Fateful Coincidences in Lemumni

"There's no coincidence quite like this one. Moments like these make me believe fate really does exist."

"I feel the same."

If Leonard had never possessed Pirumus—the Unbreakable Sword—if Jun had never chosen it as one of the rewards for his devotion, if Pirbyon had never taken an interest in Jun and decided to meet him, the odds of Pirbyon ever laying eyes on Pirumus would have been vanishingly small.

After all, Pirumus was a weapon that could almost certainly be elevated into a Relic—those weapons like holy swords or demon blades that form cores of their own. Everyone hoped to obtain one, and if they ever did, they would hide it away tightly so no one else could snatch it.

How many people would actually reveal such a weapon just because a single dwarf craftsman wanted to see it?

Jun would bet not a single one.

Huh? Then what about Juni? Juni went beyond just showing it to that uncle and even lent it to him completely.

Who would even imagine that someone like me, who hasn't set foot in the labyrinth yet, would be carrying a weapon like that? And there's no need to worry about Pirbyon running off with my sword. Just in case, we drew up a top-grade Divine Contract.

Originally Jun had planned to coax him gently into signing the Divine Contract—fortunately Carol already had one on hand—but the moment Pirbyon laid eyes on Pirumus, half his mind seemed to leave him, and he signed without the slightest hesitation.

Thanks to that, whenever Jun was not exploring the labyrinth he could lend Pirumus to Pirbyon, and in return he secured the industry's finest blacksmith as his exclusive craftsman.

For the record, an exclusive blacksmith was bound to keep absolute secrecy regarding every piece of gear the contractor owned, sell any weapons the contractor purchased at cost, and treat the contractor's commissions as top priority.

Really? Foru didn't know that~

You were too busy eating candy to read the contract properly, weren't you. You can't do that, Foru. Contracts have to be examined carefully no matter when or where.

Mmm. Foru's just gonna leave all that stuff to our Juni. Foru and Juni are one-heart-one-body husband and wife, so that's fine, right?

Haaah… Do whatever you want, Foru.

Ehehe. Foru loves Juni so, so much.

Ugh. You're all sticky. I told you to be careful not to get food on your face and hands while you eat!

Jun let out another inward sigh, pulled a damp cloth from his subspace, and wiped Fortuna's face and hands clean. She made soft little "nngh-nngh" sounds of protest like a child, yet still obediently offered her face and hands to him.

"Hehe. You two really get along wonderfully."

"Heehee. Of course! Juni and I are inseparable!"

"I'm envious. If I had a bond like that, it would be such a source of strength."

As she spoke, Carol cast a sidelong glance at Jun. Sensing the intense desire lurking behind her gentle eyes, he couldn't help but give a full-body shudder.

"Ha… haha. Anyway, where are we headed next? Time to open a bank account and get a card, right? Is there a bank inside the guild?"

"Hmm∼."

"Ca-Carol?"

The moment Jun tried to change the subject, Carol narrowed her eyes like a predator locking onto prey and let out a low, throaty hum. Startled, he looked at her—only for her to immediately smooth her expression into a gentle smile, as if nothing had happened.

Jun found himself just a little—only a tiny bit—more afraid of Carol.

"Yes, the guild does have a bank that handles all financial matters. But we won't be going there. We'll head to the reception desk in the central plaza instead. At this hour the bank is packed, and simply opening an account and card can be done at the reception desk as well."

"The central plaza—that's the place with the stage and the restaurants, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠right? Is it okay to go already? The zombies—ah, I mean, the people who still haven't recovered their senses—might still be everywhere."

"Don't worry. Most of them should have come to their senses by now. Given the nature of the Demon King's Castle—Lemumni's labyrinth—both the adventurers who explore it and the staff who manage it possess exceptional mental fortitude."

"If Carol says so, then it must be true. Let's go, then."

"Hehehe. Thank you for trusting me. Ah—but that doesn't mean you may take off that mask. Understood?"

Jun nodded and reached up to adjust the white mask covering his face. Carol then spoke carefully.

"But are you truly all right with that one? Wouldn't it be better to ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠exchange it for something else even now?"

"No. I like this one."

After the contract with Pirbyon was sealed, Carol had suggested they stop by the item warehouse near the slaughterhouse. The warehouse was where the guild stored items it judged useful; adventurers could rent or purchase them with points earned from completing guild requests. Those under Special Protection Status, like Jun, were granted the privilege of renting exactly one item free of charge.

The item he had obtained with that privilege was the white mask he now wore.

