Otoko Nara Ikkokuichijou no Aruji o Mezasa Nakya, ne? Chapter 222

Also, what I've been referring to as mustard all this time is technically karas.h.i.+ AKA mustard...In j.a.panese. Basically a type of mustard so mustard but j.a.panese mustard, but actually just mustard. Also j.a.panese have a thing called "nuki sabi" quite literally "without sabi" or "without wasabi" referring to people who don't like spicy foods/sus.h.i.+ with wasabi, etc...there's an entire manga dedicated to it apparently so go read it(I haven't..yet..).

Year 7445, Month 12, Day 28

Last night, the number of magic stones we sold was 35 each of both trolls and ogres, 84 crickets, 40 huge praying mantis, 53 huge centipedes, and 11 scavenger crawlers.

In total it came out to 78,000,000 Z (78 gold coins). It was our first huge earnings in a while. Excluding the slaves I paid everyone a bonus of 1,560,000 Z, and my net income was just over 67,000,000 Z. If we could manage this every time then I'd be able to pay everyone close to 5,000,000 in bonuses every month but...This time it was a bit longer than usual, so I guess that's unreasonable huh?

Also, Ralpha and Gwine seem like they would waste all their money on things that make no sense after all..Though that's fine. I handed them 1 gold coin, 2 gold Shu, and 6 silver coins while saying "Put some into savings." It seems that everyone is borrowing a shared locker at the temple together with Zenom as the representative.

I thought Miduchi would sponge off of my locker but it seems she's using the same locker as everyone else. Everyone put their gold coins into a small bag with their name on it and left it to him. I told her, "I don't particularly mind if you use mine as well you know." but she said that she's partic.i.p.ating in order to help reduce the monthly management fee of 300,000 Z so that made sense. It seems just Toris and Zenom are paying a bit more.

I went straight to the temple to deposit the 67 gold coins and put the bag into my locker. There's 2 bags with 1,000(1,000,000,000 Z) gold coins each, 2 bags with 500(500,000,000 Z) each, 7 small bags with 100(100,000,000 Z) each. I have about 10 times the amount I did two years ago around the same period but it's still nowhere near enough. Since the lockers are considerably big so there's enough capacity for you to fit around 20 bags with 1,000 gold coins in each.

Thinking about various things and I want at least enough gold coins to fill this locker full. If I get greedy then at least two lockers full. The spear being used by Gwine, the sword being used by Bel, and there Water making bracelet.

I ended up enjoying it slowly and laid back while taste testing sausages at lunchtime.

Year 7446, Month 1, Day 1

The capital of Rombertia in front of Greed Company, Miduchi and I are standing on Bell Street together with the employees waiting for the parade of the first knight group to pa.s.s by. Since it's in the middle of winter it's considerably cold but everyone was in a reasonably warm outfit and we bought some hot stew from a stall so our preparations against the cold are perfect. Every since we replenished our stock of products the other day, our customers have been returning to the company so today on New Years it's the first day off for everyone in a while.

In order to let Anna see well I'm letting her ride my shoulders. Hanna is riding on the husband who married into Dianne's family Luke's shoulders, and Kanna is riding on Rozral's shoulders who he's attached to on the level of becoming a grandfather. I guess Anna was copying a line Leila uses when apologizing,

"I'm sorry, president."

and she said that but something like a young Cat-person girl is completely light. Also, I can easily tell from their lively voices. Hanna and Kanna were both enjoying themselves as well.

""Oh!""

The voices of the officials seem to already be getting a bit hoa.r.s.e and it's completely unknown what they're singing.

The parade should already be just past that corner.

Hey now, it's dangerous so don't move around that much.

Right behind the officials the first company commander Viscount Gendail is riding on horseback.

It's close to saying that all of the commanders of the first knight group are wearing the black rubber protectors, even among the regular knights the ratio of those wearing them is close to half. Even among the squires there's a couple wearing black armor here and there so they stand out.

Sister might have wanted to show this to me.

Sister drew the long sword that I designed, lifted it into the air, and smiled cheerfully before putting it back in her scabbard as well, then continued along with the parade facing forward.

After that, with a slight s.p.a.ce between them was the second knight group, third knight group, and fourth knight group, as all of the knight groups continued with the parade. Of course, there's also things like security and patrols so I'm sure only the first knight group has almost all of it's members partic.i.p.ating. It seems they adjusted it so the number of people of all of the knight groups would be about the same as well.

It took over 10 minutes for the knight group parade to pa.s.s in front of Greed Company. In total there probably wasn't even 1,000 people but it's not like I actually counted them..at best maybe around 500 people?

Year 7446, Month 1, Day 2

After Miduchi and I returned to Boil Manor from the capital last night, before dawn at 5 in the morning we gathered in a corner of the entrance plaza of the dungeon of Baldukk together with my 7 slaves including the newcomers. Today and tomorrow we're going to clear through the 6th floor and then from the day after tomorrow, January 4th we'll spend almost entire day training these guys against ogres on the 7th floor. If you were to ask it's pretty tiresome but there's not many opponents so convenient for earning experience quickly as ogres. Also, I wanted them to feel the sensation and speed in clearing through to the 6th floor in two days with their bodies.

