Iron Dolls are a higher tier than Haniwa Figurines and Stone Golems.
They stand about a meter tall and have a simple shape with no weapons.
However, their iron bodies greatly enhance both their offense and defense.
If you get hit by a full-body iron tackle, it could break your ribs if your initial stats are low.
Their weaknesses are lightning and fire, but be careful: if you fail to defeat them with a half-hearted attack, they can retaliate with electrified or heated iron attacks.
Well then—let’s start here.
Instead of using Futso no Mitama, I take out the Stone Cutting Sword.
This is not something I obtained from Kusaka Amusement Park D; all the items I acquired there have already been sold to the government.
This sword was obtained from a PD dungeon based on the data from Kusaka Amusement Park D.
I have twelve of them on hand.
I won’t regret using them up.
「Sure-Hit Sword!」
My sword clashes with the Iron Doll.
Sparks fly.
Despite being said to cut through stone, it doesn’t penetrate. It only makes a shallow cut.
The Iron Doll tries to strike back, but I step back to create some distance.
My advantage lies in the sword’s reach.
I have no intention of letting it turn into a close-quarters fight.
The visible damage may be minor, but for doll-type monsters, not only do you have to cut off their limbs or head, but the internal shock also accumulates and can kill them.
In my case, after five strikes, the Iron Doll was dead.
It dropped a yellow D coin—worth 5000 yen (100 D = 5000 yen)—and an iron ingot.
According to the data Hime showed me before I went into the dungeon, Iron Dolls provide about 2000 experience points. That’s equivalent to 2000 slimes or two experience potions. Considering the effort required to make potions, leveling up here is more efficient.
But it’s not just Iron Dolls that appear.
Goblin Leaders, a higher tier of goblins, also show up, wielding iron swords, spears, and bows. What’s more, these Goblin Leaders have excellent teamwork. With each of them named “Leader”, it’s surprising how well they coordinate.
Fortunately, their defense stats aren’t very high, so I can take them all out with a single strike each.
After defeating the twelfth Iron Doll, my Stone Cutting Sword broke.
I had been using it carelessly since it was disposable, but it broke so easily.
Perfect timing—I should head back and regroup with everyone.
-0-
Today’s lunch is a bento made by Milk.
The previous lunch at Kusaka Amusement Park D was just portable food, but on weekends, Ayame and Milk take turns making bentos for dungeon exploration.
I offered to cook too, but they said they enjoyed cooking.
They might think my cooking is not great.
When I asked Hime if she would make the lunch—
「What do you expect from me?」
She’d probably have the hotel chef prepare something if I asked.
「This braised beef tendon is so tender.」
「Yeah, I cooked it in a pressure cooker for a long time.」
The omelette is fluffy too.
Seriously, getting to eat a homemade bento from a childhood friend is an event that’s rare even in modern gal games.
Getting to enjoy it every week is quite the perk.
「Ichino-san, how were the Iron Dolls?」
「Oh, I defeated twelve of them. However, my spare sword was destroyed.」
「Didn’t you use magic? Taira can use fire magic, right?」
「My fire magic isn’t very powerful, so I didn’t use it because I didn’t want to risk failing to defeat them in one hit… I did use it a lot on the Goblin Leaders though.」
I answer Hime’s question.
I’m mainly a front-line fighter.
Magic combat seems difficult for me.
「Ayame and Milk keep learning new magic, but I’ve barely picked up any new spells.」
I only use Flame Arrow.
I’ve been secretly taking temporary potions from Treasure Box T to increase my magic proficiency.
「It’s understandable since magic proficiency is hard to increase for those not awakened.」
「So there are differences like that.」
That means I should assume I won’t be able to use high-level fire magic like Hellfire aside from the basics.
With everyone gathered, we had a cube-hunting competition on the fifth floor for the first time in a while.
This time, we competed based on the amount of D coins, not the number of Treasure Boxes.
