Chapter 105 - Chapter 105: Crank In
Money just keeps piling up, and I have nowhere to spend it.
So I decided to try making a movie.
Watching Iroha move around inside the dungeon, I got the idea to make a movie starring her.
Of course, since I'm just a regular old man, I don't have any skills for making movies.
I'll have to ask a professional in the field.
The team I'm asking to produce it is Quadrifoglio, the video editing contractor who has been handling my outsourcing work.
There's a woman who wants to be the director, so I gave them a bit of budget to make a sample video.
I was surprised that the result was better than expected.
Princess and Kaorulko, who were watching the video with me, were also convinced.
I decided to cast Iroha as the lead and Eito, the blonde boy, as the heroine.
He was a bit reluctant at first, but in the end, he promised to appear in it.
With this, the movie plan moves forward one step.
For the movie script, I'll write the synopsis and leave the rest to a professional screenwriter.
As long as the main plot aligns, changes are fine.
It's not a complicated story, after all.
Rescue the heroine, defeat monsters while doing so, storm the Demon King's castle, and face the Demon King.
It's 100% standard and cliché.
Since this is a movie showcasing Iroha's actions, the story can be simple.
It's like a fan show featuring top-ranking adventurers.
It's like going to see a singer's concert, and suddenly a stage play starts.
Basically, it's an independent film made by me.
The script plot has already been sent.
I hope they arrange it well, but while thinking such things, the door chime rang.
Only a limited number of people come into the room without an employee's guidance...
Anyway, I'll go out.
"Here we go~"
Opening the door, three familiar faces appeared.
"It's Sana!"
"Ehehe..."
Behind her smiling face were the blindfolded girl mage I met before and Kirara.
"What, even Kirara?"
"What do you mean? It's just a greeting from the neighbors."
"Huh?"
"Um, we moved our guild headquarters into the room next door..."
"Seriously? This surprising level of action."
I thought she was saying things like "how to spend the money," so this is a real shock.
Well, if she uses the money she got, she could probably live in a hotel.
There were also empty rooms on this special floor.
"It's smaller than Princess-san and the others' rooms..."
"Even so, I think it's high enough... well, with that kind of money, it's a breeze."
Assuming 100,000 yen a day, that's 3 million yen a month, 36 million yen a year.
Even living here for 10 years, it's 360 million yen.
From the money she got, there's no problem at all.
Besides, she's a high-level adventurer.
There's a high possibility she'll earn even more.
"I got my share too. All my debts are gone."
Kirara puffed out her chest, snorting loudly.
"Well, Sana's income goes into the guild account, so getting a share is unavoidable... but show some restraint."
"Why!"
"No, Kirara-san, I was taught many things about being an adventurer."
"That's right! Sana was raised by me!"
She sounds quite proud.
"You just wanted to say that, didn't you?"
"Why!"
"Well, never mind... Want to come in and have something to drink?"
"Really?!"
The mage girl... what was her name... Ema, wasn't it?
"Princess! They say they moved next door just to greet the neighbors."
"So you've set up the guild headquarters on this floor?"
"That seems to be the case."
"..."
She stares at Sana.
Since she doesn't say no, it must be okay.
Maybe Princess feels a little terror at Sana's level of action.
Before she knew it, she gained an incredible amount of wealth and came right up next to me.
In a way, this is horror.
"Wow~! So big~!"
Ema is amazed by the size of the room.
"This is a top-class special room."
"Princess-san looks like a celebrity too~"
She seemed to think that while Princess was lying on the sofa.
Indeed, it's undeniable that she's emitting an extraordinary aura.
"Not 'looks like,' she's a real super celebrity. Not a fake celebrity like Kirara."
"Why does my name come up!"
"You were pretending to be a celebrity while in debt, weren't you?"
"...Grr... I've stopped doing that kind of thing..."
Oops, maybe I should stop teasing Kirara for now.
While Kirara was squirming from having her painful spots hit, Kaorulko arrived.
"Daisuke-san, do you need anything?"
"Yeah, could you get some coffee and cake?"
"Okay."
Everyone sits on the sofa and listens to the talk.
They are trying to put Sana's grandfather in a facility, but he seems to be resisting.
"Can't be helped. Sana, give me your contact info. I'll say a few words to him."
"Y-yes."
I called the grandfather and spoke with him.
It seems his knees aren't doing well, so I think he should enter the facility even more.
Well, a new environment might be tough.
Still, it's for the sake of reassuring his granddaughter.
Even if he insists he's fine, if anything happens, he'll go to Sana.
If he has money, he should enter the facility.
The grandfather avoided an immediate answer but promised to discuss it with Sana.
