Chapter 78 - Chapter 78: A Date in the Dungeon? Maybe
Even without grasping a foothold for conquering Floor 7, some time passed.
Then, I received a call from Sensei, who was researching monsters.
A message arrived on my smartphone.
『I have found the reason why the women related to Niwa-san cannot conceive』
Eh? Seriously found it?
I was extremely interested, so I replied immediately.
「What was the cause?」
『No abnormalities were found in the sperm, but fertilization did not occur』
「Was there no other problem?」
『Yes, they were no different from normal sperm, but fertilization simply would not happen』
「Does it seem like there is some cause?」
『Even under an electron microscope, I didn't think there were structural problems...』
So, no problems with appearance, but fertilization just doesn't happen.
It is certainly strange, but...
Physical laws warp inside the dungeon.
It wouldn't be strange if the function of sperm warped too.
「So, is it the influence of the dungeon?」
『Probably―― this examination was only on sperm, but I would like to examine adventurers' eggs too』
「Will there really be someone willing to cooperate...」
If I tell the Princess about this, will she cooperate?
Infertility treatment requires cooperation between husband and wife.
Well, we are not officially husband and wife yet...
『In order to solve the infertility problem, cooperation is necessary, so please ask for it』
「Yes, to the best of my ability」
『Thank you very much』
「By the way―― the eggs that Sensei used for the examination...」
It seems she actually tried to fertilize them.
『Those were my eggs』
Eeeeeh?!
It's a little scary...
Can egg collection be done so easily?
When I saw videos, there should have been quite a lot of preparation involved.
Or, were they collected in advance for some experiment?
She might be capable of that...
Dr. Yajima of the Yaegashi Group was a dangerous person, but perhaps it runs in the mother-daughter line.
「If there is a willing partner, is it okay if I give out Sensei's contact information?」
『It is fine』
I see~ So it seems a child won't be possible after all.
If superhumans were born from high-level adventurers, the dungeon could be conquered in no time.
From the perspective of whoever created the dungeon, they wouldn't want to admit such a thing.
Since my Item Box has a bug, maybe the dungeon system itself has a loophole?
――I had a little hope for that, but it wasn't that easy.
Anyway, I'll tell the Princess about this now.
She was lying on the sofa, reading something on a tablet.
「Understood. Infertility treatment is something couples do, right?」
She agreed so easily. She is too manly.
「Is that okay?」
「Of course」
I gave her Sensei's contact information, and she started communicating immediately.
She must be wondering if her own planned scheme is going to collapse, right?
She seems interested, but as always, her actions are fast.
「By the way, let's get Oga to cooperate too」
The Princess made a surprising proposal.
「Eh? Will he cooperate?」
「He is the one who got on my plan. He must be interested, right?」
「I hope so...」
As expected, I can't ask Iroha myself.
We are in some kind of friend state, but...
「Alright! Darling, I've talked to Oga」
Action!
「Really?」
She will cooperate too?
It's grateful, but...
「Of course―― I will go to that person who likes monsters soon」
「Should I go with you?」
「Hmm, for real infertility treatment, Darling's help would be necessary―― but this time is different. It's a gathering of women only, so Darling would feel out of place」
「I kind of felt that way」
「We will go alone」
「Understood」
While that conversation was happening, Kaorulko was listening with total indifference.
I haven't done that kind of thing with her, after all.
If I did, I wouldn't be able to use Healing.
「What is Kaorulko's opinion?」
「About pregnancy?」
「No, including that, anything is fine」
I was a little worried that she might feel excluded or left out...
「Well, I predicted that high-level adventurers cannot conceive」
「As expected?」
「Yes. If superhumans were created so easily, the dungeon would be conquered too easily」
「Haha, I have the exact same opinion」
「The dungeon is made to stir up people's gambling instincts and draw them deeper inside」
「I feel some kind of artificiality in that」
「Yes―― it seems to stir up human negative emotions」
「I see」
It feels like gods made a game and put bugs called humans inside to amuse themselves.
Even so, it would be unsatisfactory and boring if it could be cleared easily with a cheat.
Regarding the bug in my Item Box, it hasn't been much help in conquering the dungeon.
It can only record videos.
That is probably why it is being overlooked.
