Chapter 91 - Chapter 91: Safe Return Home
After rescuing Iroha's younger sister, we boarded the train and headed for the surface.
We were mentally exhausted, so we wanted to return to the surface as soon as possible, but it seems the train we were on got caught in a trap.
It is a damn game where you cannot return to normal unless you defeat a powerful monster that popped up in the displaced space.
We were caught in Floor 4, but if an adventurer who fights on Floor 4 gets displaced, death is certain.
I called it a damn game, but this is not a game.
There are no respawns, no resurrection spells.
If you die, your life ends right there.
It's not like dying in a dungeon would send you to another world, right?
Right?
We couldn't even use magic in the displaced space, yet somehow Sana's magic worked.
Perhaps the pattern on her back is related to something.
The "Emblem Squad," who can use magic outside the dungeon, also have patterns on their bodies like Sana.
Well, there are just rumors about that, no proof whatsoever.
Speaking of Sana, she leveled up quite a bit by defeating the big guy in this trap.
The opponent was small, but it was still a dragon.
It was probably a monster from Floor 8 or Floor 9.
Her level jumped straight to 44, apparently surpassing the Princess.
The Princess's flustered state upon hearing this was terrible, but this is just a matter of luck, so nothing can be done.
She also learned new magic along with leveling up.
It seems to be Great Recovery (High Heel) and Turn Undead.
Dungeon magic didn't have priest-type spells, but at such a high level, does a priest tree appear?
I don't know how powerful Turn Undead is until I try it, though...
We returned to the original dungeon and wanted to head for the surface, but since the dungeon train had an accident, we had to walk.
We arrived at the Floor 4 entrance on foot and decided to spend one night here.
We simply couldn't bring ourselves to walk all the way to the surface anymore.
By tomorrow, we could board the train for Floor 3.
Everyone wanted to go home quickly, but we unanimously agreed to spend one night.
We were too mentally drained from everything that happened.
High levels can handle physical fatigue, but mental fatigue is impossible to fix.
Wait, if we get status ailments, can't we just drink potions that cure them to clear it?
That's a possibility, but we should still rest when we need to rest.
"The Conductor probably wants to go home quickly, but please endure until tomorrow."
"No, thank you for saving us, even providing a meal... truly, thank you."
As expected, unlike adventurers, they are working adults.
They know their manners.
"Ahaha, getting caught up in something like that, just being alive is a blessing."
Iroha was laughing, but her sister Kagari and the mole men were all nodding along.
"No, really... I knew dungeons were dangerous places..."
"Will this count as work-related injury compensation?"
"Since it's a derailment accident, probably..."
"If there are casualties, things get pretty bad, right?"
"Actually, it's a huge disaster, but... this is a dungeon."
There was absolutely none of that; prioritizing the dungeon functioning as a mine seemed to come first.
However, it seems hazard pay will be issued.
Otherwise, no one would do such work.
Will the number of people willing to be engineers or conductors decrease after this incident?
No, there are no proper jobs right now.
Even if it's dangerous, there are those who want to do it if the pay is high enough.
While talking to the Conductor, the Princess and Sana were glaring at each other again.
"Guu nuu..."
They were fighting over the position of their sleeping spots.
Since their levels had become almost the same, the Princess couldn't force Sana out with strength.
"Hey, don't fight."
As usual, I put the Princess and Kaorulko on both sides of me.
I laid Sana down at the top of my head.
"Daisuke-san, you can use my body as a pillow."
"Haha, I'll decline."
"Really!"
She hugged me, wrapping her body around my head.
Since Sana's equipment is the Breast-Curtain Dress, something soft hit my head.
"What are you doing! Shh! Shh!"
The Princess was chasing Sana away.
"Hey! How long are you going to keep this up? Sleep already~!"
As expected, a complaint came from Iroha, who was sleeping a little distance away.
"Sana, you can wear a robe. There won't be any fierce battles anymore."
"Muu..."
Since I wasn't doing anything at all, she seemed unhappy.
Still, it finally quieted down, and everyone fell asleep.
―― Sleeping in the safe zone of the dungeon, the next day.
I woke up wrapped in the usual hazy gray.
The familiar scenery spread out, but without light in the dungeon, it was always the same.
The Princess and Kaorulko were hugging me, and Sana was at the top of my head.
Everything seemed to be in the same positions as yesterday, but the date should have changed.
Probably... my confidence is fading gradually, but I think I'm mentally worn out.
