The next morning, they entered the Cullatlar Labyrinth.
In the dim light, they prepared their equipment and warped into the small room at the entrance of the first floor.
Despite hoping it would be empty, there were people visible right away, but since the entrance room can be moved to from the dungeon walk, it wasn't a problem.
"Hmm, it seems we need to go straight ahead."
Roxane also looked at the map and confirmed the route.
The map didn't show the entire floor but only a simplified guide to the wall leading to the second floor.
There was no other information, and the paper quality was poor.
"But is this okay?"
"It's papyrus."
"Papyrus?"
"Yes."
Oh, this is papyrus. I learned about it in history class.
It's a thin, rough, brown paper. Or rather, something like paper.
It looks like it could tear easily.
It's the first time I've seen it.
It's only written on one side, probably because it would tear if used on both sides.
Or maybe it's just a collection of 90 individual maps bound together.
The night before, I untied the booklet, which was only closed with a string, and put the maps for the first to third floors in my backpack.
The booklet containing the maps for all 90 floors has numbers indicating the floors.
I learned the numbers from 1 to 3 at the Baire Inn.
"There are quite a few people."
"Especially on the first floor, some parties enter at different times."
"Hmm."
"Also, since they pay money, many people stay for a long time."
Even though it was early in the morning, there were quite a few people.
Not as many as yesterday afternoon, but still.
Moreover, the previous party seemed to be looking at the map and was always about 20 to 30 meters ahead.
We didn't need the map after all.
Following the map, they arrived at the boss room.
They walked more than three times the distance of the Baire town labyrinth.
The Cullatlar Labyrinth is indeed vast.
They encountered people but no monsters.
Several parties were in the waiting room next to the boss room.
After waiting a bit, it was their turn.
The battle with the first floor boss, Kobold Kempfer, was very easy since Roxane took the front.
While Roxane dodged the enemy's attacks, I just had to chip away at their health from behind with Durandal.
The second floor, on the other hand, was completely empty.
They encountered monsters multiple times.
However, since they were worried about being seen, they didn't use magic and defeated all the monsters with Durandal.
The boss battle was also done by attacking from the front and back with Durandal, which was an easy task.
"Isn't the third floor more crowded than the second?"
"Yes, that's right. Half of the monsters on the second floor are kobolds."
"Oh, I see."
If they had grown strong enough to fight the monsters on the second floor, then kobolds were no longer worth it.
That's why there were no people on the second floor.
"Kobolds are weak and suitable for beginners, so people gather on the first floor of the Cullatlar Labyrinth where kobolds appear. However, since half of the monsters on the second floor are still kobolds, the second floor is not popular. On the third floor, the number of kobolds decreases, so more people come."
They met people a few times on the third floor, but not as many as on the first floor.
They didn't want to be seen using Durandal, but it couldn't be helped.
The boss battle was also done by attacking from the front with Roxane and from behind with Durandal.
The boss of the third floor, Spice Spider, dropped pepper.
"Oh, pepper, pepper. I remember it's traded by weight, like gold."
"Actually, it's not that expensive."
It seems I had a misconception.
Thinking about it, it was used quite a bit in meat dishes.
It's not a rare item; you can get it anytime by defeating a Spice Spider.
I was overjoyed for nothing.
They moved to the fourth floor.
"How crowded is it?"
"Well, it's even less crowded than the third floor. If you go deeper, you can hunt without seeing anyone."
"Then let's go deeper."
They didn't bring the strategy map and didn't intend to clear the fourth floor right away.
While it might seem like you can just keep going up in the Cullatlar Labyrinth because there are strategy maps, it's not that simple.
You will eventually hit a wall.
There must be floors and bosses that can't be cleared at their current level.
They don't know where that wall is.
It could be a higher floor or the boss of the fifth floor.
If they just keep going, they will eventually run into danger.
Therefore, they decided to explore the Baire Labyrinth on their own and progress in the Cullatlar Labyrinth accordingly.
Roxane advanced to where there were no more people, found a small room, and ended the morning exploration.
They returned home and made breakfast.
Today, I'm making Shema Grilled Meat.
Shema is a leafy vegetable, something like a fragrant herb.
It seems you wrap the meat in it and grill it.
I prepared the meat by pounding it with a knife-like jackknife.
I seasoned it with crushed Kobold Salt and pepper, then wrapped it in Shema.
I heated a wok with olive oil and grilled it.
The olive oil is a drop from the plant monster Naive Olive on the second floor of the Cullatlar Labyrinth.
Kobold Salt is from kobolds, and pepper is from the boss of the third floor.
The taste was pretty good.
The Shema had a spicy flavor, something like a leafy chili pepper.
If I can do this, it's a good start.
After breakfast, they went to a clothing store in the center of Cullatlar.
Both Roxane and I only had one set of clothes, so we couldn't keep it like this forever.
I have jogging pants, and Roxane has a maid uniform, but that's it.
The high-end boutiques in the capital are necessary for Roxane, but not for me.
"Should we buy two sets each?"
"This store sells new clothes. Is that okay?"
Roxane asked at the entrance of the store.
My coat looks like a second-hand item, but as a modern Japanese person, second-hand items don't really resonate with me.
Vintage jeans, for example, are actually more expensive.
"I don't mind."
"It's generally common to have slaves wear second-hand clothes."
I see. So it's a cycle: nobles → commoners → slaves.
Rich people and nobles buy new clothes, wear them a few times, and sell them as second-hand items. Commoners buy these, wear them out, and sell them again. Slaves then use these.
"It's fine. Choose what you like."
I pushed Roxane into the store.
There weren't many types of clothes.
The tops were either loose tunics or shirts, and the bottoms were mostly loose pants.
For example, the tunic is the type you put on over your head, and the shirt is the type you put on by slipping your arms through the sleeves.
