When I woke up, I was sleeping with Roxane in my arms.
I had Roxane on my left side, hugging her with both hands and my right leg.
It was a pleasant awakening.
Or rather, it felt pleasant when I woke up.
Roxaneās smooth skin felt good.
It was soft and had a gentle texture.
The feeling of hugging her was wonderful, with a soft elasticity returning.
Pleasure seeped in from the parts of my body that were in contact with Roxane.
My left arm was slipped under Roxane, but it wasnāt heavy, and it wasnāt numb.
I gently pulled her closer and stroked her back.
I enjoyed the soft sensation of her hair.
Roxane and I were only wearing pumpkin panties.
There was no bra or anything like that, or if there was, it must have been an expensive one.
A heavy, firm elasticity rested on my left arm.
Suddenly, my lips were covered.
Roxane had kissed me.
She must have realized I was awake from the movement of my hands.
I had told her to do this, after all.
She must have been obediently following my command.
Whether she did it reluctantly or not, I couldnāt tell.
"Good morning, Master."
After savoring her soft lips and tongue for a while, I released her mouth, and Roxane greeted me.
"Thanks. Good morning, Roxane."
I opened my eyes, but I couldnāt see Roxaneās beautiful face.
It was still dark.
I pulled her closer by feel and kissed her again.
Even without seeing, I could manage somehow.
I slipped my tongue into Roxaneās slightly parted lips.
I slowly moved my tongue, inviting hers, and entwined with her soft tongue.
Roxane responded, though not passionately, but properly.
I thought she wasnāt rejecting it.
Maybe she was doing it reluctantly, but it didnāt seem like she wanted to run away.
I wanted to push her down, but I restrained myself with just the kiss.
I had held back last night and only had one round, so I was full of energy.
However, for the past ten days, I had always gone to the labyrinth in the morning.
If I didnāt go out today, the innkeeper might realize we had fun last night.
Even if he already suspected it when we were assigned a double room.
While still kissing, I moved my hand to her head and stroked her hair.
After enjoying the smooth sensation, I released her mouth.
"Shall we go to the labyrinth for a bit?"
"Yes, Master."
Reluctantly, I let go of Roxane and sat up.
I could enjoy her again tonight, and the next night, and the night after that.
Unless Roxane decided to run away.
As I sat on the bed and put on my leather boots, Roxane helped me put on my shirt.
Oh, this feels nice.
Like being a king.
"Sorry."
"No, itās fine."
She was still a bit awkward.
Her arm hit me.
Maybe she was still getting used to it, or maybe it was because it was dark.
"Is it okay in the dark?"
"Iām sorry, but Iām not very good at seeing in the dark."
"Itās fine, donāt push yourself."
I took only the pants and put them on myself.
I also took out a leather jacket from the item box and put it on.
Leather Jacket - Body Equipment
Skill - Empty
"By the way, do you know what an empty slot is?"
I was curious and thought it was a good opportunity to ask.
Hmm, maybe Iām just using the term "empty slot" on my own.
"What do you mean?"
"Um, when an equipment item has an empty skill slot."
"An equipment item? Of course, there are grooves and gaps."
Thatās the dictionary definition of a slot.
"You can attach skills to equipment items, right?"
"Yes."
"Probably, it means thereās an empty space for a skill."
"Iām sorry, I donāt understand. If thereās no skill, thereās nothing, right?"
It seems she doesnāt understand.
The weapon merchant didnāt know about empty skill slots either.
It seems that the concept of empty skill slots is not generally known.
"How do you attach skills to equipment items?"
"Well, the common way is to buy skill-equipped items."
"But how do you attach them yourself?"
I took out a leather armor from the item box.
I wanted to give the leather armor to Roxane, but it was dark, and I couldnāt see what she was doing.
Roxane was probably changing clothes as well.
"Only blacksmiths can perform the fusion of Monster Cards."
It seems the Blacksmith job is required.
To make the antidote pills, the skill of generating herbs, which is a skill of the Herbalist, is needed. Itās probably the same thing.
"What are Monster Cards?"
"They are like intelligence cards that monsters have. When fused with equipment, they can grant skills. They are sometimes left behind when a monster is defeated."
That makes sense. As I imagined.
Thereās another thing I can imagine.
"Canāt you fuse a card if thereās no empty slot?"
"The success of attaching a skill to equipment depends on the condition of the Monster Card, the blacksmithās skill, and luck."
"I see. So thereās a chance of failure?"
"The probability of failure is higher."
Iāll have to try it to be sure, but if thereās no empty slot, the skill probably wonāt attach.
In that case, my ability to identify would give me a significant advantage.
If I do it, the fusion wonāt fail.
"Do you know how to become a blacksmith?"
"Iām sorry, I donāt know. The Blacksmith job is a race-specific job, so only dwarves can become blacksmiths."
Oh no.
And there are dwarves, I guess.
I havenāt met any yet.
Or maybe thereās some way to obtain the Blacksmith job.
Is it difficult because itās a race-specific job?
Being a blacksmith sounds hard, even for dwarves.
"Is that so... Then, to make skill-equipped items, we have to rely on blacksmiths?"
