Chapter 300: Commence the exploration


    While I was developing the caverns in the Sky Ind, the Aligerous tribe raised their levels to some degree and acquired skills with Sophia and the girls leading them, so it’s just about time that we start to thin out the monsters and investigate the ancient ruins containing the dungeon…… or so it should have been, but………


    「Please take me with you too!」


    「No, I should be the one that goes!」


    「「What did you say?!」」


    When we decided on the members for the exploration, Sophia, Maria, Kaede, Laeva, and I who have an interest in the ruins were the five from our party immediately chosen. Akane and Lulu-chan said they would have tea with Princess Mimir at the mansion. So she had gotten close to the Elven princess at some point, huh?


    Next, we talked about heading for the ancient ruins with Valzak-san who was one of the chiefs that knew the monsters since the overflow, Berkut who was proud of being one of the strongest among the tribe despite being a woman, plus one more person, but……


    「I am the next chief!」


    「Bullshit! I will be the next head!」


    <em>Doga</em>!


    「<em>Uu</em>! You bastard, you done hit me now!」


    <em>Baki</em>!


    「<em>Guh</em>! You son of aー!」


    The two who began trading blows topete for thest spot were Valkan-san’s son Vart-kun and Valzak-san’s son Valto-kun. These two were definitely the sons of chiefs, but……


    「They’repeting for the lowest in strength though.」


    「Bagworm is still a bit stronger.」


    Sophia stated her opinion so sharply. Kaede’s follow up wasn’t good either.


    「「I sincerely apologize.」」


    「Not at all, it isn’t your fault, Valkan-san, Valzak-san.」


    For some reason…… it feels like they’ve had a simr exchange just recently. Neither Vart-kun nor Valto-kun were particrly bad kids, but they butt heads when they’re together.


    「Well, leaving that aside, this is about our exploration this time. I think we should first head for the spot where the entrance to the dungeon should be.」


    「I believe that is alright. The monsters of this forest were tough enemies for us. However, that too would likely cease to be an issue because of the monster hunting we’ve experienced these past several days and the equipment from Iruma-dono.」


    Ignoring Vart-kun and Valto-kun’s mudslinging match, I told Valzak-san and Valkan-san about our objective for today’s search.


    It had been decided that Valkan-san would remain in the caverns, and they would thin out the monsters in moderation.


    「How long would it take to reach the entrance to the dungeon at the heart of the ruins with the shortest distance?」


    「Let’s see…… taking into consideration that we would hold you back…… I expect that we would be capable of arriving at the center of the ruins within half a day.」


    We’re going through a forest that would be hard to traverse, but if we can leave a little past noon, we’d probably arrive just before evening.


    That’s if we could leave though…………


    「<em>Haa</em>, Vart-kun, don’t fight.」


    「……<em>haa</em>, <em>haa</em>, I-it’s not just my fault! It’s this guy’s fault for going against me!」


    「………………」


    The fighting seemed to have stopped, but Valto-kun became a tattered rag on the floor for the second time. On the other hand, his opponent was breathing so heavily that his shoulders were going up and down as heined to me in a disgruntled manner, but he wasn’t really much different to Gian[1].


    「For the time being, Vart-kun will also be staying here.」


    「Wha!? Why is that!?」


    When I exined to Vart that I won’t take someone who started a fight just before our departure and that he had to stay back, he snapped at me, saying there’s no way that’s the case.


    「Well, Vart-kun is also worn out, isn’t he? More like, it’s easier to count Vart-kun’s rank in strength if we start from the bottom.」


    「<em>Guh</em>, that ain’t true! I am stronger than anyone in the Aligerous Tribe!」


    「No way, Vart-kun has been cking, so leave him out.」


    「<em>Guh</em>……」


    As expected, he couldn’t deny that they was clearlypeting for the bottom. Valkan-san was right in front of him, after all.


    「Hey you, you can use recovery magic. Use it on me!」


    <em>Gon</em>!


    Valkan-san who reached his limits dropped his fist directly onto the crown of Vart-kun’s head.


    「I’m very sorry, Iruma-dono. I will monitor my foolish son, so I will rely on you for the search.」


    「Ha, haha, I understand.」


    The fainted Vart-kun and Valto-kun were dragged to the back.


    「Now then, let us make our way.」


    「……right.」


    There were a few bumps before our departure, but it looks like we’re finally going to be able to start our exploration.


    ***


    <strong>Footnotes:</strong>


    1. Takeshi Gouda, the bully from Doraemon.


    Once again, happy new year! Let’s have a st this year!