I thought I’d have an advantage with my detection abilities, but Hime won decisively.
Her strategy of using clones to hunt in two groups was a success.
Of course, if it were just about the number of Treasure Boxes, I would have won hands down.
-0-
The next day, I picked D-cans for Hime, Ayame, and Milk that they could open and gave them to me as presents. We explored the dungeon in the same way.
The levels of the three others went up, but mine remained at level 35.
Hime told me that leveling up becomes extremely difficult once you reach level 30, but it’s frustrating not to see any progress.
Looks like I’ll need to continue leveling up in the PD.
I should go hunt mimics with Kuro when I get back to secure some magic proficiency growth potions.
-0-
Monday arrived.
I’m still not fully recovered from fatigue.
Maybe I should have slept a bit longer in the PD?
「Ichino-kun, you look a bit tired. Are you alright?」
「I’m fine. Mizuno-san, it’s been a while.」
「It’s only been since Friday.」
「Oh, right.」
I had continued hunting mimics until I reached level 36, but it felt like I had been in the dungeon for about two weeks.
I was even hunting mimics in my dreams.
I hadn’t learned any new magic, and I was getting tired of opening Treasure Boxes T. I also had over a hundred Substitute Bracelets now.
I had hunted mimics so much that I reflexively destroyed any treasure chests I saw, resulting in some real chests being destroyed and their contents turning to junk.
I displayed one such item as a piece of art on the first floor.
Danpon told me not to display weird stuff, but I wanted to retort that it came from the dungeon he made.
So, a lot happened over the past two weeks.
It feels like it’s been a while since I last saw Mizuno-san.
Wait, Mizuno-san is looking at me intently.
「Oh, are you here for a consultation?」
「Yeah, but if you’re feeling unwell—」
「I’m fine, really. It’s just mental fatigue, but I’m physically okay. I’m here to help with anything.」
I managed to put on a smile as if saying ‘Sure, I’d be happy to help.’
「Yesterday, I went to the Dungeon Bureau and registered as a blacksmith Awakener. Since then, I’ve been getting offers from various blacksmiths.」
「I see. There aren’t many blacksmiths, so that makes sense.」
Mizuno-san showed me her phone.
It was a personal page from the Dungeon Bureau’s website.
Although I haven’t registered myself, I heard that registered Awakeners receive scout messages from various companies.
The screen showed 37 messages, with the numbers 31 to 37 being highlighted.
Even though she had just registered, 37 companies had already reached out to her.
Some of the names were familiar to me.
「There’s one company that caught my attention. I hadn’t heard of it before, but it’s listed on the Dungeon Bureau’s website and is a legitimate company, though small. It seems to be a workplace with many young women. I discussed it with my family, and they’re coming to my house today. Since neither my parents nor I know much about dungeons, I was wondering if you could join us?」
「If you’d like, I’d be happy to.」
I was worried, but it looks like Mizuno-san has decided to move forward on her own terms. I’ll support her.
Of course, if the company turns out to be subpar, I plan to speak up, but I doubt that would be the case.
-0-
After school, I went directly to Mizuno-san’s house.
「Why did you choose that company?」
「Well, the main reason is that they were open to only weekend work. They also offer support for university advancement if needed.」
「Really? That sounds like a great company…?」
Normally, you’d expect them to push for immediate graduation and employment, but offering weekend work, supporting university education, and all that sounds too good to be true.
It might be worth being cautious about this one.
Mizuno-san’s father was there, so I didn’t think we’d get caught in any bad contracts, but still…
「Neechan, the guests are here!」
「I got some sweet bean jelly!」
Her younger brother and sister were waiting outside the house. They’re already here?
「Be careful, Dad’s in a really bad mood.」
Her younger brother gave some ominous advice.
Feeling a bit uneasy, I followed Mizuno-san to the meeting room in the factory.
Mizuno-san knocked on the door and said, ‘Excuse us.’ before entering the room.
