arc3 · 035-ch35

Episode 35: The Flashy Woman

　Suzuka was shopping at a specialty store handling tools for explorers when he was approached by a flashy woman.

　The woman, with multiple piercings and white hair streaked with pink mesh, was from a type of crowd Suzuka had never associated with in his previous world. On top of that, she was a beautiful woman with well-formed features who looked good even in such flashy attire—regrettably, another type Suzuka had never associated with.

　Her flashy hair was probably natural, and the color had been influenced by the dungeon. And her well-formed features too were probably largely due to the dungeon's influence, just like Suzuka.

　In other words, the woman who had called out to him before his eyes was an explorer.

"I don't know anyone called Iron Pipe Princess. Who are you?"

　Saying this, he pulled a magic iron pipe from his storage. At the same time he pulled it out, he flowed mana into it, and the magic iron pipe glowed faintly.

　Having fought two area boss battles, he was used to mana manipulation now, and could smoothly flow mana into the magic iron pipe.

"Huh? No no, whipping out your weapon inside a shop like this, that's way too intense, heh."

　While Suzuka took a combat stance, the flashy woman watched and laughed as if she found it amusing.

　Judging by her well-formed appearance, her status values were probably high and she was strong. But when asked if she was overwhelmingly stronger than Suzuka, he didn't feel that was the case. In other words, her attitude of cackling away probably didn't come from a strong person's composure, but rather she was laughing at Suzuka's misplaced vigilance because she had no intention of fighting in the first place.

　Suzuka also thought drawing a weapon inside a shop was questionable, but if it was for self-defense, it couldn't be helped.

　This world was different from the previous one. The other day, when he was wandering around Hachioji Station Front trying to get Yasu to treat him, he saw a middle school girl being forcibly taken to a hotel by Explorer High students. The people around pretended not to see it, and the Explorer High students acted as if that were just a daily occurrence.

　It's current Japan where people can brazenly attempt r*pe and get away with it. Explorers are a profession that demands strength, and naturally they care about their pride. For that reason, conflicts between explorers tend to escalate, and it's common to hear of people dying.

　It's like a yakuza world, but any industry is probably much the same.

　The TV industry and government ministries too, the world demands they prevent harassment like sexual harassment and power harassment by practicing compliance, but they're the ones who are least able to protect against it.

　They don't protect against it, but they have the power to get away with it anyway. Just as they use their authority to do whatever they like, explorers do whatever they like through violence.

　Anyway, back to the main topic.

　Anyway, since Suzuka is solo and still low-level, he's quite wary of other explorers.

　Mentally, it's like challenging a world teeming with yakuza and semi-gangs alone. He doesn't yet have the power to brush off being oddly targeted and obstructed.

　Even so, the other day he ended up beating up some creepy Explorer High student. He took a naked dogeza photo plus their student ID photo, so he thought there wouldn't be any retaliation, but maybe they asked a strong person from Explorer High for revenge?

　I was naive. I should have not just stripped them naked, but made them jerk off on camera and filmed it to break their spirit. Failed there.

　Especially since the only connection he'd had recently was with Explorer High, he couldn't help but be wary if he was approached by one of their students.

"What? You didn't come here to pick a fight, did you?"

"Pfft—hahaha! No! I just said hi! Why's it come to this?!"

　I don't know what's so funny, but the flashy woman burst into loud laughter.

　But Suzuka wasn't fooling around either. There's a non-zero possibility that those Explorer High r*pist devils couldn't beat him themselves, so they asked a strong person from their school to settle the score.

"You're an Explorer High student, right? Your student there tried to hit on someone, failed, then attempted rpe, so I beat him up for being too gross. Are you hitting on me? Obviously I'll refuse, but based on Explorer High tradition, are you going to try to rpe me too?"

　Mixing in some provocation while gauging her reaction, the flashy woman made an obvious face of disgust.

"Hmm, I see. That's nasty. Unfortunately, I don't know such a small fry, but I'll make it up to you. Do you have a name or something?"

"I've got a photo of their student ID, I can show you. Anyway, what do you want?"

　She was making a face like she was genuinely nauseated, so she didn't seem to be feigning ignorance. So what did she want then? The magic iron pipe still glowed faintly.

"Well, 'hitting on' is probably right. I wanted to talk to you."

"Talk?"

"Yeah. Not sure if you know, but you're a hot topic among Hachioji Explorer High students. I'm interested too."

　Iron Pipe Princess. That incomprehensible name had come up from two different people now. Suzuka must have become fairly well-known.

　This is bad. For Suzuka with no explorer acquaintances, he couldn't even judge whether becoming famous is a merit or a demerit. He'd been trying to act as inconspicuously as possible, yet he'd become famous enough to break into a cold sweat.

　If his level had risen enough to defend himself, it wouldn't matter, but it's still too early. If someone comes at him with "the nail that sticks out gets hammered down," he won't be able to handle it.

　He knew solo explorers were extremely rare, so he thought he'd stand out. If it just ended at "oh, he's solo, how rare," that would be fine, but if people think he has skill and try to recruit him, or interpret it as him being full of himself and pick a fight with him, that would be terrible. Like how a large corporation or major agency becoming your enemy would be hopeless, standing out before establishing a solid position is often bad.

　As Suzuka struggled for words about how to respond, the flashy woman seemed to misunderstand something and laughed cheerfully.

"Don't worry. I do go for girls too, but today I'm just here to chat. I won't make a move on you."

　While grinning, the flashy woman raised both hands to signal she wouldn't do anything. It seemed she thought he had frozen up at the word "hitting on."

　That's not it either, and she's still misunderstanding.

"Let me correct you, I'm a guy, you know."

"Pfft! Ahahaha! That's true, if you're active solo, saying that is better, huh!"

"No, that's not what I mean..."

"It's fine. I won't do anything bad to you. I just purely want to hear your story."

　The misunderstanding was never corrected.

　However, he could feel that she genuinely wanted to talk. Suzuka had things he wanted to ask about too regarding dungeons and his own position, so he wasn't opposed to talking.

　No, rather, this might be a chance. He doesn't know if there will be another opportunity to talk with an Explorer High student, and he might be able to get information about Explorer High and explorers.

　After thinking for a few seconds, he released the mana and stored the magic iron pipe back in his storage.

"I'm looking at armor right now. If that works for you, sure."

"My lucky day. If you don't mind, can I look with you?"

"Sure, go ahead."

　And so, looking at armor with the flashy woman was decided.

"Oh, right, I haven't got your name yet. I'm Suzuka Jozenji.

"Excuse me for that. I'm Kirin Rikuzen. Call me Kirin.

　Saying that, Kirin laughed from the bottom of her heart.