Chapter 40

Chapter 40: That time when I was invited to a temporary party

TL: kizen

ED: unedited

I lazed around with Suzuran the next morning so it was almost evening when I reached the town . I inserted the key into the keyhole but when I turned it, I couldnt hear the sound of it opening . I thought I might have just forgotten to lock the door but when I opened it, Latte was there .

Caam-ku~un, welcome baack~

Latte suddenly jumped at me and rubbed her forehead on my chest .

Im back . And also, how did you get into my room without the key?

I tried asking while patting her head .

Eh? I just asked Kiska-san to open it for me you know~?

Haa, my head hurts .

Now that I think about it, it was the same during the time Suzuran came here as well . Should I just completely let go of my previous lifes common sense, I wonder?

Yeah yeah, Im going to put down my luggage so let go of me for a bit . I also have a souvenir for you

Really!? That makes me happy~ . What is it, what is it~?

It might not look good since I just made it myself but its a hair ornament similar to the one Suzuran has . It has a different shape though

After saying that, I took out the Cosmos hair ornament that I carefully wrapped so that it wont break and showed it to her .

How cute . What flower is it?

Its a Cosmos1

I dont know if theres a flower like that in this world though .

Hmm~ . The pink and red on white is pretty, isnt it~? . Hey, put it on me~**

Really? Well then

After saying that, I took a quarter of her forelocks and used the hairpin to hold it by the side of her head .

Un, it really suits your white hair well

Let me see, let me see~

She took out a really small mirror from something that looks like a small bag . Is that some kind of makeup pouch?

Thanks~ . Ehehe

With a smile on her face, she kept touching the hairpin and looking at it from different angles . Thats pretty cute in a different way from Suzuran .

While she was doing that, there was a sudden knock on the door .

Coming~

Why are you the one answering it!?

Sorry for ruining your fun time but there was a letter that came for Caam

The other party was a man so it would be better for you to turn him down quickly

Haa? Is this that kind of letter?

I didnt look at the contents of course but I just thought it would be interesting if that were the case

Please dont assume weird things just because you think it would be interesting

Well, either way, its still better if you act quickly

After saying that, she left .

Hmm, whats this? An invitation to a temporary party?

I havent read it thoroughly yet but I can probably guess what this is about .

Hn~? What does it say?

Well, to summarize, Ive been asked to help obtain an undamaged slimes core

HeeUndamaged, is it? That would be difficult you know~

Well, I havent fought a slime before so I wouldnt know

It would immediately weaken once you damage the core so you try to aim for it when you attack but before you even reach it, it would move its core around to protect itself . Its also hard to cut is because the soft part can recover quickly . Thats the reason why you need two people to deal with it . Taking that into consideration, asking to obtain an undamaged core is pretty unreasonable, isnt it~?

Hmm, I see . Well, it seems like I can meet them at the guild to ask questions so Ill just go and hear them out

Ehh? Already~? But I wanted to flirt with you a bit more~

Yeah yeah, once I get back okay? Ill be going now because it seems like the other party wants to get in touch with me as soon as possible

Kay~ . Im just going to roll around on your bed

Dont make a mess okay?

I wont! Im just going to sniff your pillow!

Ah, sure sure . Just dont strain yourself

After saying that, I left for the guild branch .

Ahh~, Caam-kuns scent

As I went out the door, that happened . I would really appreciate it if you would lower your voice a bit more Seriously

*

There werent a lot of people as usual when I entered the guild so I just headed straight for the rabbit-eared onee-sans desk to try and ask her .

Excuse me . My name is Caam and I received a letter from someone called Fader inviting me to be a part of a temporary party but, have you heard anything about this?

Yes . Could you present your card and wait for a moment please?

With that, she pulled out some documents and quickly flipped through them . After that, she took out one of the sheets .

Here it is . There certainly has been a request from Fader-sama to form a temporary party . It says here that he will be waiting at the bar by the gates for a few days for Caam-samas reply . Im sorry to be a bother but if youre heading there, could you please take this documents with you?

Got it . Ill try going there since I wont know anything if I dont hear his story

Then, to confirm that it has been received, could you please sign here?

Okay

After signing, I received the documents then decided to go to the bar by the gate .

After entering the bar, I called out the clients name then an imposing, cat-eared young man came to me and asked .

