Chapter 67

The iron golem felt like an advanced version of the Haniwa soldiers and stone golems.

It was about a meter tall, with a simple shape and no weapons.

However, just being made of iron made it both highly offensive and defensive.

If hit by a block of iron, with my initial stats, it would result in broken ribs.

Its weakness was lightning and fire, but if you used a half-hearted attack and failed to finish it off, a charged or heated block of iron would come at you, so caution was necessary.

Well—let's start with this one.

I didn't take out Ame no Murakumo but the Ishikiri sword.

This wasn't from the Kusayu Park D, where I had sold everything to the government.

This was from the PD created from the data of Kusayu Park D.

I had twelve of them.

I wouldn't regret using them up.

"Sure-hit sword!"

My sword clashed with the iron golem.

Sparks flew.

The sword, said to be able to cut through stone, couldn't penetrate it.

It only left a shallow scratch.

The iron golem lunged at me, but I stepped back to maintain distance.

My advantage was the reach of my sword.

I had no intention of getting into close combat.

The damage might look small, but golem-type monsters can die from accumulated internal damage, not just from losing limbs.

In my case, after five thrusts, the iron golem died.

It dropped a yellow D-coin—100D = 5000 yen—and an iron ingot.

According to the materials I saw before entering the dungeon, the iron golem's experience points were about 2000, equivalent to 2000 slimes or two experience potions. Considering the effort to make the potions, it was more efficient to level up here.

Not only iron golems appeared.

Goblin Leaders, a higher form of goblins, appeared, all equipped with iron swords, spears, and bows. Moreover, the Goblin Leaders had excellent teamwork. With "Leader" in their names, you'd think they'd be like too many cooks, but they worked together perfectly.

However, their defense wasn't that great, so I could take them all down with one hit, which was convenient.

After defeating the twelfth iron golem, the Ishikiri sword broke.

I had been using it carelessly, thinking it was disposable, but I didn't expect it to break so easily.

This was a good time to head back and regroup with everyone.

Today's lunch was a bento made by Miku.

The previous lunch at Kusayu Park D was a portable meal, but on weekends, Ayame and Miku took turns making bentos.

I offered to make one, but they said they enjoyed cooking.

Maybe they think my cooking is bad.

By the way, when I asked if the princess would make one—

"What do you expect from me?"

She said.

If I asked the princess, a hotel chef would probably make it for me.

"This beef tendon stew is really tender."

"Yeah, I cooked it for a long time in a pressure cooker."

The tamagoyaki was fluffy too.

Really, eating a homemade bento made by a childhood friend is a rare and wonderful event, even in a world of dating sims.

Being able to experience this every week is a perk.

"Mr. Ichino, how was the iron golem?"

"Yeah, I took down twelve. But my spare swords are pretty beat up."

"Didn't you use magic? Taira, you can use fire magic, right?"

"My fire magic isn't very proficient, so... I used it quite a bit on the Goblin Leaders."

I answered the princess's question.

I'm the front-liner, after all.

A magic battle seemed tough.

"Ayame and Miku keep learning new spells, but I don't get many new ones."

I can only use Flame Arrow.

I've been secretly taking potions from Treasure Box T that temporarily increase magic proficiency.

"Non-awakened people find it hard to increase their magic proficiency, so it can't be helped."

"Is that the difference?"

In that case, it's better to think I can't use most of the hellfire spells except for Hell's Inferno.

With the four of us gathered, we had a cube-hunting competition on the fifth floor for the first time in a while.

This time, the competition was based on the amount of D-coins, not the number of treasure boxes.

I thought my ability to detect presence would give me an advantage, but the result was a decisive win for the princess.

Her strategy of using clones to split up and hunt was the key to her victory.

Of course, if it was just the number of treasure boxes, I would have won hands down.

The next day, the princess, Ayame, and Miku each found three D-cans they could open and gave them as gifts, and we explored the dungeon as usual.

The levels of the three of them increased, but mine stayed at 35.

The princess told me that it becomes much harder to level up after level 30, but it's no fun if I don't grow.

I need to level up in PD.

I also need to hunt mimics to get the magic proficiency growth potion.

Monday came.

I wasn't fully rested.

Maybe I should have slept more in PD?

"Mr. Ichino, you look tired. Are you okay?"

"I'm fine. It's been a while, Ms. Mizuno."

"It's been a while? We met on Friday."

"Oh, right, that's true."

I continued hunting mimics until I reached level 36, which felt like two weeks in the dungeon.

I even dreamed about hunting mimics.

I didnsnow new spells, and I got tired of opening Treasure Box T. I even broke a real treasure chest by reflex, turning its contents into junk.

I have over a hundred substitute bracelets.

I decorated the first floor with a front-liner art piece, but Danpon told me not to decorate with weird things. I wanted to point out that it came from the dungeon he created.

A lot happened in those two weeks.

It feels like a long time since I saw Ms. Mizuno.

Wait, she's staring at me.

"Ah, do you need advice?"

"Yeah, but Mr. Ichino, if you're tired—"

"I'm fine, just mentally tired. I'm physically okay. I'll listen to anything."

I managed a smile.

Ms. Mizuno thought for a moment, then asked me.

