Dungeon Overlord: Monster Girl Harem!-Chapter 39: The Night Before Departure! I

Mabel offered several pieces of advice to Leonhardt and Erina, whether the type of provision and flavour of the ale was brought. Her attention to detail helped Leon greatly and allowed him to observe and understand the benefits of raw healing salve and a mixed cream.

"The total would come to fifty-four silvers, when rounded to the nearest silver."

This 𝓬ontent is taken from fгeewebnovёl.co𝙢.

Leonhardt curled his lips upward, noticing her attempt to earn extra profit. Instead, he considered the knowledge that she gave him worth a small tip.

'She doesn't know how much I gained from this!'

[Gained Skills: Herbalism (Lv.1), Medicine (Lv.1), Business Sense (Lv.1)]

[This old woman has some valuable knowledge. Please note what she said!]

"I'll give you fifty-five silvers, call it a tip for the knowledge you gave me, Lady Mabel."

A gentle, unassuming smile curved Mabel's lips—a smile lacking conventional beauty but brimming with the warmth of a caring aunt.

"You little charmer, Leon~ you'll always be welcome at my little store."

Leonhardt handed over his guild card, letting the merchant swipe his card across the rectangular magical item, which bleeped then started printing a paper receipt.

Erina's eyes narrowed as she watched Leonhardt, doubt flickering in her gaze.

She hadn't expected this side of him—yet, the sight of his generous spirit coaxed a faint, approving smile onto her face.

"Where did you learn to flirt with old women like this?" She whispered like a mosquito, avoiding Mabel's ears as she swiped his guild card.

[Deducted: 55 silvers]

[Remaining: 01g 55s 55c]

When he checked the card, two lines were added.

The card left a mark of the transaction location and recorded it.

He wondered what it might help with, but the business skill taught him about tax and audits that merchants might face in the kingdom.

"Isn't this how to get a better service?" He covered his lips and whispered back, smirking to himself, amused by Erina's curious gaze and interest.

Mabel shoved the items into his inventory bag.

"You must visit my store if you can next time."

Having bid their farewells to the friendly proprietress, the two returned to the path leading towards the side store, managed by Mabel's husband, the carriage exchange.

"Erina, do you know how this works?" Leonhardt glanced at the massive barn filled with different animals: horses and small monsters like birds on two legs. He was familiar with a chicken, but these things were the size of people and wore saddles with claws and sharp teeth.

"I do, also those birds are called striders. They are faster than horses, and can fight, but cost more money."

Upon entering the farm, the sight of a lone man greeted them. His attire comprised an apron adorned with animal fur and feathers, and he wore leather boots.

"Greetings, are you expecting to travel outside the village?" Mabel's husband inquired while grooming the beak of a gigantic bird that squatted down so he could clean its face.

"Yes." Leonhardt nodded. "Can we get a carriage? To the Munat mountains?"

This question had apparently made him unbalanced.

His eyes flickered between the two, studying them with growing curiosity. Finally, he rested on Leon's unique eye colour, recognising them as something out of the ordinary.

"Well, you don't seem weak… that place is dangerous, and my wife seemed happy speaking with you. I've got a carriage coming tomorrow, delayed because of some adventurers who requested to upgrade it to a caravan."

'A caravan?'

The kind old man smirked, picking a bit of food from the beak of the bird, which started thrashing happily.

"You see, the journey will take a week, so many merchants and others would prefer to band together as one unit with multiple guards.

This means the people who own the carriages have to think of profit for all the merchants.

"Well, though it will be cheaper for you, those people seemed rough."

'Since I met with Erina and the other women, I've met quite a few good people.'

With a grateful expression, Erina clasped his hands, and nodded enthusiastically towards Mabel's spouse.

"Thank you for being so helpful."

"My pleasure… a beauty like you doesn't need to worry—your companion seems very capable," the carriage trader stated, wiggling his brows at Leonhardt.

Leonhardt glanced around awkwardly, trying hard to ignore the situation.

"Well, it's a fact she's gorgeous. I'll take care of the fee."

"Of course! For a private cabin and storage, along with four spots in a standard carriage pulled by two striders, and equipped with emergency runes, the total comes to twenty silvers."

"Good, that means all four seats are for us, right?" Leonhardt wanted to make sure he wasn't confused.

