The results of the first screening for the Star Award were disappointing.
However, I will continue to write with all my might!
For now, this chapter is scheduled to end in one or two more installments.
Jiro Tanaka, 28, single, girlfriend Suella Handelberg
Occupation: Dungeon Tester (Full-time employee) + Recruiter
Magic Aptitude: 8 (General Class)
Position: Warrior
The day after Suella’s confession to Suella.
Evia, the supervisor, came to pick me up with a cold gaze, saying, “You seemed to enjoy yourself last night,” even though she was the one who egged me on.
I could only respond with an embarrassed smile, my cheeks burning.
As if dissatisfied with my response, the even more displeased supervisor and I were taken to a conference room.
There, I was supposed to reunite with Minami and the others, who had been discharged from the hospital and had not seen Kaido for several days, but when I opened the door, I found Kaido with his face being pulled in all directions by Katsu and Minami.
“…Ah, you guys made me worry, didn’t you?”
I wondered if they were checking if Kaido was really alive, or if it was all a dream.
There were many reasons to doubt the classic move, like “If you’re going to do that, you should do it to yourself, not your opponent,” but this was all I could think of to say to those two.
I casually raised my right hand as if to convey that everything was all right now.
“Leader!”
Minami was the first to react.
Releasing Kaido’s facial skin with a “bakin” sound, she tried to run towards me with all her might, but…
“Gozaru!?”
She tripped over her own feet and, instead of running, performed a magnificent head-first slide to my feet.
“Whoa, whoa, Minami, you don’t have to go that far,” I said.
I was touched that my junior, who had been so worried and had rushed over only to fall, had cared so much. I crouched down to meet her gaze.
“Ugh, Leader, are you alive, Gozaru?”
Minami didn’t get up, but instead lifted her head and asked me, her glasses still askew.
“Yeah.”
“You’re not a zombie, Gozaru?”
“Do I look rotten?”
“You haven’t become a vampire, Gozaru?”
“Alas, my blood is flowing properly.”
“You haven’t been modified into a Golem, Gozaru?”
“Supervisor, you treated my body properly, right? The more Minami asks, the more I start to worry.”
“Regrettably, I treated you earnestly. If it had been a little later, I was thinking of pouring some demon’s blood into you.”
This demon just said “regrettably” so clearly.
Was I that close to the edge?
For now, I need to make sure nothing strange has been embedded in my body.
“That was a good idea, Gozaru!”
“Hey Minami! You weren’t worried, you were hoping I’d become a new being!!”
“? If one is about to die, one gains new power. That’s standard in manga, right?”
Minami was Minami.
Without a hint of the atmosphere of a guise to cover her worry, she stood up as if to say, “Yes, that’s what it is,” and pointed at the supervisor.
In the end, she turned to me with a look that said, “What is this guy talking about?”
“Damn it, this guy is so genuinely silly that I can’t keep up. Hey, guardians! Oh, but this one is seriously crying too!?”
“Ugh, J-Jiro-san, I’m so glad you’re really okay.”
“Senpai, you can rest assured. I was in that position just a moment ago. By the way, Minami got angry at me, asking why I wasn’t modified.”
Did that facial contact have such a meaning?
And the fact that she rushed over with all her might wasn’t out of worry, but because she expected that if anyone were to be modified, it would be me. That became clear now.
“But, *sniff*, Minami was actually worried too, you know? She accidentally put salt in her coffee about three times and hasn’t played games for the past three days, constantly checking the clock, and she’s been going to bed and waking up early, which is unusual. When she suggested going to the shrine, I thought she had a fever and then… *gasp*!”
“W-What are you talking about, Katsu? I-I-I wouldn’t do such a thing…”
“No, Minami, you’re stuttering so much it’s practically deliberate?”
But Katsu revealed it quite easily.
It turned out that Minami’s attitude was just a way to hide her embarrassment.
Where had the nonchalant Minami from earlier gone? She frantically tried to cover Katsu’s mouth.
I had expected a somber atmosphere at first, but that only lasted for a moment, and soon everything was jumbled together, and the usual atmosphere returned.
“I’m glad for you, Jiro-san.”
“Yeah, it seems I was worrying for nothing.”
Honestly, I had been prepared to be quite dejected or to be met with a cold attitude.
However, the result was not one of the two choices that fit into Schrödinger’s cat box, but another option was chosen.
