Chapter 174

The Day Before the Dungeon Battle

The day before the Dungeon Battle .

Finally completing the dungeon, tomorrow is the day of the Dungeon Battle .

So today we’re having a meal that’s also serving as a Dungeon Battle Send-Off Party… in short, it turned into an animated banquet .

“Well then, I pray for your victory in your Dungeon Battle starting tomorrow—kanpai!” [1]

“”” Kanpai~! “””

Everyone raised their cups after Misha’s leading cheer .

From our [Cave of Desires], there’s me, Rokuko, Meat, and Ichika .

From Haku-san’s [White Labyrinth], there’s Haku-san, Chloe-san, Misha, Dolche-san, Amelia-san, and Sally-san participating .

I just met Sally-san for the first time today, but she she’s another member of Haku-san’s party and was the only one to not participate for this Dungeon Battle .

She’s a Living Armor Onee-san, but right now she has a body since she used humanization for the meal .

Normally, she’s a strong person that serves as the First Chivalric Order’s leader… Rather, this country, it really is in Haku-san’s hand huh . Well, the first conversation we had went like this .

“How about we have a bout next time? Ah, a serious one of course . ”

“I politely refuse . I avoid fights that I can on principle . ”

“So then, how about we have a bout next time? I’ll make it an unavoidable one . ”

“… Isn’t that just a threat at that point?”

After that, I somehow managed to dodge the date by talking about how weak I am . It was decided that Meat and Ichika would be having a mock battle with her some time in the future, but I don’t have a problem with it .

I poured some more apple juice into my cup after emptying it from the toast .

… Eh? Why isn’t it alcohol?

I have a Dungeon Battle tomorrow morning ya know? Who’d want to do that with a hangover? Our staff are all banned from alcohol .

Why on the day before? Trying to sabotage?

Honestly, Haku-san is absolutely good with me losing . That way she’d be all, “Uhahaha,” and get her hands on Rokuko because of the [Guidance Rights] .

Rokuko and Haku-san walked over to me when I started eating some roasted chicken .

“Hey Kehma, try this, it’s delicious!”

“Oh? Some kind of fried rice huh? Yep, it’s good . ”

“Fufu, this is the imperial capital’s castle after all . All of the ingredients here are of the finest class and the chefs can cook them to perfection . It is natural that the food will be delicious… Right, chef that has received the training of Hero Ishidaka, renowned as the Food God, as a direct disciple was pleased that some secret recipes could be reproduced through using the [Rice] we received the over day . This [Fried Rice] is one of the reproductions . ”

Ishidaka, wasn’t that the original name I used for making Ichika’s name?

I’d heard that he was a god of food and seas, but to think he was a hero huh .

By the way, the origin of him being called the sea god is that he taught the art of cooking fish and a much superior salt manufacturing technique . There’s also a legend that he healed sailors that got a strange disease from sailing with lemons . Ah, he really is like a sea god . [2]

He was probably a Cooking Cheat Hero-sama .

As I was thinking about stuff like that, Haku-san talked to me .

“Now, Kehma-san . Did you decide what to name the dungeon?”

“Eh, it’s my decision? If I just decided on whatever I… oh, right . I’m in charge of it, huh . ”

“Yes . It should reflect Kehma-san’s view on it . Do you have any ideas?”

“… Well, taking Haku-san’s dungeon names as an example, it’d be fine as [White Beach] or something right? This dungeon has no desire-based elements to it after all . ”

“Oh, that’s a wonderful name . Then… Misha, are you ready?”

“Yes! Understood~!”

Misha responded energetically . Her face is red and she’s already drunk… is that alright?

“Eeeh~? It’s alriiight, I’m nyaaat drunk~”

“All drunks say that . ”

“Weeeell I’m gonna drink nyaow~, nyaaan~” [3]

“Aren’t you already…?”

“Kshhh~, I got caught~… But Kehma-san~? Why’m I the only one you treat so unseriously~?”

“Well, it’s because you sleep a lot, it feels kind of familiar . Saying it is a bit embarrassing . ”

“Oh oh~? Are you making moves on me? We can sleep together after this if you want~? We won’t be sleeping though~”

“No, let me sleep . I have an important match tomorrow, so please get away—oi!”

Misha clung to me as though twining around me . Man she’s strong, I can’t get her off!

“Hey—Misha! Get away from Kehma, he’s my partner!”