Female villagers sometimes wear long skirts, but the women who enter the labyrinth all wear pants.
Roxane carefully selected from the limited types of clothes.
She not only chose for herself but also carefully examined each piece for me.
Occasionally, she tried the clothes on me, saying things like, "How about this one?" or "This color is..."
When they left the store, the sun was already overhead.
The house we rented is on the east side of the town center.
I thought it might take half a day, and it did take more than half a day.
"Thank you, Master."
"Thanks for choosing my clothes too."
Well, seeing Roxane's smile is worth it.
The total cost for the clothes was 1,050 nals, which isn't particularly expensive.
"We need a large bucket to wash the clothes. Is that okay?"
On the way back, Roxane pointed to a hardware store that sells wooden products.
When you add one thing, you often need other things as well.
"Sure."
Inside the store, buckets and tubs were lined up by the entrance.
Roxane chose a large bucket and handed it to me.
"Welcome."
"Is this the largest tub?"
I asked the craftsman who came out, pointing to the largest tub, which was about a meter in diameter.
This hardware store is actually a workshop where the craftsman works in the back.
Maybe I can get what I need here.
"I can make custom ones too."
"Are there people who ask for them?"
"Yeah, they're used when several people divide the work to wash large pieces of fabric."
"Can you make one?"
What I want is a bathtub.
Since we've rented a house, I want to set up a bathroom next.
In this world, it seems that only a few rich people have the habit of taking baths.
Bringing water and making a fire is costly.
It's spring, so it's not hot or humid, and the climate doesn't really require it.
Even in Japan, I mostly took showers, so it's not a must.
I just want to take a bath occasionally.
However, the situation is different now.
If I take a bath, Roxane will come with me.
If I take a bath, Roxane will join me.
Since Roxane will join me, I want to take a bath.
Actually, I want to take a bath with Roxane.
I want to soak in the bathtub with Roxane and have her wash me.
*lick*.
I have to make a bathtub.
I absolutely have to make a bathtub.
Do you think it's unnecessary?
Fine, then it's war.
But how do I make it?
That's the problem.
I've never seen a bathtub in furniture stores or other stores in Cullatlar.
I can modify the house as I please, as the caretaker lady said, but it would be difficult to hide.
I can prepare water and fire with magic, but I shouldn't reveal that.
Bringing water from wells or rivers and boiling it with firewood would be quite costly.
Would people accept it as a hobby of a bath lover?
Even if I hire someone, I don't need a boiler.
I've already verified that I can heat water with a Fireball.
I don't need to ask for something I don't need, but how do I refuse it?
Can a bathtub be made by a DIY amateur?
It seems the tub maker can make one.
It's easier to make than to worry.
"I have experience, so I can make a good one."
"Is that so?"
"How big do you want it?"
"I want one a bit taller than a person. Is that possible?"
Like the one in Hokusai's painting.
"Sure. The depth can be the standard size, right?"
"Sure. This size is fine."
I pointed to the deepest tub among those on display.
Since there are other needs, asking for something strange might raise suspicions.
The depth is probably around 50 cm.
The bottom is thick, so it's actually a bit shallower.
The purpose is not just to take a bath but to take a bath with Roxane.
It needs to be a certain size.
However, since it's wider, it can be shallower.
A deep bath is not good for the heart.
"Hmm... I think it will cost about 2,000 nals. Is that okay?"
The craftsman thought for a moment and quoted a price.
It's much cheaper than I expected.
Well, the other tubs are only 20 nals or at most 100 nals, so compared to that, it's much more expensive.
"I'll take it."
"It will be made to order, so it will take about five days. I'll send a messenger when it's ready, and we can deliver it on a convenient day."
It seems the delivery is free.
By the way, this world has proper addresses.
The address of the house we rented is Cullatlar District 6, Block 7, Number 123.
"Got it. I'll take this too."
"Thanks. That one is 50 nals."
I showed the washing tub Roxane chose.
The craftsman, being a villager, didn't get a 30% discount.
"What will you use the large tub for?"
"Just wait and see."
I had Roxane carry the clothes, so I carried the bucket back home.
When we got home, I changed into the new clothes.
"I'll wash the clothes."
"Sure. Since we spent a lot of time, let's take a break from the labyrinth today."
"Understood. I'll also do some cleaning during the free time."
Entering the labyrinth before sunrise is a separate count.
Since I created a lot of water for washing, cleaning, dinner, and bathing, and went to the labyrinth twice to recover MP, it doesn't count in the number of times.
I'm a bit worried about filling the bathtub with the washing tub.
"I'll make dinner. The menu is white stew."
"White stew?"
"Have you never had it?"
"No."
"Just wait and see."
I should be able to make a white stew with the ingredients in this world.
First, I simmered the meat in wine and water to extract the essence.
I simmered it for about 30 minutes.
In this world, wine and milk are poured into bottles you bring to the store.
There are no paper cartons or plastic bottles.
Next, I added vegetables like the ones Roxane used for vegetable stew and simmered them on low heat.
Leeks are good for removing the smell of meat, but they are toxic to dogs.
When I asked Roxane, she said there were no vegetables she couldn't eat.
Since she used them herself, they should be fine.
While simmering, I made a white roux.
I sautéed flour in a wok with butter, then added milk and simmered it on low heat, stirring until it thickened.
The white roux turned out well.
I should be able to make cream croquettes and clam chowder with it.
Gratin is difficult because it needs to be baked in an oven.
I added the white roux and green leafy vegetables to the pot.
Finally, I tasted it and adjusted the seasoning with salt and pepper.
It was a success.
Roxane also ate it with a satisfied look.
"Master, it's really delicious."
I want to say, "Don't talk with your mouth full of white food."