Chapter 18 - Chapter 18: Eating is a Pain
The guild members have increased, but again, they are girls.
A boyish, petite girl.
She looks about middle school age, but since she registered as an adventurer using her National Card, there's no way she lied about her age.
I stayed at a hotel in the Special District to charge my battery, but I ended up back at the usual inn.
I laid out the large air mats I bought and inflated them.
It's impossible to inflate such a huge mat by hand.
I took out a battery-powered air pump from the Item Box.
This is usually used for inflating car tires, so the power is sufficient.
With a loud noise, the air mat swelled up rapidly.
As expected, the power is great.
Being able to use electricity without worry is really nice.
Sorry about that, Oba-chan.
I can't afford to pay thousands of yen just to charge a battery.
Since I have an Item Box, I might as well use it as much as possible.
"Item Box is amazing~"
"I told you at the dungeon, but don't tell anyone."
"OKOK!"
Ren made a V-sign with both hands and smiled brightly.
"I'm thinking I can take it apart when the time comes."
If the guild I created grows big and becomes famous -- if that happens, I feel like I can say it.
If my influence gets big enough, there won't be anyone trying to get at me or the members anyway.
After finishing inflating the air mat, I lay down.
"This is great, haha."
Even with the mats I used before, the four-and-a-half tatami room was filled without any gaps.
I don't have to suffer body pain anymore.
"Amazing!"
Ren seems to like it too, lying down together.
"The Special District has expensive inns, you know."
"That's right!"
While I was talking with her, Sana returned.
"Welcome back~"
"Welcome back."
"I'm home."
She was carrying a large paper bag in her hand.
Did she buy some clothes?
Or did she get some money and buy equipment for the dungeon?
"Oh? Did you buy equipment for the dungeon?"
"..."
It seems my guess was correct.
Does she want to try it on right away?
"Are you maybe wanting to change clothes? I'm going out for a bit."
"Koku..."
She nodded silently.
She seemed to be worrying about something quite a bit... what happened?
Did she get some incredibly expensive equipment as if jumping off the Kiyomizu stage?
Well, there's no point in thinking about it, so I went outside the room for now.
Outside the room, I looked at my smartphone.
Maybe I'll Google the Labyrinth Cult a bit...
"For now, it seems there are no troubles..."
Is it okay to go into the dungeon without fighting?
I think I'll probably get attacked and eaten...
Rumors say that's their doctrine -- I can't stand it at all.
While looking at the smartphone, the door opened.
"Um..."
Sana stuck her head out, so I went inside.
"Eh!?"
I was surprised by her appearance.
It wasn't her usual long tracksuit.
She was wearing a black dress that looked like a sorcerer's, but the chest area was opened widely.
So big...
No, I knew they were big, but -- wearing clothes that emphasize them has amazing destructive power.
Healthy-looking thighs peek out from the skirt slit.
Youth is bursting, about to tear apart.
It's impressive -- I couldn't help but nod.
"Is... is it bad?"
"No, it's not bad, but why suddenly?"
I felt she was a bit troubled, but was she pondering whether to wear this or not?
"I want Daisuke-san to take a picture of me with his camera."
"Oh~, maybe -- are you trying to become a video streamer?"
"Yes -- even though I hate it... if I have something that can be used as a weapon, I thought I'd use it."
"Well, if it's men watching, it's either women's breasts or butts."
"Pervert! Pervert!"
A voice came from behind me.
It was Ren's voice, but it's the truth.
"She has a younger sister and needs to live herself -- so she's using her own weapon to extort money from foolish men."
"Yes, that's right."
"Haha, well, isn't it fine? There was a female streamer before, and her views didn't grow at all, but when she showed her cleavage, the views increased tenfold."
"Eww!"
Ren, hearing my story, was taken aback.
"Men are such foolish and sad creatures."
"Is it really bad then?"
"It's not bad. You decide -- although, from an adult's standpoint, I can't really recommend it... but I understand your feeling of wanting to earn money."
"...I'll do it!"
She clenched her fist.
She must have seen the limit where she can't go on like this.
"Well, you already bought those clothes."
"Y-yes."
Ren jumped in from the side.
"But, but! Isn't showing your face dangerous?!"
"That's true... maybe hide it with something like this."
I searched the internet and showed her masks or helmets that cover the mouth.
"Combat goggles would also hide the face, right?"
"That's true, that might look more like an adventurer."
