Chapter 154: The Bed is Going to Burst
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 154: The Bed is Going to Burst
“Rika?”
“Hmm? If it isn't Sion.”
I went to check on Rika, only to find she’d turned her room into some kind of fitness center.
A room filled with everything from dumbbells to a bench press... Is this really the room of a young lady in her early twenties?
Stepping into the room reeking of iron, I felt like a father walking into the room of a son who refused to listen.
As expected, her sensibilities were a bit different from the average woman. It seemed Rika had nothing but muscle training on her mind.
“By the way, Telun, what are you doing here?”
“Well, I was training with her. I’ve been captivated by the magnificence of muscles.”
“Hah.”
Telun, who had become a lizard beastman due to the Curse of Transformation, was also lifting weights beside Rika. Since he didn't have sweat glands and didn't sweat, I suppose they were workout buddies who didn't have to deal with each other's body odor.
The slave I bought for cleaning the main building and pest control was now pumping iron in a guest's room. It was a bizarre sight.
“Well, sure. You can exercise during your free time. Yeah. It’s wholesome. Good for you.”
It’s more fun for two people to work out together than doing it alone, anyway.
Above all, Rika looked excited. She seemed happy to have found someone to train with.
“Rika, no other problems, right? Like, anywhere hurting or anything like that.”
“None. I’m looking forward to tomorrow. The 5th floor of the Labyrinth... My heart is racing! I’ve already sharpened my sword in advance.”
“Haha. You seem full of energy.”
She was practically overflowing with it. She seemed eager to see if her training so far would hold up even on the 5th floor.
I was glad she didn't seem scared or nervous. I told Rika to get some sleep after a moderate workout and headed back out.
*
“Erika?”
“Ah! Sion. You’re here.”
Erika was in the greenhouse.
She was planting something in the greenhouse along with Ali, the girl who had become an Alraune due to the Curse of Transformation.
But that person... Isn't that Lafnel?
“Lafnel? Why is Lafnel here... I can see you even if you try to hide!”
“Ah. Well. Uh. Hmm. I heard you bought a house. I heard there was a greenhouse, so I came to take a look.”
“But what on earth are you planting right now? No, I clearly told Ali to plant peppers, lettuce, and other edible things...”
“Well... since there’s an Alraune here, I thought I’d try some experimental plants...”
“Hey! What kind of experiments are you trying to do in someone else’s greenhouse?! And you’ve filled the whole place with weird stuff! I was going to plant tomatoes and potatoes here! Yes! Peppers and lettuce! What is all this?!”
“Is that so? I didn't know. Oh dear, what to do? I’ve already planted all the herbs.”
Is this woman crazy? What does she think she's doing, planting things in someone else's field?
The greenhouse was full of sprouts. It looked like the seeds had already germinated. Was this also the Alraune’s ability? The growth rate of the plants was abnormal.
“Erika. Didn't you stop her?”
“Ah. Well, they were all things that seemed helpful. I ended up being persuaded.”
“Ah... If you were persuaded, I guess it can't be helped.”
It seemed Erika had expressed concern at first, too. But when Lafnel started planting herbs recklessly, she apparently ended up helping her.
“And Ali wouldn't have been able to voice an opinion anyway.”
“I’m sorry...”
“It’s fine. Even I would probably give in if an elf over a thousand years old pushed her way through.”
“Hey! Over a thousand years old?! Wasn't my age a secret?!”
“It’s an open secret, really.”
“What?!”
Watching Lafnel flare up and point her finger, I could understand the 'Victims of Lafnel' support group in the Labyrinth City just a little bit. This woman really did have a reckless streak.
I just wanted to plant some lettuce, peppers, and tomatoes.
The greenhouse was already filled with unknown plants. My small dream of a quiet farming life was shattered to pieces.
The dream of a weekend experience farm had gone down the drain.
Since it’s already gone, I might as well take the stance that I’m completely disappointed.
It would be a bit much to pull out crops that were already planted, so it would be better to gain Lafnel’s sympathy and take some profit.
Besides, there aren't many people as serious about botany as Lafnel. Using this as an excuse, it would be more profitable to just hand over the greenhouse to Lafnel and install her as our gardener.
