I spread killer bee honey on a loaf of bread and eat it in the morning.
I’m out of ant queen honey, and while I tried to replace it with bee honey, it’s not the same.
It spreads to my organs, but lacks that impact to my brain.
It’s not like it’s bad, it’s pretty tasty, and the guild buys it at a high price. Still, ant queen honey is on another level. I’d even say there’s nothing like it.
I have my coffee, and leave after finishing breakfast.
I’m returning to the dungeon today. I haven’t been there in over a month, so I’m thinking about going to the twenty-first floor to get some practice.
I put my arms through my defensive equipment for the first time in a while, I put on my coat and head out, but there’s a letter in the mailbox.
《Please move》
I read this ominous phrase, and check what’s inside.
Apparently this building is getting demolished, so I need to leave before March.
Are you serious? The rent was cheap too…
It’s an old apartment building, but I was happy with the reasonable price and it being a ten minute walk away from the station. What a shame.
I hear some bad sounds from the stairs, so I guess it’s getting pretty bad here and there.
But oh well, I’ll go to a realtor tomorrow. For now, on to the station.
◇ ◇ ◇
I reach the dungeon’s station, and head to the shopping mall.
I lost most of my equipment, so I can’t explore like this.
Well, I could, but I feel like I’d be underestimated and attacked. I need a new set of armor.
I reach the weapon shop, and the owner tells me it’s been a while, and he thought I died, with a laugh. I tell him not to worry because I’m not dying before him.
“You want me to fix this?”
He says with a frown while looking at my broken magic mirror armor.
I honestly don’t expect him to, but I want to make sure.
So? I ask, and apparently the relatively undamaged arms portion can be salvaged. For ten million yen.
No way, not for that price.
I gave most of the profit from my last exploration to the families of Toufu and the others. Same with the spear and staff the Nijima brothers used.
I’ve been living off the payment I got from Honto for testing portacool. It was a considerable sum, but not enough that I’ll pay ten million.
I ask with a soft voice if we can’t work something out, and he says he’ll raise the price to a hundred million if I do it again.
Hey! No, nothing.
So, can’t we work something out?
Sell my boots? My divine bird boots… Ah, the magic mirror armor ones?
That’s right, I didn’t use them.
I take them out of my Storage Space and place them on the counter, but he shakes his head, saying he’s talking about the ones I have on.
So he does want the divine bird boots.
Wait, not the divine bird boots! Can’t you take the magic mirror ones?
These are worth five million… Are you ripping me off?
It’s the right price? So the rest is worth dozens of millions, but that’s all the boots are worth?
…Are you serious? It’s that different?
Don’t tell me to go make money if I don’t like it, I need armor. By the way, how much are the divine bird boots worth?
Fifteen million? I remember being told it was twenty million when I got them from the treasure chest. Did the price go down because I’ve been using them?
What should I do?
Maybe I should sell them before the price drops even more, but I’ve grown attached to them. They’ve saved my life too, and are easy to use. I can make use of the claws at will, and I can even run in the air, even if it’s just for a couple of steps.
By the way, I currently have two million yen. I have some savings, but if I use it all, it’ll have a bad influence on my daily life.
Also, I need new equipment besides fixing the magic mirror armor. I don’t think two million will cover it all, meaning I have to sell something.
…
I decide to part ways with the magic mirror boots and get new equipment.
The idea was to just fix the magic mirror armor if possible, so I think I should hang on to the useful divine bird boots.
The arms are the only salvageable parts, so I could give up on those, but the idea of reflecting magic is tempting. I think I’ll have them fixed when I have the money.
For now, I’ll gear up for the exploration ahead of me. I ask him about equipment for the thirty-first floor, and he starts walking with heavy steps. He shows me a row of armor and protective equipment in the tens of millions.
…I’m not buying that.
I ask if it’s not expensive, and he says that’s the standard. Even if I don’t need boots, I’m still looking at an eight million yen cost.
…I’ll come back.
I take the magic mirror armor’s boots and leave.
Why was it that expensive?
The equipment suited for the floors until the thirtieth were two million, but all of a sudden it’s more than five times more. Isn’t that odd?
I sulk my way out of the shopping mall and towards the dungeon.
I only have my greatsword of fortitude and divine bird boots, but I’ll make do. I’m only going to the twenty-first floor, and if I really need to, I can go mine on the eleventh. The guy I was drinking with said the prices of magic ore have gone up, so that’s an option.
I walk with thuds until I reach the entrance to the dungeon.
And my legs won’t move.
…Dammit.
I’m sweating, and my body won’t advance any further.
I decided to challenge the dungeon, but my heart is rejecting it. I’m trying, but my legs won’t move.
Others pass by me, but I’m still not moving.
I go to the bathroom and wash my face.
I look at myself in the mirror. My face is still stout, but also pale.
I sit on a bench and watch as seekers pass.
I get up to give it another shot, and stop again.
I try to fire myself up, but nothing happens.
This is no good, let’s go home.
As I think about leaving, I hear someone call me from behind me.
“Tanaka?”
It’s Kumagai, who gave me the tent.
Ah, it’s been a while.
Yes, I’m okay. I’m fine.
Are you going on an exploration?
I see, you think you can make it to the fortieth floor?
Eh, that sounds tough.
So the key is how fast you can make it through the thirty-sixth.
No no, I’m not even close. I’m going to the dungeon for the first time in a month, so I was thinking about going to the twenty-first to ease into it.
Yes, good luck. Have a nice seek.
I see them as they disappear on the portal.
And as I struggle with what to do, I’m surprised by where I am and let out a dry laugh.
After all that trouble, I got distracted and entered the dungeon.
What about all that conflict in my head, I think as I stand on the portal.
◇ ◇ ◇
It’s been a while.
I feel like there are more people here, but I might be imagining it.
I see seekers picking medicinal herbs and fighting orcs. And some people testing defensive equipment against them.
It feels nostalgic.
Someone calls out to me, and I see a nostalgic face smiling at me when I turn around.
Yes, I’m back.
He raises his fist, and I bump it.
It’s been a while. Nice to see you, I think as we bump fists.
He then drops his posture deeply, twists his waist, and unleashes a straight punch.
I laugh, and am wonderfully punched away.
Guhe!?
A punch without armor feels heavy and painful enough that I almost pass out. Did I break bones?
The orc that punched me comes at me with its club.
I ignore the pain and get up, and grip the greatsword of fortitude tightly. And slash the incoming orc.
The pain running through my body and the feeling of cutting down a life really makes me feel like I’m back in the dungeon.
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