Chapter 80: Flustered Tiger-Eared Girl and New Trial

「… Thus. Lily-chan, Faeri-chan, can you promise me to not telling anyone that both of you are high pixie and high dryad?」

Some time after their hectic morning――

Aria explained the grave situation to Lily and Faeri in the living room.

It seemed that the two fairies finally understood the situation they were in after being reprimanded by Aria.

Color drained from their face as they imagined themself kidnapped by bad humans.

「It’s rather troublesome but, I think it’s okay if you say that you plant them in the middle of the night. Fortunately, this house’s location is rather detached…」

. Anyway, Vulcan could finally heave a relieved sigh after being away from public gaze and prepare an explanation for the appearance of so many trees in the garden.

「I never expected that this water could heal all kind of wounds…」n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

Stella was staring down at several small bottles lined up on top of the table.

The contain was the precious water from Fountain of Life. Those bottles held the precious water from the Fountain of life.

There’s no reason for them to not using it. There wasn’t any reason for them not to use it.

Aria and co decided to keep the water inside of the empty bottle―― As an emergency’s elixir.

With this, any injured party member could return to fight immediately.

On top of that, one sip of the water was enough to refill one’s mana to MAX.

Just in case, Aria tried to confirm whether both Lily and Faeri grew the World Tree or made Fountain of Life from the labyrinth they came from…

「We didn’t.」

「 The labyrinth is filled with abundance of trees, so we don’t really need to grow more trees~!」

That was their answer.

It seemed like today was their first time growing a World Tree and creating the Fountain of Life.

Even though they knew how to do so from the very beginning, there was no need for them to put it into practice thanks to their home’s environment.

「How about we try digging the soil in the garden a while later. If the legends are true, we should be able to find some rare metals.」

「Please make new equipment for us if you find rare metal, Vulcan-san?」

「Aria-chan… Well, it’s true that I can make fairly good equipment. But, the best I can make is up to Orichalcum nyaa.」

「You’re right, only “Artifact Smith” can make equipment with metal that has a higher grade than orichalcum ―― Eh, what’s the matter, Vulcan-san? Your face is pale you know?」

「I-It’s Nyaathing!!」

The moment Aria was talking about artifact smith, the look on Vulcan’s face worsened.

Though Aria was looking at her with a worried look, Vulcan just dismissed it.

Aria decided not to pursue the matter anymore.

… 　…As for the “Artifact Smith” mentioned by Aria, it was the title of blacksmith in this world; people who owned this title could be counted on one hand.

The term itself referred to the blacksmith who could manufacture armaments using metals such as mithril, adamantite, and vibram which couldn’t be handled by normal blacksmiths.

Therefore, any blacksmith with that kind of skill was put under the management of their country. Such blacksmiths were only allowed to use their power to produce weapons with said metals under orders of their country, not by their own will.

（That flustered manner… Could it be that miss Vulcan is… Nay, that’s too good to be true.）

. Tama went as far as thinking （Could it be…） as he saw Vulcan’s reaction, but he convinced himself that such a thing was impossible.

「Aria, I’m hungry! Isn’t it the time for breakfast!」

「Ah, you’re right, Stella-chan. Let’s have breakfast first. You’re coming with us, right Vulcan-san?」

「Nya~! It’s been a while now, so let’s have a blast nyan!」

The matter about breakfast made Aria and Co forget about the riot from the morning. Vulcan also joined them for the meal.

It was during that time…

KnockKnockKnock――

They heard knocking from the front entrance.

They wondered who could visit them so early in the morning.

「Good morning everyone. May I intrude you so early in the morning?」

. The one who visited them was the guild’s master, Arnoldo Hwarzenegger.

「Is something the matter, Ana-san?」

Her tone was the same as usual, but Arnoldo had a completely different atmosphere around her… Thus, Aria couldn’t help but ask when she noticed the stark contrast.

「As sharp as ever huh, Aria-chan… The truth is, there’s something I want to ask everyone here. It’s nominated commission from the guild.」

「Nominated commission from the guild nya? What kind of commission-nya?」

「You see Vulcan-chan, the situation inside of the labyrinth is rather strange nowadays. Powerful monsters that should never appear on the 1st floor had started to appear one after the other. The frequency of their appearance keeps on getting shorter every time, there were even some casualties amongst the adventurers.」

Arnold explained the situation with a bitter look on her[?] face.

Considering the fact that monsters weren’t overflowing from the inside of the labyrinth when the abnormal situation happened, it didn’t seem like it was a stampede

But for the guild who dispatched the adventurers into the labyrinth, losing those adventurers would be a huge loss.

Thus, before the damage could spread even further, the guild decided to make a nominated commission to Aria and co, this high ranking adventurer team to exterminate those powerful monsters and investigate the origin of Labyrinth’s abnormality.

「I see, that’s something that we can’t overlook. I accept the commission.」

「Thank you very much, Aria-chan! I knew you’d accept this commission!」

「If my comrade go, I’ll go too nyan!」

「That sounds interesting, count me in!」

Arnoldo’s expression became brighter when she heard Aria accepted the nominated commission with Vulcan and Stella following along.

「Me tuu~!」

「Let’s help Aria-san and co~!」

Lily and Faeri were joining the fray as well―― But…

「 Lily-chan, Faeri-chan, the commission this time is dangerous. Monsters that are more powerful than the one you meet before might appear this time. Are you sure you want to go with us?」

… Aria, who was worrying about the two fairies’ safety, tried to stop them

「It’s okay! Despite our look, we’re actually quite powerful, you know?」

「Desu~! We won’t become hindrance for Aria and co~!」

The two fairies ignored Aria’s warning and were still trying to make her take them along.

Well, come to think of it, Lily and Faeri did live inside of the labyrinth for quite a long time.

That forest-type labyrinth was the home of powerful monsters.

And since they survived in that kind of place with ease, they might be quite confident with their own combat prowess.

（Just to be safe, I’ll protect them if push comes to shove. I’m this party’s knight after all.）

He’ll be the sword and the shield of his comrade.

That’s the knight’s raison d’etre.

Tama looked at Aria’s face and nodded silently to her.

「Fufufu, I guess we’ve nothing to fear since Tama is coming along with us?」

Aria gave a love filled hug after seeing her adorable pet[knight] trying to reassure her.

（You really… turned into a splendid person, Aria-chan. I’m really proud of you.）

Recalling the first time she[?] met Aria, Arnold was filled with a sense of accomplishment seeing her[?] sister-like figure climbing to the top of adventurer’s rank, becoming a proud yet kind A-rank adventurer.

Thus, their talk was concluded in an instant.

Afterwards, Aria signed the official contract that was provided by Arnold.

. 　After finishing their quick breakfast, they started to prepare their gear and confirm that they stored all necessary goods in Tama’s 《Storage》. Then, their party departed for the labyrinth.