We had a great lunch thanks to Lina's cooking. She's blushed as usual when I praised her.
One of the chefs also come out and ask me to come again whenever I had more fishes. Since most fisherman stopped going out to the sea, the supply of fish coming low. So they asked me to bring them some if I found more. Of course they will pay me.
I'm the one who started the rumor but I'm getting paid. Other than the embarrassment, there's nothing else I can complain about. I just hope the girls won't tell anyone the truth.
"I'm going back to the sea in a while. What about you girls?"
"I'll try to sell your finding today. If I could sell some of them today, you can get your money faster. I'll bring Lina with me."
"No."
Sam trying to sell the jewelries I found and taking Lina with her but Lina refused.
"Lina, please help her."
"If that's what master desire."
"…she's totally your maid now."
"Isn't that great? Lina, unless it's difficult, I want you to help Sam in any way you can. After all, she's my partner."
"Understood. I will help her to the best of my ability."
"What about you, Kayla?"
This time, I asked Kayla about her schedule today.
"I want to learn more about dungeon. I heard that there's a dungeon nearby. The three of us will collect some information about it."
"You want to explore dungeon?"
"Maybe. I want to learn about it first."
"Okay. If you want to go there, bring me along."
There's a dungeon in this world. Although not many of them and they are not popular. Only few hunters and explorers want to go there. After all, it's a monsters' den.
It was said that the monsters in this world, are come from the dungeon. They leave the dungeon and live in the wild. I don't know the truth about it, and no one does.
Dungeon usually is a closed space where monsters appear. They seem to be endless amount of them. There's a story about some group of powerful mage who conquered dungeon, but the monsters still appear even after they reached the lowest floor.
Other than monsters, there are also some treasure that can only appear in the dungeon. Sometimes, it's a magic item, or maybe even an elixir. But they are rare and can only be found deeper in the dungeon.
Most of the people who enters, are those who wants to get rich quickly. Ignoring the risk. But the rate of people who succeeded dungeon exploring, is lower than the people who died inside the dungeon.
Maybe if I enter there, I could find a super strong magic weapon. But I already have Blobby so it's not important to me.
I have never went inside a dungeon in the past. Although I'm interested in the treasure, the monsters inside is stronger than monsters in the wild. I might encounter another monster more powerful than the mutated Orc Emperor. But maybe if I had a party…
"Roy, you interested in dungeon exploring?"
"Yes. I have never enter a dungeon before."
"What about the cave where you find that fruit? Does that count as a dungeon?"
That fruit? She must mean Pear-y Fruit. If I think about it, it's quite similar to a dungeon. A closed space, a monster, and a treasure. But there's only one monster there. Maybe I should check again. Who knows if the guild will reward me for discovering a dungeon?
"There was only one monster there so I don't know yet. What about you girls?"
"We're interested in going there, but it might be difficult in our current level. As a mage, fighting in a closed space is difficult. How about we all go there tomorrow for a test? If we found the exploring is doable, we can continue later. We have Roy after all."
Kayla is right. Being a mage, fighting using magic in a closed space is hard. That's also one reason why not many mage want to enter.
As for me, I fight in a close combat. So it should be easier for me. And I also have experience in fighting in a closed space. But if I have to choose, I would rather fight outside than inside.
I have fought against an Orc Emperor outside, and against the All-seeing Eye inside. For me, fighting inside is much easier. Although I had restriction back then with not using magic or having companion with me, now I don't have them anymore. If I have to fight All-seeing eye again, I can win easily if I can use my air magic. Having air element magic won't make me out of breath.
But I would rather fight outside. Because fighting in the wild means I have multiple escape route I can take if I can't win the battle. In a closed area, there would usually be just one escape route. Which mean it was easy to block and makes me unable to escape.
If I'm someone who wants to gain achievements and want to win no matter what, I would challenge a dungeon. But I'm someone who values my own life after I lost it. So I would choose to fight in a place where my escape route is clear.
But if I'm with a party, we can watch each other's back and someone can also secure the escape route. Maybe it's fine to explore it.
"Then let's go tomorrow. After today, I think I can get more treasures to last for a month or so. I'll bring them later to Sam."
"Master, can I join your exploration tomorrow?"
"Hmm? Are you sure? What about you girls?"
"I'm fine with it."
"Me too."
"If Kayla and Sophie already agreed, I have no reason to refuse then."
"You can just say okay or something, Angela. Sam, is she free tomorrow?"
"I might need to find some buyers to sell your jewelries. But if can take care most of it today, I can handle everything on my own tomorrow."
I think she has changed a lot. Sam used to be a gang leader and moneylender. But now she's doing a clean job of being a merchant, she's totally different from when she just allow her subordinates do whatever evil stuffs they want.
After finishing our meals and have some more chats, I returned to the sea.
I'm going to take all the treasures left in the ship and took them to the island where I rested back then. I think that's an empty land and no one goes there. I can just dig up a hole and bury the treasures there.
Later that evening, I brought some more fishes for the restaurant. After another delicious dinner, I prepared to take a bath. But the employee stopped me.
"Excuse me. I'm sorry but the male bath can't be used now. The water is slightly muddy so we can't let our customers bathe over there. We're sorry for the inconvenience."
"Hmm… Then what should I do. I just went swimming today so I smell like a sea now. I really need a bath. Don't tell me it turned into a mixed bath?"
"You wish! There's no way that happened… right?"
Angela always loves to hit me in a moment like this. Can't I just enjoy a mixed bath?
"There's no mixed bath. But the women's bath is currently used as the men's bath. Women can enter it later after the men's turn."
"So the girls will enter after the boys?"
"That's right."
"So we can't enter it right now. What time will it be for the girls to have their turn?"
Angela asked the employee. Seems like she also planned to take a bath.
"In 2 hours. At 9 o'clock it will be the girls' turn."
"Alright. If that's the case, I'll take a bath before the girls. But I need to get some air first before I take a bath. I'll be back at 8:59."
Yup. That's my plan. To take a walk around until 8:59. Then it's still the men's bath at that time. Let's leave before Angela hit me again.
"AAAAH! It hurts! Don't pull my ear!"
She didn't hit me. But she pulled my ear real hard.
"No waiting! You! Bathe! Now!"
"Okay-okay! I'll take a bath now!"
I used my special ability this time since I can't get some air. It's one I used against the Orc Emperor.
Shameless Survival Arts!
Stalling Time Skill: Slow Walking!
I think it's better to name it Shameless Arts now. There's nothing about survival here.
"Run or I'll pull your other ear."
Dammit. I lost to her 'kind' persuasion. I have no choice but to take a long relaxing bath. 5 hours should be enough.
"And don't even try to take a long bath for hours. One hour max! No more than that!"
"Yes, Ma'am!"
She's really persuasive. I can't do anything about it.
The only thing I can do is to watch them from my room.
"And don't use your see-through vision again!"
…no promises there.