“Nyaha, nyahaha~! Just kidding~, Rokuko-sama’s so a~do~ri~ble~♪ Heeey, Kehma-san, kiss me~, kiss~”

“This girl’s a super bad drunk…”

I used my hands to protect my lips from Misha while looking to Haku-san for help .

… Ah, not good . She won’t help me! Right now she’s hugging Rokuko in delight!

Eh, Misha!? Stop licking my hands, it’s ticklish! The roughness hurts a little!?

“Hey Misha, let go of Kehma-sama . ”

“Amelia~♪ Can I nibble~? Can I nibble on your tail~?”

“No… Sorry Kehma, this girl always gets like this when she gets some alcohol in her . ”

Squeezing between me and Misha with her lamia snake tail (legs), Amelia-san dexterously pulled her off of me . Phew, I’m saved .

I thought that, but—

“As an apology, would you be my partner? It’s alright, I’m gentle . ”

“Ah, Amel-san, are you drunk? You’re drunk, aren’t you?”

“Here, doesn’t my tail just feel nice and cool?”

Amelia-san wrapped her scale-covered tail (legs) around me, pressing her soft twins against me to tempt me .

… Her nice and cool tail (legs) cooled my head down a bit . I know, this is a honey trap . I mean, Haku-san’s been grinning since a while ago whispering stuff like, “Don’t you have faith in Kehma-san? If so, it’s alright . ” Rokuko’s been watching me rather pointedly and believing in me with a, “Gununu…”

If I don’t do something with how things are going right now, I’ll be in tatters before I even see the morning, let alone the match .

“Amelia-san, could you please separate from me?”

“Ohhh, how cold . Even though I’ve seen you giving my tail such passionate gazes…”

“Next is my turn? Amelia’s turn is over~”

It feels like they aren’t trying to hide it anymore . Next is Dolche-san, the Wraith . Oi, does that mean that Chloe-san and Sally-san are coming after?

“Even though I don’t have legs since I’m a Wraith… what do you think?”

“Outside of my strike zone . Please come back after humanizing . ”

“Waaah, how refreshing, like being purified… Alright, next is Sally . ”

No motivation!? No, that’s actually a help though .

“A knight of the empire wouldn’t use such an underhanded trick as seduction! Therefore! I! Pass!”

“Aah~ . Sally has a boyfriend huh . Oh well then . ”

“W-w-wha, t-that’s not true!”

“Oh~? Is that so? Sally, how distant of you . Please tell me, who is it?”

“Haku-sama, I have sworn to be a lifelong knight of the empire . I would not get caught up in something like love . ”

“Well then, isn’t there a possibility that the imperial knight leader will be caught in a honey trap? Not investigating their identity is no good, you know?”

“Plume isn’t like that!”

“Heeh, so it’s Plume? Isn’t that the marriage swindler wanted internationally?”

“That’s a fabricated crime!”

Haku-san laughed happily . Good, Sally-san looks to be alright . [4]

Next is… eh? Chloe-san isn’t here?

“Oh? Where did Chloe go off to? Going with this order, Chloe should be the closer . Did she run away?”

“Maybe . She is fully devoted to Haku-sama after all . ”

If that’s the case, I’m saved . Phew .

“Then now’s my turn to seduce him~! Goshujin-sama~”

“Oi Ichika . This is an order, go eat some food . ”

“Don’t have to tell me twice~ . Ah, Rokuko-sama’s, there’s melon ya know? Want me to get some?”

“Yes please . ”

Phew, everyone should be repelled now right? Are you satisfied now, Haku-san? Sexual harassment won’t work on me, see?

Haku-san looked at me with a smile .

“Then as a reward, I will serve you some alcohol . Is an ale fine?”

“I-I’ll pass . There’s the thing tomorrow, so alcohol is a bit…”

“Hoh? You won’t drink my alcohol…?”

The final barrier was power abuse .

I gave in . Geh…

Footnotes:

I assume most people reading this knows what [Kanpai] means, but just in case… it’s a mix of cheering and toasting: “Drink up!Just to say it, he ‘cured’ scurvy, a disease caused by a severe lack of vitamin C . The raw here says “goronyaaan~”, meaning a happy meow . As it isn’t anywhere near as common in our community, I’ll be leaving it as “nyaaan~” . Just know that she probably did the signature ‘kitty pose’ as well . She’s alright because Haku-san already knows about it . Probably . Also, lol for referencing Plume from way back in Chapter 97 .