Chapter 10 - Chapter 10: It Was Really Cured
The first day as an adventurer seemed to go quite well.
Level 49 power is truly immense, as expected.
I took a video of capturing a rare monster alive and uploaded it to a video site, and it's going viral.
I want to raise my fame this way and make some money from videos too.
――On the second day, I went shopping outside the Special District and returned, only to find an old man being harassed by thugs in front of the dungeon.
I drove the thugs away.
When I heard the story――the old man apparently wanted the highest grade potion for his sick granddaughter.
It's unreasonable for someone of that decrepit age to become an adventurer, no matter what.
"Anyway, let's go meet the old man's granddaughter."
"Yes..."
"You have a smartphone, right?"
"I only have this..."
What he handed me was a battered, old model with a cracked screen.
It seems to be working somehow, but this was probably the result of searching for a cheap model due to lack of funds.
Anyway, you can't become an adventurer without a National Card and a smartphone.
You might be able to register, but payments are handled via smartphones linked to cards.
And the internet is essential to get dungeon information.
Besides, you can't do anything without a smartphone these days.
The government is also pushing for electronic money.
I heard he has no money either.
The world has stood still, and the pension system has almost collapsed.
It's a rather tough era for the elderly to survive in.
My desire to get a huge amount of money and FIRE is partly to secure funds for my old age.
I lent him 50,000 yen as immediate funds.
"I have no way to pay back such money..."
"It's fine. If your granddaughter gets well, I'll get it back from her someday."
"..."
I didn't intend to actually collect it seriously either.
"Should I go with you?"
"I-It's okay."
According to the old man, he would bring her back immediately after returning home.
In that case, I'll skip the dungeon for today.
"If you put your granddaughter in a taxi, contact me then. I'll go to the Haneda pier."
"O-Okay."
We exchanged contact information, and as I was about to part ways with him――.
"Thank you so much."
The old man bowed deeply.
"Old man, old man, you're getting ahead of yourself? We don't know if she'll really be cured."
"But please, let me say thank you."
"Haha, well, I'll be waiting."
"Thank you very much."
He bowed his head again and started walking toward the pier.
It must have been hard for a decrepit old man just to get here.
"Hey, old man! Are you sane?!"
Suddenly, a young guy spoke up.
"What is it?"
"I don't know what that healing potion is, but if it's an Elixir, it might be worth over a hundred million yen?"
"Huh? Is it that expensive?"
"Yes――to give that to a stranger old man like that."
"Well, it's not decided yet, haha."
"「A restless murmur...」"
I feel like they're saying various things... but I can't take back what I said.
Anyway, I'll deal with it after meeting that granddaughter.
Besides, if it's something I found by chance, not something I bought with money.
Using medicine in public was a bit careless.
But I can't abandon an old man trying hard for his granddaughter.
"If it's within the city, it should take about an hour."
Well, I impulsively said I'd use an Elixir――or whatever it is.
I even lent him money.
If this was a loan scam, he'd be an incredible actor――but he didn't look suspicious at all.
If that was acting, it would be amazing in reverse.
Well, that aside.
If that granddaughter will arrive in about an hour, I need to kill time until then.
This is a good chance to explore the Special District――though I can't go too far.
I have to go to Haneda to pick up the girls.
While wandering around the market and looking at stalls――they were selling something like tortillas.
Come to think of it, I shopped at Haneda, and it's almost lunchtime.
I'll have an early lunch.
I decided to try the food at the stall.
I'll have to eat eventually anyway.
In my hometown, The Testing Land, local production for local consumption is in place, so monster meat wasn't coming in much.
After all, that place has a food self-sufficiency rate of over 100%.
I asked the shop owner just in case, and it seems to be monster meat produced in the Special District.
Of course, since meat is harvested here, there's no need to bring it from outside.
Unless it's rich people who really don't want to eat monster meat, in which case it's unavoidable.
"Hmm~"
There's no strange smell, and no peculiar taste.
"Don't monsters come from dungeons?"
The stall owner wearing an apron shared her theory.
"Yes, that's right."
"The taste of meat depends on the animal's diet."
"Yes, monsters born from dungeons haven't been around for long..."
"That's right――even with livestock, herbivore meat is delicious, but carnivore meat is bad."
Livestock are usually herbivores, so that factor is involved.
"Come to think of it, water birds that eat fish smelled bad..."
The smell of rotting fish――or rather, it smelled that bad.
