When they get home, everyone seems to be still in the heat of the banquet, and they all go back to their rooms to continue their conversations, and those who are tired take a break.

'I had to stop by on my own accord, but I wonder if it's all right...?

　The four members of the "Four Seasons" have also come to our quarters because they're not ready to leave.

''Ummm... no, don't bite... Atobe, that's a beat board...''

　I'm not a swimming school kid, so I don't bite on such things - but Ryoko-san seems to be having a strange dream.

"Sorry teacher, I didn't mean to interrupt you suddenly....
Ryoko thought she might not be able to meet you until you all went to the Sixth Ward, so she was very happy to have you here.
I don't want to show it, but Anna is really happy too. Of course I am, too.
'I had a good time too. I know what you're going through Ryoko I'm a little spooked from drinking the strong stuff too.

　I have the feeling that I get a little fussy when I get drunk, so I think I must weigh myself. That said, I guess I'm as drunk as the world.

'Kaede and the others, why don't you let Ryoko-san sleep in your bed?　We don't sleep yet, so the bed is empty!
Are you sure?　We weren't supposed to stay so long...

'Haha no, I'm sobered up a lot. You can probably rest better than on the couch, and I can carry you if I'm okay with it.

　The effect of 'assisted recovery' seems to cure 'intoxication' if you give it time, so Ryoko-san must be recovering quite well. I've been using the "Other Assist" and I'm feeling tired, but I'm sure I'll recover after a night's sleep.

　◆◇◆

　We need to look at the bargains and decide if we want to buy them today. Everyone was in the bath even before we left, but several members of the group who wanted to go back in headed to the bathroom with me - Madoka remembers the bargain and comes over to me before she gets in the bath.

'Thanks for your help, brother. Um, about the bargain I was telling you about........
'Yeah, I was going to call on you too. Can you show me what kind of goods you have in store?
''Yes, um, we haven't received the items we're asking for yet, but... oh...!
What's up?　It's a bargain, and I guess they bought it early.
'Yes, no ... one of the things I asked for came in at dinner time. I wanted to give it to your brother as a gift...

　Madoka shows me the license in a cursory manner. She looks somewhat embarrassed - but I can see why when I look at the items displayed.

　A list of bargains coming in ◆.

　Silk tie + 1
　Light leather bodysuit +3
　Silent bracelet + 1
　Monk Ankh.

Tie ... you've been looking for this for me?

　When I ask her, Madoka tries to hide her face by pulling on her turban - of course she can't hide it, but even her ears are red.


'No, no I'll be honest, I'm terribly flattered.
''Ha, yes. Does the fact that you have something like this mean that there are other people in suits besides your brother?

　I don't know how it came to be, but the "Silk Tie +1" had a defense-enhancing effect attached to it, so it's probably better suited for exploration than the current tie. There is a picture attached of what kind of tie it is, but it doesn't seem to be an obstacle to wearing it at all.

''........Oh, the exhibitor is Luka-san. Did you exhibit it after the dinner party?
'So that's what he saw in me... when it comes to clothes, he's a professional after all.

　It seems like it would be good to sell them face to face, but I wonder if they dared to take this form because of Madoka - in any case, since the price is also reasonable at fifteen gold coins, I'm going to buy them with an immediate decision.

　Looking at the rest of the assortment, it seems that equipment that comes out of a black box is still hard to find on display. However, there is one piece of equipment with a star - is there some reason for it?

'Let's take a look at them one by one........body suits?　What was this one about?

　Light leather bodysuit + 3◆
　Physical Defense" is slightly improved.
　Magic Defense" slightly improved.
　Agility will be slightly improved.
　Depending on the combination, the performance will increase.

Hmm....I mean, it's a pretty intricate design, but this...

　Celes-san said that if you don't get it while you're in the seventh district, it will be difficult to get it later on, but I think this is one of the 'Sorcerer's Equipment Sets'.

''Oh, um........sorry, I was talking about the equipment that would become stronger in combination, so I was making a request for it, hoping that it would all be available. It seems to have been in a thrift store in the seventh district, well, the shape is the shape, so it seems to have been left behind without being bought.

　The silk hat, bodysuit, and black tights - I can see why Igarashi-san refrained from wearing them, it's quite a combination that's hard to comment on.

''Misaki-san's cloak was also included in the set, so now we have four of them. I heard that four or more activates the combination effect.
''If that's the case, I should have Misaki try it out once... no, this bodysuit is indeed a tough one to wear, even if you value its performance.
Brother, Madoka, Madoka?
Misaki-san, you scared me...!