"I went to the Dungeon Bureau yesterday and registered as an awakened blacksmith. Then, I got recruitment offers from various places."

"That's because blacksmiths are rare."

Ms. Mizuno showed me her phone.

It was her personal page on the Dungeon Bureau's website.

Even though I'm not registered, I know that awakened people get recruitment messages from various companies.

The screen showed 31-37 out of 37 messages.

She got 37 offers right after registering.

I recognized some of the company names.

"So, there was one company that caught my attention. I hadn't heard of it before, but it's a legitimate company listed on the Dungeon Bureau's website. It's a small company, but it has a lot of young women. I consulted with my family, and they're coming to my house today... My parents and I aren't very familiar with dungeons. Could you come with me if it's okay?"

"Sure, I'd be happy to."

I see.

I was worried, but Ms. Mizuno is moving forward on her own.

I'll support her.

Of course, if the company turns out to be terrible, I'll step in, but it probably won't be that bad.

After school, I went directly to Ms. Mizuno's house.

I didn't even ask what kind of company it was.

"Why did you choose this company?"

"Well, the main reason is that they accepted me working only on weekends. They even offered to support my university education."

"Hmm, that sounds like a good company...?"

Normally, they'd want you to graduate and start working as soon as possible, but accepting weekend work and supporting university education is almost too good to be true.

It's starting to seem suspicious.

I need to be careful.

I don't think her father will fall for any weird contracts, but—

"Big sister, the guest is here!"

"I got yohkan!"

Her younger brother and sister were waiting outside.

They're already here?

"Be careful, Dad's in a really bad mood."

Little brother, you're giving me ominous information.

Feeling a bit scared, I went with Ms. Mizuno to the meeting room in the factory.

Ms. Mizuno knocked on the door and entered.

There were her parents and the company representatives—wait, what?

"Why is Mr. Ichino here?"

"I was wondering the same thing. But I think I understand now."

There was the unparalleled secretary, Ms. Akashi.

There's only one reason she's here.

~Bonus~

My name is Fubuki.

I'm a novelist (self-proclaimed).

The novel I'm writing is a dungeon story I created to pursue realism. I've watched various famous dungeon streaming novels and written them.

It's a story about a bullied kid who becomes the strongest with his male companions in the dungeon.

I think it's a masterpiece, but I've never been to a dungeon.

I don't want it to lack realism.

When I found out a classmate was an explorer, I decided to consult him.

Ichino Taira—well, we talk sometimes, and I think he's a good guy.

So, I swallowed my pride and asked him for advice.

"Do you want to read my novel?"

Ichino asked, and I nodded.

I told him I was pursuing realism and wanted him to tell me anything he thought.

Reading an amateur's novel can be a chore, but Ichino accepted it happily.

The next day, Ichino came with the novel I gave him.

"It was interesting."

"That's not what I meant. Was it realistic?"

"Hmm... I'm not sure."

Ichino's reaction wasn't good.

"If you have something to say, just say it. You have a unique perspective as an explorer."

"Yeah... I did wonder why this guy was bullied when he had such good social skills. I get that the bullies had issues, but with those social skills, he could have resolved things more smoothly."

"...No, I mean in the dungeon..."

"Oh, you meant the dungeon. Sorry."

Damn, Ichino, you hit a sore spot.

But it can't be helped.

It can't be helped.

"There's a part where the protagonist is nervous about his first dungeon, but my first dungeon was actually anticlimactic. You just sit on a blue sheet and wait for slimes to spawn."

"Is that so? But in the streams—"

"That's for famous streamers on the fourth floor and beyond. Watch videos tagged with 'first dungeon exploration.' The viewer counts are so low because they're so boring. Hunting monsters in a dungeon is impossible. It's interesting as a fictional novel, but it lacks realism."

"Damn, I guess I have to go to a dungeon myself."

"Yeah. How about going to a beginner's course?"

"Is there such a thing? I'd love to go!"

Ichino made a phone call.

After hanging up, he said it was okay.

On Saturday, I went to the Tenshiba Dungeon in Tenshōji.

It's supposed to be a rare dungeon only accessible to Oshino Group guests, but how did Ichino get me a reservation for the beginner's course?

This is already lacking realism.

He said it was free, but did I get scammed?

Will Ichino not show up and say, "You believed that?"

Is Ichino planning to bully me because he thinks my bullying descriptions are bad?

But then,

"Fubuki, sorry to keep you waiting!"

Ichino really came.

I felt ashamed for doubting him—

"Ichino? Who are these... girls?"

"Huh? They're my party members. We go to the dungeon every week."

Ichino said it as if it was normal.

As a writer, I can tell.

The pink-haired ponytail girl and the green-haired short-haired girl are clearly thinking, "Thank goodness he's a guy."

Both of them must like Ichino.

And the blonde twin-tailed loli, seriously, is she really 18 or older? Legal loli?

Plus, they're all beautiful.

They look like an idol group.

Too cute to be realistic.

"What's wrong, Fubuki?"

"I... I..."

"Huh?"

"Ichino, you bastard! This isn't realistic at all!"

I ran away.

I want to write realism.

I don't want to write a lovey-dovey story!