Cery is behind me, and Miria is sleeping on the other side of Roxanne.
Cery is touching my back, and Miria is within reach of my hand.
Without moving, I can touch the skin of all three.
The population density in the bed has increased with more people.
It's just right to be a bit crowded.
Roxanne gives me a kiss.
As always, it's a mystery how she knows I'm awake.
At first, it's silent and gentle.
Then she starts to suck passionately, entwining her smooth, saliva-soaked tongue with mine.
Roxanne's tongue moves passionately.
After a deep, intense tongue kiss, she lets go.
Next is Cery.
I thought she would kiss me, but she doesn't.
There were signs of movement, so she should be awake.
"Um, is it okay?"
"..."
"Is the order going to change?"
Cery whispered, pulling me closer without a word.
I see.
There's a possibility the order might change.
Roxanne's body stiffens.
With Miria joining, it's a good opportunity to change the order.
Or we could make Miria the top slave.
Is she afraid of that?
"Don't worry. I don't plan to change it right away."
I gave a light response and sought Cery's lips.
I have no intention of changing it, but I want to keep the possibility to ease the tension.
Last night, I gave the goodnight kiss to Miria, Cery, and Roxanne in that order.
Then I slept with Roxanne, Cery, and Miria in that order.
I didn't use any lust spells.
I can't rush things from the first day.
"ĂĂĂĂĂĂĂĂĂĂ"
"Good morning, Master."
After letting go of Cery's mouth, Roxanne said something, and Miria greeted me.
Roxanne must have taught her to call me "Master."
Well, it can't be helped.
Finally, I kissed Miria.
It was still light.
I'll go deeper with my tongue later.
I gently teased her timidly curled tongue and then let go of her lips.
"Good morning, Miria. Let's all get dressed and head to the dungeon."
"Yes, sir."
"Yes."
"Yes, sir."
We got up and got dressed.
"We only fought once yesterday. Let's observe the twelfth floor first. Miria, you'll just observe as you did yesterday."
"ĂĂĂĂĂĂĂĂĂĂ"
"Yes, sir."
Roxanne translated, and Miria responded.
Roxanne must have taught her to add "sir."
I opened a warp portal on the dark wall and teleported to the twelfth floor of Halbar.
"Good. Miria came along properly."
She said she's fine in the dark, so there shouldn't be any problems.
"Yes, sir."
"In the dungeon, you can just say 'yes.' We might need to act quickly. There's no need to be overly polite in the dungeon."
"ĂĂĂĂĂĂĂĂĂĂ"
"Yes."
We explored the dungeon with Roxanne leading the way.
The Grassbies and Minos were all defeated with four wind spells.
"Next, let's try fighting with a sword. Since we have ranged attacks, we'll charge in without waiting when we see a Grassbie. Roxanne, please lead the way."
"Yes."
I drew Durandal and followed Roxanne.
Since Grassbies have ranged attacks, just waiting to fight them like before would be disadvantageous.
There's no problem when using magic.
Ultimately, the number of spells needed to defeat them is the same, regardless of when we get close.
Getting close quickly just increases the enemy's attack opportunities.
When using Durandal, the situation is reversed.
To defeat monsters, we need to get close and engage in sword combat.
The time before we get close is when we're exposed to the enemy's ranged attacks.
It's better to run and get close as quickly as possible rather than wait.
We encountered some monsters.
A group of three Grassbies.
Roxanne ran forward.
"I'll go next, then Miria, and Cery will bring up the rear."
Without waiting for Cery's response, I followed Roxanne.
"I'm coming."
Roxanne stopped halfway.
It seemed to be a Grassbie's ranged attack.
There was a small sound, and Roxanne ran again.
I was nervous, thinking she might not be able to dodge it, but she blocked it with her shield.
It's reassuring to have her block it.
I'm safe behind Roxanne.
I'm running in the safest spot.
When I got close to the Grassbies, I moved to the side and launched a rush attack.
