Baggage Carrier ⑮
The preparations for the encampment proceeded so swiftly that there was nothing left for me to do.
Setting up the tents. A large one and a small one.
Since the ceiling is bright, tents are essential.
I’d heard that spaces like this always exist in Dungeons.
It must be what they call a safe point.
Setting up the disposable barrier stones that keep Monsters away.
Setting up the campfire.
They found some nice-looking collapsed rocks nearby and brought them over.
Their skillfulness in using them as makeshift chairs and tables was impressive.
In the blink of an eye, a simple but respectable encampment was complete.
There are too many things to learn from their Dungeon Exploration methods.
So this is the ‘Fang of Thunder’, known as the genuinely skilled group in Dungeon Exploration.
Right now, Hoss-san has placed a cutting board on one of the rocks and is cutting ingredients.
I’m helping him beside it.
“It’s a big help. Those two. They really can’t cook.”
“I’m learning a lot too. Um, do you always gather ingredients from the Dungeon?”
“That’s right. Basically, we bring minimal ingredients and mostly cook with stuff from the Dungeon.”
He’s cutting mushrooms. Wild grasses. Root vegetables. Rockfruit.
These were things growing in the Dungeon.
I helped gather them too.
“Why do you insist on using ingredients from the Dungeon?”
“It’s to reduce the amount of baggage. Plus, if we dive for many days, what we bring either gets used up or rots.”
“…I see.”
That’s a truly rational reason.
Assorted Meat. It’s cheap because it’s scraps of meat from various parts and types.
I often see it at the butcher’s, but I’ve never bought it.
Somehow, I felt a resistance to the term “Assorted Meat”.
Hoss-san is cutting this into slightly thick cubes.
I cut the tomatoes. These two items were brought by Hoss-san.
“What I’m makin’ now is Mixed Meat Soup. Makin’ it is simple. Just put the cut ingredients into the pot.”
Explaining this, Hoss-san put the ingredients into the pot, added seasoning, and put the lid on.
Then he placed it on the campfire. The flames were strong, so he adjusted them.
“Huh, aren’t you adding any water?”
“This soup doesn’t use water. Water’s precious.”
“Then the moisture… ah, is it the tomatoes?”
“Yeah. It’s the tomatoes, the wild grasses, and the Rockfruit we put in. The wild grasses and Rockfruit we added have a lot of moisture.”
“I see.”
Indeed, the wild grasses were lush green and released water when cut.
When the Rockfruit was cracked open, succulent white flesh came out.
Incidentally, the Rockfruit grew on a strange tree that looked like rock.
Something like a pinecone was hanging from a rocky branch.
Since it was hard, Hoss-san used his Halberd to cut it off.
Hoss-san’s Halberd has a rugged shape with a wooden handle.
It has no decorations. However, the blade is made of alloy.
It’s crafted from various metals like steel, holy silver, and Magic Metal.
Alloy technology is a specialty of the Dwarves.
I’ve heard from Burns-san that they carefully inherit ancient techniques.
“That’s a fine halberd.”
“This has been passed down in my family for generations.”
“Does it have a distinguished history?”
“I don’t know the details, but this is my pride.”
“Hmph. Pride, huh.”
“Mineha-san?”
“What is it?”
She was floating with her hands on her hips.
“I came to tell you. Me. I don’t need that.”
“Eh, but…”
“Does this mean you don’t like what I made?”
“That’s not it, but also, me… I’m going to camp over by those rocks.”
The rocky area… The center of the room. Where the collapsed stones are gathered?
So Mineha-san calls it a rocky area. No, that’s not the point.
“It’s dangerous if you’re not together with everyone!”
“Don’t worry. I have a barrier stone too.”
“But still, I can’t approve of that…”
“Understood.”
“Woff!?”
“That’s right. As long as you understand.”
She snorted with a “Hmph!” and flew off towards the rocky area.
Hoss-san and I couldn’t help but share a wry smile.
“Is this really okay? It’s dangerous to be separated like this.”
“It’s just a stopgap measure. She won’t listen even if you tell her.”
“That’s certainly true…”
“I’ll go consult with Ax-san.”
“Got it. This is almost finished, so don’t worry about it.”
Good grief, it’s just one problem after another.
Thinking that, I entered the tent.
Ax-san was maintaining his sword.
Rell-san wasn’t here. Ax-san seemed to guess and said.
“Rell went to scout the surroundings.”
“Alone?”
“Don’t worry. He knows full well when to pull back. According to him, he’s like his 10th older sister in that regard.”
“Just how many older sisters does Rell-san have?”
“Who knows. So, is it about the food?”
“That’s part of it, but first, it’s about Mineha-san.”
“…What happened?”
Ax-san’s attitude changed.
It’s so obvious. Though I can’t blame him.
“She said she doesn’t need food, and also that she’ll be camping a little ways off.”
“Separately?”
“Even so, it’s still within this area. She’ll be where the stones are gathered in the center.”
“I see. That’s fine then.”
“And one more thing. I feel bad saying this, but…”
“What is it?”
“I think you’re being childish towards Mineha-san.”
Ax-san’s eyes widened at my words. He sighed.
“Even so, she’s a Seeker ranked higher than us.”
“She’s ten years old.”
“……”
“Even if she’s Tier III, she’s still only ten years old, Ax-san.”
“……Still, she’s a Seeker.”
“Even if she’s a Seeker, no matter how high her rank, she’s still young. I think she’s cheeky too. To put it bluntly, she’s not someone I like. Dislike… no, I find her difficult. But she’s still only ten years old. We mustn’t forget that. I almost forgot myself… Also, like us, she’s uncomfortable around the opposite sex.”
“…………I see. That’s right, she’s ten years old. That girl.”
Ax-san looked like he’d finally realized.
“Yes.”
“I’d forgotten about that. I was just uncomfortable with women, and… well, that was all there was to it. My bad.”
“You shouldn’t be apologizing to me.”
“I know. Later, could you apologize for me?”
“Ax-san. That’s something you should do yourself.”
“You’re right, but… Sorry.”
“Ax-san.”
“Woff. Will you listen to what I have to say?”
“What’s this all of a sudden?”
“I hate Relics.”
“…”
That doesn’t seem surprising at all.