Chapter 30

"Hey, I've just realized something really important!"

"Huh? What is it all of a sudden?"

While eating breakfast after waking up, Nole suddenly muttered. I wonder what the important thing is? For me, it's more important to know how much of yesterday's conversation he overheard.

Since he's been acting normally this morning, I don't think he overheard anything, but if he's just being considerate and avoiding the topic, that would be embarrassing.

"Actually... I haven't heard Lord Ohtsuka's purpose yet!"

"Oh, that's right, I haven't heard it either."

"Huh? Is that so?"

I thought I mentioned it a while ago, but maybe I didn't...

"Yeah, that's right. My current goal... what was it again?"

"Well, you can't expect us to know if you've forgotten..."

"Maybe it wasn't that important if you forgot it?"

Thinking about it, what was my goal again? Was it the gacha?

I remember I wanted to pull the gacha to increase our strength.

According to Estelle, if I forgot it, it probably wasn't that important... oh!

"Oh, right, right. It was to find a way back to our original world."

"No, no, that's something you shouldn't forget!"

"You seem to be taking it pretty lightly..."

I was surprised at how completely I had forgotten it.

When they heard this, they seemed a bit taken aback, but there's nothing I can do about it.

I was trying to increase our numbers to find a way back to our original world.

Now, I just want more companions to improve the efficiency of collecting the magic stones needed for the gacha.

"Well, life here is actually quite enjoyable, and I can pull the gacha. ...And I'm a bit scared to go back now, considering what might have happened there."

"There's a somber feeling in the air..."

"It seems like you're avoiding reality. Let's leave it alone."

I was excited about pulling the gacha and having the GC characters as companions, so I've been living carefree.

But thinking about it, I've been here for quite a while.

Considering my job, the apartment I rented, and other things, I've been thinking that maybe I don't need to go back. I'm scared to go back.

If I tell people where I've been, they might think I went to another world and get me hospitalized.

But I do miss my parents sometimes, and I have some lingering attachments to anime, games, and PCs.

"So, do you have any leads on how to get back?"

"None at all. Maybe the gacha? I came here because of an item from the gacha."

"Pulling something from the gacha sounds like a long shot."

I've come this far without really investigating this world.

If there were a demon king or something, maybe defeating them would help, but it doesn't seem like that's the case here.

If it is from the gacha, it would probably be a UR, and even then, it would be very difficult to get.

If it exists, the probability might be something like 0.001%, which is almost impossible.

"Well, I'll look for a way to go back. I'll decide whether to go back once I find a method. So, I want to make sure I can live in this world as well."

Right now, I want to stay here. Being with cute girls is something I can't experience back home.

Besides, if I go back, what will happen to the units I've summoned?

If I leave them behind, I want to make sure they can live properly.

"Anyway, what should we do today? Should we go to the northern cave again?"

"Ugh, we've finished the gacha, so I want to go somewhere else."

"Yeah. I've started hearing the sound of scorpions as if it's a hallucination. Maybe it's time to go somewhere else."

Well, even if it's the gacha, using thousands of magic stones might not guarantee anything, so I'll take it slow. ...By then, I might not want to go back at all.

Today, I thought about gaining experience and collecting magic stones, but I do want a change of pace after going there for so many days.

"Hmm, how about we go to the dungeon?"

●

"Excuse me~"

"Kyaa!? Oh, it's you, Mr. Ohtsuka... Another Scorpion? You're here quite early today."

"Oh, no, not today. I came to ask about the dungeon."

To learn about the dungeon, I went to the adventurer's guild, which seemed to have the most information.

When I called out to Widge, who was facing the other way and doing some work, she jumped and looked at me with a strained face. It's sad to see her react like that. I feel down... She still has a great figure, though.

"Ah, the dungeon. It's called the Hajino Dungeon and is located at the edge of the southern forest. It goes underground, and the monsters on each floor are different."

The items that drop there are different from those of the monsters outside; for example, the pajamas I bought before.

The number of floors is unknown, but A-rank adventurers have cleared up to around the 40th floor so far.

"That's the gist of it. By the way, there's one thing I'd like to ask of you, Mr. Ohtsuka..."

"Yes? What is it?"

"I know it might sound rude, but could you consider upgrading your rank soon?"

Just as I was about to leave, I was stopped.

Oh, I'm finally being asked to upgrade my rank. I guess it was a bad idea to keep defeating B-rank targets while staying at E-rank.

"Well, I was thinking about upgrading soon. Is there any problem? If I've caused any trouble, I'm sorry."

"Oh, no, no, it's not that. The fact that you bring in Scorpion proof every day has become a topic among the guild staff."

Well, if I keep bringing them in, it's bound to become a topic.

"The guild master heard about it and said, 'Don't keep Mr. Ohtsuka's party at E-rank forever!' Haha."

"Oh, that's... I'm sorry."

It seems like a big deal. I've been causing trouble for Widge.

Maybe I should put the dungeon exploration on hold and upgrade my rank first.

I think D-rank promotion involves accepting a guild-assigned quest. The content varies by location, so it might be different from Brunne.

"From what I understand, you were already on the guild master's radar due to your competition with Deus. What do you think? Do you want to take the D-rank promotion quest today?"

"Sure, I'll take it."

"Hehe, thank you~"

I accepted the D-rank promotion quest from her.

The quest is to defeat Frogmen. It shouldn't be a problem for us now.

Still, to be called out by the guild master...

I guess it's not surprising to be noticed if I keep doing that, but being told to upgrade my rank gives me a bad feeling.