Chapter 31: Searching for Paradise

Our long and arduous journey in search of a new home… didn’t happen. Thanks to the custom-made golem carriage our master had crafted—without us even noticing—it turned out to be ridiculously high-spec, making the trip surprisingly leisurely.

Since Kasai-san was coming along too, that perverted Master behaved himself for once. It was the most relaxing journey we’d ever had.

Well, sometimes he couldn’t hold back and would sneak a few girls off during our overnight camps, but nothing beyond that. Now and then, soldiers from the Kingdom would show up and get spectacularly blown away, but aside from those little incidents, the journey went smoothly, and before long, we reached our destination.

Still, watching humans get launched into the air like fireworks was peak fantasy. The fact that he managed to do all that without killing a single person really drove home just how overpowered that guy is.

Not killing them wasn’t out of mercy, though. The reason was far nastier. In this semi-civilized country, dead men tell no tales—but if they’re still alive, they require some sort of response. All the more so if their injuries are treatable.

If you go around killing every time something goes wrong, people stop listening. Not a single soldier who came after us truly believed in their king’s proclamations.

Rather than earning grudges and having them come at us with blind hatred, Master said it’s better to leave them with injuries that’ll drain their resources. …He says all sorts of things, but really, he doesn’t enjoy genocide either.

It’s a lot better than someone who’s bloodthirsty.

And so, after about a month of travel, we finally arrived at an unexplored land: a dense forest formed within a basin. It was the very definition of a landlocked, isolated island.

“This looks like the kind of terrain where a mysterious cave full of venomous snakes would be waiting, or shiny skeletons would be lying around, Captain.”

“Who’re you calling Captain? And how do you even know that?”

My parents had the show recorded.

Anyway, this was truly a hidden region. Master carried me through the forest—not because I was being clingy or anything. We’d spent almost a week in monster-infested areas without a chance to relax, and the night before arrival, Master pushed me past my physical limits, so I couldn’t walk anymore.

He’s the one who broke me, so it’s only fair he carries me.

Yuria and Lulu? They’re loving the monster fights, treating it like real-world combat training.

We had more than enough strength to deal with the occasional monster, so the exploration moved along smoothly, with the sub-members handling most of the threats. Now and then Master would mop up stronger ones, and the fact he could fight like that while carrying me just proves he’s becoming even less human.

After pushing through the forest for a while, we found a fairly large lake. Since we plan to keep a carnivorous fish around, we’d like to set up our base next to a safe body of water if possible.

While Master began using magic to scan the lakebed, the rest of the group started setting up camp. Me? With no strength in my legs, I just sat there quietly watching.

“Sora, want some water?”

“I’m fine.”

…All while being clung to by the equally useless carnivorous fish on land.

---

“Master, how’s it going?”

As I called out, Master was kneeling by the water with his hand submerged, holding back the grinning perverted dolphin by the forehead before she could start singing with him. He glanced my way, then—perhaps thinking something—cut the scan short and came right back.

“No suspicious fish shadows. No large holes connecting to other bodies of water. Water quality’s good. Should be safe to drink after filtering.”

From Master’s report, it didn’t sound like a bad location. As long as we set up a magic barrier over a wide area and divert some of the water into our buildings, it should be safe enough.

“Let’s make this our base and start exploring the surrounding area seriously… well, that aside—this one’s mine, alright?”

“Ah—!”

Just as I was using my bare feet to push the carnivorous fish away and keep some distance, Master picked me up from behind. I really am just an object to him… whatever. I’m used to it.

Unlike the useful cats or cows, my job is to be Master’s personal hugging pillow. Hmph.

Yuria and Lulu have things to do—hunting, cleaning game, cooking—but me? I exist purely to comfort Master. That’s it.

“…Why are you staring off like that, Sora?”

“I was contemplating the meaning of life.”

Am I going to spend my whole life like this? Forever Master’s little night-time-only loliel—uh, elf? Just thinking about the future is enough to dry up all my tears.

“That’s… pretty philosophical.”

They say man is a thinking reed. What about elves, I wonder? Or me, for that matter? A thinking block of konjac? Super healthy.

“…Iron?”

Ignoring the clueless carnivorous fish, I looked up at Master. The moment our eyes met, he leaned in. I quickly brought my hands to my mouth to signal a firm "no."

“Lovely scenery, wouldn’t it be nice to build our house by the lakeside? Yes! Yes, it would!!”

“Yeah, if we can confirm the area’s safe, let’s do that.”

Apparently, my refusal didn’t register. He grabbed both my wrists and was trying to pry them open. Seriously, give me a break. Kasai-san is glancing over here while working on a temporary cottage, you know?

He’s still a young man! He’s young enough that, when we noticed him fumbling around in the carriage at night, the girls held a meeting and decided to pretend we didn’t notice! So please, show some restraint!

