris and the others speculated that the monsters came from the sea side.
“Everyone, please do not overdo it …”
The iron door opened with a squeal.
I check my gear. Map of Iris, good. Monster data in my head. Aine’s lunchbox, good. I gave Cecil and Rita the list of monster countermeasures, so they’re good. My emergency trump card is also good.
“We are off then.”
And so we began to conquer the dungeon.
And after Nagi and the others went into the dungeon…
“Oh, the inside of the dungeon is glowing.”
“After all, the first move is ‘light’.”
Heartwarming and sincere.
Iris, Aine, and Rafilia are behind the pillars of the temple ruins.
Iris placed a chair as far away from the sea breeze as possible, and sat there.
(Iris’s POV)
In front of me was a bonfire and a kettle suspended above it. A maid offered me some tea as I stared blankly at the fire.
When I took a sip, it tasted like store-bought tea. But the taste was very deep and reassuring.
As a port town, Irgafa brings in many kinds of tea. The maid in front of me seems to have blended it in her own unique way. She mixed several teas and then bring out the flavor of each one.
…As expected of Souma’s maid, she cannot be underestimated.
The elf girl offers something that smells fragrant to Iris, who has calmed down.
It was a pastry made from bread dough.
This was also delicious. Tea leaves were kneaded into the dough.
The elf girl in front of me was shaking her pink hair and smiling, “Is it good? I’m glad,” she smiled. She was holding a bow in one hand, as if she’s wary of monsters.
But in her other hand, there was an iron jug for some reason. It made a popping sound, so it must be filled with water. Why is it a watering can instead of a water bag? Why is she pouring water into the kettle from there?
I mean, I’m on my second cup of water in the kettle, but why does the water in the jug doesn’t seem to be decreasing?
“Ms. Iris. You don’t need to worry about the water. Just drink up. But at regular intervals.”
“At regular intervals?”
“That’s what the [Watering] skill that Ms. Iris gave me became.”
An oversized “?” mark appeared on Iris’ head.
But both the maid and the elf had gentle smiles on their faces, as if they did’t care about Iris.
I was staring at the entrance to the dungeon, touching the collar that is the proof of Souma’s slavery.
I honestly think that they are amazing. The mysterious abilities of the girls, and Souma, who is adored by them. Everything about him, everything.
I wish Souma was Iris’s brother.
“Hmm. For an unknown adventurer, you’re very polite.”
The captain of the regular soldiers said to the maid and the elf.
He is a large man with a helmet and horns. In his hand is a slender sword.
He may look bold, but he’s a sensitive character, and he’s very aware, which is why he’s been entrusted with this mission. The only problem is that he has a habit of looking down on ordinary people because he’s been a regular soldier for the Irgafa Lords for three generations. Yesterday, I even told him to be polite to Souma party.
“However, we are sufficient to protect Iris. Do not think that you are more useful than we are. Keep your wits about you and don’t mess around.”
“I know.”
The maid replies with a completely blank expression.
Maybe he didn’t like that attitude, but the captain tried to say something with his chest out…
“Captain! It’s a bunch of harpies!”
At the sound of the guards’ voices, Iris and he both looked toward the sea at the same time.
I saw a human-looking bird flying over the sea. The upper half of the body was female, and her hands were wings.
The harpies are heading straight for us. I knew it. The wards are getting weaker.
“All hands to bows! On my mark…”
Bin
Pee! Piggy! Peagia !!
Poton, Poto Poton
The harpies were shot through and their wings fell into the sea.
“……Eh.”
Stunned, Iris turned around and saw that the elf girl was about to secretly put away her bow.
“Good.”
“Um, Rafilia Grace?”
“Huh? Ah, yes. It’s nothing. It’s nothing.”
The elf girl waved her hand as if in a panic.
It’s strange.
It is possible to hit them at this distance if you have a certain level of archery skill, but I only heard the bowstring clang once. Even though there were five harpies? And that in one hit? Strange. I thought Souma’s party was strange, but this elf girl was also quite strange.
“It’s just like the regular soldiers of the Irgafa family. They shot down all the monsters without us noticing. It’s amazing. Even Master is amazed.”
“Uh, oh…”
“Is it spirit? Well, the regular soldiers of the Irgafa family can shoot down a harpy with just their eyes. It’s amazing.”
“…Nuh-uh. Of course …we can!”
