Alice Tale in Phantasmagoria Chapter 61

In this world it seems there are magic pa.s.sages known as labyrinths.
It's said that when entering, the routes and enemies change, it's a particularly exciting labyrinth system.
Just who created it, whether they existed from the start, or maybe kami-sama's prank, that's something no one knows.
……Maa, though my being in this world like this, is itself extremely mysterious.
Just, deep within there are rare materials, a magic territory that arouses the hearts of adventurers dreaming of striking it rich in every era.
As there are numerous adventurers interested in protecting just themselves, it would be fine to call it blood hungering labyrinth instead.
And so again, adventurers who challenge that sort of antlion pit appear.

「It's me.」
「?」

Ilya went, what is it ojousama?
But well, it's ojousama isn't it, making that sort of face while walking out like it was nothing.

「……You don't think it's scary getting used to this, Ilya?」
「That's just called becoming able to get along, ojousama.」

If you want me to prepare myself then please say so, that sort of face came out!
Stop looking at me with such kind eyes right now!
……Fun, it's fine alreadyー.

「Fufu, that's too cute.」

Having increased my pace, I was delivered a laughing voice from behind.
The feeling on my palm was strong……

Today we're looking into a magic pa.s.sage near the royal capital, I'm going together with Ilya.
A stretch of gra.s.sland east of the royal capital, the ruins there.
As a result of steadily completing requests, our guild rank is about to reach C.
Just, earnings wise the extent of going from E to D is not all that dramatic.
If it's those two ranks, generally earnings are from five hundred rooks to three thousand rooks per request.
Although, saying it's something like a three thousand rook issue, it won't be fast.
And so finis.h.i.+ng a single request in a single day won't happen.
Thinking of the likely personal expenses while traveling to the area to complete that request, that is already, not that great business.
I have plenty of money because of the large amount I received from Kran but, I can't acc.u.mulate any more.
Right now, it's that sort of condition.
And with the equipment creation, it becomes minus.
Although it shouldn't be like that if rank is improved further, it should also grow more dangerous.
Maa, that is high risk high return, low risk low return and, do it well.
However the current situation is, the fact that earnings still aren't enough.
And so, earn a little and, I occasionally feel, do a little kindness.

「Ilya, isn't it that there's a teleportation system to exit when the labyrinth's been conquered?」

Refraining from her childish acts, Ilya matched her pace to me and answered.

「That's what I've been told. However, that can't be relied on. I think it's proper to act while bearing in mind returning to the exit under our own power.」
「So that's how it is.」

At the point of reaching the limit without considering the return, without a teleportation system, what an unsightly condition.

「Doing that, taking the enemy into consideration and gathering enough combat power to act safely, isn't it best to bring emergency rations and the like?」
「That is true isn't it. But, in the labyrinth itself the underground tenth floor is always the lowest level so, that means it's not so long that the sun would set.」
「Fu～n, even so everyone, generally doesn't arrive at the lowest floor, are the enemies that strong?」
「Yes. on the tenth floor down, the master of the labyrinth is prepared. because of that greedy adventurers having the tables turned on them is an everyday occurrence, ojousama.」

Ilya remarked as such while smiling.
I understand, I understand!

「……However, there's a labyrinth there. That's plenty of a reason!」
「I'd rather not be dragged along and die, ojousama.」
「That, that's as expected isn't itー」

With a nice smile, she stabs deeply……

「Kusu, it's a joke. I have made a vow. Whether in life or death, we'll go together, ojousama.」
「Ilya……」

You are, skilled at lifting up from below……
Maa, we won't die though.

Walking through the gra.s.slands for a while, I come to see the destination ruin.
Before that magic pa.s.sage ruin, a number of adventurers are gathered.
In actuality it's not just money, the appeal should also be gathering experience.
Watching for a while, a group of adventures left and one entered, it seems quite prosperous.

