Going on the trip, I won't be able to enter the hidden dungeon for a while. If I go straight home, the master will be complaining again, so I drop by the 2nd floor.

As soon as I come into the room I'm surprised by an intense voice that's bound to make one's heart skip a beat.

『Aaah! Aaah! Amazing, tonight you are so intense!』

「…Master.」

『I've never… Felt… Soo good! You are better than my husband!』

「…I think even a cat in heat would make better sounds.」

『Oh no, Noir-kun, you were here?!』

No, no, no, your second line, you were doing this fully aware that I'm around. I had my suspicions but asked what she was doing anyway.

Her answer completely in line with my expectations, in reverse, puts me at ease.

『I was running the simulation of a steamy night~. You are so fierce, Noir-kun, it doesn't match your appearance at all.』

「I was your partner?!」

『Nahahaha~!』

「…Master, you don't have a husband.」

『But don't men like such words? I think it's silly though.』

Well, I think there are some men in this world who enjoy that sort of thing.

I'm normal though, so I have no such preferences.

Putting jokes aside, I make my report on the results this time. The magma fish was fine, but I ask for advice on the weapons that were next.

『If we are going with the premise that there is a jackpot weapon, then you will have to interview them one by one.』

「But there is a whole bunch, and if they are going to pretend to be nice then it will be even tougher.」

『How about constantly threatening them like 「I'll break you」 or something?』

As expected of my master.

Thank you very much for the helpful advice. Let's try it the next meeting.

Since the plan was finalized I tell the master about going on the trip and she threw a tantrum just as I expected.

Even when I told her that I will bring some interesting stories it's still not good.

『Then, as an apology, stroke my head. If while doing that you will praise me with all you got, I will give you permission for the trip.』

It can't be helped. I put my hand on the master's beautiful blue hair. Touching them provided a delicate sensation that wouldn't allow one to suspect that she spent two hundred years here.

As per your request, I shall pat you. Without forgetting to also give praise.

「Today you are fantastic as well, master.」

『Ah, so gladsome.』

Even though I heard those words for the first time, why do they feel so ancient? After that, I heard 「gladsome」 around a hundred more times.

『Bye, bye, my beloved husband.』

「Don't make me a victim of NTR!　…Then, I will return.」

Yees, replied my master. Even though she has both of her hands bound by chains I felt like she was waving a hand to me, how mysterious.

When I returned to a moonlit city, I headed home without stopping anywhere and went straight to sleep. Dungeon capture is tiresome after all.

Morning, at the usual dining table, I told everyone about brother's letter. Father, mother, and Toramaru agreed to me going on the trip.

「He certainly isn't doing anything decent. If you'd like you can even give him a spanking.」

「Dear, you are not doing anything decent yourself. Right, Toramaru?」

Toramaru… A giant lion with a flower growing from his head… Completely familiarized to the family and now was a part of it.

『Yesterday, he was looking at the behind of a female customer so much that he dropped and broke merchandise.』

「T-that not true!　 That was because her b.u.t.t… Had a bug sitting on it!」

There was no one in Stalgia household who believed father's excuse. Ignoring panicking father, Toramaru says a bit enviously.

『I would like to meet Noir's brother as well.』

「Want to come as well?」

『No, if I were to go it surely will become an uproar. Besides, the rare shop is quite busy.』

Rare Shop・Stalgia.It is a shop run by my family. It sells curios that I discover in the dungeon or raw materials a.s.sembled by Toramaru.

『Occasionally there are people attempting to shoplift or trying to get crazy cuts. I have to stay on guard outside.』

「You are such a hard worker. I entrust the rare shop to you.」

『Raawr.』

There is a force in his 「okay, leave it to me」 roar.

Those three are fine, but there is one person who is exhibiting strong opposition while showing rather amusing facial expressions. It's my little sister Alice. Perhaps her emotions reached the boiling point as she bangs on the desk.

「I'm against it! Meeting that person will give you a bad influence!」

Brother Gillan was creating all sort of trouble even when he was still here. Since he had good looks he kept starting new romances, so there was no end to quarrels.