Then another one.
A Bee hovered and dove at me.
I barely dodged it.
I dealt another blow before the Grassbie could get up.
The Bee crashed.
Three rushes.
It's the same as the thirteenth floor of Tal.
I think two rushes and one normal attack should be enough to defeat it.
While being careful of Cery's spear position, I killed the second one with two rushes and one swing of Durandal.
It worked as expected.
Miria was observing as instructed.
The third one was being handled by Roxanne from the front.
I defeated it with five normal attacks from the side.
All the Bees disappeared, leaving only honeycomb.
"Thanks to Roxanne blocking the ranged attacks, it was much easier."
I thanked Roxanne while picking up the honeycomb.
Miria had also picked some up.
"Since Miria is here today."
We've been here before, but not everyone can dodge like Roxanne.
"I'd appreciate it if you could continue to block for us."
"I understand. It takes more time to dodge, but I'll do my best."
"That's fine."
I instructed Roxanne.
"Yes."
"Next, let's find a place with Minos or Neet Ants."
I also wanted to check the hardness of the Level 12 Minos.
As expected, it took one rush and one normal attack.
The Level 12 Grassbies on the twelfth floor of Halbar should be twice as hard.
I confirmed that we can fight on the twelfth floor of Halbar without any problems.
The next challenge is how to get Miria used to it.
I could let her observe until her Sea Maiden level goes up.
But Grassbies have ranged attacks.
There's a slight chance she might get hit.
In that case, we could have her fight earlier in the lower floors of the Kooltar or Byle dungeons.
Speaking of Kooltar, what about the twelfth floor?
We don't plan to make it our main hunting ground, but it would be good to clear the twelfth floor of Kooltar after breaking through the eleventh floor.
It shouldn't be a loss.
"Since we're on the twelfth floor, should we also go to the twelfth floor of Kooltar? Is it okay with Miria?"
"I think it's fine."
"Her staff has been enhanced, so there shouldn't be any problems."
Roxanne and Cery agreed.
While Roxanne's judgment is based on her level, if Cery says it's fine, it should be fine.
"We have the map at home, so let's go to the twelfth floor of Kooltar tomorrow morning. Today, let's go to the eighth floor of Byle."
When Cery was a Level 1 blacksmith, we fought on the eighth floor.
The monsters on the eighth floor of Byle are Collagen Corals.
It might be good to fight there.
I'm not sure if Collagen Corals are originally aquatic monsters.
They seem to be.
They are corals, after all.
"ĂĂĂĂĂĂĂĂĂĂ"
"ĂĂĂĂĂĂĂĂĂĂ"
"Um. Miria says she can get it if it's in the house."
Roxanne announced after talking with Miria.
I see.
Miria can handle the dark.
"Let's go then."
"Yes."
We teleported to the shed where the map was stored.
The room was pitch black since it was before sunrise.
"The booklet is on the upper shelf. It's the eleventh papyrus under the cover. Can you see the spear leaning against the side of the shelf? Bring that too."
"She says she's brought them."
"That was quick."
Miria quickly brought the map.
I couldn't even see her.
Her ability to see in the dark is incomparable.
I shouted and teleported to the eleventh floor of Kooltar.
"Is this correct? Where are we now?"
Roxanne took the map from Miria and confirmed.
"We're in the entrance room."
"I see. This way."
"Miria, use the spear. If you get a chance, you can attack. Since it's your first time, prioritize safety and don't overexert yourself. Don't come to the front."
Miria tried to hand me the spear, but I let her keep it.
It's the copper spear Cery used before.
I kept it because it has an empty skill slot and didn't sell it.
A spear allows attacking from a distance.
It's a good weapon for Miria at her current level.
I took the wooden shield instead.
It seems she will use a dagger as a sidearm.
We advanced in the order of the map, dispersing a few monsters.
The Level 11 Green Caterpillars should be no threat if they can be defeated with four spells.