As for me, it's not really my place to interfere in someone else's family matters.
I'll leave the rest to them.
After my call ended, Kirara started talking.
"By the way... I heard you're making a movie! I can help out too."
"No need."
"Why!"
"Sana is enough."
"Gugu..."
She's still the same as always.
--The day after the surprise of Sana and the others suddenly moving next door.
The movie production team was decided, and the cast was set.
I visited a judicial scrivener's office to make a contract.
"Hello~"
"Welcome."
When led to the reception room, the teacher arrived.
It's the usual teacher with glasses, but she seems to have put a lot of effort into her makeup...
Her clothes are a blouse with a large opening at the chest, showing her cleavage.
The skirt also seems shorter than before...
"As we contacted beforehand, this is regarding the contract for the movie production..."
"Yes, I understand."
She leans forward, exaggerating her cleavage.
Was this teacher always this type?
"I'm an amateur, so I'd like the judicial scrivener teacher to make a template... please take care of it."
"I understand."
"It's an independent film, but since a large sum of money is involved, I thought it would be better to make a contract."
"A wise decision."
While saying that, the teacher crossed her legs.
Knowing that I'm moving a large sum of money, is this some kind of appeal?
No matter how perverted an old man I am, I don't intend to grab everyone I meet.
Despite the mysterious appeal from the judicial scrivener, the request was finished.
Now, once the template is ready, I'll send it to Flaminia-san to get her seal.
Then, the plan will start.
No, start.
I misspoke because of the judicial scrivener's mini-skirt and thighs.
--A few days later, the contract was completed and sent to Flaminia-san.
After several exchanges, I finally got the final seal.
Well, they are doing this as work, so there are distributions of profits when earnings come in.
We can't do without a contract.
For now, it depends on whether we upload it to a video site and generate revenue.
If it's a long video, we can put in many ads, so it should generate a certain amount of revenue...
Honestly, I have no idea what will happen.
It's certain that it will become a topic...
While worrying about the movie... I got a call from Sana.
It seems the grandfather agreed to enter the facility.
Now she can focus on the dungeon.
If anything happens, she can contact me immediately.
Lonely death of the elderly... that can be avoided.
Since the movie contract is settled, we immediately started filming.
This is what they call "Crank In."
A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.
If we steadily accomplish things, we will eventually reach big goals.
For now, my job is to dive into the dungeon and gather video material.
I asked the director, and it seems current high-performance single-lens cameras are good enough to use as material.
It seems we don't need the huge movie cameras from the old days.
Well, if it's an artistic work, you might need to be particular about image quality, but this is an independent entertainment video.
My current equipment is sufficient.
However, since we'll need a lot of material, I bought about five of the same cameras to prepare.
I had Kaorulko buy the same ones and put them in her Item Box.
With this, we should be able to shoot quite a lot of videos.
We need to shoot not just battle scenes, but also daily conversation scenes between the protagonist and the heroine.
Scenes of walking, running, etc.
If scenes are inevitably missing, we can shoot them in a studio and composite them later.
I, Princess, Iroha, Sana, and the heroine Eito dive deep.
We'll treat the monsters spawning in the dungeon as enemies under the Demon King's command.
We all move through the dungeon.
Iroha and Eito stay together, and we film that too.
We are also using Kaorulko's Item Box to help with filming.
Eito's magical light makes his appearance stand out clearly.
He's not a real priest or cleric, but he's wearing equipment that looks the part, and holding a fake but realistic staff.
He's also wearing simple long ears, which can be converted in the video later.
Well, since we can make goblins like in the sample video, swapping ears should be a breeze.
Usually, Eito wears pants with this equipment, but we had him take them off.
With the large slits, his legs are exposed from the waist down.
When it comes to movies, you think of custom-made costumes with lots of decorations... but for this movie, we used the adventurers' equipment as is.
After all, if fighting in a dungeon, the filming costumes wouldn't hold up.
"Eito-kun, thank you for agreeing to the filming. It's a lifesaver."
"I-I want to show Oga-san my good side too!"
"Ahahaha! I like it!"
Iroha slapped his back hard.
Shaking his golden hair, the beautiful boy fell forward, placing his hands on the ground.
"Ouch!"
"See? You were recognized by your idol Oga-san?"
"A, thank you..."
He stood up, rubbing his back.
"You can just call me Iroha."
"Y-yes!"
"See? You did it."
I also congratulated him.
"T-that's fine, but..."
"What is it?"
"It's a bit chilly..."
He tries to cover his crotch with his hands.
With his legs together, he looks even more like a girl.
"Service, service! That's what it is!"
"Does a male me serving in this outfit count as service?"
