MRPO :09

CHAPTER :09

[The current location is not suitable for shelter creation. Searching for a suitable location.]

After a loading bar spun, the window disappeared, and a green dot appeared in a corner of my vision.

It was a cave located on a rocky slope piled with large boulders.

“Callion. Look, there’s a cave over there!”

“Your eyes are decent enough, at least.”

I had spoken to Callion, but Senes was the one who replied.

Why are you chiming in?

“I will go check inside. Please wait a moment, Master.”

Callion leapt up the boulders like a bouncing ball, checked the inside of the cave, and gestured to signal it was safe.

Well, of course it would be safe.

Because it was a shelter created by my [Base Construction] skill!

I was about to head toward the cave when, instead of moving forward, my body was suddenly lifted into the air.

“At this sluggish pace, the sun will set before we even reach the cave.”

“P-Put me down!”

“The cave is up there, so why are you asking to be put down? You should be asking to be carried up. Did your vocabulary vanish along with your memories?”

No, let go of me!

He kept calling me baggage, and now Senes had actually slung me over his shoulder like a literal piece of luggage and leapt up the boulders.

The rocks were as tall as I was, but he scaled them effortlessly without even a running start, putting me down in front of the cave entrance in no time.

Did he help because he thought I’d have a hard time climbing up?

Is he one of those types whose actions are kind despite their incredibly rude mouths?

While I was pondering this, I missed my chance to thank him. But Senes didn’t seem to care, walking right in and brushing the dirt off a flat rock.

He pulled a clean cloth from his chest, folded it in half, laid it down, and then looked my way.

“Oh. Thank you.”

“Thank me for what? This is where I’m sitting.”

Sneering at me, Senes plonked himself down on the cloth.

‘…Why, this rude little brat?’

Since he looked at me after dusting off the spot, I thought he was being considerate and offering it to me, but I was wrong.

Seriously, if he hadn’t looked at me, I wouldn’t have misunderstood.

‘Who is he treating like some self-absorbed narcissist?’

As I glared at Senes in disbelief, Callion, who had wiped down a wide rock with a cloth and unfastened his own cloak to spread it out, called out to me.

“Master, please sit here.”

“It’s fine. I can make my own spot.”

“First shameless, and now clueless. My brother went out of his way to prepare a spot for you, yet you reject his goodwill? Is ignoring other people’s kindness just part of your personality?”

Would you please just shut your mouth, you jerk?

I thanked Callion and quietly sat in the spot he had prepared for me.

I thought it would be uncomfortable because the rock was uneven, but Callion’s fur cloak was so plush and soft that I barely felt the bumps.

“Master, are you comfortable?”

“I’m perfectly fine. But Callion, is it really alright for me to sit on your cloak?”

“Of course.”

My heart warmed at Callion’s thoughtfulness, having worried that a simple blanket wouldn’t be enough to cushion me from the rough surface underneath.

How could brothers be so different? Not only did they look different, but their personalities were night and day.

I felt bad for Callion’s parents, but surely one of these brothers had to be adopted.

“Then, Master, please remain here with my brother.”

“Huh? Where are you going now that the sun has set?”

“There is a spring on the opposite side. I will wash quickly and return.”

Callion, you smell so nice already, you don’t even need to wash.

Please don’t leave me alone with this rude bastard.

Yet despite seeing my pleading gaze, Callion’s eyes grew flushed as he averted his gaze, and he heartlessly left to wash anyway.

Right. It’s just because Callion values cleanliness.

Come to think of it, he’s the kind of guy who never smells of sweat even after hacking down monsters.

How wonderful, a man who keeps himself tidy.

Our Callion has absolutely no flaws!

“Excuse me, Miss Baggage?”

“Why don’t you get some rest instead of talking to a piece of baggage? I’m going to sleep too.”

“Are you really planning to go to sleep without washing? And transfer your foul stench all over my brother’s cloak? Good heavens.”

I swear, I would pay anyone to shut this rude jerk’s mouth.

Is there no skill that can silence an insolent brat?

The system window, which usually blared alarms at the slightest provocation, was dead silent at a time like this, of course.

[Ally [Callion] has left the base!]

[No allies are on standby within a 10m radius.]

[The Base Construction skill has been canceled.]

No, not this!

As I glared at the system window, a familiar screen popped up with a mechanical cuckoo sound, as if mocking me.

[The Lazy Righteous One Strikes Again]

[You have spent too much time in the shelter.]

[In 40 seconds, the shelter will collapse.]

You crazy system! What do you mean ‘too much time’?! I haven’t even been in here for five minutes!

I felt like bursting with frustration, but the godforsaken system window steadily began its countdown.