"Yup!" The elderly gentleman confirmed while nodding earnestly.

[Deducted: 20 silvers]

[Remaining: 01g 35s 55c]

After paying the required fee and arranging transportation, the duo headed back to the sleepy kobold, but Erina kept gazing at Leonhardt, her eyes curious and burning with questions.

"So…" she began hesitantly. "You can just throw money around like this without worrying about anything?"

"That's where you're mistaken!" He paused briefly, turning his gaze towards the tavern entrance. He checked inside the building and noticed Asuka and Sylvie lingering at the bar.

As they made their way inside, he leaned near Erina's ear to whisper, taking the opportunity to clarify. "I am not throwing money around—I'm spending it on necessities."

His warm breath tickled her neck, and a faint flush dusted her cheeks, prompting an amused chuckle from him.

"Oh I see…" She mumbled, her cheeks flushing deeper red, while Asuka called out to Leon from the distance.

"Oi, Leon, let's eat together."

The moment Asuka called them over, a buzz echoed in his mind when walking towards the corner seat the two chose.

He tried to focus on the noise, like the sound of static.

[Leonhardt, can you hear me?]

'Zafira?'

[Ah! It worked. Ifrit wouldn't help me and so it took a while…]

He spoke with Zafira using the dungeon's link, yet something about Zafira's voice felt… off. It was slightly distant or a little forced.

'Are you alright?'

Her response came after a slight pause.

[◊ Yes, Master. Everything is… fine. ◊]

A small frown tugged at the edge of his lips, but he let it slide. The two spoke about the eastern dungeon that needed him to eradicate.

"Let's use the eastern dungeon to train the weaker goblins and rabbits. If we quickly destroy it, we will lose an easy way to grow stronger."

[◊ Understood! ◊]

'I promise to come and finish it after this mission.'

Before he could hear her response, the link became choppy and abruptly cut off.

'Zafira?'

A low hum of discontent rumbled from his throat.

[It's fine, don't be so upset. The connection is weak because she is currently fighting those lizards.]

[Don't dwell on it!]

Ifrit offered her assurance, but Leonhardt still couldn't be at ease.

Instead, he focused on the meal, and noticed the girls started ordering without him. Asuka held four mugs of the new ale he helped create.

Leonhardt exhaled slowly through his nose and cracked his neck. "Forget it. We've got a journey tomorrow. There's no point in overthinking everything."

"We ordered our usual, do you mind?" Erina asked, while sitting beside him.

"I'll eat anything."

'Not like I need to eat anyway…'

Sylvie sat opposite Leonhardt. Normally refined and well-behaved, she looked strange now, gulping down the Papillon wine with a red face. "This tastes so delicious. We should enjoy it before leaving!"

Erina gave a nervous nod to the elf before lifting her drink and taking a sip.

The meal passed quickly. Meat, potatoes, pasta and various soups devoured. The girls all ate different dishes, but Leonhardt enjoyed himself, while soon things began changing.

Sylvie and Erina's faces became red, and their words slurred. Erina blinked, moving her head sluggishly as she wobbled from her seat and grasped Sylvie's hand.

"Alright, we're heading off," Erina mumbled, steadying Sylvie before staggering towards the stairs.

Julian watched them go, shaking his head with a smirk. "Will they be hungover tomorrow?"

Asuka stretched, leaning back in her chair. "Hah! Serves those idiots right, drinking this stuff like juice, well… I guess that just leaves me and you, huh?"

Julian poured another drink, handing Asuka a glass. "I guess so. Shall we have a bet?"

Several hours later, in the dark of night…

Sylvie yawned, climbing out of bed because of a strange sound.

She stumbled to the door and found Erina who knelt against the wooden door with her ear placed against the cold surface with a bright red face.

Though the night air was cool against her fair skin, the effect of Papillon still affected her actions. She knelt beside Erina and noticed a noise that caught her attention.

A long, drawn-out moan echoed at night followed by the constant creaking of a wooden bed, straining under the intense movement.

Erina's half-closed eyes fluttered as she blinked at Sylvie. "Is that…?"

Sylvie's long ears twitched.

Another sound followed: a man's grunting, raspy female breaths, and finally, the woman's low voice raised in pitch before being muffled against something.

The two girls became frozen.

Before quickly rushing to their beds, overwhelmed with excitement.