「This is, entry beyond one group at a time can't be done?」
「Something like that isn't the case. It delivers to a variety of different labyrinths. There aren't multiple parties pa.s.sing by eachother within.」

Hee?
It's like separate dimensional s.p.a.ce.

「Ah, oneechan! ……With, Solt-san.」

Perhaps it's about time to return, at the point of thinking that, I found those two.
It seems that they just left the labyrinth.

「――Oh, is it Alice with Ilya.」

The other group also noticed us, they walked to us while holding hands.

「Oneechan also, you came here?」
「Aah, recently I've always been coming here, though I've often been accompanying Solt.」
「……Don't say unnecessary things.」

Kurozuk.u.me stabbed a nail into the issue with a discontent face.
You, always seem to have such a poor mood so it's troublesome.
That brow, soon enough it's going to become wrinkled isn't it?

「Should I give you a facial ma.s.sage, Solt-san?」
「You always…… Just what are you saying.」
「Even though I'm trying to be nice.」

It's sad failing to communicate.

「Because it's ojousama.」
「Isn't that Alice.」

The nodded deeply together.
……Somehow it seems disparaging.

「Maa it's fine but, isn't it dangerous for just the two of you to come?」
「We aren't going to the depths so, it's not like that.」

It's no big deal, according to s.h.i.+on's reply.
Above something like money, it seems they're gathering experience.
……Saying that, what was it that Saira said?
Well, it should be fine.

「……Ah! Rather than that, Solt-san! Aren't you neglecting Rin-chan a little too much!」
「That is…… sorry.」
「Sorry!? That's all!?」
「No…… it does concern me.」
「Don't do that! You're not getting it, a child like that, something like that!」
「……Sorry.」
「Sorry!?」

Saying that, at the moment something like apologizing is the most aggravating!

「What should I do Ilya, though it's become very interesting.」
「That's it isn't it, oneesama. As always you're too cute, ojousama.」

Taking the opportunity to lecture kurozuk.u.me I was refreshed, to an extent.

Whether it was the result of the lecture, or some other reason, kurozuk.u.me came to greet Rin-chan, yesterday for the first time in a while he came back to the house we borrowed.

「Des.h.i.+, why aren't we going together?」

And, at that time, though Rin-chan said this in deeply curious manner.
Why can't I go together……
Because she's a small child, isn't it important to not obfuscate and explain the truth.
Yos.h.!.+

「That's because, that person has no reliability, Rin-chan.」

So, I taught her.

「Mu～, oniichan! Be properly reliability!」
「……」

Kurozuk.u.me, glared with severe eyes.
Sorryー.
And so, the energetic angel of my family turned about countless times, and we returned while grumbling.

It can sometimes be lonely, maa, it's fine for him to come play at any time.
To be sure, whether such an ill mannered man is family, he's occasionally not together with us.
Un…… Family, is it?
He isn't a criminal is he?
……Perhaps I'll go listen to his circ.u.mstances regularly.
I'm also uncertain about food and the like.
In the worst case, I'll take him in.
Our house is large after all.
No really…… something like using this large, extravagant house, I'm grateful.

『Regarding the house no one lives in it and, it's become painful. More than letting you sleep, it would be helpful if Alice and everyone were to make use of it.』

And as such, Kran's words.
Kran is it……

「――Ojousama」
「Hai!」

Being called suddenly, I jumped up from my room's desk.
Turning around, Ilya stood before the door that had been left open.

「I apologize for doing this while you were fantasizing, I've called you any number of times.」
「……Say, saying this is very nonsensical but, what is it? Come inside.」

The point about waiting properly before the left open door, is Ilya isn't it.
With polite and moreover beautiful conduct, Ilya came in.
A graceful child.