Back when there was really no food, we had to eat those things...
"Haha, that's right."
Speaking of birds, crows are bad because they eat meat, isn't that the theory?
If they were fed only grains or insects, they might not smell bad.
"I see."
"However, if a born monster lives long and starts eating humans or other monsters, it might become bad."
"Thanks, that was helpful."
"Buy from me again. I don't sell smelly meat."
Of course, customers would prefer meat that doesn't smell.
If there's nothing else, it's unavoidable, but we aren't in a food crisis like that anymore.
"Okay."
I bought a tortilla-like item, but they also sell regular meat and fried foods.
There are croquettes and menchi-katsu, but are those fried with monster fat?
Full to the brim, I looked around the stalls.
The prices are quite high, as expected.
It takes time and fare, but it seems better to buy in bulk outside.
I have an Item Box after all.
Red potions were also sold at the stalls.
The cheapest ones, but one bottle costs 12,000 to 13,000 yen.
Since the buyback price is 10,000 yen, profit must be added.
When you buy, a 20% tax is added on top.
I could sell directly to adventurers, but there's tax on that too.
Tax, tax――since I'm using an Adventurer Card and a smartphone, I can't escape it.
Well, since it's a business like that, I guess I have to accept it.
While visiting stalls, I got a call from the old man.
It seems he and his granddaughter are in a taxi.
"Well, I'll go to Haneda to pick them up. Today is going to be going back and forth on the sea."
I shopped at Haneda, came back, and now I'm going back to the dragonfly return?
I rode a boat making a bobbing sound and arrived at Haneda's pier again.
I sent a message to the old man via SNS on his smartphone.
He seems to be nearby, so I decided to go pick them up.
His sick granddaughter apparently can't walk.
After several messages, I finally spotted the old man and them.
I thought it would be just one person since it was a sick granddaughter, but there was another girl.
She's wearing a uniform, so I think she's about high school age.
Black hair down to her shoulders, reddish cheeks, slightly droopy eyes, cute.
I think she's the older sister, but since she looks healthy, the sick granddaughter must be the younger sister.
That's not all.
Maybe because her uniform is a bit small――her chest area is bursting.
Probably――quite large.
Ugh, I almost said "Wow, impressive" without thinking.
Setting aside the older sister's chest, I was surprised looking at the younger sister next to her.
Probably――about 10 years old?
A tattered, completely ill-fitting potato jersey.
The top and bottom are different colors, and there are holes.
Her black hair is long, but it seems poorly maintained and rough.
Her eyes are quiet, dark like deep holes, and her skin is pale, looking very frail.
No vitality can be felt.
Even looking at her, I can't help but think she won't live much longer?
Come to think of it, the older sister's uniform is also shiny and worn, looking quite aged.
Is it hand-me-downs from someone?
"Oh, finally found you. Is this the granddaughter?"
"Yes."
The sister hid behind the older sister after seeing me.
She seems shy.
"Please take care of my younger sister."
The older sister bowed politely.
"I told the old man too, but my medicine doesn't guarantee a cure."
"Yes, I understand."
"「「「...」」」"
The three of us stood in silence, but they probably don't know what to do.
I should lead the way here.
"Alright! First, let's buy clothes for the two girls. This outfit is no good."
"..."
The girls turned red.
I wasn't scolding them, but still...
"I wanted to buy clothes for my grandchildren, but I was barely making ends meet..."
"The old man doesn't have a decent job, does he?"
"I couldn't even send them to school..."
So that uniform was just hand-me-downs they were wearing.
"So, the older sister isn't a high school student?"
"If I don't work, we can't live as three people, so I work."
"Ugh... If only I worked harder..."
Please, don't be so sentimental.
Are you three sharing a single bowl of soba?
Stop it――that kind of talk works on old men.
"Okay, I'll pay the money, so don't worry. Buy everything, including underwear. You probably don't have any, right?"
"Y-Yes."
The girls looked embarrassed.
"Oh, I haven't introduced myself yet. I'm Niwa. You can call me Daisuke."
"I am Hasegawa."
"I am Sana, and my sister is Mio."
"Nice to meet you――Mio-chan."
I squatted down and greeted her at eye level.
"..."
The younger sister hid behind her older sister, trembling.
"Mio-chan can't walk, right? I'll carry you on my back."
"Huh? B-But..."
Sana was confused by my proposal, but judging by Mio's condition, walking seems impossible.
