The Silent One ⑩
Relic Plate. It came back.
This means I really need to think about the future once I get out of here.
There’s a limit to the secrets I can keep by myself.
Fortunately, the Relic Plate is shared, so that’s not the case with it, though.
After this, I casually asked Mineha-san, “Maybe you should try using it after all?”
When I said that, she ignored me with cold eyes.
I’m sorry.
Anyway… well, let’s just relax for now.
We finally arrived at a place where we could relax both body and mind.
Hoss-san reliably told us it was safe here. I’m grateful.
It was decided we’d leave the day after tomorrow, so we’re resting.
We’re taking it easy.
It feels like it’s already over.
But you can’t let your guard down until you get home, just like an excursion.
An excursion, huh.
In my past life’s memories, I remember going mountain climbing for an excursion when I was little.
It was fun at first. The bento lunch was delicious too.
But on the way back. A sudden thunderstorm. We were hit by a downpour so heavy we couldn’t see ahead.
At that time, no one said anything. The scene of us descending the mountain was like a march through the snow.
The mountain trail was terrible too. Our feet sank into the wet volcanic ash, making it hard to walk properly.
The ditch right beside us had turned into a raging river due to the downpour, and shacks were being swept away one after another.
That was the first time in my life I felt my life was in danger.
“…No, what am I thinking…”
What an idiot I am.
In reality, all that’s left is to get out of here. Yes, just get out.
“This is quite tasty, isn’t it.”
Anyway, Mineha-san is currently trying the Mixed Meat Soup.
Did she like it quite a bit? Contrary to her words, she’s emptying the bowl she served herself.
For Mineha-san, it’s quite a large portion.
A mountain, so to speak. It was disappearing one after another.
I think it’s physically impossible for it to disappear instantly, though.
“Whoa, that’s amazing.”
“Just like the tenth sister, indeed.”
It doesn’t really matter, but aren’t Rell-san’s sisters too talented?
“I’m happy if you eat a lot.”
“You’re pretty good. I’ve changed my opinion of you.”
Mineha-san praises Hoss-san.
Hoss-san doesn’t seem displeased at all.
This is a scene I couldn’t have imagined when we first entered this Dungeon.
Something about this is nice. It feels like a slow life.
Lately, my life plan has gone so off track, it feels like it’s become a demonic modification that ignores the blueprints.
What happened to my Dungeon My Life?
No, no. Let’s relax.
Phew, the tea is delicious. I can’t help but slurp it noisily from the teacup.
I made this tea.
Using dried tea leaves found in a Storage Cellar in the western Temple District that Hoss-san brought.
They say the Storage Cellars in the Temple District contain various ingredients, seasonings, alcohol, and the like.
What worried me was, even though they were in a Storage Cellar, was the freshness okay?
“Things in a Dungeon stay fresh as long as they aren’t consumed.”
“Is that so?”
I haven’t heard much about that.
Hearing the details, it’s apparently not unusual for towns or villages to exist in Dungeons.
However, having such abundant ingredients like this is rare.
There are also ingredients that don’t exist in the current era, and some nobles and merchants issue requests for them.
“That’s why it’s fine to eat them.”
“Dungeons really are mysterious, aren’t they?”
Staying fresh like that… it’s like time has stopped.
Well, I guess I’ll just chalk it up to mysterious Dungeon power.
Once again, the dried tea leaves from the Temple District’s Storage Cellar.
This tea is something I Compounded using the Crescent Vessel.
It’s a so-called blended tea.
The reason is, the Compounding memo I received from the Witch, which even I can use.
At the very beginning, it was written like this:
‘Tea’
After that, several tea blends and Compounding methods were written down.
Tea… At first, I was exasperated, thinking it was just the Witch’s latest obsession.
But when I tried it anyway, it turned out to be the perfect way to get used to Compounding.
First, tea is also a medicine. And unless you really mess up, you won’t fail.
Also, even if you fail, it’s easy to recover.
And I learned that the taste changes significantly depending on the blend of tea leaves.
Blending tea leaves and Compounding them. This is the very essence of medicine.
No. This is probably the most basic of basics.
It’s very educational. I’m grateful for the Witch’s memo.
Also, I heard there were large quantities of small black beans in the Storage Cellar.
Probably cacao. Or maybe coffee beans.
Coffee… Should I try making some?
I know how to make it.
“We’re back.”
Ax-san and Alexander-san, who had gone to investigate the Great Temple, returned.
“Welcome back. You’re back early. Did something happen?”
As I handed him some tea and asked, Ax-san sighed.
“Nothing. There really are no Monsters here.”
“And yet, there’s an abundance of food.”
The Storage Cellars also have salted and dried meat. Dried goods are plentiful too.
I also heard that mushrooms and herbs grow in clusters.
And water. The nearby spring flows without stopping.
There are still many untouched Storage Cellars in the Temple District, so there’s no need to worry about food.
We’re leaving tomorrow and won’t come back a second time, but there’s no need to worry.
“Were there no treasures either?”
“We looked around, but before that, the temple is just too vast, way too vast.”
“We haven’t seen all of it ourselves yet. We’re still in the middle of exploring the Temple District.”
“Is it that big?”
“It is big.”
“It’s big. But we figured out what this Great Temple is.”
“What god was enshrined here? Was it Harves, after all?”
“No. It’s Generous.”
Gulp, gulp, gulp, Ax-san drank the tea.
“Huh?”
“This is good. Ah, ahh, we’re not too familiar with him, but Wof, do you know of ‘Generous’?”
“…If I recall, he’s the god from the Edda, right…”
My whole body, my heart, trembled quietly.
Ax-san laughed.
“So you knew. This is the Great Temple that enshrines Generous.”
“How did you figure that out?”
“There was a statue of Generous in the center of the Great Temple. Alexander says so, so there’s no mistake.”
“I see.”
That’s not just certain, it’s highly persuasive.
That Alexander-san spoke while puffing on his kiseru.
“In the center of the Great Temple, there’s a huge door. A door so big you crane your neck looking up at it, wondering if a giant opens it. And, well, the thing is, yeah… it was a door that just wouldn’t open no matter what we did. But sometime recently, it was open.”
“What? That huge door?”
“It absolutely wouldn’t open!”
Rell and Hoss, who had apparently been listening, were surprised.
…………
Could it be… that it opened because I came here…? No way, right…?
“Hmm. Generous, huh. Sounds interesting. I want to see it.”
Mineha-san flew over and sat on my shoulder.
Of course. I’m curious too.
“Right. Shall we go? Ax-san. We’ll just go take a look.”
“Yeah, going is fine, but…”
“Is there something wrong?”
“I feel a strange pressure coming from the place where Generous is enshrined.”
“I felt a sort of tingling sensation myself.”
“We started feeling unwell. That’s why we came back early. If you guys start feeling sick, come right back.”
“Y-Yes.”
“Understood.”
Pressure…? Feeling somewhat uneasy, I headed towards the Great Temple with Mineha-san.