Yesterday, after leaving the dungeon with Toufu and the others, they gestured for me to go out drinking with them, and I raised my hands with an awkward smile and gave them a thumbs up, signaling OK.
The girls looked exasperated, but came along.
Incidentally, Ruri is the one that handles alcohol the best in this party. Like a fish.
Hajime is the opposite, getting red faced with draft beer and then switching to soft drinks.
Well, drinking a lot isn’t exactly a good thing.
We mostly talked about the harem party.
I hope it goes well, but if they break up, I think I’ll invite him to go out drinking. Even if he doesn’t drink alcohol, it’ll be a nice way to clear his head.
And if he’s even worse mentally, maybe I’ll take him to an adult place. Yes. If I can’t go alone, maybe I can with someone else.
As we drank, they asked what the girl Hino likes is like. I said she’s a cute girl with big boobs, and felt death stares for some reason. I must’ve imagined that.
Her personality?
She’s a nice caring girl.
How did I meet her?
Hum, you know, she fell for a trap and I saved her.
Yes yes, I was surprised when I found her and she suddenly hugged me… What?
Everyone went quiet, and I felt awkward.
Toufu broke the silence and proposed we switch topic.
I felt dejected, wondering if it was really that boring. Maybe I just don’t know how to tell a story.
I was telling the heroic tale of how I saved someone, but I guess I wasn’t good enough to do it justice.
We started talking about nonsense like why I was sitting next to an orc, and we called it a night earlier than usual.
◇ ◇ ◇
So, why are you here again?
I’m heading to the dungeon to exercise again, and when I get off at the closest station, I see Chisato.
It’s the third day in a row.
She says she could ask the same, and I don’t have a comeback, so I ask where she’s going. She says she’s going to the dungeon with Mio and the others.
I say good luck and try to leave, but she says she’s bored and forces me to stay until Mio gets here.
I say fine and sit down, and put my hand in my pocket to take two cans of juice from my Storage Space.
I give one to Chisato and drink the other.
She looks at it for a bit, and then drinks it too
Where’s that childcare worker school?
Come on, tell me.
Two stations away from here? That’s closer than I thought.
Hn? How long am I going to be a seeker?
Until I get sick of it, or if I get a job and don’t have time for it.
What, you thought I’d do it forever?
My body won’t last forever, but I might keep doing it as a hobby.
Yesterday? What about yesterday?
A high schooler being in love with…?
Hey, that’s a crime.
At least wait until he graduates. Even a woman would be arrested if she put her hands on a minor nowadays.
Eh? Not that?
Ah, she’s here.
I didn’t expect Chisato to be involved with a high schooler, but I think it should be fine after I warned her.
If she crosses the line and gets arrested, we’ll take care of it then. By laughing and calling her an idiot.
Mio and the others just crossed the ticket barrier, so I leave and go to the dungeon.
◇ ◇ ◇
I’m at the entrance to the dungeon, but I found two students at the side hesitating to go in.
I say found, but the others entering the dungeon see them too. But no one stops.
People are responsible for themselves here. The law is there, but it’s up to the individual to follow it.
Life or death is also up to the individual.
Some save others, some leave them to die and retrieve their items. This place is a morality test.
Joining the guild means getting some warm support, but it’s also up to the individual to join it.
These students clearly don’t have support from the guild. And they’re incredibly frail, more than I was when I began.
Normally people would ignore them, but I keep picturing the faces of the harem party, so I can’t ignore them.
Hey hey, wait wait wait!
What are you doing?
Going to the dungeon?
I can see that! But why? You’re not registered with the guild, are you?
You don’t have money? Ask your parents.
She’s sick and you don’t have money?
Or food for tomorrow?
And you have young siblings…
◇ ◇ ◇
Let’s talk…
I’m taking them to the cafe in the guild.
They were trying to explore the dungeon in their school uniforms, so I assume they just got out of school. They only have steel pipes for equipment, so it’s clear they’re underestimating the dungeon.
They’re a tall unfortunate looking guy, and a plump guy with a shaved head.
They’re friends. The unfortunate looking guy is Akihiro Mino, and the plump guy is Satoru Ooiwa.
I say I’m Haruto Tanaka, and after hearing why they’re here, I feel like it really is bad.
Apparently Akihiro is the one with a problem, and Satoru is tagging along.