――Later, the women contacted each other and headed to Sensei's place.
Kaorulko stayed behind, looking busy with office work.
I have outsourced various tasks, so I am a little free.
I check the video I uploaded a while ago.
It already has about 5 million views, and the counter is ticking along steadily.
There is a deposit in the tens of millions into my account.
Since I have time, I make documents to give to the accountant.
I download the account transaction data and check things like "this is an expense," "this is unrelated"―― etc.
When I give that to the accountant, they will file a blue return using my data.
I could do it myself, but I don't want to do such troublesome things.
Since I have money, I leave it to others and do what I like with the remaining time.
This is true leisure.
I handed the data to the accountant, so I decided to go out.
There is no point in staying locked up in the hotel.
「Kaorulko, I'm going for a walk」
「Have a good time」
The Princess would definitely say she's coming with me, but Kaorulko is different.
Usually, she is being led around by the Princess, so she is making time for herself now.
She probably wants to get some of her hobbies, like light novels, too.
Leaving the hotel, I scouted the market.
I bought food and supplies I would need, then headed to the weapon shop to replenish the ordered Single-pipe Missiles.
Speaking of which, broken Single-pipe scaffolding is still in my Item Box.
Since Yuuki's Fix magic is applied to it, it won't be absorbed even if left in the dungeon.
How much power does that magic have?
If there were a place like a crack in the underground that I saw when I was thrown to the deep layers, it would be the perfect dumping ground.
I think while eating skewered monster meat.
「Well, what should I do...」
That's it―― I'll dive into the dungeon alone for once.
Returning to my roots.
Once decided, I headed to the dungeon entrance.
I won't go to the deep layers even if I say I'm diving.
I intend to turn back at a suitable spot.
How about Floor 3? No, Floor 4 would be better.
If there are Orcs, they can be food too, which is the best.
Floor 4 has the Harpies too.
I want to see their faces.
They haven't been hunted by other adventurers, right?
I pass through the automatic gate and equip armor taken out of my Item Box in the entrance hall.
My usual equipment is all in the Item Box.
It would be in the way if left in the hotel room.
「Well then――」
I take out my bicycle from storage and charge into the darkness.
I have no intention of dealing with grunts.
I could take the train, but my bicycle is faster than that.
I cut through the persistent wolves that usually bother me.
If I lead them, it becomes a train, which is bad, but my bicycle's speed doesn't even allow that.
I cut through Floor 3 and arrive at Floor 4.
Floors 1 and 2 are full of people, but adventurers are few this far.
Only the so-called hardcore players come this far.
Dying in the shallow layers is rare, but this place is dangerous.
「Well, is there no prey...」
While wandering around, I encountered an enemy.
An Orc suited to the occasion.
「Ah, how should I film this...」
I've been fighting rare enemies and strong enemies, so will I get no views fighting an Orc now?
Well, the fact that I'm thinking like this means I might be poisoned by video sites.
I film it just in case it can be used as material.
It might be used to bulk up volume in a lackluster battle scene.
「Bumo!」
He swings a huge club, but I lightly dodge such attacks.
I enter the monster's range and attach myself to its log-like thigh.
If this were a beauty's thigh, I wouldn't say a word.
「Orya! Tenchi Gaeshi!」
I hug the Orc's thigh and throw it over.
「Pugya!」
The Orc makes a slightly cute sound and flips over.
「Alright!」
I jump onto its giant body and crush the enemy's head with a Rebar Mace taken from my Item Box.
The head is crushed, red innards scatter, and eyeballs pop out.
If it were a Minotaur, it would still move even like this, but this pig monster stopped moving at this point.
「Store!」
I put the monster's body into my Item Box.
Well, if it goes inside, its breath is definitely cut off.
「Well, the next prey is...」
「Gya! Gya!」
「Oops, a Harpy―― is that her? It seems she is safe」
「Gya!」
I try calling her for now.
Gigi should react.
「Hey! Gigi?」
「Gya!」
There was a reply, so it must be her.
Soon, the sound of flapping wings came down nearby.
She flew over bouncing up and down, but her movement was a bit strange.
「What's wrong?」
――Thinking that, the Harpy was holding something on her leg.
Is it prey?
