Oil.

Previously: As expected, Miria likes fish and Gozer is a man of the world.

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“I’ll do it.”

When Gozer asked, I agreed to escort the men who would take over the purchasing of mirrors at Palmasque.

A bit of after-sale service is required.

Well.

I’ve never been into the urban area of Palmasque.

It would be impossible for me to guide them.

“I appreciate it.”

“I understand, we won’t take a full party of my people.”

Should I take two people? Sherry and someone else?

The previous times I’ve taken everyone.

Palmasque also has a fee to enter.

“There’s a fee for everyone entering Palmasque as well.”

“I appreciate it.”

“Alright. We won’t be heading there immediately, I’ll contact you when we’re ready. Thank you in advance.”

That works out well.

I won’t be able to take all my party members if the Duke’s men come along, so I’ll take everyone including Rutina next time.

I might also give off the impression of being a country b.u.mpkin if I enter Palmasque.

Even if I could go to s.h.i.+buya without seeming out of place, if there were unusual buildings I’d still look around.

You only expect these things from b.u.mpkin’s and tourists, locals would look down on tourists like they are b.u.mpkins.

Local people, and even Rutina could easily see that I’m a b.u.mpkin or a tourist.

First I’ll take the people from Hartz’s knights order, and then I’ll take Rutina after I’m accustomed to Palmasque.

I don’t care if I look like a tourist in front of them.

I don’t want to give that impression infront of Rutina though.

After talking to Gozer, I returned home.

I need to get back and eat quickly.

After returning to the house in a hurry, n.o.body was angry yet, though fish was already piled up on a plate.

A big catch.

How did it get like that?

Well, I can understand it.

It was possible that I’d be at the Duke’s during time to eat.

Miria would have a.s.sumed that everything I gave her should be used.

However, I finished the discussion with Gozer and returned rather quickly. I’m surprised they managed to deep fry everything in such a short amount of time.

Miria was probably deep frying in the kitchen while emitting a demonic aura.

Escaping was the correct answer.

“Welcome home.”

“Welcome, desu.”

When I exchange greetings with Roxanne, Miria notices that I’ve come home.

I don’t think that’s the reason.

There’s also the job of making the feather futon that we need to do.

“It looks good.”

“Yes, desu.”

It looks like the amount of pieces might have decreased because of tasting, but that’s not a problem.

“Is breakfast ready?”

“Yes.”

Roxanne gives me a wry smile.

She won’t complain about making breakfast, but it might have been rather hot.

I go to the dining table.

It might have been too much for Miria to carry.

Miria takes up her position at the table, and alternates between looking at me and the fried fish.

If she doesn’t wait until I serve the soup then Roxanne will get angry.

“Good. Let’s eat.”

I finished serving the soup and declared the start of breakfast, then quickly grabbed some of the fried fish.

There isn’t much difference in colour and smell either.

It’s a little worrisome.

First of all, it isn’t the colour of oil, it’s the colour of cooked breadcrumbs.

It looks like tempura.

It has a good smell, but nothing special.

Roxanne and Sherry watch as I try the fried fish, while Miria reaches to get herself some.

It’s not bad.

This kind of thing.

How should I describe it?

Mmmmmm.

Not bad. Not bad at all.

It’s delicious. Really delicious.

It has a crunchy coating, and a sweet texture once you bite into it, the flavour just melts in your mouth.

“The camellia oil is great.”

“It’s wonderful.”

“This level of taste would normally only appear at the feudal lords meeting.”

Oh?

Mmmm.

So everyone thinks it’s good?

It’s a sweet feeling.

It’s sweet, but it’s not sweet.

I don’t even understand what I’m thinking, but this is the best way to explain the taste.

So it was good that we used the camellia oil?

That doesn’t really matter.

Everyone is pleased, so everything is fine.

There are other things we can talk about while eating.

“Yes.”

“It’s not part of the candle, but I should use a board.”

“A board?”

The board is the dropped item from the Rub Shrub.

Do you burn it?

“The board is for making a stick, which is a counter-measure for the Beep Sheep.”

Oh, you don’t burn it?

Sherry’s talking about something else.

“A stick?”

“It’s a weapon with very low damage, and can be used to wake people up when they fall asleep.”

So you use it when somebody falls asleep.

The Beep Sheep is a demon who emits a sound that causes sleep.

It’s the boss from the 4th floor in Quratar’s labyrinth, so it will be on the 37th floor.

“I see, so it will wake up anyone that falls asleep.”

“Not everyone needs to have one, maybe two… three… four… five of us.”

That’s almost everyone.

Since Sherry can make it, everyone can easily have one.

In the evening, Sherry makes the sticks.

They might not be very strong, but I still think it would be a bit painful.

I would have made a paper fan.

Sherry also used the waste oil to make candles.

I watched the whole process.

It was very simple.

So we can make our own candles from now on?

If I consider the cost of beeswax, oil, and the time spent making it, then it probably works out about the same.

A candle doesn’t compare to a florescent light when it comes to keeping the dark at bay however.

The oil ma.s.sage performed in the bathroom under candle light later is special though.

The light reflects from the oil with a fascinating s.h.i.+ne.

The oil rubs smoothly along the skin.

The l.u.s.trous skin with the glossy oil.

It’s no wonder it’s called a maid’s taste.

You don’t know true pleasure without knowing of this.

You can’t talk about a man’s dream without knowing of this.

I can feel my blood heating up as I rub their soft skin.

The next morning, my vigor has increased a hundred fold, and I charge in to attack the labyrinth.

Well, it feels like a hundred fold after the oil ma.s.sage, even if it isn’t really a hundred fold.

The boss of the 36th floor of Quratar’s labyrinth is the Spike Spider.

It’s height is well above Sherry.

Also, it lifts it’s front legs and swings them down violently.

It feels like they might be able to pierce a hole through the floor of the labyrinth.

It wouldn’t be good to fall victim to such a blow.

The attack is avoided, avoided, and avoided again.

As expected of Roxanne.

But, there’s two bosses from the 34th floor onwards.

Even through the Spike Spider is large, and lifts it legs high, it’s not high enough the be a threat to Vesta.

It raises it’s legs and then swings them down, and Vesta goes for it.

Every time the legs come down Vesta tries to attack it with her sword.

Still, the opponent is a demon.

Every now and then Vesta is. .h.i.t by a blow.

She’s fine though. As expected of Vesta.

On the other hand, because of the difficulty, the damage she’s doing isn’t that much against the spider either.

As long as she’s holding off the attacks, it’s Miria’s turn to act.

Miria does many small attacks against the demon that Vesta is keeping busy until it becomes petrified.

Miria can now attack it until it’s petrified, or until it’s defeated by my magic.

Roxanne is treating it like something trivial.

No extra demons will appear no matter how long you spend in the boss room, so it’s safe here.

Miria ends up petrifying the second one, and the fight against the Spike Spiders comes to an end.

“It seems we are fine against the 36th floor boss.”

Even if the Spike Spider was a Mosaic Spider, it wouldn’t compare to the oil ma.s.sage.

Well, that kind of power wouldn’t be good.

“There doesn’t really seem to be any problems.”

“I think it’s alright.”

“I can’t stop here if I want to make it to the feudal lords meeting.”

I’m not worried about Roxanne, but if Vesta’s fine with it after taking on the second demon then it should be fine.