“Um, Leader?”
“What is it?”
“Thank you for protecting me.”
“Thank you, Jiro-san.”
“Ah, well, you know. I thought it was the best course of action at the time? My body just moved on its own or something, you know.”
“Senpai, are you blushing?”
“Shut up!!”
My actions have consequences.
The actions I took then have led to the present.
It seems my desperate efforts back then were worth it.
“Well, I’m just glad you guys are okay.”
“You’re blushing, Gozaru!!”
“Who’s blushing!?”
Honestly, does Minami have to tease me about everything for the conversation to move forward?
For now, I need to talk about what comes next.
“That’s right, Jiro-san only blushes in front of me, doesn’t he?”
“Suella!? Ah.”
I immediately realized my mistake after shouting back along with the mood.
“Senpai, you just called her by her first name.”
“Hmph.”
Kaido was surprised by the change in address, and the supervisor’s mood continued to deteriorate.
“Nufufu Gozaru.”
“Is there any point in saying that? Um, congratulations.”
Minami looked at me knowingly and smiled, while Katsu, somehow sensing the situation, congratulated me normally.
“Ah, well, that’s how it is.”
“It is.”
At this point, I had no choice but to accept it.
I never imagined I’d end up with a Dark Elf girlfriend, but Suella, with her arm around my shoulder, leaned against me happily.
It’s not bad.
No, I should be purely happy about this.
“Senpai! What happened yesterday?”
“You know what happened, so why are you asking?”
“I’m curious too, Gozaru!”
“You, just learn to hold back!”
There are minors here, after all.
I wish you would hold back such words.
For now, I brought my fist down on Minami’s forehead to shut her up and brought the situation back on track.
“Putting aside personal matters, there’s another important discussion to be had.”
“What is it? Are you two getting married, Suella-san and Senpai?”
“I told you it’s not personal, you idiot.”
I continued before Minami, who looked ready to cling to Kaido, could join the conversation.
“Answer me seriously, all of you.”
When I started seriously, they listened intently. The members switched their focus and turned to me.
“Kaido and I almost died during this incident. Minami and Katsu should have seen that.”
The time since then is too short to forget. I can’t possibly forget the feeling of that iron sword piercing my abdomen.
“If you enter a Dungeon, you won’t die, but you’ll experience something close to it. I’ve never died in a Dungeon, but I’ve been close countless times. Some people who have challenged Dungeons have quit due to trauma from dying and coming back to life.”
That’s how dangerous and high-risk this job is. I was explaining its dangers. This is an explanation of an unavoidable path that we absolutely cannot avoid in the future. I declared that if anyone wanted to quit, now was the time.
“Well, even so, I’ll ask just in case, you guys are okay with ‘continuing’ as things are, right?”
That declaration might have been pointless.
“I don’t want to be left behind. Besides, there’s no reason to leave a workplace with beautiful women from another world!”
“As a gamer, I don’t want to quit while being defeated. Furthermore, I don’t think I can work anywhere else, gozaru.”
“If Minami is going to do it, I feel like I’d be defeated if I quit alone. Also, my current goal is to see Minami return to society.”
“Wha-?! Katsu!?”
Kaido, who had almost died, answered with a resigned air, expressing his intention to continue with reasons that were honest to himself. Minami, who should have been traumatized, showed a firm will in her eyes and expressed her decision in her own words. Katsu, with words that seemed a little out of place compared to the others, had an expression that was no less determined than the two before him.
Perhaps this confirmation was unnecessary for such people.
“OK, I understand everyone’s intentions. I’ll inform you about the future schedule later. For today, let’s go out for a meal to celebrate our discharge from the hospital. Of course, it’s on me.”
So, today’s plan is changed. To re-energize for our new beginning, let’s grab something to eat first.
“Whoa!!”
“Otherworld food, I can finally eat it, gozaru!”
“Is that okay?”
“Yeah, eat up, eat up! Don’t worry about your wallets. However, if anyone leaves food, they’ll receive my full-swing ass-whipping.”
It’s okay to let loose, but I put in a warning just in case. Still, Kaido and Minami were overjoyed. My prediction is that one of them will receive the ass-whipping, but we’ll find out later.
“Suella-san, Supervisor, would you like to join us?”
“I appreciate the invitation, but I had to leave early yesterday.”