Even the old man carrying her would be difficult.
It would be nice to have a wheelchair...
"Do you know it's quite a walk to the Special District pier? And you'll walk a lot even after entering the Special District?"
Besides, even if buying clothes, you'll move quite a bit inside the stores.
I could put her on a bicycle and push it――but I can't bring out a bicycle here.
"..."
"Here."
I handed the backpack to the older sister and turned my back, squatting.
"..."
Did Mio make up her mind? She hugged my neck.
"Alright!"
I lifted her onto my back――whoa, she's light! Too light!
"Isn't she heavy?"
The older sister is worried, but I have high-level power.
This is a breeze for me.
"I'm truly sorry to a stranger..."
"No, no, old man. I introduced myself, so you're not a stranger anymore."
"...Thank you."
Carrying Mio on my back, the four of us headed for the apparel shop.
Fortunately, the store had a wheelchair, so I borrowed it and walked inside with the younger sister seated.
I know nothing about girls' clothes, so I left everything to the older sister.
Even if we buy a lot at a department store, it's limited.
Both girls changed into their new clothes immediately.
The younger sister wore a black skirt, black tights, and a pinkish top.
She's cute.
The older sister seems to have chosen a black and white tracksuit.
Not a school potato jersey, but a long sweatshirt.
Well, prioritizing ease of movement.
I think that's good.
"Both of you look good."
"Thank you." "..."
Mio's voice was extremely small, but she looked happy.
I returned the wheelchair to the shop and carried the younger sister on my back again.
"Alright, let's go."
"Um."
"Yes." "..."
The four of us went to the pier and boarded a boat again.
This is the third time today.
Mio squatted, holding the railing, staring at the sea.
I talked with the old man.
"Old man, are you okay? You've been going here and there, walking quite a distance."
"For Mio's sake, this is nothing."
"Don't overdo it. Well, there are normal potions, so do you want to drink one?"
"No, I can't ask you to do that much."
"Well, if you collapse, it'll trouble me, so let me know early."
"Thank you."
"If it's thanks, you can give them after she's cured."
"..."
Setting aside the old man bowing silently, I went to the girls.
"Is this your first time seeing the sea?"
"Shake shake!"
The younger sister nodded.
She swayed for a while, but I wondered if she would get seasick.
I was worried, but it seemed she was fine.
Since we entered the Special District, I carried Mio on my back again and headed for the government office.
Children are not allowed, so special permission is required.
The old man has a provisional license, but Sana also needs entry permission.
There are automatic ticket gates and security for entering the dungeon, but it seems they weren't checked when exiting.
The children I saw inside must have gotten permission and entered, then stayed inside the dungeon.
It's quite a sieve.
The old man received a tablet from the woman at the counter and was filling in the necessary items.
He seemed to be struggling, not used to tablets.
After all, the whole country has become like this.
Whether you're good at it or not, you have to learn and use electronic devices to live.
"Here, this is permission to enter the dungeon for the treatment of your granddaughter who used a potion."
"Y-Yes."
"Please wait a moment."
Taking the old man's Adventurer Card, the staff member went inside.
Can a provisional license card be used?
After a few minutes, the entry card was ready.
You can pass through the automatic ticket gates with this.
Carrying Mio on my back again, we left the office and headed straight for the dungeon――.
Along the way, I bought additional chemical lights.
I can see in the dark, but the girls and the old man are different.
"Old man――even if Mio-chan isn't cured, don't hold a grudge."
"After being treated so kindly, if I did that, I'd get struck by lightning."
We arrived at the automatic ticket gates, so I got down to let them pass.
I can't pass while carrying her on my back.
Come to think of it, are these gates open late at night?
I searched a bit――it seems they operate 24 hours.
Then anyone could break through at night.
Security doesn't seem to be that strict either...
After Mio safely passed through the gate, I carried her on my back and entered the dungeon.
Looking up at the ceiling, the entrance hall shone with fiber optic lighting.
Mio looked up at the ceiling and spun around in place.
"Technically, this is considered inside the dungeon... shall we try it here?"
"I don't understand, so Niwa-san, do as you please."
"If the effect is weak, it'll be trouble. Should we go a bit deeper?"
"Please."
The older sister bowed her head politely.
"Understood."
I handed the chemical lights to the old man and Sana to use.
We all entered the darkness.
"Niwa-san, are you okay?"
"I can see even in the dark."