　Nuh-uh, Misaki peeks out from behind the couch. Even though she was concentrating on the bargain, she was quite good at distracting the attention from going behind her without being noticed at all.

'Gossiping while people are taking a bath makes me nervous - is this a bargain?　I'm excited just by the sound of a bargain... hmmm?

　Misaki looked at the bodysuit pictured on the license and cleared her throat in some way.

''........I thought this was called a bodycon?''
'Well, well, I wouldn't call it that now. It wouldn't work in a labyrinth country.
It's not that I don't understand you, I'm just saying that you look too confident wearing this!　I'm already angry, I'm going to go hide your sister Kyouka's change of clothes and replace it with a bodysuit!
Oh, easy. Misaki, this is a combination piece of equipment. I'm not going to force it, but if it works well, someone else can equip it.
'I think it looks good on you, Misaki-san, you're already wearing one of the combination cloaks and it looks great on you...'
''A mouth that says that kind of thing........haha, I can't be mad at Madoka-chan, can I? It can't be helped, if your brother says that much, I'll try it on for you at least once.
'There's no need to push yourself, you know. But I might ask you to equip them again if it looks like you'll need it.
'Well, well, if you're so sure, big brother?　I wouldn't say absolutely not, would you?

　While Misaki was doing something worthwhile, Elitia and Suzuna came up from the bath and came over to us.

'What are you playing at, Misaki you must be in trouble Aricht.
''Misaki, what were you looking at?　........ah......

　Even to Suzuna, the bodysuit seems to look like an extreme piece of equipment, and she draws back with a red face.

''........I think it's important that you don't shy away from equipping yourself if you need to.''
I'll equip you if you need it, sir.　If you say that, Suzu-chan's miko costume is going to be made of lots of transparent material and become transparent.
''........I'm sure Celes-san and Steiner-san will take care of you.......right......?
Well, yeah, well you shouldn't get too defensive about it.

　I feel like it's those two guys that are not to be underestimated, but I don't think they're going to modify the design to something that can't be equipped. They are people I can put my full trust in in that area.

''We'll try the effects of this equipment combination as soon as it arrives, but next........the 'Silent Sound Bracelet'?

　Silent Bracelet + 1◆
　Reduces sounds generated by actions, making it harder to be detected.
　Skills that are activated when the enemy is not aware of them will be enhanced.



　All four of the people here reacted in some kind of surprise or panic as soon as they heard the name of the 'Bracelet of Silence'.


'Yes, you're right - we don't think that we want it either, do we?
'Eritia-san, Misaki, if you look at me like that, Aricht-san........'
'Suzuna, what is it about this equipment that bothers you?


　The three of us go upstairs together. I look over at Madoka and she's still in a hurry, but I have to check on the last bargain for now.

　*Friar's Ankh*.
　When you perform a health or magic recovery action against another player, your magic power recovers slightly.
　If you are running low on magic when using a skill, your health will be used instead.
　If you are hit by a fatal blow, there is a low chance you will have some energy left over to withstand it.
　If you are 'near death', you gain additional experience.

　It seems that ankh is a supplementary equipment that works just like charms, just by having it.

''........I wonder why it was put up for sale when it seems to have some use.
'They failed to capture the labyrinth, so they needed funds to rebuild. Since it has a star, the listing price is high, and the right to buy came around after seeing the budget we offered.

　Whether or not you buy it, I think the amount of money you can pay out itself will increase your options, but for now, I've asked Madoka to cap it at 2,000 gold coins.

　This ankh is 1,500 gold coins - considering the effect, I don't think it's expensive.

(Every time my 'support recovery' is activated, my magic power is restored. It looks like I'll rarely run out of gas due to running out of magic power.......)

　Withstanding a lethal blow is not something that can be easily expected as long as it's a probable effect, but using 'Fortune Roll' will definitely turn into a performance that can withstand an attack once.

''Alright, I'll buy this too. Once I order it, how long will it be before it arrives?
'It will be delivered the next day, since the items are in the same ward. To prevent them from being monopolized, the bargains are different for each district and the purchase rights are equally distributed. Unless you are a 'merchant' or a shopkeeper, you don't have the skills for 'bargains', so the number of people who can buy these products is limited.

　If that's the case, there doesn't seem to be a problem with buying everything on the list. The merchants' union has thought of a system to support the searchers so that there is no injustice - I wanted to thank them again for that.

　◆ ◆ ◆.

