Chapter Seventy Eight: A Guest

What is strength? Is it the ability to defeat opponents? The ability to have confidence in oneself or the ability to rule?
If it were left up to me, I think strength is the ability to protect. It doesn’t matter how powerful you are if you cant protect yourself and the people you care about.
When it comes to strength, most people in this world would consider me a hero for fighting in the higher levels of the dungeon all by myself. In that regards, I’m strong. But when it comes down to it, I’m the weakest person in the world. I cant fight or defend myself when the time calls for it. How can I call myself strong when I cant even save one single person?
One thing I have realised is that my body has been reinforced and strengthened more than anybody else. An attack that would damage Seventy percent of a hero's XP barely damages twenty percent of mine. That alone explains how I was able to solo the dungeon all this time. 
Moving on. If this were a game then I have acquired a new title after defeating the king. I’m now the new king of undead. I can summon undead however I please. The only fallback is that only the green armored ones appear. I should be able to summon strong ones as I get stronger.
My days have been filled with nothing but fights. Just the other day, I defeated the invisible lancer and now I’ve taken out the king. My opponents in the dungeon are getting stronger and more dangerous. I had a hard time fighting the lancer but the king was something else.
Despite the intensity of my fight with the king, it seemed like it ended faster than I imagined it did. It was 3o’clock when I left the dungeon.
I didn’t carry any loots with me. The dropped stone, sword, rings and cape were all absorbed. However, the two rings appeared in my left hand. The blue ring which is supposed to be for barrier creation was on my index finger and the blue ring for the death cage was on my middle finger. I cant seem to take them off. The cape also reappeared after I absorbed it. It placed itself on my shoulders attaching to my gear.
The size had been reduced to fit me perfectly. Despite that, the gazes on me where somewhat painful.I cant imagine how it would feel to see an adventurer wearing a monster’s cape. The people can tell it belongs to a monster because of the magic coming from it. Most adventurers never make it to the 30th floor so it’s impossible to know who it belongs to.
The good thing is that it’s only a matter of time before my energy signature takes over the cape. The demon lord’s cape is much stronger in comparison. It will be like child’s play. I just have to get away from people before they start attacking me.
Some of their faces I know all too well. I’ve been meeting a lot of adventurers on the staircase that I can recognize them anywhere.
Duddul was excited to see me come out early. The adventurers have all gotten used to seeing him on the staircase now.
We sped back home without a second to waste. It has been a while since I returned home in the afternoon. I move onto the next floor immediately after clearing the current one. And when I do leave early, I always go to Lust to have a love conversation. I’m sure Meila will be surprised.
“I’m home!” entering through the front door, I energetically greeted.
It’s always empty passing through the corridor to the living room. But most of the time, Meila is there waiting for me.
“W-Welcome back………… It has been a while hasn’t it? Have you been doing well?”
The first thing I noticed were two amazingly big pair of breasts each bigger than my head. The owner was dressed in gray silk like long sleeve shirt and a black skirt covering her knees. She wore black high heels and knee socks. With her short hair and the calming smile on her face, she gives off the ‘older sister’ vibe.
“Etis…………..!? it’s really you!”  
Surprised by her sudden visit, I found myself leaping towards her with my arms open. I hugged her planting my head in her breasts.
Aah! I remember this feeling~!
“I thought I should drop by to see how you are doing. The shopkeeper told me where to find you.”
“Un! You thought well. I’m so happy to see you!” 
Ignoring the fact that she may not like it, I left my head on her chest with my hands wrapped around her back.
“Hey! Get away from our guest!” 
Meila appeared and pulled my cape back. She was in the room before I arrived. I just didn’t see her.
It was the first time she yelled at me ever since we decided to stop fighting with each other. Did it look rude hugging her like that?
“That’s right! You are our first guest ever! Please make yourself at home!” I was so excited to see her that I kept raising my voice.
Meila had already brought her drinks and food. We sat across each other in the living room and talked about our time apart.
Apparently, the grandpa who adopted her sent her to the capital on an errand. To return a few books he borrowed to some old men in the eastern side of the sacred land. She also needs to go shopping while she’s here. And since it’s her first time in the capital, she wanted to tour the city before going back.
When she said that she was given a week to rest, I immediately offered “Why don’t you stay here with us then? You don’t have to go back soon right?”
“But…………” she hesitated.
“Pretty please~? I don’t know the capital all too well myself, but we can tour together.”
She agreed after I pressed her for a bit.
“I think I deserve a rest myself. I’ve been fighting monsters non stop.”
“I can see that. You look scary wearing all black like that.”
“I know right? He always scares me when he returns at night.” Meila joined in as well.
Less than a week ago, Wrok came to the capital. We met at the dungeon. Figlo told him that he can find me there almost everyday. That was when I told him where I lived and the things that have been happening so far. 
Now I’m glad I told him. He was able to guide Etis here.
So how do you even entertain guests in this world? Serving them food and drinks is common knowledge everywhere. Aside from that, what else is there? It’s not like there is a TV here.
It was already dusk before I knew it. This time around, I wanted to let Meila rest a little so I offered to make dinner. She said she wasn’t tired but I insisted.
I was left alone with Etis after Meila went into the bath. The pancakes we ate this morning turned out really good. I should try my best so that Meila wont get ahead of me when it comes to cooking.
“Hmm~~? so you can cook?” Etis dropped by the kitchen.