It seems she can’t afford to be absent again right after leaving early yesterday. I quickly calculated if I could go for dinner and directed my gaze towards the Supervisor.
“If you’ll trade your mountain of work for mine, then I’ll go?”
Her words sounded like a direct path to death (from overwork), so I sadly had to decline this time.
“Alright, you guys get ready. If you don’t want your mountain of food to turn into a mountain of paperwork, move it!”
I tried inviting the two people who were there, but it seemed they were busy. It’s a shame, but I can’t let the mountain of food turn into a mountain of paper.
“Jiro-san.”
“Hm? Ah!”
A gentle touch, just brushing against me before we parted.
“See you at dinner.”
It seems she could see right through my thoughts. Leaving me with just those words and a smile, she headed off to work.
“I told you to do something about it, but what do you plan to do?”
“I believe I have a last resort prepared.”
“Hoh?”
The Supervisor, who had been displeased since this morning, questioned me about the responsibility for my actions, concerning Suella’s improvement. I am human, and she is a Dark Elf. Our positions are those of people from different worlds. Following a flow as rare and miraculous as winning the lottery, I found myself in this position. When that happens, men can surprisingly steel themselves.
“Then come up. I’ll prepare a chair for you.”
“I’ll take my time.”
It seems the Supervisor saw through my intentions. Showing a satisfied smile, she too headed off to work.
“Senpai! Aren’t you coming!?”
“Katsu, is dragon meat delicious, gozaru?”
“…I’m curious.”
The day for making a decision will come, but for now, let’s at least fill their stomachs.
Two weeks have passed since then.
I incorporated training in the Special Dimensional Training Room to build up our combat strength quickly. This also included regaining the lowered stats of Kaido and myself, but even while being careful about recurrence, there’s no guarantee that something like that won’t happen again. Regardless of whether it’s human-made or an accident, trouble can occur. Therefore, it was necessary to expedite the training to prepare for it. Well, the reactions of the three who were told I was worried about becoming mentally aged were:
“……You haven’t changed much, have you? (gozaru)”
“Why are you looking at me when you say that?”
They judged that Katsu, who was mature in a good way, wouldn’t become any more seasoned, so it was fine, and I was anticlimactically given the go-ahead. Instead,
“It’s finally here. A fantasy facility, this is where my legend of becoming the strongest begins, gozaru!”
“You’ll be doing repetitive practice of basic enchantment magic and intensive reading of medical books.”
“…I knew it!! I knew there would be a punchline, gozaru!!”
“Minami’s enchantment magic affects the body, so it’s natural. Katsu, I’ll give you these medical books too. It might be difficult, but do your best. After this, I’ll be sparring thoroughly with Kaido, so we should be able to get some practical combat experience.”
“Understood.”
“I think I just heard something extremely ominous.”
“Don’t worry, your ears are normal.”
“I wish it were a phantom sound!”
Honestly, I didn’t expect a serious protagonist-like reaction, but hearing such off-key remarks makes me feel strangely refreshed. To summarize the training that began from then:
“Muscle reinforcement!”
“Wooooh…… It’s not changing, is it?”
“Apparently, the initial change is only enough to hold a spoon. Katsu, start by healing cuts. Imagine cells regenerating like a reversed video, not dividing to close the wound.”
“It’s difficult, but I’ll try.”
This gradually evolved.
“Muscle enhancement!”
“Whoa!! My abs are beautifully six-packed!”
“Don’t underestimate a gamer’s imagination, gozaru.”
“But it’s a bit gruesome, isn’t it?”
“The reference material is from BL books, Nii-san’s style, you see.”
“What?! It’s rotten!”
“Your hemostasis has improved.”
“It’s all thanks to Jiro-san and Kaido-san giving me experience. Well, it’s also thanks to Minami getting scraped up all over the place.”
I think we’ve reached a respectable level in two weeks. Once you have the minimum required skills, it’s a waste of time to keep training endlessly. So, it’s time to move on to the real thing. That’s why we’re here for the usual preparation work.
“Ooooooh!!”
“Katsu, hold onto Minami’s reins.”
“Yes.”
“Senpai is amazing! If you’re not excited by this, you’re not a man!”
“Sorry, Taisho, for these noisy ones.”
“Gahahaha, it’s fine. It’s been a while since we’ve had such a big client. I don’t mind a little noise.”
