We were to sit down in the Society to discuss with Dius and the others where we were going.

'Come to think of it, Sisha-san isn't with us today.

'Oh, I'm doing a bit of a favor and we're splitting up. I'm sorry I couldn't bring you along.

No, I'm fine. The three of you are more than enough for the hunting grounds around here.

'I'm glad you think so highly of me. ...Well, I'm not so sure about that.

　The truth is, I'd like to take Sisha with me, but I'm too anxious to leave Freesia alone in the house.
　Luna is asleep and can't be relied upon, so it's safe to leave it to Sisha, who can take care of it.
　Besides, in this area, as long as we don't go into the labyrinth, me, Noor and Esther can do enough hunting.
　I'll let Sisha know that I'll be home late later.

　But if this is the case, not being able to get Freesia out of the house is going to be a problem in the future when we receive a request.
　After the hunt with Dius is over, we should think about what to do first.

In the meantime, let's take a look at where we're going. Does Dius know where he's going?

'No, I was just coming to the association to choose it, so I haven't really decided. What about Okura?

We haven't decided what we're going to do. We were just thinking of asking Mr. Widge if there was any good hunting grounds, or maybe going to the Stogal mine.

'The Stogar mine?　Then by all means take us with you!

　Dius's eyes widened and he made a startled sound, and he packed up with excitement.
　I can't believe he's so surprised, I wonder if there's something he wants in the Stogal mine.
　According to what Widge-chan told me, the Stogal Mine is basically a gargoyle roaming around, and on rare occasions, colossus, a giant stone statue-like monster, would spring up there.
　I heard that you can get a rare ore called colotium from that guy.
　It seems to sell for a lot of money, so I was thinking of going to get it, but....

"Do you want the colotium?

'Yeah, that's right. Wasn't that what Okura was after too?

'I just thought I'd go out and pick some of that stuff up, because I heard it's going to sell for a lot. How rare is this material?

It's rarer than the Stinger's shell, and it's so rare that even non-adventurers want it. I think a pot made of colloquium would cost over a million g's worth.

'Mmm!　Is there such a thing?　I'm a bit curious about it!

　Over a million g's in a pot!　What a ridiculous price!
　Is colotium that rare........ I'd like to tell you not to make a pot of it, but I guess that means it has that many different uses.
　That's why me and Dius' destination coincided, and this time we were headed to the Stogal mine.
　However, after hearing the destination, Miggle looked disappointed and depressed.

''It's nice of Dius to let me go to the Stogal Mine. I wanted the yarn I could get from the Tyrant Spider in Sarat Forest too...''

'I'm sorry. I wasn't a fan of spiders, so I had to take Sarat Forest off the list.

Oh, yeah. Then it can't be helped, yes. You're so cute, Esther, that you don't like spiders.

'I'm not sure that's why people call me pretty...'

　Miggle-chan hugs Esther, who is frowning when she hears the name Spyder, and pats her head.
　Looking at her expression, it seems that the disappointment of not being able to go to Sarat Forest has already disappeared.
　I didn't expect Estelle to change her mind so quickly just because she said she didn't like spiders.....................I didn't want to go there either, so it's a relief.
　I can see the Tyrant Spider or some other demon that gives me the creeps just by hearing the name.

I wonder if Miggle isn't good with bugs and stuff?

'I used to be bad at it, but now I'm totally fine with it. I'll even touch a cockroach with my bare hands.

Oh, the same as me!　After all, Okura-dono and the others are overreacting!

　I guess she remembered that she said she grabbed Gokibun with her bare hands before and got donned, and Nol looks happy as if she had found a mate.
　

'Miggle-san is tough too......... Does Dius also touch bugs and other things without a care in the world?

'When you're an adventurer, you can't hesitate at the level of a bug. It's unpleasant, but you get used to it. When Miggle was afraid of bugs, she was a girly girl, too...

