Mnotia's Den

 Luciana is the second daughter of the Muller family and the daughter of Flora. She’s one year younger than me, but she’s developed well… Her hair and eyes are brown, inherited from her father, but her facial features resemble Flora’s. However, unlike her quiet mother, she has a very expressive face. I’m not sure about her relationship with Eizen, but she seemed to get along quite well with Seriana. Perhaps because of this, she is quite gentle with me, a former servant of this mansion. She’s gentle, but… “Lady Sera, how is it?” Luciana asked, shifting her gaze from my fingertips as she sought my opinion. The nails on the fingers she’s holding in front of her face are each carefully painted black. She just painted them herself. “Uh… yeah, thank you. It’s well done.” I managed to respond, albeit somewhat hesitantly. She seemed pleased when she heard this. However, being looked after by a younger girl who calls me “Lady” is a bit strange… I am aware that both Teresa and the maids have...

 For a while, I had become a spectacle, but after watching me intently and listening to Teresa's explanations, the two seemed satisfied and finally released me. Afterward, we moved the conversation to Flora’s lap. Last time I stayed, it was Minéa who took the lead in treatment, while Flora’s care was a bit more relaxed. This time, however, Flora is the main focus. I can’t give my all to everyone; it’s too exhausting. "Are the two of you planning to spend your time here the same way as last time?" "No, this time both the princess and I are here for something like a vacation." Although we’ve come all the way to Zelkis, like Teresa said, I don’t think we’ll be heading to the dungeon. In spring, there are a lot of dungeon beginners, so the shallows are crowded with people practicing. Even the upper and middle levels, like the ogre zone, are full of people. I do want to try out the Snake’s Tail in the dungeon, but it doesn’t feel right to shove aside the local advent...

 When the conversation with my father ended, we were taken to the same room as before. However, aside from the belongings we had brought, there were also some other items placed in the room. Boxes packed with goods occupied about half of the bed. “What is this?” When I asked the servant who guided us to the room, they immediately answered. “They are your clothes. The shipment from Riana hasn’t arrived yet, has it? The master instructed us to prepare some for you in the meantime... These are temporary, but since we took your measurements last time, I don’t think there will be any issues with the sizes.” “Oh... that's helpful.” Last time, we had plenty of time, but this time, only four days had passed since we started preparations. Although we packed the necessary items in the 【Hideout】, the fake luggage had not yet arrived. When we opened the boxes, they contained various clothes, including sleepwear. With all this, we should be able to manage for now. “Well then, I’ll take my leave...

 After that, we were able to enter the city without much delay. As we made our way down the main street toward the lord’s manor, I could feel the sharp gazes of the townspeople, likely because we were surrounded by knights on horseback. By the way, these knights were the ones who rushed out from the city during the commotion at the gate. I know all of them, as they are stationed in the capital, but being escorted by them still felt a little awkward. Maybe it's because they know about Teresa, but they seemed pretty apologetic. "Is that kind of thing common?" I asked the knight walking beside me about the goblins earlier, mostly to distract myself. I've only lived in this city for about a year, so I don't know much, but being attacked while waiting to enter the city is something I've never really heard of. "It’s not like it’s unheard of, but it’s been quite rare in past years. However, there have already been two incidents this year," he answered with ...

 The visibility isn't very far due to the lowered altitude, but as we approach Zelkis' territory capital, it becomes clear that a large number of people are lined up in front of the gates. It's safer to move in groups, and since people tend to follow similar routes and schedules, the congestion is sometimes significant. There are carriages carrying people and cargo mixed in as well, stretching out for over 100 meters. "…Oh?" "What's wrong?" Teresa asked, noticing my muttering as we neared the gate and I spotted something. "Do you see that?" I pointed towards what I had noticed, and Teresa leaned in closer to look in the direction I indicated. "That? …!?" She seems to have noticed it too. A few hundred meters to the right of the road, there's a forest. It's connected to the forest we hid in before, and from there, a group of goblins is emerging. It's rare for them to come out of the forest, but perhaps the gathering of ...

