I find myself humming without realizing it today; I’m in a good mood and can’t help but sing along.
“The senpai’s been in a good mood lately, huh?”
“That’s only natural. It would be quite an issue if one became displeased after their child was born.”
The conversation between Kaido and Minami in the back, murmuring to each other, reaches me clearly, but I pay it no mind as I slice the golem before me into pieces. My attacks are fluid and unhesitating. I’ve heard that one’s mental state affects their body, and I’ve never felt that more strongly than now. Sometimes, manga depicts characters fighting while gracefully dancing, and perhaps I’m actually achieving that realistically now. I’m cutting the knight armor golem into ribbons at the optimal timing, distance, and position. I believe my movements in this process were perfect, as I swung Purple Crimson with all my might.
Incidentally, regarding the Ore Tree, Suella isn’t immediately returning just because she’s finished giving birth. It’s currently being used to stably supply magic power to our two daughters. It might feel odd to have a weapon placed next to a newborn, but I’ve heard that a high-quality magic power supply greatly contributes to their future growth, so as a father, lending my partner is unavoidable.
“Wow! I couldn’t see Jiro-san’s movements at all just now!”
“I’m not surprised anymore. As the days go by, Jiro is becoming even more of an inhuman existence, venturing further into that realm.”
While thinking such things, I held my pose after defeating the golem that attacked me. It seems I was the only one who thought I defeated it gracefully; to the other party members, I simply move, and the enemy dies. It seems my actions have been elevated to something out of another manga. Strange. In my vision, the enemies stop and become like targets, and my slashes should be normal.
“Katsu, Katsu, the leader’s performance has skyrocketed, gozaru!”
“Yeah, especially lately.”
It seems this thought is also just my own.
“Is this what they mean by being fulfilled both personally and professionally?”
“If you were neglecting your work because you were too happy, I’d have something to complain about, but instead, your work is actually progressing faster, so I have no complaints. It’s a good thing.”
However, it seems the members of my party aren’t quite convinced. While they offer words of praise for my appearance as I happily hunt golems, their atmosphere suggests dissatisfaction.
“What is it? If you have something to say, spit it out.”
With the spine of Purple Crimson resting on my shoulder, I turn around, displeased that my cheerful work atmosphere has been disturbed.
“No, we don’t have any complaints!”
“Yeah, no complaints.”
“In fact, we’re having an easier time thanks to you, gozaru.”
“Yes, Jiro alone is creating a mountain of golem wreckage.”
“I still think the sight of them returning to elemental magic in the sky is beautiful.”
They claim to have no complaints about me. However.
“Just, please refrain from boasting about photos of your child at every opportunity.”
“It was nice at first, but every day is a bit much.”
“I thought it was a form of power harassment, gozaru.”
“Well, the baby was cute, so it’s fine.”
“It was a bit difficult to respond to.”
I have a reason to be displeased, and an accusation to which I can relate.
“Honestly, my apologies.”
No, if you’ll allow me to make an excuse, please let me. I truly never thought I’d become such a doting parent. That’s why I apologize and will reflect. Glancing away, I reflect on whether I showed my child’s photo as my phone’s wallpaper too often, and slice up a golem that attacked me with an opening. This lightweight, quiet assassination-type golem still has room for improvement, I think as it returns to elemental magic in mid-air.
“I think if the child grows up and goes through a rebellious phase, the leader might be shocked, gozaru.”
Minami probably had thoughts about improving the dungeon as well. She takes out a notepad and jots something down, pointing out a problem with my attitude.
“Is it that much of a problem? Well, I do feel like I might be overdoing it a bit.”
Working while chatting is our specialty. In fact.
“That’s right, Min-chan, you’re worrying too much!”
Kaido doesn’t look away, but he joins the conversation while dealing with two approaching golems.
“Is it really something to worry about that much?”
Katsu, while keeping an eye on our surroundings, is busy collecting drop items.
“Sweet, so sweet, gozaru. You men are sweeter than strawberries drenched in condensed milk, sprinkled with powdered sugar, and then drizzled with syrup.”
“At that point, it’s practically at a level that would give you a stomachache. Well, I do agree that Jiro and you guys have a naive perspective.”
