I’ve been preparing since this morning for my dungeon exploration.
The plan is to stay in the dungeon for three days like last time, but if I don’t feel like it’s enough, I’m going to extend it for another day.
After the incident last time when my stuff went all over the place, I instead put it in a backpack which I then put in my Storage Space.
I also made a lot of food, so I’m sure I won’t run out.
With everything ready, I get on the train and head to the weapons store. I wasn’t happy with the weapons I bought, so I want to see if I can work out a deal.
The greatsword was fine, but the twin swords are hard to use and don’t have enough of a reach. I figured out while fighting that orc that I’m too used to the greatsword and battleaxe, and keep misjudging the distance with the twin swords.
They’re not my main weapon, so I don’t have to worry about it that much, but if I’m going to use twin swords, I want to actually use them.
Why? Because they’re cool.
I wanna attack with one quick strike after the other and look all strong.
Sending enemies to the next life without them even realizing it.
And that’s why I need ones with a bigger reach.
◇ ◇ ◇
In the weapons store, I find Chisato and a member of her party, Ruri Nijou.
Hey, haven’t seen you since that time. Are you going to explore too?
No? preparing? And keeping Chisato under watch to make sure she doesn’t buy anything you don’t need? Ah, you did say she wastes money…
What, don’t glare at me. Oh, me? I’m trying to exchange weapons.
The battleaxe? Ahh, you don’t get it. Nowadays twin swords are in.
See?
Aren’t they cool?
I ask while drawing the twin swords from my waist.
I’d have to say it looked pretty good, but their expressions are iffy.
It looks like they don’t get it.
I ask them if Toufu and the others are coming, and they say the other four have other things to do, so they’re here to do maintenance on their weapons and equipment.
The others would usually do it, but since these two are free, they’re doing it.
I’m impressed, thinking it must be tough, and I’m invited to go out to eat with them.
I’m about to say no because I’m going to the dungeon, but then I notice it’s lunch time.
Well, it might be nice to eat before heading to the dungeon, so I accept.
◇ ◇ ◇
Hey. Don’t I look out of place here?
I’ve never been to a fancy place like this.
Is it really okay? Don’t they have a dress code?
We’re on the highest floor of a hotel close to the shopping mall.
It’s a high class restaurant where people can enjoy the night sky, but apparently it’s possible to have reasonable meals at lunch time.
Still, this place is overflowing with expensiveness, so there’s no way a guy wearing defensive equipment isn’t going to feel out of place. I can’t help but be fidgety, even though I’m here with two women.
Both tell me to calm down, but I keep looking around wondering if I’m gonna get thrown out.
They can’t bear to just watch me like this, so they talk to me about various things.
Hm, hm. You’re going to school to become a childcare worker?
Hn? You’re getting married? Congratulations! Next year? If you want to invite me, please sit me next to a woman.
It looked like Chisato had a goal in mind, and apparently she’s going to a technical school starting next year to become a childcare worker. And she’s going to quit being a seeker this year.
And Ruri is going to marry their fellow party member Asano Takeshi. They’re going to register soon, and have the ceremony next year. They’ve decided on the venue, a seaside place a little far from here.
I congratulate her, and ask to be invited.
I can’t help but notice her smiling awkwardly, but she says okay, so it’s okay.
What about me, asks an unhappy looking Chisato next to her.
Well, hum… Good luck.
I feel like it’s weird to say that when she’s working towards her dream, but I can’t think of anything else.
That’s the extent of my vocabulary, don’t push me.
And Chisato says…
“Thank you.”
With a really nice charming smile.
I think a smile suits her very well.
◇ ◇ ◇
The twenty-third floor.
I take monsters down with Earth Magic as I advance.
A few orcs are impaled with earth spikes, and I control sand to catch and bring down silent condors, ending their lives with my sword.
I left later than usual, so the sun is starting to set by the time I reach the place by the river where I’m camping. I had to hurry, but I managed to get here in time.
I have water, but there’s a river with clear enough water to drink, so I want to use it.
◇ ◇ ◇
I place the new weapons I bought on the ground, and dive into the river to wash away the sweat. This is routine at this point, so let’s instead talk about the weapons.
When I asked the owner of the weapons shop if I could trade the twin swords, he said sure, if I didn’t use them.
I said they were pretty much new, since I couldn’t land a single hit. He examined them closely and agreed.
He asked what I wanted instead, and I asked if he had twin swords with long blades, but he said all twin swords have pretty much that length.
Twin swords are weapons designed for maneuverability. To approach an enemy and overwhelm it with the number of slashes. There’s a limit to how heavy they can be, because they’re meant to be used with one hand, and extra length would mean extra weight.
Seekers have good physical abilities, so they can handle some weight, but then they might as well use something like a spear or battleaxe.
And he said if I really insisted on long twin blades, I should get the ones found in the dungeon that cost hundreds of millions of yen.
Apparently their blades are manifested by infusing magic energy, and their length can be adjusted through the amount of magic energy.
