Mnotia's Den

 "I suppose you're aware that this doesn't have any effect, right?" "...I've heard that it seems to be the case." Our lady chooses her words carefully in response to Fiora's question. Because nobody knows the correct answer... "It's not completely ineffective. It's just pointless for casting large-scale magic." Well, that's a bummer. "So, what exactly does it do then?" "It attracts magical energy." "...? But wouldn't that be considered effective?" "It only attracts it. You still have to mix it with your own magic and activate it yourself. Besides, you can achieve the same effect by going to places with high magical concentration." "I see..." "And it's mostly psychological. Just having the magic circle engraved and feeling the magical energy nearby might give you the confidence to try using it." So, it's like a placebo effect...? But why is the bar set so hig...

 "Oh..." That was unintentional as they greeted the two at the entrance. "Well... How do I look?" Jigualt seemed proud of himself. With tousled hair and a scruffy beard, he had tied back his hair and shaved his beard. Not only that, but his clothes were not the usual adventurer style; he looked quite dapper. He seemed quite the gentleman. "If I hadn't prepared, wouldn't you still be in your usual attire?" Fiora, whom they had heard referred to as the "Mage Princess," seemed like a rival at first, but they appeared to have a good relationship. Was it like something out of a boys' manga? "Well, I don't carry any unnecessary baggage to begin with," Jigualt replied. Come to think of it, he didn't have a base and moved around a lot. It made sense that he wouldn't carry things he didn't often use. In contrast, Fiora was wearing the same long-sleeved jacket and skirt that she had worn the other day. Was she okay wea...

"Jigu, you're dressed like that, so of course he's surprised. Put some clothes on properly." A person with an incredible appearance is reprimanding Ziguharuto. From the voice, I could tell it was a woman, but who is she? "Oh? Give me a break. You're the one who got startled when you saw me." "Don't be rude. You must be Sera. I'm Fiora." "Oh, it's Sera." As she approached, her figure became clear. Her hair was brown, and her eyes, probably too. She was with Ziguharuto. And her right side of the face wasn't black, it was a tattoo. Not only on her face, but also on her neck, arms, and even though I could only see a little because she was wearing a long robe, probably even on her legs. It couldn't be read, but something like characters were densely drawn. Maybe it's all over her right side? "It's amazing, isn't it?" "Uh... yeah. Are you his wife?" "No, I'm not. Just an old acqua...

 "Seems like 'Flash' is interested in talking," Seriana began discussing the contents of the letter during our usual nightly briefing. "He wants to become my exclusive escort and travel to Zelkis with me next year upon our return. Alek, Sera, well done. And he also mentioned wanting to meet in person, so he's asking for a convenient date. He said the day after tomorrow night would be fine. Sera, could you convey this to him in the morning?" "Not immediately?" "I have prior engagements. Despite being a double-title holder, I can't change my plans for commoners." "Oh, I see..." Well, he's certainly a big shot, but it's just becoming her exclusive escort. It's not like it's enough to change her other plans. Seriously? "Don't make that face; I'm sure the other party understands as well. But what's more intriguing is that he mentioned wanting to bring someone along. Any idea who that might be?...

Seriana, after activating the 'Fairy Eyes,' sits on the sofa with her eyes closed. She's probably testing it in conjunction with her skill, 'Area Identification.' I imagine that skill is like a map screen in a game, but the scope is on a different level. When I was abducted, she apparently expanded the range to cover the entire capital. Since I can now use both Akame and the 'Fairy Eyes' together, it feels like I can manage this too. However, using senses that aren't inherently mine for an extended period gives me an indescribable discomfort, like when you squint your eyes. Even though it's only within visible range, is it really okay? "Is that okay?" "She should be narrowing down the range and not pushing herself too hard. She's collapsed a few times in the past, after all." "Ooh..." I whispered to Elena out of concern, but is it really okay? "No, it's not." She uttered abruptly as soon as she opened h...

 "Thank you for your hard work. Would you like to grab a meal together afterwards?" "No... I'll pass, sorry. And give me a bit of time to respond." "I see... Well, I'll be waiting then." "Sure... See you..." Turning down Alex's invitation, Jighard headed towards the door. Is it just my imagination, or does he seem a bit unsteady? Although everyone made way for "Flash," I couldn't help worrying he might get hit by a carriage or something... After failing to find an open spot later, I returned home and managed to acquire two more coins on the way back. In the end, I got five coins in less than an hour. It must have been quite shocking for him. "So, what do you think will happen?" Alex asked after seeing Jighard off from the guild. "Isn't it fine? If he wanted to decline, he wouldn't have delayed his response," I replied. Seems like he's not bothered by refusing, so I'm sure it'll be ...