"Yes! My prediction is correct. Look!"
I pointed at Kaorulko.
Her eyes were shining brightly.
"W-what is it? It's scary..."
"There are nutrients you can only get from a boyish boy."
"I have no idea what you mean."
Eito is confused.
"How does he look to you, Kaorulko?"
"He's very good... however."
"However?"
"Still, the partner should be Daisuke-san..."
"Of course, I'll be the total receiver... you're going to say that, right?"
"Fufufu..."
She's making a strange laugh I haven't seen before.
What kind of hobby is that?
"Just kidding. Elves, both men and women, show their legs, right?"
"Well, yes, in fantasy works, that's true..."
"You look like an elf from any angle, so no problem!"
"What is 'Moumantai'?"
"Oh, it means no problem."
"Oh, is that so..."
That conversation ended, but he seems to be fidgeting.
"What's wrong? What happened?"
"A, um... the women's outfits... um..."
"Oh, bikinis, abs, Breast-Curtain Dresses?"
"...Yes."
"This is the formal wear in the dungeon, so you'll have to get used to it."
"Ugh..."
"Don't pitch a tent."
"Ugh..."
Iroha arrived there.
"What's wrong, you're gathering up?! Shall I pull it out with my hand? If I accidentally crush it, I'm sorry. Wahaha!"
"Vulgar guy."
"What? Even Princess does it, doesn't she?"
"You must choose the time and place!"
"Dahaha!"
Iroha is laughing like a bit of an old man.
It seems Eito isn't very keen on this sexy outfit, but his appearance is perfect.
We'll continue filming as is.
"Um, Daisuke-san."
"What is it, Sana?"
"Isn't that person a bit too strict?"
"He's a man, so it's natural. Hahaha."
She looks like a girl, but if he's a man, there's nothing to be done.
That's the law of the world, chu~mo.
After that, we camped inside the dungeon for several days... and recorded videos of defeating goblins, hobgoblins, orcs, ogres, trolls, and more.
Filming from various angles with Kaorulko.
Sometimes, we took water tanks out of the Item Box and rode them to shoot from a bird's-eye view.
It's better to have videos from as many angles as possible.
Repeatedly casting support magic on Iroha, Eito's level seems to have gone up a bit.
Whatever happens, Iroha takes good care of Eito.
That's why she is liked and trusted by the guild members.
Repeating battles and filming, we reached the 6th floor.
"It's a bit dull... if only a dragon would show up~"
Iroha reacted to my words.
"Stop it, Darling! If a weird flag goes up, it'll be trouble!"
Well, there are many terrible situations where I get involved.
We might encounter the Labyrinth Cult again... but since then, there's been no contact with the cult.
In the last battle, Kaorulko and Sana's magic seemed to hit perfectly.
If they had been defeated by that, it would be a thousand blessings...
Since Iroha is the lead, she handles most of the combat, but Princess, who is cleaning up, looks bored.
After filming ends, Princess will kick them away.
Looking at the pile of corpses of the grunts, I ponder for a moment.
The scene really is dull.
"Hmm, yes..."
I had a good idea.
"What is it, Darling..."
Iroha, who was looking at my face, made a displeased expression.
She might think I'm going to make her do something weird, but the target isn't her... it's Sana.
She came along just for us, but she doesn't have much to do.
Let's let her shine here.
If we can shoot a flashy video with that, it's killing two birds with one stone.
"Sana, didn't you learn Turn Undead?"
"I learned it..."
"Have you used it?"
"No..."
"Alright! Let's try using it?"
"Eh?! Where?"
Iroha made a suspicious face.
"Remember when we saved my sister? A Lich spawned there. Let's use it there?"
"Eh~?"
"It's fine, it's fine. If Turn Undead works, we can defeat quite a few undead."
"Really?"
"I don't know, hahaha."
"Darling!"
Even if you say that, it's a magic I've never seen.
"But, Sana, you want to know how powerful the magic you learned is, right?"
"Y-yes."
"Besides, look... Eito is set as a cleric type, so it wouldn't be strange if he could use Turn Undead."
"That's true, but..."
Eito came to me.
"A, um! Daisuke-san! Daisuke-san!"
"What is it? A pheasant shot?"
"Eh? What is a pheasant shot?"
"It means peeing."
"N-no!"
"What, what?"
"I'm already full to the brim!"
He seems anxious about something.
"Your bladder?"
"No!"
"Then, ah, there."
"We're on the 5th floor, right?!"
"Yes. Definitely."
"T-then where is the place where that Lich appears?"
"It's on the 6th floor."
"That place, I can't, I can't, I can't, it's a snail for me!"
"It's fine, it's fine, hahaha."
