Chapter 138: Raid


    Im trying to chill on the ground floor of my bakery, but Gaius seems against this idea.


    The Adventurers Guild said that the second floor of the Dungeon should have been cleared by now. Instead, the monsters keeping. A couple of [Schrs] went down with an escort and found that those weird creatures are probably part of a spawn. The city thinks that a horde could be brewing. When monsters such as those are under stress, they consume more food and spawn up to ten times the number of monsters than usual. That leaves them damaged for a while, but its still not enough to eliminate them. They say that the Adventurers Guild will form a mandatory party to go down there and


    Stanimal! I shout toward the kitchen. We are going on a vacation for a few days! Pack your bags!


    After a couple of seconds, no one answers.


    Instead, Princess Lauraes out of the kitchen, half-covered in flour.


    My Ancestor is not here. He went to check out some materials that Master Lakaris has ordered.


    Gaius looks at me with a serious expression. The huge guy is determined to bring me into the Dungeon for this huge raid, isnt he?


    You should go, I hear the purple-haired walking-flour-bag say.


    What happens if I say <em>no</em>?


    Oh, man. I have to take responsibility, dont I? With great powersyou know how it goes.


    Ok, ok, you two despicable bullies, Im going. Just let me chill for a second. My brain is mush. Im too good of a [Mage]. My magic is so good it gets too borate sometimes. I try to keep it simple, but its really too much. Man, isnt my lesson with Domiti tomorrow? Shoot. Whatever. I still need to draft the contract for her. Did we get the materials Id requested?


    Princess Laura looks at me without a clue.


    Tiberius! I shout. Tiberius!


    I can hear his wooden leg click-cking as he reaches us. Wait, not wooden anymore. Hes got a weird prosthesis or something.


    Chef? hees out of the kitchen with a respectful expression on his face. Sometimes I just wish he would actually insult me. Just to break out of character.


    Did we get the stuff I ordered for the magical contract? And where are <em>Lucillus and Antoninus</em>? Did Stan take them with him?


    Weve got the shipment, Chef. It was very expensive. Stan said youd dumped a lot of moneytely, Tiberius says those things without a problem as if it wasnt insulting me.


    Ok. Get someone to bring that stuff to my room, please. Ill need it. And you didnt answer. <em>Where</em> are Lucillus and Antoninus?


    Right, Chef. Antoninus said he had a family problem and needed to take care of it. Lucillus went with him.


    Well, I hope its nothing serious. Id rather have themzy out and skip work in a tavern thanyou know what? I need a walk. Princess, care toe with me to visit Antoninuss family? I have never met them.


    Who have you never met? I hear a womans voiceing through the door together with its owner.


    Yo, Cami, I wave at the short pink-haired Elf, Antoninuss family. They are having problems. Im his employer. I should check on them. His family, I mean. And the two idiots. Want toe? We can all stop for lunchter.


    I wanted to discuss some possible new recipes, she says with a foxy smile.


    Nope. No new recipes for you. The Three Roses is doing super-well, isnt it? Did you get into a fight with minia again?


    Who? Me? Cami says with an innocent smile.


    Joey! I need new recipes! right at that moment as if God had wished it, minia storms into my bakery.


    Here we go, I say, facepalming myself.


    minia and Cami have been verypetitivetely. We all go out and get together for drinks and food, but Happy Bakery and the Three Roses have gotten loads of new clients. This is a crucial moment for both ces as they try to ovee the other. They cant steal recipes from each other, as per contract, but the aggressive marketing and God-knows-what-other-strategies are all still on the table.


    Cami? minia says with narrowed eyes.


    Oh, you need new recipes? Cami says with a broad smile. I might teach you one or two if you beg.


    I have to say that the prospect of a catfight makes me reluctant to break up these two up. But theres something more important to do.


    Yo, you two! I need to visit Antoninuss family. If you want toe, we are going. Right, Princess?


    At that moment, they both seem to finally take stock of who is gracing them with their presence.


    Your Highness! they both bow their heads in a sign of respect, and Cami even does a curtsy.


    Like this? Princess Laura ignores the two girls and points at her clothes.


    I pass my hand over her in the air.


    [Cleanse]


    She looks at me with a raised eyebrow.


    You know I now have artifacts against spell-casters. Be careful; if there had been even a bit of malice in you, you would have been sted into oblivion.


    I tip my hat to the Princess. Sadly, that makes minia and Cami notice my new headpiece.


    Joey, why are you wearing that ridiculous thing? Do you intend to wear it while we are <em>in public</em>? I dont want to be associated with a lunatic that wears that thing.


    Camialways so gracious.


    I agree; he looks like a [Witch], minia says with a snort.


    Hes been wearing it non-stop, Princess Laura says while assessing the real cleanliness of her clothes and skin.


    Its a cursed item. I can rarely take it off. And thats only for when I sleep, shower, or do other stuff like that. Ill solve the curse in the future. Until then, mind your own business, both of you.


    Id mind my own business if I got a new recipe, Cami says.


    Same, minia chimes in.


    Vultures.


    While Im getting ready to go out, Gaius finally speaks up again. The big guy is a bit shy around girls.


    Joey, his deep voice makes my bones rattle, do you know where Antoninuss family lives?


    Huh, thats a good point.