ch181-ch200 · 193-ch193

Chapter 193: The Chaotic Ritual

"Haruki, are you really not coming back with us?"

We carried the sand golem back to the warehouse, and Mia-san extracted its magic stone.

Whether it's the level gap, the weapon gap, or maybe the experience gap, Mia-san extracts the stones skillfully.

She brings her hammer crashing down in a blow that makes you worry whether the stone survived, and pulverizes the sand golem.

After that, she kept repeating the cycle—picking up sand golems and sending them back to the warehouse.

Watching the two of them struggle against the sand golems' rock-hard armor, Mia-san brought a chisel and a small mallet from her shop, which instantly doubled the workshop feel.

Soushi was doing well using a regular kitchen knife he'd bought in place of the chisel, but Aikawa couldn't get the hang of it—hitting the pommel of her sword was too unwieldy.

By the time Mia-san brought out the chisels, I'd already judged the whole thing completely safe, so I myself hadn't been returning to the warehouse.

"EXP is split among everyone, after all. Mia-san can only come now and then, and if anything I wish those two would hold back a little more."

Especially the girl half of the couple.

"Haruki... How am I ever supposed to repay this... All I can do is smith, y'know. After everything you've done for me, all I can give back is making weapons?"

No, no, you've helped me out plenty beyond that.

And honestly, you making weapons is what makes me happiest?

I wonder if she could make me a drill right about now?

Could I get my hands on the legendary Loli Drill?

"What are you talking about? Aikawa was just in your care the other day, wasn't she? She seems really attached to you, so please keep looking after her."

Yes, the girl half of the couple really should hold back more.

Well, it's her first time power leveling and she must be beside herself with fun, so I'll let it slide—but next time I should tell her to leave the finishing blows for Mia-san, who can only come occasionally...

Still, that girl's dancing is helping too, though...

It'll be the same restraint issue when it's Shiraishi-san's turn, so when neither of them is around I'll prioritize Aikawa to keep the balance.

"Haruki... Got it. Leave looking after those two to me."

Somehow the air has gone all heavy, hasn't it.

Well, on their end it's descended into the chaos of dancing a dance and then shaving rock with a chisel, you see.

Since they've been performing that chaotic ritual, the strange atmosphere is perfectly understandable.

I've got no choice—I'll use the trump card I stocked up on just now.

"...And POSE!"

The pose of Mia-san in high spirits.

"HAA-RUU-KII! That's exactly the problem! I'm having an important conversation here! Dummy, you big dummy!... Hm? What's THAT?"

That?

Something is coming down the mountain with a rumbling DOSHIN, DOSHIN—like rolling thunder.

Red... no, brown? It's glinting...

"Metal golems, probably? Copper, maybe?"

"No, I get that part. Why are there so MANY of them?"

That's the thing, isn't it.

Earlier Kasumi-san and I took out every roaming golem all at once—or rather, hauled them all off to the warehouse at once—so they all popped at the same time, I'd say.

Even without killing a monster, once it leaves its floor, I think it's fair to say the conditions for a new pop are met.

Well, it has to work that way, otherwise you could just carry everything outside and conquer a dungeon with ease.

Still—all copper golems, every last one, huh...

Not exactly rare, are they.

The testing of the "rare monsters appear when you flirt" theory looks set to continue for a while yet, so next time Kasumi-san and I will simply have to flirt again...

"【Gate】. It's dangerous, so please evacuate to the warehouse."

"R-right. Good call. PYEEE—wait, Haruki? Evacuate—don't tell me YOU'RE staying behind?"

A precious haul of ten metal golems, all at once.

Let's knock this out quickly and save time.

"I'll get serious, so it's fine."