Chapter 54 - Chapter 54: Dissection
Myself and the Princess were at Haneda.
We had ordered a massive amount of food in preparation for an attack on the dungeon, so we had come to pick it up.
Along the way, we were attacked by a strange monster with arms growing out of its fish body, and it was a mess.
Wherever there is water, aquatic monsters will spawn.
Depending on the dungeon, there might be huge ponds or lakes where aquatic monsters reside.
After all, there was even a hot spring.
It wouldn't be strange if there were ponds or lakes.
We had finished procuring the food, but when we sent photos of the defeated monsters to the university sensei, she immediately said she wanted us to bring them over.
The sensei is a specialist in biology who researches monsters.
Her research facility seems to be located in Haneda.
If one is going to research monsters, Haneda near the Special District would be convenient, I suppose.
She probably wants to place it inside the Special District, but there's no space there, I imagine.
Getting power there is quite difficult anyway.
If they had money like the Yaegashi Group, the Princess's family home, they could do whatever they wanted.
We entered the coordinates sent by the sensei into the navigation and got directions.
What came into view was a three-story concrete building, a long, wide building.
It was surrounded by a fence, but it didn't feel like there was any particularly strict security.
Passing through the gate with the sliding iron bars led to what looked like an entrance.
Entering the somewhat dark building -- there was a window, so we asked there.
"Um... I was told to bring a monster to the sensei here."
"What? The sensei?"
A security guard wearing a dark gray uniform, with white hair standing out, handled us.
"Um... what did that person say again... Hashidate? Freckles and glasses?"
"Oh, yes, yes."
The security guard went inside and made a call on a wall-mounted phone.
Wired phones these days?
Well, from a security standpoint, it might be the most secure.
"She will be here shortly, so please wait."
"Yes."
After waiting a while, a white coat ran down the corridor from the back.
"Hmph..."
It seemed the Princess hadn't expected the sensei to be a woman.
"Haah... haah... Sorry to keep you waiting -- and who is that woman over there?"
"She is the Cherry Princess, a top-ranked adventurer."
"Oh! I know her! I didn't recognize her because she's always dressed in something like a swimsuit! Is her casual wear a tracksuit?"
"N-no, that's not..."
Pressed by the sensei, the Princess stepped back.
"It was normal clothes, but they got dirty after being attacked by a monster on the sea."
"Blood?"
"No, it was a slimy, fishy smell."
"Oh, I think it's probably mucus... hmm, is monster slime different?"
The sensei put her hand to her chin and started thinking right there.
No, no, deal with us first before that.
"So, if there's a shower, I'd like to borrow it..."
"Oh, right! That's fine, we have one."
The sensei went into the security guard's office and did something.
When she returned, she handed over a card with a string attached.
"What is this?"
"It's an ID for visitors. Please hang it around your neck."
"Yes."
We hung the cards around our necks together with the Princess and headed deeper into the corridor.
Coming to a locked door, it opened automatically.
Probably, the card has a chip or something inside.
In the dimly lit corridor, the sound of three pairs of footsteps echoed, coming back with a clatter-clatter.
When the sensei stood before a white door, the lock opened.
Is this also automatically locked?
It looks like security is loose, but it might be surprisingly solid.
Inside, there was a concrete floor with a slight V-shape -- and on top of it, a large stainless steel table.
I see -- so it can be washed away easily even if it gets dirty.
"The room behind that door is the shower room."
She pointed to a green iron door.
"Princess."
"Hmm."
She handed her shampoo and towels again.
With this, she should be completely clean.
After the Princess disappeared behind the door, the sensei hung a "In Use" sign.
From another door, about five people in white coats came out.
They were all young, so they were probably students.
Even though they were university students, there was a girl with twin tails.
"There's someone using the shower now, so be careful."
The sensei warned the students.
How kind.
"Understood."
"Sensei! More importantly, what kind of rare monster is it?!
"That's right!
"Is it a fish?!"
"Yes, yes, everyone calm down (Focus!)."
The sensei saying "Focus!" was the most excited, her face red, which was obvious.
"Should we put it on this table?"
"Yes, will it fit?"
"Um, it might stick out a bit size-wise..."
Let's just try putting it out for now.
"Ooooooh!"
"A fish?! It's a fish?!
"Arms growing out, gross~!"
Even the girls said it was gross, yet they were full of interest, poking it with their fingers.
As expected, girls working in a research facility like this aren't fazed by a monster's corpse.
"Ugh... I wonder how the structure is... I want to dissect it soon..."
The sensei's eyes were bloodshot.
