Volume 1 Chapter 23 (1/2)

After the valley was the maze area.

Of course it wasn’t just a simple maze but one teeming with pitfalls.

Moreover, its ceiling was awfully high.

Looking at it more carefully, the walls didn’t even touch the ceiling but that was most probably deliberate. The flying monsters would be able to move unobstructed by the walls while we, the ones who could only move by land, had to worry not only about the maze made by the walls but the pitfalls as well.

“Master, a pitfall three steps ahead. Also, an enemy is waiting in ambush in the corner ahead. It looks like it’s planning a pincer attack together with the enemy flying in the sky.”

However, as far as Elder Dwarf was concerned, such a maze was nothing but a boring distraction.

For the blessed-by-the-earth Elder Dwarf, finding the pitfalls was simple.

On the other hand, even if the ground was stepped on, she would just immediately reinforce it enough for it to be safe.

Even making a map was possible for her by sending out waves to the ground, a few kilometers in diameter, and receiving their echoes. Every maze would be rendered useless before her.

(TL note: I’m just guessing here but I guess Elder Dwarf can do all this because of her skill Silver Alchemist which hasn’t been explained even now.)

Actually, even the monsters in the sky were also easy to deal with.

After all, by swooping down our way, they were confining themselves to the walls of the labyrinth.

So in truth, the previous floor offered us a greater challenge.

Thanks to Elder Dwarf’s information, we were able to ambush the enemy that tried to ensnare us. We then exited the maze without incident.

“Thanks, Elder Dwarf. We were able to take it easy thanks to you.”

“Nn.”

She nodded and leaned on my left arm.

She was kind of fidgeting.

Such actions suited the silver-haired beautiful prepubescent girl.

“What’s the matter, Elder Dwarf?”

“…nothing.”

Despite saying so, her upturned eyes suggested she wanted something but when our eyes met, she just looked away, only to glance back and forth at me immediately afterwards.

Until finally, she tugged on my sleeves.

Ahh, she really did want her head to be stroked.

As amusing as it was to see her like this, I should stop teasing her soon.

“You did a great job, Elder Dwarf!”

I said so as I stroked her head.

Albeit for a different reason compared to Tenko’s, the sensation of her silky silver hair was enjoyable.

“………no, stop it, Father. You’re embarrassing me.”

She said so as her face turned red.

I stroked her head plenty. If she found this to be pleasant, so did I.

With a grin on her face, Tenko approached us.

“Ah, El-chan! You’ve only been calling Oto-san as Master but just now, you called him Father!”

Tenko giggled.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Elder dwarf hid her face and quietly murmured so.

Her ears turned bright red.

“What are you embarrassed of? If El-chan wants to call Oto-san Father instead of Master, she should just do so.”

“I didn’t say anything.”

“But you did! You absolutely called Oto-san Father!”

“No, I didn’t!”

The red-faced Elder dwarf insisted on Tenko.

Perhaps it was because she was about to explode, the tone of her voice became strange.

“Kya—♪”

Tenko, on the other, squealed in what seemed like joy as she ran away.

Tenko was then caught. It was perhaps on purpose since if Tenko really wanted to escape, with the difference of their agility in mind, Elder Dwarf wouldn’t ever be able to catch her.

My face loosened as I saw my two daughters joyfully playing around.

They were so cute.

“Hey, hold it, you two. Stop fighting. Come here.”