After that, we talk about renting swimsuits, but since we were talking about buying a vacation home, we’re just going to enjoy the first floor today. We’re going to the second floor tomorrow, so we’ll buy swimsuits on the way back today.
We exit the association and enter the Heart Dungeon with a lot of eyes on us again. As always, this dungeon is full of couples, but I seem to be the only person with multiple girls. You can marry two people when you reach rank C, which is seen as graduating from the beginner dungeon. Come to think of it, this system seems pretty lenient…
Maybe there just aren’t many people with more than one lover?
Also, I didn’t really notice it the last time I was here, but there really are black pillars. They’re like radio towers.
There’s the association’s telecommunications equipment next to it that I used last time, and an employee, probably communicating with the ones watching over the four spots where rare monsters spawn.
It’s only possible to have this equipment in the Heart Dungeon, because monsters aren’t aggressive.
There’s a tower in the entrance of the high ranking dungeon, but people from the association are guarding it. And considering the size of this equipment, I imagine it costs a lot to have it there at all times, so I doubt they get a lot from it.
“It’s so beautiful!”
“Lady, Fire Magic is not allowed here.”
“I know that!”
Ayane is excited, and I’m assuming it’s her first time here. But yes, she’s not allowed to use Fire Magic because she might end up burning flower fields and forests. But this dungeon has a structure repair function, so she can actually fire it all she wants as long as it’s only where rare monsters are.
As for the weaker monsters, there’s no danger of them attacking us in the first place, so there’s no reason for them to attack them. Ayane is staying with Aki and Maki.
But then both my arms are pulled.
“Hey Shouta, where are you going today?”
“Hn? Well…”
“Fufu, I want to see you looking cool a lot today.”
“Haha, and I’ll try to make that happen… Hn?”
I look at the map to check the four corners, when I notice something different compared to last time.
There are different spots, lights that are neither red or white.
This did cross my mind, but I’ve never heard of this from them.
I see seven new points on the map, all in the forest…
We’re still near the entrance. We can’t talk about it here, or people might hear, so let’s go to the closest point.
“Everyone, follow me.”
“Y-yes.”
“All right.”
“Where?”
My expression makes the sisters nervous, but Ayane is the same as always.
And after checking that we’re alone, I speak.
“I’m curious about something. Just follow me to the forest and leave the questions for after that.”
Everyone nods, and I unsheathe my sword.
“Aira, I’ll take down the monsters around us, so please grab their drops.”
“Leave it to me.”
I can’t use the bow because of the bad visibility of the forest. And as I think that its debut is getting delayed, we reach a big tree.
“It’s so big.”
“What is this place?”
“It should be around here.”
I say to Maki and Aki while checking the map, and see that point is right where the tree is.
But I don’t see anything, even after going around the tree. There’s nothing between the roots or hollows or anything.
Then…
“Up there?”
I look up, but all I see is green. I don’t see bumps or anything I can grab, but there are thick branches, so I don’t think I’ll have trouble finding footing.
“I’ll climb it. Aira, can you follow me?”
“Gladly.”
They help me take off my armor, and now that I’m feeling lighter, I jump high and grab a branch. I’ve never climbed a tree or anything, but I have superhuman stats and Physical Super Strengthening. I don’t have trouble even when I have to balance myself on unstable spots or hang in the air while climbing.
I’m a little nervous because I’ve never done this before, but I manage to reach the top. Also, despite starting after me, Aira reaches the top before me.
“Is this what you were looking for?”
“Yes… So it really is here.
It’s an iron treasure chest.
The top of the tree is flat, almost like it’s expected that people will climb it. It’s also covered in greenery, so no one can see us.
“Where does this stand in terms of rarity?”
“Rank two, after wooden treasure chests. If we assume treasure chest rarity corresponds to the difficulty of the dungeon they are found in, this dungeon should have wooden treasure chests.
There is a chance the rarity went up because of the spot itself.”
“I see. Let’s see what’s inside after we get down… Can you take it?”
“Master.”
“Hn?”
Aira’s expression is suddenly serious.
“Can you go down on your own?”
“Eh…”
I look down.
The greenery prevents me from seeing the ground, but I can assume the tree is at least ten meters tall.
I didn’t notice when I was going up, but now that I’m going down… I’m getting a little worried.
Going is easy, coming back is scary.
“Just to check, can I fall from a ten meter height with over five hundred Constitution?”
“You won’t die, but it’s dangerous when you can’t see where you will land. You might land awkwardly, not to mention the ladies are down there…”
“Yes, let’s not do that.”
That would be the worst.
I can see their positions on the map, but they might move.
“Fufu. Do you want me to hold you?”
“That’s… A little embarrassing.”
It would be one thing if it was the other way around, but just imagining Aira carrying me makes me almost die of embarrassment.
But despite me not really having a fear of heights, I’m still not sure about going down in one go with unstable footing. What if I go too fast and misstep? There’s not that much to hold on to.
I really didn’t think of any of this when I was going up.
“…I’ll try to go slowly.”
“Very well. I will at least tell you the safest route.”
“Thanks.”
◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇
It takes me way longer to go down compared to when I went up, but I reach the ground. Once I’m close enough to see the girls’ faces, my tension goes away.
By the way, Aira was leading the way, and she easily went down to the ground with the treasure chest in one hand. She’s nimble… Will I ever be able to move like that?
…Anyway, I think I’ll leave it to her next time.
“Welcome back.”
“Yes, welcome back Shouta.”
“Welcome back!”
I get a passionate hug from them, making this worth it. I really am simple.
“So this is what you found?”
“Yes Aki. Is there information about the treasure chests in this dungeon?”
“…I don’t think so.”
“No, Aki. There is nothing about treasure chests from the first to the third floors.”
“I see.”
So there’s nothing about treasure chests being found here. Well, it was on top of a tree in a forest that people usually don’t enter.
I don’t know about the other points, but if I didn’t know this was there, I wouldn’t have climbed the tree and found it.
“Master, please open it.”
“Okay.”
The iron treasure chest pops open, and there’s a medicine bottle inside.
“This is… Potion level two?”
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Thanks for the treat.