The problem is that his father died a long time ago. He was a seeker, but he didn’t have much saved up when he died, and his life insurance wasn’t much either.
This happened when Akihiro was in grade school, his little brother was in preschool, and his little sister was a baby.
After that, his mother worked hard to support the family, but it wasn’t enough, and she went into debt.
She started working even harder, but eventually, she reached her limit. She collapsed at work, and couldn’t work anymore.
Akihiro had a part time, but it wasn’t nearly enough to support the family, so he considered becoming a seeker.
But registering in the guild costs money, and fifty thousand yen wasn’t something he could pay.
And that’s why he was trying to enter the dungeon with nothing.
After hearing that, I nod and whisper.
What about you? I ask Satoru.
Why are you trying to be a seeker?
For your friend? Don’t give me that! Why do you want to be a seeker!? I want the truth!
Satoru mumbles, and finds the strength to yell.
“I… I! Want to be popular! I heard I could be if I was a seeker! I, I was always rejected by the people I like. It’s so frustrating… Sorry Akihiro! I used you as an excuse! Sorry!”
Satoru bows after blurting out the truth. He’s using him to satisfy his vulgar desires.
I nod again, satisfied with the answer, and turn to Satoru.
Hey, did you get your parents’ permission to become a seeker?
◇ ◇ ◇
The first floor to the tenth.
I take them to the first floor to make our way to the tenth.
Akihiro and Satoru don’t have weapons, so I hand them the longswords I’m not using.
It’s okay, they’re as good as new.
One was just dirtied with some blood (mine).
Don’t worry about money, I’m not using them.
They swing the weapons around, not used to them, and take down monsters. They move like amateurs, but can take down many monsters by aiming well and thrusting.
I’m guiding them not because of Akihiro, but… Mostly because of Satoru.
Akihiro’s family is in trouble, but so what? If he’s poor, he could ask the government for welfare. That’s why that system is there in the first place, so there’s no reason not to use it.
It might have a bad image because of the people receiving money unlawfully, but it should be used by people like Akihiro struggling to even eat.
The country already has the solution to his problem. There’s no reason for a kid like him to work so hard.
And so, when we leave, I’m gonna tell him to talk to his mother about it. If they don’t accept, that’s it then.
All I can tell him is good luck.
Satoru’s problem on the other hand, is not so simple to solve.
He wants to be popular, so he’s changing himself by becoming a seeker.
This one’s not going to solve itself like Akihiro’s. It requires proactive action.
He used Akihiro as an excuse, but he still took action. He was an idiot for not having a plan, but I like him personally.
Apparently his parents don’t support this but gave him permission, and it was up to him to earn money from his part-time job to register with the guild.
And after talking about it with Akihiro, they came here.
A snapping turtle is paralyzed by a numbing moth, and stops.
They quickly stab them, taking both down.
I take them apart and put them in portacool. I want them to experience taking them apart too, but we’re in a hurry to finish this today.
It’s going well, and we chat as we go.
Satoru, is there a girl you like?
Ooh, what’s she like?
A senior in high school. Short and has a boyfriend.
Ah, not a boyfriend. And is she a seeker?
A part of a harem!?
Wow, a high school harem. What a big world we live in.
Eh? Me?
I haven’t been there recently, but Azuki was nice. Kanami was cute. Isami had big boobs… What were we talking about?
No, you’re too young to go to that kind of place.
What? I’m the same age as you?
Idiots! Don’t lump me in with two hairless kids. I’ve had hair down there for ten years!
Hn? What is it, Akihiro?
You have to go get your little sister from preschool?
You…! You should’ve said that sooner! Let’s hurry!
I say that, but I’m still letting them fight monsters. They need to get experience in this short amount of time, so I’ll only help if they’re in danger.
I’ll just sneakily cast Healing Magic and recover their stamina.
We eventually reach the boss of the tenth floor, which they beat despite suffering heavy wounds. When they take their skill orbs, they say ‘this is my power’ like complete chunnis.
I was going to the weapons store to check my skills after leaving the dungeon, but I’ll go tomorrow.
Ending it after the tenth floor feels irresponsible, so I think I’ll join them again tomorrow.
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Akihiro Mio (15)
Level: 2
Skills: Lighting Magic
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Satoru Ooiwa (16)
Level: 2
Skills: Earth Magic
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