"With this I think there will be no problem for three days. Just in case I included a bit of extra but..Master, after all I as well.."

Giberuti said while handing enough food for 6 people to last over 3 days to each person to put into their bags.

"Yeah, it's fine. I just want them to know what our manner of doing things is like. There's no need for you to act as {porter} for it."

"However, master.."

Hearing my reply Zulu said anxiously. Come to think of it Zulu was the only one against us going to the 7th floor with these 6 to the end. He was loudly nagging that I should at least let him or Angela accompany us.

"Zulu, I'm grateful that you're worrying about us but you should have a bit more faith is this person and myself. Or else are you worried because I'm the one accompanying them?"

Miduchi said while poking Zulu's high up chest.

"No!! Madam! Of course that's not the case! I'm very sorry for saying something beyond my duties. Please forgive me."

It seems Zulu realized he was saying something too forward and lowered his head while embarra.s.sed and apologetic.

"Sorry-Sorry. That was a slightly mean way of putting it. But, even Henry (Henry.Okonneru) and Mekku(Meisun.Garuhahu) were true knights of Devas right? Their skill is guaranteed right?"

It seems Miduchi doesn't mind it and she's indirectly showing some care for the newcomers as well. Henry and Mekku were both saying something like, "Please leave it to us! Zulu-sama." In some ways it's a weird picture where true knights are lowering their heads to Zulu who was just a soldier but Zulu is my head slave after all, it's only obvious. It's good that there's a proper order going.

"I don't have feel any unease at all. Rather than that, the fact that the two of you won't be able to get any decent rest..I'm worried about your bodies.."

Angela is saying it worried about us but we were able to rest plenty the past two days. Since we have bodies in our teens that's plenty.

"It's alright Maruso. We properly got some rest so there's nothing to worry about."

"Yeah, there's no problem...That's right, Giberuti. We'll be returning on the evening of the 4th so prepare some oysters with this. I want to eat a pot."

I laughed while saying to Angela there was no need to worry and putting 1 silver coin into Giberuti's hand. In reality I want to eat raw oysters but as expected food poisoning is scary. If the type that's eaten raw in j.a.pan was in circulation then it would be one thing but I don't have the courage to eat the oysters of Orth raw. Eh? I'm not that much of an idiot.

"The four of you, make sure you learn well the methods from master and the madam. And also, no matter what you see you're not allowed to speak about it. You're not allowed to discuss it even to just us or among yourselves. Alright!"

It seems the instructions from the head slave have ended.

Also I don't particularly mind talking about it in place with just my slaves or the {Slaughterers} though...

Well then, shall we go? It's necessary for them to learn the methods of the {Slaughterers}.

"Henry, Mekku. In regards to the 1st floor for today but you two are the {a.s.sault Sweepers} of both flanks. Rubi(Rubano.Firenoto) and Jesu(Jesutasu.Manzokki) will protect the middle and are {Spear Interceptors}. This person and I are the {Advance Guard}."

"Well, what we're about to do after this is our normal method with the {Slaughterers}. The important points like monster rooms just Miduchi and I will take care of but we're going to be moving quickly. Don't fall behind."

After I said that we moved from a corner of the plaza to the entrance of the dungeon.

"Alright, let's take a 15 minute break. Anyone who wants to go to the bathroom say something now while you can. No monsters will approach the surroundings of this room so you can relax. Anyone who wants to drink something bring me your flask."

The current time is around 9:30 am. Our distance through the 1st floor today was around 9 km in all, that would mean we proceeded through the dungeon at a speed of about 2 km/hour. From a general view it's a considerably fast pace. But, there's no way to be satisfied over it. If it's the current {Slaughterers} we can do about 3 km/hour. Just a bit slower than the speed you walk along the road in the middle of town.

All four of them are making slightly tired expressions but it seems they can still go on for a while. Since Miduchi and I are cutting into combat with all of the monsters we encounter along the way, they're just surrounding the ones we miss and beating them to death so I guess they aren't all that tired.

"Even though there's six people our pace isn't all that different from usual huh..that's amazing."

Henry said.

"That's right. Master is an amazing person."

Rubi agreed.

"Mu..The {Exterminators} took a bit more time huh.."

Hearing Henry and Rubi's words Mekku said to Jesu.

"Is..that so? I thought it felt about that same.."

Jesu replied without confidence.

"We're moving a bit slow right."

.....................

"I guess so..It's best to clear through the 3rd floor by 4 pm on the first day after all.."

This teleport crystal room on the 3rd floor gets packed pretty easily. There's always second-rate and half first-rate parties camping at any time and depending on the case there's sometimes top teams as well. Since we ended up arriving late today we weren't able to secure a spot along the wall. Somehow it feels like the best spots are the corners and next is along the walls. If you can arrive here at around 4 pm then while the corners might be impossible, in most cases you can find a spot along the walls.