As usual, the weapon and armor shopping street, MAO Corporation, is deserted. If not for their protection, they would have had to close shop due to the lack of customers. Making noise in such a space naturally draws attention. Minami, panting, stared intently at the glass cases. Behind her, Katsu, ready to respond at any moment, was casually glancing at weapons that caught his eye. Kaido darted around like a child brought to a toy store. watching these three like their guardian were me and Suella, with Hands laughing from behind the counter.
“We have a budget, you know.”
“Don’t worry. Thanks to the incident the other day, we’ve allocated more than half of the development department’s employees’ salaries for this month to cover equipment costs, so we have quite a surplus.”
“Even so, we can’t just buy excessive equipment.”
“Indeed.”
The compensation mentioned by Supervisor Evia was decided about three days ago. When Suella told me that about sixty percent of the department’s employees’ salaries would be used for our party’s equipment, I almost refused due to the sheer amount. There’s no need to spend it all, but I couldn’t refuse, especially since it was also offered as a form of apology. So, I decided not to accept the cash directly and instead purchased through Suella. At that time, I heard from Keiri-san how Suella had mercilessly dug into her wounds to extract money, but I dismissed it as her just getting what she deserved.
“As a guideline, it would be Kaido’s twin swords, and Katsu and Minami’s staffs.”
“That would be correct. Katsu-san and Minami-san need to choose between metal and wooden materials, but for beginners, light and durable wood would be best.”
“Right, a wooden staff with carvings would be perfect for that young lady and boy.”
“What about Kaido’s twin swords?”
“That young man is a Magic Swordsman, right? I believe we have one with a steel base reinforced with magic silver. Matching the size of its hilt should solve the problem.”
As expected of professionals. They present items that meet our needs.
“I assume you understand, but we don’t need that magic sword, do we?”
“Tch, it’s our newest work. If you have the money, how about one as a souvenir?”
“Haa, and what are its effects, incidentally?”
Perhaps it’s a characteristic of Giants, or just their nature, but they seem unable to resist throwing in novelty items. Among the products they showed me, I decided to comment on a menacing magic sword. Judging by its size, Kaido would likely wield it.
“Oh, listen to this and be amazed. It imbues you with Herculean strength, allowing you to easily lift giant rocks and crush them with your bare hands! The price is a special bargain, how about five million?”
“That’s expensive. And its drawbacks?”
“While holding it, you’re in a state of constant excitement, and even after letting go, the effect lasts for an hour. After the battle, it will attack, regardless of whether you’re male, female, dog, or monkey.”
“Then fix that fatal flaw!”
For now, I’ll overlook the fact that gender doesn’t matter. But at least let’s choose whether they’re human or not. I really wouldn’t want Kaido attacking us sexually after a battle. I immediately dismissed it.
“So, do you want it, Kaido?”
“How about it, young man? Now you can obtain a power everyone will envy.”
“I’ll pass!”
I asked Kaido, who had noticed our conversation midway, but of course, he refused. Berserk with full-blown lust — any modern man would want to avoid such a situation.
“Alright, you guys, pick something from in here for now.”
“Ehh, I want that staff in the glass case.”
“Say that after you see the price. And for your information, a hundred-yen toy staff would be fine for you.”
“After all, beginners should start with a wooden staff, that’s the royal road.”
“Sorry about that.”
“Don’t worry, Katsu. I’ve figured out how to handle Minami recently.”
I gathered them and pointed out the reality of the items lined up on the counter, to match Minami’s slight playfulness. Of course, we can’t afford equipment with eight zeros after the price. Well, this is just Minami’s way of joking around. If I tell her off a bit sternly like I’m disciplining her when she makes unreasonable demands, she’ll quickly change her tune. It’s like a game where I guide her actions like this.
“Oh, and if you mainly use magic, we have something like this too.”
“Leather gloves?”
“Yeah. When you hold a staff, your hands are always occupied. Some people dislike that, so they use glove-type medium equipment made by combining the hides of monsters compatible with magic and magic stones.”
As if remembering, the shopkeeper placed a pair of leather gloves on the counter, apparently made for punching. Based on the explanation, these are equipment primarily for hand-to-hand combat or using other tools, with the aim of freeing up both hands.
“This one might be better.”
“Katsu, are you aiming to become a Monk?”