The captain puffed out his chest at the elf girl’s words.
(What, you’re just going to sit there?)
Iris’s true feelings that leaked out unintentionally were not voiced, and the captain struck a determined pose with his bow at the ready.
“I have the best men in the world! Shooting down a harpy is a piece of cake!”
“…I see.”
Iris sighed quietly.
I don’t care about the captain. What I care about is the elf girl.
It’s fuzzy, but unfathomable.
How much power does she have?
I don’t know.
(TL Note: This chapter constantly changes from third person perspective and Iris’s perspective. The narration is Iris’s.)
The skill crystal that she gave to Nagi as a reward before, [Watering LV1], was “reconstructed” with [Archery LV1], creating a new cheat skill.
[Archery LV1.]
A skill to “increase” “damage” dealt by the “bow and arrow” by (10% + LVx10%).
[Watering LV1]
The skill to “sprinkle” “water” with the “watering can”.
The skills that were created by reconstructing these two…
[Burst Archery LV1] (R)
A skill to “sprinkles” “damage” with a “bow and arrow”.
Multiple arrows can be launched with a single shot.
The number of shots that can be fired is the total of the [Archery] level (including Burst Archery) plus one.
The current number of arrows that can be fired simultaneously is five.
[Water Supply LV1] (R)
A skill to “increase” “water” in a “watering can”.
A skill that allows you to increase the amount of water stored in a watering can at regular intervals.
Increase rate is Lvl x 10% + 10%. Current increase rate is 20%.
The number of times it can be used is once per hour. The upper limit is the capacity of the watering jar.
── Some time after the appearance of the Harpy.
“Captain! A large bat has appeared on the sea!”
“Mmm. All of you, take up your bows again! Protect Iris…”
Bin
Tosuto tosuto
Pop Pop
The big bats were also shot by arrows and fell into the sea.
A big bat swarm was killed just like that.
“Wow, that’s amazing. That’s a regular soldier of the Ilgafa family.”
“…Oh, oh.”
Iris did not miss the cold sweat on the forehead of the captain who had an arrow in his bow.”
Even Iris has been surprised since a while ago.
It wasn’t just the elf girl’s skill with the bow that was amazing.
The same goes for her combination with the maid.
The moment the elf girl’s bowstring yuzu rings, the maid skillfully distracts everyone. She makes tea, distributes sweets, and serves as a shield to protect Iris from the sea breeze. Each time she does this, the monsters approaching from above are shot through unnoticed and fall into the sea. After the harpies, big bats, and blue albatrosses crash, the monsters of the sky did not appear again.
Yeah. Even monsters don’t like to be dropped in such an incomprehensible way.
The next thing Iris knows, the elf girl’s bow is snapping and a few of the monsters were crashing down together.
“Even monsters have the ability to learn.”
Iris regained her composure and looked at the entrance to the dungeon.
It had been about an hour and a half since Souma and the others had entered.
“I hope you’re okay. You’re Iris’s friend, you’ll be fine.”
There are also monsters in the dungeon.
And it’s not only the monsters in the sky that appear on the seashore. It’s the land creatures that are more troublesome.
“There it is, Captain! It’s the Aqualizard!”
“All hands to the wall! Protect Lady Iris!”
All at once, the soldiers formed a line in front of Iris.
What came up from the rocks was a large lizard with its body soaked in seawater. Its body was larger than a human adult. Its surface was covered with hard scales, making it impervious to blades. It is said to be difficult even for high level adventurers to take on multiple lizards at the same time.
“No, no, no. We can’t retreat here, even though we’re in trouble! All of you, ready your spears!Anyone with torches, light them and throw them! This guy is weak to dryness!”
Dry. Here?
Even though this was the case, Iris couldn’t help but shrug her shoulders.
How do you keep your enemies dry on the beach?
There was even huge amount of water around her .
Should I have hired a wizard after all?
If only the Adventurer’s Guild had been functioning normally, we could have done that.
A soldier holds a spear and charges. His target was the aqualizard’s open mouth. A spear thrown by a soldier luckily hit the lizard and the large lizard’s bodily fluids began to spray out. The soldiers around him took advantage of the opportunity. One of them was struck by the tail and fell.
However, the regular soldiers did not retreat. They surrounded the aqualizard and thrust their spears from all directions.
