000-020 · 004-ch4
Chapter 4: To the Surface!
Preface
This work largely relies on everyone's imagination for visual descriptions.
I feel that explaining things in words gets noisy, so for this work which aims for readability, I'll keep descriptions simple.
Please use your own sense of fantasy to imagine as you please.
"Then first, how did you come here?"
"...Which means? There's nothing to do but dive into the dungeon, so what's the intent of your question?"
"Um, that is, even if you had the ability, if there are 100 layers, it would take a very long time, so my question is how are you moving?"
Probably, the original questioner's intent was different. Either '100 layers is a lie,' or 'the idea of beyond the deep layer is a lie.' Or perhaps a different intent, but since Ms. Amamiya wrapped it gently, I'll just answer that.
"Well, the first time I came, it took time, but now I live here, you see."
"Living? Here?"
"Yeah. I sleep in the bed you were just sleeping in, and I get by with monster meat and fruits and such."
"...That, for how long of a period?"
"It's nearly 10 years now, I guess. No, I spent quite a bit of time on dungeon conquest itself, so living here is maybe about 7 years or so?"
Nearly 10 years, I thought, feeling nostalgic. Are father and mother doing well?
"For such a long period, alone..."
"Well, if I wanted to return, I could have returned, and I'm the type who's pretty fine even alone."
"I see. This is my question, but why do such a thing?"
"Why do you choose to live in the dungeon specifically, you mean?"
"Yes, that's what I was wondering about."
This is becoming more about me than about the dungeon, but since I don't have any particular reason not to answer, I'll answer.
"At first, I just liked fantasy."
"Fantasy, that means novels and games where magic appears?"
"Yeah, yeah. I don't know if it still exists now, but so-called light novels in particular. So when I heard the dungeon would be released, I was really happy. Then thinking about how to use my skills, how to get stronger. If the dungeon hadn't been released, I might have just been called a chuunibyou. I was fantasizing about swordsmanship and magic and such."
"...I feel like I kind of understand."
"That's appreciated. So since the dungeon was released, I've been cooped up here."
I still remember. Originally I was going to Tokyo University for my studies. But when the dungeon opened there, I started skipping university to hole up in the dungeon.
"And then things like scholarships and pensions, those procedures and job hunting became troublesome. Normally repeating a year and getting scholarships cut made it hard to attend anyway.
At that time, the system for earning money in the dungeon wasn't fully established yet.
"I originally wanted to live a hunting and gathering life if permitted, and when I was wondering if I couldn't live inside the dungeon, I found this place. So I thought I could live here and came. It was around when I'd become fed up with various human relationships at university too, so that probably pushed me as well."
"That's amazing. I could never make such a bold decision..."
"For me, you guys living in that kind of human society are amazing. With streaming and such, if I just let out whatever I like, as long as there aren't comments that make me unpleasant, but streaming for the sake of viewers is something I absolutely couldn't do.
I'm serious about this. It's not that I hate humans or anything, and I like talking to people itself, but even so, human relationships didn't suit me much.
"Thank you. I also love Dtuber (Dungeon YouTuber/streamer), so I can do my best. Um, then the next question. In the upper, middle, and lower layers, even if the districts change and monster species change, the strength itself doesn't change much, but what about the deep layer and the layers beyond?"
"Districts, you mean what specifically? Areas by boss?"
"Yes. Um, probably..."
There Ms. Amamiya stopped speaking. Wondering what it was, after looking at the comment section with a panicked expression, she turned her gaze to me.
"Come to think of it, I forgot to ask your name! Um, how should I address you? Ah, a pseudonym is fine too!"
"Mm, come to think of it, that's right... Is there a good name that doesn't sound chuunibyou-ish?"
Ugh, when I think about it, I can't come up with anything. As I tilted my head, I heard a chuckle from directly in front.
"Hm?"
"Ah, sorry! I thought you were a scary person, but you were worrying in a strange place, so I just..."