"Unless you are very close to one, blacksmiths generally dislike direct transactions. Do you have a close blacksmith friend, Master?"
"If I donāt have one, itās impossible?"
"If the fusion fails, the Monster Card is lost. Most blacksmiths wonāt accept direct fusion requests, and even if they do, itās hard to know if they are trustworthy."
I was about to ask why, but I understood.
When a Monster Card is lost, itās impossible to tell if the fusion failed or if the blacksmith cheated.
Blacksmiths can hide the Monster Card somewhere, pretend the fusion failed, and then sell it or fuse it to their own equipment, making a profit.
"Is the fusion of Monster Cards a source of trouble?"
"Yes."
"Canāt I watch the fusion process?"
"There was a dwarf who made a fortune by claiming he would do it in front of the client."
"I see."
Fraudsters would think of any method to cheat.
If a magician faked the card, I wouldnāt be able to tell.
"Therefore, itās rare to request the fusion of Monster Cards from blacksmiths. Blacksmiths also generally donāt accept direct transactions. If you get a Monster Card, you should sell it and buy skill-equipped items if you need them."
If direct transactions lead to suspicion and distrust, it makes sense.
If I canāt take the Blacksmith job and canāt make direct transactions, itās a problem.
Even if I can identify empty slots, itās useless.
Is the identification skill for equipment a dead skill?
I canāt complain, though, because Iāve found it useful for identifying thieves, other jobs, and monsters.
I could try to obtain the Blacksmith job somehow or make connections with blacksmiths.
Thereās another possibility.
Add a blacksmith to the party.
Of course, just adding a blacksmith to the party wonāt prevent cheating.
"Blacksmith..."
I was about to ask if I could own a blacksmith as a slave but stopped.
Maybe itās not something to ask Roxane.
I should ask a slave merchant about slaves.
When I have enough money, Iāll visit one.
I made an excuse to Roxane and felt my way to the door.
"Can I open the door?"
"Yes, itās fine."
I waited for her response and opened the door.
The light from the corridor lanterns entered the room.
Although it was dim, I could start to see where things were.
"Roxane, put on this leather armor."
"...Yes, thank you."
I took out my socks and put on my leather boots again.
There was a basin on the floor.
Last night, I used a hand towel for cleanup and rinsed it, so there might be white and red stains in the water.
If I left it, the innkeeper would know we had fun last night.
I floated a wooden cup and carried the basin to the toilet with both hands.
I dumped the water and refilled it as an excuse.
"Roxane, do you want to drink water?"
"Ah, yes. Thank you. Iāll have some."
I returned to the room and handed the small wooden bucket to Roxane.
The light from the corridor lanterns illuminated Roxaneās figure.
Roxane was wearing the leather armor.
As an equipment item, the leather armor adjusts to the wearerās size.
So it adjusted to Roxane...
It looked like a corset.
The cups were large.
Of course, they adjusted to Roxane.
This wonāt do.
This wonāt do at all.
"Um, try putting on this jacket."
"Iām sorry, but leather armor is not typically worn alone by women."
Roxane apologized.
She seemed to think it was strange.
Maybe she was hesitant to point it out to her master.
"No, Iām the one whoās sorry. I donāt know the norms here, so please tell me anything."
I exchanged equipment with Roxane.
The jacket didnāt emphasize my body shape.
I donāt want others to see her in that outfit, and I donāt want to get excited in the labyrinth.
"Um, I donāt think there was a water jug. Where did you get the water?"
"Iāll explain later. First, let me close the door."
"Yes."
I closed the door.
Itās not good if someone overhears.
"Is there a skill or magic to recover without using healing potions?"
I asked Roxane.
If we go to the labyrinth, we need to consider recovery from attacks.
If I were alone, the HP absorption from Durandal would be enough.
Roxane could also recover by using Durandal if she takes a hit or two.
However, it might not be reliable in the long run.
Even with Durandal, it might not be enough.
For example, during a chaotic battle, it would be difficult to exchange swords.
We canāt always wait for the battle to end and recover for the next one.
Using nourishment pills is also costly.
So, the only option is to obtain a healing job.
"Yes, jobs like priests and clerics can use them."
Fortunately, there seem to be proper healing jobs.
"Do you know how to become a priest or cleric?"
"Well, you need to undergo strict training."
"Hmm."
Training, huh.
Iām not quite sure what that means.
"The training methods vary by guild. I heard about using waterfalls."
"Waterfall training?"
"Or walking to eighty-eight guilds on foot."
"Pilgrimage?"
I ignored Roxaneās mutter of "Ohenro?"
From the existence of waterfall training, it seems the training is aimed at spiritual cultivation.
Since priests and clerics are religious jobs, it might involve some kind of religious experience.
Perhaps achieving a religious state or mystical experience grants the healing job.
It sounds quite challenging.
Reaching a mystical experience is almost impossible.
Even just mental focus might be difficult.
"Prostrate, prostrate. Namu Amida Butsu. Hurry, as you wish. Elohim Essaim. Allah Akbar. Amen."
I tried praying various ways.
I tried to invoke the job setting, but I didnāt gain a new job.