Since the preview was over, we signed a contract to rent a room, and Elitia and the others went back to their quarters for a while.

　I also returned to Nornil Heights with Igarashi-san. We were taken care of for two days, so it's a shame to leave, but we'll have to move places at a certain period of time until we can get a place to settle down in the future. I have to get used to the move.

'Atobe, I wish you the best of luck in the future. I'll always be there to support you.
Thank you. Take care of yourself, caretaker.
'Since you're here, please remember your aunt's name. My name is Parm-Artur. May the secret God smile on your future, promising explorer.

　Her name was Mr. Palm? She knew my name and I hadn't heard it - this was rude.

'So, Master Atobe, where are you going now?　Since you're here, I'd like to ask you one last time. No, it's very nice to have you back again, but this is a growing company, and I'm sure it's not the last time you'll have time to pause to get your search on track.
''Um ... the way you put it, Palum-san was once an explorer too?

　Igarashi-san asks me questions that I was curious about. Indeed, he was talking about having experience in exploration.

''Yes, I was an explorer as a 'shifu' when I was young. But I wasn't a thief, my specialty was trap removal and lock picking. I've been retired for more than 30 years, though, so my level of skill has declined.
'So that's what happened...'
When I was young, they called me 'cat's hand' even though I looked like this. I was exploring up to the sixth ward, but I met my father, you know. He passed away a long time ago, but I don't miss him because he has his daughter and grandchildren.

　What kind of second life will a retired explorer have? I haven't thought about it for a long time yet, and for now, I'd like to remain as active as possible.

　Will I make an achievement in my quest, or will I be in a position to support the searchers? Either way, you'll have a place in the Maze Country. 'They say that all incarnations must become explorers,' but the bottom line is that you are free to live as long as you play a role in something as long as you incarnate.

'We're going to go to the store where we're going to open a box for you...'
Oh, my God, really?　There are three box stores in town, and one of them is run by my daughter.
'I see. The world is so much more connected than you think.
'We're not the biggest box store, but we're good at it. My daughter was able to transfer my skills to her and it was easy for her to improve her 'lock-picking' and 'trap-removal' skills. She's only been retired for two years, and she's been trained to maintain her skills, so she's a very good box opener.
'Skills passed on ... you mean your daughter inherited your skills?　That's awesome.

　Does that mean that when a child inherits his or her parents' skills, they can be born with more talent than their parents?

'They say you can only pass on the skills of one of your parents, though. My daughter seems to be a lot like me.
So it's not like you're going to take over the skills of various jobs and become all-powerful...
Children are not born to their parents to further their search. God must have taken that into consideration.

　The story of Parmomom's story has implications or something to think about.

　In this labyrinthine country, running up the pecking order gets you what you want, both status and honor. But pushing forward by any means is not my principle.

But if it was Atobe-sama and his side............no, it's a delicate subject. I'm sorry, but as I get older, I don't have any more discretion.
I haven't been in a relationship with you yet...
..........

　Beside the flustered Igarashi-san, Theresa is looking at me. After all, without 'Ishin-denshin', it's difficult to read the maiden's mind silently.

''Eh, eh. Palum-san, it was nice to talk to you about things. If the box store we're going to is Palum-san's daughter's shop, I'll give her my regards.
Yes, please. Take care of yourself, both of you. Don't take it easy.

　We left our quarters after being seen off by Palum Kobo-san. Igarashi-san didn't speak for a while, but on the way down the hill to town, she opened her mouth.

''Oh, Rear-kun. Come to think of it, I'm at level 2 now, so I have two more skill points. Which skill do you think I should take?
'Congratulations. If you'd like, may I see your license?
'Yeah, fine. Can't you see the skills of the people at the party?
'Theresa is a special case, and she seems to look like one to me. But in the case of my party mates, I'd have to ask to see their licenses to know.

　That's all you can do is build up your trust and let me show you. Igarashi-san took out the license from the pouch on his waist while ministering to me and showed it to me.

　Skills I've Learned◆

　Thunderbolt: Runs lightning bolts and strikes opponents. ・Thunderbolt: Runs lightning bolts and strikes the opponent, causing a low probability of being electrocuted.
　Blink Step: Become an 'alter ego' and avoid attacks for a short time.

　Skills you can acquire

　Double Attack: Increase your weapon attack frequency.
　Brave Mist: Removes fear from allies.
　Freeze Thorn: Freeze your enemy's feet and slow them down.
　Snow Skin: no longer freezes and becomes more attractive.
　Bullet Repellent 1: Makes it slightly harder for enemies' indirect attacks to hit you.
　Decoy Doll: Spend "Doll" to create a decoy that resembles you.

　Remaining skill points: 2

'Valkyrie's can acquire a lot of skills... there's a thing called "skin of the snow country", but was Valkyrie a job related to the snow country?'
"...maybe because my mom is from a snow country or something?
'Oh, I suppose it could be. The only reason I can use lightning is because you used to drop thunderbolts on me a lot.
'Then it's not like I'm the one who took 'Thunderbolt' first, I still have a personality problem...'
'Well, it's not like that.......Thunderbolt, it's great. And when a demon gets electrocuted, it's easier to hit it with an attack.

　Igarashi-san looks at me with a jittery look. I shouldn't carelessly say what happened in the past, I myself said I've already forgotten about it, but if you're persistent, you won't like it.

