We had gone to the sixth floor of Vale before finishing the hunt to hunt Naive Olives.
"Well, a little bit."
I replenished the olive oil until one row of the item box was full, then finished the hunt.
We went out to the Cooltar Adventurers' Guild.
Milia walked at the front, full of enthusiasm.
Today was the day of the promised fish.
"Fish. Fish. Fish, it is."
She apparently hadn't forgotten.
She rushed straight into the fish shop.
There were other things I wanted to buy, but I couldn't do that without buying the fish first.
"Did you find any good fish?"
"××××××××××"
"It's Roxsler."
Roxanne translated, and Milia pointed with her finger.
"You have good taste. The Roxsler just arrived a little while ago. It's fresh and well-fleshed. It's good for both boiling and grilling."
So it's called Roxsler.
It must be a fish similar to trout.
It's about twenty centimeters long.
That's just right.
"Then, four Roxslers."
"Sure thing."
"Thank you as always. Four for twenty-eight nars, special service."
A thirty percent discount on ten nars per fish.
It's not that expensive.
Especially considering the price of clams.
I paid the merchant, and Milia received the goods.
The old explorer wrapped the fish in papyrus and handed them over.
It would be hard to carry four of them.
But since she wants to carry them, I'll let her.
"Milia and I will make fish dishes, so Roxanne and Seri, order something too."
"Understood. Seri, what about the soup?"
"Right. I'll make the soup today."
We also bought ingredients like bread, eggs, and vegetables.
We went to the hardware store that takes care of our house and bought a pot.
"Do you have any cooking utensils you want, Milia?"
"This flat pan is good, she says."
Roxanne translated.
Milia pointed to a shallow flat pan that could make paella.
It has two handles on the side.
Indeed, we don't have this type of pot.
"Is this one?"
"With this pot, she can make delicious fish dishes, she says."
So it's fish dishes again.
Since we're buying it for a thirty percent discount, this flat pan will do.
I bought the flat pan and a lidded pot and went home.
"Can Milia fillet the fish?"
I asked in the kitchen.
Milia started without Roxanne's translation.
She must have learned the fish-related Brahmin language quickly.
I boiled water and made boiled eggs.
The fillets were ready before the eggs were done.
Milia brought them to the cutting board.
"Here, it is."
"Done, it is. Done."
"Done, it is."
I received the fillets.
There were eight fillets.
The skin was properly removed.
They looked quite delicious.
"Next, squeeze this lemon for me."
"Sure, it is."
Since I've had her do it once before, this also works without translation.
I boiled and chopped the vegetables in the same pot as the eggs, mixed them with the mayonnaise I made two days ago, mashed boiled eggs, and lemon juice.
The tartar sauce was complete.
"Next, crush the bread into crumbs. Tear it into small pieces like this."
I crumbled the bread in front of Milia and Roxanne, who was translating.
"Breadcrumbs, it is."
"Do you have breadcrumbs?"
"When you can't buy cheese, you sprinkle these instead."
"…Then, Milia, I'll leave it to you."
It seems like a sad ingredient.
I asked Milia and left the scene.
I heated a large amount of olive oil in the new pot.
I seasoned the fillets with salt and pepper, coated them with flour, beaten eggs, and breadcrumbs, and fried them.
I added the tartar sauce, and the fish and chips were done.
I wanted to show that it's not a substitute for cheese.
There's almost no chance of failing with fried food.
The only difficulty is using a fish I haven't used before, but it should be fine from the looks of it.
Milia was watching intently, looking curious.
This should be fine.
When the meal started, Milia immediately bit into the fish and chips.
She opened her eyes wide and took a big bite.
"O, o, o, delicious, it is."
It seems she liked it.
I tried it too.
It was delicious.
The tartar sauce's acidity worked well, giving it a good flavor.
"It's delicious. I've never had such a dish."
"Me neither."
"It's an excellent way to cook fish."
"Indeed, Master."
Roxanne and Seri seemed satisfied too.
Milia quickly finished two pieces and looked disappointed.
They were quite big.
"Do you want to eat one of mine?"
"Thank you, it is."
I gave her one, and she took it.
Milia naturally took one piece each from Roxanne and Seri as well.
I must have been promoted to a good companion who shares fish.
It seems there are no fried dishes in this world, but they can be made without any problem.
Feeling confident, I made tonkatsu the next morning.
It's a hearty meat meal for breakfast, but it's fine in this world where there are only two meals a day.
The tonkatsu I hadn't eaten in a long time was delicious.
I used pork belly from the thirteenth floor of Tal, and it was delicious.
There was no sauce, but it was delicious.
I couldn't help but think of Japan a little.
"That's strange."
Roxanne said this the morning after the next.
"What's strange?"
"There are people ahead. Even at this hour, they've been in the same place for the past few days."
Indeed, it's strange to be in the same place in the labyrinth.
Do they hunt in a fixed spot?
"Monsters that smell like people?"
"I've never heard of such a thing. If we keep avoiding people, we won't be able to proceed."
I asked Roxanne to lead me to places with as few people as possible because I use magic.
If there are people blocking the path to the boss room, we won't be able to reach it.
That would be bad.
We've been in the twelfth floor for a few days.
With the four spells, we can hunt efficiently, so we should have made good progress.
The only place we haven't seen is the other side of where people are always present.
"I've heard of this before."
"What, Seri?"
"In a labyrinth that doesn't get many visitors, thieves sometimes ambush on the twelfth floor. I'm sorry, I forgot I heard this when I was little."