“Ugh, I’m jealous… I wanna sing with Sora too…”

“Master Shuuya—could you stop flirting and give us a hand over here?!”

“My lord, would you mind if I borrowed the young lady for a moment?”

Just as I was on the verge of being devoured, the girls came to my rescue. And carnivorous fish, could you please shut up for once? And why do you treat singing like it’s some kind of seductive ritual?

“Tch… Fine. Later, then.”

There’s no point pouting. Yuria picked me up and carried me to a shaded spot under the trees. Our cow-girl sat me down on a convenient rock, then pulled a small jar from her pocket. I thought it was something for milking, but apparently not.

Inside the opened jar was a white cream… some kind of ointment, I guess?

“I bought this super-effective salve from a traveling apothecary in Dena. It works really well on swelling and pain in sensitive areas. Looks like he was a bit rough with you. It must hurt, right?”

“…Thank you.”

Ah, I see. Now that she mentions it, I am feeling a bit raw down there. This should help. I reached out to take the jar—only for Yuria to ignore my hand entirely.

“Ah—this stings a bit at first, so I’ll apply it for you. Go ahead and spread your legs.”

“‘Spread your legs’? I’m not that small! I’m clearly in the double digits! I can apply it myself! And I’m not such a baby that I’d scream over a little sting—”

So don’t hold me down like this! If you’d just give me the ointment, I could—

“GYAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!?”

“There, there—it’ll feel better soon~”

It burns! It stings! It stings soooo much!!

---

“It stung about twice as much as I expected.”

“But it calmed down pretty quickly, right?”

Carried princess-style by Yuria, I returned to find our simple tents set up and the monster-repelling barrier already complete.

By the way, the sting only lasted right after the ointment was first applied; the pain eased quickly, and now there’s no more burning sensation. It really worked well.

This hug is just because I’m tired from the pain and still a little weak in the hips.

“For now, Makoto and I will head out to explore. You two prepare the meal here… Sora, are you okay?”

“It’s mostly your fault, you perverted bastard Master.”

“Y-Yeah…”

Honestly, it’s because you got rowdy on the trip. Talking nonsense like ‘the moon is watching’ or ‘the bugs will hear us’—what the heck is that? Maybe I should scrub that magical whatever off with a rough towel and then rub that ointment in.

“Grrrrr...”

“Miss, please rest, and Master, no pushing yourself today either.”

“…Alright, I get it already.”

Are you sure about that…? The tent Yuria led me to already had a carpet laid out and a simple but soft bed waiting.

It’s something we’ve used many times on the road—portable yet surprisingly comfortable. Yuria gently laid me down and covered me with a sheet.

“Well, I’m heading out. Yuria, take care of Sora.”

“Have a good trip, Master.”

“Leave her to me.”

Watching Master leave, I sank into the soft cushions. Hugging the pillow by my bedside, I finally let out a sigh. Being unable to move means I get to lounge around all day—what luck. Once I’m better, there’ll be no rest, so I’ll enjoy this slow time while it lasts.

“Well, I’m going outside to do laundry. Call me if you need anything.”

“Understood. Thank you.”

Yuria left to work as well. Traveling by carriage and taking care of Master had really worn her out. Telling myself I’d do my best tomorrow, I closed my eyes.

Maybe I was more tired than I thought because I quickly slipped into unconsciousness.

How long I’d been in that dreamlike state, I couldn’t tell. Then a strange sensation woke me. Looking beside me, I saw the pink-haired carnivorous fish hugging me and softly breathing in her sleep.

Her youthful, innocent sleeping face would be adorable to anyone. When did she sneak in here?

I couldn’t help but soften my lips and quietly breathe in.

“Mas—ter! The monster-repelling barrier isn’t working!!”

---

◇◆ADVENTURE RESULT◆◇

【EXP】

NO BATTLE
—Experience gained from elapsed time added—
◆【Sora Lv.55】+200
◆【Lulu Lv.22】+80
◆【Yuria Lv.20】+80
◇—
＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝
Sora Lv.55 [553] → Lv.75 [753]
Lulu Lv.22 [220] → Lv.30 [300]
Yuria Lv.20 [202] → Lv.28 [282]

【RECORD】

[MAX COMBO] >> 33
[MAX BATTLE] >> 33

【PARTY-1 (Main)】

[Shuuya] [Lv77] HP 1432/1432 MP 2530/2530 [Normal]
[Sora] [Lv75] HP 15/60 MP 733/733 [Fatigued]
[Lulu] [Lv30] HP 735/735 MP 36/36 [Normal]
[Yuria] [Lv28] HP 1540/1540 MP 88/88 [Normal]

【PARTY-2 (Sub)】
[Fere] [Lv18] HP 182/182 MP 530/530 [Normal]

【PARTY-3 (Sub)】
[Makoto] [Lv30] HP 850/850 MP 120/120 [Normal]
＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝

【Comment】
“Water-dwelling monsters are scary…”