Let’s Play Minecraft in a World of Swords and Spells
Volume 6 Chapter 2: Miss Elf, First Kiss Tastes Like Beef

(Walson)

An underground capital!?

They built their capital city underground!? What kind of hundred years long super project that they have undergone to accomplish such a thing!?

"Still, to think it would take a few days just to travel through the tunnel— Just how massive is their capital!?” I exaggeratedly gestured, trying to express my astonishment.

Right now, we are in one of the old rooms of an unnamed inn in Gorge Pass Town.

Derisha and Melon sat on the edge of the bed, looking at me with puzzled eyes.

After parting ways with Chuck, I began the final preparations for departure as instructed by Chuck. I also took this opportunity to inform my companions— of course, I couldn't help but inject some of my personal opinions.

"Aren't you all surprised— about a steam city built underground?" I couldn't help but feel a bit embarrassed, as Derisha and Melon showed no reaction to what I was saying.

An underground city! A city filled with dwarf technology! A city that has never been open to other races!

Don't you feel excited? Isn't stuff like steamships and iron giants the kind of things that come to mind when talking about steampunk?

"Well, a little bit, but it's just out of curiosity about the city structure," Derisha scratched her head, "As for the city technology, we still think the things that you made are more impressive.”

"Yeah, Miss Derisha," Melon nodded, "After being with the master for so long, many things don't seem that surprising anymore."

Huh!? Is it my fault—!?

"...Oh well, I called you here because there's something I want to give you." I shrugged helplessly and took out a set of armor from my inventory.

Yes, armor. This is something I managed to finish during these few days of rushing on the road, during idle moments in the car.

So, first is Melon's equipment.

Melon's original [Black Iron] chainmail was severely damaged in the Flame Labyrinth— Yeah, at first, I thought making stuff using [Black Iron] as its material was a great idea,  but it doesn't seem so ideal now.

It’s not that the armor made by using [Black Iron] is weak, it’s just that opponent that we are facing is just too OP, so I need to upgrade our armor to keep up.

Since Melon was already completely used to the bodysuit-style equipment, I didn't change the design much. Instead, I replaced the composition of the chainmail with obsidian, which is lighter and harder.

As for the dragon soul part, I used [Orichalcum Steel] and the remaining [Ground Dragon Reverse Scale] to make a new breastplate. Overall, Melon's new armor looks similar to the original, but the color of the whole set is different now.

As for the enchantment part, I won't go into details, but in short, I attached things like [Protection] [Fire Protection], and [Blast Protection]— especially [Blast Protection]. I feel like there have been a lot of explosions in recent battles, so I strengthened that aspect in particular.

"This is for Melon, and now for Derisha's part." I said, taking out another set from my inventory.

"Huh!? Do I get one too!?" Derisha pointed at herself.

"Of course, I'm scared just watching you prance around in that outfit," I said.

Whether in everyday life or in battle, Derisha always wore a combination of an old coat and hot pants. My goodness! This provides absolutely no defense!

Back when Derisha and I were adventuring together in the Water Labyrinth, I did want to give her armor, but she herself said she didn't want anything that would hinder her movements. That's also why I never made armor for her later on, but now she's at least... um, my fiancée, I can't let her be exposed to such risks— I really failed as a man before, letting Derisha run around like that for so long.

So! I adopted a design similar to Melon's, using countless small obsidian pieces combined with [Orichalcum Steel] to make a fine chainmail, then interweaving them into a chainmail shirt, resembling a T-shirt style, so Derisha can wear it underneath her coat.

As for the appearance, I chose a streamlined design with a waistline, definitely not because I wanted to look at Derisha's chest!

"Thank you very much, Master," Melon's cheeks flushed as she hugged the new bodysuit and blinked at me.

"Thank you so much! We love you the most!" Derisha, on the other hand, happily pounced on me, her two fluffy things directly filling my field of vision. I could only tell from the reversed gravity that I had been knocked down—!

Ooooooooooooh! No, I can't inhale too forcefully, I have to hold it back—!

...

...

In the end, I watched Derisha being happily pulled out by Melon, leaving me alone in the room— Well, due to how strong she is, only Melon's can match her, so I don't feel regretful at all! Really, I don't!

With the upgrades to the equipment for Barella, Melon, and Derisha, it feels like the whole team has entered a new technological era since getting [Obsidian]. As for Grace, her original robe was just a leather trench coat. I'm still thinking about how to match it with [Obsidian].

Upgrading the armor was necessary, after all, [Obsidian] is such a great material! It's lighter than [Orichalcum Steel] and has similar hardness, making it the ideal material for making equipment.

"Um— Walson? You're still awake, right?" A knocking sound came from the wooden door, it was Barella's voice.