"I understand! I'll go buy it!"
I stopped her as she tried to go out.
"When going outside, I think you should hide it with a robe. You might get bothered by weird guys."
"I understand."
She put on a robe and went outside.
"..."
Ren looked at her own body and patted it.
"What's wrong?"
"Should I wear something like that too...?"
"She has to support old men and her younger sister, so her resolve is different. Don't you think you don't need to force yourself?"
"I'm in trouble too... do you think I can live just on adventurer earnings?"
I'm an adventurer beginner too...
"How was it trying solo for a bit?"
"It's quite difficult..."
"But you leveled up today, right? I think fighting on the first floor will be much easier with that."
"Thank you! Daisuke, you're a really good person!"
She hugged me.
Because they truly realize how desperate it is, they are serious.
I, on the other hand, only thought about making some pocket money because I leveled up by accident.
Maybe that's why other adventurers look down on me lightly.
Well, if an amateur old man like me walks into a place where everyone is serious and on edge, that's what happens.
Level is invisible from the outside.
Ren is also wondering if she should show her navel... she's troubled.
She doesn't have the two swellings that prove she can do anything.
She's boyish and cute, but not being able to show her face is painful.
I'm thinking such foolish things, but isn't there any way for a world where young girls have to do this?
Will it return to how it was before in 10 or 20 years when the world stabilizes?
While I was talking with Ren, Sana returned.
"W-what are you doing...?"
Sana returned just as Ren was hugging me, so I felt a bit awkward.
I can't compete with Sana's bouncing, bursting breasts, but maybe I'm popular in a niche way.
No, no, that's not it.
"If Sana competes with her breasts, she said she'll compete with her thighs and navel."
"..."
Sana looked suspicious at my words.
"I'm not going to touch children."
"Since you became an adventurer, you're not children!"
Ren was desperately denying it, but to me, everyone is a child.
"Yes, yes -- besides, if I touch her, Ren's healing will disappear."
"..."
Ren's face turned red.
It's too different from the first impression.
In this era, you are treated as an adult once you turn 16.
Therefore, you can become an adventurer at your own risk.
There are voices of criticism, but in such times, young strength is needed.
Anyway, resources are lacking, and human resources are lacking too.
It's easy to speak beautifully, but the world doesn't turn on empty theories.
"I bought this."
What Sana showed me was a skull-like mask covering the face.
It has reinforcement, so it seems it can be used for defense.
When put on the face, only the forehead shows, so no one will know who you are.
"Oh, quite stylish, isn't it? I think it will be popular with a mysterious vibe."
"Really?"
"As I said earlier, men only look at breasts, haha."
"..."
The girls' cold gazes pierced me, but it's the truth, so what can be done.
With a momentary lull, I decided to edit the video.
I took out a notebook PC and camera from the Item Box.
Removing the recording medium from the camera, I connected it to the mother ship along with an external HDD.
I checked the recorded footage.
"Oh, it's recording properly."
A white monster baring its sharp white teeth and approaching us is shown.
"Eh?! Is that a monster video?!"
Ren peered at the LCD screen where the video was playing.
"Yes. I intend to earn money with this."
"Eeeeeh?! Can't you use cameras inside the dungeon...?"
"Well, normally that's the case, but I have a secret trick."
"...Really?"
"Don't tell anyone."
"Y-yes..."
Anyway, let's edit the video.
The white wolf video is rare, but the highlight this time is the former adventurer Ghoul.
I've also uploaded the video of the PK that attacked me, so I'll try editing the video with comparison images so it's clear it's the same person.
[Viewer Discretion Advised!] [Former Adventurer's Downfall?!] [Beginner Caution!]
It's quite gory, but will it be okay?
Well, monster videos seem okay for now, so it should be fine.
Besides, aren't foreigners not soft on zombies and Ghouls?
If it's not human, splatter seems okay.
"Is that a Ghoul?"
"Yes. It seems to be a former adventurer."
"Eh~?!"
Ren seems bad with gore, but adventurers must get used to it.
"If you get attacked by monsters inside the dungeon, it becomes like this, so be careful. If you become a monster, you'll be processed as a monster."
"Y-yes."
"As for me, I don't want to deal with zombies or Ghouls that were formerly cute girls..."
"Even so -- um..."
Sana seems unable to find words.
"Eh? What is it?"
"To let people who have died go to heaven or to God."
"Oh, memorial services."
"A, yes, that's it."