'Oh?　Are you trying to tell me that's not girly right now, the way you put it?

Oh, it's not slippery...

'It's too late to say it again!　You weren't as pretentious as you used to be!

　Miggle-chan was furious when she heard Dius' words.
　And she's chasing Dius around as if she's forgotten we're there.
　Hmmm, is this the kind of thing that makes them so close to each other that they fight?

●

　After contacting Sisha, we left Sting and headed for the Stogar mine.
　When I told Sisha that I was going hunting with Dius and the others....

''It's not fair to go hunting alone with Okura-san and the others!　I want to go to a fun place like that too!

　What did he say?
　If it was against a hard demon, the magic blade would work better and he wanted to try it out.
　I promised to take him with me later, and he managed to put up with it.

　The Stogar mine is about two days' travel one way by horse, and it's about half a day's walk from a nearby village.
　So we had to rent a horse and head out..................I was to ride behind Nol again this time.
　Even though I've started practicing, I still can't ride long distances, so it can't be helped.
　Estelle would ride behind Miggle-chan, and with three horses, we would head for the village closest to the Stogar mine.
　Then they proceeded with Dius leading the way until dusk, and today they were going to run the night camp.

'I didn't expect Okura to be able to ride a horse,'

Well, I don't see the point. I've been practicing, but I'm not ready to ride yet.

That's exactly what I mean. We're going to practice more from now on so that we can ride faster!

Well I'll do my best.

　At times like this, I once again wish I had been able to ride a horse.
　But that doesn't mean you'll be able to ride it right away.......I'm afraid that Noll is strangely uptight.



I appreciate that, but please don't laugh like that.

　Miggle-chan smiles, seemingly very happy to be able to ride two with Estelle in the back.
　I think she smells a little perverted........
　At any rate, I finished setting up the tent and finished my preparations and had Esther use her magic to light the firewood as usual.

''It's convenient to be able to use magic, after all.

Don't Dius and the others have a fire-making spell or something?

''I do have it. But if you run out of magic power, you have to have it replenished, so that's the only inconvenience.

'Still, it's useful enough. I miss using flint when I first started out as an adventurer.

　Dius and Miggle-chan are looking at the fire with a sobering look on their faces.
　It seems like it's hard to build a fire with a flintlock or something every time we camp out at night.
　I guess I'm inexperienced as an adventurer as far as I haven't experienced that kind of hardship.
　You can't say things like "I'm not good with insects" or "I can't ride a horse" as an adventurer.

Well then, it's time to make a meal!

Did you bring a pot or something?

You even have the ingredients. You put a lot of thought into this.

Mm-hmm, I was ready to make it whenever you are!

　Before I knew it, Noll had taken out a pot that was big enough to fit in there, and some vegetables like carrots and other ingredients to prepare it.
　This time she was going to get away with a reasonable amount of preserved food, but she seemed to be planning to make a gutsy meal.
　Was this what she was carrying a strangely large sack of food after hearing that she was going to travel by horse?
　It looks like she took it out of the waist pouch in front of Dius and the others in case they were suspicious, so that they wouldn't get suspicious beforehand.
　When it comes to food, you're more quick-witted than usual........
　When I looked at Dius and the others, my eyes flashed as I looked at Nol, who was holding what looked like dried meat in his hand and was about to start cooking.

''Dius and the others would like some if you'd like?''

Are you sure?　I think we only have enough material for Okura and the others.

I've brought more, so it's not a problem if it's for two more people. It's better to eat a meal with everyone, so eat without reservation!

In that case, I'll take you up on your offer........ To be honest, I didn't like the taste of dried meat or anything like that, so it's nice to have a proper meal.

It makes me happy to see you happy, too!　I'll make it right away, so I want you to sit and wait for me!

