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TL: ALT
Chapter 26 – Drop-off Point and Next Targets
After that, Haruka-san was not feeling well, so she retired, and the three of us, myself, Serika, and Honoka, decided to have lunch.
This Tengumine Shrine has become a bit of a tourist spot.
It has been featured as a power spot on television and in magazines and is said to be visited by people who love spirituality.
In fact, the shrine in the misty depths of the mountains seems mysterious enough to me, even though I have no spiritual sense.
There is a lodging house on the grounds of the shrine that used to be an inn for ascetic practitioners, and we are now in the dining room of the inn.
“I am so sorry. I knew it was my fault that Haruka-san got sick, didn’t I? I knew she was sick, but I just got upset and did that…”
Serika blurts out while eating.
What bothers Serika is the fact that she confronted Haruka-san and told her not to take advantage of me.
That was certainly scary.
It was much more intimidating than the Gigant Rock Golem.
“I don’t think so. Mother must have been too excited to see the guests… She likes to entertain people.”
And Honoka continued.
By the way, about the elixir, which was the original purpose of the visit,
The elixir is to be given first, and the payment is to be made at a reasonable pace as soon as it can be arranged. As for the payment, we will trust the sincerity of the payer and will not set a deadline for the payment.
…It was decided to prepare a written document.
Not only is this document a legally valid contract, but Haruka-san plans to use her “Spirit Contract” skill on it.
Legally speaking, it might seem lenient not to give a deadline.
But in the case of a Spirit Contract, the part about “trusting the sincerity of the payer” is not an embellishment.
If you violate it, you will also lose the trust of the spirits until sufficient repayment is made.
Not only will they not be able to use skills that borrow power from the spirits, such as Spirit Magic, but it seems that losing the spirits’ trust is a very serious matter for the elves.
After signing this contract, Haruka-san, who is proud to be an elf, will not break her promise.
Well, even if there was no contract, I think Haruka-san would still be fine.
…I don’t really understand this ‘spirit’ thing either.
But Serika wanted to give the elixir for free, and I wanted to get the elixir and return it to Serika later.
There was no need for a contract, but Haruka-san said, “Outrageous!” and we agreed on that form.
“More importantly… I am sorry for what happened earlier. I never thought Mother would say something like that…”
Of course, what Honoka means is that she and Haruka-san will be my wives as mother and daughter.
I thought it was very forced, but when I think about Haruka-san’s position, I understand how she feels, if only a little.
She was transferred to another world, and there was no one around her to rely on.
In addition, she was unable to move satisfactorily due to illness.
She used to be an explorer, but now she is concentrating on her rest and recuperation.
With her financial resources dwindling, she does not know if she will be able to stay healthy―or even live―until her daughter grows up.
Then she wants Honoka, whom she seems to adore, to marry me so she won’t have to worry about her future.
I guess that’s how she came up with the out-of-control “marry both mother and daughter” plan.
Serika may have encouraged her.
“I’m honored that she trusts me so much.”
“Hmm. It’s nice that you were courted by a beautiful elf, Yuto.”
“I turned her down, didn’t I?”
“Really? It sounds like you left a subtle hint, doesn’t it? It sounded like a ‘let’s start by being friends first’ kind of response?”
“That’s a common way to say no, isn’t it? Oh no, it’s not that I don’t like Honoka or anything, but…”
“See, that’s how you give up hope. Can you say the same if Honoka-chan or Haruka-san really pushed you?”
Today, Serika is very busy being angry and happy.
If anything, I’m supposed to be the type of person who has mild emotional ups and downs.
I was at a loss for an answer, and Honoka bowed her head again.
“I’m really sorry. Yuto-san and Serika-san are very good lovers…”
“I-I’m not his lover!”
Serika stood up abruptly.
“Huh, you’re not?”
“Th-that’s not true! We are just childhood friends!”
Serika’s face turned bright red as she denied it.
…No, it hurts to be denied so much.
“Is that true? Serika-san, aren’t you hiding your embarrassment or something?”
“I-I do not hide my embarrassment!”
“That’s true. We’re just childhood friends,” I said.
“T-That’s right. We’re just childhood friends…”
Serika sits back in her chair with a sulky look on her face.
She’s so busy getting up and sitting down.
A lady, who seems to be a tourist, looks at us and laughs.
“But then… there was no reason for Serika-san to oppose Yuto-san’s marriage, was there?”
Honoka asks a very reasonable question.
“T-That’s… true, but… Well, if Yuto wanted to get m-married as a result of a proper relationship… I-I would support him… too, wouldn’t I?”
“I see.”
Honoka nodded her head with a hint of something in her voice.
