Chapter 161: The Veil Of Deception (3)

After taking down a few more Cogwheel Stragglers at the bottom of the moat. We returned to the surface via the nearest Safe Zone.

The fog wasn’t unnecessarily thick to the point that it obscured vision. There wasn’t a stench of decay. The irritating sound of cogwheels was no longer audible, and the ground was firm, not soggy.

This obvious fact began to feel incredibly beautiful.

While I had often marveled at the scenery that seemed to perfectly embody my imagination.

Perhaps because it was so well-realized, stress had unknowingly accumulated. Well, it wasn’t exactly an ideal environment.

“A normal world is such a wonderful thing….”

“Yes. Everyone says that after their first visit to the 3rd Floor.”@@novelbin@@

“Heh heh. So far, the environment of the Labyrinth itself hasn’t been difficult, right? You can start getting excited.”

Lydia and Benny nodded as if they expected this. Together with them, I exchanged the loot at the Guild.

The Magic Stones were much more expensive than those on the 2n Floor, and the other loot fetched a decent price as well.

But since we couldn’t catch many monsters in the first place, the earnings were disappointing.

After calculating today’s potion and special arrow costs, it felt like I just barely avoided a loss.

Sighing deeply, I watched Lydia, who was already buying a skewer of some unknown monster meat, and Benny, who kept stepping on Shadow trying to sneak out from under her, pushing it back in.

“Miss Lydia, Benny. We finished earlier than expected. What do you want to do?”

“That’s right. It’s still broad daylight. We have plenty of time.”

“Well, usually we stay holed up in the Labyrinth until early evening…but I guess we can’t help it today.”

Lydia and Benny looked at each other and nodded, then spoke in turn.

“Let’s go back to Ellie’s shop in the evening like usual. But right now, it’s lunchtime.”

“How about we eat out for a change? We can also talk about the Labyrinth today.”

“I don’t mind, but…why are you acting so ominous over just eating? People might think we’re up to no good.”

“…Misunderstanding. Troublesome.”

“Wh-what do you mean up to no good! We’re just eating and having a secret chat in a quiet place, that’s all?!”

“Wow.”

Saying it like that really does make it sound shady.

Since it’s Lydia and Benny, nothing untoward will actually happen, though.

With a doubtful look, I alternated my gaze between the two and slowly nodded.

“Okay. So where shall we go?”

“A place with rooms and is quiet.”

“Oh, are we going there after all?

Lydia and Benny exchanged a silent glance and nodded.

What is it? Just where is this place?

I can’t tell Ellie I’m being taken there, but a place with rooms and quiet, a place even I hesitate to name…

“Gasp!”

Is it a slightly risqué place?!

In this world, it’s common for bars of a certain size to double as brothels. Since it’s not illegal, naturally such steamy places have increased.

Even Ellie’s place started as such a place initially. Although now it’s changed quite a bit and feels like a themed pub.

Well, since they’re taking me, they probably won’t go to such a serious place.

Seeing the Unicorn Dagger react to Lydia and Benny, it’s strange that the two who are still virgins would suddenly go to such a store.

However, the possibility of it being a somewhat risqué shop cannot be ignored.

I do like the gender-reversed world, but there’s one thing I truly detest.

It’s the scantily clad men you often see in slightly shady places.

The staff at Ellie’s shop are okay because I’ve gotten to know them, but…the unknown guys working in other shops give me such a sense of repulsion.

Am I going to have to see that sight again… No, why are Lydia and Benny going to such a shop when I’m here in the first place?

Suddenly feeling a surge of emotion, I tightly gripped Lydia and Benny’s hands and said.

“Let’s go somewhere else! You don’t need such a place since I’m with you two, right?!”

“…???”

“…???”

As if they had never exchanged a sly grin, Lydia and Benny tilted their heads in confusion.

“Hahaha! Jonah, did you really think we were going to take you to that kind of place?”

“Disappointment. I’d understand if you thought that about Benny, but to think you saw me like that too.”

“Wait a minute! Lydia! What do you mean, even if it’s me?!”

“Benny. You’re pretty lewd. Everyone knows.”

“No…I’m just about average, okay?! The one who’s really into it is Ellie! On the other hand, you seem oddly uninterested!”

“Truly average people don’t say they’re average.”

“What’s that supposed to mean….”

Lydia and Benny bickered. Wedged between them, I could only hang my head in silence.

And for good reason, the place they had taken me to was…

A pub with a decent, if not slightly stylish, atmosphere.

Ellie’s Fairy and Silver Coin is technically a tavern, but it places a strong emphasis on meals. If I had to put it into words…it’s like a traditional fantasy inn where you can’t stay overnight? 𐍂𝓪ƝỐΒÊṠ

On the other hand, this place, Moonlight and Glass, is more of a shop focused solely on alcohol, meant for drinking.

Most seats are lined up in front of the counter…but if you pay a bit more, you can rent one of the rooms inside, which is where we are now.