"I see -- if you think of it as memorial services, someone has to do it. No matter who they are, once they die, they are gods and Buddhas."
"..."
The girls had solemn faces.
"Don't end up like this, both of you."
"We'll do our best." "We'll do our best..."
Those were the words of the two, but if we could just do our best and make it work, the world would be simple...
With the editing of the Ghoul and large white wolf videos finished, I uploaded them immediately.
For the wolf, I'm also uploading short videos of what I filmed outside.
That's only about one minute long.
I just cut and connected unnecessary parts; no narration or text insertion.
It's a documentary, and for now, there are no rivals.
This should be fine.
By the time rivals appear, I'll be earning a fortune and retiring.
At Sana's request, I also filmed her video.
She posed emphasizing her chest, holding a mace.
It's an appeal that she's going on an adventure from now on.
I don't think access will increase just with this, but if I upload scenes of actual fighting or magic attacks, it should get views.
I immediately created her account and uploaded the video.
I'll also link it from my channel and put it in recommended channels.
I must write that we are members of the same guild.
A girl in a slightly erotic outfit inside a room has a bit of a cosplay vibe.
This is serious life-or-death stuff.
"I think using attack magic is tough, but if you put that in a video, it might get views."
She was very exhausted after just one shot.
Maybe if the level goes up, the power increases or she can spam it.
"It's very tiring, but it looks cool!"
She put her spirit into a grunt.
"Sana -- can she use attack magic?"
Ren seems interested in her magic.
"I learned it when I leveled up with me."
"How nice."
"Your healing magic is also quite amazing."
"That's true, but isn't it a bit plain?"
"If you actually make a video of it when you get a cut, I think you'll see the amazingness."
I haven't seen healing magic up close yet, but the wounds close before your eyes, right?
That's amazing.
"Will you film my video too?!"
"Well, you're guild members."
"Yay! Daisuke, thank you!"
Ren hugged me again.
"Ah! I think doing that is not good!"
"Eh~? Why~?"
"...D-don't..."
"Yes, yes, Sana is right."
"Eh~?"
"If you do that kind of thing within a circle, the circle will collapse immediately."
"Really?"
The most common cause of a circle crashing is love affairs.
There are even people called circle crushers who jump from circle to circle and do this continuously.
As Ren and Sana glared at each other, the door was knocked.
"I'm home~"
A girl's voice came from outside.
"It's Mio-chan."
"Yes."
Sana unlocked the door, and Mio entered cheerfully.
"I'm home~!"
"Yes, welcome back."
She greeted cheerfully, but noticing Ren hiding behind me, Mio also hid behind her older sister.
"..."
She seems to be shy.
"This is Ren. She's going to the dungeon with us and became a companion."
"..."
"Ren, this is Mio-chan, Sana's younger sister."
"U-um, nice to meet you."
"..."
She's still scared of strangers.
Well, she'll get used to it eventually.
"Mio-chan, I put a big fluffy mat downstairs."
"Really~! Fluffy!"
She fell onto the large air mat.
She seems to like it.
"Mio-chan, what should we have for dinner tonight?"
"Curry!"
"Oh~, I think there's still curry, but is curry okay?"
"Curry!"
"Is curry okay for Sana and Ren too?"
"Are they in the Item Box?!"
"Yes, yes. But since we're eating together, they're about to run out soon."
There's also the option of cooking outside.
They say fire is forbidden here!
I'll ask Oba-chan just in case.
I went outside the room and headed to the front desk.
Unusually, there are guests -- a woman.
A woman wearing a green robe.
Her face was only visible for a moment, but she looked around thirty -- maybe a veteran sorceress.
Staying alone in such a place?
Normally, I'd think she's in a guild, but is she solo?
Well, it's a bit away from the dungeon, but magic can be used here too.
She should be fine alone.
"Oba-chan, is it okay to cook if I go outside?"
"Haa... if you insist on doing it, you can use the roof."
"Eh? Is it okay?"
"If you do it in front of the inn, it's an obstruction, right?!"
"Haha, well, that's true. I won't do it today, but I'll use it when the time comes."
"Okay."
I bowed to the female guest still there.
She bowed back, so it's proper adult behavior.
I went up the stairs to return to my room.
Did the woman at the front desk take a room on the upper floor?
She came up the stairs following behind me.
I knocked on my room door.
"Hey, it's Daisuke."
Click, the lock was released.
"How was it?"