Thieves, huh.
Is that true?
"Why is it a labyrinth that doesn't get many visitors?"
"In a labyrinth with many people like Cooltar, they would be found quickly. In a labyrinth with no visitors at all, it wouldn't be a job. A labyrinth with few visitors, where people come occasionally, is the best."
There are currently three labyrinths in the Hartz duchy.
I was asked to help because there weren't enough hands.
The knights and explorers living nearby would probably split into three groups.
The number of people entering each labyrinth should be decreasing.
"Why the twelfth floor?"
"The monsters get stronger from the twelfth floor. So, people who come to the twelfth floor come well-equipped."
"Do they plan to take that equipment?"
"Yes. People who enter the twelfth floor are still intermediate, so a group of strong thieves can easily overwhelm them. Besides, if thieves have too good equipment, they will be underpriced. Intermediate-level equipment is the best."
The twelfth floor is just the right target.
Seri's explanation makes sense.
There might be thieves in the twelfth floor of this labyrinth.
"What should we do then? Wait until they leave?"
"Considering they are here at this hour, it's better to assume they will be here all day. I think there are fewer people in the early morning. Now is the best chance to break through."
Roxanne said bravely.
Halbar's labyrinth is further north than Cooltar.
I'll keep quiet about the fact that the sun might already be up at this time.
I don't want to have to explain that the earth is a sphere.
"Another option is to report to the knights."
We could also cry to Gosler.
However, it's questionable whether they would act just because there are people, without any evidence.
We could wait at the entrance of the labyrinth and confirm when the thieves come in and out.
No, even if I identify them as thieves with my appraisal, it wouldn't be evidence.
I could defeat one thief, claim the bounty, and ask them to search for the others.
It would be quite a hassle.
Besides, I would still have to defeat one.
When claiming the bounty, there would be a check of the Intelligence Card.
I'm supposed to be an adventurer to Gosler and the knights.
I can't show them an Intelligence Card that says explorer.
Crying to Gosler is not an option.
"I don't think they will act unless I'm a member of the Hartz ducal family."
Seri also rejected the idea of crying to the knights.
"Is that so?"
"Members are protected."
"Are you a free citizen, Master?"
Roxanne asked for confirmation.
"Yes."
"Then it's difficult."
"For free citizens, self-help is the norm. Free citizens have the right to self-help. Seeking protection means placing oneself under the patriarchal authority of the protector. That's not a good idea."
Seri explained.
I don't understand, but it seems complicated.
In any case, I now know that I can't easily rely on the police in this world.
Self-help, huh.
In other words, I have to deal with it myself.
Is that a right or an obligation?
Seeking protection is easy.
However, the protector won't protect for free.
They will naturally demand something in return.
They will say, "I'll protect you, but you have to do what I say."
Free citizens should protect themselves.
Then, they don't have to listen to anyone.
So, self-help is a right after all.
"Is that how it is?"
"Breaking through by ourselves is the norm."
Seri also said bravely.
Is it reasonable to think that way in this world?
"××××××××××"
"It's fine."
Roxanne explained the situation, and Milia nodded.
I don't know what's fine.
"It's fine. There don't seem to be that many. We won't be delayed by mere thieves."
"I agree. If thieves are ambushing, they are probably targeting parties fighting on the twelfth floor. Ordinary parties take more time to defeat monsters. We are much stronger than parties fighting on other twelfth floors. Milia and I might be a burden, but we should be fine if we work together. We won't lose easily to thieves."
Seri's words made me feel that it makes sense.
We should break through with our own strength.
At least, that seems to be the normal way of thinking in this world.
I've defeated thieves in the first village I came to and used them to earn money for Roxanne.
There's no point in hesitating now.
I don't want to put Milia in too much danger, but Roxanne and Seri are fine.
I can't imagine Roxanne being outmatched one-on-one.
Seri has also leveled up a lot, so she should be able to fight low-level thieves.
The problem is Milia, who has only recently joined the party.
However, they might not be thieves after all.
There might just be people there.
We should at least check.
I have appraisal.
I can quickly tell if they are thieves.
With Roxanne's nose, Milia's eyes, and my appraisal, we shouldn't be caught off guard.
If there are many high-level thieves, we can run away.
"Is it fine for Milia too?"
"××××××××××"
"It's fine."
Roxanne translated, and Milia nodded.
Is it fine to fight thieves?
All three of them are so brave.
"Then, let's go once. If I raise my right hand with the sword, it's the signal to attack. If I raise my left hand, it's the signal for everyone to retreat."
We decided on the retreat signal in case of an emergency.
I drew Durandal and got ready.
It would be easy if I could use Meteor Crash.
It's a shame that area-of-effect spells are not effective against people.
We moved through the cave, being careful not to clump together.
That way, we should be less likely to be caught off guard.
"I'm sorry. There's probably a hidden door ahead, and they are on the other side. I didn't expect a door. If there's a door, the smell won't come out as much. There might be more than I thought."
Roxanne apologized during the guide.
We are currently in a place where no one is present.
People seem to be on the other side.
Can't I use appraisal to see their job and level from a distance?
However, it's difficult to cry to Gosler without any evidence.
At the very least, we need to confirm that they are thieves.
It would be better if they were away from the hidden door.
"Everyone, get behind me. Roxanne, take the rear."
I held Durandal in my hand and stood at the front.
It's not unnatural to have a weapon in the labyrinth.