 『Princess, it’s morning. Please wake up.』 Teresa's voice echoed in the hideout, waking me up. … I can get up right away when woken up. "Mm…" After a big stretch, I got out of bed, boarded the 【Floating Sphere】, and left the 【Hideout】, where Teresa, dressed impeccably from clothing to makeup, was standing. "Good morning. Once you wash your face and fix your hair, shall we get you changed? Should I have breakfast brought here?" "I’ll eat here." "Then, I’ll relay that." Saying so, Teresa left the room. Since a servant was stationed just outside the room, she would convey the message and return quickly. I guess I should at least wash my face… With a towel in hand, I headed to the washroom installed in the guest room. ◇ Although it's still mid-January in early spring, at Seriana’s request, Teresa and I were heading to Zelkis earlier than the end-of-month plan we initially had. We departed three days after hearing the news, which made things a...

 "Hup!" I swung my tail at the goblin's head, and it seemed to have landed a good hit, causing it to stumble slightly. Shif immediately followed up with an attack, sealing the victory. Well, the goblin probably didn’t feel like it was a match to begin with... "Not bad, huh!" Looking down, I saw the bodies of four goblins lying on the ground. Two of them had been taken down after I hit them with my tail. Today, the apprentice adventurers had a day off. On days when they enter the forest, I refrain from hunting even when I'm not leading them, in case I cause any unintended disturbances. But today, I had no such worries and was conducting a practical test for the "Snake’s Tail" near the edge of the forest. After several battles, I realized that my tail attack works well enough against goblins and wolves. It’s not strong enough to take them down in one blow, but it can at least stop them in their tracks for a moment. Though hitting wolves is tricky bec...

 "Good morning!" When I entered the office, the sight of everyone working diligently greeted my eyes. Wow... Everyone's really giving it their all. "As usual. It's already noon, you know?" "I had trouble sleeping last night, you see? I ended up going to bed quite late." It was because of the incident with one of the apprentice adventurers at the guild yesterday. As night approached, I kept wondering if that would be the time someone would try to sneak in for theft or if a brawl would break out, resulting in casualties. It bothered me so much that I couldn’t fall asleep easily. In the end, I slept until almost noon, which didn’t really change the amount of sleep I got... Whenever Teresa doesn’t come to wake me up for work in the morning, this is usually how things turn out. "I see... The branch manager of the Adventurers' Guild came by early this morning, bringing along one adventurer. It was about what you mentioned last night." ...

 "Hey, Captain." "Vice-Captain! What's up?" After returning from the forest, we were waiting for the guild to process the herbs we had gathered, so I decided to chat with them while we waited. Last time, I had to report to the branch manager, but this time, there was no need. I hadn’t interacted with them much yet, and I thought it might not be a bad idea to get to know them a little here. However, I quickly noticed something. They were calling me 'Captain' even in the forest. It's probably because, among those involved in training, I'm the one with the highest position. While Teresa holds the highest rank, even Teresa treats me as her superior... In any case, it seems I am their Captain, at least in their minds. "Is that new blessed item you're wearing around your waist?" "Yep." I decided to keep 【Serpent’s Tail】 in tattoo form so I could use it anytime. However, since it's visually obvious when a tail sprouts, I chos...

 "There's nothing... no abnormalities in your body?" Seriana asked, looking at me as I stood with my arms spread out. "None." With Teresa and Elena pressing their hands to my forehead and wrist to check my pulse and temperature, I answered Seriana, confirming there was nothing wrong. Whether I succeeded or failed in activating 【Tail of the Serpent】 was still unknown, but when I went to ask for everyone’s opinion, this situation unfolded. Alec and Fiora were circling around us at a slight distance. So far, no one had noticed any changes... "...Ah. It’s here." "Hm?" Fiora, who had been circling around me, seemed to have found something. She stopped and muttered quietly... "Wah!?" She suddenly flipped my skirt up from behind. Then she tugged on my underwear. I vaguely remember Seriana doing the same thing to me at some point... although, this time, my underwear got pulled down too. The other three moved behind me to peek, but Alec stoo...

