Chapter 79 - Chapter 79: Sudden Request
Since the Princess had gone out, I went into the dungeon alone for the first time in a while.
Along the way, I rescued a black cat on the verge of death.
Using a recovery potion, I looked for a mage who could use healing at the camp on the 4th floor, and there was Sana.
It seemed she had been diving into the dungeon solo.
Her younger sister Mio was there too.
Don't push yourself too hard, okay?
She asked me to help her level up, so since I had nothing else to do, I accepted.
We repeated battles on the 5th floor.
While doing so, it seemed Sana's level had also surpassed 30.
Perhaps because she was pushing herself, it felt like she was leveling up fast.
――No, maybe it's because I, a high-level guy at the start, dragged her along and shot her level up all at once.
I understand she has motivation, but an old man like me is a bit worried.
Sana seems to want to level up more, but the Princess will be back soon anyway.
I also need to prepare dinner.
It is a hotel, so room service is available, but it seems they have grown completely tired of it.
Well, even if there are many menus, once you've gone through them all, you'll want to try something different.
I decided to put Sana on the back of the bicycle and return to the camp on the 4th floor.
I have to go get the cat I left there.
As I pedaled, I saw the camp lights coming into view, so I went close and stored the bicycle.
"Ah, um! Daisuke-san, the thanks for the level up..."
"Golem magic stones are fine."
Since there were five in total, that's 5 million yen in total.
I'll give one to Sana, so my share is 4 million yen――I might be taking a bit too much, but normally there aren't many high-level adventurers who would take on such a task.
The surest way is to join a top guild, but since there are many applicants, that's also difficult.
My existence, casually accepting such things, can be said to be rare.
"Even if it's something else... w-well, my body or..."
"Huh?! What did you say?!"
Suddenly, pretending to be a protagonist with hearing loss, I got slapped hard by Sana.
It seems I hesitate to touch pitiful girls.
Why has an old man like me become so popular?
Is there some kind of buff on my parameters?
If so, it would be strange if men didn't like me too, but is it a buff limited to the opposite sex?
"Muu!"
Sana was pouting.
"Instead of an old man like me, choose a younger, handsome high-level adventurer."
"I want Daisuke-san..."
"Hah? What was that?"
"Ugh!"
Again, she slapped around my shoulders.
Since her level has gone up, it hurt quite a bit.
"Umm..."
What a problem.
I couldn't just touch a girl, so I headed toward the black cat.
"Hi~. It's the old man who left the cat."
"Oh! Customer, the meat is ready too!"
"Well then――I'll take half, and sell the rest."
"Thanks as always~!"
From the buyer, I received the backpack containing the cat, the meat, and the money.
With this, I won't have to worry about meat for a while.
Orc meat is delicious.
At first, I hesitated a bit about eating humanoid meat――but now I'm completely fine with it.
Familiarity is terrifying.
Even against former humans, I have no hesitation in combat.
Could this also be the influence of the dungeon?
There was a rumor before that humans turn into monsters due to the influence of mana gathered here...
Well, I shouldn't think too deeply about it.
So far, unless it's related to Ghouls or that woman from the Labyrinth Cult, I haven't heard any stories of humans turning into monsters.
Thinking of something unpleasant, I opened the backpack, and the cat was curled up asleep.
Maybe she's relieved.
Seeing that, I also felt a bit relieved.
Sana was trying to exchange the magic stones, but it's better to exchange them on the surface.
"It's more expensive to exchange on the surface. They're heavy, so I'll put them in my Item Box and take them outside."
"Thank you."
"In return, carry the backpack with the cat."
Living creatures cannot be stored in the Item Box.
"Yes!"
An old man, a girl, and one cat ran through the darkness of the dungeon.
The bicycle is indeed fast.
Moreover, the one pedaling is a high-level adventurer.
We arrived at the entrance hall in no time.
I stored the bicycle and took out Sana's bicycle in exchange.
"Thank you."
"Are you going to the magic stone buyer immediately?"
"Yes."
Taking the backpack with the cat, she slung it over her back.
The two of us left the dungeon directly, and the sky was already turning red.
Under the sky that was starting to show a bit of gradient, we headed toward the market's buyer.
The streets were noisy and lively as usual.
Naturally, we were heading to the old man's shop as always.
"Hi~"
"Oh, brother. What rare thing did you bring today?"
