kscans

Chapter 10 - The Weakest Dungeon

Three minutes into our journey through the light-illuminated dungeon.

'Take the next right. That should lead you—'

"Wait, Paisen. I hear footsteps."

At Erina-san's words, I stopped.

[Five Senses Enhancement].

A skill that, as its name suggests, allows her to arbitrarily enhance her five senses, including sight. With this, she was demonstrating hearing far beyond that of a normal human.

I moved forward, checking the feel of the one-and-a-half-handed sword in my right hand.

Byakuren is just a 'decoy for emergencies'; I have no intention of actively having it fight in this dungeon. It's a good-luck charm and a baggage carrier, so to speak.

More importantly, if I can't fight at this rank, I won't be able to make a living as an adventurer.

With a soft pof pof sound of footsteps, a giant mushroom... a 'Matango,' appeared from around the corner.

According to scholars, it has a sense of smell and uses it to locate humans.

Having spotted us, it started running with its short legs... or is that even running?

As the Matango trotted towards us, I silently threw a knife at it. The blade, accelerated by the wind, pierced it with ease.

The Matango fell over from the impact, twitched a little, and then turned into salt.

Wow, it's weak.

...I can really understand why the residents around here opposed the 'evacuation.'

But I quickly shook my head. A rookie has no room for carelessness or arrogance.

I approached, retrieved the knife and a coin, and turned back to Erina-san.

"Um, if you would."

"Okey-dokey!"

When I held out the coin, she opened a square 'hole' in the empty air and tossed it in.

'Spatial Magic──Item Box.'

Yes, that Item Box. Alongside [Appraisal], it's a staple of countless fantasy works.

The reason Erina-san isn't carrying any luggage is because she has this.

Fighting with something on your back is surprisingly difficult. Thus, it is indeed a 'convenient' magic.

But it's not all-powerful. I heard its capacity is about two cardboard boxes' worth. It might change as her level increases, but for now, it's difficult to fit in the backpack containing the 'rope' and 'blanket' recommended by the Dungeon Agency.

At least, it's too tight for two people's worth, which is where Byakuren comes in.

...I might not have needed to summon the golem in a dungeon of this rank, but 'peace of mind' is important.

I told myself that and sheathed my knife.

'Hmm... I've seen it in videos, but monsters are truly strange life forms, aren't they?'

Aira-san's voice came from the earring.

It seems the pendant-shaped mirror hanging from Erina-san's neck is being used as a camera. This earring is just for communication. Well, it's small, so it would probably be hard to see through.

'However, I wonder why they turn into salt? I'd like you to bring some back if possible, but...'

"That's the one thing I will absolutely not do... It's dangerous."

'Hahaha! Of course. They'd stop you at the store anyway.'

Yes, it's dangerous. Bringing back 'salt' from the dungeon.

I heard that the Self-Defense Force once collected rocks and other things as samples from a dungeon, and among them was the salt of a defeated monster.

But as soon as they collected the salt and started carrying it, their encounter rate with monsters shot up, and when they tried to leave through the gate, every monster in the dungeon attacked them with glowing red eyes.

From surveillance camera footage, it seems that salt left alone is eventually absorbed into the ground. Cleanly, without a trace.

One of the leading hypotheses is that 'the dungeon recycles monsters.'

The labyrinth strongly dislikes having its salt taken away.

Although, I heard an experiment was conducted based on this theory, to see if they could 'lure the monsters outside and destroy them, so they stop multiplying'... The details weren't reported, but I heard it had almost no effect.

'Alright. For now, let's prioritize reaching the exit as planned.'

"Right."

From then on, we moved through the dungeon following her instructions.

We encountered six Matangos along the way, but it all ended with me and Erina-san taking turns throwing a knife and a throwing spike.

Erina-san's attacks don't seem to be one-hit kills, but the opponents are slow and light anyway. When the throwing spike hits, they fall over and can't avoid the follow-up attack.

This is 'the weakest monster.' It certainly deserves its 'first enemy' designation from the Dungeon Agency.

And so, we arrived at the dungeon exit. Near a building that looked like a police box, Erina-san placed her hand on the stone wall.

"...■■...■..."

She seemed to be chanting some kind of spell, but I couldn't hear it clearly.

Eventually, mana gathered in her palm and was absorbed into the wall. To the naked eye, it probably just looked like it glowed faintly for a moment.

"Alright! Now we can 'Teleport' back!"

"Whoa."

'Spatial Magic──Teleport.'

She, or rather, users of spatial magic, can teleport to any location they've 'marked' like this. And they can even bring anyone they're touching with them, to some extent.

However, there's a limit to the number of times they can mark, and if they exceed the limit, the first mark they made gets overwritten. I don't know the details.

What's important is that 'you can't teleport from inside the dungeon to the outside.' And vice versa.

But, if you mark the area near the exit first, you can return at any time during the rest of the exploration. This is another important 'insurance policy.'

Even if you're being chased by a monster, you can get to that police box where the Self-Defense Force is.

I can see why Aira-san described her as 'extremely convenient.' In fact, she's more than convenient; she's a lifeline.

"Um... I look forward to working with you in the future."

"Hmm? Okay!!"

...If I'm going to continue as an adventurer, I should stick with this person as much as possible.

After securing our escape route, we focused on hunting Matangos.

As expected, the 'hunts' continued to be not even worthy of being called combat, which was a relief. All I had to do was throw a knife, and it was over, so it was pretty easy.

In exchange, the earnings were quite small.

The coins that drop also have ranks. With some exceptions, I heard in the course that they generally correspond to the monster's threat level.