39 seconds. 38 seconds. 37 seconds…

I quickly opened all the minimized windows at once.

First, my skill: the Base Construction status window.

[Condition 2. At least 1 ally on standby within a 10m radius.

– Currently, there are no allies nearby. Skill cannot be activated.]

Next was Senes’s party request window, which I had been trying my best to ignore.

[Would you like to accept the party request?]

I had no choice. I absolutely did not want another cave-in triggering my PTSD.

‘Accept! Accept the party!’

The moment I screamed it in my head, the pending sign disappeared, and a new window popped up with a sly notification sound.

[Ally [Senes] has joined your party.]

With the conditions met, the “Construct Base” button on my original skill window lit up.

[Construct Base]

When I pressed the button, the skill unfolded, tracing a green grid across the cave walls like a blueprint being drawn.

Then, with a ding, the [The Lazy Righteous One Strikes Again] window flashed.

[Quest Canceled]

This shelter has been confirmed as your base.

Unless subjected to a physical attack from enemies exceeding the base’s defense, the base will not collapse.

A new notification appeared at the bottom, and the countdown stopped before the window closed.

‘…I survived.’

It seemed the base would only collapse from enemy attacks, not from sudden quests.

I let out a deep sigh of relief, clutching my chest. That nearly shaved ten years off my life.

“What are you gasping for just sitting there? Having a breathing fit?”

The jerk chimed in again.

If you don’t know what’s going on, just stay quiet, will you?

“I was just worried the cave might collapse.”

“……Ha, please.”

The jerk scoffed.

“You lack common sense, but you certainly have a wild imagination. Why on earth would a perfectly fine cave collapse? We haven’t been attacked by monsters, nor has there been an earthquake. Callion already checked everything thoroughly…”

“A cave collapsed on me last time, and I almost got crushed to death.”

“…….”

The jerk’s mouth snapped shut. He looked slightly taken aback.

Seizing the moment, I explained what had happened a few days ago when the cave collapsed.

I felt a bit sorry to bring Callion into it, but it wasn’t a lie.

“A cave I thought was safe suddenly collapsed, and as soon as I ran out, I almost died encountering a monster. I guess remembering that just made me panic.”

“…….”

“But looking at it now, it doesn’t seem like it’ll collapse. You’re right, Senes.”

I finished pouring my heart out with an irrefutable “yeah, yeah, you’re totally right” tone, but Senes’s expression actually turned serious.

What? Is he actually worried about the cave collapsing now?

He didn’t seem like the type to have enough of a conscience to feel guilty for speaking rudely to me.

“……Master.”

“What is it?”

After calling out to me, Senes said nothing.

He just kept his mouth shut and stared at me.

Fearing he would spit out another rude remark if I prodded him, I didn’t press for an answer.

The surroundings were silent. The sun had set, plunging our surroundings into darkness, yet oddly enough, Senes’s golden eyes glowed brightly.

“Callion is here.”

“Pardon?”

At Senes’s words, I lifted my head to look outside the cave, and a white figure came into view in the distance.

Perhaps because he had rushed his bath, his hair was still damp, making Callion look even more dewy and fresh.

Long live wet, handsome men.

Before Callion could even say anything, Senes stood up.

Saying he was going to wash, Senes took Callion’s place and quickly walked out.

I had no idea why he left after looking like he wanted to say something, but I wasn’t curious enough to follow and ask.

Besides, Callion was calling for me.

“Master. I have brought water for you to wash with.”

“Huh? You brought bathwater?”

Callion set a canteen down on the ground.

It looked a bit different from the canteens we usually used for drinking.

Sure enough, when he pressed the dark green mana stone attached to the side, the canteen suddenly expanded.

‘Wow… Is there an expansion spell on it? The opposite effect of an inventory?’

It had been the size of a water bottle when Callion was holding it, but once expanded, it grew to the size of a children’s inflatable pool.

While it wasn’t a spacious, luxurious bathtub, it was large enough to sit and soak in comfortably.

“Please, step inside, Master.”

“……You want me to wash here? Right now?”

Wash here? Now?

I mean, I’m grateful he brought the water, but!

“I confirmed there are no monsters near the spring, but it cannot be deemed entirely safe. I could not let you go to the spring alone… so even if it is inconvenient, please understand.”

“Oh, n-no, I understand the circumstances.”

Actually, I did want to wash.

Maybe it was because my senses were dull after dying and coming back to life, or maybe it was because my new body had fully synchronized with this world, but I barely smelled of sweat. Still, skipping my daily bath made me feel mentally sticky, so to speak.

‘The problem is that Callion is right here.’

As I stood there hesitating and glancing at him, Callion let out a soft “Ah,” nodding as if he understood what I was worried about.