 Well, well, onto the dungeon. The day after our discussion, Alex promptly went to meet Ziglhart, and although I'm not sure exactly how the conversation went, the three of us ended up heading to the dungeon together. By the way, his participation reward this time is the holy currency we'll acquire. The responsibility falls heavily on me since I'll be the one earning it, but since I was the one who came up with the idea and I'm confident in my own weakness, I'll manage somehow. "They're here." Sure enough, three days after the commemoration festival, the shallow levels are still crowded, but as we ascend to the upper levels, it's back to business as usual. As I gaze over the entire chamber, reaching up towards the ceiling, I spot several monsters. Conveniently, there are no adventurers around. "Zig, please use the 'Vortex.'" Ziglhart turns towards Alex, confirming my words. "No problem. Leave it to me." "Alright....

 In the profession of adventurers, there are several goals that can be called milestones. The first is to establish a clan, choose a base, and take responsibility for defending the area, becoming a leader. Although Seriana withdrew, "Ragyura's Fang" was probably aiming for this. Don't worry! But it might be achievable through pioneering in new territories. The second is to be employed exclusively by nobles. Dungeons in various places offer free passes, and the collection of sacred coins is also favored. This is said to have a high competition rate as it can be pursued by individuals. It seems that many adventurers are accumulating sacred coins aiming for items and skills that catch the eye. The third is to become a noble. By achieving some kind of merit, one can be ennobled. Even if one cannot obtain territory, many aim for this because their children will also become nobles. However, this is difficult. After all, encountering a situation where one can achieve such me...

 Just like on the way there, we reached the outside without any combat in the shallows. In fact, other adventurers were taking the lead in defeating monsters. Or rather, exterminating them. Is this the influence of "Flash"? Once outside, there was a crowd of people eagerly waiting for him, forming a throng around him. Among them is Alex, but what should I do...? "Sera!?" Alex, who spotted me, pushes through the crowd and runs over. "Are you acquainted with him?" "Yes. He's Alexio-san, the 'Red Oni', employed by the same Mueller family as me." "Oh, that guy..." "I see you are Sir Jighalt, known as 'Flash'. I am Alexio. It's an honor to meet you. My sister Sera has been in your care." He looks surprised at my tone of speech, or rather, my manner of speaking, but he's quite perceptive. He's catching on nicely. "Don't worry about it. I'm the one who got caught up in the aftermath of the...

"Hey, you alright there?" My ears are still ringing, but I heard that voice. It's low but clear, quite a nice voice. I still can't see, but he doesn't seem to be making any aggressive moves, so I should be safe even without sight. "My eyes are still seeing stars." Lowering my altitude, I approach while giving a casual response. "Haha... Sorry about that. Didn't expect to see a human flying in the sky... Startled you there, didn't I? I've taken care of all the creatures in the hall. Take it easy until the clean-up's done." He seems friendly. I don't sense the same hostility I felt when he stopped me. I can't sense it, but the closer I get, the more I can feel his monstrous strength. But from what I've heard, he's more like a hermit who avoids socializing, rather than a battle maniac. "That crest... You're from the Müller family, right? Quite impressive to be carrying a brat like that all the way here by y...

In the end, I made it to just before the entrance to the upper levels, but everywhere was crowded with people, and I didn't get into any battles at all. I've submitted an exploration permit up to the upper levels just in case, but unlike last time when I had a powerful guardian with me, today I'm alone. I was a bit hesitant about what to do, but with Akame's eyes, I shouldn't be caught off guard easily, and as long as I'm careful, I should be fine. I can do this. I can do this. With that determination, I stepped into the upper levels. Well, not really stepping since I'm floating. Hahaha... Well... I think my decision to proceed was correct for the verification of the "Fairy's Eyes." I didn't expect it to reveal not only the magical and life force of living beings but also the magical particles used when casting spells. There was a battle taking place right after entering the upper levels, and I noticed it when magic was used. It seems that ...

The morning after pulling the gacha, I headed to the adventurer's guild to dive into the dungeon. "Good morning!" Navigating through the crowd, I finally reached the reception desk and greeted the staff. "Hey there, Miss Sera." "I heard, but it's really crowded today." During the commemorative festival, the dungeon had been closed. They probably didn't want to gather adventurers for search missions in case of casualties, and mobilizing troops might have discouraged tourists, so they decided to just close it altogether. Adventurers used those three days as rest days to prepare for their next adventures. So, the next adventure was today, the day after the festival ended. The request reception was probably closed during the festival, which might explain why there were also many merchants around besides adventurers. "It's the usual, I guess. But this year, there's a bit of a special circumstance. You know about 'Flash,' right? ...

 The three-day commemorative festival came to a close today. The first day mainly focused on exchanges with foreign countries, including the west. I couldn't quite understand the part about executing foreigners as part of that, but overall, it was bustling. On the second day was the main festival. They showcased the national treasure, a divine sword said to summon lightning. I was startled by the thunder in the clear midday sky, but I guess that was the sword's effect. The third day featured domestic honors and ennoblements. Nothing particularly noteworthy happened. Anyway, I secluded myself in the mansion from the second day onward. As a kid, there wasn't much for me to do, and it felt wrong to have someone constantly attending to me. Plus, dealing with crowds is exhausting. Even though I ended up helping with cleaning and dishwashing due to the numerous guests at the mansion, my activities remained largely unchanged from last year. But the environment is vastly different....