The ones the Matangos drop are iron coins, but they're pretty beat up. The buyback price and the subjugation reward are next to nothing.

I saw online that if you only frequent this dungeon, you won't even be able to pay the license renewal fee.

Around the time we had collected about 20 Matango coins, we came out into an open area.

A resting space, like the one where the Zombie Kobold was. Amidst the rotten and collapsed chairs and tables scattered on the floor, we moved to a relatively clear corner.

'Alright, if you would, Erina-kun.'

"You got it!"

With that, Erina-san deftly began to take out a bag of coins, a gas burner, pliers, and various other things from her Item Box.

By law, dungeon items cannot be taken outside the store.

So, the policy of the lab Erina-san belongs to is to just collect some simple data inside the dungeon. It's a gray area, leaning towards white.

They'd definitely get yelled at if they did it inside the store, so they do it here, apparently.

'Kyou-chan-kun. I need you and Byakuren-kun to stand guard.'

"Understood."

With Erina-san, who had started heating the coins, at my back, I stood guard. It doesn't have the versatility of [Five Senses Enhancement], but my [Spirit Eye] also has high scouting capabilities.

If anything enters my line of sight, I can see through its concealment, even if it's by a skill. So, for the time being, I'm just a lookout.

...This isn't what I imagined dungeon exploration would be like, but if it gets me a guaranteed 50,000 yen, I'm motivated.

I enthusiastically glared at my surroundings.

*

An hour and a half after entering the dungeon. We finished collecting data, hunted a few more Matangos on our way out, and returned.

After changing in the locker room, we went to the buyback counter to exchange the coins we 'hadn't broken,' but...

'1,700 yen.'

That was our income from this exploration. '3,400 yen' for the two of us.

It was easy, but a bit meager. Well, there were some coins that were too damaged to be 'bought back,' even though they 'accepted' them, so it can't be helped.

'If you're going to collect them for free, then let us buy them. There are things we can only investigate in a lab, you know...!'

I ignored the resentful voice coming from the earring. She can tell the Dungeon Agency about that sort of thing over the phone.

I learned something from this exploration. If I react to every little thing Aira-san says, I'll die from overwork.

It might be an unthinkable way for a high school boy to treat an older, beautiful woman. But if I don't treat this disappointing beauty with that level of carelessness, I don't think I can work with her.

For better or worse, I've designated her as someone I don't need to be reserved with. Dungeons really do strengthen a person's spirit...

But I digress. Our earnings here were meager, but the main payment was separate.

'Ahem. First of all, thank you both for your hard work. I appreciate the useful data you managed to collect on your first outing.'

"Thank you for your hard work as well."

"Thanks for your hard work, Paisen! And you, Kyou-chan!"

'I'll transfer the payment to your designated bank accounts. Please check them later. Well, there's an ATM in the convenience store inside the store, so you can check there!'

"Okay."

I plan on going to check right away.

It's my first income, so maybe I'll buy something on the way home. Something the whole family can eat would be nice...?

As I was thinking that, Aira-san spoke up.

'Oh, Kyou-chan-kun. You might be a filial son, so let me give you a little advice.'

"Yes...?"

*

I went home with a pack of sushi I'd bought at a supermarket on the way.

My mom was genuinely happy that I'd returned safely from the dungeon. My dad was the same when he got home from work.

Then, I convinced them to let me put part of my earnings into the family account... and while I was at it, I asked my dad about taxes and things.

'Listen, Kyou-chan-kun. Everyone has pride, big or small. It's one of the seven sins, after all. And parents want to look good in front of their children. I want you to understand that.'

The advice Aira-san gave me after that preface was, I think, very helpful.

My dad, who had been reluctant to let me put some of my earnings into the family account at first, gradually softened up as I relied on him for tax matters.

She's suspicious and a bit loud, but when it comes down to it, Aira-san is reliable.

...A classmate I can call by her first name, and an adult outside my family I can rely on.

It seems that even though I was a loner in class, I was blessed with 'connections.'

With that thought, I sent Aira-san a thank-you email, but...

'Heh heh heh. As I thought, I'm a reliable adult lady, except when it comes to exercise, right? By the way, my dear boy. I noticed your eyes wandering to Erina-kun's chest during the exploration, you know? I could tell from the position of the mirror.'

'No, no, I'm not blaming you! She noticed too but didn't say anything, you know! A man's glance is a woman's stare, you know? According to one theory, even bald men are sensitive to gazes directed at their heads.'

'I asked you before you entered the dungeon, but your fetish is a woman's chest, isn't it? I bet you especially like large ones. How wholesome! My chest is also above average, you know. Could it be that you're looking at me in that way?'

'Don't be so flustered, young man! I have a good head on my shoulders and a pretty face, so I'm used to those kinds of looks. But still, this is fun, this is fun! It's so enjoyable to tease people from a safe distance!'

'Hmm? That sound just now? It's the sound of me opening a Strong Z☐ro. In fact, it's my sixth one. That's right! I'm already drunk! Keep me company a little longer. It's a phone call with a beautiful older sister, you know?'

'Mhm. I'm playing a game while we talk. It's a recent hobby of mine. Drinking while playing online games. What is it? You think I'm a lonely adult? This is what university students are like, my boy. Not that I have many friends, so I wouldn't know for sure!'

'Ha-ha-ha! And then I told him. With your jump, you can't even clear an ant! Looking back on it later, I thought, what kind of analogy is that, and it was so meaningless it was hilarious!'

And so on. I ended up on the phone with her for about an hour. I felt I owed her, so I decided to listen just this once, and this is what I got.

...Yeah.

Rinzaki-san and Aira-san really are related, aren't they...