No matter how much the body is strengthened, the human mind doesn't work that way.
Maybe if I adapt to the dungeon, that feeling will disappear, but wouldn't that mean I'm no longer human and am instead like a monster?
Anyway, I can finally take the railway back to the surface.
If it's a high-speed train, we can avoid encounters with monsters.
I thought that when I boarded, but I never imagined the locomotive itself would get caught in a trap.
I woke everyone up and we ate.
Food was a concern since the number of people increased, but it seems we can return safely.
After finishing the meal, we departed.
The Princesses wore deep robes, judging that there would be no more combat.
"Sana, you should wear a robe too?"
"Y-yes."
Since adventurers increase from Floor 3, naturally, the number of eyes increases too.
Riding the steam elevator together, we arrived at the Floor 3 station.
"Phew... there won't be any derailments this time, right...?"
"Well, I'd like to think such things don't happen often... but."
"I hope so."
"If you're worried, ask Sana. Sana, are there any other options to return to the surface?"
"...No."
"See, it looks safe."
"..."
Iroha was looking at the Princess.
"Indeed, it's safer than the Cherry Princess's choice."
"Guu nuu..."
The Princess groaned.
Her judgment on the spot is never wrong, but with binary choices, she seems to definitely make the worst choice.
Still, she has the power to somehow get through it, but the surroundings are often not like that.
Waiting on the station platform, the first train arrived.
A considerable number of adventurers were getting off.
Many must be hunting right from the morning.
Everyone was full of vitality and motivation.
"Ah! Could it be, Oga-san?!"
Iroha was grabbed by one of the female adventurers.
After all, there is only one female adventurer with a body as big as hers -- it's obvious.
"Ah~ sorry, I'm a bit tired~"
She made a face that looked genuinely tired.
"Sorry. Are you heading back now?"
"Yes, I am."
She is an adventurer too.
It seems she understood the situation.
The Princess and Empress, who are more famous than Iroha, were hiding their faces under deep robes.
It might be a bit hard to tell.
We all boarded the empty train.
"Phuu~"
Everyone who boarded let out a deep sigh.
There were no other passengers, but everyone was sitting in their respective groups.
The Conductor and the female mage were next to us.
"Haa~"
The Conductor, looking down, let out a big sigh.
"What's wrong?"
"Well, what should I say to the company -- and I have to write a report... and I'll be questioned."
"Thank you for your hard work."
According to her, the company seems to be a third-sector entity.
We proceeded to Floor 3 as is, and when we transferred to the Floor 2 train -- people gradually increased.
Floor 1 has double tracks and many cars.
Naturally, there are many passengers, so some people can't sit.
Well, it can't be helped.
Riding the train as is, we arrived at the platform of the Entrance Hall.
Since it's been a while since I returned here, everything I see feels even more vivid and lively than before.
"Haa~ I'm finally back~"
Koeda was acting like she was completely exhausted.
"Uu..." "I thought I wouldn't be able to return alive..."
The mole men were tearing up.
"It's not over until you get home! That's the adventure!"
"Stop it, please~!"
Koeda started crying.
"You might encounter a spawn before reaching the guild headquarters."
"Eeeh~?!"
"Darling, stop teasing her like that."
Since it was funny, I was teasing her, but Iroha scolded me.
"Haha, sorry."
We all left the Entrance Hall.
Finally, we were on the surface.
It was probably around 9 AM.
Many people are starting their adventurer careers, but we are going home.
Passing through the automatic gates, we exchanged greetings with everyone.
"Should the Conductors stay here?"
"Yes, thank you very much. You are all our saviors."
"Hahaha, it was tough getting caught up in that."
We parted ways with the Conductors.
It seems they are heading to the company now, but things will be tough from here on.
"Iroha and the others were supposed to look for their sister, but it turned out like this."
"Really, it's all because of this idiot!"
"Sorry, Big Sister..."
Kagari and the others seem to be returning to the mole headquarters.
The men who tried to attack her will surely face some punishment.
While talking with Iroha and the others, I noticed a woman in a robe crouching by the automatic gates.
That's fine, but she looks familiar...
"Ah, isn't that Kirara?"
"Eh?!"
It seems Sana noticed too at my words.
She ran over to Kirara.
"Kirara-san! What are you doing here?!"
At Sana's voice, Kirara seemed to wake up.
"Nn~...! Sana!"
She jumped up and hugged Sana, crying.
"What's wrong?"
"Since Sana didn't come back, I was waiting here..."
