Chapter 29

That night.

While teaching Kuro a trick, Hime contacted me.

She said that the EPO corporation application had been approved.

"What do you mean? I haven't heard anything about this."

"It was a long shot. I didn't think a mere three people, and low-level ones at that, would be approved as an EPO corporation. Maybe it was thanks to the Oshino Group's influence? Connections are everything, after all."

Hime said this without a hint of remorse.

"I have no intention of making my skills public."

Becoming a regular member of an EPO corporation comes with tax benefits, but it also means complying with government requests and providing the government with information about regular members. If I revealed the details of the Hellfire Magic, I would be linked to the masked man on Mount Fuji, and there are many other skills I don't want to make public, such as PD generation and detailed appraisal.

"You don't have to make them public. No one can know what skills you have unless you show them. In Taira's case, as long as you write down appraisal and basic swordsmanship, you can hide the rest as you like."

"Legally—"

"It does violate the law, but that's all. There are no penalties for keeping skills secret. Not wearing a helmet while riding a bicycle is also against the law, but it's just a duty. Does Taira wear a helmet when he rides a bicycle?"

"...No, I don't."

"That's right. And the government won't impose penalties in the future. Because of the pressure."

"Pressure from who?"

"From all the explorers. If the laws supporting explorers make them unpopular, it would be meaningless. The government—no, the bureaucrats—understand this."

Mr. Ushizou didn't mention this.

No, it's natural.

Given his character, he wouldn't say something like, "Hide it because it's not illegal."

He is a normal adult.

"But what about the number of people? Are we going to keep it at just three?"

"That would be too conspicuous. We have many explorers. The ones who teach beginners in the dungeon. They will join us. It will be enough to meet the number requirement. We already have the board's approval."

"Smooth move—"

"To become stronger, we need a significant relaxation of safety margins. For that, the participation of an EPO corporation—a guild—is essential. And it has to be our own guild that we can manage ourselves."

"Got it. Oh, and one more thing. There's someone who wants to join our party."

"Is that Miku Makino? Wasn't she going to America?"

"You investigated that far? No, Miku is staying in Japan."

"Right... We'll hold an audition, but the selection will be fair."

"Got it. I'll let her know. I've already told her the date, but is next Sunday okay? I want to meet two hours before the dungeon exploration starts."

"Okay, no problem."

Good, that settles the Miku issue.

I'll play with Kuro again.

When I throw a ball, she pretends to faint.

While teaching her this trick,

Ayame called me.

"Mr. Ichino, have you heard?"

"About the EPO corporation? I just heard. By the way, isn't part-time work prohibited at Toyo High School because it's a prestigious school? Is it okay?"

"For awakened individuals like me, we can be admitted to national universities through the comprehensive selection process, so the school actually encourages it."

"Can you go to national universities through the comprehensive selection process?"

"Yes. However, in the case of national universities, there is a possibility of being cut off based on the common test scores, so you still need to study."

"Can high-level individuals who are not awakened also do it?"

"I think it's difficult. If it were possible, there would be a significant difference between students born in April and those born in March, leading to unfairness."

Ah, that's right.

I was born in April, so I could go to the dungeon right after becoming a third-year high school student, but students born in mid to late March can't enter the dungeon even after the exam season ends.

The early and late birthdate issue, which is said to affect studies and sports, is indeed unfair, as it can't be compensated for with effort.

Awakened individuals are also unrelated to effort, but that's considered talent.

"Sorry, I got off track. So, Ayame, you're becoming a regular member too?"

"Yes. My mother said that if I want to continue being an explorer, I should definitely become a member because it's a rare opportunity to meet such a lady. When I told her about meeting Mr. Oshino, she suspected it was a scam, but after seeing the 270,000 yen transferred and Mr. Oshino on TV, she believed me."

"I see. I haven't told my parents yet."

I talk to my mother and father more about PD and Kuro than about becoming a regular member of an EPO corporation.

It's too late to tell them about that now.