 "…Indeed, it might suit me," I muttered. Though I didn't know exactly what form it would take, I was certain it wouldn't hinder anyone if I used it. "You already gave me this, so don't worry about it." As he said this, he raised his right hand, showing off the 【Fierce Horn】 attached to it. It was a blessing item I had given him before, as it didn’t suit me. The only time I had felt its effects was during the bear incident, and I had nearly forgotten about it until now. "I see… Well, I'll gladly accept it then." "Of course." With my worries cleared, I turned to Seriana, ready to take on the challenge. She stood there with her arms crossed, staring at me—or rather, glaring. This woman probably didn’t have any concept of inner turmoil or delicate matters like that… But whatever. "Sorry to keep you waiting!" "Yes, you kept me waiting. Now, extend your hand." "Sure." As instructed, I placed my hand over S...

 Up until now, the protagonist referred to items and skills, but from now on, they will be called blessings and grace. When Alec offered a sacred coin to the statue, his body began to faintly glow. It’s been a while since I last saw someone pull from the gacha… Maybe the last time was Zighart in the royal capital? That was a bit of a disaster… "…Huh?" Alec muttered something briefly and stood up. It seemed he had pulled from the gacha. Then, after a moment, the light surrounding him disappeared, and in its place appeared what looked like a thin belt in front of him… Is it a blessing? "Hmm…" Alec reached out to grab the object floating in midair, muttered something again, and fell silent, standing still. Not even forming proper words like “hmm” or “huh,” I couldn’t read his reaction. It didn’t seem like a material, but could it be something strange? "What is that? It doesn’t seem like a dud, though..." "A belt, it seems…?" "Hm? Oh… 【Serpent’s...

 Up until now, the protagonist referred to items and skills, but from now on, they will be called blessings and grace. When Alec offered a sacred coin to the statue, his body began to faintly glow. It’s been a while since I last saw someone pull from the gacha… Maybe the last time was Zighart in the royal capital? That was a bit of a disaster… "…Huh?" Alec muttered something briefly and stood up. It seemed he had pulled from the gacha. Then, after a moment, the light surrounding him disappeared, and in its place appeared what looked like a thin belt in front of him… Is it a blessing? "Hmm…" Alec reached out to grab the object floating in midair, muttered something again, and fell silent, standing still. Not even forming proper words like “hmm” or “huh,” I couldn’t read his reaction. It didn’t seem like a material, but could it be something strange? "What is that? It doesn’t seem like a dud, though..." "A belt, it seems…?" "Hm? Oh… 【Serpent’s...

  Apprentice Adventurers There isn't a formal system for this. In other places, those aspiring to be adventurers may not be able to challenge dungeons, but they can gain experience through tasks such as patrolling towns, villages, farmland, and roads. However, this capital city is a place where even veterans can lose their lives if they let their guard down. Originally, it would have been appropriate to wait until they are 14, the age of adulthood, but considering the increase in those aiming to become adventurers, which had been frowned upon until now, the Adventurers' Guild and the second squad of the Knights' Order decided to take the lead in their training. Initially, we anticipated around ten participants, but the trial shot of the 【Dunrem's Thread】 turned out to be a great stimulus, and they managed to overcome the autumn and winter training with hardly any dropouts. As a result, we ended up with more than twenty youngsters. With spring arriving, the plan was to t...

  The tasks in the city of Arios have been successfully completed. Well, since I just sat and chatted, it wasn’t a big deal, but even though it took some time, Mio successfully completed negotiations with Claude, and Fiora has transported the materials to the capital. With this, the preparations for the demon king's subjugation are ready to begin. When I first heard the term "preparations to prepare for preparations," I was puzzled, but after hearing more details, I understood. With confirmation that there are no issues with the pharmaceutical materials, Zighart has set off with the second squad to the planned combat area. The location is in the forest, and the purpose is to clear some of the surrounding trees to make the area manageable for combat. It seems they will return before the rainy season, but in the meantime, the city will be left empty. To fill the vacant positions, soldiers from the city of Arios will be assigned. I thought they would come to fill the vacanci...

