Chapter 35

It's not that the pandas in America are dirty; it's simply a matter of visibility.

In Washington, D.C., it was said to be a huge hassle to see them due to the long lines, but at Adventure World, there are no lines at all.

You can see them from the very front.

There's no time limit, so you don't have to be replaced.

Yeah, that's definitely a perk of visiting Adventure World on a weekday. You can't do that at Ueno Zoo.

Probably, in America, Hime had a bitter memory of trying to jump and see over the crowd, but she couldn't because she was too short.

I can picture Hime jumping up and down, shaking her twin tails, trying to see over the crowd.

"Let's start the meeting. Ayame, please pass around the drinks."

Hime, still wearing her panda knit cap, placed a panda plushie next to her and started distributing the juice labeled "orange juice" to everyone.

I've never heard of having orange juice at a meeting, but I was thirsty, so I appreciated it.

I took a sip, and the rich flavor made me feel like I was drinking actual oranges.

I should buy some if they're cheap.

"First, we received a notification from the prefecture two days ago that the exploration range for me, Taira, and Ayame has been expanded. We can now explore three levels deeper than usual. Ayame and I can go up to level 8, and Taira can go up to level 10."

That's great news.

Level 10.

If we can reflect our progress in PD, we'll be able to level up even faster.

"Milky can explore up to level 5, just like us. Milky was able to reach level 5 last week, but we were a bit behind."

"Our EPO corporation was approved late, and we don't have any veteran explorers. After all, we're just two high school students and one college student. They probably wanted to avoid media criticism in case of an accident. But we managed to fix that."

What did you do to fix it?

No, ignorance is bliss.

"So, for tomorrow, how about Milky explores level 4, Ayame and I explore level 7, and Taira explores level 8?"

"I can go up to level 5."

Milky raised her hand, but Hime shook her head.

"No, you can't. It's dangerous for a level 11 to explore level 5 alone. This time, our goal isn't to level up but to improve our magic proficiency."

Hime said this, but Milky didn't seem convinced.

"Hey, what about assigning a support member?"

"Will Taira be the support? Taira is our ace. I'd prefer if Taira focused on leveling up and led us when we all go deep together."

"No, not me. I want to assign Kuro."

"Kuro? A new member?"

Hime tilted her head in confusion.

"Kuro is a black dog that Ichino-san keeps."

Hearing Ayame's explanation, Milky said in a discouraged tone.

"Hey, Taira. Animals can be brought into the dungeon, but they can't level up. They can defeat slimes and walking mushrooms, but not goblins."

"No, Kuro looks like a dog, but he's actually a monster."

"Wh-What!?"

"Monsters can hatch from eggs in gacha machines. Kuro hatched from one of those eggs."

I made this setting based on the story of a dragon egg hatching from a D-gacha. Wolves are mammals, so you might think they don't hatch from eggs, but there are examples of cat monsters like Kett-Ce and boar monsters like Stamp Boar hatching from D-gacha eggs.

So, I decided to make Kuro hatch from an egg.

"Kuro looks cute, but he's smart and strong. He's faster than me, stronger than Hime, and has an excellent sense of smell, making it easier to find monsters. Once he learns a scent, he can target specific monsters for hunting."

"Tomorrow, we'll check how well Kuro can fight. If there are no issues, Milky and Kuro can explore level 5 together."

After that, Hime explained the monsters and strategies for each level.

It felt like a school lesson.

The notebook and pencil provided for taking notes made it even more so.

Milk and Ayame, used to studying, took notes seriously without any complaints.

"That's all. The meeting is over. Dinner is at 7:30 PM in the restaurant on the second floor. Until then, feel free to take a bath or relax in your room."

Finally, it's over.

It's already 7:00 PM.

Even I, who usually take quick showers, want to soak in the hot spring.

I'll take a bath after dinner.

For now, I'll go back to my room and rest.

Before that, I'll check if this orange juice is sold in the hotel's convenience store.

"Taira, stay behind."

...I was given a detention.

Milk and Ayame left for their rooms, and I stayed behind.

"So, Taira. Where did you get Kuro, the monster?"

"I already told you. From a D-gacha—"

"True, monsters can hatch from D-gacha eggs. However, hatching a monster requires a special incubator. There are only twelve incubators in Japan, one in Osaka and one in Kobe in the Kansai region, both managed by the Oshino Group. Incidentally, the incubators in our group haven't been used in about three years. If they were used even once, it would cause a stir within the company. Where did you hatch Kuro, Taira?"

"......Ah, well......"

"Can't you be honest with me? I haven't told Dad or anyone about the incident in Shizuoka."

My cover is weak—more like Hime's information management is incredible.

I don't think the Oshino Group's information management is sloppy. She's just in a position to access that information and is using it to the fullest.

I'll have to share more secrets with Hime.

"Don't tell anyone I told you this. Monsters born in the Black Labyrinth can be tamed if defeated in other dungeons."

"Is that the condition?"

"Monsters born in the Black Labyrinth return to the Black Labyrinth when defeated, but if they are defeated in a dungeon managed by DUNPON, they can't return, and their power remains. This allows them to be reborn as monsters and tamed. When we were attacked by a Darkness Wolf in Shizuoka, you saw it, right? I restrained the Darkness Wolf and took it to the dungeon after everything was over. I killed it there, and it became my companion."

It sounds a bit unbelievable. I won't ask about the skill to burrow into the ground. I'll accept it for now.

"Can I verify and publish this information?"

"Capture a black monster?"

"Actually, the opposite. Take a low-level monster from a regular dungeon outside and defeat it in the Black Labyrinth. The GDC Group's verification team can do it. I want to conduct the investigation and publish the results without revealing your name."

"Publish it?"

"Yes. If it's possible to tame dungeon monsters, there are many potential uses. Also, if the investigation progresses, maybe—"

"Maybe?"

"Don't worry. It's just a hypothesis."

"Then I won't worry. You can do as you like. If taming monsters becomes common, maybe I won't have to pretend Kuro is a regular dog."

"Even if taming monsters becomes common, taming a Darkness Wolf won't be."

I guess I'll have to keep pretending Kuro is a dog.