Chương 178: Chapter 161. Journey To The Forest

It's been 4 weeks since our trip began. The journey has actually been pretty smooth sailing so far. The road construction was hard for the first 2 weeks. The drain on my mana was insane. If it wasn't for Sarah and Anna sharing their mana with me, this journey would've taken 4 times as long as it already has.

After the 2nd week however, things changed, I found the process of bringing Gil out and letting him use his Magic becoming smoother and smoother, what took around 10 refills of my mana, now, has been cut down to 5. Gil says the strain is lessening because my body is growing used to it. Also, it seems my mana has grown by accident. I noticed when it took me 4 uses of the Magic to require a refill of my mana. I was making longer and longer stretches of road without any noticeable change.

Had I tried making the same length at the start, I would've passed out from Mana Exhaustion." Have you finished looking around?" Sarah calls out to me as I'm in the middle of the road at night. This has become a force of habit recently with Gil. He reminded me that he can search the ground for metals and gems. He can also bring it to the surface as long as I have the mana to do so. These past few days I have been able to. The bounty of it has been great.

It was especially notable during the first night" This is Mithril!" Anna and Xaba exclaimed the first night as they looked at the haul Gil and I had gotten. Xaba was one of the guards who was chosen to accompany us. She was a dark, yellow-skinned Demon with 4 bright-green eyes and long, flowing light-green hair. She knew a few things about precious metals and gems as it was her hobby apparently. While Anna and Xaba looked over the spoils, I had Gil hang onto some special ores I found." Are you sure, Matt?"

I nodded to Gil's words. I asked him if he could hold onto 3 gems the size of Human heads that were found the 3rd night we went digging. Along with that, I asked him to hang onto some of the Mithril that was found. The reason I wanted to keep them a secret is because of the colors of the gems. 1 was a dark-purple gem that you couldn't look through. The 2nd was a dark-green gem and the 3 was a pale-blue that you could see through like water. I thought up a very special idea with them.

The Mithril was needed for something related to the gems. I just hope the ones I'm doing this for will like my present." Darling! Look! This is Orichalcum! It's one of the densest metals in all of Gaia!"" And this is Spider Crystal! It's made from special fluids from a Rank A Spider! It goes for a pretty penny!" Anna and Xaba were enjoying the fruits of my little treasure hunt from tonight, while Sarah watched over them while sipping so warm tea.

She actually pulled the cup out of her Mana Storage before I went off to see what was in the ground. Sarah's Mana Storage has... Well... Become a storage for all of the metals and gems I've been finding. She says it's fine. Since her Mana Storage capacity is equivalent to one of the Royal Treasuries, but she's also holding all of the rations for our 10-man crew, including food, tents, water and even medical supplies and extra weapons.

Add on to that, all of her own personal belongings and I'm just hoping I'm not over burdening her." I apologize for my colleague's behavior, Sir."" It's no problem at all, Ned. I prefer if everyone was more like Xaba. This is a 6-week trip, there's no need to be so formal unless outsiders show up. At least, that's my opinion on the subject."" There are some things we can and can't do, Sir."" I won't command you to, but if you ever wish to relax, feel free to.

You and your colleagues have done great work for us these past 4 weeks. I'll make sure you guys get a gem or metal of your liking as a reward for your good work." Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings." Even the Mithril, Sir?"" As long as my Wives don't wish to keep it, I see no reason why not."" But, don't you want to sell it and make a profit yourself?"" Have you tried the ice cream I made yet, Ned?""

Yes sir, it's delicious, My Daughter asks for it every time My Wife and I go shopping." I smile at Ned's words. It seems even with him saying all of that, he doesn't understand why I'm not so stingy with something like Mithril. I guess I can spell it out for him." It's that exact attitude from your daughter, that I know I don't need to be stingy. If a good kid wants something to eat, good parents have no real reason not to buy it. Assuming it's in moderation of course.

Ice cream, and the associated products, will make me, Paradise and its citizens more money than we'll know what to do with. Some Mithril right now isn't going to hurt me. Especially if I'm giving it as a reward for good service, Ned." Ned seemed to finally understand why I didn't find it to be such a big deal. I was glad that it only took a few words for him to understand.

Eventually, Anna and Xaba finished their inspection of metals and gems, and Sarah placed them in her storage as Anna made notes about Sarah's current inventory. The time passed and soon, it became bedtime. I entered the quite spacious carriage to find both of my Wives casting a basic Lifestyle Magic on themselves. It was a Spell called "Wash", it was a Spell made by Aqua, which she passed down to Sarah and Anna during their bridal training last year.

So far, Sarah and Anna have been casting this on the 3 female guards. It was a show of solidarity as the women of the group. Or, as Sarah put it." No Proper Woman of Diablos should sacrifice personal care for the sword. A Woman of Diablos should be able to do both, flawlessly!" The women guards, consisting of Xaba, Sam and Tasha, agreed with their Princess on the matter. So, before bed, they cast Wash Magic on the female guards before entering the carriage for the night and cleaning themselves.

Again, Sarah had thoughts on the subject." As Nobles, we must serve our people first, before ourselves." It was a strange code to be sure, but at the end of the day, I did Marry strange women. As I thought about my Wives and their quirks, Sarah walked up to me." Good evening, My Love. It's almost like you've sneaked into the bath as we were using it. Unfortunately, Wash is usable with clothes on." poke... poke... Sarah poked my cheek as she wore a teasing smile. Her eyes lit up after a second.

Seems she's had an idea? I listen and wait for her to begin to speak her thoughts." Having said that, if you'd like to undress... Don't mind us." press... slide... Sarah took her finger oh so gently and she worked it down from my cheek to my chest. She began to breathe somewhat heavily before I responded to her." As much as I'd like to, if we do that kind of thing now, I won't be able to stop myself."" And why is that a bad thing exactly?"" Because I don't want anyone else to hear you both when we make love."

I spoke my honest feelings. I could feel my cheeks heating up, as well as my desire for my Wives as they both blushed at my words. Sarah began to blink quickly as it seems she didn't know what to do." Wash!" clean! Anna cast Wash on me as Sarah seemed to reboot from factory settings. I felt as if I had just finished taking a shower after the Spell had finished it's job. Anna began to speak to us as I took a breath to calm down."

I know it's been hard for the past 4 weeks, but it'll only be another 2 before we get there. We need to hold ourselves together until this is over."" Yes, Ma'am!" I saluted Anna after she finished speaking. I then sat down on one of the seats in the carriage. The dark-blue carriage was a spacious vehicle. I was a little over 6 ft 1" now, and I could stand upright without bending down. Sarah and Anna, who had about a head and half on me in height, however, had to slightly bend down while in the carriage.

At the request of Sarah and Anna when the carriage was being built, the size of the carriage made it possible for us all to lie down on the floor and sleep together. We've been spending our nights like that since the journey started. Though a problem has begun to pop up since around the 3rd week. Quite simply, all 3 of us are backed up. We can control ourselves well when we're awake, but as we sleep... Well, let's just say our bodies are honest about how much they "miss" each other." My Love, it's time to sleep.

Come to bed." While I was thinking about a few things, Sarah and Anna got the bedding ready for us. We changed into our pajamas and began the same situation I was just thinking about. They both kiss my cheek and fail to realize that they're waking the beast. I try to think relaxing thoughts as I try to survive the night. Before I fall asleep, I can't help but wonder if I really will make it all 6 weeks. Or will I cave and ask Angela if Paladins have access to sound-proof Barrier Magic?