Evil Avalon
After taking several breaks, we finally arrived at our intended hunting ground after five hours of being rocked along by the Road Train.
It was a gloomy place where nothing but withered grass grew, but the sight of Satsuki—the girl with braided hair, dressed in light armor—welcoming us with a smile lifted my spirits.
We weren't going to start hunting right away. First, she planned to explain where we'd be staying for the night, so we set our luggage aside and sat down in front of her.
"—So, about where we're staying tonight: this is the cottage for the girls, and the boys will be over there! Both have toilets, of course. Feel free to use the water dispensers whenever you need water!"
"Wait a minute, Omiya. I can't quite process this."
Two cottages made of stacked sandstone bricks stood side by side in front of us. Behind them, the butlers were assembling another simple cottage.
The two in front were for the girls and boys, while the one being built farther back was a private lodging cottage for Tenma-san and Kuga-san.
However, when staying overnight during a dungeon dive, the usual practice was to camp near the entrance to a floor, where monsters didn't spawn. If monsters attacked while you were sleeping, you'd be helpless.
So why were we staying so far from the floor entrance, in a place where monsters might spawn? Tachigi-kun looked around and raised an objection.
"Is this a safe zone? It certainly doesn't look like one..."
"The floor boss can appear here, but only under special conditions, so it's fine!"
"The floor boss?!"
We'd arrived in the middle of a vast wasteland. There were no monsters nearby, but several undead could be seen wandering around a few hundred meters away.
At this distance, monsters could easily wander over. And more importantly, wouldn't such a splendid cottage get destroyed if we built it in a place like this?
Tachigi-kun asked one reasonable question after another.
When Satsuki simply replied that the floor boss was the only thing that appeared here, Majima-kun and Pink-chan reacted with such shock that they nearly fell over.
"I don't get it at all! The floor boss of this level appears here? Isn't that dangerous?!"
"I'm only level seven... If we ran into something like that... Aaaah!"
"If anything happens, I'll take it down for you, so don't worry!"
Floor bosses were about five levels higher than the regular monsters that spawned around them.
The ordinary monsters on the eleventh floor were around level eleven, which meant the floor boss would be roughly level sixteen.
For Majima-kun and Pink-chan, who were only level seven, that was a threat so overwhelming they might not even be able to escape. In the worst case, the difference in strength could be so great that they'd faint on the spot.
Fortunately, Tenma-san—the second-ranked student in our year—was here.
She raised her fist and threw a punch, whipping up a gust of wind that made it clear her armored fist wasn't just for show.
Honestly, a level-sixteen monster would be a literal one-punch kill for her. If anything, the floor boss would be the one to lose its fighting spirit and flee.
Kaworu also spoke up to calm everyone down.
"We'll be fine with Tenma-sama here. The butlers will be keeping watch nearby, too... More importantly, this is the first time I've seen such a splendid cottage inside a dungeon."
"Well, yeah! Don't hesitate to use it!"
The cottage in front of us wasn't particularly large, measuring about six meters on each side. Its interior was simple, with only a toilet, but there was still enough space for around five people to sleep comfortably.
Kuga-san was already touching the sandstone-brick exterior to examine its construction.
She'd probably figured it out. I'd shown her this once before.
These weren't cottages Tenma-san had built by transporting materials. Satsuki and I had created them using our skills.
The ultimate skill of the advanced job [Armored Knight], 《Golem Castle》, allowed the user to assemble nearby materials and shape them into a house.
The size and structure could be changed depending on how much MP was invested.
I'd become capable of creating a simple structure like this all at once. Satsuki, however, had only recently learned the skill and was still struggling with the shaping process. That's why she'd come here ahead of everyone else today and worked hard while drinking MP potions.
Meanwhile, Kuga-san was giving Satsuki's cottage a merciless review, saying, "The walls are thin on this one."
Still, considering how little experience she had using the skill, I thought she'd done a pretty good job.
Satsuki gave an embarrassed, wry smile before explaining the schedule for the day.
"Let's put our luggage away and talk about the hunt over dinner. First, let's head to the cottages."
"Got it. Then we'll be staying in... that cottage over there."
"I'll go get ready, too. Kotone-chan, come with me."
Satsuki took charge of the girls, while Akagi-kun led the boys.
Tenma-san took Kuga-san by the hand and headed toward the simple cottage the butlers were assembling.
Simple or not, it was intended for a noble, so both the exterior and interior were luxurious. They were even going to install the finest, fluffiest beds.
