<h4>Chapter 16: Grim Reaper''s Lunch Box</h4>


    After noon, the entrance to District 2 became deserted again.


    Adventurers who had taken a break scattered around the dungeon in search of monsters.


    As for me, finally being able to get my break, I’m going to eat the bread and apple I brought with me.


    [Someone, help me carry someone wounded! Anybody!?]


    Just as I was about to bite down though, I heard a voice calling for help from within the dungeon.


    It wasn’t that far away from here.


    It would be dangerous, but I just couldn’t abandon them.


    Holding the Flying Snake card in my hand, I ran toward the voice.


    The deeper I went into the dungeon, the louder the voices became.


    It seemed that there was still a battle going on.


    [Where is it!? Where are you!?]


    [This way! Our porter got hit in the leg. Please get him to safety.]


    I went toward the voice and found 5 adventurers engaged in battle with a rhino-like monster.


    In the vicinity of the room, there’s a boy lying on his back.


    It was the same boy who hade to my stall.


    [Regal, get a hold of yourself!]


    [Uuu…… Ngghh……]


    The adventurers are fighting while trying to protect Regal, and they seem to be having trouble moving freely.


    [Quickly take him away!]


    [Alright.]


    I picked up Regal and headed back the way I came.


    When I returned to the entrance of District 2, I examined Regal’s wounds.


    The flesh of his thigh was split open and blood was pouring out.


    [Mirai-san, please give me some restorative tea.]


    Restorative tea is a drink, but pouring it over the wound would also be effective.


    Cutting apart the cloth in Regal’s trousers near his wound, I poured the cooled restorative tea over it.


    [Kuh!]


    Perhaps feeling the sting from his wound, Regal bears with it with some tears in his eyes.


    The bleeding had stopped slightly, but the wound was still not healed.


    [More restorative tea.]


    [I don’t know. With a wound this bad, I don’t think he can be healed with just restorative tea.]


    Even so, I want to do what I can.


    [If it’s money, I’ll pay for it, so I’d like to have some more.]


    [What’s the matter?]


    A voice suddenly called out in the dungeon, and the Grim Reaper appeared out of the darkness.


    His sudden arrival made both Mirai-san and Sanaga-san reflexively let out a short shriek.


    Even Regal, who was wounded and lying on the ground, began to tremble.


    However, I’ve already gotten used to the Grim Reaper.


    There were rumors that he was a murderer, but when I talked to him, he seemed more normal than I had expected.


    [It’s just as you see. This child is wounded. Ah, Minerva, do you have any bandages? If so, please share them with me.]


    [No, I don’t.]


    [I see. It can’t be helped then.]


    I have to find something to tie his wound shut and stop the bleeding.


    As I was rummaging through my bag for something to use as a tourniquet, Minerva approached.


    Then, he put his hand close to Regal’s thigh.


    [Ohh!]


    A burst of green light came from Minerva’s hand, and Regal’s wounds healed quickly.


    [Oi, oi, you can use Recovery Magic!? That’s amazing.]


    [Being at least able to use this is no big deal.]


    The Grim Reaper replied bluntly, but despite not showing it outright, he seemed to be pleased with the praise.


    [U- U- U- Ummm…… Thank you very much.]


    Regal too, even though he was trembling, thanked him.


    [By the way, why are you here, Yuusuke?]


    Minerva turned to me and asked.


    [Actually, I didn’t have a permit, so I can’t do business in my earlier spot anymore.]


    [So that’s how it is. I’ve been looking for you for a long time, and was surprised that you’re not there.]


    [You were looking for me?]


    At my words, the Grim Reaper exaggeratedly waved his hand in denial.


    [I was not! I wasn’t wandering around the open space in front of the dungeon looking for you!]


    [You just said you were looking for me though.]


    [Uh, w- well…… I meant I wasn’t frantically looking for you. Don’t get me wrong……]


    The heck is with this guy.


    [Ah, alright. You’re craving for something sweet again, aren’t you?]


    [U…… mu……]


    [However, it’s not good for your health if you eat sweets all the time. Here, I’ll share my apple and bread with you, so eat them with me.]


    [N- No…… If it’s lunch, I have them with me.]


    [Minerva’s going to eat now huh. Guess I’ll eat mine too.]


    Thereupon, Minerva suddenly stood up.


    [Oi, Yuusuke!!!]


    With a shout, he red at me.


    Did I do something to offend him?


    [W- What’s the matter, suddenly talking so loudly……]


    [……I- If you want, how about eating together with me!?]


    [Huh?]


    [H- Here…… I’ll give you this……]


    Minerva brought out a cute light blue lunch box.


    The side of the box has a picture of a cat walking in a meadow.


    [However, what about your lunch, Minerva? You won’t have anything to eat though?]


    [Don’t worry. I have another one.]


    Saying this, Minerva took out a different colored lunch box, a pink one this time, from her luggage.


    Matching lunch boxes……


    [Sorry. I’ll eat them without reservations then.]


    [Umu, I made two of them by ident.]


    He apparently made two by ident.


    How is that even possible?


    Well, whatever. One of my good points is that I don’t sweat the small stuff.


    Yep, I’m singing my own praises.


    Opening the lid, I found sandwiches and fruits neatly arranged.


    The sandwich had sauteed chicken, vegetables and bacon.


    [Whoa, these look delicious. Minerva is good at cooking huh.]


    [It’s no big deal……]


    [Alright then, let’s dig in. Ah, I’ll buy you some tea. Mirai-san, I’d like some tea for him.]


    [Y- Yesh!]


    The tea was handed to me by Mirai-san with trembling hands.


    [It’s alright, he looks and sounds scary, but in reality, he’s not such a bad guy.]


    [I- Is that so……]


    [What are you doing, Yuusuke!? Stop talking to other women ande over here already! Being swayed by the allure of a mature woman……]


    He started grumbling about incoherent stuff.


    Was he getting irritable from hunger?


    [Are you some possessive boyfriend or what? Saying stuff like that could cause misunderstandings.]


    [Not like I care.]


    [Geez. Anyway, I’ll start eating. Oh, this is tasty!]


    [You think so? Ufu…… ufufu……]


    Even if you giggled ufufu like that……


    With the way he looks, it just feels like some vicious criminalughing.


    Sorry.


    By the way, why is this guy wearing a mask?


    Does he have a burn scar by any chance?


    If so, it would be better not to ask questions carelessly.


    He may be a man, but he probably wants to hide such scars.


    In any case, as we ate lunch, I don’t know why, but Minerva seemed to be in a good mood.