We decided to go to that hole, but now I realize I don't know the location.
Harpy guided us before.
"Hey! Are you not there~!"
I looked up and shouted into the darkness.
"Daisuke-san, what are you doing?"
Eito made a suspicious face at my sudden action.
"Oh, I'm calling them."
Princess seems to understand what I'm doing.
"I don't know where that hole is. Hey!"
"What do you mean by 'them'?"
"Monsters."
To Eito's question, Iroha answered with a laugh.
"Eh?! Monsters?!"
"That's right."
Iroha explains with a dumbfounded expression.
"Is it okay?"
"That's exactly what's okay."
"Eh~"
He is clearly confused.
"Speaking of which, they haven't shown their faces this time. Maybe they were hunted by other adventurers?"
"But, they are monsters. I can't say not to hunt them?"
That's what Iroha said...
I know the general direction, so I head that way.
"Well... I thought it was around here..."
Just as a mood of giving up was drifting, a cry was heard from above.
"Gya! Gya!" "Gya!"
"Oh! They're alive! Hey! Over here!"
"Gyaah!"
A loud flapping sound, and the sound of landing nearby.
Walking out of the darkness with a hop-hop, the Harpies arrived.
"Oh, I was worried you might have been taken down by adventurers."
"Gya!"
Spreading her large wings, Gigi flew over to me.
"N, aren't you a Harpy?!"
"That's right. Don't make noise or threaten. You'll get attacked."
"Ugh..."
"You'll get covered in poop, wahaha!"
"There are quite a few victims. Well, even if you get hit by poop attacks, it just stinks, you won't die."
"Isn't that dangerous?"
"No, not at all... rather, thanks to them, how much we've been saved in the dungeon."
"Ahaha, Darling is right."
"He~"
Eito is still timid.
"Shall we try hugging her?"
"Eh? A, are you okay?"
He seems interested too.
"I think it's okay..."
Holding Gigi, I gently approached Eito and handed her over.
"Wawa!"
"Don't shout so loud."
The Harpy was quiet on his hand.
"I, it's okay... it's warm, but it smells..."
"Hahaha, Harpy poop stinks, and don't birds smear the oil they produce on their wings? Is that the smell?"
"He~"
"Look, you can touch monster boobs freely."
"..."
Eito stares at Gigi's chest.
"What? If you want to rub the chest, I'll let you rub mine! Ahaha!"
"That's not a chest, that's muscle!"
"It's definitely a chest!"
Surprised by the argument between Princess and Iroha, the Harpy flapped its wings.
"Wawa!"
Kicking Eito away, she flew onto my shoulder.
She seemed a bit surprised.
"Good, good."
"Gya!"
"Gyaah!"
Chichi also flapped her wings and landed on my head.
"Hey, two birds are heavy after all."
"Gya!"
"Want some chocolate?"
"Gyaah!"
Taking chocolate out of the Item Box, I fed it to them.
"Hey, we dived into a hole opened around here before, do you know the way?"
"Gya Gya!"
"What about it, Darling?"
"Wait, wait."
Iroha is urging, but I wait for the Harpies to finish eating the chocolate.
"Gya!"
The Harpies, having finished the chocolate, flew away.
"Hey, guide us~"
"Gyaah!"
"Well, let's follow."
"Eh?! Daisuke-san, are you really okay?"
Eito is worried about my actions.
"I think they understand... probably."
"Really?"
"Well, it's fine."
Following the Harpies flying in the darkness, they landed on the ground in a few minutes.
When we arrived at that place, a black hole opened its mouth.
"Is this it?! It's really here! It's amazing!"
"Right? Those guys have really taken care of us in this dungeon. If I could raise them, I'd want to keep them forever."
"Uwa~, I didn't want to be found."
Iroha covers her face with her hands and looks up.
It seems she isn't keen on diving into this hole.
"Well, well, if a big boss comes out, I'll leave the finishing blow to Iroha."
"Really, Darling?"
"Yes, Iroha might level up too."
"Awesome! Lately, I've only been getting left behind in levels."
"Normally, you don't level up so easily. Darling and Sana are a bit special."
"Yes, indeed."
Kaorulko agrees with Princess's words.
"Alright! Let's enter the hole!"
"I'm not in the mood..."
"Then, I'll go first!"
Contrary to Iroha, who seems unenthusiastic, Princess is full of energy.
A battle junkie like her must think she can fight a strong enemy.
Kaorulko got dragged into this kind of thing.
Looking at her, she has a face of giving up.
This time, I was the one who dragged her in.
--And so, we entered the hole opened on the 6th floor again.
Will the single-pipe scaffolding we left there before still be there?