Yeah. If I can use Lafnel outside the Labyrinth in exchange for one greenhouse, that’s a bigger win. Who cares about tomatoes and potatoes? It’s better to tie Lafnel to our house.
I can just buy those things from farmers. Since all crops in this world are organic anyway, it’s healthier to buy them than to grow them myself.
Now that I’d decided how to act, I put on the most dejected expression possible. If I stared at the field in despair, Lafnel would feel a pang of guilt.
“Hey! Don't look so depressed! This one here is Vitality Grass, a main ingredient for tonics. And that one over there is Blue Mint, used for making stimulants. There are definitely some helpful ones!”
“Saying there are helpful ones means there are also ones that may or may not be helpful.”
“Think of it as a small sacrifice for the sake of experimentation.”
“Hah. You’re quite bold. But there’s nothing dangerous, right? Like Labyrinth Vine Beans or something.”
“Friends classified as monsters like those don't grow in this kind of soil. They need to be grown in the Labyrinth, where mana is abundant.”
“Aha. So they really were all just herbs. Fine. Since you’ve already planted so many, I’ll give the management rights of the greenhouse to you, Lafnel.”
“What? Really?”
Lafnel looked delighted when I said I’d give her the greenhouse.
Good. I’ve gained a free worker. And an herb cultivator who’s hard to find even if you pay for one? This is the best.
“Yes. Since it’s come to this, I’ll even give you a room.”
“Oh! Even a room! This is very satisfying! Actually, I even brought all my luggage to ask for a room.”
“Excuse me?”
So she came here with the intention of freeloading from the start? Could it be that I fell for Lafnel’s scheme?
She had waited for a moment when I wasn't around to recklessly plant all the herbs in the greenhouse. She must have been trying to take over the greenhouse naturally like that.
Well, whatever. As long as we’re both happy.
Isn't this what mutual aid is all about?
Since we both gained something, it’s a win-win. But I want to get an even bigger profit. Instead of just giving her management rights, I want to receive some of the herbs produced and get some potions too.
“Fine. Instead, how about giving me five bottles each of tonics and stimulants every month as rent?”
“Five bottles each?”
“Yes.”
“Hmm... That’s a pretty good deal. Let’s do that.”
She accepted it so readily. Maybe I should have asked for more.
“Ah, I should have asked for ten bottles each.”
“What?”
“Nothing. Welcome, Lafnel.”
And so, Lafnel also became a guest in our house, just like that.
Wouldn't the combination of an Alraune, who is a great help to plant growth, and an elf who has grown plants for hundreds of years, be simply the strongest?
“Ah, right. Erika.”
“Yes?”
“There aren't any problems or discomfort, right?”
“Yes. I’m perfectly fine. What about you, Sion?”
“I’m always healthy. I just came to see if there might be any issues.”
“Haha. Thank you for worrying.”
“It’s nothing. If there are no problems, I’ll be going now. And! You over there, Lafnel, you have to go to the Labyrinth tomorrow too, so finish planting and go to sleep.”
“I know. Just after I plant this.”
Leaving the three of them in the greenhouse, I went to the last building.
*
The annex was the building I’d given to Rien to use as a workshop.
So, only Rien and A2, the slave in charge of the annex, were in this building.
“Rien? Rien! A2! Hey, what’s going on?”
But why weren't these people answering?
There was no response even when I called for Rien at the entrance of the annex.
“What the...”
Come to think of it, A2, who was in charge of the annex, wasn't there either.
Wondering if something had happened, I cautiously entered the annex, and I could hear two women whispering from inside the building.
As I drew closer, I saw A2, who was a bit out of it due to the Dreamer's Delusion, and Rien drawing something.
“What are you doing there?”
“Huh? Eek! You startled me... Make some noise when you come in...”
“No, I kept calling you, you know?”
“Ah... Really? Sorry... I didn't hear you. I was busy with this...”
Rien looked embarrassed as she showed me the paper she had been fiddling with.
“This is...”
“It’s a device called a wireless transceiver... I drew the blueprint exactly as A2 told me... What do you think...?”
“Holy crap.”
How should I put it? Something that looked like a large mobile phone from the 80s was drawn on the blueprint.