"They said it's okay to cook on the roof."
"Yay, more curry!"
Mio was happy.
The curry is gone, but there are mountains of potatoes harvested from my field in the Item Box.
"Wait! Hold on!"
As I tried to close the door, the woman from before barged in.
"What is it?! Robbery?!"
"No!"
"Then what?!"
The girls hid behind me at the sudden intruder.
"You, are you the person named Niwa?"
"Yes, but... what about it?"
"I heard you tricked two girls and made them companions."
"Haa?! What is that?"
"That's wrong! Who said such a thing?!"
Sana denied it immediately.
The woman who spoke rudely took off her robe.
Her long black hair is beautiful, and she's quite a beauty -- but it turns out she just has heavy makeup.
Incidentally, her breasts are big too, but just because she's beautiful doesn't mean I can speak rudely.
"I have an acquaintance working at the Special District government office, and from her --"
It seems she wants me to investigate because old men gather girls and deceive them.
"Special District government office -- ah, maybe that woman at the window?"
"Daisuke-san isn't doing such a thing!"
"He saved Mio!"
Mio also denied what the woman said.
With the girls completely denying it, the woman was a bit flustered.
"Anyway, matters within the Special District are not under the jurisdiction of the government office. I don't think it's something to interfere with."
"I-it's just that I'm personally curious..."
"Unnecessary meddling."
"...I understand."
She spat out words like a parting shot, and the woman disappeared.
"She said she understood, but she's still suspicious."
"Shut up, old hag!"
Ren has a foul mouth.
"Haha, well, to you guys, she's an old lady..."
I'm angry at being suddenly given a strange quarrel -- but there's no point in complaining to that government office woman.
I think that woman asked for surveillance because she was worried about Sana and the others.
It's really unnecessary meddling.
Dinner was decided as curry, so I started prepping for the next curry.
Peeling the potatoes that are abundant in the Item Box.
If you eat potatoes, you inevitably have to peel them.
No matter how many you peel, they won't rot if you put them in the Item Box.
The girls, if they have free time, should peel them as much as they want.
-- That was supposed to happen, but it seems neither Sana nor Ren has ever peeled potatoes.
Even without a knife, a peeler makes it easy.
They said they had no parents, so they never helped with housework, and there was no one to teach them.
Mio also looks like she wants to do it, so I should add a peeler.
"Older sister, your mother isn't here either?"
As expected of a child.
She asks difficult things without hesitation.
"That's right."
"Mio and older sister don't have a mother either."
Since I'm asking, I'll ask.
"When the world stopped?"
"No, recently -- Mom joined the Labyrinth Cult..."
Oh my god!
I shouldn't have asked.
"Sorry, I asked something painful."
It seems she disappeared afterwards.
"It's okay."
They say there's no damage from the cult, but isn't there damage happening here?
While the girls were peeling potatoes, I took out the mountain bike Ren bought.
Maintenance before riding.
"Yay, thank you Daisuke!"
"I think the shop maintained it, but it's a problem if it can't be used in the dungeon."
I checked the brake play and measured the air pressure.
I brought an air pump from home too.
Now, I just need to oil the chain.
"~, there are various things to do~"
"You'd better learn some of it. It might break or malfunction inside the dungeon."
"Yes!"
"I'll adjust the saddle, so try sitting on it."
"I understand."
A small, round bottom straddled the saddle.
My Item Box contains a full set of tools for repairs.
There's even a chain cutter, so even if the chain breaks, it's fine.
As evening fell, we all ate curry.
"Daisuke's curry is delicious after all!"
"Haha, is that so~"
"Delicious! Delicious!"
Ren was also stuffing curry into her mouth.
Despite being small, she seems to eat surprisingly a lot.
"There are plenty of potatoes, so eat as much as you want, haha."
"Are these potatoes grown at Daisuke-san's place?"
Sana seems interested in the potato origin.
"Yes, yes, we have plenty of potatoes."
Well, if I only grow potatoes, I'll get soil fatigue, so I divided the field into four sections --.
Potato -> Beans -> Corn -> Wheat rotation.
The deciding factor for crops is that they can be stored.
Corn can also be dried and ground into flour to make bread.
Vegetables, at worst, dandelions are fine.
Those grow everywhere, and they're surprisingly tasty.
Japanese knotweed is also edible.
-- The day after new guild members were added.
The video I uploaded the previous day was going viral.
Maybe I can earn more with this than anything else?