 "Ouch... my head hurts..." Yes, yes, I understand. "It's not my stomach... it's my head..." Mm-hmm. "Lady... to cure a hangover, it's the liver..." "Is that so... it's strange..." Seriana and Elena murmured softly, barely able to speak, lying down together on the bed. In this country, there's no strict drinking age; it's left to individual discretion. While they might have a drink or two during meals, they never drink enough to get a hangover. I'm a little curious about what happened, but first, I need to help them recover. "How's it going? Do you feel a bit better?" I've laid them on the bed and am sitting between them, activating "Prayer" while applying "Miracle's Blessing" to their abdomens. It should boost their healing abilities, and "Prayer" should have its effect too. As for "Miracle's Blessing," I'm not sure, but it feels like it might help,...

 "Welcome back." After storing the items in the Hideout, we stepped outside, where Alex stood in place of a blindfold. "It was quick, huh?" "I just left them by the door. Anyway, thanks." I confirmed that he had settled me on his shoulder and started walking. We had already checked out the commercial district, but what should we do next? "Alex!" "Oh, Ruban." Ruban waved and approached us. He was dressed in his usual adventurer style, sans swords or armor. "What's up? Are you two buddies now?" He used to call him Alexio, but today it was just Alex. Had something happened between them? "He's joining us at our place next year, so we're colleagues." "Oh, I see..." Come to think of it, that was the plan from the beginning. "Sera looks great in that outfit. It suits her well." "Thanks..." He's a gentleman for properly complimenting her. "So, where are the others? Are you a...

"Alex, over there." I was randomly grabbing food from the stalls, and although everything was flavorful, many dishes paired perfectly with the wine. At first, Alex was holding back, but it's not like I forced him to drink. It's some kind of wine mixed with fruit juice, but is it delicious? "Is that it?" I pointed from my perch on his shoulder to a corner of the square in the commercial district. That area was lined with stalls, giving off a flea market vibe with its diverse atmosphere. "I got some pocket money, you know. I want to spend a little." I received a gold coin as spending money for the festival. I don't need much food, and I can't drink alcohol. There might be gambling, but I probably shouldn't participate. So, I thought about buying souvenirs for Seriana and Elena... But I'm not sure what's good. I peeked at some decorative items, but what they usually wear is much better quality. If that's the case, I might as we...

"Ah, this is 'Mirra's Choice.'" "Huh?" During the evening, as we showed everyone the apology gifts, Seriana seemed to recognize the title upon seeing the painting. "Is it a famous painting?" It's a painting of a woman in a red dress, with what looks like a prince-like man on the left, a glamorous-looking older man, and a naked muscular man kneeling. What in the world is this? I couldn't help but think that, but... is it expensive? "The motif is famous, yes. It's often given to adult women by their families. It symbolizes not being swayed by power or wealth." "I see." I see. So it's a moral lesson. But what's with the muscular guy on the right? They didn't bother mentioning him, so is it about infidelity or something? "But why me?" "It's a famous painting, and maybe because you asked about Mirra's Blessing? They wouldn't put so much meaning into an apology gift for you if the...

 Three days have passed since the kidnapping incident. In that time, there are a few things that have become clear. First, the building and village that the people who abducted me were using as their base. The village itself wasn’t involved, but apparently it was one of the hunting grounds used to procure monsters for trade. On the morning I returned, one unit from the Knight Order was dispatched, and they succeeded in capturing them on the spot. They weren’t adventurers, but mercenaries from the west, and originally they had come to Mesaria as merchant escorts during the spring enrollment season. After that, they captured monsters at several hunting grounds, brought them to the royal capital, and it seems they planned to return to the west again as escorts after the commemorative festival ended, but while capturing the monsters and bringing them to the royal capital went fine, the crucial monster deal ended up getting crushed, and with their schedule suddenly open, they were...

The two who had gone out both came back a little after noon. It seems they had gotten some information, but since they'd start with my information first, we went into 【Hideout】 from Seriana's room and decided to watch the recording. Well, the only real highlight was the battle scenes at best, and it wasn't anything that impressive. "That's Balgo." That strong mage. So he's called Balgo. You know him, Alec? "Who?" "He was a man known in the west as an all-purpose mercenary who could handle both command and combat. I've never teamed up with him, but when I was in the west too, I greeted him once. If you were an adventurer, it wouldn't be strange to have at least heard his name... So he was attached to the church." So he was a famous one. No, I did think he was strong. "The church..." Seriana muttered suggestively. What could it be? "Well, whatever. Next, Alec, do you have anything?" "Unfortunately, nothing...