Despite the murderous atmosphere around us, our conversation is leisurely. Minami, who is discovering and disarming traps with exploration magic, shakes her index finger back and forth, telling us men that our perspective is naive. Kitamiya, who impaled a group of golems in the distance with an ice spear, sighs as if in exasperation, agreeing with Minami.
“I think so too.”
Men and women, a difference in sensibilities. In this case, it’s that we men are being too optimistic.
“For reference, why don’t you tell me? What exactly is wrong?”
As a novice parent, I find this kind of knowledge and opinion invaluable. From a male perspective alone, there will be problems in our future lives. They say you can’t just bend to everything, but that’s different from not understanding. Rather, the opinions of women, who interact with children more, should be precious. That’s why I listen honestly.
“Mine is a special case, gozaru, but my relationship with my father can’t be called good, at least.”
Minami is the first to speak. It’s a bit late to say this now, but compared to Kawasaki, she can’t possibly say she has a good relationship with her father.
“From my perspective, it’s a positive element because I can live carefree, gozaru.”
However, she doesn’t seem bothered, even saying that it’s easier to live without interfering parents.
“I don’t have a good image of my father either.”
Amelia, standing next to her, also grew up in a single-parent household. I’ve met her mother, Mie, but never her father. This implies there are family circumstances she can’t talk about.
“Specifically, I wouldn’t regret kicking him squarely in the head.”
Seriously, what happened? Amelia, with a dark smile instead of a grimace at remembering something unpleasant, mutters that if she had her current strength. She’s completely different from the lively girl she usually is. I once heard about a future, rough-looking Amelia; is this a glimpse of that?
“Come back now.”
Kitamiya places a hand on Amelia’s head, pulling her back from her sinister smile. He then roughly ruffles her hair, and Amelia, flustered, snaps back to her senses. However, hearing the opinions of the women up to this point makes me anxious, wondering if fathers and daughters just can’t get along.
“I’m sorry, Jiro, but unlike the two of them, I don’t have such dramatic circumstances, but I’m not exactly on good terms with my father either.”
Kitamiya then delivers the finishing blow to me, who was looking at her with pleading eyes, with a sharp, “That’s not to say it’s bad!”
“Don’t get so down about it!”
It’s a brutal reality check for me, who was so caught up in the joy of my newborn daughters. The shock might cast a shadow over my head, but I can’t afford to dwell on that. Someday, my cute daughters might tell me, “Don’t wash that with dad’s clothes!!” I did have a feeling that wouldn’t happen, but with my female companions saying it, I can’t deny it. Ah, my body, which was feeling so good just moments ago, suddenly felt heavy. I lean against the wall, my posture probably depicting a comical “Zuuun.”
“Ah, darn, Kitamiya just finished off the leader, gozaru.”
“Shut up! You’re just as guilty!”
There’s a commotion behind me. Occasionally, I feel a hostile presence, but my right hand instinctively swings its blade, scattering the source. While methodically dispatching enemies, am I just going to continue staring into a bleak future? No, it’s not too late. To avoid being disliked by my daughters, I should start involving myself in housework and childcare now. I should thoroughly take care of things that might evoke disgust, like body odor. If I also make an effort to keep my body from becoming flabby, perhaps…
“U-um, Jiro-san? I mean, I didn’t say it because I was absolutely sure, you know?”
I need to try to negate the image of a generally disliked father. I’ll be mindful of not looking slovenly, and I’ll face conversations sincerely without brushing them off. I should strive to be the kind of father who is called “My amazing dad.” Should I also pay attention to fashion? Should I become knowledgeable about movies and sweets? Instead of dismissing the ideas that pop into my head one after another, I plan to do all of them, and this plan to become a “proud father” is invigorating my depressed spirit.
“Alright!!”
“WWAAAH!?”
“I’m going to do it!! What’s wrong? Why are you three so surprised?”
My enthusiastic shout, a complete turn from my pessimistic mood, elicits screams from the side. When I turn around, Kitamiya and Amelia are hugging each other, and Minami, well, she’s struck a pose that’s so old-fashioned, it’s almost unbelievable.
“Min, really, it’s rare to know that pose in this era!”
I can’t help but retort at her surprising pose, which resembles my younger brother’s kanji.
“I was going to comfort you, thinking you were dejected, so when you suddenly yelled, I was startled, gozaru!”
I’m met with a counter-attack.
“And what are you planning to do?”
“Yeah.”