"We have one more body, can I put it down below?"
"Yes, then -- that door over there is the refrigerator and freezer, so please put it inside."
When the students opened the door, we took out the second monster into the cool, chilly place.
"Thank you."
The students thanked us.
"No, no."
Adventurers are often roughnecks who fly in the face of social common sense, after all.
The fact that they are going to university these days means their families must be reasonably wealthy.
While waiting for the Princess, the sensei and the others changed into green vinyl-like clothes and aprons.
It looked like the outfit seen in surgery scenes.
Surrounding the monster, the dissection began immediately.
In the concrete room, the sound of a large knife cutting open flesh echoed, sounding like it was cutting a leather jacket.
Everyone was working silently with serious expressions, which made the sound stand out even more.
Is that large knife a custom order?
When the white belly was cut open, red organs came out like a living snake, but it didn't look like a fish's organs at all.
It was more like when I butchered beasts back in my hometown.
"Um..."
Seeing that, I couldn't help but speak up.
"What is it?"
"Something... it's a fish, but the inside is like an animal."
"Fishes are animals, but this seems to be a mammal..."
"Interesting!
"A mammal that breathes with gills?!
"Amazing!"
Everyone started taking photos and videos with their smartphones.
Since the fish body has arms, is it structured to move in accordance with that?
"Haa~... it's amazing that all of this is functioning..."
The sensei muttered, but since it is a living organism acting as such.
"So -- does that mean a mammal-like brain is inside the fish's head?"
"Simply put, if it's this big, the brain capacity would increase, so a fish brain might manage somehow."
Saying that, the sensei started cracking open the skull.
It felt like there was a dish like this with a tuna head or something...
"This -- I think it's closer to a mammal's brain."
"Interesting!
"Hmm~
"A mammal that breathes with gills shaped like a fish...
"It's amazing that it's functioning."
The students peered into the cracked skull with great interest.
If that's true, it's amazing.
Monsters really do live and move like this.
While watching the dissection, the Princess came out of the shower.
She looked quite refreshed.
"Did you get clean?"
"Yes."
For now, I hugged her and sniffed her.
"It's fine."
"Ew! A girl!
"Who?!"
The boys were flustered by the sudden appearance of a beauty.
They are fine with monster corpses and organs, but they can't handle human girls?
"Girls? Me and Hashidate-sensei are girls too, right?"
The twin-tailed girl was pressing the boys.
"This adventurer who defeated this monster."
The sensei introduced her to the students.
"Oh! Could it be, the Cherry Princess!"
The girl seemed to realize the Princess's identity.
"Yes."
"Amazing! Can we take a photo together?!"
She approached with blood all over her, so the Princess, unusually, was taken aback.
When someone suddenly does something incomprehensible, you freeze up quite a bit.
"I-I'm in trouble. It'll get dirty."
"It's fine! We won't touch you!"
She pulled out her smartphone with a beaming smile.
Unable to refuse, the Princess ended up in the same frame.
Even the invincible Princess has weaknesses.
She's a little cute.
"Yay!"
Making a V-sign, the girl took a selfie with the Princess.
Since the Princess seemed released, we decided to watch the dissection together.
"Externally it looks like a fish, but internally it seems to be a structure like a gill-breathing mammal."
"Hmm, how strange..."
The Princess was also staring intently at the gill part.
"Well, Treants also look like plants, but the inside was an animal."
At that moment, the sensei entered.
"That's right! Treants were interesting too~!"
It seems she has also examined Treants.
Could it be the individual I defeated?
"What was interesting about that was that it could store leaves."
It seems she has also dissected it to examine the structure here.
Speaking of Treants -- I have something I'm curious about too.
"Sensei, Treants had leaves growing on them, but are those real leaves?"
"Yes, they have chlorophyll and appear to synthesize carbohydrates and metabolize."
"Hmm~"
"But, I've never seen a chlorophyll structure like that."
"It's pitch black inside the dungeon... how do they utilize it?"
"Perhaps creatures that originally lived in bright places were sent in with their reproductive abilities omitted."
So, to get the nutrition needed to survive, they have no choice but to attack adventurers...
"Oh, I see."
Who did it -- that becomes the question.
Does it mean they are suddenly spawned in the dungeon = sent in?
I don't understand the meaning of making the structure so conveniently like a game.
Besides that, I was able to hear various interesting stories.
Even looking at monsters purely as organisms, they have diverse structures and are fascinating.
"Well then, we will be taking our leave around here."
"Oh, is that so? Please don't mind us."
