13. Misunderstanding
An extremely sunny day.
Although the path was a bit muddy due to last night's heavy rain, the air felt incredibly refreshing as a result. It was truly a rather nice weather for setting out on an adventure.
Beyond, following the now quite distant walls of Bellua, a gentle ridge stretches on... a forest dyed in deep green continues as far as the eye can see. Cozy landscapes that couldn't be seen while living in the city. Our party was walking silently while looking around at the surroundings.
Elise was holding a small cross, muttering something and offering a prayer,
and following behind her, Ibel was silently following while carrying a backpack larger than his own body. A reliable porter indeed.
Argor was walking alongside me, matching my pace while holding the reins of a horse borrowed just before departure.
And I, looking at the map, trudged along...
"Hmm, it seems entrances have appeared quite close by. This isn't a situation where we can afford to be leisurely."
Although the residents within Bellua's walls were still living their lives as usual, the dungeon emergence situation wasn't so optimistic. The fact that we were walking on foot like this meant that dungeon entrances had appeared not far from Bellua.
The horse was borrowed just in case for unforeseen situations or carrying luggage.
Since there was no carriage that could carry Argor, a carriage wasn't even an option from the start.
"... But, Master. Is it really okay with just us?"
Ibel, who had been silently following, asked cautiously.
"Are you worried, Ibel?"
"I, well, don't have much practical experience... and most of all, it's a B-Class dungeon. Even if Master has a B-Class qualification, I heard dungeon grades and adventurer grades aren't considered equivalent. What if I hold everyone back and something terrible happens...."
It was a trivial question.
While the worry itself was understandable, how many times had I heard this from the kid before we set out? If I say it's okay, then it's okay, what's the big deal.
And there was one person in this party who understood my feelings.
"Hmph. As expected, I'm more manly than this guy. Elf. A warrior shouldn't fear stepping onto the battlefield. No matter how strong you are, if you're a coward, you're useless."
"... Argor-nim can say that because you have a lot of experience. I'm just a D-Class at best, so I'm clearly just going to hold everyone back...."
An overly confident orc.
And an overly unconfident disciple.
I suddenly asked Argor.
"Argor. What was your grade again?"
"... D-Class."
"Ibel, you heard? This guy is also D-Class."
"B-but the grade isn't what's important! If I had stayed with the mercenary group, I probably would have been C-Class by now...!"
"Former mercenary group, and currently unemployed. In other words, D-Class."
"... Grrr."
An easy guy to tease.
Let him be the sacrificial lamb for my disciple's confidence. Well, he's a simple guy, so he'll probably shake off a little teasing quickly. He's an orc, after all?
"Haha... But even if our grades are the same, our practical experience is completely different. Hmm. Elise-nim, aren't you nervous?"
Ibel shifted the topic to Elise, who was walking while tightly clutching her cross. But she...
"... May You watch over us and mercifully break the necks of those vile monsters, and when their filthy blood soaks the earth, may flowers bloom using it as nourishment. O Merciful One...."
"Elise-nim?"
The moment Ibel placed a hand on Elise's shoulder,
"Eek! M-merciful...!"
She jumped in surprise, hopping in place! The cross she was holding in her hand fell onto the mud with a thud.
"Ah... S-sorry. I was praying and didn't pay attention to my surroundings...."
"Ibel, it seems this one is more nervous than you are."
"B-but it's a B-Class dungeon! Noah-nim! You said you needed help and I readily agreed, that was my mistake but... ugh!"
"Is it really okay with just us...."
I shook my head from side to side.
To have so little faith in your master. As if I would send my disciple to their death.
Well, showing once is faster than talking for a hundred days. I scanned the map once more. Just a bit further from here, a small cave presumed to be the entrance should appear.
It's not that I can't do it, I just choose not to.
I lightly stepped on a tree root protruding from the path and took a step forward.
"... But watching Noah-nim from the side, it feels like all the preconceptions I had about elves are being denied."
"Huh?"
Elise sidled up next to me and asked.
"Just now, you stepped on a tree root without a care. Last time, I thought you were a bit interested in the garden, but then you said it was bothersome and ran away. I heard elves treasure plants."
"......."
Hmm. Was that so.
It might have been like that.
"... Individual differences. Individual differences. If I weren't an outlier to begin with, would I have been living in Bellua?"
"Well, I suppose that's true...."
Quick acceptance.
Truly, it's a position that can only be described as convenient in many ways. Sometimes pretending to be a noble elf. Other times brushing it off by saying I'm an outlier. Hmm hmm.
I folded the map and put it in my sleeve as I spoke.
"Today, let's set up camp and rest near the entrance. Until then, we'll walk without resting. Is everyone okay with that?"
"Yes!"
"Yes, I'm fine too."
"For a warrior, this distance is just a stroll."
Everyone's motivation is good.
In this regard, it's quite a likable party since the members listen to me well.