Several girlfriends starting a fight over him at our house, or a man trying to beat him up for stealing his girl…

I remember receiving straight punch right into the face when I tried to interfere.

「Ugh, I'm starting to feel like maybe it would be better not to go.」

「Please don't. Being here is the best for Brother.」

「…But, since it's precious summer vacation, I will go and check brother's growth.」

「Ooh.」

I made Alice angry, but he even sent me a letter.

I also have a feeling that he has a personal request. I do have some good memories with my brother, so I can't just abandon him.

Equipped with my usual sword I make my way to the guild 『Odin』. I have to properly do my adventurer job as well.

As soon as I get inside I spot Emma. On top of being gorgeous, she was having a conversation with two men, so she stood out. Are they acquainted? Doesn't seem that way.

「As I said, I am already in a party.」

「Then let's go on shopping together tomorrow. We might not look like it but we actually earn a lot. We can buy you some clothes.」

「I really don't need that.」

Emma scratches her cheek over and over. Since I knew that was a gesture she often made when she was troubled, I move in to help her.

As I called out to her she runs over and hugs me.

「I'm in the party with him. That's enough.」

「Tch.」

When Emma told them that, they clicked tongues annoyed and left the guild.

「You are as popular as always.」

「I was bothered by their persistence. You always have an awfully good timing, are you perhaps watching me?」

「I'm not a stalker.」

「Ehehe, more importantly, we have to acc.u.mulate LP.」

For a moment I was surprised. I thought she was about to kiss me at such a crowded place.

As expected, Emma wasn't that bold. She prolongs her a bit pa.s.sionate embrace. Not a lot, but I received LP.

「Yes, yes, yes, this is not a place for this though.」

And there, Laursan, the receptionist appointed to us forcibly separated us. I thought that before as well, but she is considerably strong. She might fare well as an adventurer.

「Hey, we were having a good time.」

「You know, I'm also working while suppressing the urge to embrace Noir-kun. Every day, during the work hours I have to endure with my imagination only.」

Said that Laursan takes my hand and sits me in front of the counter. She gets to work but she was sat not on the opposite side but next to me.

「We just got a good request. Noir-san is really a gentleman with good timing.」

「Ahaha… But it would be better if you sit on the opposite side.」

「Here, is, good.」

She says in my ear, articulating every sound. It's not like I don't like it, but we are gathering attention and it's embarra.s.sing.

But seriously going about work in this situation is just like her. Recently she has a good performance and is posted on the wall with top rank.

The request this time is to capture a speed turtle. Although it is a turtle it's not slow at all, and I have heard that catching it can be quite difficult.

「Catching just one will render 300.000 Ria. It looks like the client really wants it.」

「It resembles a green turtle and lives in the river, right?」

「Yes, please be careful, it's small but ferocious. And usually, there are monsters nearby.」

Emma seems to be enthusiastic as well, so let's take it.

「Please do your best. Soon, I will receive a twenty days long vacation. I'll be happy if I could go out with Noir-kun somewhere.」

As I was told that with a big happy smile, I was struck with sudden realization. Since her vacation was that long, I invite her on the trip to brother's town.

I'm in her care on a daily basis, and having fun with lots of people should be better. Laursan clasps her hands delighted.

「If it's an invitation from Noir-kun I will follow even to h.e.l.l.」

Great. Thus three members were decided. On our way to the river, Emma kicks pebbles looking annoyed.

「You didn't have to invite her. Laursan isn't strong, it's going to be dangerous.」

「Laursan's knowledge is amazing. Even if we are up against monsters, she likely to know ways of dealing with them that we do not.」

「I wanted a trip with just two of us…」

「Don't pout so much, come on, come over here.」

I pull her hand and enter into a s.p.a.ce between buildings. Standing in the dim and narrow place I embrace her for the first time today. When we were done, the bad mood from just a while ago completely vanished.

When Emma is happy, she is wriggling around gleefully.