"What about Mio-chan? Are you alone?"
"I left her with Emma -- hey, Daisuke!"
"What, what?"
"I told you not to put Sana in danger!"
Kirara attacked me.
"You know there are no safe dungeons, right?"
"Kirara-san, I was the one who asked Daisuke-san to take me."
"Uu..."
Kirara stepped back after being told by Sana.
"Then, let's disband here."
"Yes."
"Sana, let's discuss the captured loot later. For now, I'm tired."
"I am too."
"Also, what we do from now on -- talk properly with Kirara and the others."
"Understood."
Sana also headed home with Kirara, but she was comforting Kirara.
I don't know who is the adult here.
No, in this era, Sana is an adult too.
"Hmph."
The Princess body-checked me.
"I know. Let's go home."
"Un."
"Then, see you again, Iroha and Kagari."
"Darling, you saved us this time!"
"Hahaha, I might need something from you too, so we're even."
We decided to disband in front of the automatic gates.
When we returned to the hotel -- the staff looked worried, but since it's usual, there was a hint of resignation.
"Phuu~"
Back in the room, I collapsed onto the sofa.
"Phuu~" "Phuu~"
The Princess and Kaorulko collapsed on top of me.
"Hey, take a shower and change clothes. Clean magic is fine too."
Magic can make you clean, but a shower is refreshing.
"Let's take a bath!"
The Princess shouted.
"Fine, but change clothes first."
"Un."
After everyone changed into pajamas, we spread a blue sheet in the middle of the room.
We piled up all the equipment we used this time and used the Princess's magic.
"Clean!"
Blue light soaked into the equipment, and the dirt peeled off.
"Magic is convenient after all~"
For normal clothes, washing is fine, but this kind of equipment can't be washed easily.
There are dedicated cleaning shops in the Special District, so if you take them there, they will clean them, but it costs money.
Are they using some special solvent, or is it magic washing?
If we get the Clean magic, we could do that business.
The dirt-free blue sheet goes straight into the Item Box, and when we go to the dungeon, we throw away the trash and it's done.
Even the trash generated in this room is all thrown away in the dungeon.
It's a trick possible only because we have an Item Box.
Anyway, since returning, the Princess has been glued to me the whole time.
When I took a bath with the Princess, we immediately went into an unlimited one-on-one match.
In the middle, Kaorulko intruded, but of course, she couldn't do the same thing as the Princess.
Her Heal magic would run out.
After a half-day match, both of them became unable to move, so I decided to get up and eat alone.
I put on only my pants and went to the living room.
Cooking a meal for one person is troublesome, so I ate a commercially available bento left in the Item Box.
I was a bit depleted, so I ate three of them.
If a normal middle-aged man ate like this, he would get adult diseases in no time, but if you are an adventurer, it's fine.
You can eat as much as you want.
You should probably store some fat just in case.
Well, shall I check the video?
While eating, the phone rang.
When I picked up, it was from the front desk, a guest.
After a while, the chime rang.
"Welcome~"
Since I knew who came from the front desk contact, I went to greet them.
"Yo, I'm intruding!"
"U-um, excuse me..."
What came was Iroha and Kagari wearing leather jackets.
Usually, they leave the front open, but today the zipper is closed.
As expected, they must have thought it was embarrassing to leave it open?
Kagari was wearing a T-shirt and denim, similar to Iroha from before, like sisters.
Still, I understand Iroha, but Kagari coming was unexpected.
"What's wrong? The two of you."
"What's wrong? It's obvious, isn't it! Ahaha!"
Iroha patted my shoulders hard and lifted me up.
When this happens, I can't move my hands or feet.
"Well, I understand Iroha, but Kagari? Don't tell me you came to watch your older sister?"
"Eh? Ah... um..."
She was fidgeting her large body.
Not as much as Iroha, but her body is big enough.
I feel like brothers and sisters often have younger siblings who are bigger, but is that just my imagination?
It seems Iroha's case is not like that.
"Why not find a cooler young adventurer instead of an old man like me? Kagari, you're cute..."
"Eh?! Me...?"
It seems she doesn't think she's cute.
"Big sister, Kagari is cute, right?"
"Yes."
"..."
Kagari's face turned bright red.
"By the way, what happened to the guys who tried to attack you?"
"The leader beat them up hard. They'll be under the leader's supervision for a while, and all the women were giving them the cold eye."
"Well, it can't be helped."
The police don't interfere in the Special District.
