ch61-ch80 · 080-ch80

Chapter 80: Resolve

Ah, it's the black-haired scout's party from earlier.

In regular clothes, they all look like perfectly ordinary university students.

Huh? Ms. Thigh Swordswoman is wearing long bottoms?

Her thighs aren't out at all?

Then why does she have them out in the dungeon?

She's talking with someone.

With Hayashi-san, and...

"Thank you so, so much. I will absolutely repay you. Thank you. Thank you..."

It's my mother...

She's taking each of their hands in turn, thanking them.

"Please don't worry about it. I hear the Association is paying out a cash reward, so that's plenty for us."

"That's right. We got free 【Heal】 coupons from Shiraishi-san too—it comes to more than we make in a day."

"Now, now. Even so, a mother's heart wouldn't be at ease with just that. But a small token of your feelings would be plenty. Right, everyone?"

"For an otherworlder's mother, she's awfully normal. Oh, I get it—the father's the otherworlder, isn't he?"

"Or maybe she's the one who got reincarnated?"

My mother is seeing the party off as they file out through the entrance, bowing deeply.

Hayashi-san is showing off a graceful bow as well.

Beside her, Kasumi-san—even Shiraishi-san—are seeing them off with deep bows.

They've already gone, but my mother still won't lift her head...

Hayashi-san notices me and speaks to my mother.

"Ma'am, Haruki-san has come back."

My mother whips her head up and looks this way.

"You... you are something else, you know that..."

"..."

I can't think of a single thing to say.

What am I supposed to say here?

I know it's only natural for her to worry.

But what should I do?

To keep her from worrying...

My goal is Floor 50.

From here on, I'm only going to push harder and take bigger risks...

"Shiraishi-san, I hear you treated him. Thank you so, so much."

She takes her hand again and bows deeply.

"It's nothing, Harue-san. All I did was first aid—he should get to a hospital right now. Look how pale he is. You see the general hospital over there? It's too close to bother with a taxi, so have him walk a little. Watanabe-san, you'll show them the way, yes?"

"Ma'am, I'll come along. Let's go."

"Hold on. Hold on. Wait just a moment, please."

There's a good chance I'm about to get scolded.

Actually, I think it'll turn into a full-blown fight.

Having Watanabe-san there is a bit...

Showing her my pathetic side is...

"Everyone, you haven't had lunch yet, right? The hospital can wait—I'd like a moment alone with my mother."

"Haruki-san..."

Don't make that sad face...

"I'm sorry... K... Watanabe-san. This is about to get embarrassing, so I'll talk to her first. Have some lunch and wait for me."

"No way, no how."

What a pain.

Shiraishi-san, can't this wait until you're less busy?

"You're right. Let's have Watanabe-san sit in as well. Watanabe-san, is that restaurant over there all right for lunch?"

"Y-yes. Anywhere is fine with me."

Hm? Why bring Watanabe-san along?

What exactly is the story I'm living up on the surface?

"Steel yourself. You're a man, aren't you? It's a good opportunity—let her see every last embarrassing thing about you. Harue-san, give him a proper scolding."

"Thank you for everything, Shiraishi-san."

The two of them clasping hands.

What is going on?

And so, the three of us are in a restaurant inside the surface branch.

Seated across from my mother—me, with Kasumi-san beside me.

It is now after the meal.

We'd decided to eat first, on the grounds that a hungry Kasumi-san might get cranky and turn the discussion into a fight.

Ignoring me, my mother bombarded Kasumi-san with questions before the meal and all through it.

About her work at the Association, and about adventurers.

Kasumi-san was stiff as a board the entire time.

She occasionally glanced my way for help, but no matter what I said, my mother ignored it and kept talking.

Apparently she knows about our relationship... or rather, she seems to have it wrong in one way or another.

Shiraishi-san must have filled her head with something.

I honestly can't tell whether that woman is friend or foe.

"Well now, the meal's over. Got your thoughts in order? I'll hear you out first."

My mother's words to me.

"First, I apologize for worrying you. I'm sorry."

"That's it?"

I said FIRST, didn't I? Hear me out.

Stay calm. Kasumi-san is right next to me.

"And I also apologize for never telling you I became an adventurer. I'm sorry."

That one is entirely on me.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"Because I thought you'd be against it..."

"Of course I would have!"

My mother nearly slams her palm on the table but holds herself back.

Because Kasumi-san is here.

"It's not... a part-time job, is it? Are you planning to seriously do this as your work someday? Don't tell me you're planning to become an adventurer the moment you graduate high school?"

That's about the size of it.

"Let me start from the beginning... I made a promise with Soushi that we'd become adventurers. Soushi is going to an adventurer trade school. As for me, the plan was to adventure while attending university. And I thought that once I graduated, I'd do it in earnest."

"'Thought'? What do you mean? Don't tell me you're not going to university?"

"It's not that. I'm going to university, properly. But I think it'll all be over before I graduate."

At my current pace—4 years, or 5 counting this one—reaching Floor 50 won't take nearly that long.

...And then it's over.

After that, I can live in comfort for the rest of my days.

I might drop by the dungeon now and then.

But that wouldn't really be adventuring anymore.

So, just these 5 years...

"'Over'? What's over? Are you saying that even after graduating university, you won't do adventurer work?"

"That's right. Once I graduate, I won't do adventurer work as my job. Sorry—I haven't told K... Watanabe-san either, but that's how it is."

"Understood. Adventuring isn't a line of work one can keep up for long. I don't even know if I can stay by your side for five more years myself, so that doesn't bother me. If anything, I'm relieved. But what do you mean, 'everything will be over'?"

"You mean you'll have saved up the money you're aiming for? And after graduating, you're planning to start something with that money?"

"A goal... Yeah. Think of it that way. I'll explain properly to K... Watanabe-san later."

"Hey, explain it properly to me too. Have you learned nothing from all this?"

"I truly feel bad about what happened today. But I'm not going to stop. Until I graduate university, days like today might happen again and again. I might take even bigger risks than this, too... I don't intend to die, but something unexpected, like this time, could happen again... And when it does, I'll probably cause you trouble all over again. So—I'm sorry."

I've made my resolve.

Deciding it over lunch was a lame way to go about it, but I've decided.

Reach Floor 50 within 5 years, and then quit being an adventurer.