He responded cheerfully.
"Not me, her."
I took out the magic stones from my Item Box and handed them to Sana.
"Please."
"Oh, magic stones!? They're big. This is――a Golem core, isn't it?"
"Pinpon!"
"Hehehe!"
As the two old men laughed together, Sana pulled on my clothes.
"Daisuke-san, what is 'Pinpon'?"
"Huh?!"
The two old men harmonized and suddenly became serious.
I never thought an era where Pinpon wouldn't be understood would come...
Well, when the world stopped, TV broadcasts weren't even a thing...
Since it became an awkward situation, we finished exchanging the magic stones.
The magic stones I got are still inside my Item Box.
Well, I have enough money anyway.
Inside the dungeon, these magic stones can serve as currency, so I can ask for help.
I'll hold onto them for such times.
After exchanging the money, I bought canned cat food at the market.
"Hey, we're back on the surface."
Peeking into the backpack, the cat was sleeping.
She doesn't seem sick or anything like that...
Looking for a place with few people, I found a spot where I could sit, and let the cat out.
It was dark inside the dungeon so I couldn't tell, but she is truly pitch black.
"Meow."
"Looks energetic."
I stroked her head.
I took out a paper plate from my Item Box and opened the canned food.
"Hug-hug!"
She started eating with quite a bit of force.
So she was just hungry after all.
She's eating heartily, but her black fur is quite dirty.
It's covered in dust.
"Sana, watch over her for a bit."
"Yes."
I returned to the market and went back to the shop that sold the cat food.
"Excuse me~. Do you have a brush for cats?"
I spoke to the female shop assistant wearing an apron.
"Yes, we do."
When I saw it, it looked just right, so I got one.
"If you have cat food, does that mean some people own cats?"
"Yes――dogs cannot be let loose, but cats are no problem."
Now that I think about it, there are stray cats too.
Was this black cat one of them?
She's used to people, so maybe she was owned before.
After buying the brush, I returned to Sana.
The cat had already finished eating and was curled up on Sana's lap.
"She really is used to people. Maybe she was a pet cat."
"That's right."
I picked up the cat and brushed her body.
As I ran the brush over her black fur, she stretched with her tail up, so she didn't seem to dislike it.
After brushing her thoroughly, she became quite clean.
"I'd like to wash her――but cats hate water and hot water."
Cats are basically clean animals, so she'll probably manage on her own from now on.
After finishing brushing, I put her down on the ground.
"Meow."
"Take care."
"Meow."
"..."
"Surely Sana isn't saying she wants to keep her, right?"
"Huh? She's cute... but we're renting a room in the guild headquarters."
"Well, that's true. My place is a hotel, so it's impossible. She is cute though."
"Meow."
"She's friendly, and maybe the townspeople will take care of her?"
"Yes."
The black cat glanced at us and disappeared into the crowd.
I hope she realized the dungeon was dangerous.
Since the exchange was done and the black cat was energetic, it was time to part ways with Sana.
"If you want to eat curry, let me know. I'll make it."
"...I want to eat with Daisuke-san."
"The Princess――even Mio is wary of her, hehe."
"Muu."
Sana didn't seem amused, but the Princess takes priority right now.
We can live in this hotel thanks to the Princess.
Through her charisma, she became friends with the top rankers.
Normally, those guys are out of reach.
"There's something more important than curry."
"Yes."
"With Sana's level, you might be falling out of balance with other members."
It would be good if she could lead Kirara and the others, but she's still young.
No, being young isn't a bad thing.
Like me, she just became an adventurer, but she has already surpassed the level of the veteran Kirara.
Here, we should consider various routes.
"Y-yes."
"Moving to a higher-ranked guild is also an option."
"..."
"Talk it over with Kirara too."
"Yes."
I'll introduce Iroha's place and Yuuki to her as potential transfer destinations.
Both have solid leaders and many female members.
"By the way."
I gave her the hot spring water.
"What is this?"
She held up the bottle of water.
"It's not circulating in the streets, but it's water that can recover mana."
"Eh!? Really?"
"But, unlike normal recovery potions, it won't recover instantly? It takes two nights; you sleep and wake up, and then you recover――that kind of feeling."
"Even so, it's amazing."
"Well, use it."
"Thank you."
As she bowed politely, the open part of her chest came into view.
