## Chapter 151 – Kobolds and the Underground Labyrinth
“Let’s go together!”
My tension was high as I suggested to Elise, after exchanging introductions with Winia, that she join us in the dungeon. If nothing else, there was no companion as trustworthy and with as good a character as Elise. How many times had she and I overcome difficulties together already?
Every task we undertook together ended successfully.
In fact, the reason I’m living so well now might be thanks to Elise. No lie, when I had absolutely nothing, she gave me a whopping 1 silver, making her no less than a lifesaver.
“Would that really be alright?”
“Of course!”
“I can only be endlessly grateful to the Saint. Thanks to you, the mission will be much easier. As expected, the Saint is truly one of the Radiant Cross Society’s…”
“However, I refuse.”
“I see. That’s truly a shame.”
Of course, that doesn’t mean I’ll accept religious proselytization. I’m not single anymore, and my life isn’t so hard that I’d consider joining a religion. As I was thinking this, Cloudie greeted Elise.
“Um… welcome? Elise.”
“Cloudie, have you been well?”
“Thanks to Katt, I’m always doing well.”
“It’s fortunate to see that your marital relationship is harmonious.”
“Hehe, marital relationship. I’ve heard that before.”
In that kind of atmosphere, a four-person party was formed, including Elise. Elise, who was impatient, asked if we shouldn’t depart soon. Well, we just needed to prepare adequately and leave right away. After all, it was said that the dungeon was near a village.
And so, we headed to the general store as a group.
“Hey, Darkie. Everyone knows each other except me?”
“I guess so. But in the first place, who do you know, Winia…”
“Shut up.”
“Yes.”
“Darkie, I might get lonely, so you have to pay attention to me, okay? If you don’t, I’ll kill you.”
Winia, displaying a bit of jealousy, pulled my arm between her breasts. With the soft sensation against my forearm, I couldn’t help but pay attention. Elise looked at our behavior with a strange expression and then looked at Cloudie’s face.
As expected, Cloudie was smiling brightly. Elise’s confusion deepened.
Yeah. That’s the normal reaction.
Actually, maybe Elise is the most normal one among us.
“Does everyone need anything?”
“Hmm? I think I’ll just pack what I need. I don’t really need anything special. Ah, Katt, you’re going to buy a bunch of dried rations again, aren’t you? Get some jerky and salted sausage too.”
“Alright. I’ll buy some appropriately, so wait a moment.”
I went into the general store and bought a backpack and rations. And, as Cloudie said, preserved meats, oil, a lantern, cloths, and various other exploration supplies. Since Winia and Cloudie are living together now, it’s practically communal property. I paid for everything at once and came outside.
“Alright, let’s go now. The village was called Soldan, right?”
“That’s right. The dungeon is said to be near that village, so we can take a carriage and then enter the dungeon on foot. Since it’s near a village, things should be easier in many ways.”
“I thought so? Let’s go then.”
For some reason, this journey felt like it would go smoothly.
When we arrived near the city gate, carriages were lined up. There were many people who looked like adventurers here and there, but as we got closer, we saw adventurers arguing about the carriage fare. It really made me wonder if all sorts of people come when they hear the word “dungeon.”
“80 coppers. I won’t take less than that.”
“Hey, you son of a bitch of a coachman. I clearly remember it being 40 coppers, but 80 coppers? Are you trying to scam us?”
“Scam? Don’t be absurd. If you don’t like the price, you can take another carriage. Though, I doubt it’ll be cheaper there.”
“Damn it!”
I witnessed arguments like this.
Are they overcharging because there are so many people going to the dungeon? I guess the world is the same everywhere. What the hell is 80 coppers? The last time I went to catch hobgoblins, I paid 30 coppers.
For the sake of social justice, all those who raise prices should be executed. Muttering in anger, I searched for a carriage that could fit four people. Going a bit further into a secluded area, I was able to find a carriage of a suitable size.
“Coachman. How much to go to Soldan?”
“Oh, are you adventurers going to the kobold dungeon?”
