The morning light bathed the extensive gardens of the mansion located in the heart of the Kingdom of Vailor, casting golden beams through the polished glass windows of the main office. Seated in the dark oak armchair, I kept my eyes fixed on the supply reports spread across the table, meticulously evaluating each line of calculations concerning our next expedition to the tower. Exactly one week had already passed since our triumphant return from the last expedition, a period we used to rest our bodies, align administrative matters, and adjust the smallest logistical details necessary for a journey that would demand much more of our stamina and endurance.
A long-term campaign on unknown floors does not tolerate room for carelessness, especially when the objective is to advance dozens of consecutive floors without frequently returning to the surface. Thinking about the amount of provisions, healing potions, drinking water, firewood, and maintenance equipment we would need to carry to sustain a group of nine people, counting myself, the girls, and Liriel's assistant, revealed a monumental logistical challenge. The conventional backpacks and even the reinforced chests we had previously used simply would not accommodate the necessary volume of cargo without compromising our mobility during combat.
I rose from the chair, walked to the window, and crossed my arms, watching the calm movement of the human capital outside. A leader's mind must always stay one step ahead of everyday problems. Understanding that physical strength and martial strategy alone do not guarantee survival in extreme environments was what had kept us alive until that moment. It was precisely for this reason that I decided to resort to a high-end commercial solution, although notoriously expensive.
"If we intend to stay away from the mansion for more than thirty days without risking shortages, we need cutting-edge arcane spatial storage technology," I pondered aloud, breaking the silence of the office as the door gently opened to reveal Liriel and Scarlet entering the room with light steps.
"Are you still worried about the weight of the provisions for the next ascent, Takumi?" Liriel asked, approaching with a tender smile on her lips while her blue eyes examined the scrolls arranged on the table. "I spoke with the girls earlier, and they all agree that we can ration basic consumption if absolutely necessary to avoid excessive weight."
"We won't have to endure any kind of unnecessary deprivation," I replied, turning to face them with a calm and determined expression. "Efficient planning eliminates avoidable suffering. That's why I made a firm decision yesterday afternoon and finalized the purchase of a top-tier magical spatial expansion device through a specialized merchant from the central guild."
Scarlet raised an eyebrow, displaying genuine curiosity as she elegantly leaned against the edge of the bookshelf.
"Devices of this level usually cost a true fortune in the capital, Takumi. I hope you didn't empty our private vault just to buy a decorated bag," she commented jokingly, although there was a gleam of anticipation in her eyes.
"It wasn't just a decorated bag," I retorted with an ironic smile, taking a few steps toward the safe built into the side wall of the office. I turned the security combination with precision and took out a compact-looking object made of synthetic dragon leather reinforced with silver runes sewn by hand. "It is a large-capacity dimensional stasis bag. The exact cost was fifty thousand gold coins."
Liriel's eyes widened slightly, surprised by the amount invested, while Scarlet let out a short laugh of pure astonishment.
"Fifty thousand gold coins for a single artifact?!" Scarlet exclaimed, approaching to inspect the small object more closely. "That's more than the annual income of many medium-sized guilds throughout the kingdom."
"The price is high because its usefulness is incomparable," I explained patiently, holding the bag carefully and demonstrating its practical function. "This device not only has an internal space equivalent to that of an entire cargo carriage, but it also paralyzes the temporal flow of the items deposited inside it. This means that any fresh meat, fruit, bread, or potion we put in here will never spoil, lose its heat, or oxidize. Everything will remain exactly in the same state as the moment it was stored, regardless of how many months we spend in there."
The revelation had an immediate impact on both of them, and they exchanged looks of deep approval. The concern over preserving perishable food during the long weeks in the depths of the tower had always been a delicate point in our previous strategies, and solving this bottleneck all at once represented an extraordinary tactical advantage.
"This completely changes our perspective on exploration," Liriel admitted, gently running her fingers over the bag's silver runes with evident respect for the magical engineering applied there. "With a resource like this, we will be able to focus one hundred percent on combat and finding the exits from the floors, without the constant anxiety of rationing basic supplies."
"Exactly," I confirmed, safely storing the artifact. "And to ensure that the investment is worth every penny, I have already sent the mansion's servants to buy the best cuts of meat, barrels of purified water, sacks of selected grains, and high-quality medical supplies to fill the inside of this bag today."
At that exact moment, the office door opened a little farther, allowing the remaining members of the squad to enter: Rai'kanna, Elara, Vespera, Lyannis, and Liriel's assistant, who brought additional reports on the equipment's maintenance condition and the progress of the alchemical potions that had been prepared during the week off.
"We came to check whether our fearless leader has already finished calculating all the calories we're going to consume in the tower, or if we still have time to order some special dishes from the mansion's cooks before we leave," Rai'kanna said with a broad and relaxed smile, crossing her arms casually.
"The calorie count has been successfully completed, and our logistics are now at a completely superior level," I announced, displaying the magic bag to all the newcomers. "I present to you our new guarantee that we will never go hungry or cold in the depths of the dungeon."
The group's reaction was immediate and warm. The girls gathered around the table, examining the artifact with curiosity and asking practical questions about the weight limit and the ease of access to the stored items. The atmosphere of camaraderie and enthusiasm that formed in the office dispelled any trace of boredom or monotony that might have remained from the days of rest in the capital.
As we talked about dividing the packing tasks, I allowed a serene reflection to take hold within me. The life we had built in that world was not made only of battlefield combat and fleeting glory before royalty; it was sustained by genuine bonds of affection, mutual trust, and the ability to transform complex challenges into shared achievements. Each companion present there represented an indispensable pillar of my own existence, and knowing that we could count on advanced resources to facilitate our march reinforced the certainty that we were prepared to face any obstacle.
"Very well, girls," I said in a firm yet welcoming tone, drawing everyone's attention to the final preparation guidelines. "From now on, we will begin organizing our personal equipment and fully loading the magic bag. Tomorrow morning we will conduct a brief final inspection of our outer lands and prepare for the farewell dinner. When we return to the tower, we will enter with full force toward the upper floors."
The girls nodded in perfect harmony, expressing an unshakable determination that reflected the rigorous training and maturity acquired over hundreds of battles won side by side, establishing the necessary pace for the continuation of the undertaking.