You are Caam-san, right?

Ah, yeah

After I replied, the young man guided me to a table to sit down .

Then, cutting to the chase, he immediately asked .

Are you here to accept?

He seems to be in a hurry .

I more or less got the gist of it from your letter and by asking the receptionist onee-san . However, I dont know the full details so I cant accept it yet . Thats why Im here

Ah, yes . To put it simply, it seems like an alchemist acquaintance of mine suddenly had a need for an undamaged core of a slime so they came to ask me

Yeah, I see . So, why did you ask me?

That is Thats because youre a pretty famous freelance magician in this town

Ha? Me?

Yes . Youre pretty famous you know? Youre mixing ingredients to make bricks even though youre a magician . Getting carried away, you mixed it into a huge mud ball that was seen all over town . Also, during the monster outbreak, even though it was just to wash away the blood, you made multiple waterballs . Moreover, you can even take on the vanguard role as well

Ah, I had no idea

We might be moving too quickly but Id like to talk about your compensation

Yeah, I dont mind

Im sorry to be rude but can I ask how much you make in a day?

Hmm I make 8 large copper a day making bricks in that Rank 1 quest of repairing the protective wall . There is a risk when fighting slimes how about we double that to 1 silver 6 large copper . We can also split the subjugation parts equally between us so, how about it?

Eh? Just that much?

Eh? Is that strange?

Was it too expensive I wonder? Hes considerably shaken for some reason .

No That is To be honest, thats too cheap . For someone like Caam-san who has a high amount of magic power and can continuously produce those kinds of magic without breaking a sweat, it would be rediculous to hire you for such a cheap price

Even if you say that, I havent really been hired before . Even that large monster outbreak was a request from the guild . I dont really know the market price because of that . How much do you think would be good?

Its best to ask what you dont know .

Lets see, it would usually depend on your own rank and the strongest monster you defeated on your previous subjugation request

Hmm, is that so? Then how would that work for someone whos Rank 4, can do both vanguard and rear guard roles, and subjugate a high goblin by himself? I really have no idea about this so to spare us from all the trouble, lets just go with the amount I said earlier

But

If I can also get paid for today then I dont see any problems . Also, please dont tell anybody else about this okay? Id hate it if rumors get out about me being cheap to hire . Even though Im like this, Im actually a coward and I absolutely hate dangerous things . If possible, I just want to live peacefully you know?

Eh? Ah, okay . I understand

Uhm, will it only be Fader-san and I?

No, theres one more person . My partner Stilo will be joining us making it three

Understood . Where is the place were going?

Leaving the gate, if we just head straight, well reach a swamp inside a forest in half a day using a horse

H-horse is it?

Ah, thats a relief . This is embarrassing to say but I dont know how to ride a horse . Its just a half day walk to here from my village so Ive only ridden a carriage once before

Its pretty uncommon for someone to not know how to ride a horse

I have completed all of my journeys with just my own feet after all

Its convenient if youre going to someplace far away you know? If you have a chance, it would be better for you to learn it

Well, Ill consider it . When do we depart?

It would be better if we leave as soon as possible so tomorrow the earliest and the day after tomorrow the latest

Hmm, how many days are we going to be away? I need to prepare food and daily necessities so leaving tomorrow might be too much

Like I said earlier, its only half a day away by horse . If we leave first thing in the morning, well be there by noon . If everything goes smoothly and we get the cores immediately, well be back here by night . The gates close at night though so well have to camp outside until they open . Its dangerous on the road to the forest and by the forests vicinity so even though it might be unreasonable, I want us to reach the gate in the middle of the night and just camp there .

That only if everything goes well . How about if it doesnt?

Well camp at a slightly further distance away from the forest . At that time, the three of us will have to take turns keeping watch

Then, it would be fine if I just make preparations for one nights stay then?

Yes . Even if we stay longer than that, well probably manage somehow if we hunt

What is the least number of undamaged cores required?

When I asked my acquaintance, they said that we should at least have two . Theres a lot of demand for it so it would help if we get more, or so they say

Got it . Then I gratefully accept this request

Really!? Thank you very much!

We stood up from our seats and he came close to shake my hand .

Then lets head out tomorrow morning . I think I can finish my preparation immediately but is it alright if I just prepare my own things?

