Chapter 165

And after a moment, when she raised her head again, her face was completely smeared with tears.

“Ugh… S-Sir Sword… God….”

“Cut that out, go do the rest outside. Running around trying to cling to someone while your nose is dripping absolute fluid? Shoo. Disgusting.”

Right before she could unleash another torrent of wailing, I swiftly tossed the two of them outside and slammed the door shut.

Click!

Immediately after, a sound akin to a ghost’s lamentation echoed from the other side of the door as she hammered on it.

‘Sob, ugh… Why, whyyy… Why won’t you even let me thank youuu….’

‘Our Veloa. You are still such a crybaby.’

‘Uhuuuuggh… If someone didn’t cry after reuniting with their dead mom for the first time in fifteen years, they’d be a psychopathhh… Sob….’

‘At any rate, he seems busy right now, so let us offer our thanks later.’

‘B-But… why does Mom look even younger than I dooo… Sob….’

‘Well, because I am an angel?’

‘Ugggh… What on earth is that even supposed to mean… It’s so unfair… Anyway, don’t go anywhere ever again…. Stay by my side forever… Mom…. Sob….’

‘M-Mm, but if I don’t want to get kicked out, I think I need to go properly prepare the lunch I just abandoned first? Strictly speaking, I am only out here on a temporary dispatch format, you see….’

‘I-I will help you tooo… Let’s go together… Sob, sob….’

Listening to the exchange outside—which sat somewhere on the border of a comedy routine and a tearjerker—I let out a hollow laugh.

“Pfft….”

At that, Disis’s eyes went perfectly round as she let out an exclamation.

“Even I am a bit surprised by this… When on earth did you manage that?”

“I closed my eyes briefly earlier while talking to Veloa, didn’t I? I struck a deal with her then.”

“Wow… you can communicate directly with Lumina?”

“Not every single time. Only when Lumina chooses to respond.”

“Ooh….”

“More importantly, does this mean our preparations are roughly complete? It’s finally time to teach a proper lesson to those insolent bastards who are trying to set foot on my Bordeaux Island.”

At my words, Disis narrowed her eyes.

“Your Bordeaux Island?”

“Why? Got a problem with that? Now that you’ve secured a physical body, are you starting to hanker after your original principal investment?”

“No, well… that was the transaction we agreed upon, after all. Even if it’s a bit unpalatable.”

“Right, right. You have to consider the dependents attached to you. If push comes to shove, every single one of them might end up completely homeless without a roof over their heads, you know?”

“Wow… you are a demon. A literal demon stands before me.”

“Look who’s talking, you atrocious Demon King.”

For the record, the vast majority of the regular female cast currently residing at the mansion were currently away.

During the ten days I had spent practicing doll-making with pure spiritual power, each of them had left to attend to their own respective duties.

First, the Western Continent members had headed out a step ahead to look over the general atmosphere there and check on the guild at my request. Sodin had also temporarily returned to the Purple Magic Tower to sever the throats of the groaning grad students… I mean, to butcher their academic theses.

Carmen? It had barely been a week since the Kiadran Countdom—no, the Kiadran Marquisate was founded. Just think about how massive her workload must be. Of course, my heart wavered slightly when she clung to me with hollow eyes, her vision swimming with tears as she begged for help… but realistically, it would be a bit inappropriate for me to intervene to that extent. If I truly let myself get reeled in there, my workload would skyrocket. No, sir. Absolutely out of the question.

At any rate, for those reasons, the ones who came out to see me off as I stood before the gate with my Hero’s Backpack stuffed to the brim were merely the three labyrinth party members, and Veloa, who had half-switched her vocation from Shadow Saintess to kitchen assistant to follow her mother.

As for why even the maids—who usually tagged along like invisible shadows whenever I went anywhere—were nowhere to be seen, it was because I had dispatched them to the Demon Territory a step ahead.

I figured that side would gradually need a few extra hands for constructing a proper residence and various other tasks, you see.

-This is Hest. Did you summon me, Master?

-Ah, glad you could make it, Head Maid. The truth is… I’d like you to help me out with something. Even if I completely swept away the high-tier monsters, the Demon Territory is still the Demon Territory. There might be some stragglers I failed to clear out, and even if there aren’t, a fair number of wild beasts still live there.