An assortment of expensive-looking drinks and simple snacks are laid out on the table. Benny lounged on the sofa pressed right up against it, nibbling on the snacks.

With a jelly-like texture but a bizarre taste resembling cheese, Benny was happily munching away, gently moving her feet.

“Hey, hey.”

Her bare feet are already free of shoes and socks. They’re small and soft, making me want to squish them eagerly…but if those feet poke my side, the story changes.

Slap!

I smacked the white instep and glared with a deliberately stern expression. Of course, it seemed to have no effect, as Benny just chuckled and sipped the golden liquor that was set aside.

“Ha! Why are you so stiff, Jonah? It may not be alcohol, but the juice is tasty, so drink as much as you want. Lydia and I will handle the bill anyway.”

“Well, sure. One has to eat free food while it’s available.”

I nodded weakly and took a sip of the sparkling mint chocolate pineapple juice.

At the indescribably complex taste, my jumbled mind began to simplify, calming slightly.

“Jonah. So why did you have that misconception?”

“Pfft!”

At Lydia’s words, I ended up spitting out everything I had in my mouth. It wasn’t because it tasted bad.

Since the room was empty, Shadow, who had been freely lurking from the shadows, swiftly swept up the droplets I sprayed and swallowed them. Soon after, it twisted its body, repeatedly vomiting and reabsorbing a silver-glowing substance from its dozens of mouths… Anyway, it wasn’t because it tasted bad.

It’s sparkling, mint chocolate, and pineapple. How could something taste bad when it combines three delicious things?

Shaking my head, I decided to honestly admit it. Among us, the person most possessed by obscene thoughts is me…!

“No, it’s just that you two dragged me to a quiet room without Ellie knowing, in broad daylight, so I thought it might be one of those kinds of places.”

“Ugh. Hearing it like that, it certainly sounds like a situation that’s easy to misunderstand.”

Lydia was briefly flustered, but she quickly shook her head and continued speaking.

“As you can see yourself, Jonah, it’s not a strange shop.”

“That’s how it seems. Although there are a lot of strangely expensive and fragrant-looking drinks lined up… Why is it a secret from Ellie?”

“How could I tell Senior Ellie that there’s no delicious alcohol at Fairy and Silver Coin, so I went to another bar far away.”

“Uh, well…that’s true.”

No matter how much money Ellie has saved up from her active days, and even if she started this job half as a hobby.

Even so, Ellie is the owner of Fairy and Silver Coin. If you bring up another bar in front of her, you’d better be prepared for a scolding.

“So, Jonah, you have to keep it a secret that you came here today too. Got it?”

“Sure. I promise.”

Nodding, Benny snatched a snack I was about to eat and opened her mouth.

“Since everyone seems to have ordered a drink they like, shall we get to the main topic?”

“Yeah. Anyway, the main topic would be about this hunt not going well, right?”

“That’s right. The mechanized monsters on the 3rd Floor are all so tough that it’s too hard for my combat style to deal with them quickly.”

“First of all, let me say this. It’s strange to deal with monsters so swiftly. I also partied with others when I climbed the 3rd Floor.”

“So, are Lydia and Benny going to help me too?”

“No. I thought about that too, but considering why we’re sticking to you, Jonah, to explore the Labyrinth, it seems better to let you fight alone, so I gave up.”

“Ugh. When you fight tough opponents, your skills are bound to improve by force.”

“That’s exactly it. Jonah has been lucky so far, with good weapons and great talent, so you haven’t had to struggle much. But monster hunting originally requires more effort and thought.”

“Are you telling me to think hard and put in a lot of effort this time?”

“Exactly. Of course, I’ll help if it gets dangerous, and I might support you a bit if you need something… For example, like how to use the new greatsword you made this time.”

“Oh.”

I haven’t formally learned weapon skills, but I’ve spent quite a bit of time practicing alone with the Unicorn Dagger or Wrist Crossbow, and I’ve used them in real battles more than once or twice.

But isn’t it true that I made the greatsword this time and immediately took it to the field for its first demonstration?

Of course, there are bound to be proficiency issues. Lydia said she would help fill that gap.

Considering the toughness of the 3rd-Floor monsters, it would be ideal to learn to use the greatsword’s weight like a blunt weapon.

Nodding to myself briefly. As Lydia and I were having an important conversation, Benny, who was chattering with Shadow, suddenly came into view.

How annoying…

Even though I knew it was immature, I wanted to make Benny uncomfortable.

“Oops.”

“…Huh?”

I sat right down on the sofa where Benny was lounging. In other words, I sat my butt on Benny’s back.

In that position, crossing one leg and resting my chin on my arm, I asked in a slanted posture.

“Why? Do you have something to say to me, Benny?”

Benny’s eyes twitch slightly and then quickly scan me from face to back. It’s always such a blatant scan.

After spending a moment, Benny finally speaks.

“Oh, no? There’s no problem, so you can just stay like that?”

Though Benny says so, perhaps the body is more honest. I could feel Benny’s lower waist twitching and trembling.

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