Yeah . Well prepare other necessary things so it would be enough if you just focus on your own equipement

After that, we went over everything once more to make sure we didnt miss anything first then we separated .

First, I should tell the boss about this . After telling him that Im going to be away for a little while longer, I started making my preparations .

For the time being, six portions of some kind of portable food would be good I guess . Taking this opportunity, I also bought stuff for dinner . Latte is probably still doing something to my futon so I dont think shes eaten dinner yet .

Im back

Ah! W-welcome back~

Oh, uhmtake your time . Ill go make dinner

Err, she was on top of my bed, embracing my laundry in the nude while in ecstasy .

Ill just act like I didnt see anything . Iya I was careless since Im used to living alone .

This is probably how mothers of middle school boys feel . I really want to consult with Celesso-san right now .

After making dinner, I went back to my room . There wasnt a particular awkward mood between us as we ate together . Or rather, we just acted like nothing ever happened .

Hey, now that I think about it, how did it go with Suzuran-chans father? Did he get mad after all?

I was almost killed by my father

Why!?

Suzurans father said he cant complain if his daughter has already decided on it but my father was like, Do you have the strength to protect your women? . Because of that, we had a fight a serious fight before dinner

Was that because of me?

Probably

Its fine . I won so I got his consent

Uhm, did somebody get injured after all?

Ah, un . I almost lost my arm . At worst, I could have even gotten my ribs injured . I was somehow able to defend against it though

I wont specify how I won against father though .

Uhm, Im sorry that that happened because of me

Sorry sorry, we shouldnt be talking about this while eating . Thats right, I joined a temporary party and were leaving starting tomorrow . We plan return after two days but you dont have to mind me and just do whatever you want to my room

U-un . Thanks . It that really alright~?

She was a bit timid a while ago because she felt guilty but shes probably alright now since she went back to trailing the ends of her sentences .

Its fine . Ill ask the landlady to make a duplicate key so when thats finished, Ill give it to you

Ehehe~ . Thanks~

Ah, naturally, Ill give Suzuran one too

Of course . Giving me one but not Suzuran-chan is absolutely forbidden!

Well yeah, we would get killed after all .

After we finished eating, I started preparing for tomorrow . Latte was interested in it so she clung to my back to watch . I could feel her breast hitting me but I think thats probably on purpose so I just decided not to mind it .

Say Caam-kun~, you weapons and armor are pretty unique, arent they~

Really? The shovel is really convenient to say the least

But still, what about your armor? It wont be able to defend against swords, spears and arrows you know?

She traced my back with her fingers while saying that .

Either way, if the spots without armor get hit, I could still die so I figured it would be better if I just had one thats easy to move in

It was like this in my previous life as well . You may have a bullet-proof vest but if you get hit in the head or an artery in your arm or leg, youd die . On certain TV shows experiment where they equipped pigs meat with armor from the Middle Ages and shot it with a crossbow, it still pierced deep enough to hit the meat . Also, you may not get cut if you get hit by a sword or an axe but the impact looks like it would be enough to break a bone or two . Thats the reason why I decided not to depend on armor and just opt for something thats easy to move in from the start .

The things Im bringing with me are the usual medical supplies, food, sugar and salt, and some fruits . As an insurance, Ill bring along with me some recovery potions but if the worst happens, Ill just have to use my recovery magic .

Hmm, its true that there are people who prefer to fight with light equipment and I havent seen magicians who wears armor so I guess its the same as that .

After saying that, she once again clung to my back . This time she started rubbing her cheeks against me . Im more or less done with my preparations but I didnt stand up and just let her do as she pleases . Then she became quiet and gradually stopped rubbing her cheeks against me .

Im not sure if its because of her excitement but she got even closer and started tracing her tongue from the back of my neck to my ear .

I give up . I have to leave first thing in the morning but with the mood were in right now, I cant really tell her that I dont want to do it today, can I? I still want to go to the baths after this though .

While I was thinking that, Latte went around and faced me while sitting on my lap . Then she started pestering me by kissing my neck .

*

Okay It might The may be an old man inside but the body is really is that of a 10-year-old . 2

I was engulfed in a completely different mood from Suzuran . I was still able to take my bath but it 3 hours later than planned .

Its good that I was able to sleep before the date changed though . I dont want to be sleep deprived and be a bother while were out on the field after all .