I thought that was incredible, but asked him if I look like I have that kind of money.
I have been making good money lately, but not enough to spend hundreds of millions. And so, I asked for something about the same price as the twin swords.
He then told me to just use longswords with thin blades.
That wasn’t a bad idea, so I got a couple of those.
He was surprised, because he didn’t think I’d actually do it.
I got two longswords, but all I can do right now is swing them around, so I need practice.
I don’t think I’m going to use these in this exploration, so I put them in the Storage Space.
◇ ◇ ◇
After I’m done swimming, I tend to my equipment, and then take the tent out of the Storage Space to put it together.
It’s a masterpiece with magic circle embroidery.
I don’t know if this will actually keep monsters away, but I referenced a twenty million yen tent with monster repelling, stamina enhancement, and temperature control effects, so I have high hopes.
I place the four stakes, and the tent is set.
And then a green slime tentacle destroys it.
…Ah?
It’s not just one green slime either, they keep coming from around me, destroying the tent like it killed their parents. They rip it to shreds and dissolve it, leaving no traces that it once existed.
And as if saying their job here is done, they lose their ferocity and go back to where they came from.
What just happened? I don’t know, but I scratch my stomach, and take the greatsword out of the Storage Space.
“Limit Break.”
◇ ◇ ◇
This situation that felt like a rehash from last time left me exhausted.
I lay down and look at the stars here in the dungeon to recover my magic energy.
What did I do?
All I did was reference magic circles for the tent.
I didn’t sell it, so what’s the problem?
Losing the tent I spent all night making deals such a blow to my motivation, that I feel like going back tomorrow.
Everything else is safe, but I’m worried that I’ll be attacked in my sleep again without a tent. I have monster repellent from Honto, but I’m still a little worried.
It’s at times like these that exploring on my own is a hassle. If I had a party, we could take turns keeping watch and rest. It would increase efficiency and it’d probably be more fun.
Having to deal with people might be annoying, but it would sure be reassuring.
Will anyone form a party with me?
The first thing that comes to mind is that harem party. They invited me once, but I said no, in part because I was ahead of them. Also, the party seemed complete to me, and adding me would just add confusion.
Next, there’s Toufu’s party.
I’ve never seen them fight, but they carry themselves like a high level party. They have goals too, and the power to chase them. They seem to want to pass the thirtieth floor, but haven’t decided what to do after that.
Chisato is leaving at the end of this year, and Ruri doesn’t know what she’ll do after getting married.
Maybe I’ll ask to join them.
If they know their fighting power is going to go down, they’ll need more. And I know from drinking with them that they’re good people, like the harem party. I didn’t get along with Chisato at first, but from what I saw today, I think it’s fair to say that’s been fixed. Probably.
Yes, let’s test the waters next time I see them.
With that decision made, I have dinner and go to sleep.
◇ ◇ ◇
The twenty-fifth floor.
I dodge trent branch attacks and shoot an earth bullet at an imp. It shoots water magic and they cancel each other out.
I click my tongue, and step back while ripping trent branches with the greatsword. And I put quite a bit of magic energy into controlling sand.
The sand passes by the trent, moving to catch the imp, but it notices it and flies up high.
It looks down at me while pointing and laughing, almost like a kid that pulled a prank.
But then it’s grabbed by a silent condor that flies at it from the side really fast, and it’s taken somewhere.
Just before it goes, I see a cute surprised expression on its face.
I finish off the trent, and pick the random fruit growing from its branch.
Hm, this is melon! And it’s good!
I’m happy with the random fruit flavor and continue my exploration.
I was going to cancel it because my tent got destroyed, but after all that preparation, I should continue.
And if I’m going to see if I can join Toufu’s party, I should go as far as I can to give them a good impression of me.
There’s a good chance they won’t accept me anyway, but it won’t hurt either.
I’m looking for a place where I can sleep today, but it’s not easy. I haven’t found any other seekers either, so there might not be any in the direction where I’m going.
I’ve been mapping it out, but it’s just simple stuff like where paths turn and what branch roads I took. If someone else saw it, they wouldn’t know what to make of it.
I really do need a place to sleep, but it’s still just trees and paths.
I was attacked at night before, so I want a nice place where I can rest. I have the stamina to fight all night, but the exhaustion building up might cause me to make a fatal mistake. That’s why I want to rest properly even if it’s not for too long.
Eventually, I come across a large cave.
After exploring it, I find a big wooden drawing like the one I saw on the shrine on the twenty-forth floor. And letters I can’t read.
But as I wonder what this is, I sense presences from the entrance and hide.
Two orcs come in and leave a lot of fruit in front of the drawing.
Is this an offering?
I have questions, but this feels like a very nice place to sleep, so I’ll be camping here today.
I set up the monster repellent, and sleep well.
And I dream that I’m standing in front of some sort of big tree.
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The chapter number is really messed up, jumping from c61 to c65.