ch301-ch320 · 305-ch305
Chapter 305: It's a Surprise Until You Get Home
"【Gate】, 【Scouting】. ......All clear. Let's go."
"Wait! Nobody move from there!"
Just as I bring up the 'Left Hand Gate' and we're all set to head deeper into the dungeon, Mia-san calls a halt.
"Um......"
"Natsuki, Soushi, you two as well! ......No pushing, okay?"
Saying "absolutely no pushing" in a way that makes you think she actually WANTS a push, Mia-san sticks her head into the 'Left Hand Gate.'
Wiggling her hips.
She seems to be looking left and right.
I'm tempted to push, but I hold back for what comes later.
Still, Mia-san really is small.
Her height is about 140 centimeters, I'd say.
Even walking with us, people ask, "Are you really high schoolers?"
She's not a high schooler—she's a grown lady......
She's been an adventurer for five years, so even if she'd started at our age, she'd be 23.
Though no matter how you look at her, she looks 13......
"Looks like it really is the 30s. The summit had the 'Gate to the Next Floor,' too. ......Floor 34, is it?"
So suspicious......
As expected of Kasumi-san.
She knows Mia-san inside and out.
That's a bluff.
It's all according to Kasumi-san's plan.
We level up properly in the morning, and strike right after lunch.
If we'd struck first thing in the morning, she'd have seen through it.
"Yes, Floor 34. Fighting our way up is more efficient, and on Floor 39 you can't manage the enemy count properly. Let's push deeper as we level."
Past Floor 39 the monster numbers get big, and it would be rough on Soushi too.
Mia-san's current level is 34.
Against Sand Golems in her level band, she can shatter their legs with the long-handled hammer before they get close.
We'll have her lure the enemies in and fight alongside us.
"Sorry for doubting you. Come to think of it, Kasumi-san isn't here today, so we're fine. You're even skipping school to help me level. Really, I'm sorry!"
Today is Monday. Unusually, Kasumi-san sat at the counter from the morning, so she isn't here.
After everything yesterday, I did my best to comfort her on the warehouse's second floor, but she seemed down again.
Well, she did spend all of yesterday on the sofa nuzzling my knee, so it must have been quite a shock.
According to her, 'Sword Saint-chan' showed her, without the least effort, a return of the very technique that destroyed my leg.
Deflecting her 【Deflection】, or whatever—I can't make heads or tails of it.
So Kasumi-san thought I'd be able to return it too......
She seems to genuinely believe I can become a 【Spear Saint】.
Love is blind—maybe it just means I'm loved that much.
I'd like to work hard so as not to shatter that illusion, but avenging her by beating 'Sword Saint-chan' is, frankly, impossible.
"The two of us will be totally fine. Come on, let's go!"
To cheer Kasumi-san up: a surprise!
And so Soushi and Aikawa were also given the day off school, and the plan went into action that very day.
My attendance record is getting pretty dicey, though.
Kasumi-san's smile is worth more than that.
Mia-san's attendance and mine have been sacrificed.
"Shall we get started? Aikawa, you're up."
"Mmm—with Mia-san watching it's a little embarrassing, but sure, let's do it—"
"Hm? What are you going to do?"
Watching Aikawa walk off toward the sheer slope, Mia-san wonders what she's up to.
Ah—this is her first time seeing it too, isn't it?
"Soushiii—! Thanks for everything, always—! Yesterday was fun too—!"
"Huh? Huh?"
Mia-san startles at Aikawa's sudden shouting.
Aikawa's loud, isn't she.
"I had fun too—!"
Soushi stands next to Aikawa and shouts at the sky.
Isn't his line a bit weak, though?
"Wh-what are those two doing?"
"The Flirting Strategy."
"Why are they flirting!? Shouting that loud in the dungeon will draw monsters!"
That's the whole point, you know?
"Ah, here they come."
"Huh? What's that cloud of dust?"
I thought Soushi's line was a little weak, but it seems the flirting judgment came through just fine.
Being in front of Mia-san made them a little embarrassed, and that seems to have earned extra points.
"Golems. Let's dance."
Raising clouds of dust, the golems make for the summit.
"Ah—ah, all of them? P-Pyeeee—!"
Hm?
Did that turn into a surprise?
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"Th-that was brutal......"