Miria wasn't hit and even managed to land a few successful attacks, reaching the boss room.
The Level 11 boss, the White Caterpillar, was shut out by Roxanne blocking all attacks and me canceling the skills.
Miria also thrust her spear from the side.
She fought with composure.
She seems more calm than I was when I first entered the dungeon.
She might be able to handle herself well as a party member.
"The monsters on the twelfth floor of Kooltar are Sarracenia. They have a special attack that shoots digestive fluid. If you get hit by a body slam, you might be poisoned. The digestive fluid is not believed to be poisonous. There are no resistance attributes, but fire magic is their weakness."
We entered the twelfth floor, and Cery briefed us.
They shoot digestive fluid. They sound scary.
"Well, let's fight one."
If it's just the twelfth floor monsters, using fire magic should be enough.
With their weakness to fire, four spells should do it.
Four spells shouldn't be a big threat.
"The twelfth and thirteenth floors of Kooltar are financially advantageous for our party. If we don't enter the dungeons in the Haltsch public territory, we might as well make it our hunting ground."
"Is that so?"
"Um. Sarracenia leave aconite. It's an ingredient for Nourishing Pills. Can you make them?"
Cery explained hesitantly.
We can make Nourishing Pills.
They can be made with the Herbalist skill, Herb Creation.
It's more profitable to make and sell Poison Cure Pills from Leaves than to sell the Leaves.
Similarly, it's more profitable to make and sell Nourishing Pills from aconite.
Of course.
If aconite was more expensive, no one would make Nourishing Pills from it.
The labor of the Herbalist who makes Nourishing Pills should be more expensive.
"I see. Roxanne, can you lead us to the Sarracenia?"
We advanced with Roxanne leading the way.
A plant monster appeared.
It had two green leaves and a green head.
The leaves extended from both sides of its body, like arms.
It was about as tall as Cery.
It's big, but not exceptionally so, considering there are tall grasses like pampas grass and giant ragweed.
Its brown roots moved unnervingly and came toward us.
I hit it with a Fireball.
The flame licked the surface of the grass.
I fired a second one.
An orange magic circle appeared at the base of the Sarracenia.
"Here it comes."
I saw it even without Roxanne's warning and moved to the side to cast a spell.
I quickly hid behind Roxanne.
It was embarrassing.
The Sarracenia lowered its head.
It looked like a tulip.
The bottom was concave.
The head of the Sarracenia seemed to be bag-like.
Like a pitcher plant.
It's a carnivorous plant.
That's why it shoots digestive fluid.
Digestive fluid shot out from the Sarracenia's head.
I returned a Fireball.
Roxanne blocked the monster's attack with her iron shield.
Cery and Miria thrust their spears at the approaching Sarracenia.
The Sarracenia swung its leaves.
Roxanne dodged.
I hit it with a fourth Fireball.
The Sarracenia was engulfed in flames and collapsed.
"Was the digestive fluid okay?"
"Yes, it seems to dry quickly."
"I see."
I confirmed with Roxanne, but it didn't seem to have the power to melt the shield.
The Level 12 Sarracenia was defeated with four fire spells, the same as the Level 12 Grassbie.
"The normal attack is more dangerous than the digestive fluid. It's a big swing, and since it's made of grass, the trajectory is unstable. It might bend if you don't block it properly with a shield or sword."
Finally, an enemy that gives Roxanne trouble.
The leaves swing up and down.
If you stop it halfway, the tip might bend.
Cery brought the dropped aconite.
I removed the Priest and equipped the Herbalist.
I placed the aconite in my palm and chanted Herb Creation.
Three pills were created from the aconite.
Nourishing Pills.
Unlike Poison Cure Pills, it seems only three can be made.
So this is how Nourishing Pills are made.
"Good. We can make Nourishing Pills."
"ĂĂĂĂĂĂĂĂĂĂ"
Miria said something to Roxanne and looked at me with a "What a guy" expression.