Inside were Mizuno-san’s parents and—eh?
「Why is Ichino-sama here?」
「That’s what I’d like to know too. Though I have a pretty good idea.」
There stood the legendary office worker, Akashi-san.
There’s only one reason she’d be here.
Omake
My name is Fubuki.
I’m a novelist—or at least, I call myself one.
The novel I’m writing is a dungeon story I created in pursuit of realism. I’ve studied countless popular dungeon streaming novels to finish it.
The story is about a bullied kid who dives into a dungeon with his male companions and becomes the strongest.
Honestly, I think it’s a masterpiece, but there’s one problem—I’ve never actually been inside a dungeon myself.
I hate the idea that my work might be lacking in realism.
Then I found out that one of my classmates is an explorer.
Ichino Taira—well, we talk sometimes, and he seems like a good guy. So, I swallowed my pride and asked him for advice.
「You want me to read your novel?」
I nodded.
I told him I was aiming for realism and that I wanted him to tell me anything he thought about it.
Normally, reading an amateur’s work can be a chore, but Ichino agreed without hesitation.
The next day, he handed back my novel.
「I thought it was interesting.」
「That’s not what I’m asking. Was it realistic?」
「Hmm… not sure.」
Ichino’s response was lukewarm.
「If you have anything to say, just tell me. You must have a unique perspective as an explorer, right?」
「Well… one thing that bothered me was this guy being bullied. If he’s got the social skills to be liked by his four companions, why was he getting bullied in the first place? I get that the bullies are the problem, but with that level of social ability, wouldn’t he be able to resolve things more smoothly?」
「…No, I meant about the dungeon…」
「Oh, right, the dungeon. Sorry.」
Damn it, Ichino hit me where it hurts. But still, I have no choice. Yeah, I have no choice.
「You wrote that he was nervous for his first dungeon, but honestly, my first dungeon was pretty underwhelming. I just sat on a blue tarp waiting for slimes to spawn.」
「Really? But in streams—」
「That’s because those are from the fourth floors and beyond, with famous streamers. Check out some of the ‘first dungeon experience’ tagged videos. It makes sense they have the lowest views—they’re boring as hell. Walking through the dungeon and hunting monsters? That’s fiction. It’s fun as a novel, but not realistic.」
「Damn it, I guess I have to go to a dungeon myself.」
「Wanna join a beginner’s course?」
「Is there one? I’d love to!」
Ichino made a quick call.
After hanging up, he told me it was all set.
-0-
On Saturday, I’ll be going to the Tennoji Dungeon.
To my surprise, it’s the rare Tenshiba Dungeon, only accessible to guests of the Oshino Group. What kind of connections does Ichino have to book a beginner’s course there?
This already feels unrealistic.
He said it wouldn’t cost me anything, but am I getting scammed here?
What if Ichino doesn’t show up and says, ‘What, you actually believed that?’
Maybe Ichino thinks my bullying scenes are weak and plans to bully me himself?
While I was getting nervous…
「Fubuki, sorry to keep you waiting!」
Ichino actually showed up.
I felt ashamed for doubting him, but then—
「I-Ichino? Who are those girls?」
「Hmm? They’re my party members. We dive into the dungeon together every week.」
Ichino said it like it was completely normal.
But as a writer, I could tell.
The pink-haired ponytail girl and the green-haired short-haired girl were clearly thinking, ‘Thank goodness he’s a guy’.
They were both definitely into Ichino.
And then there’s the blonde twin-tailed loli. Wait, is she really over 18? A legal loli?
Plus, they’re all drop-dead gorgeous.
I mean, they look like an idol group.
This combination is way too cute to be realistic.
「What’s wrong, Fubuki?」
「I…」
「Huh?」
「ICHINO, YOU BASTARD! THIS ISN’T REALISTIC!」
I ran.
I want to write about reality, not a world full of people living their best lives!
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