While Mikoto-san and I were excitedly chatting over the muscle-pattern toad hide in Area 2-2――
「Master」
「Kii」
Nana-san and the giant rat, Trawistia-san, appeared.
「Excuse me for speaking while mounted」
「You are not on a horse though」
Nana-san addressed us while riding on Trawistia-san.
So technically she was not mounted on a horse. She was mounted on a rat.
「We split up and explored separately. How did things go on your side?」
「Ah, yeah. Mikoto-san elegantly defeated a toad」
「I see, I see. As expected of Mikoto-sama」
「Well, yes. Something like a toad is easy for me」
Mikoto-san accepted both my praise and Nana-san’s praise very straightforwardly.
Feeling a bit warm about it, I decided to show Nana-san our spoils as well.
「Look, we also got this kind of toad hide」
「A muscle pattern…… I see. You obtained something quite unique」
「Since we have it, I think I will try making a T-shirt with it」
「I see, I see. That sounds nice. Perhaps we should have Grandfather wear it」
As expected of Nana-san. She came up with the exact same idea as me.
「So then, how did things go on your side, Nana-san and Trawistia-san?」
「We also successfully defeated a toad. Though there was a somewhat dangerous moment along the way」
「Oh, is that so?」
「We were almost caught by the toad’s tongue attack」
Like a frog-type monster, the toad frequently uses an attack where it stretches out its tongue.
If you get caught by that tongue………… well, even if you get caught, it is not really a problem.
A toad does not have enough strength to pull a person or a large animal. It is annoying, but being caught is not particularly dangerous.
In fact, once the toad captures its target, it braces itself and tries to pull the prey. Because of that, it ends up stuck in place.
At that point, it becomes hard to tell which one has actually been captured.
……When you think about it like that, toads are actually pretty weak.
Maybe I should switch the toad and boar areas later……? Right now, boars appear in 1-3 and toads appear in 2-2, but having toads appear after boars feels out of order.
「By the way, what kind of toad hide did you get?」
「Let me see. Nothing particularly impressive……」
Even though Nana-san designed all those patterns herself……
「We also got a leopard pattern」
「A leopard pattern……」
That is certainly a pattern that is hard to comment on……
「I was thinking of turning it into clothes for Trawistia-san later」
「Kii!?」
Hearing Nana-san’s statement, Trawistia-san reacted in surprise. Apparently, this was the first time hearing about it.
Also, she plans to put leopard-pattern clothes on Trawistia-san, who is a rat…… As always, Nana-san’s sense of style is rather unique……
「Ah, if Mikoto-sama wishes, I’ll give it to you?」
「A leopard pattern…… No, I am fine」
Mikoto-san paused for a moment as if considering it, but it seems leopard patterns are not really her preference.
……I see, she will not wear it.
A small part of me kind of wanted to see Mikoto-san wearing a leopard-pattern bikini. Well, just a little……
◇
After various things, the four of us gathered again and continued exploring the dungeon. Our party consisted of an elf, a dungeon, a god, and a giant rat.
We went around the areas where even the god and the giant rat seemed capable of defeating the monsters.
After covering a fair number of areas and gaining a reasonable amount of experience, we moved to the forest area of 2-1. It was time for a short break.
「Good boy, good boy」
「Kii」
Even during the break, Mikoto-san still had energy to spare and was playing with Trawistia-san.
Mikoto-san would throw a stick, and Trawistia-san would go pick it up and bring it back. It was the kind of game dogs tend to enjoy.
Incidentally, the stick was made from a branch of the World Tree.
In other words, it was a World Tree stick.
After making the World Tree Hammer, I still had some branches left, so I decided to make it. It was a stick meant for playing with Trawistia-san, just like what Mikoto-san was doing now.
After making it, I wondered whether it would be alright for Trawistia-san to chew on something so hard…… but instead of biting it, Trawistia-san simply picked up the thrown World Tree stick with his hands and carried it back.
You know…… at this point, instead of playing fetch with a stick, maybe they should just use a ball and play catch directly……
Anyway, as I watched the two of them and absentmindedly drifted into thought――
「Is something wrong?」
「Ah, no」
Nana-san noticed my expression and spoke to me.
「I was just thinking about something」
「Thinking about something……? What could it be? Is it about the plan to build a villa in this area?」
「Ah. No, it is not that」
It is true that I end up thinking about that every time I come to this area.
However, that is not what I was thinking about. Besides, I will be leaving for my journey soon, and with that in mind I do not really feel like building a villa right now.
