Mnotia's Den

 Having finished patrolling the attic of the south wing, I moved on to the main building, which houses Liesel's room. It seems you can come up from the office on the second floor. There's a sturdy wall, a door, and even a window with a transparent pane. You can tell at a glance, but is it really okay like that? "...That's the place, right?" "Yes. Unlike the other side, there are guards permanently stationed here, so it's fine." "Huh... oh?" Even though we floated noiselessly, the soldier inside, hearing the conversation, rushed out. "Lady Seriana. Is something the matter?" "I'm inspecting the mansion. Don't worry about it. Return to your post." "...Understood. Excuse me." Though he seemed somewhat unsatisfied, he quietly returned. Well, if someone suddenly appeared with a child on their lap, you'd wonder what they were doing here, right? It was a bit of a surprise, but that was the only issue. Like ...

 "Got nothing to do." "Yeah, pretty bored..." Today, just a few days before the rainy season is expected to end, we were hit by the heaviest rain of the year. It's likely to continue raining like this today and tomorrow. The rain is so heavy that I can barely see the four houses built just a stone's throw away on the same premises. No customers are coming, so the residents have the day off today and tomorrow. It was me who went to inform them. Having never tried it before, I found out today that the "Floating Orb" is weak against rain. Or maybe I'm the one who's weak... Even though using an umbrella wouldn't have made any difference, I dashed out fully prepared to get soaked, but instinctively tried to avoid the rain, resulting in a weird trajectory. Seriana, who was watching from above, said she thought I was going to leave the premises... I had to really focus and muster up my courage to move straight ahead. It was an unexpected weakn...

 One day, about halfway through the rainy season, I was called to a room by Liesel along with Seriana. We had been spending our days gathering and spreading rumors, so it seemed odd to be summoned this way. If Liesel had business with Seriana, there was no need to call me, and if it was me she needed, she could have called me directly or through Seriana. "What could it be?" "Who knows?" If both of us were called, it must be something that concerns both of us. But what could it be? "Liesel, I'm coming in," Seriana said, knocking briefly but entering without waiting for a response, with me floating along behind her. "Ah, Seria, Sera. Sorry to summon you out of the blue," Liesel greeted us cheerfully, rising from his chair, showing no concern that we had entered unannounced. He was as breezy as ever. In the room were the butler, Karlos, and the maid, Rose. There was also an unfamiliar older man. When our eyes met, he nodded in greeting. Who coul...

 "Are the nobles in the capital also doing this?" "Only those who have received permission from the master and mistress. And they get five gold coins a day for it." When one person answered the question, everyone around was surprised and delighted. The nobles of the capital. Even the highest-ranking people in this country can’t easily receive this technique, yet here, commoners in the frontier are getting it. They must feel a sense of superiority. Indulge in it as much as you like! "There’s a limit to how many people we can do in a day, but since it's the rainy season and we have free time, the young lady said to do it for everyone. We also told His Highness, and you can rest here while receiving the treatment." Voices rose up here and there again. Well, even though it’s not so busy here, it’s nice to be able to slack off openly. So, it's the third month of autumn. The rainy season is in full swing. And here, too, the temporary salon Sera is open. ...

 The bathroom for Seriana. Though it’s a bit small for a noble at around six tatami mats in size, it has a bathtub and a wooden bed for oil massages or aesthetic treatments. A small shelf on the wall holds soap, shampoo, and several kinds of mysterious, thick liquids. Although I've been told I can use them, I only use the soap and shampoo. After all, I don't know what the other stuff is or how to use it. Yeah. I don’t need it anyway. Let’s quickly wash up and warm up. After swiftly washing my body, I soak in the bath for a while. "Ahh..." With the back of my head resting on the edge of the tub, I float on my back, stretching my arms and legs while moving them gently through the water. Although the bathtub is quite large, one of the few advantages of this child-sized body is that I can stretch out completely in this bath. Few advantages... Were there any others? Is this it? Maybe… I should stop thinking about it. It’s too late now, but it’s making me feel empty. "...

 Autumn in February. The mountains already have a thin layer of snow, but it's not as noticeable in the lowlands. "Groooaaannnn..." However! The upper air is cold! I can't help but let out a groan. Next month, the autumn rainy season will begin again, and the rain will continue for a while. So, we're working at a slightly faster pace to wrap up the current tasks before then. While shivering in the sky, I hear the sound of a whistle. It's the signal to get into position. "Hnngh!" I channel magic into the tool in my hand, and a laser-like beam of light shoots out straight from it. This is a device called a linear projector, which only emits a beam of light. Because its use is limited to drawing straight lines, it's relatively rare and unexpectedly expensive. Normally, we would assemble something like a scaffold and shoot the beam from the top of it, but this time we're in a forest that hasn't been cleared yet. So, I maintain altitude and sh...