　Two thousand ninety-five gold coins, that's the amount of money I paid this time. The current balance is about 28,000 gold coins, but in some cases, I have a feeling that this amount of money is not something that can be afforded.

　It's important to have a plan, rather than working on the assumption that you can acquire a large amount of money from the black box. I look at the treasurer's book handed to me by Madoka and think about it - the cost of food is inexpensive compared to the income that can be earned, and infrastructure costs such as utilities are covered by the guild quarters, so it's helpful to not have to be so conscious of daily expenses.

''..........''
'Well, um ... yeah, does it bother you that I don't take a bath?'

　Theresia looks at me as if she's going to sleep like this. It's true that I too get hot after a drink, so I want to freshen up.

　As I head to the bathroom, Theresia follows closely behind. It's as if she's trying not to let me go - she knows, as expected, that I'm refraining from entering with her.

　As usual, I take off my clothes with my back to Theresa and step into the bathroom after confirming that she has entered - and then.

''........hmm?''

　The steam in the bathroom was awfully thick, and some letters were floating at my feet. Even though the bathroom was large, there was a large armor sitting in the corner that I couldn't ignore, and I almost shouted out.

''Master will get seriously angry with Atobe-sama one day if he does this too...?''

　Steiner's voice - not the voice that seemed to be echoing in the armor, but the voice that came from behind the steam.

''........If you've been in with Theresa on a regular basis, there won't be much of a problem. It's been a long time since I've used my powers in the labyrinth and my restrictions have loosened.


　As I was about to go outside, there was a rustling sound of water across the steam, and someone in a silhouette I hadn't seen before stood up.

　It must be Celes-san there, but she's taller than Celes-san - and the voice itself sounds somehow more mature. It's not like it's echoing because it's a bathroom or anything.

'You have nothing to worry about, Lord. This is the power of the runes don't ever look back. Theresa, how do you usually bathe with Arichaut?
..........

　It's too straightforward to speculate, but it seemed to me that Celes-san had even used her skills as a 'runemaker' to make the steam in the bath thicker and invited me into the bathroom without me noticing.

It's a good thing that you're not the only one who's been in the bath. I'm sure you'll be able to find out what happened. I'm sure he's not the type of person who would want to be naked with his party members.
'Oh, I'm not... well, I mean, I'm not so much a naked person as I am a naked person, but...'
Hence our presence here. Steiner has to wash his armor, and although the runes will keep it from rusting, it will be a problem if it stays on.
Well, don't say that, Master I'm not going to get out of the tub.
You don't have much patience, as you always say a woman has guts. You have the guts to pull yourself together, don't you, Aricht? But don't you prefer a partner who can pull you along?
Ta, that may be one aspect of it, but...

　His back is swept away as he speaks to me - after all, Ceres-san's height is bigger than usual, if not more mature.

It's a good idea to be able to have a look at it," he said, "don't worry about my appearance, I'm still far from being age appropriate. If you'd like to see this kind of girl, I don't mind having you look at me, but it doesn't particularly diminish my appearance.

　From Celes-san's point of view, I'm still a youngster, such as myself, and a twenty-nine year old from the perspective of a hundred and fifteen year old might be treated as a boy, even if it might not be. But I want to be a full-fledged adult in my consciousness - I still can't turn around. I shouldn't even look directly at the figure of Celes-san reflected in the mirror.

''.........You are so disciplined. I can see why the daughters of your party love you so much. Do you understand what women think when they see that kind of attitude?

　I'm not allowed to answer anything about it, and it's called violating the rules against everyone else, even if it's selfishly imagined.

Well, I've asked for permission from Louisa and Kyouka. If they're willing to do that, I'll have no problem slipping my hand down your back. Thank you for your efforts, Alihit.

　In other words, the two of them know that Celes-san is here - maybe even if they don't, they have a sense of trust that it won't be weird because Theresa is here.

''..........''
The mist must be good for the Lizardman's skin, it's so lustrous and smooth and young. Your skin drains water.
Master, if you relax, Master Atobe will catch a cold.
"Huh... that's good?　When you're done washing up, Steiner, you're going to have an arihit in your bathtub.
I'm not that bad........I'm a skilled diver, so I'll be fine, but I'm going to get sweaty.

　Mr. Steiner said that he had the skills of a wand that could fall into the water with his armor on, like a wand that would not fall.

　In the end, even though they were together in the bath, they didn't see Steiner-san and didn't even look at Celes-san properly, but they went up first.

''..........''

　After we are alone, I think as I start to flush Theresa's back. She's glad they didn't see her wash her tail.