Katsu, showing interest, picked them up and felt their texture. Although called leather gloves, they are actually a combination of metal and leather, with a magic stone embedded in the back of the hand, which seems capable of blocking blades. Of course, punching is also possible, and as Minami said, if a Healer also considers hand-to-hand combat, the Monk class could be an option.
“No, it’s more like… I feel a sense of unease constantly holding something, and I feel safer with my hands free.”
Katsu himself doesn’t seem to have a firm conviction behind choosing this equipment. It seems to be an action based purely on intuition, a feeling that this is the better way.
“If that’s what you think, then that’s fine. I haven’t gained enough experience to speak authoritatively either. We should just tackle it with trial and error.”
“Jiro-san.”
“There are many people who excel in hand-to-hand combat even among backliners. I can also be somewhat effective, you know?”
“Suella’s ‘somewhat’ is at the level of blowing me away, so don’t worry too much. Your own style will come to you over time.”
You can choose what you like.
“If that’s the case, I’ll take this one.”
“I’ll take that one.”
“Yours are these. OK?”
“Understood! Sir!”
I hand things over to those who seem like they’ll get carried away with my words and silence them. The key is to firmly grasp the handle of the Ore Tree attached to your back and narrow your eyes slightly. Kaido’s Twin Swords and Minami’s staff both have their quirks, but as expected from a connoisseur, the items chosen by the reliable shopkeeper are first-rate; I won’t allow any complaints. A bit of killing intent and magic power might have been included, but for them now, it’s probably just a sensation of a cold breeze blowing. I finish the payment, ignoring them standing at attention and saluting.
“Jiro-san, where to next?”
“The armor shop. I need to replace my gear too.”
“We need to buy more durable armor next time.”
“Suella is more motivated than I am.”
“Naturally. I understand and agree that this is dangerous work, but reducing danger whenever possible leads to your safety.”
While Suella writes down the amounts in the documents and hands them to the shopkeeper, I hand the received items to Kaido and the others. It’s a dilemma for me as a man to let Suella handle the payment, but since it’s being paid for with company expenses, it can’t be helped in this case. Her conversation with me without honorifics is somehow refreshing. It doesn’t feel embarrassing, but there’s a ticklish sensation akin to an itch. It’s a little regrettable that her tone doesn’t change no matter who she talks to, but I feel like this is what happiness is. I’d like to enjoy such times, but unfortunately, time is limited. I’ll continue our conversation while walking. The armor shop is a few minutes’ walk from here. When I lead everyone into the shop, it’s also quiet, much like the other one.
“Oh, a money tree has walked in.”
“You still can’t lie, can you?”
“That’s me. So, are you here for the armor for the guys behind you today?”
As soon as we enter, the female shop employee, who cuts to the chase in a way that belies her profession, seems as lively as ever. Her straightforward and cheerful tone is actually pleasant to listen to. I have a good impression of her because she understands my intentions without unnecessary chatter.
“Ah, and my armor too.”
“What, did it break?”
“Yeah, it was pierced right through, and the armor is scratched up. I decided to get new gear this time.”
“Please give us something as cheap and durable as possible, Mail.”
“What, Suella is here too. Did you two start dating?”
“Why would you think that?”
“Dark Elves are that peculiar when it comes to romantic feelings. You’re this close, and you’re still apart?”
“…We’re not.”
It seems this female shop employee, Mail, and Suella know each other and she’s knowledgeable about Dark Elves, but being suddenly put on the spot like this is indeed embarrassing. In front of Suella, I don’t want to deny it even out of embarrassment, so I nod in affirmation while scratching my head. She emerges from behind the counter with a smirk.
“Wow, you’re good! You managed to snag Suella, who’s even part of a bet on whether she’ll get married or not!!”
She then stands next to me, on Suella’s other side, and pats my back. This is where the difference between reality and fantasy occurs. Normally, there would be a sharp sound, but her palm emits a heavy thud. If my Magic Crest hadn’t been trained, it would undoubtedly have resulted in a fracture. However, even with such an action, Suella next to me blushes and covers her face with her hands, but she doesn’t seem unhappy and makes no move to stop it.
“Alright, hearing such happy news, I’ll put my all into choosing your armor too!”
“You’re not going to give us a discount?”
“That’s separate. I’m running a business, you know.”
I nod in agreement at her clear separation of personal and business matters.
