Fifth Member Part 1

The next morning, in the lodging's dining hall.

[Well, well, well. Aren't you a good witch.] 

The fairy spoke cheerfully as I presented her with five vials of intermediate health potions.

I managed to finish creating them before daybreak.

"I'll make more as soon as I have more ingredients. But let master know we now have these in our supply."

I told her.

[Alright, I'll store them right away. By the way, is there anything that you want?]

The fairy asked suddenly.

"What I want?"

[Yes. A small reward that you desire. Master would like to gift you something nice since you've been working so hard.]

A small reward.

I supposed master was paying attention to my effort.

"In that case, I want desserts."

[Desserts? What kind? Just name it.]

"I remembered enjoying a collection of chocolate and vanilla desserts from Manis Sweetshop, a bakery in the imperial capital. I've been craving for them for a while now."

The fairy nodded to my request.

[Alright, hold on.]

She vanished with the health potions.

A few seconds later, dozens of biscuits, cookies, cakes, shortbreads, and pies were laid out on the table in front of me.

As I mentioned earlier, they were all the desserts I had back in Dunia.

[These are what you want, right?]

The fairy reappeared.

"Incredible! How did master get all of these? I'm sure the bakery has been destroyed when I got here."

[It's possible with master's power. Anyway, just say what you want next time and master will get it for you. Remember, it's only limited to small gifts.]

Right at that moment, Jonah, Shanny, and Trudy walked in. They just finished their before-dawn training session.

"Whoa! Did Giacomo and Linnie make all these?"

Trudy asked as she looked at the desserts.

"No. Master gifted these to me. To me."

I told them while intercepting Trudy's and Shanny's hands from reaching the sweets. They were for me, after all.

"Master did? Really?"

Shanny stated with a frown as she pulled herself away. She was doubtful.

[Of course master did! Anyway, you and the shepherd can ask for small gifts too. It's a reward for clearing the fifth floor.]

The fairy told Shanny.

"A small gift? I can ask for anything?"

She asked.

[Geez, you really are slow. I said 'anything!']

"In that case, can master get me one of those fluffy dresses that noble girls wear? I've always been wanting to wear one."

In an instant, a beautiful crimson dress emerged out of thin air and fell gently onto Shanny's arms.

"W-wha…"

Shanny mumbled as she stared at the dress. Her eyes were almost bulging out of their sockets in disbelief.

"T-Trudy! Help me put this on! I want to wear it for breakfast!"

She shouted as she pulled poor Trudy to her bedroom.

With that, Jonah was the only one left who had not make a wish.

"Um, would it be okay to ask for a book?"

He asked the fairy.

[What book?]

"When a wandering merchant came to my village, I remembered seeing a book in his wagon. I don't exactly remember the title. But it's about this adventurer, Sulam, who travelled all over the continent and made a record of every place he visited. I couldn't buy it at the time because it was too expensive."

Like with Shanny's, a thick old book suddenly appeared on Jonah's hands.

[Alright, that's it for the rewards. Keep working hard so master will gift you more things. But the witch can ask for anything anytime though.]

The fairy said before disappearing.

Curious with what he asked for, I walked up to Jonah and read the title on his book.

'The Odyssey of Sulam: The Wonders of Dunia.'

So was the title written.

"A geography book?"

I asked Jonah.

"Haha, yes. I've been staying in my village all my life. But I've always wanted to see the world."

He explained.

"Is that so? Then why didn't you tell me? I know a lot about the continent. I have even visited every major city, even as far as to the east and the desert."

Jonah immediately put his hands on my shoulders, almost close to an embrace, filling me with his warmth. 

"You have?! That's incredible!"

His glorious blond hair and cool green eyes adorning his handsome face were so close to me that I almost could not help but blush. Almost.

"Of course. My stories and knowledge would serve as much better learning medium than this text of a dead man. If you want, I could tell you all I know about the continent, and even beyond it."

"You would?!"

I stepped closer and neared my face to his. Our lips almost brushed against each other.

"Just come to my room every midnight and we can chatter all there is to Dunia to your heart's content."

Jonah suddenly shivered. His face started to stiffened.

"Y-your room?! W-why do we have to d-do it th-there?"

"Well I can only do it during my free time, which is after all my work is done, which puts it during my bedtime. And I also prefer to share my travel experience while I'm wearing something comfortable. Like my nightgown, perhaps. Maybe something less."

"N-n-n-night…g-g-g-gown….L-l-less?!"

"And once grapes are available in the Weekday Dungeons, we should do this nightly session over some fine wine. You never know what will pass my lips under the influence of a good beverage. We could probably stray off from the topic and ended up engaging in something more...pleasant."

Jonah quickly pulled himself away from me. His handsome face was red as beet.

I doubted he had encountered this kind of wolf before.

"T-the book would be fine! Thanks for the offer, Serafina!"

He said before rushing out.

I chuckled upon his swift escape.

"Two can play at this game, shepherd."

I whispered with a sly smile.

Right at that moment, a light from the square peered through the dining hall's window.

I looked over and found master summoning more people from the summoning chamber on the first floor square.

People in commoners clothing strolled out from the chamber.

Most unarmed. 1-stars.

Only one man was carrying a spear upon arrival. No breastplate or any such armor on him. Take away the spear and he would look like the rest. A 2-star.

It was then that I decided to confirm something.

"Warden."

[Yes, what is it?]

The fairy appeared upon my call.

I pointed to the summoning chamber on the square of the lobby's second floor.

"What's the difference between the summoning chambers on the first and the second floor?"

I asked her.

[The one on the first floor only summons lowlifes. 1-star and 2-star heroes.]

"Then the other one summons 3-star and above?"

[Yes. It performs advanced summons. You should be excited if the summoning chamber on the second floor starts to glow up. It means strong people are bound to arrive.]