　Perhaps feeling better about Miggle's reply, Nol moved briskly and began to cook.
　He washed vegetables like carrots with the water Estelle offered him, and then peeled and sliced them into thin slices with a knife in a matter of seconds. That's as fast as I'd been peeling fruit before.
　After that, he's chopping up vegetable after vegetable with a speed that I can't believe he's doing it all by himself.
　I was going to help him, but by the looks of it, if I mess with him poorly, he's going to get in the way.......
　While looking at Noor's juggling-like cooking, I called out to Dius.

''Dius, I promised to ask you a favor and asked you to hunt a rare species, but I'm sorry I didn't see you for so long.

Yeah?　It was a win-win situation for us, so that's not something to be apologized for. It's a good thing that you're a adventurer, or else you wouldn't be able to see them for this long. I'm sure you've been away for a long time due to requests, too.

'Surely you're right ... it's like that?'

　I even asked Widge-chan how long Dius would be back when I asked him to hunt a rare species.
　Adventurers sometimes go far away for requests, or go away to hunt demons, so it's not surprising that they don't see each other for this long, which is normal.
　It's not like they're moving at a moment's notice with a beacon like we are, and that's just as well.

'So I wanted to ask you, how's the rare species hunting going?　Are the mages I gave you useful?

'Hmmm, yes. After receiving the ring from Okura and others, hunting against rare species has become much easier. When you wear this ring, the shock of receiving an attack is lessened, so it's very helpful.

''When I was about to be attacked as well, this ring shone and repelled several attacks. That's another blessing from Esther!

I'm glad it's helping. I've been using the same thing, but I haven't felt the effects yet.

　The Ring of Happiness is also done by Esther, but I've never seen it activated because she basically never gets attacked.
　Hmmm, it seems to be helpful enough in terms of defense. Gacha-produced equipment is still a good performer.
　Now if I can get them to help me get the materials and strengthen my equipment like this time, it might be easier to get the magic stones.............giggles.

　While thinking about this, as I continued to chat with Dius and the others, a good smell began to waft around the area.
　When I looked at Noor, I saw that he was drinking soup in a small bowl while laughing with Mufufu.

''Mufufu, it's ready!

　Nol shouted as he finished his drink and poured more and more soup into the bowl and distributed it to us.
　
　Did they use the mushrooms they got in the Alde Forest........ Even though it's a clear colored soup, you're going to lose your appetite a bit.
　But the fact that it smells so good and looks so good is frustrating!
　Unlike me, who was thinking about such things, Miggle and Dius were sipping their soup without hesitation.

''Mmm!　Delicious!　Mr. Noll, could these mushrooms be the ones from the matango in Queles?

That's right. There is still some left over, so if you want to eat it, you can bake it as a mushroom.

'What!　Really?　Please do!

　Based on Miggle's reaction, I heard that matango mushrooms are popular here as well.
　It's true that they look bad, but the taste and texture are good.
　Anyway, this soup, when I tried it, it's a vegetable soup flavored with consommé.
　It's delicious, but it's very light for Nole.

"Nole likes meat a lot, so making a vegetable soup like this is a bit surprising.

As for me, I would have been fine with meat. But Esther looked like she was having a hard time eating a hearty meal while working out at night.

Yeah. This one's better for me. Thanks.

　Estelle seemed to have doubts about it, but apparently she made this soup as a result of her consideration.
　It's true that Estelle, who is small in stature, would not like to eat a hearty meal while camping at night.
　It's only natural that she's in charge of our table.

It's not just that you're strong, but you're also a good cook. I envy Okura and the others who are with him.

Well, I guess it helps. He's a really good cook.

Mm-hmm, it's very unusual for Okura-dono to praise you so frankly. Would you like another drink?

Yeah, please.

　I complimented Noor as Dius replied, and she happily poured me another cup of soup.
　After that, we spent the rest of the evening enjoying our food and chatting, and then Dius and I took turns taking turns taking care of the night, preparing for tomorrow.
　Hmmm, it's nice to spend time with another party like this once in a while.