Just because it's the New Years when it comes to adventurers there's not very many who take a break. It's normal to enter the dungeon along the schedule that was decided by the party. Since pretty much all the time they aren't in the dungeon is something like a holiday there's not many groups which adhere to the New Years break. Rather the restaurants are packed and other stores are often closed so there's quite a few groups that enter the dungeon during the New Year as well. The brats who work at the inn take breaks in order over the New Years so it's easy for them to run out of helpers. That equals the quality of service being easier to drop as well.

By the way, just as would be expected from taking quite a bit of time Mekku's magic gained quite a bit of experience. In just today it seems he was able to do around 400 in damage with magic and in order for his void magic to increase level I guess he needs to deal around another 2,200 or so damage with magic? If he were to just slowly and steadily use useless spells it would take over one year to earn this kind of experience so you could say it was worth it.

Tomorrow is..there's only undead on the 4th and 5th floors so there's no suffocating or anything about it...He can't make enough dirt to make the boars on the 6th floor or the ogres on the 7th floor suffocate either...Well, if we can find another chance in the near future then if we just have him gain experience the same as this time he should be able to level up in a reasonably fast speed.

However, looking at their current state I feel a bit uneasy leaving them to keep lookout. It's a huge service. It should be fine for just Miduchi and I to take s.h.i.+fts as lookout. While telling the four of them not to worry about it as they apologized I had Miduchi rest first.

Year 7446, Month 1, Day 3

Hmm..So their levels increased huh. Different from yesterday, since there's almost no way for suffocating them to death working, I s.h.i.+fted the direction of having the slaves gain experience. Certain kill technique, freeze their lower bodies. Thanks to that Rubi and Jesu were able to increase their levels on e each and became levels 7 and 6. As expected it was impossible for even Henry and Mekku. But, in the 7th floor we'll reach tomorrow if I freeze ogres leaving just their heads out, if they kill one alone they should earn about 1,500 each. If we were up for it, it's not a dream to even have all four of them earn 10,000 experience points each in just a single day.

I'm fine with doing it but there's not much meaning to it right. If their ability levels and Endurance increase then their HP will increase and that means the room for negative HP will increase as well making it harder for them to die though. The increased ability levels won't contribute much. Rather, while their ability levels are still low it would be better to have them continue running and a.n.a.lyze the relations.h.i.+p with their increases in ability levels.

It's not particularly like I have some definite basis for it but I feel like the increase in ability levels is a bit faster when they're lower and you don't depend on level ups to increase them. In the first place even this time is originally to have them understand that the {Slaughterers} have this sort of feel and leveling up isn't the objective. We can have them acc.u.mulate experience anytime time after all. Oh~ when we return maybe I should tell John and Terry to start running every morning from here on out as well. Whether they cry or scream and even if I'm cursed at by Ralpha as being an ogre, it's not like just running will kill someone after all. In the first place down to their last drop of blood John and Terry belong to me.

Henry is thinly cutting some pickled cuc.u.mber. Jesu has some water boiling on the stove and is cooking baldoggie in it. Rubi is cutting bread with a knife. Mekku is pulverizing some mustard leaves to make mustard. I'm barefoot and just dazing as I watch them do that with my feet in the foot bath.

Sorry for making you wait.

"He~ this is delicious."

Just for a glance, it looks like completely normal vegetable soup but the stock is done properly.

"I was taught by Larry."

Rubi made an embarra.s.sed smile as he stretched his hand out. After handing him my empty cup I said, "Ah, I only want about half full" and had him fill it before taking it back and I also ate some bread in the form of a hotdog lookalike. The flavor of the karas.h.i.+ which pa.s.ses through the nose is good. It wouldn't be this good for just {Mustard}. I don't know about Miduchi and their tastes but I like karas.h.i.+ more than {mustard}.

It seems Jesu has tears welling in his eyes from the karas.h.i.+ but he properly has an appet.i.te. Henry and Mekku are eating plenty as well. Judging from their way of eating they don't seem to have any resistance to karas.h.i.+. Miduchi is claiming to be "without wasabi" and hasn't added any karas.h.i.+. So it was no good huh? In exchange she has some sauerkraut finely cut up on hers. Lactobacillus is necessary right.

"Ah, listen while you eat. Tomorrow is finally the 7th floor. We'll have you fight against ogres. Starting off Miduchi and I will show you an example without magic. After that show me you can take one down with just you four. We'll properly be adjusting the number so there's no need to worry."

"It's fine for you not to get that tense. If you do it with the four of you then there's no problem. However, Henry and Mekku should focus on defense. While the two of them are enduring the attacks of the ogre I think it should be fine for Rubi and Jesu to attack."

Fu~Fu~ Miduchi said while blowing on the hot soup to cool it down. Henry and Mekku were exchanging glances while nodding. Rubi was slowly nodding to himself and Jesu gulped as he swallowed what he had in his mouth before nodding.

After explaining the attack methods of the ogres and how to get into an effective position we decided to rest. As expected I doubt we'll be able to get through it without everyone unharmed. I told them to relax because I'd definitely heal them even if they suffer serious injuries before leaving lookout to them and going to sleep. Well, I'm sure no one will come to the 6th floor so in the worst case even if they fall asleep while on lookout it should be fine.