ch121-ch140 · 131-ch131

Chapter 131: The Second Time in One Month

"Haruki-san, over here!"

In contrast to me, standing there dumbstruck, Kasumi-san dashes over to the Ogre King.

Looks like she's pulling the magic stone.

If so, all that's left is to head home...

"【Gate】."

Kasumi-san, magic stone in hand, steps into the 'Left Gate,' and I follow.

"I am so sorry."

Hiramatsu-ryu secret art: the full prostration apology.

Hiramatsu-ryu is a school of attack.

Even its apologies strike first to win.

"Oh, you really didn't have to go that far..."

"That fight meant so much to you, and right at the very end I went and did... that. I'm sorry."

She's not mad at all, huh?

Did the Hiramatsu-ryu apology actually work?

"What mattered was having you watch my fight, Haruki-san. So? How was it? Am I strong?"

"I watched the whole thing. You didn't take a single hit—you overwhelmed it completely. Magnificent. You're strong, Kasumi-san. No doubt about it!"

"Yes!"

What a great smile.

I came way too close to clouding it over just now...

Gacha—the door to the warehouse's second floor opens.

(Oh right, Mia-san is here. 'Gate'! Vanish, vanish.)

The 'Right Gate' fades away without a sound...

I meet Kasumi-san's eyes—she saw it—and nod.

"Kasumi-san, welcome baaack. When did you get home? I coulda sworn I heard Haruki apologizing to someone?"

Mia-san comes down from the second floor.

"What did you do this time? You're nothing but trouble for Watanabe-san. So? What was it?"

Shiraishi-san asks, practically vibrating with excitement.

She is enjoying this.

"Um, there was this monster I'd been told not to lay a hand on, and I stuck my foot out at it... I figured since it was a foot and not a hand, maybe it was fine..."

"Ehh? So you tripped it?"

Ah, so Kasumi-san hadn't caught that part.

Maybe she'd let it go thinking it was just me protecting myself...

"What is this, Ikkyu-san!? ...Nah, don't even worry about that. Kasumi-san's the type to say 'hands off,' 'leave it to me,' and take on two or three monsters at once, right? Business as usual. I know it's rich coming from the one getting protected, but you want her to trust you a little more, y'know? Nah, forget it—good work out there, Haruki. Attaboy!"

She's got it a little backwards, but—'taking on two or three at once'?

Where have I heard that one before, hmm?

"Ah, no, that's..."

Her eyes meet mine, and Kasumi-san panics.

Kasumi-san does that sort of thing all the time—so when I do the exact same thing?

"So Watanabe-san has herself a boy who'll protect her now. How nice for her."

"That's... yes..."

No scolding coming for this one.

If anything, I got praised.

But am I actually protecting Kasumi-san like I should?

She hates that kind of thing, after all...

What's the play here?

Hm? Do it discreetly?

Which, yes, is exactly what I failed at today...

"Hah hah hah! Kasumi-san, of all people~. And there was more General armor than there was yesterday. You're seriously strong, Haruki. Oh, Kasumi-san. You'll want to wipe down, right? I've drawn water, so once you top up the kettle it'll be hot and ready."

I beg your pardon?

I have heard that at dungeon campsites, water mages boil up hot water for adventurers to wipe themselves down with...

And that big event is about to happen right here?

"And just what do you think you're doing, trying to tag along? Haruki, get changed and go home! Kasumi-san, you go on ahead. I'll stand guard until this one's gone."

That's cold!

"Haruki-san. Today was fun. I'll be staying right here tonight, so there will be no 'nighttime phone call' today. See you tomorrow. I'll be waiting."

Kasumi-san gives me her farewell.

"...Okay. See you tomorrow..."

I manage to keep at least my face smiling as I wave back, half-heartedly.

"Eee! The 'nighttime phone call'! I wonder what you two talk about? Because today I'm getting every last detail out of you!"

Apparently Shiraishi-san is staying over too.

I'm jealous.

"I'm changing, so please don't look over here."

"You're just taking off armor, aren't you!? Take your change of clothes and hit the showers! And don't come back!"

So cold.

︙

︙

The next morning.

It's Saturday, so today skipping school isn't skipping—it's an actual day off.

There was an unbelievable crowd in front of the dungeon counter.

And this is it settling down? The Kasumi-san effect is something else.

Compared to other dungeons it's probably still nothing much, but for Chiba this has to be a historic feat.

I have no business at the counter, so I send a cheer to the two handsome gents and head for the warehouse.

"You're late! What time do you think it is?"

Mia-san chewed me out the moment I arrived.

Um, it's not even eight yet...

"At this rate we won't make it back by five tomorrow, y'know? What's the deal?"

Apparently she'd expected us to leave bright and early.

Mia-san is already in full gear, wearing white armor.

"Good morning, Haruki-san."

"Morning, little boy. You're early."

Kasumi-san is in her black armor, Shiraishi-san in her Association uniform.

"Good morning, everyone."

"Hurry up and get your armor on. I'm sleep-deprived and on edge over here."

Sounds like last night was quite the party.

I throw my armor on over my clothes, take up the jumonji spear, and I'm ready.

"So, where's the rest of the party? Hiramatsu-san, was it? Meeting up with us along the way?"

Apparently she's assuming we're going as a full five.

Hiramatsu-san is Single-Rank, so he won't be coming on this Floor 30 assault.

"Hey. Are we really doing this? Your big sis here lost her memory, you know? ...Haah. Fine. I know noothing~."

Heh heh heh.

Of course we're doing it.

I don't think anything will go wrong, but Shiraishi-san waits here as backup either way.

No pulling that 'I know nothing' card later, okay?

"Eh? Amnesia? What are you talking about?"

"Now then, final confirmation. Mia-san—you've decided which job you're taking, yes?"

Final confirmation—the signal.

(【Charge・Spear】)

"Same as we talked about yesterday. If a weird job pops up, we step out of the boss area and have another go—that's the deal, right? Talk about full service. Wait, hold on, aren't we doing the final confirmation again tomorrow too?"

"If anything unforeseen happens, I will hoist Mia-san over my shoulder and run. There is absolutely no danger. It's fine."

"Yeah, yeah, I believe you. ...Hey, are you two even listening?"

"Then let's be off. Haruki-san, if you would."

"Yes. 【Gate】."

"Huh? Eh? What's this?"

"Haruki-san's special skill. Let's go."

I step through first; Kasumi-san, towing Mia-san by the hand, follows.

"Eh? Outside? What's going on? What about the warehouse?"

She is thoroughly confused.

Isn't this a smashing success?

"This is Floor 30."

"Eh? No, this makes zero sense? Eh? Haruki, did you just say 'Gate'? No, wait—but this empty flatland, I've seen it in videos or something... Eh? This is seriously Floor 30?"

"Surprise!!"