-So, you intend to stay on Bordeaux Island on the Western Continent for the time being… and you require the assistance of our Maid Order (short for Maid Knight Order), correct?

-Yeah. Every single one of you is at least an Aura User. And as the Head Maid, you’re a Blaster. I couldn’t ask for a more perfect fit. Can I count on you?

-Naturally. Although we technically belong to Lady Sodin’s house… completely separate from that, our current master is you, Sword God. If it is your command, we must naturally obey.

-Ah, thanks. Do you happen to need Sodin’s permission? If so, I can contact her separately….

-There is no need. It is entirely unnecessary, but even if it were, Lady Sodin would undoubtedly offer her very liver and gallbladder if it concerned you, Sword God. There is absolutely no way she would ever throw a wrench into anything you wish to accomplish.

Whirrrrr….

As the gate leading to Bordeaux Island activated, Illeia and Scala—who had once again been excluded from the trip—pouted their lips in extreme dissatisfaction.

“Orabeoni. Can we really not tag along? Both Selan and I have improved our skills quite a lot lately. We won’t drag you down.”

This was Illeia.

“Why must I be left behind at the mansion when my masters are departing? Please let me tag along so I can receive my masters’ praise… I mean, so I can attend to my masters’ every need.”

This was Scala.

“I—I don’t really mind not tagging along… Urgh…!”

Ah, this was Selan, who had been jabbed in the flank by Illeia and Scala for spouting absolute nonsense.

“Ah, the truth is, I originally intended to bring you guys along too… but a task that requires your specific attention just happened to crop up.”

“A task that requires our attention? For the three of us?”

“Yeah. We barely entered the labyrinth lately, didn’t we? I didn’t know this, but apparently, to maintain one’s status as a labyrinth adventurer, one strictly must enter the dungeon and produce results at least once a quarter unless there’s a special extenuating circumstance?”

At those words, Illeia let out an appreciative “Ah.”

“Ah… right. There was indeed such a rule.”

“Kate has been pulling some strings to delay it for us, but it’s about time people start talking. She mentioned she’d like us to go pay a visit soon. So, I need you guys to go run the labyrinth for a bit.”

“…Certainly, if it’s that, it’s a task that can exclusively be performed by us, who are officially registered as members of the Geom-shin Party.”

“Right. Keep it moderate… just go down to about the 15th floor and back. Hunt some mobs, harvest some magic stones. Oh, and of course, whatever you earn from that trip is entirely your allowance.”

At that, Selan vigorously waved her hands in sheer panic.

“N-No, h-h-how are we supposed to descend that far by ourselves?!”

“Why can’t you?”

“Because… because….”

Letting out a light tongue-click, I addressed Selan.

“Even if it was only from time to time, I personally trained you and Illeia. Selan, you can use aura now, can’t you?”

“W-Well, that’s technically true, but….”

“The only reason it’s like that is because you’re lazy. Illeia, you’re at a similar level to Selan, except for the fact that you can’t use body mana, right? You can wield almost all of the intermediate priestly miracles too.”

“Yes, well… I suppose so.”

“And Scala, what rank are you currently at?”

“Lady Sodin and Lady Ailet specified that I will soon ascend to the 5th level.”

“Excellent. You’re the fastest of the bunch.”

“Hehehehe….”

“Anyway, the point is, even with just the three of you, you form an excellent Gold-rank party. What is a Gold-rank party doing acting like they can’t handle a mere 15th floor?”

At that, Illeia nodded her head in agreement.

“Mm… hearing you put it that way, it’s certainly true… but it still feels a bit unstable with just the three of us.”

“Ah, don’t worry about that. I’ve already secured two new members to join you.”

“Huh? New members? Where?”

“Right here. Hey, Veloa.”

“Yes, m-m-meeee…?”

“Yeah. You are the fifth member of the Geom-shin Party. Go run the labyrinth with them. I’ve already given Kate a heads-up.”

“B-But… I am a k-kitchen assistantee….”

“According to whose permission?”

“P-Pardon…?”

“In this mansion, I am the law. The only one I hired as a chef was your mother.”

“Uh… uh-uh….”

“From now on, whenever those guys go to the labyrinth, you follow them. That is your job. Other than that, whether you want to act as a chef or a maid is entirely up to you.”