"Oh, right. The other day, I mentioned a girl who suddenly canceled our dungeon exploration. She wants to join the same party and will be evaluated by Hime on Sunday, before the scheduled time—"

"I'll go too!"

"Eh?"

"I'll be a bit late, but I'll go too! The place is Mr. Oshino's room, right?"

Hmm, maybe that's better?

Hime looks like a cute girl, but she can be quite high-handed.

Having Ayame, who is the same age, might help Miku feel less nervous.

"Got it. Yes, Hime's room is the right place. After that, we're going to the Tenshibadan Dungeon, so don't forget to prepare for that."

"Okay! I'll do my best."

"Okay, let's do our best."

Ayame and Miku will probably become good friends.

I felt relieved and tried to teach Kuro a trick, but—Kuro had taken over my bed and was sleeping on it.

Stop it, you'll get fur on the sheets.

※ ※ ※

Even though the appointment is on Sunday, I have something to do with PD.

Leveling up is good, but I also have D-cans to open.

Some that were difficult to open alone can be opened with two people.

"Kuro, let's go."

"Woof!"

I throw a D-can.

Kuro catches it with her mouth.

She shakes her head and throws it back to me.

I catch it.

Ten rounds of catch-the-D-can.

What we got was,

"Gloves! I wanted new ones. With these, I can hit a home run—No, I'm not a baseball boy."

A natural follow-up.

Checking with detailed appraisal, it's just a regular baseball glove.

I put it in my inventory.

Next.

"Drink 5 liters of milk in 5 minutes or less."

I bought six milk cartons, but I'm not the one drinking.

"Kuro, can you really do it?"

Kuro nods.

"You're confident? You actually want to drink it? Can you really do it? If it's too much, say so."

The lethal dose of water is said to be 6 liters.

It's less than that, but 5 minutes is a short time.

I thought it was too much to drink, but if Kuro says she can do it, I'll believe her.

Using a dog bowl would take too long to lap up, so I pour 5 liters of milk into a bucket.

Kuro grabs it with her front paws and starts drinking.

The milk quickly decreases, and it's gone in less than 3 minutes.

Then, Kuro asks for more, so I give her the remaining milk.

What's in the D-can?

Let's see—

"It's a water bottle."

If it's a dungeon-produced water bottle, it would be convenient to put it in my inventory.

But if I put water in it, can I still store it in my inventory?

I check with appraisal.

【Magic Water Bottle (Milk): When a magic stone is inserted, it produces delicious milk. A black magic stone produces about 5 liters of milk.】

Wow! This seems like a rare item.

I've heard of magic water bottles that produce water, but I've never heard of one that produces milk!

This is a big win!

But... a regular magic water bottle might be better.

A black magic stone for 5 liters... Considering 500 yen for 5 liters, it's good for personal use, but in the dungeon, regular water seems better.

I'll give this to my mother with a magic stone and ask Hime if she has any spare magic water bottles.

What should I open next?

I want something easy.

This is the last one for today.

I want something good for the last one.

Then, Kuro brought a D-can in her mouth.

Huh? Is there a hole in this D-can?

I don't think Kuro's teeth could make a hole.

No, it's just a pattern of holes.

Wow, there are D-cans like this too.

【Opening Condition: Cover the hole with a band-aid】

Ah, I see.

I had classified this as a mystery because I didn't understand the hole.

I go back home and look in the first-aid kit.

"Um, band-aid, band-aid—where is it? Mom, where are the band-aids?"

"They're in the shoebox. Your father used them for blisters."

"Put them back in the first-aid kit, please."

There they are.

By the way, our band-aids are B〇d-Aid.

I immediately cover the hole (pattern) with a band-aid.

It seems to be the right answer, as the D-can opens.

I was worried it might contain a new band-aid, but it was a skill orb.

Great, a win at the very end.

I'm looking forward to seeing what skill I can learn.

Next time, the interview... meaning those two will meet.

Shura-ba, "It seems it's my turn."