Cough-cough.
"See you then."
"Ah, um! Daisuke-san!"
"Hm? What is it?"
"If we go on an expedition, please let me join you too!"
"Eh? If we dive in, it will definitely be an attack on the deep layers."
"I understand."
She looked at me with serious eyes.
Old men are weak against a young person's serious gaze.
I start thinking things like "I have to do something for her" and such...
Can I really send her to that stage of slaughter?
Well, she has become an adventurer and leveled up this much.
She must have encountered quite terrifying scenes.
And yet, she wants to jump into the vortex again, so her determination must be real.
"Umm, I understand――but whether to add you to the party depends on the Princess's judgment. She is the guild leader."
"I understand."
Sana must have crossed the line of death and gained some confidence.
If she has the ability, I think the Princess won't say no...
"Then, if there's such a talk, contact me."
"Yes."
"As I said earlier, talk to Kirara and the other members immediately."
"I will talk to them as soon as I get back."
"That's good."
After parting with the mage girl with the large chest, I did some shopping at the market and returned to the hotel.
"Muu!"
When I returned, the Princess was in a bad mood.
"How was Sensei's place?"
"...It seems I need to take medicine or get injections for about 10 days."
Since it's adjusted to each person's body cycle, the timing will be different for everyone.
This time the main focus is testing for pregnancy, but if eggs are preserved, options increase even in emergencies.
"I see, it's quite troublesome."
"More importantly――where were you?"
"I went into the dungeon solo for the first time in a while."
"Muu."
She looked like she didn't trust me, but it was the truth.
"Here."
I took out a Golem core from my Item Box.
"A 6th floor Golem?"
"If you know how to defeat them, they're great money makers, hehe."
"Darling, no matter how many Golems you defeat, you don't get experience points."
"Well, that's true. But it's also a chance to record videos."
"...I understand."
She seemed to accept it.
For dinner.
Today, shall we have ramen?
What about the Princess and Kaorulko? I check just in case, and it seems fine.
I thought as a young lady she wouldn't eat ramen, but that doesn't seem to be the case.
So we decided on ramen, but I can't simmer the soup for hours.
I'll add various things to store-bought soup.
I'll also make stir-fried vegetables――and a bit of seasoning.
Basically, adding seasoning and fat makes it delicious.
I don't intend to tie a headband and cross my arms.
It's enough if I can eat easily.
I laid out the gyoza I bought at the market.
If it's not enough, they can eat rice balls too.
I bought these at the market too; they really sell everything there.
"Alright, please eat. I don't know if it will suit the young ladies' palates."
"It's fine. Darling's cooking is mostly delicious."
Mostly?
Well, I'm just an old man, so I can't be a first-class chef.
"I really think it's delicious."
"Thank you, Kaorulko."
They always eat the food I make looking delicious, so it must be true.
"Princess, I also brought orc meat, so we won't have to worry about meat for a while."
"I see! That's something to look forward to."
When eating delicious food, the Princess's mood improves.
In times like these, feeding them delicious food is the best.
Watching the Princess whose mood has improved, a phone call came from the front desk.
"I'll take it."
Taking the phone, it seemed to be a customer.
"What is it, Darling?"
"It seems Iroha has arrived."
"Oga?"
"Did she come to beg for a meal?"
"If so, that's fine, but is something wrong?"
Kaorulko looked worried.
As the three of us exchanged glances, the door was knocked on.
I opened it.
"Yes, welcome."
"..."
When I opened the door, it wasn't her, laughing wildly as usual.
She had a serious, pale blue face.
The Princess also noticed something was wrong at a glance.
"Oga, what's wrong? Is something the matter?"
"..."
At the Princess's words, she entered the room and put her hand on the carpet.
"Help me!"
"Oga! What happened!"
The Princess was surprised by her sudden action.
It's no wonder, as it's unimaginable from the usual Iroha.
If she's this desperate, it's a man――no, if there was a man, she wouldn't be challenging me.
Next, is it a relative?
"Did something happen to Iroha's relative?"
"...Uu... my sister..."
"Sister?! You had a sister?"
The Princess was surprised.
It seems the Princess didn't know her family structure either.
I didn't know either, and such topics never came up usually.
Well, since they do this job, there are likely many people with complicated backgrounds...
