Sword of Gluttony Queen - Chapter 33
Chapter 33 : Annoying Fellow
The three of us, Fedor-san, Edda, and I headed towards the 《Demon’s Den》 using a carriage.
Fedor-san even went as far as paying the coach’s fee for us.
「Truly, thank you very much, Fedor-san! This is my first time riding a carriage pulled by such a splendid Equo(Demon Horse).」
The speed of a coach was completely dependent on the Equo’s fighting spirit.
There were many stories about adventurers who would rather run on their own feet towards the labyrinth rather than riding on a coach pulled by a low-leveled Equo.
At this point alone, this had assured me that this particular Equo was a 【Lv:20】 Equo.
「Normally, I would also use an Equo whose grade is one grade below the current one. I chose this one since our destination was really far. We mustn’t waste our time since there might be other adventurers hunting that 《Mineral’s Demon; Solus》.」
「Yeah… although there are rumours that say it’s fake and it doesn’t exist… it doesn’t equal to having no other adventurer parties hunting for it…」
After I said so, I looked at Edda on my side.
This girl had been maintaining her silence while she kept her cross-legged sitting posture with a stern look on her face.
Not even a word of gratitude for Fedor-san who prepared this coach for us.
「H-Hey, at least sa—」
When I was about to lightly poke Edda’s side with my elbow, she dismissed it with her hand.
「Tsk!!!」
T-This girl used fighting spirit.
「Don’t touch me so easily. Narc’s warriors are noble. Though I can overlook your impolite behavior in favor of Fedor, my benefactor. I’ve no intention of getting along with you. Don’t think things will end just like this next time.」
I facepalmed while heaving a sigh to calm myself.
Even now, I forgot that she was a member of the nomadic race who lived far away from civilization.
The reason why she left her tribe might be to act as the ambassador for her tribe who felt the ostracism of other humans because they couldn’t mingle with them, or it was supposed to be that way.
Rather, I could foresee that her high pride could be fatal.
I was saved again by Fedor-san thanks to her gratitude to him and for now, I am safe.
Although it could just be lip service.
「Fedor-san, I think this woman is a nutcase.」
… No, the reason why Fedor-san took her in might be because he couldn’t see Edda getting along with anyone no matter how much she tried.
I mean, even an amateur like me could see clearly that Edda would only end up dying in an alley after being ambushed by the adventurers who were irritated by her.
「Just now were you insulting me? Sorry but I’ve got no intention of getting along with you. If you feel dissatisfied, let’s settle this in a duel. You may choose to keep your head lowered or I will behead you if you keep bothering me.」
「……EH?」
「It seems you are resolute. Coachman, stop the coach right now. Be glad, there’s one person less to be carried by the Equo.」
Edda’s hand reached out towards the hilt of the magic sword on her back.
「Fine then, BRING IT ON! If I WIN, YOU’VE TO APOLOGIZE TO FEDOR-SAN!」
「Still trying to mock me even at this moment!」
「C-CALM DOWN, BOTH OF YOU! Wah? C-Calm down, Edda-chan. That goes for you too, Dean-kun. Please understand that Edda-chan was raised in a rather unique environment, that’s why I hope you can respect her traditions as much as possible.」
「U-Ugh….」
I guess I had no choice since Fedor-san said so.
I decided to back down in his honor.
「…. Using discretion huh. But, Narc’s warriors would rather die than live by flattering others.」
… As expected, I definitely couldn’t get along with this woman1.
After that, I heard from Fedor-san while we’re continuing our journey that he was currently 【Lv:37】 while Edda is 【Lv:23】.
Her sulking face at that time was as if she said 「Why did you tell that guy my level?」.
So the Narc tribe was aware of this level system too.
【Lv:23】 was quite an achievement for someone of her age.
Mine was 【Lv:20】 but… I decided to tell them that I was 【Lv:15】.
「That 《Box》 is really amazing, I mean, we can even bring along some cookware.」
A while later, we took a brief rest to have a meal.
Fedor-san even brought along things like cookware and food ingredients in his 《Box》.
I borrowed his pot to cook.
It was because Fedor-san said 「Dean-kun, you’re an adept cook, right? Can I leave the meals to you?」
Thus I decided to go all out.
「There are many food ingredients… wheat, milk…. Ah, I can use this meat too right?」
「Sure, there’s plenty of it, it’s not like we’re going further down. For your future reference, you’ll need a seven-man party that is over 【Lv:30】 to dive until the UG 6th floor. 」
「S-Seven C-rank adventurers…!」
It was a scale that I couldn’t even imagine.