“It’s not like I’m any good at it, I just throw in anything I find tasty.”
“.…… I used to be like that when I was small. I cooked for everyone back then at the orphanage. That experience helped me a lot when grandpa took me in. Now I make my own recipes in the diner.”
“Is that so? I should have you teach me a few things. The food in this world is of so many variety I don’t know where to start.”
“Then let’s cook one of my favorites. Do you have the ingredients?” 
Showing her the location of the ingredients, she commented on the good quality ingredients we bought.
She apparently brought us a souvenir of a big thorny fish. Its bones are supposed to be good for our bones. She also brought a lot of fruits and bread. Seeing those fruits reminded me of the time I met Leila. She threw the same type of fruits at me.
I don’t speak out loud concerning Leila now a days. Meila was pretty hurt when she ran away from us back then. I was too but I can somehow understand her circumstances. Leila is never the type to run away from friends. I mean come on. She stuck with me when I was nobody.
Somehow, I’m certain that the bastard noble is behind all of this. He must have threatened her one way or the other to stay away from us.
That will change really soon. I don’t know how myself, but I get the feeling that things are about to get serious. I’ll no longer just sit idly by and wait for her to return. I did try before but failed. This time around I’ll use all the tricks I have. I’ll even avoid fighting them directly if I can.
The only time I ever felt truly strong in front of the races was when I took Meila’s deception ability. I was able to deceive anyone I wanted. Since then, I’ve been completely powerless against them despite having gotten really strong.
The fish Etis and I cooked was delicious. It was the tastiest fish I ate since coming to this world. The bones were easy to chew and the broth was thick and full of ingredients. A heap serving of egg coated rice went around with plenty to keep for breakfast. She also prepared some snacks.
The good thing about all of it is that she looked happy making dinner for us even though she is the guest.
After the dinner, it was Etis’ turn to use the bath. I hope she doesn’t get freaked out by how big it is. She did ask how we were able to stay in this house. I told her that we are looking after it until the owners return. I’m sure she wont make a fuss even if she knew the truth, but it was better to leave it at that.
While she bathed, Meila and I talked about the sleeping arrangements. There are enough rooms in the house to take care of that problem, but I suggested she sleeps in the same room as Meila. She might feel more comfortable that way rather than sleeping all alone in a big house.
Meila acted cheerful all the while since Etis arrived. I wonder if she’s forcing herself to act like that. She does know Etis since she’s been visiting the inn when I was there, but it’s not like there is anything special between the two of them.
I’m glad she treated her kindly. Etis was the kindest to me after Leila and Milta. All the people who have been nice to me seem to have been girls. There are also males like Wrok and Figlo, but my encounter with girls has been the norm. Maybe I’m starting to get popular?
Not that I really need to become popular. My heart already belongs to one person. I think about her even when I fight monsters. If it wasn’t for Meila’s sake, I would have went straight to her place after coming out early from the dungeon.
The sleeping arrangements were decided and it was my turn to take a bath after when Etis came out. Bathing after two girls is kinda lewd. That is what I would have thought a few weeks ago. Now I don’t really think of it as anything special worth making a fuss or getting excited over.
“Sigh………!” it’s nice to bathe like this after battling all day. The warm water feels like it was made just to ease my body.
After my bath, I dressed up in my pajamas and went to bird early. I always end up very sleepy whenever I revive.
I could hear the girls giggling from their room. It’s been a long time since Meila has had anyone to talk to so I’m sure they’ll talk a lot. Meanwhile, I fell asleep without realizing it. Somehow, it felt kinda strange sleeping alone after all this time. Meila always came uninvited but I never stopped her from sleeping in my bed.
I wonder how lively this house will become if Leila were to return to us. 
Maybe from all the tiredness; I don’t remember having any dreams that night. It was already the afternoon when I woke up. The girls had their breakfast a long time ago and they were preparing dinner. 
Meila and Etis seem to have gotten closer overnight. They cooked together cheerfully like normal friends.
I ate my bread together with egg and milk then waited for them to finish cooking lunch. I promised to accompany Etis to do what she came here for.
To tell the truth, I had plans of my own for today. I was going to visit Lust today since I didn’t go yesterday. She’s like a lifeless doll when I don’t visit her.
Etis took a bath after lunch to get ready. I also changed my clothes. I didn’t take a bath because I had one just last night. And I didn’t do anything that would make me sweaty. 
Since I wasn’t going to the dungeon or anywhere dangerous, I changed into the new clothes I bought for myself. It was while I was coming back from a dungeon that I met a man who sales clothes at a store. He said he would give me a bargain so I ended up buying quiet a few. 
The ones I wore for this occasion were brown colored. The shirt reaches the middle of my thighs with good designs were as the pants are plain. They were clothes for commoners. I bought them for that reason alone.
Even though I’m in the capital, I don’t necessarily have to wear fashionable clothes just to blend in with the people. In terms of the hierarchy of this world, I don’t really belong anywhere. That status is gotten from birth and I wasn’t born in this world.
Etis wore a white frilly dress, white knee socks, white shoes and a white ear pin to hold her short hair.
The books she’s supposed to return were in a Dauka so there was no need for her to hold anything. However, she still wore a white hand bag on her shoulder. She looked like a princess.
Seeing the way she was dressed, a thought crossed my mind “Are you meeting someone? A boyfriend perhaps?”
“Ah………..” the reaction she gave was a bit complicated. She looked as though I already knew why she was dressed like that.