I wanted to try sleeping on one myself, but if I said that aloud, I'd end up fighting the butlers on the spot.
I could only sneak a glance at it and keep my mouth shut.
When we opened the door and entered the boys' cottage, we found it almost completely dark, with no lights and only a small window.
We took out the lighting equipment we'd brought and hung it up. The light revealed a simple layout: a single room of about fifteen tatami mats, with a separate toilet cubicle in the back.
There were only four of us—me, Majima-kun, Akagi-kun, and Tachigi-kun—so we had no trouble spreading out our sleeping bags.
Majima-kun and Tachigi-kun looked around the room thoroughly, marveling at it.
"Still, building a cottage like this in a place like this... Just how incredible are Tenma-sama's powers?"
"The fact that she's one of Japan's wealthiest people isn't just for show, I suppose."
"The toilet isn't flushable... Looks like we use the water stored in that container to wash it down."
I was the one who'd built this cottage with 《Golem Castle》, but my MP capacity still wasn't high enough to make a larger house or give it more complicated features.
Akagi-kun had checked the toilet and confirmed it wasn't flushable, but that should become possible once my maximum MP increased.
This construction skill had enormous potential.
However, it came with the restriction that I could only build one structure at a time, so I planned to dismantle it without hesitation once this dungeon dive was over.
The materials had only been sand and deadwood lying around nearby, so I wasn't attached to them. Besides, everyone was happy with the result, and that was what mattered.
After setting our luggage in a corner and spreading out our sleeping bags to claim our spots, someone spoke to me from behind.
"Hey, Butao. Your level really is twelve, right?"
"You said you'd experienced power-leveling..."
Majima-kun glared at me sharply, while Tachigi-kun peered at me through his glasses as though trying to figure out what I was thinking.
I was actually level thirty, but revealing that much would be inconvenient, so I'd settled on saying I was level twelve.
Still, I had no intention of explaining the details.
"Whether it's true or not, Satsu—Omiya-san will explain it over dinner."
"I don't think you'd lie about it after bringing us all the way here. Tenma-sama personally invited us, after all. But if we can reach level twelve as well, then the gap between us and the internal students will disappear. In that case—"
"Yeah. We'd be able to openly declare that we belong in the upper classes, too."
At the adventurer school, students in Classes A through D were called internal students. They'd been able to enter dungeons ever since enrolling in the adventurer middle school.
As a result, most students in Class D and above had already reached level ten or higher by the time they entered high school.
Meanwhile, students who entered the school directly at the high-school level were called external students. Since they were entering dungeons for the first time, they naturally had to start at level one.
That created a tremendous disparity. The upper classes treated them as convenient pawns, or subjected them to threats involving plenty of violence, forcing them to endure one humiliating experience after another.
But if they could reach level twelve...
A direct confrontation with the leaders of the upper classes or the nobles would still be difficult. However, depending on the strategy, it would be possible to fight the upper classes.
Majima-kun and the protagonist's party had repeatedly overcome level differences in DunEx, even when the gap wasn't small. There was no reason they couldn't do the same in this world.
Majima-kun clenched his fist, showing his determination and confidence. Tachigi-kun released magic power tinged with a strong fighting spirit and silently considered their options.
Despite having been treated terribly by the upper classes, they weren't discouraged. They were eager to fight back.
That's the spirit. They're the elite members of our class, after all.
Class E hadn't fallen behind because of a lack of talent. They'd simply started dungeon diving later than everyone else. Once the level gap narrowed, the rest would depend on strategy, and there were all sorts of ways to make things work.
However, as a player, I knew that defeating the upper classes wouldn't be easy.
Suou of Class B, and Seira-san—the student council president in Class A—were outstanding not only in individual combat ability but also in their ability to lead others.
If things came to a head, they'd have no hesitation in deploying the retainers and shrine maidens at their disposal, and they'd even wage fierce battles outside the school.
Still, there was no doubt that we had a chance.
In DunEx, the protagonist's party had done more than overturn class hierarchies. They'd fought against demons and the massive armies of the Holy Empire, saving both the country and the world.
Akagi-kun, who would become the central figure in all of that, had finished examining the cottage and calmly joined the conversation.
"Of course we can beat the upper classes. But wouldn't it be better to think about the specifics after we've experienced power-leveling?"
"……That's true. Right now, we're counting our chickens before they hatch."