“That’s right. It seems like many people are going there?”
“It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that all the adventurers taking carriages these days are going there. I’ll take such polite customers for 60 coppers.”
Damn it. Still expensive.
15 coppers per person.
I took out a 1 silver coin from my pocket and handed it to the coachman. I received 40 coppers in change, and Elise immediately handed over 15 coppers. And so, we boarded the carriage and set off for Soldan.
It takes about 5 hours by carriage, but honestly, walking that distance would likely kill us. It would take over 8 hours.
I’m not some pathetic E-rank adventurer, and isn’t this what I have money for? Position makes a person. I wasn’t pathetic anymore. D-rank Kim Katt had become very strong, and also bold. Enough to mainly ride carriages.
As I was the first to enter and sit down in the carriage, Elise came in and sat across from me.
“So, Elise. We just need to investigate the relationship between the necromancer and the kobolds, or something like that?”
“That’s right. If I confirm and report first, the follow-up team will come and resolve it. Thanks to the Saint, I might be able to increase my achievements again. Thank you.”
“Well, your achievements are practically my achievements too. I hope you get promoted to intermediate soon.”
“Thank you. If I get promoted, it will likely be thanks to the Saint’s contributions.”
I was about to stretch and take a nap, but no matter how long I waited, the remaining two didn’t come in. I wondered what was going on and shouted outside.
“What’s wrong? Why aren’t you coming in? Did you leave something behind?”
I saw that Winia and Cloudie were bickering again.
Why are they fighting again?
“Didn’t you sit next to Darkie last time, sis? Shouldn’t you yield this time as a matter of common sense?”
“That time has nothing to do with now, does it? Besides, we weren’t even in this kind of relationship back then. So, that’s beside the point.”
“So, you’re insisting on sitting next to Darkie? I can’t agree to that. Like last time, you’ll try to put your hand in… that place again.”
“I certainly can’t say I don’t have that thought… Then, how about we ask Katt?”
As I poked my head out, the two women looked at me simultaneously.
“What? Why are you fighting… Could it be! Are you fighting over the seat next to me!”
An explosive shout burst from my surprised mouth! No way! This me! Two women are fighting over the ownership of the seat next to me! Ah! What a sinful man I am!
I am Guilty Prince Kim Katt!
“Shut up, Darkie. So, are you going to sit with me, or with that woman?”
“Of course Clou…”
“Darkie, you’re going to die for real. It hasn’t even been that long since I told you to pay attention to me, right? You should just take my side in situations like this. You’ve been living with that sister all this time.”
Winia said such embarrassing things with great confidence.
I sighed and looked at Cloudie’s face, seeking her agreement.
“Hehe. I was just teasing, Katt. Sit with Winia. I didn’t know you’d react so cutely?”
“Yeah… thanks… You’re the only one for me…”
The situation was settled with Cloudie giving in a little.
It’s almost always like this. The strangely generous Cloudie accepts Winia’s whining, and that’s how it ends.
“What did you just say, Darkie?”
“Did I say something again?”
“Who’s the only one?”
“Ah, damn it. It was that, huh.”
Winia, sitting next to me, pushed her face and chest forward as she spoke. I made another slip of the tongue! Help me, Cloudie…! I sent a look of salvation, but she was already talking to Elise. Damn it.
“It just slipped out.”
“It didn’t slip out, it’s your true feelings, isn’t it? Darkie. If you say things like that without thinking, I really want to kill you. Let’s be careful, okay? Huh? I love Darkie so much, but it doesn’t seem like Darkie feels the same, and it hurts my heart so much, okay?”
“I’m sorry. I spoke without thinking. Please forgive me.”
“…Be careful next time.”
As I apologized while holding her hand, Winia’s face turned red, and she let it go without saying anything else. Seeing her, who used to only abuse me, change like this, well… It’s so good. She lets me touch her breasts as much as I want, so I’ve forgiven everything now.