"No, no, the dissection is probably more important."
"Ahaha..."
"Thank you very much."
The sensei gave a bitter smile, but she probably wants to investigate various things while they are fresh.
Returning the card to the entrance window with the Princess, we left the facility.
Looking at her face -- I felt as if her mood had improved, somehow.
"Darling, I had a misunderstanding."
"Misunderstanding? About what?"
"..."
She was silent, but I somehow guessed.
She had gotten upset starting from the fact that the supermarket clerk was a woman, so it was probably jealousy.
"You don't say anything even if you go one-on-one with Oga-san without limits..."
"That guy is fine. There's no way I would lose to a guy like that."
"So, does that mean you feel threatened by the girls at the shop and the university sensei?"
"..."
Is that so?
"From any angle, I think the Princess wins."
"Really?"
"Yes -- anyway, I heard that sensei was a biology specialist, so I thought she would be perfect for our plan."
The plan was the Human Evolution Plan, which might create new humans.
"Hmm..."
She was thinking while walking.
"I don't actually know what will happen once a child is born, so I thought expert knowledge and advice would be necessary."
"You're right, Darling, but I had been thinking about that too."
"Eh? Do you have an acquaintance who is an expert?"
"Do you know that our Yaegashi Group is involved in life-extension business?"
"Yes -- I've heard rumors about it. Taking huge sums of money from the rich to extend life by 20-30 years or prevent aging or something."
"Yes. There is a doctor in charge of that business..."
"Did you think of asking that person?"
"..."
She had a difficult expression.
She might not have a good impression of that person, but if a doctor is entrusted with such an important business by the Yaegashi Group, they must be excellent.
Well, scholars and doctors seem to have a lot of eccentric people, so maybe that's the kind of person.
"Is that someone you dislike, Princess?"
"To put it plainly, yes. I admit they are excellent, but honestly, I don't want to be indebted to them."
"The sensei just now was a bit eccentric too, but I don't think their personality is broken or that they are a weird person."
Since we haven't really interacted seriously, I don't know for sure.
We got caught up in a small trouble, but we secured the supplies.
Even if we are thrown into the deep layer again, we should be fine.
Well, I don't want to be thrown there.
There's also the possibility of ending up like "in the middle of a stone".
We went straight back to the hotel.
"Princess! What is that outfit!"
Kaorulko was surprised because she was wearing a tracksuit and such.
"We were attacked by a monster at sea."
"Could it be a spawn at sea?!"
"They spawn at sea too. And it was indeed an aquatic monster."
"Eh?! What was it like?"
She looked eager to see, so I showed her the photo.
"...Gross!"
Well, honestly, I think this one is gross too.
Fish body, human-like arms, and huge plate-like eyes.
From any angle, it's gross.
There is zero cute element.
"So it got dirty, and I bought new clothes on the way."
"You didn't have to wear a tracksuit."
"I thought it would be good for movement... -- but..."
Ah, maybe -- the Princess might have disliked the tracksuit.
"Eh~?"
"I think it's cute... is that no good?"
"It's no good."
"Then I'll have to put some of the Princess's clothes in my Item Box."
"I think that would be good."
While Kaorulko and I were talking, the Princess came back after changing.
It was her usual loose loungewear.
It's a plain-looking outfit, but is it actually ultra-high-end or haute couture or something?
Basically, I'm a country bumpkin living in the mountains.
I'm an old man, so I don't know fashion either.
Well, Kaorulko seems to choose the clothes, so I'll leave it to her.
"Kaorulko -- what kind of person is the doctor doing life extension at the Yaegashi Group?"
"Eh?!"
She froze with a shocked expression.
"No, the Princess said she doesn't want to be indebted to them, so I was wondering what kind of person they are~."
"To put it plainly, they are an eccentric."
"Is it that bad?"
"It would be a hassle if they followed you around, so it's better not to get involved."
The danger comes through even in that expression.
Is that a mad scientist?
Maybe they are also researching monsters.
It's a completely unknown sample, and the fact that human bodies are strengthened in the dungeon would interest a scientist.
"Understood."
"Really, I think they are a person with irreplaceable talent..."
In the old days, it would be like Mozart.
Since the Princess dislikes them, they must be quite something.
Immediately, I edited the video taken today and uploaded it to the site.
I put a caption on it just in case.
'This specimen was brought directly to a facility researching monsters. I was shown the dissection, but although the exterior was a fish, the interior was a creature like a mammal.'
Something like that.
'Waaaaah!'
'Gross!'
'Freaking gross!'
'The eyes! The eyes!'