"Of course, I'm still awake, um— what's up?" I opened the door and looked at Barella outside.

Barella outside was wearing ordinary adventurer attire for disguise, but I could still tell from her slightly damp wavy curls and the faint scent of her hair that she had just taken a bath.

"Well... I got some late-night snacks, and I want to share?" Barella hesitated for a moment when she saw me, her cheeks slightly blushing. It seemed like she suddenly remembered her purpose, and she took out two small paper bags from behind her.

Her reaction made me feel a bit uncomfortable. During this time, um, since the time where we left the Flame Labyrinth, I haven't had a chance to talk properly with Barella... She doesn't seem to want to bring it up either, just interacting with me as usual. If it weren't for the fact that I really have an extra bracelet on my left hand, I might have doubted whether I was dreaming.

"Come in, it's quite cold outside." Though embarrassed, I still maintained the attitude a gentleman should have.

After entering the room, the slightly awkward atmosphere didn't last long.

The two of them sat on the only piece of furniture in the room — the small bed I had placed — and started eating the late-night snacks from the small paper bags. With two jugs of fruit wine, the conversation quickly started.

"Yeah, the underground city! It's so amazing and cool! But they didn't react much," I told Barella about Melon and Derisha's reactions just now, feeling a bit depressed.

"Ha, I can understand Melon's thoughts," Barella laughed, "After all, she's been with you for eight years."

"I'm not complaining— it's just that the capital of the Dwarven Empire is built underground and all— Oh, speaking of which, can I ask you a question?" I said.

"Hmm?"

"What is your hometown like?" I asked.

Actually, I've wanted to ask this question for a long time, but I was afraid it would reopen her wounds, so I never asked.

But now, I want to understand Barrel more.

"...It's a place with the most beautiful sunset," As she said so, there was a complex emotion flashing in Barella's eyes, all of which I noticed.

Did I accidentally mess up?

"Well, let's not talk about that. Do you like this food?" She changed the subject, pointing to the small paper bag containing the late-night snack.

"I quite like it. Did you make it yourself?" I quickly opened the paper bag and took a big bite to show my appreciation. The sweet meat juice burst in my mouth and flowed.

Oooooohhh, this— this is—!!

"I took it out from the inventory, cooked it in the furnace. I put some extra effort into the seasoning this time. How is it? Still like it?" Barella blinked her bright eyes and asked earnestly.

"Mmm, it's really delicious." My mouth was full of food, so my words were a bit muffled. "Indescribably delicious."

In the small paper bag was a small piece of roasted fillet, perfectly crispy on the outside, sprinkled with colorful spicy seasoning on top, with a fragrant aroma and rich meaty flavor, making one's appetite soar.

I have to say, Barella's cooking skills are really amazing!

Well, she's intelligent, cheerful, easy to get along with, friendly, beautiful, with a great figure, and she cooks well— She's charming in every aspect. How could that elf prince have exiled such a sweet girl?

Humph, this roasted fillet is so delicious, it belongs to me, and only I can eat it.

"Don't eat so fast, no one's going to snatch it from you," Barella said with a smile. "Look, you've got sauce on the corners of your mouth."

As she said this, she reached out and touched my cheek. At that moment, the atmosphere changed.

Huh? When did the two of us get so close?

"Hey, Walson."

"Uh, yeah?" I swallowed the beef in my mouth.

"Well... actually, today... I want you to give me an answer," she said gently.

Outside the window, the bright moonlight shone on her delicate face.

There was a thin layer of moisture in her azure eyes, her jade fingers trembling gently as they touched my cheek. She seemed to be holding back something, as if she could burst into tears at any moment.

"If... if you really don't like me... you can reject me now—"

"—No, it's not like that."

Before she could finish her sentence, I interrupted her.

Almost instinctively, I reached out to wipe the tears from her face.

I didn't want to see her cry, I— I wanted to protect her smile.

It was then that I realized that over these past few days, I had already thought of an answer in my heart. And now, very awkwardly, I blurted out that answer.

"Well— I— I actually…. also really like you..." I clumsily said the words that should have been said long ago, feeling my whole face burning, as if it could fry an egg in an instant.

Under the moonlight, the emeralds on the bracelets of the two of us reflected each other, and I noticed that her face was also completely red, blushing from her cheeks all the way to the elf's characteristic long pointed ears.

I don't know who started it, but both of us burst into laughter.

"You're eating so eagerly, your face is dirty and you can't even clean it off with your fingers," she lightly scraped my face with her fingertips and closed her eyes. "Looks like... I'll have to use another method."

...

...

...

"Grace told me that, when she first kissed you, it tasted sweet.” She opened her eyes and smiled. "But my first kiss tasted like beef."