But separate from faith, Ibel still seemed to have many worries.
"But Master, will the children be alright...?"
"......."
"They'll be fine, Ibel-nim. Originally, the orphanage was a place everyone at the church took turns looking after. Even if the two of you are away for a while, others will take good care of them. Head Priestess Irene-nim also said she would keep an eye on them."
Elise answered for me.
"Right. The children will be fine. Shuri is a pretty smart kid, so she'll probably study on her own and wait."
"... That would be a relief, then."
Sunny sunlight, refreshing wind.
The feeling of stepping on the muddy path wasn't exactly pleasant, but the weather was good so our steps weren't heavy. For having a B-Class dungeon right ahead, it was a rather peaceful start.
===
"Wow! Cake!"
"I want to eat this pastry!"
"There's chocolate too!"
Meanwhile, around the time Noah and his party were walking on the damp dirt path. The Bellua Church Orphanage was in the midst of a pastry party.
Even the usually reliable Shuri, for this moment only, was like a normal child with fresh cream smeared around her mouth, hehe...
Two beautiful women were watching this scene with fondness.
"Thank you for caring for the children like this, Lady Marian. Thanks to you, the children look the happiest they've been lately."
"I'm glad they seem to like it. If opportunities arise in the future, I'll come regularly to provide support like this. In whatever way possible."
Head Priestess Irene and Marian Lowell.
The sight of the two beauties laughing and chatting together was a picture in itself.
The church's side-slit nun's habit went without saying, and the young lady's golden blonde bun hairstyle was like an advertisement saying 'I am nobility,' so to speak.
Our distinguished elf, Noah, with deep concern for the children, had made one request to Marian before leaving. That she look after the children a bit while he was away at the dungeon.
'... Leaving the shop empty for over a week, and on top of that entrusting me with this matter. I'm not such an idle young lady, but since this business is proceeding smoothly, I'll just oblige him this time.'
Thinking that,
Marian glanced Irene up and down.
'Just how many male followers does this church want to attract?'
Breast-nun.
That's how Irene was imprinted in Marian's mind. Conversely, to Irene, Marian was imprinted as Bun-Lady... but a catastrophe of them calling each other by such titles would probably never occur.
"Well then, I shall take my leave."
"Take care on your way, Lady Marian."
Marian bowed according to etiquette and hurriedly left the church. She didn't want to meet the rumored Bishop Valerius, and she had urgent matters to attend to immediately.
There was a reason she didn't stop Noah from leaving his shop empty for over a week. Lately, Marian had a more interesting subject that caught her attention.
===
Creeeak—.
"Marian?"
Someone entered Marian's room. The one who entered the count's daughter's room without permission was none other than her father, Count Lowell.
Even if he was her father, entering a room without permission was against etiquette...
But Count Lowell was a bit willful in that regard. One might say he had a slightly hypocritical side.
"This girl, really. Going out without a word."
The count shook his head and clicked his tongue.
He decided to have a word with her when she returned. Today, he would be a strict father to his daughter...
"......."
And he glanced around the room.
The room of his extremely quiet daughter, Marian. As it wasn't easy to enter Marian's room now that she had become a lady, the count looked around with curious eyes.
Like any noble family's young lady, luxurious silk wallpaper and furniture were neatly arranged, and a pleasant scent lingered in the air.
And then, a voice came from outside the window. The count approached the window and looked outside.
Marian was walking with quick steps. The maids following her were scrambling to keep up.
"... If a daughter of a noble family walks around like that, it's a problem."
Although her body had already become that of a lady, to the count's eyes, his daughter still only looked young.
Count Lowell turned to go out to greet his daughter. And then something caught his eye. A small paper bag that could only be discovered by turning his back to the window and looking at the desk.
Even though he knew his daughter was coming,
The count took the item out of the bag.
Simultaneously, his face turned bright red.
"T-this... Why is this in Marian's room...!"
What came out of the box was an onahole. It wasn't an item that should be in a count's daughter's room.
'I specifically instructed that Marian shouldn't even hear about such shameless items!'
Let alone rumors, but the actual item...
Did she fall for some unscrupulous merchant's coaxing? Or was it a prank by vulgar maids?
Thump, thump, thump—
The sound of Marian and the maids' footsteps echoed from the floor as they approached. There was no time. The count hid the onahole inside his coat and hurriedly left the room.
He returned the paper box to its original place.
Then he naturally met Marian from the opposite direction in the hallway as if nothing had happened.
"Why are you walking around in such a hurry? You should maintain dignity like a noble."
"... I'm sorry, Father. I'll be more careful."
The count narrowed his eyes and looked at his daughter.
Look at that innocent-looking smile. As expected, my daughter couldn't possibly be connected to such a shameless item. Clearly, some shameless scoundrel played a trick on my innocent daughter. I should summon that Jane woman to the estate soon...
Count Lowell smiled, reassured.