“…B-But!”

“Oh, you don’t want to? If you don’t like the temple, doesn’t that mean the priest should leave?”

“D-Does that mean you will kick me out if I don’t do as I’m toldoo…?”

“Of course. Ah, naturally, I’m not a demon either. I’ll let you visit her about once every ten days. You can see your mother then.”

“……Uuu. I-I’ll do it.”

“Good. That takes care of one thing for now….”

The moment I let out a sharp whistle, Snoopy, the Twin-Horned Wolf who had been splashing and playing around in the swimming pool, rushed over like lightning.

“This guy is the second member. I’ve already registered him as your summon, Scala, so make sure to tell other people that.”

At that, the expressions of the three brightened instantly. They also knew exactly how powerful of a monster this Twin-Horned Wolf was.

“Ah, I see… If that’s the case, then going down to the 20th floor instead of the 15th won’t be a problem at all.”

“Right. Hunt moderately for about four to five days, and once you feel you’ve filled your quota, you can head over to Bordeaux Island after that. You can stay and manage the mansion here instead too. That’s entirely up to you.”

“Understood. We will join you later.”

“Y-Yes.”

“Masters. Please take care of your health until we complete our mission quickly and join you again….”

“Uuu… Mom….”

“Woof! Grrrr… Woof, woof!!”

“Right. Thanks. Take care, everyone. Well, I’m off.”

Flash!!

And the very first thing that greeted us upon crossing the gate in that manner was….

The collapsed maids, the blood-soaked Head Maid Hest, and three dragons that were tormenting them as if it were a fun game.

Our party, having just burst through the gate, and the dragons made stupid noises simultaneously.

“Huh?”

“What?”

“Eh?”

“Uh….”

“Uh-uh…?”

“U-Uh, uh-uh, uh-uh-uh….”

Wait a minute. These bastards… aren’t they those Transcendent Dragons I ran into before?

Grasping the situation, I let out a savage grin and pulled out Astraphe.

Since they were Transcendent Dragons, they were absolutely not easy opponents for the current me, but….

‘Well, if chains sprout right out of their hearts, what are they going to do about it?’

Thinking that, right at the exact split second I was about to thrust my sword into empty space—

Suddenly, the beasts collapsed as if flattening their bellies against the earth and slammed their heads into the floor.

“W-Wait just a single moment, please! Sword God!!”

“Huh…?”

“B-By any chance, were you the master of those wenches, Sword God?”

For the time being, I retrieved the blade I was about to shove into their hearts and glared daggers at them.

…Then again, if they remembered the battle from back then, there was absolutely no way a mere Equilibrium Heaven-grade dragon would dare think about rushing me.

“Yes. I am their master.”

“Ah, piece of…! N-No! I wasn’t saying that to you, Sword God, but to my companion! Hey! Kellasus!! Heal them! What are you doing! He said they’re the wenches serving the Sword God!!”

“Ah! O-Oh, right! Y-Yes…!”

“That’s why I said we should wait and see since I didn’t know for sure…! Fucking sons of bitches, seriously….”

Fortunately, having confirmed that none of the maids were dead, I questioned them once more.

“I thought I killed every single monster back then… how are you guys still alive?”

“…The truth is… it is embarrassing, but we were hiding.”

“Does that mean you disobeyed Disis’s orders?”

“T-That’s because we were among those who used to serve Lady Disis relatively closely even in normal times… so a certain degree of autonomous maneuver was possible for us. That is how we suppressed our instincts and somehow, somehow managed to….”

“Ah….”

“Therefore, we were just loitering around the front of this gate to serve you as our new master when you returned, Sword God… but suddenly those wenches appeared and started blasting mana at us….”

But right at that moment, Disis crossed the gate right behind me.

Then, beholding the sight of the dragons, her eyes went wide.

“Oh, you guys….?”

“L-Lady Disis!?”

“You were alive…!!”

“O-Our master….”

The three Transcendent Dragons shed tears of overwhelming emotion.

The way these bastards—who had hidden out of pure cowardice when Disis was dying by my hand—were acting like loyal subjects now was a bit pathetic, but….

Hmm… it felt like I had just secured some rather useful playthings, didn’t it…?