For UG 4th floor and below the party needed an environmentalist with 《Matter》 magic to counter the thick miasma, a sense specialist with 《Rule》, and enough war potential to deal with the demon beasts who could use various battle arts along the way.
And most of all, the demon beasts above B-rank aren’t the kind of opponent that will go down so easily.
「Most of all…. It’s not like it’s hard to look for adventurers over 【Lv:30】 in Romburgh but, there are no more than twelve of them. And most of them are oddballs like me who didn’t choose to enter the army despite their high level.」
Fedor-san said those words with a wry smile on his face.
「Come to think of it Fedor-san, why didn’t you enter the army? I won’t force you to answer this question if you don’t wa– 」
「For money. I rather keep diving into the demon labyrinth than become a lowly underling. Even if. for example, I entered the army, I’ll be overworked for a long time if I’ve no connection with the upper echelon. Naturally, that comes with guaranteed safety.」
「I see… But, I think the army would give special treatment for someone as powerful as you, Fedor-san. I mean, they’re more than willing to get a valuable talent like you in the army. 」
「You know how detestable those guys in the army are, right? Like the incident a long time ago where entire troops ganged up on the Magus officer of this city. Well, I’m still young after all…. Ever since that incident, entering the army has become even stricter than before. Well, it’s not like I’m worried about it, such a restricted way of life doesn’t suit me after all.」
Fedor-san said so with a dry smile while he rolled up his sleeves and showed me his biceps.
As expected of Fedor-san.
I also hated those shitty people in the army who think nothing but how much tax can be collected from Romburgh’s citizens.
But, I don’t have the guts to give those bastards from the army a taste of my fist.
The reason was because I was too weak.
Magus officers were the people whose level was beyond 【Lv:30】 and some amongst them might be as strong as Fedor-san.
And their subordinates, the common soldiers were composed of 【Lv:25】 people at minimum.
As for the Magus assistant, the superiors of those Magus officers, his level was even higher than his subordinate.
None of the adventurers in this city could beat him.
「Oops… I almost forgot about this one.」
I’ve used boiled barley and rice, butter, and Racow’s milk to make 《Ogre Chicken’s Doria》 .
I also used mandragora’s root for its flavoring.
It seemed that I took quite some time to cook since I rarely handled those ingredients.
Racow’s butter was fermented by using Shemey which was a rare delicacy.
I ended up measuring it twice when using such a rare ingredient.
I made a meal for four people including our coach driver.
「OOH! As expected of you, Dean-kun! Your cooking skills alone tempted me to make you into my fixed teammate so that I could enjoy delicious food even when I’m diving inside of the labyrinth.」
Fedor-san praised my cooking while eating the Doria.
「Hahaha… You’re overestimating my cooking skill. By the way, are you serious about the matter you said a while ago? 」
『Dean! Me too! Let me eat that too!』
Beelzebub sent that message right into my head.
–D-Don’t ask for the impossible, please.
–I’ve let you eat so much before we departed yesterday right?
–This portion alone was worth almost 20 thousand Temis.
–Don’t worry, I’ll make something similar to this one again, someday.
『I! WANT! IT! NOW!』
… This Archdemon has no patience at all.
At this rate, I might not be able to get into the party with anyone but Mani.
「It’s a waste of time. It should be fine to grill the meat as it is and drink the milk as it is. It’s the same once they went into the stomach anyway. Are you messing around with this expedition?」
Edda said those words with a sharp tone while looking at the Doria.
I barely stopped myself from saying: “Then don’t eat it if you don’t like it!”
Fedor-san didn’t wish to see me quarreling with Edda after all.
『THEN GIMME THAT FOOD, YOU SHI*TTY GIIIIIRL!』
…. It seemed that Beelzebub-sama was quite enraged by Edda’s remark.
「Here, my 2nd adventurer’s knowledge tip! A delicious and hearty meal is as important as communication for adventurers. As for how important it is, it can prevent you from brawling and it can increase benefits for cooperation.」
As expected of Fedor-san.
His logic was simple enough for even this battle idiot girl from a combat tribe.
「The theory of the flock of domesticated Nahk2. I don’t feel the need to follow it.」
「How dare you to say something like that towards Fedor-san!」
「I think you’re angry for the wrong reason… Dean-kun.」
Fedor-san said so with a wry smile on his face.