「I see. Then what is it? Is it the fact that Trawistia-san’s 『Agility』 might surpass yours very soon, Master?」
「No, that is not it either. ……Well, that is something to be happy about. Yes, definitely something to be happy about……」
Trawistia-san leveled up a little while ago, and his 『Agility』 stat increased by two points. That brings Trawistia-san’s 『Agility』 to 4.
Since he even said he wanted to travel with me on his back, perhaps this is the result of his efforts toward that goal.
If I think about it that way, it really is something to be happy about. Yes, something to be happy about……
If his 『Agility』 increases by two again next time, he will already match my 『Agility』, but surely that is something to celebrate……
「But that is not it――」
「Then is it about the plan to make a hamster wheel for Trawistia-san?」
「Ham? Huh?」
A hamster wheel…… that must be the running wheel inside a cage that pet hamsters use for exercise, right?
Wait, we are making one of those for Trawistia-san? When did that plan even appear……?
「Ah, that sounds great, Nana-san. I would also like to see Trawistia running inside that」
「Of course, of course」
Even Mikoto-san, who had been throwing the stick nearby, began agreeing with Nana-san’s plan.
That said, Trawistia-san is fairly large. If we make a running wheel that matches his size, it would probably become quite a large piece of equipment……
Still, would it be better to make one for Trawistia-san’s sake?
If we do make it, where would we even install it? Could I even build it myself? Jered-papa…… no, in this case maybe Fleur-san? If I asked Fleur-san for help――
「Kii」
「Eh? Ah, yes, that is true. ――Anyway, I was not actually thinking about a running wheel, Nana-san」
「Oh, I see」
Just as I was about to get carried away by the two of them, Trawistia-san pulled me back.
That was close. I almost got talked into making a running wheel because of Nana-san.
――I almost got talked into making a running wheel!
「So in the end, Master, what exactly were you thinking about――why are you grinning like that……?」
「Ah, sorry」
I ended up grinning because I thought of a rather clever line.
「What I was thinking about was the world journey」
「I see, I see. It really is coming soon. Diana-sama’s birthday is in――」
「Exactly one week. One week from now, Diana-chan will turn fifteen」
And once that happens, it will finally be time to depart.
I will need to tell everyone about the journey that I have been keeping secret until now. Then I will prepare for the trip…… I suppose I will actually leave in about two weeks.
……Wow, I really will be leaving in just two weeks. Realizing that again makes me feel a bit restless.
「It really is soon…… I see, so the time has finally come……」
「Yes. It is almost here」
「Soon you will report the journey to Ralina-sama……」
「…………」
That is the part Nana-san is concerned about……?
Well, yes. That is certainly a rather difficult issue……
「Please do your best, Master」
「Yes. Well, thank you, Nana-san」
「I pray for your safety. Please be very careful……」
「Yes……」
I wish she would not make it sound so dramatic. It makes me nervous……
「It is frustrating that I cannot be of help with this matter」
「…………」
That felt like a subtle preemptive excuse. It felt like she was indirectly declaring, 『I will not be helping with this』.
「S-sorry, Alec-kun. I do not think I can be of help either……」
「Sigh」
Even Mikoto-san joined in.
「As you can see, Mikoto-sama and I both have a bit of trauma regarding Ralina-sama, so we cannot assist you」
「Yes, that is fine……」
I had planned to tell her by myself from the beginning, so it is not really a problem……
「Ah, How about taking Trawistia-san with you? It might have an animal therapy effect」
「Ki!?」
Suddenly being brought into the conversation, Trawistia-san reacted in great surprise.
At this point, he was practically being treated like a sacrifice…… With the leopard-pattern clothes and now animal therapy, Nana-san keeps throwing one trial after another at Trawistia-san……
「No, it is alright, Nana-san. I will talk to her alone」
「I see…… Nana Ambrotivi von Ratrius D. Macmillan Tetestetes Vanessa Ako Marcellit El Rosemary Yamada is deeply impressed by Master’s courage and resolve」
「……Thank you」
Well, if I bring someone along, it probably will not end well anyway……
Although part of me thinks bringing Trawistia-san might actually lead to a surprisingly good outcome, it still feels a bit unfair to him.
By the way, regarding reporting the journey to Ralina-chan, which scared these three so much――Jisrare-san offered to go with me.
As expected of the partner who will travel with me. Even in a situation like this, she is willing to step forward and help.
……However, I politely declined that offer.
If Jisrare-san, who possesses a natural talent for provoking people, were to be present, it would definitely not end well. I could only imagine a future where she provokes Ralina-chan again and again……
next chapter: I Did Not Want to Put You in Danger
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