“First, I’ll measure your sizes, so you three in the back come over here. Your size is already measured, so Suella, go look at some items over there with me.”
Her actions are also divided between personal and business. She takes out a measuring tape from her apron pocket, beckons Kaido and the others, and efficiently takes their measurements.
“Jiro-san, let’s go.”
“Yeah.”
Thinking that it should be fine, I’ll start looking for my own armor.
“Indeed, we should go with heavier armor.”
“Won’t that slow down your movement?”
“Appropriate armor in the appropriate places. With Jiro’s current stats, you should be able to move without issue.”
My previous gear only had metal parts on the gauntlets and greaves that took the brunt of attacks. That’s why I was outmaneuvered by the Loosely Charactered Golem. I had become complacent, thinking it was okay because my body had become sturdier as a result. “From now on, at least shoulder and abdomen protection in addition to gauntlets and greaves, and for the head, instead of a forehead protector, let’s get a helmet this time.”
“For a frontliner, that’s probably necessary.”
Last time, it was equipped with budget constraints and assuming I’d be moving solo, but from now on, our actions will be more party-oriented. It’s unthinkable for someone protecting the front to have paper-thin armor.
“What about this metal armor?”
“The defense is fine, but it’s vulnerable to extreme heat and cold. It would be better to use armor with a metal surface and a ground dragon hide lining.”
“That’s a tough choice.”
“Let’s carefully consider it, even if it takes time.”
“Right.”
This shop is surprisingly spacious. It’s about half the size of a home improvement center, but the shelves are high, so they have a large number of items. We spend time browsing and searching, and Suella and I narrow down the choices to two pieces of armor that meet our budget and requirements. The equipment installed on the mannequins is similar, assuming the same level of defense. The only difference is whether it’s Western-style or Japanese-style armor. It includes gauntlets, greaves, torso armor, shoulder guards, and a helmet, as well as a face guard. The lining is made from a monster called a Forest Spider. In terms of color, the Western style is predominantly white with some blue and gold accents, while the Japanese style is predominantly black with red and yellow accents. Visually, the good and evil are clearly defined.
“Both have the same performance.”
“Well, in that case, this one it is.”
“I like that one better too.”
“I’m glad to hear that.”
We chose the Japanese-style armor. If the performance is similar, then it’s a matter of preference. Besides liking the color scheme, the Japanese-style armor, which looks like that of a young warrior at first glance, is what I prefer. The Western-style armor, on the other hand, felt too heroic, which I didn’t like.
“Well, I’m done. Are those guys choosing seriously?”
“Since Mail is there, they’re probably choosing, but if you ask if they’re doing it seriously…”
“I suppose so.”
There was probably still some lingering unease.
Suella’s words had become hesitant towards the end.
“Want to go take a look?”
“Yes.”
We walked back faster than we had come, towards where the counter had been, with Suella in tow.
The place, which had been empty enough to make the sparrows cry, was now filled with lively voices.
“Look, Katsu! This is the legendary bikini armor! I can’t believe it actually exists!”
“You’re not planning on wearing that, are you?”
“Even I don’t have the courage to wear *that*, gozaru. It’s dangerous in so many ways.”
“Fufufufu, you’re too naive! Do you think my creations end up being so halfway functional! They have performance worthy of their price! Made with plenty of magic stones and water dragon hide, this armor not only increases defense through enchantment magic but also has an allure effect towards the opposite sex, prevents insect bites, and a skin shield that protects against even minor scrapes in the forest. It also adjusts the wearer’s surrounding temperature, prevents sunburn and frostbite, and offers excellent magic defense!”
“Is this some kind of high-performance armor that’s inversely proportional to its fabric area, gozaru!? This bikini armor only covers the essentials, gozaru!? Could it be that the theory ‘the more you take off, the stronger you get’ applies here!? I have to buy it, gozaru!”
“Hey! Don’t buy some weird equipment like that! You already regret impulse buying items from commercials!”
“Ugh, but my gamer spirit is screaming at me to buy it!”
“Yes, yes, shopkeeper, please show me some serious equipment.”
“You got it, I figured you’d say that, so I’ve got it ready.”
Thanks to Katsu, the situation of a perverted party member being born has been prevented.
Katsu and the others probably won’t have any problems with their shopping.
“What happened to Kaido?”
“He seems to be over there.”