Pure white with black patterns and a small red magic stone set in the center, the mask looked like something a blue slime from some old tale might wear. Yet it was a full Gold-grade item. It possessed high defense, magic amplification, and a long list of extra functions befitting that grade—yet, just as Carol's reaction had suggested, people treated it like trash, leaving it to gather dust in the warehouse.

Can't really blame them.

As a Gold-grade item, simply renting the mask demanded an eye-watering number of points. Yet the functions actually useful in combat were few. Think otherwise? Seemed extremely useful for battle?

Certainly it might serve a front-line warrior or knight well. But a mask was a mage's piece of gear, not a warrior's—because it amplified magic rather than aura.

In any case, rear-line mages far preferred defensive functions that would keep them alive or offensive functions that could reverse a situation in a single stroke over mere conveniences. Naturally a mask lacking those was pushed out of consideration.

But not for me.

To Jun, every function of this magic mask was extremely useful. It might not help much in combat, yet for concealing a face it was the absolute best. Even knowing his face would drag him into all sorts of trouble, he had been covering it only with the robe's hood because ordinary masks were simply too uncomfortable. This one, however, felt as if he weren't wearing anything at all. He could now walk around masked without pointless stress.

Above all, as the name and description suggested, the magic mask formed a set with the robe he currently wore—Premium's Magic Robe.

I can't resist completing a set.

It offered set effects and the simple fun of collecting the pieces. How could he possibly choose anything else?

"Since you're so firm about it, I won't press further. Um… you aren't upset that I meddled too much, are you?"

"Why would something this small upset me? Next time you have a good suggestion, don't hesitate to speak up."

When he shook his head and answered that way, Carol's cautious expression finally relaxed. Was the faint flush on her cheeks merely his imagination?

Jun, I told you not to go wagging your tail at just anyone!

What did I even do? ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠My face is completely covered.

Your voice and body scent are still there.

…And what exactly am I supposed to do about that? This is all whose fault in the first place?

Squelch!

Hyeeng∼

Feeling a petty surge of irritation, he delivered a little punishment to the sulking angel. While that was happening they reached the central plaza once more.

Clack!

The moment Carol opened the corridor door, the distant murmur of voices cut off all at once. Immediately afterward Jun felt a great many gazes lock onto him. Somehow there seemed to be far more people than before—surely he was imagining it?

He tugged the robe's hood down over his already-masked face for good measure and asked Carol,

"Are you sure this is really okay?"

"Pardon? Yes, of course. Just trust me. If anyone tries to rush us, I'll throw my own body in the way to protect you, Jun."

"No, please don't do that. My specialty is escaping."

"Hehe. You really are good at jokes, Jun."

I'm serious, though.

It was no joke—from the instant he stepped into the central plaza Jun had been earnestly calculating escape routes, as if it were an old habit.

Is this actually my true calling?

It's not even a good calling, so ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠why do you look so proud! Bad! Our good Juni mustn't think things like that!

Yes, ma'am.

Listening to Fortuna's worried scolding, Jun followed Carol toward the reception desk.

Then—

Grrrrooowl∼

His stomach clock rang out with magnificent volume. The delicious food smells drifting across the plaza had finally reminded a belly that had forgotten hunger while exploring new places that it was empty.

"Hahaha! I thought you weren't human, but you've got a belly clock after all—so you are human!"

"Carol! No matter how much you like the kid, at least feed him before you drag him around!"

"Prince! Come over here! Big sis will buy you all the tasty things you want!"

"Is it really a prince? Isn't it a princess?"

"Who cares either way! As long as they're strong and pretty, that's enough!"

The once-quiet central plaza erupted into noise in an instant. Thanks to that, Jun no longer had to feel embarrassed about letting everyone hear his stomach clock.

After silencing the adventurers' mischievous jokes with a few well-placed threats, Carol turned back to Jun.

"Jun, shall we fill out the paperwork for the account and card while we eat?"

"Is that allowed?"

"Hehe. Ordinarily it wouldn't be, but I do have that much authority. Come, let's find a table."

Carol strode ahead with confidence—only to stop short before long. Of all the countless tables in the central plaza, every single one happened to be full. The adventurers who had already seen Jun's face and skill must have made such a fuss that they had drawn in everyone nearby.

No choice, then.

"Jun, it seems we'll have to share a table. Is there any particular one that catches your eye?"

Carol abandoned the hope of a quiet meal alone with him and asked. After glancing around for a moment, Jun pointed to one spot.

There—

"Over here! Here! Junior! Come this way!"

—a sturdy man with the same black hair and black eyes as Jun was waving the Stigma engraved on the back of his left hand and shouting loud enough to shake the surroundings.