Right now, I was ascending the dungeon with Lübearia.
'Ascending the dungeon with a queen who is not only a high elf, considered noble even among elves, but also has the right to succeed the throne...'
"Gyaaah..."
'Thump!!!'
'The moment other elves hear about this, troublesome things are bound to happen...'
"Grrrr..."
'Thump!!!'
'...Well, since she herself doesn't seem to mind much, it should be fine.'
All while crushing goblins and kobolds trying to emerge from the walls with the power of the Power Fist before they could even come out.
"These monsters, how long has it been since we killed them, and they're already respawning and falling over."
I had been using the Power Fist to smash monsters and ascend for a while when
"..."
At some point, Lübearia started staring at me intently.
"Um... why are you looking at me like that?"
"That thing you're wearing on your right hand..."
"This?"
"Although I'm not an expert, thanks to the knowledge I've accumulated over a long period, I can confidently say I know quite a bit about most magic tools or weapons... but... I've never seen a magic tool or weapon similar to the one you're using now..."
Upon closer look, she wasn't observing me but the Power Fist worn on my right hand.
"Hmm..."
It would be good to build a relationship with her, a leading figure in Loki Familia, which ranks 1st or 2nd in Orario, and even receives the respect of all elves, but
"...Ah, I'm not forcing you, so if you don't want to, you don't have to tell me. I just asked out of curiosity."
Rather, the fact that it's Loki Familia made me a bit wary.
'...Now I understand a bit why she was amazed by my reaction back then.'
Thinking of my past self who casually conversed with people in such positions as crazy, I pondered how to handle this situation, and
"There's no set name for it... but if I had to call it, I think 'magic stone engineering' would be appropriate."
Since it's a technology that likely can't be replicated even if I tell, I decided to just say it.
"Hoh..."
"Although it's just an example, you could say it's a weapon created by adapting engineering techniques used in making clocks or water facilities for combat and combining them with the technology used in magic stone products."
To be honest, I wanted to call it magic engineering, but since magic isn't involved at all, I decided to call it magic stone engineering.
"I see... combining two technologies into one? Impressive."
"Actually, I just made it on the spur of the moment while working on something else."
As I was honestly explaining how it works and things about the weapon,
"You... seem accustomed to downplaying yourself."
"...Huh?"
For some reason, a reply quite different from what I expected came back.
"Despite being made on the spur of the moment, it has the power to shatter dungeon walls at Lv1, and it possesses durability that allows continuous use in combat without issues, meaning its completion level is quite high. And..."
It seems her claim of being confident about magic tools and weapons wasn't empty, as Lübearia spent a long time praising how well-made my Power Fist was, to the extent that
"...So, it's safe to say you've made a great invention. So, you can have more confidence without any problem."
"Uh... yeah..."
I, who go crazy at the sight of monsters, had completely forgotten about monsters to that degree.
"Huh? While talking, we've already reached the dungeon entrance."
"...What?"
'It was definitely the 3rd floor?!'
Wondering if I had been hypnotized without knowing, I pinched my cheek once, and
"Pfft..."
A small laughing sound came from exactly where Lübearia was standing.
"..."
Given the time, the only light was from the streetlights standing here and there and the moonlight slightly obscured by clouds, so from a distance, expressions weren't clearly visible, but since the distance wasn't that far, I saw it.
'Her mouth corner was definitely raised...'
As I silently stared, Lübearia, as if she knew nothing, naturally met my eyes and continued speaking.
"Unfortunately, we must part ways at this fork ahead. Since we need to go in different directions."
"...Do you know where our Familia is?"
"Tiona told me during the last expedition. And I also use the bath bomb you made, you see."
"Aha..."
I knew the bath bomb was popular among women, but I didn't expect even that elf princess to use it.
"Uh... but if Lady Lübearia came to the shop, I should remember it... Did someone else buy it on your behalf?"
I asked since I hadn't seen Lübearia when I was helping Naza with shop work, and
"Uh... why are you making a face as if you've given up on everything..."
"I was thinking of going to get it myself, but my fellow elves stopped me..."
"Ah..."
She started making a somewhat tired expression, and
"Tiona told me there are various types at the shop, so I wanted to choose myself, but as soon as I mentioned the destination, they said a noble person like me visiting such a back-alley shop would tarnish my reputation and stopped me..."
The moment I heard Lübearia's words, I remembered a scene my friend showed me where elves protect her fanatically, and
"That... it might be an impolite question, but... isn't it tiring when people around you act like that?"
Instantly, the thought 'Isn't it tiring to live like that?' came to mind, so I asked, and
"..."
"I'm sorry..."
Reflexively, I apologized at her expression, which seemed somewhat detached.
"Well... certainly, whenever such things happen, the position of princess becomes bothersome..."
"Ahaha... Actually, some customers keep asking if we plan to move the shop because it's too tucked away, making it hard to visit frequently, so we're currently looking for a suitable place to move."
By the way, one of the reasons I wanted to move the shop location was for such customers.
"Although I don't know the internal circumstances well, I heard that your Familia's financial situation isn't good..."
"Ah, did you hear from Lady Loki? Well, actually, until a few days ago, the situation wasn't good, so it's not a wrong statement."
"...Uh, is, is that so?"
Perhaps she didn't expect me to admit it so bluntly, Lübearia was taken aback.
"Since the day you gave me the fire stone until now, you've been in the dungeon, so it's understandable you wouldn't know. Recently, our Miach Familia started supplying Dual Potion to Dian Cecht Familia, so the situation has improved a bit. Moreover, if the item currently being planned is completed well, we plan to move the shop and release several new products, so I think you can look forward to it."
"New products, you say... that is certainly something to look forward to. Perhaps what kind..."
After that, Lübearia and I talked for a while at that spot before parting, and
"Now I'm starting to get tired... I should hurry home and sleep... Huh?"
After a while, as I was getting close to home, I heard the sound of someone running from afar, and when I turned around, for some reason, Bell was running quickly towards the direction of the abandoned church, Hestia Familia's home, with his face all red.
"...Bell?"
Although I was curious why Bell was like that,
"I'll ask later..."
Since tiredness was greater than curiosity, I just headed home as is, and
"Haaam..."
I lay down on the bed in my room and fell asleep.