“Hero Tadashi is born!”
“…”
The problem was the unseen Kaido, but Suella was able to find him by detecting his magic.
Under Suella’s guidance, we found Kaido, but upon seeing him in the mirror, adorned in golden armor, both I and Suella were left speechless.
Whether he was a narcissist or just lost in admiration, Kaido looked even worse than Minami did when he was about to try on the bikini armor.
“Ah, Senpai, what do you think of this equipment! Isn’t it cool!”
However, we couldn’t just leave him like this.
The craftsmanship of the Giant artisans was excellent, but Kaido, who was wearing it, didn’t match it.
It felt less like he was wearing it and more like he was being forced to wear it, making him look like a poorly clad nouveau riche noble who had armor made with gaudy taste.
Frankly, it looked like a walking death flag.
“Take it back.”
“Huh? Why? It’s so cool.”
“I’ll say it one more time, Kaido. Take it back if you don’t want to die.”
“You’re saying that much!?”
“Kaido-san, that armor is a bit…”
“Even Suella-san!?”
I placed my hands on both of his shoulders to make him understand that I was saying this for his own good.
Suella also wore a sympathetic expression and tried to persuade him to give up the armor.
“I think it’s cool, though.”
“Give up, you don’t have the level for it.”
“Regrettable.”
We watched Kaido reluctantly take off the golden armor and return it to its place, looking disappointed.
“That was close.”
“We couldn’t possibly buy that armor, could we?”
“Was it that expensive?”
“Yes, gold has good compatibility with magic, so with enchanted magic, the price would be roughly this much.”
“…Impossible.”
“Double the allocated budget by two hundred times… that’s truly impossible.”
I stopped him for the sake of his death flag, but Suella rejected it based on budget.
The price of the armor Kaido brought had an absurd number of zeros.
In either case, we couldn’t afford it, but the thought of what would have happened if it had broken sent a shiver down my spine.
“Haa, I guess I should help Kaido pick out some equipment.”
“I’ll help.”
“Thanks.”
“No, I can’t accompany you into the dungeon, so I want to help with this much. Also, instead of apologizing…”
“Ah, thank you.”
“Yes.”
Accompanied by Suella, who gave me a smile as if to say “That’s right,” we found equipment for Kaido. By the time we brought him back to the counter, Katsu and the others had also finished choosing their equipment.
“I’ll finish adjusting the sizes by tomorrow, so you can pick them up around noon the day after tomorrow.”
“Can it be done that quickly?”
“As you can see, I’m free! If you want me to be busy, come by more often.”
“If I had the money.”
As expected, the armor required size adjustments and couldn’t be ready on the same day.
We said our goodbyes to Mail, who laughed cheerfully without any concern for the sparsity of customers, a fact that had become her usual routine.
“That took longer than I thought.”
“But it was fun, gozaru! Having all sorts of equipment really boosts my motivation to enter the dungeon!”
“Don’t get too carried away. You’ll get too excited and won’t be able to sleep.”
“Then Katsu, I request our usual hot milk, gozaru!”
“Alright, alright, the one with plenty of honey, right?”
The three of them were making a cheerful commotion outside the store.
“It’ll be alright. Jiro-san, you’ll surely be able to clear the dungeon with them.”
“Was it that obvious on my face?”
“No, I just had a feeling. Perhaps it’s a woman’s intuition?”
Watching them, my lingering unease about whether this was truly okay, whether there was anything more we could prepare, must have shown on my face.
Sensing this, Suella gently squeezed my hand and offered encouragement.
“Ah, then there’s no mistake.”
“Yes, so please face it with confidence.”
We haven’t challenged a dungeon in a while.
After what happened, even with practice matches as rehabilitation, the anxiety couldn’t be dispelled.
This time, the equipment upgrade was planned to alleviate that anxiety, but the fear born from past defeat still lingered.
She gently brushed away those feelings.
“Thank you.”
“Yes, please do your best.”
Jiro Tanaka, 28 years old, single, girlfriend Suella Handelberg.
Occupation: Dungeon Tester (Full-time Employee) + Recruiter.
Magic Aptitude 8 (General Class).
Position: Warrior.
Today’s Word:
In response to her encouragement, I’ll put my all into catching up on my work.
Yes!
This chapter has been about the party members getting new equipment.
The descriptions of the equipment will be carried over to the next chapter.
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