"Is that a skill?"
"Seems like it."
"That's convenient."
"Haha, well, yes."
"..."
The older sister looked around here and there.
Is she interested in the dungeon?
While talking, we reached the middle of the first floor.
Looking around, I could see lights flickering.
It seems there are people hunting.
"Is this spot okay?"
"Yes."
"But, before that――"
I put Mio down from my back and took out an Iron Sand Bat from the backpack Sana was holding.
Sana seemed surprised that I took out a weapon, but of course, I had no intention of doing anything to them.
"Here!"
A slime had spawned a little further ahead.
I slashed it from the side, and it dropped a small bottle along with a Magic Stone.
A potion? If it drops this frequently, isn't it a pretty profitable catch?
"!"
Mio, startled, hugged her older sister.
Picking up the Magic Stone and potion, I returned to the two of them.
"Sorry, there was a monster."
"..."
The two remained frozen, hugging each other.
"Brilliant."
The old man was impressed.
"How was it, old man? Did you think you could do it yourself?"
"...No, it's impossible..."
"Haha――yes. Well, let's do it then."
Taking the backpack from Sana, I pretended to take something out and pulled out a small bottle that might be a Gold Elixir.
I handed it to Sana.
"Here, older sister, you give it to her. Don't hold a grudge if it doesn't cure her."
"That's not necessary."
She opened the cap and put a little in her own mouth.
Sana confirmed it was safe and started giving it to her younger sister.
"I just applied it to a wound, but how does it taste?"
"It is not delicious."
"I see. I thought it tasted like an energy drink."
Even a normal potion really restores stamina and cures injuries and illnesses, so it's the strongest energy drink.
While talking, Mio drank the potion, but no change appeared.
Could it be a dud?
Since this is my first time using a potion, I don't know what effects will appear.
I did watch a video of "trying out a potion," but the body didn't glow or anything.
"What kind of illness does your younger sister have?"
"It seems there's a large hole in the heart wall?"
"Oh, I see."
Even if we seal it now, there's a high chance a malfunction will occur elsewhere in the body.
Drinking an Elixir will seal that hole, and side effects or malfunctions might not occur――that's what they think.
It's not strange to think that way, but where is the line for determining if an Elixir works or not?
Experiments to cure genetic-level diseases with potions seem to have been conducted, and they succeeded.
Accumulating these things brings up stories like "being a test subject for aliens or gods, or a game piece."
Thinking about potions, the younger sister finished drinking the Elixir.
Since it's not delicious, it feels like she finally drank it.
"Mio, how is it?!"
"..."
The old man asked Mio about the effect, but it seems she doesn't know yet.
"Will it work?"
"I don't know..."
I looked around.
"Do we have to stay inside the dungeon until it works?"
"..."
The old man and Sana seemed confused about the judgment, but Mio spoke.
"Older sister, I don't feel tight anymore."
"Huh?! Really?!"
"Shake shake."
Mio nodded.
Looking at her face――indeed, I feel vitality returning to her face.
She's a different person from when I saw her at Haneda.
"We did it! She might be cured!"
The older sister hugged her sister in joy.
Seeing the girl's face full of energy, it's worth using expensive medicine.
"Then the Elixir worked. If that's decided, let's get out of here? It's dangerous."
"Yes."
I intended to carry her again, but the girl took her older sister's hand and started walking.
Really, was her illness cured without surgery?
"Miooooo!"
This time, the old man hugged the girl.
"Old man, old man! Do that after leaving the dungeon. We might meet monsters."
"Oh, sorry. I lost my composure."
If this were true, anyone suffering from a difficult disease would pay any amount of money.
Because the illness is cured without surgery.
The three of us returned to the entrance hall.
Under the bright lighting, it's clear the girls' complexions have improved greatly.
This is seriously amazing.
Looking at Mio-chan's face, the old man hugged her again, and this time all three were shedding tears.
They thought she wouldn't be cured, wouldn't be saved――and suddenly she's completely healed?
They say cuts and fractures can be cured with potions too.
Unbelievable, this is a miracle of God.
Since I think so, others must think so too.
Foreign religious figures are said to be making sour faces because of this.
It's not a miracle of God, yet miracles are being performed.
Religions even start worshipping dungeons instead of the God who never shows himself on the surface.
Because it's right in front of your eyes, actually performing miracles.
Setting aside religion――the four of us decided to leave the dungeon.
Well, what should we do now?