For some reason, I get the feeling that “I see,” she said.
“Then, if my mother and I are able to win Yuto-san’s heart, Serika-san will bless our new beginning, won’t she?”
“U-uh!? Th-that’s…”
“Mother always says. ‘When you find the right man, you have to stick to him with all your might.'”
“Haruka-san is too carnivorous!”
I interrupted her unintentionally.
“That is true. She may look like that, but she is a woman who has risked her life for a love different from her own. When it comes to love, she is aggressive to the point of overflowing.”
…Now that she mentioned it, she was right.
“Because she had a daughter like me, my mother could never afford to enjoy love. In this world, it would be pointless if she’s to be discovered as an elf.”
“How did she manage to fool people?”
“Because my mother has the blessing of the spirits. To ordinary people in this world, she has to look like a Westerner. In order to see you two today, she deliberately broke free of that ability.”
“Honoka-chan, can’t you use that ability?”
Serika said.
As a half-human, Honoka does not have long ears like Haruka-san.
But her beauty, inherited from her elf mother, has been a source of trouble.
There’s nothing wrong with that person.
Honoka lowered her shoulders,
“Unfortunately.”
“I-I understand. I’m sorry.”
“No, it’s because I’m immature.”
The atmosphere was a bit awkward, and for a while, we concentrated on our food.
“Oh yeah, Honoka?”
I ask.
“Yeah, what is it?”
“There’s a dungeon at the Tengumine Shrine, isn’t there? Do you need a permit or something to go in there?”
In most cases, the land where the dungeon is located has been bought by the government or the Explorers Association.
Dungeons are the chickens that lay the golden eggs, but they are difficult for ordinary landowners to manage.
This is because it would be a disaster if a dungeon disaster such as the Flood were to occur due to poor management.
If it could be proven that the cause of the Flood was due to the management, they could be held liable for the damage caused by the Flood.
At present, however, little is known about why Floods occur and how they develop.
It is unlikely that a claim for damages will be allowed, but it is impossible to say that it will not happen in the future.
Therefore, in most cases, the rightful owners of the land or property where the dungeon occurred sell the property and the dungeon to the state or association.
The purchase price is said to be dozens of times higher than the market price of the surrounding land, so the owners make a huge profit.
However, according to a Wiki search, the owner of the “Tengumine Shrine Dungeon” within the grounds of this shrine is the Tengumine Shrine itself.
This means that this shrine somehow owns the dungeon located within its precincts without selling it.
“No, no special permission is required. Anyone can enter as long as they sign the book. Are you going to dive after that?”
“Since I came all the way down here, yes.”
Originally, the Tengumine Shrine dungeon was one of the candidates for the next dungeon I would dive into.
I eventually took it off the list because of its inaccessibility, but the content of the dungeon alone is quite a bit better than other B-rank dungeons.
I thought it would be a waste of time to commute here, but if there were such accommodations, I might stay and conquer it for a while.
I didn’t think a shrine would have accommodations (with hot spring baths) as good as Japanese inns.
“But Yuto, the Tengumine Shrine dungeon is a B-rank dungeon. Are you sure it’s okay for you to go up a rank when you were diving in a C-rank dungeon until yesterday?”
“Yes, I should have no problem as far as my ability is concerned.”
“Wow, that’s a lot of confidence. But I guess it makes sense after yesterday’s battle.”
“Aren’t you going to dive, Serika?”
“Hmm. At my level, even if I dive into a B-rank dungeon, it would be like… I mean, if you need help, will I go with you?”
“No, I only raid dungeons alone.”
“Oh, I see… you have that skill.”
“That’s right.”
Serika seemed convinced, but I reminded her that I had said before that I would explain why I had suddenly become so strong.
“Well, will you come with me for the first time? That way, I can show you how I conquer the dungeon.”
“Huh? Is that okay?”
“It would be fine with Serika.”
Originally, an explorer’s status and strategy should not be revealed to others without permission.
But from Serika’s point of view, it is natural to worry about whether her childhood friend, who until recently had been a recluse, was being reckless.
It might be useful to ask Serika, who is a high-level explorer, what she thinks about my current fighting style.
“Uhehe. It can’t be helped if you say so.”
Serika said happily.
I don’t think that ‘uhehe’ is necessary, though.
Honoka gave Serika an annoyed look and then said,
“I would like to help you too, but I have to take care of my mother.”
Serika had already given her the elixir, so she said she would try it at a time when she was in good shape.
There’s nothing I and Serika can do, but Honoka can stay by her side.
“That feeling alone is enough for me.”
So in the afternoon, we’ll tackle the B-rank dungeon, the Tengumine Shrine Dungeon.