The comment section was mostly like this.
It was all negative, but it was quite lively.
I felt a strange sense of unity.
'Monster meat is sold often, but I don't want to eat this one.'
Many agreed with this comment.
I think so too, but why?
I eat Orcs and Minotaurs without hesitation...
Is it the grossness of the appearance, arms on a fish?
'Wooooo! The Princess's casual wear!'
'Too beautiful!'
'Bikini armor is good, but casual wear is good too.'
Somehow, the Princess's casual wear was well-received.
Well, she's beautiful and has a good figure, so anything suits her.
She was complaining, but she looked cute in the tracksuit too.
-- A few days later, we received a call that the items ordered from the weapon shop had arrived.
We decided to go pick them up immediately.
"Hi~"
"Welcome~"
I received the missile and the sling rope.
The rope seemed to be made of a black material.
I pulled it a little, and it was quite strong, so it seemed promising.
"I saw the Merman video."
"Oh, is Merman a monster?"
"It would have been nice if it was a mermaid~ -- but that one..."
The old man gave a bitter smile.
It's interesting, but gross.
Certainly, if it was a mermaid with a human upper body, I'd want to see it.
"If the upper body is human, can we communicate?"
"Well, I think the Goblin is the closest to humans, but that's them..."
"Haha, yes."
-- Even so, we are communicating with Harpies whose upper bodies look human.
Were the ones at the wall on Floor 7 okay?
According to the adventurers there, everyone escaped...
After chatting with the weapon shop old man, we left the store.
It seems there are currently no adventurers who have come into contact with the Labyrinth Cult or the guild Dancing Darkness who fled into the dungeon.
Many adventurers gather at the weapon shop, so information comes in together.
If you want to know dungeon information, it's faster to ask that old man.
No information -- no, even if we make contact, we might just be thrown into the deep layer again and go missing...
Well, we've raised the alarm this much, and everyone is on guard, so I don't think they will be thrown there easily.
Speaking of which, the dungeon is like a fantasy game, but Elves and Dwarves don't appear.
Elves can use magic, and if they appear on the enemy side, it would be troublesome...
But they really look like humans.
If we were thrown to Floor 9, the next Floor 10 is probably the end...
If that thing coming out of the crack in the ground is the final boss, will Elves not appear?
While walking and thinking, a message came into my smartphone.
'She's here!'
Who was it? It was the university sensei.
"Here? Where did she come?"
'To the dungeon!'
"Eh?!"
Suddenly.
Give me a call at least -- thinking that, I asked for the location, and it seemed to be at the automatic ticket gates at the dungeon entrance.
I hurriedly went there.
"Niwa-san!"
The sensei was waiting near the automatic ticket gates.
She was wearing a vinyl-like raincoat poncho.
She seems to have prepared for the dungeon at least.
"Don't come suddenly."
"I just had some free time."
"So, what happened suddenly?"
"Didn't you say before that you could communicate with a Harpy?"
"Yes, well..."
"I want to see it."
"Eh?! Suddenly?!"
"Is that no good?"
"No, it's not no good, but please contact us in advance. We have various schedules."
"Understood."
Saying that, people like this with their own pace don't understand at all.
"Today, I don't know if we can enter the dungeon and meet a Harpy. Since the opponent is a monster, they might have been hunted."
"I understand."
"Anyway, you can't enter the dungeon immediately."
"Is that so?"
"First, you have to go to the government office and get a provisional adventurer license or an entry card."
"That's troublesome."
Scholars are amazing at their specialties, but they know nothing about other things.
"Then, let's go to the government office."
I invited her to the government office.
"Eh? Is that okay?"
"Well, we have time now, so it's fine. But please contact me next time something happens."
"Understood."
Going to the government office together, we went to the usual sister's window.
"Hi~"
"..."
The sister was looking at us with white eyes.
"What is it?"
"Another woman again? You abandoned Kirara and the others..."
The beauty's cold gaze is unbearable.
"How rude -- they said they wanted to leave them, so I agreed."
"..."
She might hate me, but this is the government office, and work must flow like a conveyor belt.
Personal feelings are not allowed there.
"Sensei, since you're here, why not try for a provisional license?"
"What happens if I do that?"
"Perhaps you might have the aptitude for an adventurer."
"Really?"
"Maybe you could even use magic? Doesn't that sound interesting?"
"I, I suppose!"
The sensei's eyes shone.
She was on board, so the sister's white eyes at the window meant nothing -- we got the provisional adventurer license issued.
The two of us headed to the dungeon entrance.