　The strongest skill at a glance would be 'Double Attack'. It goes well with supportive attacks.

　If the state of fear is the state of being frightened by demons, then I feel like I want 'Brave Mist' just in case I can't fight properly.


Akita beauty is often said. There is an image of pale skin, but I wonder what it is really like.
'Well, well my mom is from Akita too, but that's good. Then I'll change my question then. Do you think we should take this skill as a countermeasure if the demons that freeze us will eventually come out?
''Well, if the equipment can make you resistant, you shouldn't dare take it... oh, but the fact that it's more appealing does bother me.

　Igarashi-san is still beautiful, but what would happen if she took away the 'snow woman's skin'? She could become even more beautiful - she's not a sub-human, and she wouldn't become as white as the snow woman.

''Well, that's not my goal, but... then I'd better make it a different skill for now. I wonder if this 'decoy doll' means you can attract the attention of demons.
'Yes. It will be a supplementary skill, but it seems strong depending on how you use it.
Can I get it?　I'll leave the rest to you, Mr. Rear.

　I think she really wants to get the 'Skin of the Snow Country', but it's not an urgent skill, so she seems to be patient with me.

　The level is likely to go up in today's search, so let's have her take the 'Double Attack' for now, and then we'll make her a 'decoy doll' of her choice.

''Then I'd better go to the labyrinth after I procure the 'doll'.
I'm pretty sure I saw one in the general store in front of the labyrinth.
'Then let's buy it there. The other skill is 'Double Attack'.

　The fact that it seems useful in some situations is true of all skills, but her reluctance to take it up will reduce her effectiveness. The "double attack" will have a noticeable effect from today's battle.

(Now all that remains to be seen is how much magic power is consumed. If it costs as much as Blaze Shot, I can use it in every battle.)

That's it. Oh, you can never have enough skill points. There's a lot of skills I want to try out.
'I'm the same way. I want to be as lean as possible, but you don't have to just save up because you can learn by taking it.
''Yes. And the exciting feeling you get when you take this skill is addictive...
When Theresa gets to the next level, we'll take up some new skills.

　I've been watching Igarashi-san take the skill beside me for a long time, so I have no doubt that Theresia is interested in her own skills as well. I have one point on hold right now, but I'd like to let her take the new skill as soon as possible.

　Now, the other person who doesn't have a grasp on the skills is Suzuna. I'd like to see Elitia's skills as well, but it's hard to know if she'll be able to teach me the skills of the Carth Blade, so I guess I shouldn't rush and wait for the opportunity.

　◆ ◆ ◆

　When I entered the box store Louisa had told me about, I saw a woman wearing an apron sitting around a table with two other women, a boy and a girl, reading a book.

''Welcome. Are you a guest introduced by the guild?''
'Yes, I was introduced to you by Louisa. I'm Alihit-Atobe.
Hey, mom, are you going to open your bag?
Wow, a package, a package of beans!　Plum, I love your box!

　The older boy is apparently his older brother, and is about 5 years old. The younger sister was about three years old and had a very similar face. And she missed her mother, who seemed to be the owner of the box store, a lot.

　Palme Aunty said she has a daughter and a grandson, and this mother and son seemed to be the one.

'Excuse me, I was just looking to play. We don't let these kids go into the basement to open the boxes.
Well, I wish you'd shown me a simple box.
I'm sorry, Ake, but this customer's box is a very difficult box to open.
But your mother can open it, right?
Your mother is a 'wannabe'!

　A trapper - that's the job of a woman in a box store. If a box has a difficult trap on it, she can remove it and open it, I guess that's what she means.

'Ake, Plum, go and play outside for a bit. Take a letter to your grandmother. I'm sure she'll be delighted to see you.
Isn't your mother coming?
'Yes, I'll be there when you're done. Eik, take care of Plum for me.
'Yes!　I'll be waiting for you at Grandma's!

　When Aik and Plum go outside, a large white dog in the corner of the room follows them - like a bodyguard.

　Igarashi-san seems to be curious about the dog and speaks to the shopkeeper with a glint in his eye.

'It's amazing.......you can understand human language perfectly. He's a very big dog, what's his breed called?
...doggie?
Why are you so upset about it? You've been called that before.
''Huh........I call her that too. She's a 'Silver Hound' breed, and she was originally a guard dog that accompanied the searchers.
So now you're escorting children.

　He's just a loyal dog. I love animals too, so it's nice to see a dog for the first time in a long time.

..........

　Theresia seemed a little scared of dogs, always upright and immobile, but she had her hand on my shoulder. Well, we all have our strengths and weaknesses.

'I'm sorry, my name is Farma-Artur. As for Atobe-sama's 'black box', I, as a guild-approved trapper, will politely open it for you.

　A strange old housewife in an apron on the outside - in fact, a terrific trapper.

　The smile that can only be described as compassionate, as well as the dog embroidery on the chest of the apron - the majestic height difference, so much so that it is pulled to the limit.

''........Rear-kun, don't raise your karma up here, okay?''
Yes, yes and no, I didn't see him?

　Igarashi-san pinched her arm to keep her in check. Unaware of the meaning of the exchange, Falma-san put her hand to her cheek and smiled with a blush on her face, as if she was watching the two of them get along.