Information on Dungeons

Since when had it been missing? This morning? Or last night?

If it was just taken, we might be able to catch up to the adventurer if we leave now. We might run into them on the way and end up fighting, though… If that happens, could we win?

"… Goshujin-sama?"

I glanced at Niku. Come to think of it, does Niku actually understand that I'm a Dungeon Master? I don't think I've ever properly explained it to her.

… Alright, let's calm down here.

Rokuko should be fine. She should do exactly as I told her.

If the information matches my predictions, there won't be any problems… The problem is if my predictions and the adventurer guild's information don't match up. In that case, I need to verify the information immediately.

… This isn't the time to be sleeping. Haah…

I headed to the counter. The usual receptionist, Silia-san, was there. Sorry for coming back so soon.

"I'd like to ask about dungeons. Is that alright?"

"It's almost time for lots of adventurers to start returning, so until then… So, what about dungeons? If it's a normal dungeon, it's irrelevant to anyone below D-Rank, you know?"

I see, so in other words, [Ordinary Cave] isn't a normal dungeon.

"Yeah, about that. I thought there was a quest ticket for investigating the [Ordinary Cave] dungeon. I don't see it now, but I was curious since it said it was available from F-Rank."

"Hmm… well, that's basically a quest for rookies. It's an investigation of a newborn dungeon, something rare even on a global scale. We put it out about once every half month."

Newborn… Is that how they see it, or is that actually the case? I should ask Rokuko about it when I get back.

"By the way, who took the quest this time?"

"I'm afraid I cannot answer that due to business regulations."

Yeah, figures.

"On another note, there are two nomination requests for your slave girl… though it's for toilet cleaning. What would you like to do? It's a G-Rank quest, but will you accept?"

"… Let me think about it."

Toilet cleaning… Did someone like her work so much that they went around advertising it? Well, I can't deal with that right now.

"While I have the chance, I'd like to ask: what kind of places are dungeons, exactly?"

"… Dungeons are places with monsters, traps, and treasure. If you want to strike it rich in one go, dive into a dungeon, they say. Well, someone without common sense like you probably doesn't even know something like that, right?"

"I-I at least know that much, you know?"

I didn't know that. It probably sounded like sarcasm, but I appreciate her teaching me common knowledge like this.

"Then do you know about dungeon bosses and Dungeon Cores?"

"… Um, a core is the heart of a dungeon, right?"

"Yes, that's correct. When a core is destroyed, the dungeon begins to collapse. The dungeon boss is on the lowest floor of the dungeon, an existence that protects the core. There's also a theory that the dungeon boss and Dungeon Core are one and the same… In the past, when the Demon King was defeated, the Demon King's castle collapsed. There's a famous theory that the Demon King's castle was a dungeon, and that the Demon King was both the dungeon boss and the Dungeon Core. Well, personally, I think the Demon King was just trying to take everyone down with him as a last-ditch effort."

The Demon King was a Dungeon Core… I wonder if it was something like Rokuko playing the Demon King.

When I tried imagining it for a moment, in my imagination, Demon King Rokuko was stepping on her cape and falling over.

Yeah, that's not very impressive. Being a Demon King wouldn't suit Rokuko.

If a dungeon collapses without its Dungeon Core, does that mean the Dungeon Core is what maintains the walls and such? Still, with things like dungeon bosses and Dungeon Masters, I'm getting confused about what's common knowledge here…

"By the way, if you want to learn about dungeons, there's an academic field called the Study of Dungeons, so you could buy a book on it… Books are expensive, but I think the content makes it worth the price as an information fee."

That was exactly the information I was looking for. The Study of Dungeons, so there's something like that, huh.

That's valuable information. I definitely want to get it.

"Well, [Introduction to Dungeonology] costs one gold coin, though."

… I don't have enough on hand. If one copper coin is 100 yen, that's about one million yen.

Going back to the dungeon and bringing back something valuable is one option.

Yeah, that's one more reason to go back to the dungeon.

"Are we about done? More people are arriving."

"Ah, sorry. Thanks for your time."

"No problem. Giving advice to adventurers is part of my job… You're in the way, so could you move?"

I can trust the receptionist's thorough dedication to her work. I don't dislike that kind of attitude.

I left the counter, taking Niku with me.

 

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For the time being, even if I don't go back, the core at [Ordinary Cave] won't be destroyed. The number of rooms has increased somewhat, which might make it a valuable sample for dungeon studies.

Now, if I think purely about DP, it's actually cheaper not to go back since there's no DP consumption for living expenses. Staying here and using Tsuia as a base for adventurer life is a valid option.

But I simply miss my [Futon]. I can sleep on park benches or the so-called bed at [Sleeping Songbird Pavilion], really just a wooden crate with cloth laid over it, but the comfort is on a completely different level.

I think I've gathered the minimum information I needed, and it might be good to go back to [Ordinary Cave] once and bring back something valuable. I definitely want to get that book on dungeon studies… But it costs one gold coin, so I might not be able to find something worth that much easily.

… Wait, hold on. Maybe I could exchange DP for that book?

When I checked the DP Catalog, it was there. Maybe the item got added because I learned about it… Let's see, [Introduction to Dungeonology (100 DP)]… Wait, 100 DP?!

A book worth one gold coin, equivalent to one million yen, is only 100 DP? What's up with that?

… I thought [5 Copper Coins (5 DP)] was the conversion rate, but what kind of exchange rate is this?

Anyway, it looks like going back to the dungeon and getting [Introduction to Dungeonology] is the best move.

"Niku, we're going back to the dungeon."

The sky was already completely evening. If we don't hurry, we might not be able to get through the gate.

Taking Niku with me, I rushed toward the west gate.

At the west gate was the guard who had guided us when we first arrived.

"Oh…? What are you doing at this hour? The gate's going to close soon, you know?"

"Some business came up in the mountains. If all goes well, I should be back in about two days."

"… Are you going to be alright with such light gear? From what I can see, you barely have any luggage."

Oops, that's right, I forgot to prepare. Since I was thinking of it as going back to my base, I figured I wouldn't need any luggage, but normal adventurers don't have a base in the mountains.

That said, making thorough preparations every time I want to go back to the dungeon would be a pain…

"It's just a short trip, and I can procure what I need on-site this time, so it's fine. Traveling light is better for getting around, right?"

"I see. In that case, no problem."

I thought it was a pretty weak excuse, but he accepted it easily.

Hmm, maybe I should try using the south gate from now on? I was told it's better not to go near there, but it might be the best option for leaving the gate naturally. If I say I'm saving money by sleeping in the slums, it wouldn't seem unnatural. If I wanted to say it without lying, I guess it would be that I'm sleeping outside.

"So, is your business an herb gathering quest or something? Do you have the quest document?"

"No, it's not a quest. I'll pay the toll."

"I see… The mountains are dangerous at night. Be careful."

"Yeah, thank you."

I showed my Guild Card and paid the toll of two copper coins, including Niku's share, and the guard let us through the gate without any fuss.

Alright, let's hurry back.

Once the guard was out of sight, I had the Cloth Golem carry me at full speed… My legs hurt so much from muscle pain I could cry.