NOVEL WEB Chapter 102 - Divine Cat Mii-chan is always with Nero-kun.
102 Divine Cat Mii-chan is always with Nero-kun.
Finally, I decided to showcase the culmination of my atmospheric skills—a gun.
I asked the guild master if I could borrow a target used for archery, took aim, and fired.
Whoosh! Crack!
The target shattered into pieces, scattering everywhere. Not just the hunters, but even the guild master and others were left speechless.
After explaining that this gun was crafted by a skilled artisan named Zergad, I also made it clear that it was beyond their current capabilities to handle.
When asked how advanced one would need to be to use it, I replied that they should be able to freely adjust the size of an air cannon and fire it repeatedly.
The hunters seemed very motivated. It’s understandable since they’ve just learned that a skill previously deemed useless could have such immense potential.
With that, the training session came to an end. Now, it’s up to them to practice individually.
In the guild master’s office, we relaxed with some tea.
“That’s the true power of atmospheric skills…”
“What do you think? I believe there’s even more potential beyond this, but it’s just that no one has realized it yet.”
“So, you’re saying we need to conduct research…”
“If no one passes on what we did today, it will be forgotten within a few decades. Preserving and further developing this knowledge is crucial, in my opinion.”
Pamiru-san, with a serious expression, asked the guild master a question.
“Is it the same for other skills?”
“Most likely. However, even if someone knows the potential, they might not reveal it. They could lose their advantage.”
“But if it’s properly disclosed, many hunters’ lives could be saved.”
“True, but it’s not that simple.”
“What about seeking the cooperation of retired hunters?”
“They won’t move for free. We’d have to involve the headquarters…”
This isn’t something I can do anything about.
“Nero, you’ve shown us something truly valuable today. It reaffirmed the importance of skills. From here on, it’s our job.”
“If I could be of any help, I’m honored.”
“The headquarters were hasty in cutting you off.”
Regardless of the world, criticism and warnings are often unwelcome. It’s only natural. I have no regrets… I think.
“Mii~”
Well then, we have an early start tomorrow, so it’s time to head back.
Before returning to the inn, I stopped by the communal bath. As always, Mii-chan, Sera, and Lu-kun were quite popular.
After the bath, Perro and I shared an ice pop made from frozen fruit juice while waiting for the ladies to finish.
“This is so refreshingly cold! The licking sensation is perfect, nya!”
“It’s a luxurious treat made from pure apple juice.”
“Nero, you’re a genius, nya!”
“Thank you for the compliment; I am most grateful.”
“Indeed. You have done well, nya. I demand another!”
“I’ll give you one if you can do without a snack when we get home.”
“…I’ll pass, nya.”
Satisfied with cuddling Mii-chan, the old ladies at the bathhouse finally let us go, and we headed back to the inn.
On the way, I stopped by Zergad’s workshop to replenish the bullets he had made for me, reminding him to make more in the future.
Once back at the inn, I fed Sumire, and we had our dinner. After being pestered by Mii-chan and the others for treats, I realized it was already late at night. Since we had an early start tomorrow, it was time to get some sleep.
“Mii~”
Despite being a bit sleep-deprived, I had a light breakfast and headed to the Hunter’s Guild. Lined up in front of the guild were horses, and waiting for us were the members of “Azure Dragon’s Roar,” “Darkness Fang,” and the guild master.
“Good morning.”
“Mii~”
Mii-chan poked her head out of the carrier bag and greeted everyone with a cheerful “Good morning,” instantly easing the tension in the air. As expected of Mii-chan! Perro and the others seemed more interested in the horses. The horses, on the other hand, appeared slightly nervous—perhaps because they were being watched by predators or because Sumire, a higher-ranking creature, was present. I couldn’t tell.
“Are you bringing her along this time as well? The guild could take care of her for you.”
“As I’ve said many times, Mii-chan and I are always together.”
“Mii~”
“Well, I’ll leave it up to you, Nero.”
“If everyone’s ready, shall we depart?”
“No problem.”
Müller, the leader of Azure Dragon’s Roar, and Kevin, who seemed to be the leader of Darkness Fang, responded.
“Then, please lead the way. I’ll follow at the back and match your pace.”
“Understood.”
“Take care.”
We moved slowly through the city. As usual, the area near the gate was crowded with wagons.
Once we passed through the gate, we broke into a run. The distance to the Ivory Labyrinth was about a day’s journey on horseback. I had already told Sumire to follow everyone, though she looked a bit dissatisfied. If she ran at full speed, no one could keep up, so I asked her to restrain herself.
We stopped for lunch to let the horses rest. I filled a bucket with water for Sumire, and the horses eagerly drank from it. Sumire, however, remained calm and indifferent.
After lunch, the women started a cuddling session with the pets. Perro also became a victim, though Mii-chan, being used to this, put on her charming “sales smile,” melting the hearts of the women. Sera, as usual, passively accepted the attention, while Lu-kun was happy to be played with. Perro, despite grumbling, seemed to enjoy being surrounded by women.
“There’s not a hint of tension here.”
“That’s fine. From tomorrow onward, there will be nothing but tension.”
“By the way, Nero, I forgot to give you this.”
Müller handed me a leather pouch. Inside was money.
“This is your share from the labyrinth exploration.”
It turns out Müller ended up equipping the body-enhancing ring AF. They had sold other weapons, armor, and materials, split the proceeds, and gave each of us over 4 million ret.
“If it weren’t for this current situation, we were thinking of taking a break for a while.”
“Yeah, but we can’t do that now.”
“We can’t refuse a request from this kid.”
“What will happen with the labyrinth exploration?”
“We’ve got a request. But no mapper.”
It seems Kevin’s party, Darkness Fang, received a request.
“What about Azure Dragon’s Roar?”
“We plan to take a break after this job. We’ve saved up enough money, and Miranda is even considering retirement.”
Speaking of which, Miranda mentioned buying a house. She might open her own clinic, given her healing skills.
“What about you, Nero?”
“I’ll return to the royal capital. After that, I might join the Merchant Guild and become a traveling merchant.”
“…”
“Aren’t you going to serve the country?”
“If I served the country, I’d lose all my free time. I don’t want that!”
“It’s something many aspire to but can’t achieve…”
The men all nodded in agreement. Please, spare me. My goal is a slow life!
Alright, time to head out again. It seems Mii-chan is the only one who returned… The others are riding with different people. Mii-chan seems a bit reluctant. I love you, Mii-chan!
“Mii~”