It seemed to use magic stones for power. Does this actually work?
Thanks to the curse called the Dreamer's Delusion, A2 had gained knowledge from another dimension instead of becoming slightly autistic.
That must be how she was able to get the blueprints for something like this.
“First of all, never show this to anyone else.”
“Yeah... Of course...”
“And don't take it to the Magic Tower, either.”
“I got it...”
Instead of using A2 directly, I asked Rien to thoroughly hide the knowledge and information coming from her.
If this information or technology were to reach the Magic Tower, the Tower Lord would step forward to take A2 away.
I might share A2 later, but not now.
I haven't properly profited from A2 yet. I have to get my money's worth before sharing her. If I share A2 already, there’ll be nothing left for me.
“But... where did you find a girl like this...?”
“I found her at a slave shop in the Black Market.”
“She was a cursed child...”
“Right. But thanks to the curse, she gained this kind of knowledge. Don't you think a curse isn't necessarily a bad thing?”
“That’s true... Being able to use a curse like an ability... It’s a new way of thinking... Interesting. A curse...”
Rien seemed deeply impressed by the fact that one could strengthen oneself through a curse rather than an ability.
She’s not going to start hanging curses all over herself, is she?
“Don't get any weird ideas, and you should get some sleep too, Rien. It’s better to sleep now if you want to move from early tomorrow morning.”
“Yeah... I will...”
With this, I’d checked the condition of everyone going into the Labyrinth tomorrow.
I was glad everyone seemed to be in pretty good shape.
Now then...
I should probably go to sleep too. I won't be tired if I sleep early. I can't afford to ruin things tomorrow because of poor condition from staying up late.
Since I decided to sleep with the Young Lady, I should go to her room today.
I was planning to just sleep.
I thought my back would hurt the next day if I exerted myself too much the night before entering the Labyrinth.
*
“Sion. You’re here.”
“Yes, My Lady. Your pajamas are cute.”
“Ugh... They’re my comfort pajamas.”
The Young Lady was waiting for me in her pajamas.
As I entered the room, she shyly lit a candle.
Thanks to the soft light, her face looked even more flushed. She was cute.
“It’s been a while since we slept together like this, hasn't it?”
“Yeah... Hey, Sion.”
“Yes, My Lady.”
“You remember when we slept hugging each other in the Labyrinth, right?”
“We did, didn't we? We slept very uncomfortably back then.”
“Right. Today... could you hold me like you did that day?”
“Sure. I’d love to.”
I climbed onto the bed and hugged her. She always asked me to hold her when we slept together.
Unlike Rosier, who was a bit taller than me, or Yuria, who was about my height, the Young Lady was definitely on the smaller side, so she fit perfectly in my arms.
“Then, goodnight, My Lady.”
“Yeah. Goodnight, Sion.”
Thud!
“Gah!!!”
“Wha-what?!”
Just as I was about to fall asleep while hugging her, the door swung wide open and two women entered the room.
“Hmm. So you were here?”
“I’ve been looking for you for a long time.”
The ones who had practically broken down the door were Rosier in a one-piece pajama and Yuria wearing nothing but a negligee.
“What are you two doing? Leaving us out like this. It’s disappointing.”
“That thieving cat. She acted all weak and finally managed to snatch Sion away.”
“Ugh... You could at least let me have Sion for just today! It’s my first time in the Underground City!”
“Oh, is that so? Were you scared? Then big sister should comfort our Leah too.”
“I will join in as well.”
“Aaaagh!!! The bed is too small!! What’s wrong with you!!! Get lost! You jerks!!!”
“Please stay still.”
“Yeah. We have to sleep, so be quiet.”
“You crazy women!”
Yuria and Rosier climbed onto the bed as if it were nothing and sandwiched Lady Leah in the middle.
The Young Lady, firmly caught between the two, wailed.
“No!!! Give Sion back! No!!”
Watching her wail while stuck between the two, I was suddenly kicked out of the bed.
-The tables have turned. Hahaha.
Tell me about it...
Helena was laughing inside the bracelet, and the three of them were bickering over the bed.
Since none of the three were willing to give me up, the bed looked like it was about to burst.
It seemed I would need a much bigger bed.