Today, I wake up with an enthusiastic wake up call from Ai.
In my drowsiness, I mistakenly accept the call instead of rejecting it.
…Y-yes, good morning.
No, it’s okay. Yes, I just woke up.
Portacool. It’s doing well. The attention it draws is a flaw, but it carries things no problem.
Yes tonight. Yes, I’m free. Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yup, yes, yes… This is getting long uh?
She sighs, and finishes by saying.
“We’ll pick you up at seven, so be ready.”
…What?
I feel like there’s something wrong here, so let’s backtrack a bit.
…Yes, she did invite me to go eat somewhere.
Apparently the aggressive old man really wants to see me, and asked if I can make time for him.
That’s what I get for just saying yes because the conversation was a pain.
So now what? Should I just bail?
No, I made the commitment, so I should go. They’ve given me good work too, so it won’t kill me to humor them.
Alone with that stuffy aggressive old man…
It’s gonna be rough.
◇ ◇ ◇
I can’t go back to sleep after that, so I get up and get ready to go out.
Nine in the morning is an early rise for an unemployed guy like me. Although it would be unthinkable back when I worked for a company.
I feel like I’m on a slippery slope to becoming a bum, but it’s not troubling me right now so it’s fine.
I get on a train with no real goal in mind, and get off at the same stop as always, the dungeon one.
I pass through the ticket gate, but just as I’m thinking about eating in the shopping district or in the mall, someone calls me.
I look around and see Chisato standing there with a friend.
Good morning. Yes, it’s rare to see you in the morning.
Are you going out with your friend? Have fun.
Yes? Hum… Have we met?
After greeting Chisato, her friend, this dignified looking woman, says it’s been a while.
But I don’t remember her, so I ask if she doesn’t have me confused for someone else.
Then she bows and says I’ve helped her in the dungeon.
Ah, that time.
I feel like she was one of those people going at it in the dungeon. I’m pretty sure. Well, I can’t remember, but let’s say she was.
I also say it’s been a while, and when I ask her if she’s been hard at work since then, she says she hasn’t been doing too well.
I say something non-committal like that we all have days like that, and the conversation ends.
Chisato is surprised that we know each other, but it’s hard to explain how that came to be.
The woman called Mio says I saved her in the dungeon, and steers clear of details.
It’s getting awkward, so I try to leave, but the woman called Mio invites me to eat with them as a way to thank me.
She’s shameless. Isn’t she worried about exposing the fact that she exposed herself to me in that silly way?
Chisato agrees with her, so it’s hard for me to say no.
And so, we’re in a fancy place that specializes in pasta.
She said she was thanking me, but isn’t this just a place she likes?
This suspicion crosses my mind, but this place has good food, and it’s apparently famous with people who want to eat a lot too.
And so, I’m satisfied after one plate, and enjoy a cup of coffee.
Mio says I eat less than she thought, like she’s saying I look like a big eater.
Rude. I eat a normal amount.
I say, and she apologizes with a smile, which doesn’t seem apologetic.
In the meantime, we talk about Chisato’s current situation, the dungeon, and Mio’s university. And we touch on monsters I’ve beaten.
After Chisato is done with her pasta, she says she’s going to the powder room. I don’t really like being alone with someone I barely know, but she has to take care of her physiological needs.
I wonder if Mio isn’t going too, but she shows no sign that she’ll get up.
I take this opportunity to ask something.
Hum, was it okay?
You know. The guy that lost it.
What do you mean what? It!
Eh? You don’t get it?
That! The guy that lost his di◯k! I want to know what happened after that!
I get a little irritated and raise my voice.
It’s not my fault. It’s hers for playing dumb.
She presses her mouth, surprised by what I’m saying, but I know she’s not that pure.
Chisato comes back and asks what’s wrong, and I struggle with how to respond.
I’m sure she doesn’t want to know her friend was doing it in a dungeon, and I don’t want to create cracks between them.
I really rack my brain, but Mio stands up and speaks.
“Haruto, are you confusing me with someone else?”
Eh?
◇ ◇ ◇
After that, we formally introduce ourselves. Turns out Mio was one of the university students I guided in the dungeon.
I say I’m sorry and when she asks if I got mixed up, I answer honestly and receive a pretty scornful look.
Hum, nice to meet you again, Daiko.
Hum, how have you been?
Hum, so nothing was unusual after that?
Ah, that must’ve been though. Yes…
…Would you forgive me if I paid?
She doesn’t say anything, but Daiko, or rather, Mio, is clearly pissed.
No, I’m really sorry. I didn’t remember. It’s not that you left a small mark, it’s that my days have been too full. I just couldn’t remember a seeker I guided.
That ball crawling event was just too impactful. Please forgive me.
After my desperate apologies, she finally forgives me. But she says she wants to be called by her actual name, not Daiko.
When she asks why I called her Daiko, I tell her that was just the impression I got from looking at her.
Mio looks hurt, but she’s fine. She has Chisato.
Somehow, thanking me turned into me apologizing, and paying, but at least I learned about a nice restaurant.
After we’re done eating, we say goodbye, and I head to the dungeon to exercise and help with the digestion.
◇ ◇ ◇
The eleventh floor.
Why am I here?
I don’t really have a reason, I just remembered the guy that lost his buddy.
Even though I can’t remember his face.
I walk around thinking there are a lot of people around, and there really are. I know it’s because of the law revision, but still, it’s too many.
They’re mining all over, to the point where I’m worried the resources are going to run dry.
Well, having more eyes around also means I don’t see anyone doing things they shouldn’t. Instead, I see people in large groups beating up big ants and goblins. It’s a very peacefully violent environment around here.
Some people talk to me because of portacool, but nothing special happens.
Yes, same old dungeon.
The same old dungeon with rough looking tattooed guys laying on the ground.
I toss them into a tunnel someone made while mining, and keep going.
But I don’t take anything from them this time.
I was going to take their equipment as punishment, but I don’t want to kill them. I just want them to learn and restart their lives.
That’s the idea, but it has an unfortunate outcome.
I tossed them in there to make it harder for monsters to attack them, and I was sure that this time it would be okay.
Suffice to say, I find it caved in on my way back.
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This guy does quite a few morally questionable things. He really is an a*s. And I love it!