「There are three points to report. Good news or bad news, which should we discuss first?」
「Eh? Bad news?」
「Affirmative.」

No no, it isn't that we should start the discussion from there is it!?
Maa but it is fine……

「From Bati-sama, it seems the appointed day for the armor ordered will be late.」
「Ah, as expected is it difficult?」
「No, it's simply something like she wanted to stimulate her inspiration so, she's selfishly demanding that she wants ojousama in a swimsuit.」

「By the way it seems to be a bikini.」
「Rejected.」
「Then, I'll inform her as such.」

It's fine so get to work already.
She received the measurements from Ilya, so she's been given the proper numbers.

「The second point is, we've been entrusted with a letter, here it is.」
「Letter?」

Checking the sender and, it's Aim.
What is it?

『――Please give me work already, master. Is there no one you want eliminated?』

Reading it once, I softly put it on my desk.

「……My head is starting to hurt.」

The sense of an a.s.sa.s.sin is……
An a.s.sa.s.sin who comes to urge is……

「Then finally, the good news is, something you should discuss with the person in question.」

Ilya suddenly pulled back and, noticing the form hidden at the entrance I met eyes with Saira.

「Saira?」
「Ha, Hai! Umm, Ilya-san's armor is finished! Umm…… a little, I'm confident in this work nya.」

Reserved as if embarra.s.sed, and so her hot gaze looked to me with her feelings and unease included, she naturally smiled.
Saira is always, my heart's tonic isn't she.

「Well done, I'm looking forward to it.」
「～～Hai desu!」

Watching people's happy smiles is, always a good thing isn't it.

And as such, the day to challenge conquering the labyrinth came.
The day itself is a good day, walking through the gra.s.sland toward the labyrinth, it had a good feel rather like a picnic.

――――Not worrying about my rear.

「Fun, because Eclair is going to help you out, something like this labyrinth is easy isn't it.」
「Master, this crimson one is noisy.」
「What is that!? Aim said that right!? I'll turn you to fire!」
「It might be best to be aware of your rear.」
「Want to go at it!?」
「To the extent of being a weak dog, you sure bark well.」

…………
Splendidly, the rear has become energetic.
That is it.
To the extent of turning into a fight is it?
That's right, un, surely.

「Good weather isn't it, Ilya.」
「Fufu, shall we face reality, ojousama?」

……This party, I'm worriedー.
It's like there's a time bomb set behind me.
Why do they quickly after meeting, brew up this atmosphere of not mes.h.i.+ng?

「Ma, what will be will be.」

Just how great a vessel do you have, oneechan……

「What went wrong……」

After bringing Eclair cookies and then inviting her to the labyrinth, it's good that I got an OK.
Because it's a slightly fundamental adventure, I thought to call Aim as well for her first work, thinking of safety that wasn't wrong at all.
……I was also urged on.

「I feel that the party composition has fully grasped its balance, ojousama.」
「That is true isn't it, I and Ilya take vanguard. Crimson and blue ojouchans take rear guard, Alice can do anything.」

You casually praised me, oneechan!
It's fine to praise me more!

「But don't advance too much, Alice. Your feebleness hasn't changed.」
「I don't want to be told that by oneechan!?」

s.h.i.+on laughed with a gentle smile.

「Kusu, I suppose that's true. I think I and oneesama in front is plenty. Out of the two ojousama, please pa.s.sively stay in the rear.」

That's the role I least want to do……
Turning back around.

「Master, should I eliminate her? If it's right now doing it for free might be fine.」
「To the extent of being eliminated by someone like you, because Eclair isn't that weak! That's fine! That provocation, I'll accept it.」
「Since it's fine not to accept…… Aim also, please stop.」

Because I've already spent ten thousand rooks, this adventure, at this point I can't return empty handed.

「……If master says so then.」
「……I'll defer to Alice.」

Really reluctantly, with that sort of facial expression they turned their backs to eachother.
Nee, why do they get along so poorly, with those two walking beside eachother?
In reality, don't those two like eachother?

「Walking furthest to the rear is, a habit. Hurry up and go to the front.」
「If someone like you is furthest back, this won't be any place to fight the enemy!」
「……」

……My head really hurts.
Although I'd expected us to be flawless, this is strange.