Chapter 7
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 7
Chapter Title: 4: If You Don't Go to Bed Now, We're Off to the Dungeon -2
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The rhythmic clanging of hammering filled the small room. The sound of driving nails into something.
“Phew, about halfway done?”
I was in the middle of crafting my personal weapon right now.
A weapon that even I could use easily before heading into the dungeon.
I'd tried overlaying new styles onto the memories etched into this body, but it wasn't easy.
Because I'd never swung a weapon before.
The most I'd ever done was fire a gun a few times.
Truth be told, guns are incredibly easy weapons.
Of course, you need to zero in and practice your stance, but compared to other weapons, it requires a ridiculously small amount of training.
But this is a fantasy world. Guns don't exist here.
All there is are swords, spears, and bows.
Spears and bows seem like they'd require more skill.
Swords... better not even think about it.
Ethan had already ruined that path, making it hard to learn anew. Extracting ingrained sensations is far harder than implanting new ones.
But I couldn't head into the dungeon bare-handed.
Today's destination wasn't insanely difficult, but people died there often enough.
And that's when I came up with this.
“Okay, complete!”
Weapon: Nail-Studded Club
A sturdy wooden club studded with nails. Deals simultaneous impact damage, penetration, and bleeding to enemies. Swinging it at people might spell big trouble...?
That thing—a baseball bat packed full of nails.
You know, the one that always shows up in zombie apocalypses.
A realistic tool like a baseball bat.
As a bludgeon, it suits this body, trained mainly for blunt impacts.
Ethan must've clung to his swordsmanship department pride and insisted on a sword.
'I don't have that kind of baggage.'
A weapon just needs to bash the enemy effectively.
Doesn't matter what it is.
“Let's test it out.”
I grabbed the bat and stepped out to face the training dummy.
“Hup!”
Crack!
A tiny crack appeared in the sturdy dummy.
A few more solid hits like that, and it might break.
If it were alive, blood would be flowing too.
This should be enough for emergencies.
But.
“Hah!”
Only in a real emergency, though.
I turned at the sound of a kiai nearby.
There stood the white-haired girl, Ophelia Scarletstar.
Wondering what she was up to, I stared openly, and she was slashing at her dummy.
She raised her sword, focused her mind.
And then.
“Slash!”
She cleaved the dummy clean in half in an instant.
Even to a beginner like me, it was a flawless strike.
How much practice does it take to reach that level?
No, could I even do that?
Lost in those thoughts as I stared.
“Ah.”
“Senior?”
Our eyes met.
“Senior, are you training too?”
“Yeah, sort of. Casually.”
“No, you can't do it casually. Half-hearted training gets you nowhere.”
So Ophelia was that type, huh.
Makes sense—with that level of effort, she'd climbed to Disciplinary Enforcer.
“You're right. Sigh, I'm worried. So worried.”
“What's troubling you?”
“Well, see, I'm about to—”
head into the dungeon.
“...”
The words caught in my throat.
A sudden realization had blocked them.
Come to think of it, the max party size for dungeons is four, right?
'Me plus Melissa makes two.'
That leaves two spots.
So... then...
'Couldn't I bring Ophelia?'
Exactly. Why hadn't I thought of that?
Ophelia's plenty strong.
She could handle a 2-star dungeon no problem.
Yeah, decided.
Ophelia, become my comrade.
I've let her mooch drinks for free plenty of times, so time to repay the favor like this.
“Ophelia.”
“Yes?”
“I need you, so... you free this weekend?”
Ophelia fell silent for a moment.
“You... need me...?”
She murmured it with flushed cheeks.
“Haa... what a nice day.”
I stood at the dungeon entrance, leisurely taking in the academy grounds. The cherry blossoms in full bloom everywhere were stunning, thanks to the spring weather.
Come to think of it, school year's starting soon.
'Wanted to pay down some debt before classes began.'
More prep than expected left my debt at zero sum.
'This is just an investment in my future.'
Lost in such thoughts, staring blankly at the horizon, I spotted Melissa in the distance, wearing her massive witch hat.
She's basically advertising "I'm a black mage~!"
I waved at her.
Wave wave.
She jolted!
'Jolted?'
Melissa flinched at the sight of me, shuffled over like she was malfunctioning, and took several deep breaths.
Only then did she revert to her usual self.
“G-good morning, assistant—oh ho, dressed to the nines, eh?”
“Don't remind me. Thinking about the cost hurts my heart.”
“Fancy stuff. Isn't that a Black Mamba Snake Leather Longcoat?”
I nodded.
The biggest expense since arriving at the academy.
It's top-tier low-grade armor for its solid defense, but the price is brutal.
Sold my car for days just to buy this used one.
“And here I thought I'd protect you.”
“Can't be too sure. Can't rely on you alone.”
“Guess you won't make a good house husband later.”
“What're you on about.”
“Kuhuhu.”
Melissa was always odd, but lately even more so. Wonder if the demonization's reached her brain. Worrying.
Need to find a fix soon.
If I don't want to see her in a bad state later.
“So, why aren't we going in?”
“One more person's coming.”
“Another one?”
“She owes me big from all the free drinks, so I asked her to help out this time.”