「Gya」
「What did you catch?」
It is a small animal with black fur.
Does something like this exist inside the dungeon?―― As I stared intently, I realized what it was.
「Gi」
「A cat?!」
「Gyaa!」
The Harpy spreads her wings proudly.
Did it wander in from outside and get lost in the dungeon?
Curiosity kills the cat, and that was happening right before my eyes.
「Ah, poor thing...」
「Gi?」
I took out chocolate from my Item Box and showed it.
「Hey, trade that prey for this」
「Gya!」
The Harpy threw the cat in front of me and snatched the chocolate.
「Hug-hug!」
She immediately bit into the chocolate she caught with her leg.
「Owaa, is it already hopeless?」
It seems barely alive, but it is seriously injured.
I took out a spray bottle containing a Potion from my Item Box.
Without light, it's monochrome and hard to see, so I use a chemical light.
I spray the Potion onto the wounds.
While conquering the dungeon, I felt the need for another item and prepared it.
A needle-less syringe.
Using this, I put the Potion into its mouth and nasal mucosa.
「Gefu gefu!」
It seems a little more energetic, but it is still dangerous.
At the camp near the Floor 4 entrance, there must be a mage who can use Healing.
I dash to the camp holding the black cat.
As I approach a place with people, fiber optic lights appear, and the scenery changes from monochrome to color.
I can see adventurers, so there must be someone who can use Healing magic.
I search for an adventurer and jump into the camp.
「Excuse me! Is there a mage who can use Healing?」
「What happened?」「Did a monster get you?」
There is a restless murmur, but no mage raises their hand.
「Please!」
「Y-yes...」
A small voice was heard.
「Thank you!」
Saying that, I turned toward the voice, but coming out from behind the adventurer was a familiar face.
「U-um...」
「Sana!」
「Y-yes」
「Are you okay coming to a layer this deep? Where is Kirara?!」
「U-um... I am alone...」
「Don't push yourself too hard」
「...」
Too dangerous.
「Anyway, did Sana become able to use Healing too?」
「Yes」
Since she focused on offensive magic, Healing feels like a support skill for her.
「Then, cast magic on this kid」
I handed over the black cat, which was limp in my hands.
「A cat...」
「It must have gotten in from somewhere」
Did the Harpy do it, or did the Harpy pick it up after it was critically injured by another monster―― it is unknown.
「Healing!」
Blue light danced inside the dungeon and soaked into the black cat.
「!」
The cat lifted its head, shook its head, and twitched its ears.
Does it not understand the situation?
It doesn't run away immediately. Is it tamed by people, or is it just not energetic enough?
I took out a backpack from my Item Box, laid a towel on it, and put the cat inside.
It seems to be behaving well.
Does it understand that if it runs away here, it will be attacked again?
「Um...」
「Hmm? What is it?」
Sana was fidgeting.
「Is Daisuke-san alone today?」
「Yeah」
「...Then, will you help me level up?」
「Hmm」
「...I will do anything」
「Even if you say anything...」
「...」
「Then―― don't eat all the curry by yourself」
「Ah, u...」
「Mio-chan was crying」
「Uu... I'm sorry」
It is dim and hard to see, but she seems to be blushing.
「Haha―― well, since the curry was given to Sana, it is okay to eat it」
「Is it not okay?」
「Well, there is time, so it is fine」
「Thank you」
She bowed politely.
I should level her up a bit, or it will be tough around here.
If a companion joins, we can go to Floor 5, but solo...
「If that's the case, I have to leave this cat somewhere」
I cannot fight while carrying it on my back like this.
I headed to a place that buys monsters.
It won't do any good leaving it with adventurers.
「Excuse me...」
「Welcome!」
An old man with a headband and coveralls handled it, so I took out the Orc from my Item Box.
「Oh! An Item Box!―― That means, from Miss Cherry Princess's place...」
The Princess is famous, but I am only recognized as the Item Box guy.
「That's right―― and I have a small request」
「What is it?」
「I will sell this Orc, so will you keep this for a while?」
I handed over the backpack.
「That is fine, but... it's not something dangerous, is it?」
「No, no」
I showed him the inside of the backpack.
The cat was curled up inside―― it seems to feel safe in narrow places.
