Chapter 22

We sealed the entrance of the newly appeared dungeon using Yoshioka’s earth magic, reinforcing it further with a framework of logs and other materials.

This should keep the monsters from emerging for the time being.

The installation of a proper entrance would have to wait until professional craftsmen and a guard unit arrived. Until then, we were all on sentry duty.

Using trees joined with ropes and vines—and fir branches for a roof—we constructed a temporary shack. I was glad I’d brought along a saw and rope. While a sword is fine for monsters, nothing beats a saw when it comes to cutting wood.

Fiene had brought a small saw of her own as well.

“When I go out hunting, I sometimes spend days in the wilderness. I’m used to building temporary shelters like this,” she said.

Apparently, spending a night on a winter mountain was second nature to a hunter.

We managed to finish our sleeping quarters before dusk and finally sat down for dinner. Come to think of it, I’d only eaten breakfast today.

“Clara-sama, is there anything specific you would like to eat?”

“We are essentially on the march, so I will not ask for luxuries. Anything that warms the body will suffice.”

That was a very Clara-like answer.

After consulting with “Chef Yoshioka,” we decided to make a pot-au-feu with pork and sausages.

“I’ll help!”

“I’m actually quite good at cooking too!”

“Please, let me do it!”

I don’t know what happened, but a bunch of girls from Mel-san’s unit swarmed us. And they were sticking incredibly close. What is even happening right now? I’ve never been this popular, even with the girls at the bars back home.

Clara and Mercedes watched from a short distance away as Kota and the others prepared the meal. Clara’s expression was a bit sharp.

“The discipline seems a bit… lax, does it not? It is embarrassing just to watch.”

Mercedes found her ever-stoic cousin inwardly hilarious.

“I’d ask you to be a little lenient. We have two untitled men here who can use magic. You can’t blame my subordinates for trying to marry into wealth.”

In this world, if you can use offensive magic, you can become a knight. In Yoshioka’s case, he could use not only offensive magic but recovery magic as well. It was only natural for female soldiers, who lived side-by-side with death for low pay, to dream of a more glamorous future.

The most popular was, predictably, Akito Yoshioka. However, Yoshioka had already shared a bed with their senior, Petra. From the other soldiers’ perspective, the feeling that they’d been late to the party was undeniable.

On the other hand, while Kota Hinoharu was a bit older, he possessed rare skills like magic and Spatial Storage. His prospects for advancement were more than sufficient, even starting now. To these women, a thirty-year-old was well within his “expiration date.” Even as a concubine, a life of luxury would be guaranteed.

Consequently, the scene continued to look like a high-service cabaret club.

“Honestly, I cannot bear to look!”

Clara was the living image of earnestness, but Mercedes felt she was being even more inflexible than usual today.

“Ho-ho, are you perhaps feeling a bit jealous?”

“Wh—! D-don’t say such foolish things. Why would I…?”

“Well, you seem quite angry…”

“I… I simply do not want people making untoward advances on my attendants.”

Clara had never been able to lie, and even now at twenty, that hadn’t changed. Mercedes couldn’t help but want to tease her blushing cousin.

“I see, I see. So, which one is your favorite? Is it Kota? Or Akito?”

“I told you, I have no such special feelings!”

“No, no, I am merely asking which one you prefer as an attendant.”

“Ugh… I do not discriminate between my attendants. I treat them both equally.”

“Is that so? It looked to me like you were favoring Kota. It seems my dear cousin has a taste for middle-aged men.”

“Enough of your nonsense!”

Sensing she shouldn’t push her any further, Mercedes backed off.

“I apologize. Forgive me, Clara. I’ve never been able to beat you in martial arts since we were children, so this was just a little petty revenge. I wasn’t being serious.”

“I… I see. But please, refrain from such jests in the future.”

“Understood.”

Mercedes had intended it as a light joke, but Clara might be more serious than she realized. That thought left Mercedes with a lingering trace of unease.

There was a mountain of firewood available, so we built a magnificent bonfire.

It was practically a campfire.

The pot-au-feu, cooked in a giant pot brought by Mel-san and her team, vanished in the blink of an eye. Everyone had a staggering appetite. I suppose it was partly because the stew was just that delicious.

Still, I have no idea what possessed Yoshioka to bring things like bay leaves and green pepper to another world. The inner workings of a gourmet otaku’s mind are a complete mystery to me. I won’t complain, though, since it means I get to eat good food.

“We did it, Captain!”

“This is definitely worth a reward!”

Mel-san and her group were in high spirits. Closing off a newborn dungeon with only ten people was apparently quite the feat—a merit-worthy achievement.

“The Captain might even be promoted to Company Commander. We should be getting a special allowance, too. Right, Petra-san?”

“Most likely. Ten thousand Marques is a sure thing.”

Apparently, a regular soldier in the Royal Army earns eight hundred Marques a day. Petra-san, being a Sergeant Major, earns one thousand one hundred, while Mel-san, as a knight, earns eight thousand. It seemed the salary jumped significantly the moment one entered the noble class. To them, ten thousand Marques was a substantial temporary bonus.

Additionally, they had collected a fair number of magic stones from this subjugation. Normally, these would be the share of the commanding officer, Mel-san, but she was generous enough to split them equally. Petra-san mentioned that while many leaders do this to boost morale, there are plenty of greedy nobles who pocket everything for themselves.

However, being a knight is expensive. As the title implies, a knight is nothing without a horse, but the cost of purchasing the horse, its fodder, and the labor for its care must all be paid out of their own salary. On top of that, hiring stewards, attendants, maids, and servants adds up, not to mention the costs for purchasing and maintaining weapons and armor. So, while they held noble rank and had to keep up appearances, the reality was that they couldn’t afford much luxury.

Before turning in, I pitched a tent next to the temporary shack. Yoshioka and I intended to sleep there.

At first, I thought about letting Clara-sama and Mel-san use the tent. It was probably warmer and more comfortable. However, if they weren’t there, we’d end up sleeping in the shack with the female soldiers.

If that happened… my virtue would be in peril!

Apparently, they really were looking to “marry into wealth.” Fiene had confirmed it for me. In that case, I was certain I’d be jumped. There was no way I could fight off five sturdy female soldiers. Four of them would pin my arms and legs, and the last one would…

Ugh… I might not actually hate that situation!

And that’s exactly why it’s scary. I feel like I wouldn’t be able to escape. In reality, I don’t think it would turn into an orgy, but there would likely be individual invitations. Since turning them all down one by one sounded like a pain, I decided we’d stick to the tent.

“Are you and your companion sleeping in here, Kota?”

Clara-sama was looking at the tent with great interest.

“Would you like to step inside?”

“Yes. It looks quite intriguing. It resembles a military pavilion, but the material is much smaller and lighter.”

“Indeed, the principle is the same. However, the fabric used here is thin, light, waterproof, and breathes to let moisture out.”

“Is it a magic tool?”

“No, it isn’t.”

“I would like to try sleeping here as well…”

That was just like the curious Clara-sama.

“In that case, we shall sleep in the temporary shack.”

I might get some “offers,” but I’d just have to refuse them with a firm attitude.

“No, that is unnecessary. There is plenty of space, so all four of us shall rest here together.”

Four people… so Clara-sama, Fiene, myself, and Yoshioka? It was a spacious four-person tent, so I didn’t think it would be a problem, but was this really okay?

“Are you certain? Sharing a space with your attendants…”

“It is fine. Besides… if I am not present, the discipline of this camp will utterly collapse.”

Clara-sama shot a sharp sideways glance at the soldiers. She really is a serious one.

“Understood. Then I’ll explain how to use the tent.”

And so, our long night began.