We have to handle it ourselves.
At least they aren't being lynched, which is still merciful.
"Anyway, let's do it?!"
Iroha started taking off her leather jacket.
"There's no romance or mood at all..."
"Adventurers who live in the moment don't need such things."
"You know a cool word like 'moment'."
"Ahaha, a junior girl taught me!"
Stuck to Iroha's body after taking off the leather jacket was the micro bikini we got in the dungeon.
It's stimulating even in the dungeon, but seeing it in a bright room is even more extreme.
"Are you going to wear that?"
"Yes, if you move, your stamina recovers, right?! As promised, I'll do the 12-hour endurance match!"
"Seriously... Kagari, what do you think of this kind of older sister?"
"Eh~ um..."
While the older sister was openly bold, the younger sister seemed shy.
"Ahaha! Well! Let's do it! I can't hold back anymore!"
"Wait, wait!"
Carried by Iroha into my private room -- we went into an unlimited one-on-one match.
It seems she thought she was invincible if there was dangerous swimwear that recovered stamina, but it didn't seem to matter much for an unlimited match.
Still, she lasted longer than before, and the effect of rare items seems to be there.
Iroha and her sister ended up rolling their eyes and exhausted, so I slipped out of the room again and started eating in the living room.
"Eating so much, haha."
Can't be helped, fighting makes you hungry.
While eating, Kaorulko, wrapped in a sheet, woke up.
Even over the white sheet, two huge things were swaying.
"Good morning, Kaorulko, want to eat?"
"..."
She came silently and stuck to my back.
She seems to like my back.
She is always hugging my back.
The door opened, and the next one to come was Kagari.
She was wearing a large white shirt left in my room.
When the Princess or Kaorulko wear it, it's quite big, but with Kagari, it's like a mini-skirt length.
"..."
She came silently and sat next to me.
"Want to eat?"
"..."
"What's wrong?"
"I was very embarrassed."
"Haha, well. You might get used to it quickly like Big Sister."
"..."
She was turning red.
Anyway, since she seemed to want to eat, I took out a bento from the Item Box.
This time, I consumed a lot of food, so I have to gather more again.
I don't know what will happen each time.
How are other adventurers dealing with it?
Are they eating monsters?
While Kagari and I were eating, Kaorulko stayed stuck to my back the whole time.
While eating the bento, the entrance bell rang.
"Hm? No call from the front desk..."
Opening the entrance door --
"Kyaa!"
A girl's face surprised by opening the door.
Same face as the Princess in a suit -- but not the Princess.
"Ah, Kako-san."
"Really, what kind of outfit are you wearing!"
She barged in and seemed to notice Kaorulko's figure.
"Kaorulko, you again!"
"Gyaa! Lady Kako!"
She tried to run to the shower room flapping around, but tripped over the hem of the sheet wrapped around her body and fell dramatically.
"Looks painful..."
Well, a high-level adventurer probably won't get hurt by this.
"Where is Sakurako?"
"She's sleeping..."
"Haa..."
She let out a big sigh.
It seems she just came to check on her since she couldn't get in touch for a while.
"By the way -- here, a souvenir from the dungeon."
I handed her the green stone I took out of the Item Box.
"What's this? An Emerald Rough?"
"It's a dragon fragment."
"Heh~! There's such a thing!"
She pointed the green stone at the window, enjoying the sparkling light change.
"I don't know if it's an emerald or what."
"You give this to me, thinking you'll make me happy?"
"No, no, Kako-san is Sakurako's older sister, right? Then that makes you my sister-in-law..."
Something surprised her, and she dropped the stone.
"Impossible! Did you register your marriage?!"
"No, no, it's just an example."
"Ph~ I was relieved."
Was there something to be relieved about?
Relieved, she asked about the green dragon variously.
I also showed her the video as well.
"Amazing! There are such monsters!"
"I saw it for the first time too."
As Kako was giggling like a normal girl --
"Phuu~"
The door opened, and naked Sakurako came out of the room.
"Gyaa! Sakurako! Put on some clothes!"
"What are you doing, barging into someone's room without permission."
The Princess sat with her legs wide apart next to me.
"Have some modesty!"
"That's not necessary for adventurers."
"Haha..."
For me too, something so obvious is... well, it's also nice.
Since Kako stayed for a while, I couldn't check the video and was troubled.
―― The day after the match with the Princess and Iroha.
Since Kako had left, I decided to take out the camera from the Item Box and check the video.