"Mou... it's quite difficult to choose a just-right name? Well, maybe normally one wouldn't think about it. In that case, how about John Doe?"
"John Doe? Is it? A foreigner?"
"In English, it's 'Nameless.' Easy to understand, right.
Or rather, I haven't used my own name in years. Except when meeting father and mother, being nameless is fine.
"Yes. Then returning to the district story from earlier, it should have been established around when John first started diving. It's divided by monsters that appear, terrain, and environmental boundaries, and numbered first, second... in order of proximity to the entrance, calling them districts. Also, each is divided to supposedly have boss monsters, so small areas without bosses don't become districts, I think."
"I see. So the deep layer and beyond story. Well, I think the basics are the same. Within a layer, there's hardly any big difference in monster strength itself. But since environments become more diverse as you go down, compatibility changes strength. Beyond the deep layer, I can't say in general. Also that. The deep layer is wide compared to the upper, middle, and lower layers, so the deeper you go, the tougher it should be."
"Up to the deep layer, it's the same as the upper and middle layers. Thank you. Then next..."
It seemed there were still more questions, so Ms. Amamiya turned her gaze to the comment section again. This must be a situation like what they call 'comment response.' I haven't watched live streams much, so I'm not familiar with it, but the feeling of answering submitted comments seems exactly like that.
"Sorry, but you should go to sleep soon. Your injury will be healed by tomorrow and we'll set off for the surface."
"Ah, yes... Right, I guess. Sorry, for having you answer various things."
"Sleep in that bed today."
I can just pitch a tent outside and sleep.
"Ah, but..."
"If I make a woman sleep on the floor or sleep in the same room as a woman, that's when your viewers would beat me up. I don't like that kind of thing. Sleep there obediently. I have a tent."
When I said that much, Ms. Amamiya seemed to intend to sleep obediently.
Well, I don't intend to sleep quietly tonight.
Late at night. Confirming that the presence moving inside the room, looking like it couldn't sleep, had settled, I caught the drone that was floating like a guard at the hut's entrance.
Then, as is, while drawing a magic circle with mana, I opened the hut's door and cast the magic toward Ms. Amamiya.
The magic I cast was anesthesia magic. Depending on the intensity, it's a magic circle that keeps her asleep for at least a day. With the level difference between us, it will act on Ms. Amamiya without issue.
While releasing the drone I had caught into the air, I gathered Ms. Amamiya's belongings that were left out on the desk and by her pillow into a pouch. The drone approached me as if protesting, so I lightly brushed it aside while explaining the situation.
"I just used magic to put Ms. Amamiya to sleep, and from now on I'm going to deliver her to the surface. Well, in a week we should reach the upper layers.
Actually, I intend to cheat a bit, so I think we'll arrive in about three days. When I first went underground, Robo wasn't there, but this guy's speed when he runs seriously is ridiculous - I don't know exactly. I want to avoid being waited for and surrounded, though.
"I'm putting the drone in the pouch too. You probably can't keep up."
I told him that and stuffed the drone into the pouch without listening to protests. Then for my part, I put things to take to the surface - materials that might be hard to sell even for cash exchange, but things that seemed somewhat sellable, as well as food and water for myself and Robo, into an expanded bag.
"Robo! We're departing!"
『Woo, baw, baw』
"You go up to just before the deep layer. I'll buy seasonings for you. I'll make something delicious.
In the past I'd never thought about it, but with my current equipment, I can periodically go up to the surface to buy food and seasonings.
For now, I want Japanese seasonings, and rice.
Seating Ms. Amamiya on Robo's back so she wouldn't move, lured by delicious food, and then sitting so I embraced her from the back. Silencing the drone was also to not show this position.
"Good. Then first, step on the transfer trap, and from there only follow the movement magic circles, shortest and fastest. Can you follow the flow of mana?"
『Baw』
"Good, good boy. Then GO!"
At the signal, Robo started running.
(The surface, huh. It's seriously been a long time.)
And we began to move toward the surface for the first time in 10 years.