To outsiders, I’m just a strange man who seemed down, then suddenly yelled and perked up. It’s understandable that Minami would retort, and Kitamiya and Amelia would worry.
“No, I realized that if I calmly think about it, it’s simply a matter of putting effort into becoming closer to my children.”
Therefore, I can’t afford to be down.
“Well, it’s true that the reason we don’t have a good relationship with our fathers is that we don’t really want to get along, and if that aspect can be improved, then indeed…”
“Yeah, if he’s a good father, I’d naturally want to get along.”
For a moment, they are taken aback by my positive thinking, but then they probably start imagining their own fathers. They seem to be considering the possibility that if things can be improved, there might be a chance.
“Rather than thinking it’s impossible before even starting, it’s better to put in effort where you can.”
I had originally planned to do many things. This just adds more to the list. Fortunately, my physical capabilities have improved significantly compared to before.
“First, let’s tackle age-related body odor!!”
“Is it that? It might be a concern, but…”
“Ahaha, Jiro-san has resolved to put effort into something strange.”
If so, it’s not impossible. Until now, my aspect as a man has been strong, but from now on, that alone won’t be enough. If I now have the aspect of a father, I must strive to be liked by my family as well.
“…”
“What’s wrong, Min? You going silent like this is foreboding, it’s scary.”
“Kitamiya, you’re also becoming less reserved with me, gozaru.”
“It’s about time.”
It’s better to be told to improve than to be denied everything. Seeing me try to put a positive spin on things, Minami tilts her head, feeling a sense of déjà vu. Kitamiya senses an ominous atmosphere and sends her a suspicious gaze, wondering if she’s thinking of something strange, but they’re used to this exchange.
“So, what were you thinking about?”
“Well, I was thinking about an ideal father, gozaru.”
Kitamiya prompts Minami to continue, as if saying, “Hurry up and tell us.” Minami, who was previously concerned, now speaks of her thoughts as if it were just everyday conversation.
“An ideal father, huh? I bet he’s handsome and kind, and so on.”
“Even I wouldn’t change my appearance, gozaru. Assuming my personality and actions were those of an ideal father, that’s what I considered.”
I find myself leaning in, curious about the story. Kitamiya also seems interested and urges her to continue.
“Even if it’s impossible, normally speaking, it’s a good thing to have a father who works hard for you.”
“…Certainly, when you put it that way. It feels odd when you say something so sensible, though.”
“My sensibility is what makes me work, so I’ll ignore Kitamiya’s retort, gozaru.”
Kitamiya, teasingly, sneers as if she’s expecting a punchline.
“So? What’s your conclusion?”
She tries to wrap up Minami’s story. Hearing her words, Minami becomes a little shy, glancing at the people who have gathered around and asking if she should really say it.
“No, even I find this line embarrassing, or rather, it’s the conclusion I reached as a reaction to not having received it before.”
Kitamiya, seeing her unusual behavior and judging it an opportunity to tease, grins and corners Minami. The two stand in a reversed dynamic from their usual positions, and the gazes of the others watching them are warm. Finally, Minami, who has been cornered by Kitamiya, relents.
“Alright, gozaru!! I’ll tell you, I’ll tell you, so stop being annoying!!”
Minami grumbles to Kitamiya that she’s not that kind of person, and then,
“I-I’d appreciate it if you didn’t laugh.”
Under Kitamiya’s urging, she finally states her conclusion.
“If I had a father like that, I’d be a father-complex, gozaru.”
“…”
Minami’s quiet, embarrassed words leave everyone in stunned silence, as if they’d misheard.
“Why are you all silent?! Honestly, I’d rather you laugh!”
Hearing Minami’s cry,
“Ahahahahahahaha!!!!”
They all burst into loud laughter, despite being in a dungeon.
Today’s word: Motivation depends on one’s mental state.
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*The first volume of the novel is published by Hayakawa Bunko JA.
It was released on October 18, 2018.
The e-book version was released on October 31 of the same year.
The second volume was released on December 19.
The third volume was released on February 20, 2019.
The content includes revisions and additions to the material posted on “Shousetsuka ni Narou” (Let’s Become a Novelist), with the inclusion of an unreleased interlude. Please also check out the new releases!
A manga adaptation is serialized in Kodansha’s “Young Magazine The Third.” We hope you enjoy that as well.
We appreciate your continued support for this work!