“A 2-star dungeon's plenty with just me.”
“Safety first. Don't wanna die.”
“Fair enough. Regretting after something goes wrong is too late.”
“Exactly.”
And so we waited amid the cherry blossoms. Ophelia was oddly late.
She didn't seem the type to be tardy.
Soon enough, I learned why.
“Senior! Senior!”
Ophelia came running from afar, waving frantically.
“There she is.”
“...That voice...”
“You know her?”
“Yeah... know her well...”
What happened between them?
Third-year and second-year cross paths plenty, so nothing weird there.
Maybe I should play matchmaker in the middle—
“What the hell is that.”
Melissa's face twisted in shock.
What's got her like that—
“What the hell is that.”
Same reaction from me.
“Senior! Sorry I'm late!! Took too long picking an outfit!!”
Picking an outfit? Why?
She could've just worn her usual.
No, is that even dungeon gear?
Haa haa.
Ophelia panted heavily in front of me.
“S-sorry. Too late, right?”
“Nah, that's fine, but your outfit...”
“My outfit? Huh? Senior, why are you in a snake leather coat? Heading to a dungeon or something?”
“We are going to a dungeon.”
“Huh?”
“Yeah?”
...What?
Where'd it go wrong?
“What should I wear? What can I wear?”
Ophelia agonized.
It was a worry she'd never have entertained before.
She'd never imagined a day would come when she'd fret over what to wear.
Her eyes drifted to her usual uniform.
Certainly neat and elegant.
But.
'Can't wear that again this time.'
It was her first time in life like this, so she wanted something special.
Of course.
“D-date...”
The word wouldn't leave her lips from sheer embarrassment.
Today was Ophelia's first date.
A few days prior, she'd recalled Ethan's words.
'I need you, so... you free this weekend?'
I need you.
Senior's been so nice to me from the start...'
Did he fall for me at first sight?
“Didn't peg Senior for the lecherous type.”
Ophelia smirked slyly as she said it.
Oblivious to her own expression, she kept agonizing. First date—a term that made her heart flutter just hearing it—demanded the perfect outfit.
After much deliberation, Ophelia reached a conclusion.
“I have nothing to wear.”
All she owned were pitch-black uniforms.
She checked the clock in a hurry.
Still a little time.
“I'll buy something.”
Buy clothes and dash to the meeting spot.
With a plan set, things progressed smoothly.
She ran a bit overtime, forcing a sprint to the site.
'Wait for me, Senior!'
Ophelia, fully armored for her date.
After running far, she spotted them under blooming cherry trees.
“We are going to a dungeon.”
The harsh reality staring her in the face.
...She thought it was a date?
“...Sorry, Senior. I got the wrong idea.”
“No, my bad. I phrased it ambiguously.”
“...No, it's fine.”
Ophelia's mood plummeted.
Couldn't be helped—all her own embarrassing misunderstanding.
If it were me, I'd crawl into a hole.
Impressive she'd still brought her sword—commendable or just sad?
Ophelia shook off her gloom, snapping back to normal.
“Let's go, Senior.”
“In that getup?”
“It's fine. I can manage.”
“No way. Brand new clothes too. Take off the coat.”
I took her pink coat, folded it into my bag. Her inner top exposed her armpits too much to leave as-is.
No choice—I shrugged off my coat and draped it over her.
“Senior?”
“Wear this at least.”
“But this is your armor—”
“You'll protect me anyway, right?”
“...Yes! I'll definitely protect you, Senior!”
“Good, counting on you.”
Ophelia nodded, psyching herself up.
Meanwhile, I stealthily removed the tag so she wouldn't feel embarrassed.
But her senses were sharp as ever.
“Was there a tag?”
“...Huh?”
“...Embarrassing.”
She realized she hadn't even noticed it herself.
Ophelia scratched her cheek, blushing.
I wondered if this was okay, then.
Skill: Pat Pat
Gentle comforting touch applied.
I gently brushed back a stray lock of her hair.
“Don't feel embarrassed.”
“Huh?”
“Just knowing you spent time and care for me makes me happy. It was for my sake, right? Misunderstanding or not.”
“Senior...”
“After the dungeon, let's have a tea party, all three of us.”
“Yes, all three.”
Ophelia's face lit up brightly.
Perfect. Now, one step toward the dungeon in this state—
“...Huh? All three?”
Ophelia turned, sensing something off.
She'd finally noticed.
“Ooh, getting hot in here? Mad Dog.”
“...Melissa Green!”
“Long time no see. Mad Dog... no, that just-now look was... yeah, Puppy.”
“Academy terrorist! You're under arrest!”
“Now now~ don't be like that. That was an accident on my part too. Who knew the glowing magic potion got mixed into the students' water?”
“Do you know how many complaints I got about sleepless nights!? How much I suffered then!!”
“Haha, sorry sorry. But understand—it'd be handy for cave exploring, right?”
“Crazy black mages like you belong in prison!”
“My my! And yet you chased me for ages, didn't you?”
“This time, you're mine!”
Ophelia and Melissa drew sword and staff.
...Girls.
“Can't you fight the monsters instead...?”