"Mia-san's strong, huh."
She was crushing both legs with horizontal hammer swings, and the golems she felled had their magic stones shattered in a single blow.
"Mm, well, just the attack power. And against golems it works even better."
【Master Artisan】 is a production job, but its Strength alone is high—a base value of 2.
Two Strength per level, in other words.
That's higher than the 1.9 of Kasumi-san's entry-class 【Naginata User】.
On top of that, with her special skill 【Equipment Weight Reduction】, she swings that absurdly heavy long-handled hammer around like nothing.
She was a huge help in the everyone-to-Floor-30 operation too—she might be stronger than entry-class combat jobs.
"We could run golems a little more this afternoon, I think."
Planting the seed.
As in: we're leveling this afternoon too, okay?
"Oi, quit it."
"You leveled up, right? I'll dash up to the Floor 35 summit, so please go ahead and take your lunch break."
More seed-planting.
As in: this afternoon we're leveling on Floor 35.
There's a chance the plan gets canceled, and in case I get scolded into leveling again, I'll move properly to Floor 35 ahead of time.
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"All right, let's do this. One more level and I can get the skill I'm after."
We had omurice for lunch, and the afternoon session begins.
Mia-san said it had been a while since her last omurice.
Last time omurice came up, apparently, she was down with a hangover.
"【Gate】, 【Scouting】. ......All clear. Let's go."
I hold out my left hand and bring up the 'Left Eye Gate.'
And before anyone can call a halt, I slip right in.
"Fufufu—. Hm? Huh? Isn't this summit awfully big? Huh? Where's the 'Gate to Floor 36'? No mountains in sight, so this is the summit, right? Huh? Huh? Where are we? D-don't tell me......"
Mia-san, in high spirits as she follows me in, notices right away that this is not the Floor 35 summit.
"Floor 40."
Answering Mia-san's question is Kasumi-san, coming in right behind her.
She wrapped up her work in the morning and hid in the shadows of the warehouse before we got back from lunch.
Visor up, wearing a truly lovely smile.
Kasumi-san really is best when she's smiling.
"Pye—out! Which means......"
"Yes—surprise!"
"Big success—!!"
Soushi and Aikawa come in after.
No, no—save the "big success" for after we beat the Manticore, please?
The surprise isn't over until you get home. That's the important part.
"Pyeeee—! Going home!"
For just a moment she makes that adorable squeal, then makes for the 'Right Eye Gate.'
But no one escapes Kasumi-san.
Hands under both arms, she's lifted up effortlessly.
"Now, now, don't say that. It's dangerous, so be a good girl and stay still, all right? Aikawa-san, please."
She hands Mia-san straight over to Aikawa.
"Yes, ma'am! Whoa, Mia-san, you're light!"
"Oi, Natsuki! You're betraying me!? Le—t—gooo. I'm going hoooome—"
"Mia-san, the Manticore will spawn right where Haruki-san is standing. If an attack does come, I will block it, so you are safe—but please stay quiet, just in case."
Kasumi-san says this with her spear at the ready.
This time, I take position facing the Manticore's spawn point and aim for the magic stone the instant it appears.
"Th-the Manticore...... Pye. This really is, Floor 40. No, I'll die. Pye."
There, there—you'll be fine.
I've charged MP into the spear properly; it's just about to hit 400.
Weapon enhancement is on too, so it's not ringing.
To play it safe this time, the 'Left Eye Gate' is set up well away from the Manticore, and Aikawa has moved behind it with Mia-san in her arms.
It should be out of the snake's range, but to be thorough, Kasumi-san and Soushi are keeping watch too.
Now then—it should be coming soon......
(【Charge・Spear・Magic Up】【Charge・Spear・Endurance Up】【Charge・Spear・Strength Up】【Charge・Spear・Agility Up】)
Super mode.
(【Charge・Shield・Armor Enhancement・Shield・High】【Charge・Shield・Magic Up・High】【Charge・Shield・Endurance Up・High】【Charge・Shield・Strength Up・High】【Charge・Shield・Agility Up・High】)
Hyper mode.
(3... 2... 1... 【Charge・Spear・Aiming】!)
"Pyeeeeeeeeeeeeeee"
Which came first—me shattering the Manticore's magic stone, or Mia-san catching sight of the Manticore and screaming?