We couldn't devise a strategy for fighting the upper classes without knowing just how much stronger we'd become.
Akagi-kun urged everyone to stay calm and suggested we first listen to Satsuki's explanation and experience power-leveling for ourselves.
I could only nod in agreement.
Looking out the window, I saw that the girls had already put away their luggage and come outside.
We should head out, too.
Numerous enormous iron griddles had been placed over several campfires.
As thick cuts of meat were laid on them, they sizzled, sending the fragrant aroma of rendered fat through the air.
"That's meat from a monster called a Bull Demon. It's incredibly tender and delicious!"
"A Bull Demon... Is that an advanced Minotaur species that appears beyond the twentieth floor?"
"……Yeah. Tenma's butlers hunted a whole bunch of them."
Kaworu showed interest at the mention of Bull Demons and leaned over to look at the griddle.
Kuga-san explained that Tenma-san's butlers had hunted a large number of them when Tenma-san had been taking her Black Butlers around to look for potential base locations.
That was back when her maid had been kidnapped and she herself had been captured alongside her butlers and left lying around.
Bull Demons were common enough that you could find them without much trouble, so their drops weren't particularly rare. However, their meat was said to be fattier and tastier than ordinary beef.
It had also become a popular souvenir in dungeon cities.
Pink-chan seemed to know how the meat tasted, too. She sniffed at the aroma, twitching her nose and letting a little drool escape.
Come to think of it, she had a gluttonous trait in DunEx.
Her figure was a little chubby at the moment, but as she grew older, she'd become slender and end up being courted by countless DunEx heroes.
Since I was also on the chubby side—or rather, fat—I secretly watched her, wondering if there was anything I could learn from her.
Just then, the chef set down another enormous frying pan and began making a new dish by tossing in freshly cooked rice and raw eggs.
Next, the Bull Demon meat that had been grilling was rapidly minced with a huge knife and added to the pan along with sauce from a pot.
That dish was...
"Bull Demon meat and secret soy sauce... That's the Tenma family's special fried rice. I had it once before, and it was incredible..."
Kuga-san recognized the fried rice from the cooking process. She said she couldn't forget how it had tasted.
Satsuki was preparing to explain the hunt with a whiteboard in the background, but the smell of sizzling fat and caramelized soy sauce was stimulating my appetite so much that I could hardly focus on anything else.
Other dishes were placed on the makeshift tables as well: a meat-and-vegetable stir-fry made with Bull Demon meat and brightly colored vegetables, and a soup generously prepared with meat from the Golden Bird, which we'd eaten before.
Finally, the fried rice was piled high on a large platter, forming a pyramid.
It was far too hearty for noble cuisine, but I didn't dislike a style that prioritized flavor over refinement.
"Um, I was going to explain the hunt while we ate dinner, but maybe I'll do that later."
"……I'd appreciate that."
Noticing that everyone was hungry, Satsuki suggested we eat first.
Kaworu, whose stomach had just given a small growl, agreed shyly.
We'd only eaten light meals since before noon, so my own stomach was growling, too.
Tenma-san was apparently going to eat at the same table as us. The butlers had even put a dining apron over her armor.
Normally, it was unthinkable for a noble to eat at the same table as commoners who weren't retainers.
Majima-kun and Tachigi-kun, who knew nobles well, were surprised by this, too. But I supposed it was Tenma-san's way of reaching out to us.
A steaming mountain of fried rice was placed in front of me.
Almost as soon as everyone said, "Let's eat!", I shoveled a spoonful into my mouth.
The sweetness of the rice and the savory flavor of the meat blended perfectly, assaulting my taste buds.
"……The rice is delicious, but is it the quality of the fat? The meat fibers break down just right, giving it a perfect chew. This is amazing."
"A Bull Demon, huh? I wonder if we'll ever be able to go out and hunt one ourselves..."
"We will. I have a feeling we can."
Beside me, Majima-kun stuffed his cheeks full and began pondering what made the food so delicious.
Tachigi-kun wondered whether the day would ever come when he could hunt this meat himself.
Akagi-kun was eating heartily, too, and thrust out his fist as he confidently declared that they'd definitely make it.
I had a feeling that day might come sooner than they expected.
While we were eating, a pure-white dessert was placed in front of me.
It was decorated with red berries and gold leaf. What was it?
"Narumi-kun, that's the special almond tofu passed down through my family. It's my absolute favorite, so please enjoy it!"
