Chapter 57

In the midst of cherry blossoms dancing in the wind, Misaki opened the old diary and read the words of promise written there.

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A dungeon has appeared at Tengen Pond, and we are supposed to conduct the first survey and live stream it?

I couldn't help but repeat Ako's words in my heart, taken aback by the news.

I have too many ideas about this dungeon.

"Hey, Ako. Why us? Usually, the first survey is done by veteran explorers, right? Even the dungeon at Mount Fuji was handled by the top-ranked explorers."

Milk raised her hand to ask a question.

Yes, that does sound odd.

"The dungeon that will be born this time is not a dangerous Black Dungeon but an extension of a regular dungeon managed by Danpon. To emphasize safety, Danpon suggested that a team of about four explorers under twenty years old, who are familiar with the local area, and who belong to an EPO corporation, should conduct the first survey. The government quickly picked an EPO corporation's exploration party that met these conditions."

"So, we were chosen for this mission. By the way, why is Ako here? Is Hime with you too?"

Milk asked, realizing something.

Right, they were meeting for the first time.

"Allow me to introduce myself. I am Ako Ako's younger brother, Shousuke Ako. I work at Tenka Musou."

"Huh!?"

"Milk, I understand your surprise, but we can talk about it later. I need to use the bathroom—"

I said this, stood up, and hurried into the PD room.

Then—

"Hey! Danpon! What are you up to!"

"W, w, w, what's wrong, Taichiro! You're different! Are you angry because I got tired of Pokémon Green and started playing Pokémon Silver! Did you prefer Hoenn over Johto!?"

What are you talking about, what are you talking about.

"The survey of the dungeon at Kusaka Park, you made it so that we would go, right!"

"Hehe! It's a thank you to Taichiro. Since you said it was fine for you to explore the dungeon, I made it so that you could go first! Moreover, I came up with a plausible reason so that our connection wouldn't be revealed, and I made sure to pick the party members from the government's selection to avoid causing trouble for them."

"You went too far..."

I appreciate that you didn't name me directly.

Avoiding trouble probably means that our school attendance will be excused.

But, thanks to your consideration, we're in a big fuss.

"It's not dangerous, right?"

"It's a test play, so you can go up to the 15th floor, but you'll be fine, Taichiro."

"I want to know the basis for that—"

"It's because it's you, Taichiro!"

"Then why the live stream?"

"Live stream? What do you mean?"

The live stream is not Danpon's request but the government's.

Well, I see that Danpon didn't have any ill intentions.

"For a while, I won't bring you any snacks."

"Eeeeh!?"

That doesn't mean I forgive you.

I came out of the PD room and returned to the room.

"Sorry. By the way, what's this about the dungeon live stream? Is it Danpon's request?"

"It's from the government. Since they're sending young members, they want to use it as a promotional opportunity to broadcast it to the world. The perception that dungeons are dangerous is gradually spreading due to the Black Dungeon incident, and the government wants to dispel that notion."

"Will our faces be shown?"

Ayame said, looking troubled.

"Anyone who doesn't want their face shown, raise your hand."

In response to Hime's question, I, Milk, and Ayame raised our hands.

In my case, I don't want to be asked about how I reached level 30 in just a few months.

"Well, I thought you might say that. Don't worry, the government has been secretly developing something. They're going to use it this time."

The government has been secretly developing something?

Could it be a magical item that blocks recognition like my transformation hero mask?

If it were practical, it would indeed be amazing.

But, at the same time, there's the fear of misuse.

After all, no matter how heinous the crime, the perpetrator's identity wouldn't be revealed.

"What is this thing they've been developing?"

"It's an app that instantly converts dungeon explorers' video into avatars!"

...Ah, I feel relieved. And, it's so Japanese.

Why is the government secretly developing such a thing?

They should develop it publicly.

Moreover, it includes a voice changer, so our identities won't be revealed.

Well, that makes us virtual YouTubers.

"However, the location this time is a bit unlucky. The government says it's the site of Kusaka Park—"

"Kusaka Park, isn't it the setting of Osamu Dazai's 'Pandora's Box'? I read it a long time ago after hearing about it from a local."

You know about it.

I had no idea.

"But, is it really that unlucky a place?"

"The bigger issue is Kusasawazaka, the nearest station when Kusaka Park was around."

"Was there such a station?"

"Taichiro, you don't know even though you're from the area? It's a famous place mentioned in the Nihon Shoki. 'At Kusasawazaka, I met and fought with Yu.'"

I had no idea. Hime knows a lot. She said she's from Kyoto University, and it doesn't seem like she got in through a back door.

So, who fought whom, and why is it unlucky?

"Kusasawazaka is where Emperor Jimmu, the owner of the sword Futsu no Mitama that Taichiro possesses, lost to his brother Itsuse no Mikoto."

The sad history Danpon mentioned wasn't about the tuberculosis sanatorium but this!

I don't like it, such a losing flag.

Next, Ako showed us the avatars for the four of us who would explore the dungeon on his computer.

The avatars retain our gender, age, hair style, and hair color, but they look like anime characters.

It seems to be automatically generated by AI, but I didn't know it could be done like this.

"Taichiro, isn't the avatar cooler than the real you?"

"That's not true. The real Ichino is cool too!"

Milk teased, and Ayame backed me up.

From my perspective, the characters on the screen are slightly beautified.

Milk, Ayame, and Hime are all very cute characters, but since they are all originally cute, there's no sense of dissonance.

"Hey, Ako, can't you make my avatar bigger?"

"I'm sorry, Hime. Unlike VTube avatars, significant changes to the body shape, including height, are not possible. It also records combat data."

"Still... Can't you make it three centimeters taller?"

Hime tried to negotiate with Ako to make her avatar taller.

Even if you add three centimeters, it won't change her short stature.

As the discussion ended,

"Everyone, I brought milk tea. Enjoy it with the cookies Milk gave me."

My mother brought in a pot of tea and a bottle of milk.

"Thank you."

We all took a sip of the milk tea.

Wait, what?

This cheap tea is surprisingly delicious.

"This is really good."

"Yes, the sweetness is just right."

"Such delicious milk tea isn't even served at our hotel."

Even Hime praised it.

Our tea is just tea bags.

Is it okay? The evaluation of Ashino Resort might go down.

"The secret might be in the milk, not the tea."

Ako looked at the tea closely and said.

"Oh, you figured it out? I'm using fresh milk. It's really delicious."

"Fresh? You mean freshly squeezed?"

"No, freshly made. The magic thermos that gives milk, which I got from Taichiro. I tried it recently, and the milk is incredibly delicious."

The four of us looked at her.

Ah, I remember giving such a gift to my mother.

The detailed appraisal said it produces premium milk.

Yes, this is indeed premium.