「A cat?!」
「It seems to have wandered in from somewhere, and I want to take it to the surface, but I can't let it participate in combat, so I want you to keep it here for a bit」
「I see, in that case」
It seems he will keep it.
Well, even if it is leveling up, there is time to return to the surface, so it will only be a few hours.
It is endurance until then.
Since the cat is being kept, I decided to go out with Sana with peace of mind.
For leveling up, it would be Floor 5 or 6.
When I met them in the dungeon before, they were fighting Treants on Floor 5.
They might have reached a point where they must fight enemies around there to level up.
――In that case, their current level is probably late 20s.
Kirara said she was around there too, so Sana has caught up.
Isn't that a bit too reckless?
Since time is also limited, the goal is probably Floor 5.
As I was planning the future, she brought a bicycle.
She must have used it to get here.
If the level is late 20s, that is a considerable level.
If you ride a bicycle, you can skip encounters with low-level enemies like I did.
「Let's go on my bicycle. I'll put that one in your Item Box」
「Yes」
I stored the bicycle she handed me and took out my bicycle.
Standing her on the rear step after a long time, I started running through the darkness.
「Sana, can you see in the dark now?」
「I can!」
I see―― so she has reached a considerable level after all.
It is happy to see young people grow, but it is also worrying.
If she gets absorbed into the dungeon like Ren did, it would be a huge shock for me.
No, I don't really know about Ren... but it would be difficult situationally.
If Sana ends up like that, what about Mio?
I think she understands that too.
Well, maybe I shouldn't meddle in various things.
I don't want to be called an annoying old man either.
Thinking about various things, I arrived at Floor 5.
I proceed to near the middle.
「This area should be fine」
「Y-yes」
I store the bicycle in my Item Box and prepare for battle.
For now, I take out the Rebar Mace and assume a stance.
「Well, what will come out?」
I could film for this layer's battle, but I usually defeat them with Tenchi Gaeshi, so...
If I aim for video appeal, should I show a cool way to defeat them?
On the other hand, I can't go out of my way to do dangerous things.
I should do that when there is a companion mage.
「Guggogogo」
A low vibration-like sound came from the darkness.
A giant body made of rock gradually appeared, with eyes glowing red.
「Lucky! It's a Golem!」
I stored my weapon in my Item Box.
I can win against this one without weapons.
「Eh?! Is, is it a Golem?! Strikes and magic won't work, right!?」
「Didn't Sana watch my videos?」
「No, I watched them... but they didn't seem very helpful」
Well, my fighting style is too special.
「Princess! No―― Sana, stay here!」
「...Understood」
I got her name wrong, so she is a little sulking.
「Gogogo!」
Attacks using super-strong mass when hit, and rock defense.
Normally, it is a strong enemy―― but I quickly jumped into the enemy's range.
I attached myself to the rock leg.
「Oryaaaa! Tenchi Gaeshi!!」
With all my power, I grabbed the leg and threw it.
「Gogogo!」
The giant body writhed and fell, hitting the ground and shattering into pieces.
「Alright! Sana! Come!」
「Y-yes!」
While she was coming, I took out the Rotting Dagger from my Item Box and stabbed it into the edge of the large Magic Stone on the Golem's chest.
Soon, the rock surface began to rot due to the attached magic power.
「I-it's coming」
Sana jumped and came up to the Golem.
As expected, her level has gone up, so her movements are agile.
「Sana, are you doing basic physical training too?」
「Y-yes. I'm doing running and muscle training too」
「Great! Impressive, impressive」
「Ah, thank you」
I took out a sword from my Item Box and handed it to her.
「Use this to pry out the Magic Stone and take it」
「Yes!」
She took the sword and stabbed it into the rotting rock.
「It's not a great sword, so it's fine if it breaks」
「Ei!」
When she put in strength, the Magic Stone popped out.
At the same time, the light in its red eyes was lost.
「Ah!」
Sana's body began to glow.
Level up.
After that, we defeated several Golems.
「What level did you reach? You don't have to say if you don't want to」
「31」
「Oh, at that level, you might come up high in the rankings, right?」
「Daisuke-san! Thank you!」
In the darkness, Sana hugged me.
Her two large things were pressed against my body.
Haa~ What a bonus, what a bonus~.