The carriage started. I always get sleepy when I ride something. I yawned and stretched again, and my body felt languid. It hadn’t even been 5 minutes since the carriage started moving when my eyes started to close. It felt like I was riding in a deuce-and-a-half.
“…Darkie, are you sleepy?”
“Super sleepy.”
“Lean on my shoulder.”
“Thanks a lot… Ah, so sleepy. Winia. Can you touch my ear a little?”
“Okay.”
And so, I rested on Winia’s shoulder and closed my eyes. A small hand tickled my ear. She kindly touched it as requested, and I started to fall asleep.
Being like this reminded me of when we went to catch the Cockatrice. If I were to meet myself back then, I’d want to tell that bastard to have a better attitude.
Winia is so kind, you son of a bitch.
If they let you touch their breasts, they’re all kind.
—Thump!
“Eek!”
The carriage shook violently for a moment, waking me up.
“We’ve arrived!”
The coachman shouted loudly.
What already?
“What? Did we already arrive?”
“Already arrived? Darkie really doesn’t know the world and sleeps so well. My shoulder was killing me. Hurry up and get up?”
“Oh, oh. Yeah. Does your shoulder hurt a lot?”
“…Not really.”
I thought it would be a little darker, but it was still midday outside. It’s natural since we left in the morning. Looking at the position of the sun, it must be around 3 o’clock. I rubbed my sleepy eyes and got out of the carriage in order.
“Katt. Did you sleep well?”
“Slept great. I’m full of energy.”
As I was still drowsy, Cloudie came up and wrapped her arms around my waist.
“Then you can use some strength tonight?”
“Who told you to sexually harass me outside? Does our Cloudie need to be punished? Huh?”
“If I ask how you’re going to punish me, you’re going to sing again, aren’t you?”
“Why do you know me so well?”
“Because I love you?”
“Eeeish! Look forward to tonight!”
As we were flirting a bit, my stomach rumbled.
Anyway, it’s mealtime. I got hungry again after sleeping. People are no different from pigs, so they can live happily by sleeping when they’re sleepy and eating when they’re hungry.
Looking around, it seemed like a proper village, unlike when we went to catch hobgoblins. It wouldn’t be difficult to find a restaurant. I want to eat some hot stew. With meat and potatoes.
“Let’s start by eating first. Elise. Is that alright? Eating properly before starting will be better for your stamina than eating dried rations.”
“I understand. It would be good to do that.”
There was a sign at the entrance of the village. The large letters ‘Soldan’ made it feel like the entrance to a theme park. It would be nice to have a mascot.
As we were about to enter, a young man who looked like a member of the local defense force stopped us.
“Ah, just a simple procedure. There are four of you, right?”
“Yes. Is there something else we need to do?”
He counted our numbers with his eyes and scribbled something on a wooden board.
“Not at all. It’s just that there are a lot of adventurers these days, so we’re doing this formally. Go ahead. Of course, your destination is the kobold dungeon, right?”
“You’re right… But is there a good restaurant nearby?”
“If you go straight in, you’ll smell food. It’s hard to explain. Just find a place with a strong stew smell. That place is the most delicious.”
How am I supposed to know with just that?
“Oh, thank you. I hope you have a good day.”
As we entered, there were indeed adventurers wandering around. The village, booming with an unexpected dungeon special, seemed full of energy. Now, should we find a restaurant?
“Saint. I apologize if this is rude, but there’s something I’m personally curious about. May I ask?”
Elise asked as we were walking.
Cloudie and Winia were bickering about something again in the back.
“I have a feeling what you’re going to ask, but I’ll answer. Ask anything.”
“I thought you were in a marital-like relationship with Cloudie… But seeing you in the carriage, it was strange. What is your relationship with Winia?”
“Relationship… That’s a bit strange. This is a difficult issue for me to explain, so to put it simply, we somehow became a three-person couple.”
“A three-person couple?”
“You don’t understand, right? That’s normal.”
“I don’t understand.”
“I’m so glad you’re normal.”
The Radiant Cross Society nun is the most normal in the party.
I couldn’t believe it.