 "Ohhh..." "It's written here, right? 'Red Ogre - Alexio.'" "Yeah... it's written." Perched on Alex's shoulder, unable to hide my joy, I also peeked at what he was looking at. The adventurer's directory. Alex is listed in the section added last year. Although Alex and Zighart did not return before Riesel, they came back a few days after Riesel's return. Alex took charge of the security of the mines and surrounding areas, successfully establishing a safe transportation system. He really is a versatile guy. On the other hand, Zighart, despite finding traces of the dragon, seemed disappointed as he couldn't reach the actual creature. Both of them would be staying in the nearby forest during autumn and winter but would be in the town of Lutol, probably hanging out in Seriana's room, with their house already prepared within the estate. We hadn't seen much of each other recently, but that would likely change now. Being lis...

 "…⁉ Hey, Seria. I'm back." "…Boring." Standing in the entrance hall to welcome Riesel, Ceriana seemed dissatisfied with his reaction. Well, if he was already floating, she might have been more surprised if he had been upside down right after entering from the entrance, but since he was floating boldly in front of her, anyone who knew him wouldn't be too shocked. "Well, never mind… I'm just glad you're back safe, Sera." "Yeah." Seriana handed over the floating orb, and he got on. Yup, at the usual height. Sometimes when he walks on his own feet, his perspective is too low, and it's uncomfortable. "I have a lot of luggage, so let's deal with that first." "Shall I help?" "Yeah… Oh, no. There's a gift for you too, so wait in your room." "Oh? Okay." During this exchange, luggage continued to be carried into the mansion. When he looked out the window as they descended, there were four...

The gacha didn't directly contribute to my strengthening. I gave the magic cloth to Seriana. Honestly, there was no use for it with me. The only thing I could think of using it for was a handkerchief, and Seriana would make better use of it than I would. Then, [Enhancement] Although it just added more rooms to the [Hideout], which in itself is impressive enough, after that, Fiora and I discussed it, and I learned something interesting. It's a rumor within the Mage Association. The item known as the [Red Bee Needle] in the Divine Nation is also called [Boots of Judgment]. Despite being the same item, its performance can clearly differ. Especially when it comes to high-status items known as national or divine treasures, their performance tends to be stronger the more prestigious and historically certain they are. It could be dismissed as merely a difference in the wielder's skill, but there might be some kind of secret art involved, according to the rumors. Regardless of bles...

 Alright, let's get back on track and move on to the next one! They say it's hit or miss, but statistically, the odds of winning are almost the same. Even though it's relatively balanced, the combined probability of drawing a boon or blessing is over 60%. It would actually be strange if we didn't draw one of those! Alright... I feel like I can do this! "What is it?" I noticed Seliana giving me a sidelong glance and spoke up. "Nothing. I won't say anything more." ...Am I striking a weird pose or something? Ten holy coins. Equivalent to 200 gold coins. Even though I've been getting them at a good pace, it's still a lot of money. Of course, I'd get a bit overly focused. Alright! Let's get back to it for the last time. "Hunh!" Come on, something good, something good... I focused my mind to the background music of a drum roll... "Hup!" As soon as the sound stopped, I saw the image of the door leading to the 【Hideout...

 It seems the name hasn’t been decided yet, but the new territory will be expanded to the east in a fan shape, with Lutoru as the focal point. Of course, they are currently developing the eastern area, but that’s mainly the central spine. The key points, considered the main ribs, are located northeast and southeast of Lutoru. Especially noteworthy is the southeastern town, which has a large river flowing through it, connecting it to the Mersenal territory governed by the Sarion family, to whom Elisha was recently married. If things go well, it could facilitate interaction with the Sarion family, which has ties with other continents. Luvan is stationed there, and he is likely to become the deputy governor of that area in the future. This country is broadly divided into large territories appointed by the king and small territories that fill the gaps between these large territories. For the small territories, anyone can become a lord if they receive approval from the neighboring lords...

 Raising the altitude of the floating sphere, she appeared above the forest, confirming the direction of the city. Not exactly directionally challenged, but lost in the depths of the forest. Moreover, during combat, with all the up and down movements, she quickly loses track of which direction she's facing. "Floosh!" She launched her magic at full force from behind the umbrella. It served as a substitute signal flare. Even in broad daylight, this should catch their attention. Seems they noticed the magic; as she listened intently, she heard the shrill sound of a whistle. The retrieval team should be arriving shortly. ◇ Forest One. It's the forest closest to the town where I usually hunt and gather herbs. Its name comes from being the closest to the town. ... I've known of its existence since my time at the orphanage, and I knew it was called that, but I didn't know it was the formal name. Although it's directly connected to the vast forest, it's called...

 "Welcome back!" "I'm home. Please take this to the young lady's room. There's enough for everyone." After finishing shopping and returning to the mansion, the first place he headed wasn't Seriana's room, but the servants' waiting room. He handed over the cake he had bought and asked for it to be taken to the room. It was difficult to find large-scale livestock in this area, just like in the capital, making it hard to obtain things like cream. However, fresh fruits were easier to come by... Sweets were a bit of a luxury. With the earnings from herb collecting, he had also bought enough for everyone. "I'm sorry as always. Since there are guests, I'll bring tea along." "Thank you." With that, he waved and left the room. Most of the women working here were from good families in the city. It was also important to spread the word about me through them. It might be useful for something, so I continue to make secret arran...

