Ou, it’s been a while.
Ahh? Who am I?
It’s me! You drank here a while back! I paid! We talked that day, remember!?
…Do you have to rack your brain that much?
Ahh… You forgot uh? I’m sad.
You’re lying? You do remember?
Come on now, don’t tease adults like that!
Oh well, cheers!
…Ah, that hit the spot!
What, a bar’s not a place to chug like that?
Don’t be like that, you’ll ruin my booze!
And don’t be too harsh on him either barkeep, poor kid. Ah? Me? I’m in the wrong? What’s wrong with liking to drink!?
Okay, I won’t cause a scene, lemme go.
Geez, you provoked me. And here I was enjoying my tasty cheap booze.
It’s expensive enough? Idiot, some places charge you a million yen per cup! Some random bar can’t compare.
You drink with ladies in those places? Idiot! You’re right! Gahahahaha!
So, still running around in the dungeon?
Slow and steady uh? Well, take it easy. Nothing good comes from rushing it. Go at your own pace.
Still, you haven’t lost a kilo, have you? If you’re not getting enough exercise, give mining hard a shot. Magic ore’s gone up in price recently. You can work out and make money at the same time.
What about picking medicinal herbs? Idiot, you gotta pass the twentieth floor for that. You need to explore seriously for about half a year and get your equipment in order. Forget about it.
What? Look at that gut. I’m sure that much fat dulls your moves. And monsters aren’t nice enough to let you get away with that.
Stop making fun of you? Ah, hang on. Another one, barkeep.
What about you? What are you having?
Let the barkeep decide?
You… If you say something like that, he’s just gonna pick the most expensive one. Pick for yourself.
What, barkeep? You wouldn’t? You recommend a ginger cocktail?
Really? That’s suspicious. Then gimme the best drink for me at that price.
Drink piss? What’s that supposed to mean!? I’ll kill you fat bastard!
I’m okay barkeep. It’s okay, I won’t cause a scene.
It’s your treat this time. I paid last time. It’s your turn.
Oh? Okay? Cool! Barkeep, your finest drink please.
Come on, don’t get cheap on me. Seekers can have all the debt in the world. You might die tomorrow, so don’t you think it’s a waste to hold out?
You don’t? Gahaha! I don’t either!
If you’re gonna die, die as a person. If you die over nothin’, you won’t be able to face the ones that went first.
Hn? Don’t go quiet on me. Don’t be sour.
What? I can’t hear you? Speak louder.
Partners? Have I lost partners?
…Yes. More than once…
Your face tells me you did too. First time?
Well… Drink. Drink to remember them, and go throw up in the bathroom if you feel like crying. You can look pathetic when you’re alone. That’s my style.
Isn’t it hard to lose partners?
Idiot! Of course it is! That’s why I drink and remember them. I drink and report my results to them. It’s the best thing you can do for the ones that aren’t with us.
It’s the only thing I can do.
You can remember them your own way.
Just don’t mope, you’re doing a disservice to the ones in the other world.
If you shut down and don’t do anything, you can’t be a seeker. You’re better off retiring. The dungeon gives you more and more blessings the more you explore, but it takes a lot too.
You gotta be ready for that if you’re gonna continue.
Some people even end their own lives.
…Another one barkeep. A strong one. This depressing stuff’s bumming me out.
What, you wanna ask more?
People changing shape…
That’s Kamen Rider, right? A grasshopper face? I heard there’s more stuff nowadays, but I dunno at this age.
No? Like monsters?
…Where did you see that? The dungeon… Did you really see it with your own eyes? I see, good job surviving that.
…Let me explain.
That’s called demonification, it’s what happens when people turn into monsters. I can’t tell you how it happens… But it won’t happen from just exploring the dungeon, so don’t worry.
Becoming a demon comes with a sudden boost in strength, but also a strong impulse to kill people that won’t stop until you kill. But some people retain their sense of reason.
Apparently those live normal lives.
Even after turning into monsters, they talk to people outside of the dungeon, eat food, take baths, sleep… They go on just like regular people even after becoming monsters.
Well, that’s an urban legend. An urban legend no one knows.
The sort of thing that might be real. You can forget about it.
Barkeep, another one. I’m going too fast? Don’t worry, I just remembered something a bit bad.
What? You have more?
Do I know a big tree? The one from fairy tales and picture books? Yes, kids love that story.
It’s well done. It’s definitely a trent. I’d hunt it on the spot if I found it.
No? Not that one? What then? A tree as big as a mountain in the dungeon?
Hm, I don’t know about that. There’s a forest area starting from the twenty-first floor, so there are a lot of trees, but none as big as a mountain.
Ah, I know something.
I mentioned it last time, right? Yggdrasil?
Look it up in the reference room in the guild, there might be something there. It’s not for me, I’m not a good reader. You look the type too.
Don’t lump you with me? Gahahaha! Bullseye. Don’t worry, you can just have one of your partners do it.
…Ah, sorry. I shouldn’t have said that last part.
Go on, drink. You’re paying anyway.
I’m supposed to buy you a drink there? Gahaha! Well I’m not!
Ahh, I think I had a bit too much to drink. Another one, barkeep.
Don’t drink too much? What are you on about? I’m just getting started!
Ah, I just remembered something.
You know that end of the year event? What was it… You know, that one!? Where seekers fight each other.
Yes, gladiators.
I heard seekers that enter it are made to retire from the guild. If you want in, check with the guild first.
You don’t care? You’re not entering? Uh? You’re not registered with the guild!?
Idiot!! Have you been listenin’ to me!? Didn’t I warn you and tell you to register!!?
It’s not a problem ’cause you don’t want to accept quests? That’s not the issue!
How do I put this? Yes, peace of mind. You’re buying peace of mind. It’s like insurance.
You don’t have life insurance either?
All the more reason to join the guild. They can recommend you one.
I don’t know the details, but it’s pretty popular with seekers.
Hum, getting back on track. Another one, barkeep. Don’t worry, it’s the last one.
What were we talking about?
Ah, gladiators.
It’s just entertainment for the elites in the neo utopia, but it’s classified as a state-led public work.
Seekers fight, and you can place bets. It’s like horse racing or keirin.
It’s also a way to show off to the people what seekers can do. There’s more going on, but that’s all I know.
How do people enter gladiators?
You form some sort of contract with some company or just show up? If you beat up participants, you’ll get scouted.
That’s pretty vague?
Gahahaha! That’s fine, you don’t care, remember?
Going home already?
No, I’m fine, I’m not that drunk.
Ah, that’s right, hold on.
I don’t really feel like it, but take this.
Don’t worry, it’s not mandatory, but they’re always on my case about recruiting people.
What’s this? You don’t know the Church of Minsule? It’s a group that offers relief to ones who suffered damage done by seekers. They have a lot of these things they call saint units with people who have Healing Magic, so they’ll help you if you’re hurt.
It’s suspicious? Yeah, it is.
You don’t have to come. Do it if you feel like it.
And come if you’re in trouble, they have a lot of people that can get you out of a bind.
Have a nice seek!
Kuhn! Another one, barkeep!
…Ah! Did that guy leave without paying!?
Join my patreon to support me and read ahead.
Go one, drink.
On*
It’s just entertainment for the elites in the neo yutopia
Utopia**