 Mrs. Antone is a slender, tall woman in her early 40s… or rather, a lady. She seems to be well-exercised, and sitting on her lap feels quite firm. This is easily conveyed through my thin rear end. There is no need for her to lose weight, and although she mainly focuses on treating rough hair and skin, just like with Glea, I’ve noticed that the ladies in the eastern regions tend to be very disciplined… It must be a characteristic of the land. …Seriana, who is always close to me, doesn’t seem like she would become that way, but if the differences among ladies in the domain become too pronounced, it might create a rift between the wives. It might be a good idea to occasionally visit other towns. After all, it’s just an hour or so of chatting while taking a break. As I ponder this while responding to Mrs. Antone’s conversation, I heard a knock on the door. When I had the door opened, it was Fiora who came in. “Oh, you’re still not finished?” Although things have cooled down somewhat, ...

 The carriage arrived in the city of Arios and headed straight to the magistrate's mansion. The collected supplies are stored in a warehouse in the city, but it seems that the pharmaceuticals are transported to the magistrate’s mansion. They are sensitive to temperature and humidity, so it’s crucial to have a properly equipped place for storage. ◇ “Oh? Marcus-kun?” Upon arrival and getting off the carriage, the soldiers who were there for the escort were lined up, and among them was a familiar face. “Ah. Thank you for your hard work, Deputy Sergeant Sera.” It was Marcus, who saluted crisply. He’s supposed to be part of the city’s guard… Maybe he’s been reassigned? “He recently transferred to the First Squad. Since he’s familiar with the area, he’s been assigned to patrol missions within the territory,” Mio explained from the side. “I see…” Now that I think about it, he was touted as quite a promising candidate in the Eastern region. He might have seemed lacking compared to Seriana ...

  "What!? " The carriage shook with a loud clatter, causing me to involuntarily cry out. While I occasionally have the chance to ride in a carriage within the city, I generally avoid them... especially outside the city. It's been since last summer, perhaps? "The repair work is progressing, but it seems it's still not perfect... I apologize, Lady Sera." Maintaining the roads is also the responsibility of the knight corps. Mio, who serves as the deputy commander, seems to feel responsible and bowed her head... "Oh, this girl may look like she's sitting, but she's actually floating, so it's no big deal. She was just startled by the noise, wasn't she?" Fiora knows what's going on. Well, she’s sitting with the 【Floating Orb】 on her lap, so it’s clear that her weight isn’t affecting anything. Mio, who is seated opposite, looks puzzled. "I rarely ride in carriages, so I was a bit surprised." The roughness of the road is due t...

 “I’m sorry, Lady Sera. However, if we can determine the most compatible land for Lady Fiora’s magical power and the combination of medicines, the battle will be shorter. To focus on the battle with the Demon Lord species, the soldiers will set up defensive lines to prevent monsters from the surrounding area from flooding in. But when facing a horde of monsters from the demon realm, we must be prepared for the worst-case scenario. The shorter the battle time, the less damage there will be.” “...I see.” As I imagined what was inside the box and felt a bit uneasy, August looked me in the eye with a serious expression and explained the necessity of this task. The branch chief also continued. “The Second Squad is used to actions and battles in the forest. We can't afford to mess up, so they’ll be coming along. It’s not that I want to say it's fine if outsiders die, but I don’t want the people of this city to die. It will put a burden on you, but... please do it.” “...I understand.”...

 For now, I moved onto Fiora’s lap as instructed and activated 【Mira's Blessing】. “Oh?” Fiora seemed surprised and let out a voice of astonishment. “Hm? …Ah! Sorry, it’s just a habit…” I wondered if something was wrong, but it seemed to be my fault. Lately, whenever I attached myself to someone, I always activated 【Mira's Blessing】, so it had become an unconscious habit. Sometimes I do it when I'm sticking to the mansion’s staff, but the people I usually stick to are Seriana, Elena, and Teresa. Since it’s fine to use it or be used by it with those people… well, Fiora is family, so it should be fine, right? “There’s no problem. Thank you… Just stay like that and listen. I’ll explain what I need from you.” With that, she drew closer the four containers of soil that were placed on the desk. “This soil was collected from different places. I want you to use your snake and the enchanted items to examine it.” “Hmm? Well… I don’t really understand, but I’ll give it a try.” Activati...