"If you're not going to eat it, I'll—"
"No, I'm going to eat it."
I had an extremely easy time gaining weight, so I was carefully controlling both my portions and my eating pace.
Tenma-san, who had removed only the mouth section of her helmet and was rapidly shoveling food into her mouth, offered me the almond tofu.
It was a dessert with a distinctive sweet aroma and a gorgeous presentation.
I was thinking of saving it for last when Kuga-san reached for it, apparently misunderstanding something.
Naturally, I guarded it.
However, despite Tenma-san having spoken with Akagi-kun several times, she didn't seem particularly interested in him.
In DunEx, she'd been quick to take an interest in Akagi-kun's positive attitude and personality, and she'd aggressively pursued him.
But I'd already put a plan in motion, so there was no need to panic yet.
Meanwhile, Kaworu had initially been eating enthusiastically, but she'd stopped completely and was staring at one spot, lost in thought.
I followed her gaze...
There lay the centerpiece of my "plan."
"Tenma-sama, what is that animal at your feet?"
"Oh, this is Raikokumaru. Come on, say hello!"
"……Nyaow!"
A pure-white animal was lying at Tenma-san's feet, eagerly devouring Bull Demon meat.
It had large ears, round, vertically slit pupils, and a long, fluffy tail, making it look somewhat like a cat.
However, even with its legs tucked beneath it, its body was over a meter long. It was far too large to reasonably call a cat.
When its owner prompted it to say hello, it turned toward Kaworu, gave a single cry, and then went right back to eating.
Even Tachigi-kun, who had been eating with the impeccable posture of a noble, couldn't ignore Raikokumaru. He leaned forward and examined every detail of its body.
"There have been reports from overseas that animals grow larger when they're trained to hunt, but... do cats change their appearance this much as well?"
"Well, yeah! Though I think it might have been nibbling on a few too many skeletons."
"It's been protecting me the whole time. Such a good girl!"
It wasn't a cat that had simply leveled up.
It was an Ugarum Queen, the royal species of the feline monster known as Ugarum.
Tenma-san had originally brought it from Arthur's house so it could participate in power-leveling alongside Akagi-kun and the others.
But while Satsuki had been building the cottages early that morning, it had spent the whole time chewing through nearby undead.
As a result, although it had been no bigger than an ordinary cat yesterday, it was now well over a meter long and had reached around level ten.
Were there creatures that grew larger as they leveled up?
The reason Raikokumaru, who had been level one, could defeat the undead on this floor so easily was that Ugarum Queens possessed "Spirit Blood," which gave them an advantage against undead.
And that was the bridge connecting Tenma-san and Akagi-kun—and the key to my plan.
"Oh, this little guy's pretty cute."
Akagi-kun approached Raikokumaru without hesitation and started petting it as it munched on its meat.
As expected, Raikokumaru showed a strong interest in him, sniffing him and licking him in return.
Normally, it barely reacted when anyone other than Tenma-san tried to pet it.
Perhaps the Spirit Blood within it was stirring, making it impossible for it to remain indifferent.
In DunEx, Akagi-kun had a special trait that made various spirit races fond of him. It was so powerful that even the great spirit appearing in Tenma-san's curse-removal quest took a liking to him.
That was a trait even Pink-chan, the other protagonist, didn't possess.
(All the preparations are in place.)
The curse-removal quest would be impossible without the ability to be loved by spirits, so I was relieved to have confirmed it.
Now I could push ahead with the curse-removal quest without hesitation.
After taking care of a little personal business later, we'd begin power-leveling with Raikokumaru starting tomorrow.
This hunt would be important not only for Akagi-kun but also for Kaworu's future, so we had to be thoroughly prepared to ensure that no accidents occurred.
Later, when the time was right, I wanted to smash that lion guy and bring the runaway maid home. Then, riding that momentum, we'd move on to properly training the protagonist's party.
But the world rarely went according to plan.
Unexpected events had a way of lurking in the most ordinary places.
As I watched Akagi-kun and Raikokumaru play together with a fond smile, I reached for the almond tofu Tenma-san had recommended to me again and again.
For some reason, my hand kept grasping at empty air.
I looked around to see where it had gone...
The next chapter is a bit disappointing,,.. Instead on focusing on the current arc, author suddenly switches to the arena match, and it seems gonna take more chapters before it ends ffs...
ReplyDeleteWhy can't he just focus on the current arc and characters, he keeps adding too many people while not developing the original cast