 My eye gouge seemed to have landed well, and with that sudden light, most of the wolves had stopped in their tracks. "Ho!" Before they could recover, I aimed for the boss first. I leaped over the confused pack with my umbrella at my waist and then delivered a kick. As expected of a boss, it reacted and dodged by leaping back, but then, the follow-up Shadow Sword couldn't be avoided! I planted my left foot on the "floating orb" I was sitting on, stood up, stretched my body, and slashed its neck. Normally, one would fall flat to the ground in such a position, but thanks to the floating orb generating gravity, acrobatic maneuvers like this were possible. Now, the boss was down. There were nine left, but it seemed their vision hadn't fully returned yet. With the boss down and the chaos escalating, the situation became more chaotic. "Hu!" If I could stir them up to this extent, it wouldn't be much trouble. Just take them down one by one. "Tah!...

 Two goblins. They didn't intend to hide, but even though they couldn't see them, it seemed like they knew I was aware, as they gradually approached, making noises like "Gugyagyagya." What should I be cautious of? First, that they're much stronger than regular goblins. If it's just about attack power, I've never been hit by a monster's attack before, so I don't need to worry too much. The problem is their speed. Is it increased? In the dungeon, I had about a one-meter margin... Should I make it two, or maybe three meters? Hmm... should I just charge into the horde of monsters? Alright. I'll kick with "Crimson Bee's Sting" and then rotate horizontally. There's no point in hiding, so let's just go with the usual plan. "...oh" I decided on a plan and approached, but... It's like the difference between a stray dog and a wild dog... It's a fierce appearance. With eyes bulging and drool flowing from the corner ...

 The Great Forest. A place where countless demon species inhabit, and demon calamities overlap. It's what they call a demon realm. Even I, who isn't particularly sensitive, can sense the dense magic just by stepping in. I won't let my guard down. I always activate 'Red Eye' and 'Fairy Eyes.' "Found it!" And what my eyes caught in that state. It was a medicinal herb faintly glowing amidst the bushes! "Snip!" I cut off a handful's worth with scissors and quickly stuffed it into the bag on my back, raising the altitude of the 'Floating Orb.' What I picked now are plants called Aro and Sabon; apparently, drying their leaves and turning them into powder makes them ingredients for potions. They look like ordinary mountain herbs, but they have the property of storing magic, and by utilizing it effectively, they create the healing effect of potions. As long as they're not dried up, the effectiveness doesn't change with the ski...

 "Hmm-hmm..." Eastern gate of the city of Rutor. Several kilometers away lies the Great Forest, a demon realm, giving this place a unique tension filled with adventurers heading there and soldiers vigilant against monster attacks. I'm humming to myself as I glide through the sky, my brush dancing across the canvas. Though I'm supposedly indulging in my hobby of drawing, this is still considered work. The city map wasn't available in the capital, but the magistrate's office surprisingly had fairly accurate ones. Well, relatively accurate, that is... Seriana found this unsatisfactory and asked me to sketch the city from above onto gridded paper. Quite the demanding request... Nevertheless, I must oblige since it's been ordered. I prepared the board used for sketching, attached a string to it, and activated both Akame's Eyes and [Fairy Sight] while diligently working on the map-making lately. Though different from triangulation points, there are markers e...

 The pavement has been laid, but it seems a bit rough in construction. As we ascend the slope, rattling along, we arrive at the magistrate's mansion. The grounds on the hill are about the size of two soccer fields, with a mansion and what seems to be servant quarters...? "What's that?" If there were anything else, it would likely be barracks or warehouses, but the barracks seem a bit small, and the design is too different for warehouses. It appears narrow for a two-story house... should we call it a maisonette type? Three of them are lined up under construction. I can see materials piled up in the back, but there are quite a lot. It's not just a few buildings... are they going to use all of those? "It's not finished yet, but it's a residence exclusively designed by Fiorella for adventurers. It seems they'll standardize plumbing and air conditioning with magical tools. For now, only Fiorella, Alex, and you are using it. You and Elena are for the ma...

 10 days since leaving the capital. Blessed with good weather and no mishaps, it seems we'll arrive as planned. However, though there might be some discrepancies, we must have been progressing at an average of over 50 kilometers per day, roughly speaking, right? Of course, it wasn't a straight path, but it's astounding how vast this eastern region is. I thought the same when returning from the royal capital, but anyway, the east is just too expansive. If only our means of travel and communication were more advanced... I've heard there are familiar spirits and even ordinary bird-based communication methods, but those flying creatures made it impossible. Though it might render all the effort put into pioneering wasted, if it can be disposed of amicably, then so be it. "Just crossed this stream... we should arrive in about another hour." Elena, looking at the map, spoke cheerfully. "Yes... honestly... I'm so fed up with the state of this road. Perhaps th...