"Since you're asking us for help, it must be related to the dungeon. Is your sister an adventurer?"
At my question, she hesitated a bit before speaking.
"...She's a Mole."
"Heh~, is that so?"
Moles are the ones who dig holes in the dungeon to find new floors.
If you discover a new floor first, the probability of getting treasure or items increases.
Well, this dungeon can connect to terrible places.
When Kaoru's magic opened a huge hole, the hole connected somewhere.
What's beyond that? No one knows.
If it were me, I would absolutely refuse to enter such a hole.
Those who do that without hesitation are the "Moles."
I thought Iroha's sister was an adventurer, but a Moles?
"So, did she get lost somewhere after digging a hole?"
"...It seems so..."
She doesn't seem to know well either.
A unit sent to dig a hole in the dungeon didn't return――they got lost.
That's all she seems to know.
"Entering a dungeon where you don't know what's happening――you have to rely on top rankers."
"Please! Like this!"
Iroha put her hand on the carpet again.
I don't say it out loud, but I'm not in the mood.
Because I'm a cowardly old man.
"Princess, what do we do? I will follow the decision of the leader, the Princess..."
"Of course, we will help!"
Immediate decision――she's so manly.
"I understand. I'll follow the Princess."
"Ha~"
Kaorulko let out a light sigh.
When the Princess goes somewhere, we have to act together without question.
She must have been dragged around like this.
"Oh, right..."
After saying it out loud, I hesitated a bit.
Whether to take Sana with us on this search.
Seeing her serious gaze...
Of course, I resist throwing a girl into a death trap, but if I don't take her determination seriously here, she might really hate me.
"Iroha, who are the members from your side?"
"With my support, I'll take Koeda."
"I understand."
Being able to immediately decide on deploying to such a dangerous operation means she trusts them quite a bit.
Maybe she's considering them for the next leader position.
"Princess, I have an adventurer I want to take..."
"Darling?"
"Yeah."
"If Darling says so, she must have the ability――I understand."
The Princess said that, but what would she say if she saw Sana...
I'm worried, but she has gained quite a bit of ability.
No, this rapid rise in such a short time is surprising.
She didn't become high-level through cheating like me at the start.
Since the Princess gave permission, I sent a message to Sana――but I got a reply immediately.
'I'm going! I'll definitely go!'
"I'll say this first, but it will be quite dangerous? Since human life is priority, you might not be able to earn money."
'I'm prepared!'
"If something happens to you, what about Mio-chan?"
'I have asked Kirara-san to take me to my grandfather's place.'
"Did you talk to Kirara and the others that much?"
"Yes, I also talked about the level."
"I understand."
I thought it was over, but the next message came.
'Kirara here. If anything happens to Sana, I won't forgive you!'
It seems Kirara is borrowing Sana's terminal.
I'm blocked by her anyway.
"I can't say it's safe――it's quite a dangerous situation, so come here and I'll explain the details before deciding."
'Ugh!'
Sana is motivated...
"Iroha, when do we leave? Are we leaving now? Fortunately, I just packed food in my Item Box."
"I'm sorry, but I want to leave immediately..."
"Princess!"
"I understand, I'll prepare immediately."
"Sorry!"
She put her hand on the carpet again.
"Then, Iroha, go back and prepare? Let's meet at the dungeon entrance."
"I understand!"
She stood up and hurriedly left through the door.
"She had a sister..."
"That's right."
Kaorulko also looked surprised.
"Kaorulko, do you have siblings?"
"No."
"The Princess is a twin..."
"And Darling?"
"I have a younger brother who worked in the city, but when the world stopped..."
"I see..."
Oops, before that, I have to contact Sana.
"She said she's leaving immediately. We'll meet at the dungeon entrance."
I sent her a message.
'Understood! I'll prepare immediately!'
"I'll use the food in my Item Box, so you don't need to bring any."
'Yes!'
――Even so, I shouldn't distribute at least some food when entering the dungeon, as anything can happen.
We can't rule out accidents where we end up acting alone.
Like when the Princess and I were thrown by the Labyrinth Cult.
Well, in that state, even if we had some food, the possibility of immediate death is high.
Actually, the Princess and Kaorulko were on the very edge.
I remembered the Labyrinth Cult and was dominated by ominous thoughts.
Iroha's sister might also be related to the Labyrinth Cult.
Really...