Eventually, multiple spears pierced the aqualizard’s abdomen. The lizard, spewing pale bodily fluids, stops moving.
The soldiers won.
“Thank you very much. Captain.”
“Ha-ha-ha. No need to thank me, Iris. It’s my duty.”
The captain puffed out his chest and put back the corner of his helmet that had been bent when he fell.
“What do you think, adventurers? This is what the regular soldiers of the Irgafa family are capable of. Even if you can use a few minor tricks, in a head-on fight, you will never be able to match our skill and strength!”
“Yes. You’re absolutely right.”
“It’s amazing. That’s the people of the Irgafa Lords.”
The maid and the elf girl applauded.
There were three dead bodies of aqualizards lying behind the girls.
“…Lies.”
The wooden cup fell from Iris’s hand.
All the big lizards were dead, with their bellies up.
The skin dried up and the scales peeled off, as if all the moisture in the body had been taken away at once.
But that’s not possible. Because the aqualizards are dead on top of a big puddle. How did they dry on top of a puddle? And that puddle. Was it really that big?
It seems that the amount of water is much larger than when I looked at it earlier?
“Oh, that maid. No, Miss Aine Kurnet. What’s this?”
“Yes?”
“Those?”
“It looks like they were all sick aqualizards.”
The maid told Iris, holding the “Mop of Steel” in her hand.
“It tried to attack Ms. Iris before the last flames of it’s life burned out. But it couldn’t do it.”
“I saw it too. It came staggering up from the beach and fell.”
How is that possible?
Iris struggled to hold back the urge to get up from her chair and shout.
Souma has asked me to hide the abilities of his party. I can’t break that promise.
But I’m restless.
I wanted to jump out and question him, but I held my knees and held back.
Always.
Whenever I am with Souma and the others, I almost forget that I am a priestess and the daughter of the Lord of Irgafa. I become a normal girl in her early teens. What is this unsettling feeling?
“It’s okay. Master will be back soon…”
“Please calm down. There’s nothing to worry about.”
It’s your fault that I’m restless!
You’re slaves of Souma, aren’t you? You’re wearing collars, aren’t you!
So why do you look so satisfied?
Are you enjoying your work?
…What do I look like?
I am the daughter of the Lord of Irgafa, but aren’t I boring?
“Message! Message!”
Suddenly, a soldier on a horse came running from the town.
The regular soldiers surrounding Iris were buzzing.
The messenger soldier dismounted, kneeled down in front of Iris, and told her.
“A message for you, Iris, from your brother, Noel Hoffimier!”
Oh, wow. That’s the worst.
Iris winced and slumped back in her chair.
‘I’m worried about my dear sister, so I’m going to check what’s going on. Be ready to meet me.’
Skills used in this chapter.
[Burst Archery LV1]
A skill that allows user to fire multiple arrows simultaneously.
The ability to target many opponents at once makes it very useful in group battles.
There is a rumor that when this skill is activated, a target scope appears in your brain and locks on to the enemy with a “pikin” sound, but only the owner of the skill knows for sure.
Of course, the more arrows you shoot, the more it consumes (stamina), so if you get carried away and shoot too many arrows, you’ll find yourself in trouble before you know it. You will also become poor.
[Water Supplier LV1]
A skill that allows you to increase the amount of water in a watering can.
The number of times it can be activated is about once an hour.
It is the same as [Sewage Increase] in that it absorbs water from the surrounding area, but this skill is difficult to use for attacks because the maximum amount of water is equal to the capacity of the watering can.
However, since it produces perfectly distilled water, the owner of this skill rarely suffers from water shortage. The weaknesses are that it is bulky because you have to carry the watering can with you at all times, and it takes time to increase the amount of water if you drink too much (because you can only increase the amount of water in the watering can by 20%).
Glossary
Elder Slime (child).
A blue hair clip worn by Rafilia. Also known as ‘Erda’.
Its true identity is a piece of fragment left behind by the Elder Slime.
It has no ego or consciousness, but is a parasite on Rafilia’s hair.
It splits by ingesting her sweat and bodily fluids. The splintered ones can be manipulated with the [Slime Bringer] in ‘Cursed Sword Reggie’. It’s a useful option, but the splitted ones will only last for one to two hours. After that, they disappear.
It’s useful in so many ways that Reggie, the cursed sword, has been begging to use it for personal use, but Nagi has forbidden it for now.
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